The Power of the Collective: I Am ‘Them’

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While playing pickleball with my neighbor the other day, we began a conversation about artificial intelligence (AI). He was all worried about the potential downsides, but I was super excited about the possibilities and the way it's advancing tech.

In our back-and-forth discussion, my neighbor repeatedly used the word “They” to refer to an abstract group of people he believed would never prioritize building technology for the greater good. 

His skepticism struck a chord with me because I've seen a lot of changes, challenges, and broken promises in the tech industry over the past couple of decades.

He replied with his fears about how AI could do so many bad things.   Going back and forth, I tried to encourage him to see how cool things could be and he said “There's no way They will ever go for it.  They won’t agree to build things for the good.  They won't do it.” 

At that moment, I had an eye-opening experience, I was the ‘Them’.  

Having been in technology since the late 90’s and reflecting upon the tech leaders I know, I could not think of a single one who would intentionally refuse to help people. In fact, it is often the tech teams that maintain an optimistic outlook and keep the promise of technology alive, even when others are ready to give up.  

After a few days of contemplation, I couldn’t think of anyone who fit the “Them” my friend had clearly identified.  

Some people in the tech industry may be incompetent or lazy, but most are genuinely dedicated to fulfilling the promise of technology. While the skill sets of individuals vary, there doesn't seem to be any widespread discontent or nefarious behavior. This raises the question of who the elusive "They" really are.

The leaders who are running corporations, teams, their own family lives, their community groups, or anything else, have the opportunity to make a difference. I have the responsibility to give it my best shot at explaining how the technology could be used for good.  WE, as a larger group, have the opportunity to take that responsibility personally and commit to learning how to think differently to create the change we want to see.  

As I’ve researched and dove into the technology and started exploring, a couple of things stood out that hadn’t been present before I decided to take on the accountability of the “I” in “Them”. These trends stood out as the thinking and skills needed to take advantage of this huge opportunity we have in front of us: 

The Technology DOES NOT Need to be Feared

The actual AI technology is surprisingly dull. The way it is built is not some magical new way….it is a culmination of the last 30+ years of technology since the first PCs landed on every desktop around the world.  The magic lies in how easy and fast it is to use.  The promise of technology is here, now we need business thinking. 

We are at a tipping point on technology and where it ends up will be up to us, the people creating the ideas.   

New things are going to be created and we have a choice: 

• Do we want to put our efforts into defending things that could go wrong?  Do we want to build the same? 

Or 

• Do we put our efforts into products, ideas, and ways of working that are creative, purposeful, and ways to spur humanity forward positively? 

Putting our efforts into the betterment of humanity, the dark and devious world of hurting people will not be as appealing or fun for the individual, therefore creating a pathway to more happiness for all. 

The Expansiveness of the Opportunity is Unlimited

Personal Accountability:  If I am one of the experienced people that understands how the tech is built, what can be built, and what the opportunity of AI is, I realized that it is up to me and my colleagues to ensure that we spend our time building a foundation that will set up humanity for the future.  

That will require education, understanding, and new skills needed to take advantage of the opportunity in front of us.  The thinking has to be different. 

In the past, business and technology could operate separately but that mode of operation is dwindling...fast. 

Personal accountability will bring a big shift in thinking from where we are today.  It will also help dismantle the hierarchical process that leaves most leaders stressed about having to know everything. 

At the same time, it will allow all employees to bring their own purposes to their jobs creating more fulfilling engagement and better ways of working toward a bigger common goal. 

“Purpose-driven organizations succeed when their purpose is authentically aligned with strategy and operations.”
- Harvard Business Review

“Employees who trust their organizations show higher engagement, creativity, and productivity.”
- Harvard Business Review

We’re witnessing that money alone isn’t enough to motivate people, change is needed to excite, motivate, and create new things.  There is an abundance of opportunities to make a difference and a ton of money to make along the way.  The bigger challenge is going to be helping ourselves and our peers negotiate the loss of some of the ways of the past. 

“Make Accountability Solution-Focused”
- Forbes

The tools available through AI make the work needed to move quickly, with more ease, and create better outcomes, easily available to everyone…you don’t need to know how it works anymore.  

No One Knows the Answer, but We Can Create as a Collective: 

As we embark on changes, there will be new ways of thinking required over the next 5-10 years.  And anyone telling you they know the answer, is lying.

The call for new and creative thinking can be answered by this generation of leaders.  People who are not afraid of the unknown.  People that want to embrace the change and understand that humanity is an already evolved adaptive machine.  That we have modes of operation within our supercomputer brain, that make us highly skilled beings of change. 

Focusing on practicing our humanness strategically, we can start exploring new skills to use in the workplace and put some of the old ideas to rest.  And start creating.  Creating new ways of working, new ways of being, and new ideas to spur humanity forward.    

Will you be alone?  No…the power of the collective is that there will be more and more ideas to explore, ponder, and shift your thinking.  You are unique and special, but there are your people out there who want to support you in this change…because your contribution will support their dreams too. 

While none of us know the outcome, as a collective working together, we can take on the challenge directly and respond with ways to build a different system of operating within the workforce for the betterment of all.

Authored by: Lori Kirkland - © DeepHumanX