5 Things Bill McDermott can teach us about Augmented Humanity
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly part of our daily lives. It is being used by virtual assistants like Siri, Google Voice and Alexa, recommendation engines from Netflix and Spotify, and promising new applications including those in healthcare, where it is being used to reduce misdiagnoses and speed up the development of new drugs.
However, the technology is still in its infancy, and technological expectations are high while ethical considerations loom large. ServiceNow CEO and former SAP CEO Bill McDermott champions the importance of emotional intelligence and using emerging technologies so people can focus on what matters the most: creativity, strategic thinking and achieving higher value outcomes. That’s the world of Augmented Humanity.
Here are five things he says about a future where “smart machines work in harmony with humans, rather than in competition with them.”
1. The intersection between humans and technology is changing
Who can make the world run better? A study by Deloitte revealed that millennials believe business leaders have a more positive impact on the world than government or religious ones.
Artificial intelligence can carry out people’s errands in a smart and efficient way. But while many societal challenges can be addressed with the help of AI, there’re also concerns about its impact on the job market.
Technology leaders are instrumental in ensuring that machines work in harmony with humans, rather than in competition with them. They also carry the responsibility to drive thoughtful debates about the impact artificial intelligence can have on society.
“Growth companies put humans and machines on the same side — the human experience is our highest calling,” says Bill.
2. X+O will power the experience economy with much more than ‘hugs and kisses’
XO doesn’t stand only for hugs and kisses. Experience data (X-Data) provides valuable insights on consumer sentiment at the moment, allowing business leaders and stakeholders to understand how people feel and why they make decisions when they do. At the same time, operational data (O-Data) presents what is going on inside the company, its back-end processes, and key performance indicators.
Combining X-data with O-data is a real game-changer that provides organizations the first-ever opportunity to close the experience gap. The transformative potential of XO is a true example of inspiring leadership: translating vision into reality and predicting the future by creating it.
Bring it on XM! The world is excited! XO XO
3. Machines don’t dream, people do
Dreams are the fundamental essence of our human nature, and trust is the foundation for ambitious dreamers and doers. But let’s face it, there is enough pessimism in the world and a huge trust deficit between people, public and private institutions.
Bill likes to say that trust is the ultimate human currency, and optimism is the only free stimulus. A successful organization that keeps up with sustainable growth is based on teamwork and cooperation — not between machines, but between people. Advanced technology should lead to human prosperity. In order to do so, people need to trust each other and dream big, turning our greatest challenges into our biggest opportunities.
“If you can connect dreams and details, you can achieve a lot!” — Bill McDermott
4. Intelligent enterprises put their confidence in youth
A report from the World Economic Forum suggested that artificial intelligence will create 58 million net new jobs over the next few years. Bill advocates that leaders in government and private sectors work together to ensure that young people have the skills needed for this new economy.
Social responsibility means everyone is accountable for improving society at large, including large corporations. Intelligent Enterprises understand that diversity is a key driver of innovation, enabling a sustainable future where technology optimizes resources and improves people’s lives.
“You have to do that by opening up the aperture and opening up the conversation, especially before young people get to university […] We provide not only technology, but also our executives and our time to make sure the requisite skills are provided to these you people” said Bill McDermott.
5. Machines have code, but humans have a conscience
Bill always says that a good leader must be in service of the people. Regardless of the technological advancements that will come next, we should first understand and celebrate the real value of human power and human conscience in the era of digitalization and disruptive technology.
Together, we can create the future we want to live in. “Even in divisive times like these, we see human qualities such as ingenuity, kindness, innovation, and creativity rise up, take hold and gain unstoppable momentum,” Bill says. “It is possible to create a world where AI benefits humanity, where automation frees people from dangerous, repetitive tasks and affords us the freedom to focus on activities that only humans can perform — with empathy, moral judgment, and love.”
