We've been rather distracted by a global pandemic. The ultimate understatement, and I do say it tongue in cheek. COVID-19 has had a catastrophic effect on the lives, health and economy of the whole planet. Let's not underestimate this.
However, if I could, I would like to rewind to the end of 2019, the dawn of the 2020's. Can you remember the dreams held last year for this golden decade and beyond? We had ambitions for a tech revolution fueled by AI, 5G, RPA, blockchain and cybersecurity, that was going to change the world.
Fast forward in your mind to 2030 then, realising these dreams. Smart cities with hyperconnectivity, virtual and holographic retail, autonomous accessible electric vehicles, clean and free energy, remote accessible healthcare, zero carbon everything, 3D printed carbon free housing, ultra productive and clean farming, intelligent medication, hypersecure transactions, an evolving monetary systems and so on. The frontiers of technology remain both exciting and endless.
This vision, these dreams, these possibilities have not gone away. In some ways our thinking has sharpened. In some areas our thinking reset. But leading government thinkers, countries and future focused organisations remain clear of the enrichment and opportunity that the tech revolution brings.
A tech revolution to build back better lives
The post-pandemic tech revolution needs to be a force for good and should demonstrably improve all of our lives. Through these last 12 months the human race has for the most part pulled together collectively, we have stopped and realised that our impact on the planet and green agenda is real and based in science. There has been a stark disparity of those suffering who 'have not' (food, heat, power, poverty) and our societal divisions have become front page news (e.g. Marcus Rashford and much needed school meals for children or the hand to mouth perils of self employed and 3 million who fell through the cracks). Thankfully, overall there is an overwhelming humanitarian desire for us all to get through COVID-19 together and in the least damaging way.
This gives us signals of how we build back better. Build back cleaner, build back inclusively, build back healthier, build back to improve our lives. The technological improvements on offer won't be a race of lowest cost to the bottom, but offer better products, better services, better jobs, better outcomes and better lives which are better for our planet. This is a quality led revolution, to leave behind hedonistic consumerism.
Makes my life better
For new tech to be adopted I think we are moving beyond hedonistic consumerism. Tech should have a purpose. Rather than being dazzled by shiny throwaway gimmicks and toys, tech will more likely be adopted if there is a clear benefit to themselves, their families and communities; and it is easy to understand and use. This will be a clear commercial advantage. For example;
Does this tech save more lives, such as 5G remote technology in ambulances or intelligent personalised medicines?
Does this tech reduce our carbon footprint, such as lab based meat, low carbon foods, clean power?
Does this tech improve the accessibility of clean food supply chains for all, such as 3D printed food, vertical farming?
Does this tech enrich our health, such as AI led and personalised health information and easily accessible healthy options?
Does this tech allow production of better quality products that last longer, driving down carbon usage, such as drone and AI technology to source issues and improve the life of assets and infrastructure?
Does this technology decarbonise my heating and cooling for me?
Makes our lives better
Technology will be more widely adopted and commercially more viable if it is a 'tech for all' approach, addressing head on the United Nations 17 sustainable development goals. Tech that divides society into those that can afford it and those that do not have access will cause societal disruptions which will become damaging on all fronts.
The pandemic has taught us that the lack of equality has exacerbated the problems it has brought. Those who have not, have had less resources and put themselves at increasing risk, beit through their social settings, their work setting exposure, job security or lack of funds. A government knows that for it's economy to thrive, it needs the majority of it's people enjoying the benefits of better, productive, safe and accessible jobs for all, combining the best of capitalist and socialist values. A government needs to steer its tech revolution in this manner, building quality businesses and industry.
And it is not only the technology, but their investment and commercial models which need a radical rethink to ensure that tech is accessible for all. Longer term, eco-systemic, multi-org, harmonising and accessible business models; including extended zero carbon equivalent investment models, sustainable value tables and science based disclosure. How do we ensure clean energy is as available for those in 10 bedroom housing as it is for those in 10 storey flats? We can't leave people on lower incomes picking up the carbon tax.
Technology road maps should encompass sustainability frameworks and at the very least acknowledge and address how they are creating technology to address issues of equity and sustainability. It's not only climate change that's at stake. Biodiversity is as important an opportunity to address; supporting food chains, medicine, communities, et al. These are all under threat undermining quality of life.
Better jobs, better outcomes, better national productivity
As the industrial landscape changes, future occupations will emerge and old jobs will disappear. The primary aim is that technology helps us do the job better and improves the quality of the outcome; not that it makes people redundant or that tasks are cheaper and faster.
As an example, imagine that we could allow a specialist surgeon in Germany to carry out vital operations in Kenya using 5G and robotic technology. Imagine that a remote surgeon could carry out life changing operations in an ambulance. This does not replace the need for the surgeons in Kenya, nor the need for a paramedic at all. It allows us to do more and do better, with the chance of a better outcome.
It is important that the training infrastructure to transfer skills and improve employment opportunities is in place early. Nations and people will all be in a better place if we take this approach.
Post-pandemic pace is needs driven
As I wrote in 2019, the explosion of technological advancement will accelerate exponentially in the 2020's. The race is on for bringing technological possibilities post-pandemic in to service. The opportunities are needs driven on a global scale, and less driven by consumer demand. Decarbonisation of our food chain, vehicles and homes is not a shallow nice to have for a select few, it's a humanitarian need for us all.
It is time bound. Time is such that we need proven NetZero routes around 2025 to hit our 2030-2050 goals of decarbonisation. We haven't got until 31st December 2049 to implement NetZero.
Consumer purpose should delight and drive traction
If we frame this right then these new technological possibilities should be an absolute delight to embrace and not forced upon the consumer. If the end user is forced to use something, it'll become redundant. If the end user thinks "this is awesome, I wish I'd have had this years ago", then adoption rates will be much greater. It's an 'and-and'; great for me and good for everyone. For example;
Make it easy for the home owner to decarbonise
Make sustainable energy free for all
Make carbon free food tasty and healthy
Make autonomous travel free, safe and joyous
Make the outcomes of AI software insightful and easy to use
Make my 5G glasses nice to wear and allow me to talk to anyone in any language
Make my remote meetings real so that we are virtually in the same room together (rather than 2D Zoom calls), can see, touch and talk to each other and have tools that we can simulate in AR together.
The pandemic has been harsh and has taught us much that should encourage us to design a better future for all. If we take care to build our technology pathways for the good of the human race, that makes my life better, our lives better, our communities better, our jobs better, our nations better, then we all have a brighter and better future to look forward to.
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