Technology failed — now let’s get to work to make it work
Digital transformations are failing everywhere (1) and AI is assumed to hit peak hype (2). As with every other technology installation (3) it’s time to take of the technology sunglasses and get to work solving real issues that matter. Which means applying a human and organizational understanding and lens.
“primary technologies — like LLMs — always require a second wave of technology innovation that involves the development of applications and adjustments of organizational structures.” — Carlotta Perez (2)
Technology doesn’t know what it wants (4). In fact if you let technology lead the way then “more is better” which is seldom the case. Several companies are led by a strategic purpose similar to “drive innovation through technology” .. again, a meaningless statement that doesn’t give any direction apart from building as many technology silos as possible solving any invented problem.
Nobody needs technology. We use technology to achieve progress as humans either individually (needs) or collectively (organization).
Any technology development needs to have direction (if not we will only get to: ‘more is better’) and if we are able to give that direction through the lens of how it will make our lives better or our organizations better (through how we work together or the outcomes we produce) technology will start to make sense and produce value from our investments.
We already have the means and the methods to do this (this is not our first technology transformation). The humans in the room have been waiting patiently as technology wades around like a drunken robot for it to fall over and sober up. I hope now is the time, we are ready to clean up the mess and start getting to the value.
Sources:
(1). Michael Mankins and Patrick Litre, Transformations That Work, https://hbr.org/2024/05/transformations-that-work
(2). Christian Stadler, The Generative AI Hype Is Almost Over. What’s Next?, https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianstadler/2024/09/06/the-generative-ai-hype-is-almost-over-whats-next/
(3). Jeremie Averous, How the Carlota Perez Framework Explains Major Technological Disruptions and Related Financial Crashes, https://thefourthrevolution.org/wordpress/archives/7050?doing_wp_cron=1725689723.7355151176452636718750
(4). Kevin Kelly, What technology wants, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Technology_Wants
