Bold stories. Future focused.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all around us. Do you see it? Do you know when you’re experiencing it? From your friend suggestions to your thermostat, from chat bots to Google searches, AI is ever-present and always learning. With enough power to help during a global health crisis and enough specificity to help resolve your personal banking dispute, the use cases for AI are truly endless – with opportunities spanning across industries. Three experts, consultant Nia Christian, researcher Peter van der Putten, and CEO and Founder of NewVantage Partners Randy Bean discuss what AI is and where to look for the data that’s used to power it.

Key Takeaways:

[2:58] What is artificial intelligence, and why should it matter to your organization? AI is already very much immersed in our lives, from social media friend suggestions to driving a Tesla, predictive text, even passport, and ID scanners. AI is everything from Roombas to full-scale robotic, back down to Zoom calls and banking apps.

[4:47] AI is an ever-changing definition, but one constant is that the processes require loads of data to build intelligence. AI data processing can save lives if we know what data to look at.

[5:41] As a Big Data and AI thought leader, Randy has some important examples of how AI helped in the time of COVID, to accelerate vaccines and help us learn from data.

[6:30] For Peter, he is most excited about the impact technology will have on society. He discusses an example of how the Commonwealth Bank of Australia not only used customer data to deliver better customer empathy through AI but built its AI systems around delivering financial well-being.

[9:15] Randy explains how organizations must optimize first hand, with an example of working with the US Department of Defense to help them learn how to use their data more effectively in case of a drone strike.

[11:48] What data matters, and how can you tell the difference between useful data and excess? Randy explains that it is synergistic, and your digital system must interact with your real-world system, not seek to replace it. We also must plan for how it will affect everyone from our vendors to our customers, employees, and CEOs.

[14:49] It will be up to us to take control of how we apply our technology if we want to make sure that our AI programs do not harm anyone.

[17:49] The key principle will be to make sure our AI accounts for mistakes and biases, and that it is empathetic and accessible to everyone.

[19:08] AI already responds to user values based on clicks and engagement, especially in social media. How does this translate into us holding AI responsible for its “intelligence” and decision-making? Peter suggests that AI is a reflection of our values and our actions, and it’s possible we can use that information to foster human connection and support.

[22:00] Developing useful and ethical AI means putting in the work ourselves and knowing what your organization or mission stands for.

Quotes:

• [6:30] “I think what I’m most excited for is all of the people that the technology is going to impact.” - Peter
• [10:40] “Organizations are drowning in a sea of data, essential data, that could be used more effectively towards their goals, which could have small and large scale implications.” - Jo
• [12:08] You need to be laser-focused in terms of understanding what data is most important and what data is most crucial.” - Randy
• [13:39] Whenever new technologies are brought into an organization, people effectively have to change their behaviors. These are things that can take years, and in some instances, even decades.” - Randy
• [17:23] If we want computers to learn values we aspire to, we must first be clear about what those values are.” - Jo
• [22:08] “Eliminating biases and implementing AI programs that treat customers and clients the way you’d like to be treated seems to be at the heart of successful data transformation.” - Jo

Continue on your journey:

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Mentioned:

• Nia Christian
• Digital Fastforward
• Peter van der Putten
• Randy Bean
• Fail Fast, Learn Faster

What if you could test run your dream job before entering the workforce? As a scientist in a lab or a marine biologist in the ocean? With the immersive learning capabilities of virtual spaces, some of our youngest students are being given that opportunity. Listen as Jessica Ochoa Hendrix, co-founder and CEO of Killer Snails, a virtual reality company building games for classrooms, along with Dr. Jacquelyn Morie and Dr. Skip Rizzo chat about how immersive learning is the future of education.

Key Takeaways:

[1:52] Before she was a technologist, Jessica Ochoa Hendrix was the Director of Organizational Learning at a charter school network called Uncommon Schools. At a secret science club, she saw the beginnings of what it would take to get more young people, particularly young women, interested in science. The beginnings of her company, Killer Snails was then formed as a way to make learning even more immersive and put the students into the role of scientists even further. Jessica and her team created BioDive, a VR game for the classroom, that uses virtual and augmented reality to ensure students are capable of doing the actual tasks that scientists do in the workplace.

[4:06] Dr. Morie speaks about how, from the early days, educators looked at VR as a kind of miracle medium. You can make something large or small, and we learn through embodiment.

[6:53] Jessica explains where the name Killer Snails came from. Just as deadly as these creatures can be, scientists have been using their venom to create therapeutic drugs, and the dichotomy highlights how science has incredible yet bizarre creatures constantly being studied and explored.

[7:32] The biggest challenge, Dr. Morie explains, is keeping up with a technology that is moving at light speed. We need schools to have supportive IT departments, so this technology can seem less daunting and overwhelming for teachers.

[12:13] Jessica believes we can use VR to help students and trainees at a new job by creating memorable experiences. This can help students see themselves as future professionals, and spark a passion for fulfilling their career dreams.

[14:20] Dr. Skip Rizzo talks about an example of a cognitive variable called mental rotation, where a large sample size of men outperformed women because of the way the task was presented. Noticing these biases as we build VR and augmented reality is extremely important to even the playing field and also debunking age-old biases in education.

[19:39] We can use world-building games like Minecraft and Fortnite to help students learn how to collaborate and lead, even with other children across different cities, states, and countries. Dr. Rizzo suggests this has the power to change how we perceive ourselves and one another.

[20:53] VR can help promote empathy, inclusion, and show us really what it feels like to walk in the shoes of someone different than us.

[22:50] It is very important to make sure that the creators building our virtual worlds are reflecting all of the realities that we currently have.

[24:11] VR gives users a deeper sense of agency than if they were watching TV because you are actually choosing your experience rather than being a passive participant.

Quotes:

• “VR speaks to our embodied self and we learn things through embodying it.” - 5:00 Dr. Morie
• “You need schools to have a good IT department that can support those teachers and make it less scary, and make their lives a little easier so they can convey the things that they do best to these students. - 10:40 Dr. Morie
• “It's really important to elicit this kind of emotional response from students and particularly girls and other people who are underrepresented in science to get this kind of emotional response because we want them to remember it.  - 14:25 Jessica
• “VR experiences are memorable not only because of their pseudo-physicality but because of their ability to evoke powerful emotions.” - 17:48  Jo
• “I think VR is going to be a powerful force in helping change behavior in a prosocial way in these areas to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.” - 20:34 Skip
• “If we are going to be putting people into simulations in which they are intended to have a bodied experience, we need to make sure that all kinds of bodies are being represented.”   - 22:16 Jo
• “It's not just making a story and putting someone in that story world, it's making an experience where the story arises from a person's choices and actions in that world.”  - 27:05 Dr. Morie 

Continue on your journey:

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Mentioned:

• Dr. Morie
• Dr. Rizzo
• Killer Snails
• Immersive Research Learning Network Conference
• BioDive!
• 1000 Cut Journey

Distance, isolation, and trauma are all too real for many, especially over the last year and a half. From physically isolated elders living in senior care to emotionally isolated veterans back home from deployment, there are so many people Kyle Rand, co-founder and CEO at Rendever, and psychologist, Dr. Skip Rizzo, are looking to help. Tune in to learn more about their vision for changing how we can move forward through connections – with the limitless possibilities of VR. 

Key Takeaways:

[1:11] For Skip, the key to using Virtual Reality is engaging people in things they can benefit from. Kyle saw VR as an opportunity for empowering seniors and to help broaden their world, especially those in long-term care facilities.

[4:23] Skip discusses his work with people who needed cognitive rehabilitation from traumatic brain injuries. He experimented with the game SimCity and found great opportunities in gamifying cognitive rehab even just with the emerging technology in the 1990s. He feels now as though VR’s vision has finally caught up to the technology.

[6:26] What exactly can VR do for us? It can provide a whole lot more than just entertainment. Kyle’s technology helps seniors cross off bucket list items, even visit their childhood home and gives them the opportunity to access memories that can help raise their mood and fight off the doldrums of isolation.

[10:15] Kyle shares a story of how VR helped rehab a dementia patient and bring back her happiness and upbeat personality.

[13:04] Skip and his colleague Barbara had already built a virtual Vietnam simulation in the late nineties, where patients could go into the environment with supervision from a professional at a pace they can handle.

[16:39] Social isolation is as detrimental to one’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes and is terrible for all of us, especially in the aging demographic. The pandemic gave many of us a feeling for the first time of being isolated, and VR can act as a tool to allow us to connect with each other, friends, family, and even caregivers. Kyle and his team at Rendever are launching a new study that pairs residents of senior living communities with family members with family members that live at a distance to see how we can better use technology for social health.

[18:53] Another profound opportunity is helping those in professions that come with a high amount of stress. Doctors and nurses have the highest suicide rate of any profession, and Skip believes we can take what we have learned from working with veterans and expand it to others.

[20:28] Virtual humans? Yes, Skip believes that AI-powered pseudo-people can be placed in VR simulations, and that may be the next step in virtual reality treatment. This can provide all the elements of talking to a real person without any of the judgement or time constraints.

[22:18] This industry really takes the mindset that all ships rise together. It’s a very collaborative industry and one that is full of creativity.

[23:36] We see a future in which virtual reality technology can empower communities to thrive way past the four walls of any building.

[24:33] VR isn’t just about anywhere, it’s about anyone.

Quotes:

[1:50] “The key here was engagement, engaging people in things they could benefit from.” - Skip

[4:06] “We looked at this technology as this incredible tool that really allows people to connect with the world outside of the four walls that they are confined within.” - Kyle

[5:05] We could get multiple seniors to put on these headsets together and share an experience and have that moment of joy, have that moment of happiness together, that gives us a really exciting opportunity to build a relationship and build a conversation, get people to talk and connect through these experiences.” - Kyle

[15:50] “There’s a lot of power here, and a lot of potential to do good and improve the human experience.” - Skip

[22:22] “I think VR will never be as natural as breathing, but VR will be as natural as jumping into a Zoom meeting or turning on Netflix.” - Kyle

[23:36] We see a future in which virtual reality technology can empower communities to thrive way past the four walls of any building. - Kyle

[24:33] Because VR isn’t just about anywhere. It's about anyone. - Jo

Continue on your journey:

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Mentioned:

• Rendever
• Kyle Rand
• Dr. Skip Russo
• USC Institute for Creative Technologies

How often do we trust the technology around us? Should we ever? CEO and founder of EMA Advisory Services, Elizabeth Adams wants to know – especially as it relates to AI surveillance. Smart phones, social media, and facial and voice recognition are commonplace for many. But do we know what, if any, ethical considerations shaped their development? That’s why Elizabeth is on a mission to fight for ethical, human-centric AI. Join us as we uncover hard truths about the role civic tech plays in our communities. 

Key Takeaways:

[1:56] Elizabeth, a long-time technologist, shares how she came to be involved in the ethical use of AI. After being part of the working poor for many years, she made a decision to focus on giving a voice to the voiceless.

[4:31] How does bias get coded into facial recognition? Systems are sold and trained by law enforcement that can be biased in a way that shows Black and Brown people as more suspicious. This can do irreversible harm to communities that are traditionally discriminated against.

[6:00] It’s not just facial recognition technology that can be biased and ultimately harmful, it can be other computer vision technologies as well.  Elizabeth discusses the example of how an infrared thermometer used during COVID picked up a firearm image more in darker-skinned users than lighter-skinned ones. When this type of technology is in the hands of governing bodies, this kind of AI can be dangerous to civilians.

[6:20] Elizabeth’s work with AI is first and foremost about making tech, especially surveillance tech, safe for citizens. That work took root in the city of Minneapolis, where she zeroed in on civic tech initiatives. Elizabeth explains that civic tech is when the government and the community work together on a shared leadership decision around what technology should be used to help govern society.

[7:27] Elizabeth discusses the coalition POSTME (Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology and Military Equipment) that she founded in Minneapolis. The murder of George Floyd by former police officer Derek Chauvin in 2020 sent a shockwave across the world. One that resulted in public demand for greater accountability and oversight of the way citizens, and especially communities of color, are policed. As a technologist focused on civic tech, Elizabeth uses her expertise, coupled with the power of advocacy, to make changes to the kinds of tech that police in Minneapolis can use.

[10:41] Often, those doing the surveillance are too removed from those being policed. This is especially dangerous for black and brown communities. Because if the police don’t know the people they’re supposed to be serving, they often fail to distinguish between who is a threat, and who isn’t.

[13:49] Clearview AI is a facial recognition technology designed for use by law enforcement. When it was adopted by the city of Minneapolis, Elizabeth’s coalition discovered the tech was using data in clearly unethical ways. In February of this year, the Minneapolis City Council banned the use and voted unanimously to ban the use of facial recognition technology. Although challenging, this was a big win for Elizabeth and her team.

[16:01] So what business does AI-driven facial recognition have in the hands of the law? Elizabeth explains how it could be used for good including everything from helping recover someone lost with dementia, and to identify the perpetrator of a crime.

[19:18] Whether it’s an issue of bias coded into the AI itself, or just in those using it, we need more attention to the way we govern it, and that needs to start from the design.

[20:11] As consumers, we trust new technologies too easily and forget to think about who may be harmed by them. Elizabeth gives the example of Hello Barbie, which was discontinued in 2015 after the AI was powered in a way that could not only speak to kids but listen to them too.

[23:02] Elizabeth and other leading technologists have given so much to society but no one has asked what they have given up. Time, educational goals, and personal moments with family all sometimes get lessened by the time it takes to create new and ethical AI that is safe for everyone.

[25:20] With endless opportunities to innovate, we need to ask what is its purpose, and who is it serving? How can it bring us together, and who may it potentially hurt?

Quotes:

“I made a decision that I would definitely focus on those who are the voiceless, those who have no seat at the table and have no decision-making power or shared decision-making power at the table.” - [2:23] Elizabeth

“It starts in the design session with the data. And if the data is not diverse, then the system output will not be able to identify diverse people.” - [4:50] Elizabeth

“Often, those doing the surveillance are too removed from those being policed.” - [10:41] Jo

“I don't think that we can live in a world post 9/11 here in the US without some sort of surveillance. However, it needs to be ethical. It needs to be explainable. It needs to be trustworthy and transparent. There needs to be some oversight.” - [19:45] Elizabeth

“We aren’t going to get away from technology, so why not make it as safe as possible?” - [21:57] Elizabeth

“With endless opportunities for tech companies to innovate with AI, we all need to start asking more pointed questions about its purpose, and who exactly it’s serving.” - [25:40] Jo

“The future of ethical AI is going to be determined by our ability and willingness to ask big questions. So we need people in every corner of every industry asking: Is this technology safe? Do we understand how it uses our data? Does it have our permission to use it? Did it even ask us? And if it does, if we say yes, it needs to be because it serves a purpose. Because it serves us all.” - [27:03] Jo

Continue on your journey:

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Mentioned:

• Elizabeth Adams: Twitter | LinkedIn
• EMA Advisory Services
• Safety Not Surveillance Coalition
• Joy Buolamwini
• Coded Bias

The power and scope of distributed cloud can’t be understated. It allows our technology – essentially everything connected to the internet or housing our data – to run more reliably and efficiently. But as its power continues to grow, how do we balance its scope with our real needs and our efforts at conservation and morality? Two experts, engineer Malini Bhandaru and author Joe Weinman, dive into the history of cloud computing, its current role in the ever-expanding Internet of Things, and its increasingly complicated future.

Key Takeaways:

[1:22] What is distributed cloud and why does it matter? Malini helped write the origin story of today’s cloud computer servers and saw the benefit of sharing resources long before working with server solutions was cool.

[3:36] We like to have things as a service. Joe weighs in on the power of making computer power as ubiquitous as possible.

[5:25] Speed is a critical component of compute power, and it has a significant impact on businesses trying to compete for customer loyalty.

[6:02] Compute power in the cloud increased its reliability in the face of natural disasters, allowing the data to go to another server. This resilience will be critical for companies as they prepare for future disruptions in the face of climate change.

[6:57] On the reverse side, data and compute processing also has a great impact on climate change as some operations glut energy resources relative to their size. Joe examines the examples of blockchain technologies and bitcoin mining.

[7:55] Machine learning is greedy for data, especially in deep neural networks. Malini’s advice is to identify the value of the work relative to the cost involved.

[8:16] Cloud providers are making an extremely conscious effort to be net-zero. Joe advises caution regarding maximizing the efficiency and utilization of the public cloud and shares global examples of using renewable energy.

[9:54] We can be smarter about our smart devices — do we really need to communicate with our washing machines and refrigerators?

[10:37] What exactly is the Fog? Also referred to as edge computing, Joe describes it as compute storage and network security resources on virtually every street corner, something that will become more and more essential as we reach close to a trillion devices around the world.

[13:08] The internet of things makes fast access to servers necessary — the devices that keep us moving and connected only work because of the cloud.

[15:40] As connected clouds are collecting data, processing it and communicating with one another, a fertile space for AI learning is developing. From farm fields saliva samples, collected data makes information innovative, mobile, and dynamic.

[18:50] With distributed cloud and edge technology, we have the power to change the world. But are we ready for the responsibility that comes with it?

[20:16] Malini weighs in on the positive changes that have come with edge computing.  Maybe this is the answer to fossil fuels, climate change, and a faster more resilient connection for everyone.

Quotes:

[1:32] “Machine learning was something I’m interested in because it’s amazing to see how we learn and do things.” - Malini

[8:10] “We have to think about the value of that work we’re doing to the cost that’s involved.” - Malini

[13:22] “We have all these devices and they’re all connected and they only work thanks to the cloud.” - Joe

[16:31] “Assuming that data is what feeds this beast, the data has to come from somewhere.” - Joe

[18:20] “The world really will experience accelerated innovation through many of these technologies.” - Joe

[20:08] “Artificial intelligence has a great opportunity to do amazing things… but there may be challenges.” - Joe

[21:46] “Some women have changed the path for us and it’s our job to change the path for others.” - Malini

Continue on your journey:

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Mentioned:

• Jo Richardson
• Malini Bhandaru
• Joe Weinman
• James Dodkins

In today’s seemingly disconnected society, the world of virtual reality is leading us toward more meaningful interactions. But how? Virtual reality pioneer and sculptor, Dr. Jacquelyn Morie, shares her perspective on how immersive virtual environments have the power to bring people together in unexpected ways. Whether its purpose is to facilitate engagement through fun activities or to promote mental or physical healing, find out how the emotional connections built along the way can create a lasting, positive impact.

Key Takeaways:

[1:22] 30 years ago, virtual spaces were ghost towns. But Dr. Jacquelyn Morie saw the potential for more in these early virtual worlds. Her aim was to turn virtual spaces into the immersive spaces that she envisioned for her artwork.

[4:06] The emotional element was missing from early virtual spaces, and by adding meaning to these spaces, users began to create a context and representation of the culture that will inhabit it. When designing spaces for combat veterans who were dealing with PTSD, Dr. Morie learned that the space needed to be conceived by the veterans themselves to represent their culture.

[6:49] How can virtual reality keep people connected to Earth and their loved ones from more than 200  million miles away? The NASA Hi Seas project aims to do just that for astronauts preparing to go to Mars.

[10:33] Floating down a virtual river with friends or building a house together just might be the ticket to weathering challenging times in the real world. Dr. Morie weighs in on the benefits of engaging as an avatar in a mindfulness training center for active-duty soldiers.

[12:52] VR can also be used as distraction therapy. Snow World provides an effective distraction for children who are receiving pain treatment, resulting in limited opioid use and fewer treatments needed over time.

[14:09] Scent is one of the harder VR elements to control, but it’s also one of the most powerful. Dr. Morie shares the scent experience that transported her back to her childhood and began her journey to harness the power of scent in VR.

[17:20] Accessing deep-seated memories might unlock the mysteries of the brain that science has yet to explain, but smart technologies are still incredibly infantile compared to what our ancient brains are capable of doing.

[18:25] Is it possible that VR might be able to help people through their end-of-life journey? Old people's homes are already utilizing Google Maps to take people back to their childhood homes in an attempt to help with their final transition.

[19:18] The lines between virtual and actual reality continue to blur, challenging developers like Dr. Morie to continue working on ‘the good stuff’ that comes with augmented reality- including virtual humans.

[21:50] Making choices is at the heart of the human experience, and while we don’t know the future, we can guess about its trajectory and decide who we want to be in the new future of VR.

Quotes:

[3:49] “I knew virtual reality could be really effective in a way that nobody was thinking, which was the emotional component.” - Dr. Morie

[13:28] “I would say the best use of VR over the last 20 years is for these medical therapies.” - Dr. Morie

[13:55] “We’ve seen so much success in what we can do with virtual reality because it does allow you to help someone change a point of view.” -Dr. Morie

[18:14] “We are just beginning to connect what VR can do to what our brain can do.” -Dr. Morie

[21:40] “By the end of this, it’s really going to be something where it’s all just choices that make the most sense for what you’re trying to do or learn or be at that point in your life.” -Dr. Morie

Continue on your journey:

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Mentioned:

• James Dodkins
• Dr. Jacquelyn Morie

Hyperautomation is quickly changing how we work – all while the barrier of entry into the tech is slowly lowering. Combined, this all allows more people to take advantage of opportunities in the tech world, while also shaping its future. Hear from Rizel Scarlett, a director at G-Code House who’s helping women and non-binary individuals start their careers in tech, and Spotify’s Global Intelligent Automation Leader Sidney Madison Prescott. Both touch on their tech origin stories, how the nature of work is evolving, the role hyper-automation is playing through it all, and more.

Key Takeaways:

[3:40] Sidney shares how being an outsider in the industry has actually been an advantage in her work with Spotify. She came in with less preconceived notions about the process of hyper automation, and a fresh idea of what it could really mean to hyper automate the process of work.

[5:11] The language of the tech world can seem daunting to try and understand. At G{Code} House, Rizel is helping to pave a smoother path for women in tech and nonbinary individuals of color. She helps them rise above imposter syndrome and step into their highest potential.

[6:46] Sidney explains exactly what hyper automation is and how it works as an enablement tool. She talks about how it shapes our idea of what it means to be a human in the workforce.

[10:27] The pandemic has shifted the nature of how we work, and Botany is an app that uses automation to increase engagement between engineers. Rizel appreciates it for not only increasing the visibility of a person, but seamlessly gathering important information.

[14:25] If we can get past the fear of change and our innate trepidation towards disruption, hyper automation can help us be better at our jobs. Sidney speaks to how Spotify is introducing this change to their workflow.

[16:57] We can use hyper automation tools, but it isn’t a stand-in for the human connections that foster authenticity in the workplace.

[18:27] There is power in the vulnerability of saying “I don’t know”. Rizel encourages her team to never be embarrassed of staying curious, and admitting when they don’t know something.

[21:03] New technologies may make some jobs obsolete, but it can also mean new and emerging opportunities. Sidney has her eye on new experiences, and things hyperautomation can help us reimagine the way we work.

[22:42] The next era of true innovation and hyperautomation is going to be how we can take what humans can do today and enable us to do it in an augmented fashion.

[25:05] Can we rethink what it means to do work and experience the world? Yes, but we have to be willing to question everything. If we want a wider perspective, we have the responsibility to make our workplaces accessible, authentic, and inquisitive.

Quotes:

[3:40] “Being an outsider helped me to come in with less preconceived notions about what it meant to look at an existing workflow, optimize that workflow through some sort of automation design.” - Sidney

[8:02] “How do we rethink what it means to be a human in the workforce?” - Sidney

[12:37] “Automating the little stuff helps, so you can focus on the actual human element of helping that person.” - Rizel

[18:05] “We can’t always have the answer. And that’s more than ok. It’s brilliant. The power of saying I don’t know comes with the potential to learn and embrace new ideas, in new ways.” - Jo

[18:46] “There is a distinct and wonderful culture at Spotify where we are encouraged to bring our authentic selves and uniqueness to the forefront of the work that we do.” - Sidney

[19:22] “I see future generations playing a very big role in this, because that disruptive nature and spirit is what's going to enable us to think in these very creative ways about disrupting the business phase.” - Sidney

[20:13] “If innovation is what we want, we need to foster a workforce with diverse perspectives. That starts with the hiring process.” - Jo

[22:36] “If we want the wider, more encompassing perspective that greater diversity offers-- from more women, from more nonbinary people, more people of color-- we have the responsibility to make our workplaces accessible, authentic, and inquisitive.” - Jo

Continue on your journey:

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Mentioned:

• Resilient Coders
• G{Code} House
• Botany
• Rizel Scarlett
• GitHub
• Sidney Madison Prescott

As we continue to reimagine work, hyperautomation – or augmenting our ability to work smarter, not harder – will undoubtedly play a big role. Just ask Lila Benhammou, CEO of Humans 4 Help, who’s used hyperautomation to streamline human-focused operations. Or Francis Carden, VP of Digital Automation and Robotics at Pega. Listen as both experts talk about the value of automating intelligently, and the role that RPA, overcoming legacy systems, and learning from digital natives will have as we continue to evolve how we do our jobs. 

Key Takeaways:

[1:22] What problems can automation help? Lila weighs in on how she and her team at Humans4Help worked with schools across France to make cafeteria enrollment easier. Francis used automation to clean up the tedious process of managing many emails in a company newsletter.

[3:38] Automation is about augmenting human workers, not replacing them. It can help us remove some of the boring and repetitive tasks from our jobs. Hyper-automation means automating more intelligently, which is a big distinction from regular automation.

[4:22] What exactly is intelligent automation? Francis feels that it is the next round of computerization and the digital revolution the way software needs to work.

[6:25] There must be a process for choosing what gets automated, and what doesn’t.

[9:55] Venmo is a perfect example of a digital native company that is highly automated without the strangulation of legacy debt.

[12:23] Companies must face not only the time that it takes for workers to learn new skills, but also welcome a shift of perspective and take a step further than slight alterations or just learning a new skill. Lila explains what this actually looks like in practice. Instead of doing the work itself, we need to supervise the bots doing it.

[17:23] Where can a lover of the mundane hide from a hyper automated workplace? Lila explains that we can learn from Kodak’s lack of innovation to see how important it is to get in the game of the new way of working. Lila warns us that within 5 years, all companies must innovate, or they are going to die.

[19:40] Part of this transformation is going to be learning how to manage the data. The winners will optimize the hyper-automation process while positioning the people and technology at the same level.

[20:20] Francis explains how the hyper-automation transformation has barely begun. It is important for the leaders now to mentor the next generations to come.

[22:40] Are we prepared for the potential changes hyper-automation may bring to the way we experience experiences? Lila explains why we might not be prepared yet, but if we keep our focus on the future, that day just may be here sooner than we expect.

Quotes:

[3:43] “That doesn’t mean we’re going to steal the work from humans. That means that we’re going to augment that ability to work better instead of work more.” - Lila

[4:50] “It's the difference between only automating the processes as we do them today, and reimagining processes as they could be done — if we embrace the technologies available to us.” - James

[10:45] “I've seen organizations go from being a truly big, monolithic analog company into a digital company in very short order. And that is accelerating. And if you don't do that, your competitors are, and you will just lose out.” - Francis

[18:47] “So that new way of working has definitely set up a new game in a way that you have to live with the digital transformation.” - Lila

[21:40] “We need people coming out of the education system, believing in this art of the possible, just understanding that it is possible. And then their careers will take off.” - Francis

Continue on your journey:

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Mentioned:

• James Dodkins
• Lila Benhammou
• Francis Carden
• Humans4Help
• Pega Robotic Process Automation

In this hyperconnected era, how can the average person gain back control of their data? Fay Arjomandi, founder and CEO of Mimik Technology is one changemaker aiming to do just that by disrupting the computing world with her hybrid edge cloud platform. With data autonomy embedded in Mimik’s business model, Fay aims to create an ethical, sustainable way to make data work for its producers. Listen as Fay shares her story and her vision for the future of data democratization, the usefulness of the hybrid edge cloud, and what’s next for ethical technology.

Key Takeaways:

[1:51] Fay Arjomandi has always pointed her compass toward new frontiers. She was a child when the Iranian Revolution upended her life, and this led her to choose a path that felt right to her, despite any opposition. She speaks about how growing up in a world with political upheaval now helps her have empathy, curiosity, and passion in her role as Founder, President, and CEO of Mimik.

[3:38] Mimik is Fay’s third company, and her first two helped her understand how the traffic pattern of mobile internet and how we consume and share information was about to change. We needed to protect our digital footprint, reduce our digital waste, and have the ability for the cloud to move. Enter mimik access, a test application that can help turn your devices into cloud storage.

[4:09] Fay and her team developed Mimik in stealth mode until 2019. Hybrid-edge cloud gives users control of their own data, and democratizes the wild west of cloud data processing.

[7:06] COVID-19 became the business justification overnight and the perfect data demand with privacy and scalability at the height of our society’s needs. Fay discusses how Mimik’s technology can address better and more secure COVID-19 contract tracing.

[11:43] Separating users from data is built into our current model, but it’s a model Fay hopes to change. If we don’t adapt, we have a lot of shame and profit loss coming our way. She and Jo discuss rideshare as an example where workers should be paid for their data contributions, especially as they are being replaced in the workforce.

[14:19] After leaving Iran, Fay started her first company, a hair salon in Dubai. From there she moved from Sweden, Turkey, Germany and Canada to become an award winning makeup artist. At 22, someone told her she was too old to go to engineering school, and that sparked a passion in her to prove them wrong and help pave the way for others in the tech industry.

[15:58] The core part of Mimk Technology is to enable solutions that are getting developed by giving data control back to the data producers. Fay is optimistic about the future, and sees the landscape as an opportunity.

[17:42] We need to participate in digital income generated from our contribution. If this is the fourth industrial revolution, we can learn from ones that came before, and protect the vulnerable and low income from being the most affected. We can build profitable and equitable businesses that allow everyone a fair chance.

[19:27] Giving people access to information and the ability to consume information is the answer to elevating social discourse.

[21:19] We can save our data like a bank, and get paid for our knowledge as it accrues and builds over time. This not only gives us money, but more control, privacy, and a holistic view of our own usage.

Quotes:

• [3:05] “I was always trying to find a way to live as who I am, and discover myself.” - Fay
• [9:49] “I call it living in a glass house naked. That’s how we are right now, given everybody is looking at our data.” - Fay
• [10:37] It’s not just about nosy spying, it’s about power imbalances, control, and influence. - Jo
• [23:20] “The future of digital can be a force for good, but it starts by returning data to the people.” - Jo

Continue on your journey:

pega.com/podcast

Mentioned:

• Mimik
• Blue Origin
• Declaration of Internet Freedom

We’re back and bolder than before. In season 2, we talk to more experts and gain greater perspective on topics like hyper automation, AI and governance, extended edge computing, and much more. Interested in how to future-proof your work, your teams, and your industry? Let’s find out together. Tune in to all new episodes of Bold stories. Future focused. beginning September 14th.