Will artificial intelligence, the blockchain, and robots change the world? Or, is it all just hype? Are we expecting or hoping for too much? Alternatively, should we be worried about the impact and effect of disruptive new technologies? Will they take over the world and (potentially) destroy humanity? There is considerable interest in these questions about technology – hope, hype or fear?
The most popular stories that popped up in my Medium feed recently seem to suggest that interest in the new technologies is greatly exaggerated. These accounts convincingly argue that the “fourth industrial revolution” has not happened yet.
These stories are probably correct. There are still plenty of usability, scalability and resources issues with most new technologies. We should not expect “singularity” – the point at which artificial intelligence enters runaway evolution – anytime soon. Bitcoin – or any other cryptocurrency, for that matter – will not be a widely-accepted currency tomorrow.
But this does not mean there is no sense of urgency. We should always remember it is not only about what the future will bring. It is about understanding the extent to which technology has already changed the world. Something is happening between the hope, hype and fear. And that is why we need to take immediate action.
Digital technologies have already reshaped the world in which we live and work. This is already our new shared reality.
Academia and research disrupted
Technology has had an enormous impact on research and education.
First, researchers do not have to work at universities or other research institutions anymore. Everyone can be a researcher using technology and smart platforms, such as blogs, online lectures and seminars, videos, podcasts and more. The traditional platforms and methods of teaching and research are becoming much less critical. The role and place of the academic is changing – and it is a good thing.
But, something more important is occurring. The most significant impact is now generated by studying and analysing new digital technologies. This becomes very clear when we examine the rankings of the Social Science Research Network.
I looked at the rankings of the top authors over the past four years, and the results were astonishing. For most of that time, the rankings were stable. Established names from established institutions dominated the download rankings. However, we can observe an apparent shift from last year. The established names are overtaken by a new generation of researchers that are either tech-savvy or write about the development and application of new digital technologies.
My conclusion? There is an enormous demand for the ideas and intellectual resources to help us understand the new world we are creating.
The key takeaway
Traditional models of business, government and education are fundamentally broken. They are ill-suited to this dynamic new world. And by ignoring these trends or, at least, failing to adapt to them, they seal their fate.
The only answer is to develop and share ideas about how disruptive digital technologies are transforming the world now. Technological innovation is shaping our world, but the speed and scale of social change mean that we must be faster in understanding and adapting to this new reality. Everyone needs guidance to make sense of our fast-shifting relationship with sophisticated new technologies.
And, this is the main reason why I want my students to understand the new digital technologies and their impact on society today and tomorrow. I do not want them to just scratch the surface. I really want them to obtain a thorough understanding of artificial intelligence, blockchain and other potentially disruptive technologies.
Because, never forget – there really is something already happening between all the hope, hype and fear.
