The Inevitable Future: Embracing Change, AI, and Data Streams

The Concept of "Becoming"

Kevin Kelly's book, 'The Inevitable', introduces the idea that everything is in a perpetual state of transformation. This concept of "becoming" emphasizes fluidity, continuous change, and evolution. Similar to water flowing downhill due to gravity, certain trends in business and technology are unavoidable, although their specific forms might be unpredictable. We possess the power to influence the direction of these technologies, highlighting the significance of our choices.

The transition from tangible products to intangible services exemplifies this constant flux.
Consider the shift from purchasing goods in stores to subscribing to online services.
This fluidity extends to software, which is becoming increasingly dominant.

We inhabit a liquid world characterized by constant upgrades and improvements. Even seemingly solid objects, such as cars, are continuously updated, as demonstrated by Tesla's overnight upgrades. This requires us to embrace lifelong learning to adapt to this ever-changing environment. We should view all things as processes rather than finished products. For example, Wikipedia is not a static encyclopedia but a continuous process of creation.

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence

Technology will continue to advance, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) playing a crucial role. AI is not just about making things smarter; it's about fostering diverse ways of thinking. AI will bring about fundamental changes, akin to the invention of the printing press.

AI is already replacing human experts in fields like X-ray analysis and document review.
It's even being used in piloting aircrafts.
The goal is to develop different kinds of AI that can think in unique ways, not just to make AI smarter than humans.

Numerous startups will focus on applying AI in various fields, resulting in a snowball effect as machines become more intelligent with increased use. Intelligence should not be seen as one-dimensional. It is more like different instruments playing different tunes, creating varied IQ profiles. While concerns about robots taking jobs are valid, AI also generates new job opportunities. AI is helping humanity transition from the age of electricity and steam to the modern world. The future will see intelligence as a service, transferable like electricity. Tasks requiring creativity and not emphasizing efficiency are more suited for humans, while repetitive tasks can be handled by machines. Hence, the future will involve collaboration between intelligent humans and machines.

The Era of Screen Reading

Screens are becoming ubiquitous, with any flat surface having the potential to transform into a screen. This includes books, clothing, and any surface we interact with. These screens form an ecosystem that not only displays information but also observes us.

Screens can track our eye movements, allowing them to understand where our attention is focused.
This data is used to adjust what is displayed on the screen.
Emotion tracking is another example, where screens can adjust based on our attention and emotional state.

We are transitioning into an era of screens, shifting from reading books to reading screens. Instead of relying on the authority of books, we are moving towards a more fluid, open, and chaotic world where we must assemble the truth ourselves.

The Flow of Data

The evolution of computers has progressed through three stages: folders, networks, and now, the flow of data. We are currently in an age of streams, with the cloud being composed of various streams. Everything is becoming a stream, from music to movies. Data is the driving force behind all businesses. Whether it's real estate, medicine, or education, you're ultimately dealing with data. The internet is like a city, characterized by infinite growth. Facebook, for example, has billions of social connections, creating immense value. This vast amount of data is forming a super-organism, far exceeding the capacity of the human brain.

The Power of Remixing

Very few innovations are entirely new. Most innovations come from the recombination of existing elements, a process referred to as "remixing." This involves deconstructing and reorganizing elements in a new way. Think of LEGO bricks being taken apart and put back together in a new form. The same applies to newspapers, which are a combination of different elements. The internet has deconstructed and recombined newspapers, and the same can be done with banks and cars. Applying the concept of the periodic table to businesses can help identify the necessary elements for creating new things. Businesses should deconstruct and reorganize their components to innovate, leading to new creations.

The Importance of Filtering

With numerous choices available, our attention is becoming scarce. We need filters to help us find what we truly need. Attention is the most valuable resource, and money follows attention. If people pay attention to something, there's value in it. We should be compensated for our attention, such as being rewarded for watching ads.

The Significance of Interaction

The impact of interaction is as significant as that of AI. Computers rely on interaction, and this trend is transforming our experiences. The future of computing will involve seamless, full-body interaction. Devices will understand our gestures, and our interaction with them will become more natural. Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) will allow us to see and interact with digital objects in a more immersive way.

The Shift to Usage Over Ownership

We are moving from a world of ownership to one of usage. Companies like Uber, Facebook, and Alibaba don't own the things they provide. The concept of ownership is no longer as important as the ability to use things. Using something and then discarding it is better than owning it and being responsible for its maintenance. The concept of ownership is changing, with the right to use becoming more valuable than ownership itself. This trend is evident in software subscriptions and in the transportation industry with ride-sharing services. On-demand services will become more common than ownership.

The concept of sharing goes beyond just sharing possessions. It's about collaborating. The more we share, the more value we create. Sharing should be viewed as collaboration, and it has the potential to bring about social change by allowing billions of people to interact and work together. Blockchain is a good example of this, allowing for distributed transactions where everyone can collaborate.

The "Beginning" and Experimentation

When new technologies are invented, their applications are not immediately apparent. The uses for technologies are often discovered through experimentation. Technology must be used to be evaluated and refined. We must guide the direction of technology by using it, testing it, and optimizing it. We need to learn from our mistakes. We must do, try, and explore before we think and plan. Learning is a continuous process of innovation. We must not be afraid of making mistakes. Small, continuous errors are necessary for driving significant innovations.

The Value of Asking Questions

Finding answers is easy today, thanks to search engines and AI, but asking the right questions is becoming increasingly crucial. We must train people to ask insightful questions and create new problems, as good questions are more valuable than perfect answers. Questions can open up new fields and drive creative thinking.

Disruption from the Outside

Disruption rarely comes from within an industry. It's often driven by external forces. Disruptive technologies often exist for a long time before they become mainstream. Innovation is not always profitable, as most inventions fail. However, startups are often the ones that drive disruption because they don't have the constraints of established companies. The next wave of disruption will come from outside traditional industries, such as drones disrupting airlines and Bitcoin disrupting banks. Companies must continually evolve to increase their adaptability.

The Future is Now

The future is filled with possibilities, and we must believe in the seemingly impossible. What seems unlikely today will likely become commonplace tomorrow. We are still in the early stages of development. The best time to start is always now, and the greatest inventions have yet to be made.