#165 Data & AI for Good, with Marga Hoek, Founder & CEO, Business for Good

Nov 27, 2023

Marga Hoek, Founder and CEO of Business for Good, is a visionary advocate for sustainable business and technology. She discusses the dual nature of technology, asserting it can be harnessed for good or harm, depending on our choices. The conversation explores the potential of AI and blockchain in tackling climate change and food sustainability. Marga emphasizes the urgent need for education reform to prepare for new job markets and advocates for ethical governance in AI development, highlighting collaboration between businesses and society for positive change.

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INSIGHT

Fourth Industrial Revolution

The Fourth Industrial Revolution blends physical and digital technologies, creating powerful combinations.
These eight tech groups are AI/data, 3D printing, robotics, advanced materials, XR, autonomous vehicles/drones, blockchain, and space tech.

ANECDOTE

Azure FarmBeats

Azure FarmBeats combines AI, drones, and satellites to optimize farming practices.
This data-driven approach improves crop decisions, labor, output, and early disease detection, illustrating tech's potential.

INSIGHT

SDGs and Technology

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) define a prosperous future, encompassing ecological, social, and governance challenges.
Technology plays a crucial role in bridging the investment gap and achieving these goals.

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There's often a debate in technology ethics on whether technology is neutral or not. On one hand, critics have rightfully pointed out examples of technology exacerbating the climate crisis, amplifying bias as we've seen in our recent episode with Dr. Joy Buolamwini, or contributing to the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Conversely, we cannot deny the many wonderful things technology has given us, from better healthcare outcomes, to the ability to communicate wherever we are in the world, or to elevate the quality of life of everyone on the planet.

It is this duality, that today's guest, Marga Hoek, points to as to why technology is neutral, and why it is in our hands to use it for good.

Marga Hoek is a true visionary on sustainable business, capital, and technology and a successful business leader. As a three-time CEO, Board Member, Chair, and Founder of Business for Good, she applies her vision on how business can be a true force for good in practice. As a bestselling and multi-award-winning author, member of Thinkers50, and one of the most in-demand speakers on sustainable business and ESG investment, Marga Hoek has inspired many companies and leaders worldwide. She is also appreciated as a global voice for G20 and G7 Intergovernmental forums, international climate meetings and COPs, and many other prestigious global conferences.

In the episode, Adel and Marga explore the fourth industrial revolution and the eight technologies that combine to build it, the ethical application of technology and how it can be the biggest lever to combating climate change and building a sustainable society, how data and AI enable real-time information sharing leading to better early warning systems related to the environment, use cases of tech for good initiatives, how collaboration can bridge the gap in investment for sustainable business ventures and a lot more.

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