In a recent post, I asked my readers to help me identify those catalysts that force the actions required to steer our future towards advancing our human development. Feel free to respond to the Poll. The number one response was the rapid pace of innovation. That response supports my own opinion that the pace will ultimately force stakeholders across multiple domains to take action. Much like the Domain Convergence that occurred during our most Transformative Period in History, convergence is required if we are to take the correct path towards human flourishing.
Balancing the Opposing Forces of Innovation is critical to enhancing our future. This subway diagram focuses on two paths: one that enhances human development (green), and one that diminishes it (red). The station stops are the major innovations likely to have the biggest impact in either direction – but we could add several other stations based on the number of Building Blocks available to society. Click on the visual to expand it.
In a recent book titled The Big Nine, author Amy Webb describes three future scenarios for artificial intelligence: optimistic, pragmatic, and catastrophic. This type of exercise is instructive, as it paints a picture of the potential paths for one of our station stops – and that’s just one stop along the way. What happens when the various stops spawn new stops? What happens as they converge and amplify impact? In the aforementioned book, our author describes the prescriptive steps to be taken to ensure a path towards human flourishing. We’d be wise to heed her advice.
Reimagining the Future 
[…] On April 5th, Amy was a guest on CXOTalk. CXOTalk presents video interviews with business, technology, and healthcare leaders on transformation and the impact of digital. Topics include AI, data science, digital transformation, and evolving business models. Both the book and this fascinating interview are a must see. The importance of dialog, education, and future focus cannot be overstated. Ms. Webb gives us the benefit of her broad and deep experience as she looks at how we got here, and where we might go. The potential paths are varied (some good and some bad). I explore those paths in this recent post on Mapping the Path of Innovation. […]
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[…] On April 5th, Amy was a guest on CXOTalk. CXOTalk presents video interviews with business, technology, and healthcare leaders on transformation and the impact of digital. Topics include AI, data science, digital transformation, and evolving business models. Both the book and this fascinating interview are a must see. The importance of dialog, education, and future focus cannot be overstated. Ms. Webb gives us the benefit of her broad and deep experience as she looks at how we got here, and where we might go. The potential paths are varied (some good and some bad). I explore those paths in this recent post on Mapping the Path of Innovation. […]
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[…] and deem this emerging era to be the greatest in human history. However, as described in my post on Mapping the Path of Innovation, human action must again be mobilized if we are to shape a future of human flourishing versus […]
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[…] on well-being in the Western world. The Possibilities are boundless – but society must Map the Path of Future Innovation. I walk around this innovation wheel when describing it to an audience, investing time in […]
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[…] we must not lose sight of the advancements that enable the green path. As I discuss in my post on Mapping the Path of Innovation, this subway diagram focuses on two paths: one that enhances human development (green), and one […]
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[…] that Japan has accounted for the destructive side of the Innovation Path, this vision is refreshing on a number of […]
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[…] to Singapore. Advances in science and technology represent not just opportunity, but a number of Societal Challenges – they also hold the keys to solving them. In so doing, the hope is that Society 5.0 […]
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[…] This is how innovation goes mainstream – and in this exponential age – it does so rapidly. As this unfolds, it leaves society with the task of Mapping the Path of Innovation. […]
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[…] In an example of how these rapid advancements are likely to solve some grand world challenges, this article describes how Technology Will Disrupt The Nursing Shortage. There are countless examples of how challenges ranging from hunger, disease, and disability, to climate change are likely to be solved as we innovate. The other side of that coin are the unintended consequences that take a darker path, requiring society to Map the Path of Innovation. […]
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[…] – and although I share his optimism, there is no disputing societies need to map that Path. His ability to explore possible futures is very instructive, as leaders everywhere must understand […]
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[…] This is one small example of a future scenario that drives a broad set of implications. On the one hand, we may realize a world of Food Abundance. On the other, a series of unintended consequences that could drive other societal issues. All the more reason to track these scenarios and Map the Path of Innovation. […]
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[…] Emerging technologies: AI and biotech are classic “dual-use” tech that can be exploited for good and for ill. My take: Each of our trends will take two paths as they journey forward; constructive and destructive. This historical fact should put a premium on our need to Manage the Path of Innovation. […]
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[…] in science and technology. While many fear the downside of innovation, I am a believer in Mapping its Path. Allowing the blind to see seems worth […]
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[…] are so many positive outcomes to consider. This revolution represents as it always does a need to Manage the humanity enhancing and humanity diminishing […]
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[…] add the topic as another stop along this innovation journey below. As I described in my post on Mapping the Path of Innovation, we decide which path society […]
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