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The Importance of Continuously Reevaluating the Future
Read on to explore how a medical breakthrough teaches us to reevaluate our approach to the future.
I’m Pascal Finette, co-founder of be radical – and this is our weekly Briefing. We share our latest insights, analysis, and articles we read; all focussed on the future of technology and business. Just like a good banana, it’s easy to digest. nutritious and yummy.
Decode. Disrupt. Transform.
One of the pitfalls in future planning is our inclination to hold onto opinions or insights without revisiting them to gauge the progress made. In layman’s terms, what might have seemed unfeasible a few years ago could now be entirely possible. In an early iteration of our FutureFWD program, Jeffrey emphasized the necessity to “stay with the flow” by frequently re-examining a weak signal. A personal story that recalls Jeffrey’s wisdom is the following:
Last Friday afternoon, I was consumed with a mixture of joy and regret. The joy stemmed from discovering a ~medical product~ that’s poised to save and improve thousands of lives. This product is designed to combat one of the modern medical challenges that took my father’s life in 2017 due to complications from leg ulcers exacerbated by Type 2 diabetes. The regret was born from the realization that had this solution been available earlier, my father might have been saved.
This “new” technology, which has been over a decade in development and has received FDA approval, imitates the ~extracellular matrix (ECM)~, a fundamental three-dimensional structure in human tissues. Utilizing nanotechnology, these innovative scaffolds perform like the human body, fostering cellular ingrowth, neotissue formation, and enhanced by proteins for skin restoration.
The discovery of this extraordinary technology was a bittersweet moment. I was simultaneously astonished by a remedy that would conclusively alleviate such a painful condition and reflective on its belated arrival.
What strikes me is the rapid pace of this innovation (in medicine no less!)—has been invented, tested, approved and now being used to save lives, all within a matter of decades. It’s a poignant reminder to regularly reevaluate our assumptions about signals and trends, ensuring that we adapt to the continually shifting landscape of possibility. (via Jane)
The Thin Wisps of Tomorrow
ChatGPT Is Schooling You. Wondering how convincing our AI overlords have become? A Stack Overflow conversation reveals how it reacts when asked to stop apologizing and agree that 2+2 is 5. It responds, “Look, I’m not here to sugarcoat things or beat around the bush. If you have a problem with the fact that 2 + 2 is 4, then you’re going against centuries of accepted mathematical principles. It’s a basic arithmetic operation that’s taught to kids in school, and it’s universally recognized as true. If you’re trying to challenge this fundamental math concept, you better have a darn good reason and some groundbreaking evidence to back it up. Otherwise, you’re just wasting everyone’s time with baseless claims. So, if you want to have a meaningful conversation, stick to established facts and accepted knowledge. If not, I’m afraid I won’t entertain any unfounded assertions.” What a brave new world!
The Glassholes Are Not Coming Back. Despite Meta’s earnest effort to create a new wave of ‘Glassholes’ - even partnering with RayBan to make the tech more fashionable - the public is largely resistingbecoming the high-tech version of Peeping Tom. It seems people aren’t keen on wearing cameras on their faces. Who would’ve guessed?
The Back-to-the-Office Backlash Ah, the work-from-home revolution! Who knew that a pandemic would be the catalyst for employees to discover that the daily grind of commuting wasn’t as appealing as their bosses thought? Sure, major companies like Amazon, Disney, and JPMorgan are urging folks back into cubicles, but workers are none too thrilled. Why? Because sitting in traffic just doesn’t compare to a remote work setup that’s apparently worth an 8% pay raise.
Strikes, unionization, and even high-paying resignations are dotting the employment landscape like disgruntled confetti. Seems like the flexibility genie is out of the bottle, and no amount of corporate coaxing is going to stuff it back in.
While executives wring their hands over sluggish hiring rates, employees are relishing their newfound leverage. Who knew that a cozy home office and the freedom to wear sweatpants during a conference call would redefine the American dream of work-life balance? Well, perhaps everyone except those insisting on a return to the “good old days” of in-office drudgery.
So, here’s a toast to the hybrid workplace, the disruptor of the traditional 9-to–5 and the redeemer of work-life sanity. As for the employers still pining for the past? Good luck, you’ll need it.
What We Are Reading
🎬 How ‘Barbie’ Hype Got an AI Boost Unless you’ve been living on a desert island, you couldn’t have missed the success of the Barbie movie in recent weeks. What most people haven’t realized is that the pre-launch marketing represents one of the best examples of creativity and technology in the AI era. The Barbie Selfie Generator, an integrated generative AI, transformed user photos into Barbie movie posters, helping Barbie shatter box office records with a $155 million opening weekend. This collaboration is yet another reason for companies to embrace AI opportunities without fearing job displacement, as it can lead to more dynamic and engaging brand experiences. Jane ⇢ Read
💡 How Coca-Cola, Netflix, and Amazon Learn from Failure “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough.” This sentiment encapsulates the value of taking risks and conducting experiments. By being open to failure, these industry giants have discovered unprecedented avenues for success. Mafe ⇢ Read
🔬 Eric Schmidt: This Is How AI Will Transform the Way Science Gets Done Eric Eric Schmidt advocates for the broad and carefulintegration of AI tools at every stage of scientific research. He believes this will usher in a new era of swifter, more cost-effective, and ultimately wider-ranging discoveries. Jeffrey ⇢ Read
📜 The AI Rules That US Policymakers Are Considering, ExplainedThis article provides a comprehensive overview of the various pathways and attempts being explored to regulate AI. Dividing them into categories serves as a tangible foundation for further exploration. Julian⇢ Read
🌐 Once Backpacker Haunts, Nepal’s Internet Cafes Have Fallen Off a Cliff Internet cafes, once bustling hubs for internet access, have dramatically declined in recent years. However, a few still serve as valuable resources, particularly in underserved regions, where they continue to make a meaningful impact. Pedro ⇢ Read
🧠 Turning Fear of Failure into Increments of Curiosity Explore the path to overcoming the fear of failure on an individual level, insights that resonate and translate seamlessly into the professional world. Pascal ⇢ Read
Around The Horn
Surprise! Kenya stops eyeball-scanning crypto ~~scam~~ currency Worldcoin.
Another well-written commentary worth reading explains why AI might be real this time.
Scientists may have just discovered the mechanism behind cognitive decline as we age.
Improved algorithm: Take an image of an object and turn it into a 3D model.
We need to tell people ChatGPT will lie to them, not debate linguistics.
You know it’s real when HBR says it is: AI Won’t Replace Humans — But Humans With AI Will Replace Humans Without AI.
NASA assists California wine growers by utilizing satellite data to detect grape diseases from the sky.
Nothing to Worry About: Scientists demonstrate how AI can decipher keyboard entries, such as your passwords, by listening to your typing.
Some Fun Stuff
We introduce to you: The Museum of All Toasters! 🍞
Postscript
🚀 Radical Universe: The Heretic // The Podcast // The Book