Future-Focused with Christopher Lind

It's been another wild week at the intersection of business, technology, and human experience. The pace of change is showing no signs of slowing, and this week's updates highlight why that can be both a great and a not-so-great thing. Apple Robotics - Following its announcement to shut down investment into automotive, it has set its sights on personal robotics. While it's still too early to know exactly what Apple means by "personal robotics," there's no shortage of speculation. However, if you're thinking Rosy the Robot will be serving you dinner by 2025, you might want to slow your roll. Top Skill of The Future - Autodesk did a recent and robust survey across a diverse spectrum of industries to assess the impact of AI on employees, and its findings were both encouraging and not completely surprising. The top skill for professionals was almost universally one's ability to work with AI. The encouraging news there is the word "with." The survey highlights how the future is continuing to show a tight partnership between humans and machines, not a replacement of one by the other. AI-Generated Cinema - TCL is launching what it claims to be the first AI-generated romance film this summer. If the trailer is any indication of what we can expect to see, you won't need to buy your tickets in advance. You'll likely also have plenty of room to put up your feet, lean back, and store snacks in the seats around you. That said, people are already following AI influencers, so who knows, it may be the smash hit of the summer. Data on Hiring Bias - The data is back on what may have been one of the most extensive studies on hiring bias, and it's an encouraging milestone while highlighting we still have room to grow. While there remains notable bias in selecting candidates, it's not as widespread as you may think. Granted, this shouldn't have us taking our eye off the target, but it's an encouraging milestone in our journey toward more equitable work. All-Terrain Exoskeletons - If you've weaseled your way out of a mountain hike or backpack adventure due to bad knees or being out of shape, you might want to start noodling on some new excuses. DNSYS is launching an all-terrain exoskeleton for under a grand with a 15-18 mile range that might put scaling Everest back on your bucket list. Show Notes: This episode delves into a variety of future-focused topics, starting with Apple's shift from car production to personal robotics, examining both the opportunities and challenges this presents. It discusses the fast-paced advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and its integration into different industries, noting Apple's strategic position in the AI landscape. The conversation moves to the concept of personal robotics, exploring the potential and current limitations of such technology in everyday life. Additionally, the episode covers a recent report on the top skills for the future, emphasizing the importance of working with AI, alongside a critique of an AI-generated movie, questioning its quality and impact. The discourse also addresses a study on hiring bias, revealing a preference for white candidates in some companies, and concludes with an overview of an innovative all-terrain exoskeleton device designed to enhance human mobility and strength. 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 02:01 The Evolution of Apple: From iCars to Personal Robotics 10:12 Mastering AI: The Essential Skill for Future Success 17:04 AI in Entertainment: The First AI-Generated Movie 24:50 Addressing Hiring Bias: Insights and Progress 34:35 Innovations in Mobility: The All-Terrain Exoskeleton 39:52 Closing Thoughts and Farewell #ai #skills #hiring #apple #robotics

With video representing a media specifically designed to represent a view into reality, what role does AI play in its creation? This week, I'm digging into that question with Alex Uspenskyi, Founder of Elai.io, to peel back the layers of AI's role in video production. We'll be talking about why AI is at the front of video tech, sharing how simple text prompts are transforming into full-blown, eye-catching videos. We're getting real about what this tech revolution means for creativity, diving into the heart of the debate: Can AI preserve the soul of storytelling? We'll dissect the balance between leveraging AI for innovation and ensuring the essence of human creativity isn't lost in translation. We also tackle the ethics of AI in creative fields, pondering the fine line between efficiency and authenticity. From the implications for content creators to the broader societal impacts, this chat's about more than just tech—it's about navigating the exciting yet daunting world AI presents to the creative industry. Join us as we explore the potential of AI to redefine storytelling and confront the challenges of keeping our human touch in a digital-dominated age. Show Notes: This conversation explores the advancements and practical applications of AI in content creation, focusing on AI's role in transforming learning and educational content within organizations. The discussion delves into how AI facilitates the generation of engaging, accessible, and customized content. It highlights the journey from traditional learning materials to AI-generated videos, touching on real-time avatars and interactive AI agents. The conversation also addresses the adoption curve of AI technology, emphasizing its potential to enhance creativity and efficiency in content creation. 00:00 - Welcome to Future Focused: AI for Content Creation 01:24 - Introducing Alec Uspenskyi: From Engineering to AI Video Generation 01:58 - The Evolution of AI in Content Creation 17:43 - Exploring the Capabilities of AI in Voice Cloning and Video Generation 24:56 - Navigating the Ethical Landscape of AI Voice and Video Cloning 31:26 - Exploring Video Avatars and Lip Sync Technology 33:05 - The Evolution of Avatar Technology 34:06 - The Rise of AI Influencers and Content Authenticity 35:30 - Navigating the AI Content Creation Landscape on YouTube 40:13 - The Future of Learning and Educational Content with AI 47:01 - Real-Time Avatars and Interactive Learning Experiences 50:51 - Market Adoption and the Future of AI in Content Creation 57:44 - Reflecting on AI's Role in Enhancing Creativity and Content Production

Congratulations! You've made it through another week, and what a week it's been. To celebrate, here's another round of updates on the latest happenings at the intersection of business, tech, and human experience. As always, thanks to those of you who contributed topics and articles! AI Influencers - What if that catchy TikTok of Jenny sitting in her car telling you how much she loves AG1 never really happened? Well, you may ask to see her birth certificate before you sign up for a monthly subscription. AI is coming for influencers, and I'm still trying to decide whether their followers don't know or don't care. Paid Commuting - More people are willing to return to the office....so long as they get a nice check to cover the expense. Employees have found a new way to push back against employers demanding them come to the office to take their Zoom meetings by pressing on the financial nerve. Despite my distaste for forced RTO, I think this path creates more problems than it solves. Tesla RoboTaxi—I can't wait to schedule an autonomous ride just to see AI try to navigate our driveway, and according to Elon, I won't have to wait long. He's on record claiming robotaxis will be dominating the streets as soon as August of this year. Analysts disagree, but I guess we'll see if he lives up to his sterling track record of predictions. AI Ends Human Labor - As if we don't have enough apocalyptic news, Open AI board member Larry Summers stated publically he anticipates AI will eliminate humans from all labor in the future. While I fundamentally disagree, Larry is hitting on some truth about some of the significant short-term economic risks that will come to fruition if we're not careful. Show Notes: 0:00 - Introduction 1:25 - AI Influencers 10:41 - Paid Return-to-Office 18:34 - Tesla Robotaxi 26:40 - End of Human Labor

Are we the masters of technology, or have we become its unwitting servants? Furthermore, what risks are we exposing ourselves to as we become exponentially connected? This week, I'm exploring the heart of our modern dilemma: the pervasive overreliance on technology and the risks of constant connection. As we navigate through the digital age, the fine line between leveraging technology for our benefit and being ensnared by it becomes increasingly blurred. To help me navigate the dialogue, I'll be joined by cybersecurity expert David Adeoye Abodunrin. We dig into the exponential rise of connectedness and how our focus on security has not kept pace. You'll learn how this seemingly innocuous problem can have catastrophic consequences. It's not a matter of if you suffer the consequences but when. That said, we wanted to do more than scare people straight. We laid out clear and actionable steps that will have a meaningful impact that doesn't include throwing away all your tech and moving off the grid. There's no escaping the exponentially rising tech in the air, but we can learn how to safely swim in it. So, join us as we dissect the intricate web of digital dependence and discuss actionable strategies to reclaim our autonomy, enhance our real-world interactions, and find a harmonious balance in a tech-saturated world. Show Notes: 0:00 - Introduction 8:21 - The Risks of Overdependence 19:25 - Importance of Cybersecurity Today & Tomorrow 30:24 - Vulnerabilities of Modern Connected Systems 41:06- Importance of Cyber Inclusion 44:20 - The Need for Media Awareness 52:58 - Addressing Diversity in Cybersecurity

March is in the rearview mirror and April is officially here. While some of this week's updates may sound like April Fool's topics, I promise they aren't. It's another wild and unpredictable week at the intersection of business, tech, and human experience. As always, thanks to all of you who sent along links and topics. I wish I had enough time to cover them all. And, without further ado, here's what's top of mind this first week of April. $100B Stargate AGI - Can we stop with the sci-fi apocalyptic terminology already? It's not helping ease people's nerves. That said, Microsoft and OpenAI are aligned to spend an estimated 100 Billion dollars to build the data center required to continue the AGI race. People thought Sam Altman was nuts when he predicted $3 Trillion to see it all through. Not so crazy anymore, huh? Death of DEI? - University of Florida made lots of headlines for their decision to eliminate DEI positions and appointments, and it's another trend I'm seeing where we seem to be going backwards. That said, I think there's more to the story and because I don't have all the details on the "why" and "what's next," my reaction is nuanced and complicated, as it so often is. TikTok Troubles - "Because.....because....China!" isn't a terribly convincing argument for why we should be banning one of the top social media platforms from the US. It also doesn't help when companies doing the exact same thing are conveniently lining up behind the witch hunt. That said, I have some legitimate concerns as should you, but it's not limited to the Tok. GenZ Mental Health Bots - I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry that one of the growing attempts to solve the mental health crisis, largely exacerbated by technology, is more technology. And look, I'm not saying there's zero potential, but unless our goal is more mental health issues and greater emotional fragility, a chatbot may not be the wisest go-to solution. Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:42 - $100B Stargate AGI 9:03 - Death of DEI 19:00 - TikTok Troubles 27:19 - AI Chatbots for Mental Health

Can leaders truly balance the drive for high performance with the human need for purpose and connection in the workplace? This week I'm talking with Nick Hobson, a PhD and Managing Director of North America for Influence at Work. We delve into the intricacies of behavioral science and its practical applications in the workplace. It's a discussion on the evolution of work and the human desire for purpose, autonomy, and collaboration, a deep dive into understanding human behavior and motivation. A key theme is the research and science behind paradoxical leadership, balancing people and performance, and the necessity of self-awareness and reflection for leaders. This puts to bed the false dichotomy between focusing on people or performance, advocating for a both-and approach to leadership. Our conversation also touches on the research-backed benefits of diverse and inclusive teams, the power of pausing to gain perspective, and the potential of experimentation within organizations. This conversation will be valuable for any leader seeking to navigate the complexities of the modern workforce balancing both satisfaction and productivity. Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 14:37 - Rise of Behavioral Science 19:12 - Evolution of Work & Human Behavior 27:12 - False Dichotomy of Performance & People 34:16 - Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivators 45:21 - Balancing Performance & People 52:04 - The Power of Pause 1:04:09 - Importance of Experimentation

Dropping this week's update a day early, but that's not due to a lack of content. In fact, there was so much to say on this week's updates that I pushed a couple to next week. As always, thanks to those of you who pass things along. I sincerely appreciate hearing from you. And with that, here are some of the latest happenings at the intersection of business, technology, and the human experience. Nueralink Patient Plays Chess - "The Force" is no longer limited to Obi Wan and Luke, which may be a little terrifying when considering what happened when it was used by the Dark Lord. Jokes aside, there continues to be exponential progress with the merging of humans and machines, but what are we not considering? Pay Transparency Backlash - Mandating pay ranges be made publically available. What could possibly go wrong? I guess it depends on your definition of "going wrong," but let's just say there's no shortage of chaos recently. It's a complicated situation and unfortunately oversimplified solutions rarely work well for the complex. Deathbot Research Findings - Grief isn't easy to deal with, so maybe throwing AI at it will fix it? The research is coming out, and it's not looking good for AI. However, I anticipate that won't stop the exponential growth of an industry built around leveraging technology to deal with grief. Perhaps we consider a more robust solution. Show Notes: 0:00 - Introduction 2:07 - Mind-Control Chess 14:15 - Pay Transparency Chaos 27:36 - Deathbot Research Findings

How do you influence others in the digital age, especially when there is so much noise and distrust? This week I'm exploring that question and more with Zenobia Godschalk, Head of Communications at Hedera. Together we explore the critical role storytelling plays in technology and everyday life. You'll learn why conveying the 'why' behind the tech is as important as the 'what,' especially in an era where trust in digital narratives is paramount. With a unique background, Zenobia shares how her start as an aspiring journalist to tech communications expert, has highlighted the need for simplicity and human connection in tech storytelling. Our conversation also touches on the challenges of establishing credibility and trust in a landscape where technology can fabricate extremely convincing falsehoods. All this emphasizing the importance of integrity in storytelling and the responsibility of both storytellers and consumers in discerning truth. Whether you're a storyteller or story consumer, you'll want to check it out. Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 2:07 - Zenobia's Story 12:12 - Evolution of Tech Storytelling 21:21 - Role of Simplicity in Storytelling 27:43 - Building Trust through Authenticity 43:00 - The Power of Humanity in Storytelling 47:59 - Advice for Story Consumers 59:24 - Conclusion

It's been another wild week at the intersection of business, technology, and human experience. While the headlines tell one story, the story under the surface seems to give indications of where things are heading. Needless to say, 2024 is on track to be a year to remember. Thanks to those of you who shared things. Always enjoy connecting with the community. Video Call Gaff - It's disruptive when tech tools roll out an update and you discover it at an unfortunate time. Apple is catching some major flack because of its OS update, which was designed to humanize video calls. Candidly, I think we'd all benefit from lightening up. Life is too short. Chip Wars - I'm not talking about a summer picnic gone wild. There is an arms war with AI chipsets, and there are a lot of folks determined to make sure we don't hit another tech winter. Nvidia famously made headlines this week with Blackwell, but they're not the only player making waves. The government is looking to give Intel a boost. Apple AI - Almost as headline-worthy as Jim and Pam finally getting together, Apple and Google made headlines by possibly teaming up to bring GenAI to the iPhone. However, there's a lot more to the Apple AI story than meets the eye, and I predict it's an indication of where AI is going. YouTube AI Tagging - The honor system has a place, but I'm not sure keeping people informed about AI-generated content is that place. That said, YouTube requiring creators to tag any content that incorporates AI-generated video is a start toward greater transparency. Humanoid Robots - The Jetsons had Rosie in 2062, but we may not have to wait that long. The race for humanoid robots continues and the progress in 2024 alone is mindblowing. If you're working at Mercedes, you may even be able to sneak a selfie in on the shop floor. Remote Work - Another disappointing week of backwards progress in the remote work world with Dell dropping a bomb that very well could land them in court. However, Tom Hunt is bucking the trend and letting his teams know he trusts them. Show Notes: 0:00 - Introduction 2:28 - Video Call Gaff 6:07 - Chip Wars 14:38 - Apple AI 23:29 - YouTube AI Tagging 27:34 - Humanoid Robots 35:09 - Remote Work

Feeling like the world of work is spinning faster than you can keep up? You're not alone. This week I'm cutting through the noise with Nick DeWilde, Co-Founder of Exec, to talk about what it really takes to keep your skills game strong in today's whirlwind of change. I really appreciated his experience in the trenches, from scrappy startups to shaping the future of skill development. Together we cut straight to the point on the skills that matter most, how to learn them, and why being human is your trump card in a digital-first world. We also explore the real deal on adapting, growing, and staying ahead without the buzzwords or the fluff. Whether you're leading the charge or charting your course, I hope this conversation helps you make sense of the madness and come out on top. Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 10:30 - From Institutionalized Learning to Practical Skill Development 17:55 - The Role of Human-Centered Skills 25:20 - Personalization in Learning 32:10 - The Role of Technology 39:45 - Identifying and Developing Durable Skills 47:30 - The Evolving Role of Coaches 54:20 - Closing Thoughts