We’ve come a long way from scratching pictures on the walls of caves to communicate.
I feel very fortunate to have been born on the last day of the year 1989. The internet didn’t start becoming a part of every household until 1995, so I was one of the last kids to grow up with the largest screen in the house being a TV that wasn’t high definition. Keeping up with friends as a kid meant having an index card with names and phone numbers written on them thumbtacked to the corkboard over the wired phone or getting on the bicycle and riding to their house.
I was 17 when the iPhone launched. Facebook wasn’t a mobile app until 2008. While it seems so commonplace to have the world at our fingertips, the internet in everyone’s pocket is still a very new thing in the grand scheme of things.
Being a technologist isn’t exclusively about the internet, of course, but the pace of which our relationship with the internet and smart phones has evolved does serve as a strong illustration of how fast technology changes the way we live and work.
This life lesson came to mind for me because I realize that much of the opportunities I’ve had are a result of how I’ve learned and leveraged technology. The ability to understand how to use a piece of technology is core to most work. The discipline to master a particular technology can create significant opportunity.
“Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road.” – Stewart Brand
I’m sharing the Stewart Brand quote above to speak to summarize one point I’d like to make about why being a technologist is important for leaders. Good leadership is not dependent on the ability to use a particular technology but it is important have an awareness and understanding of what technology is available and what’s on the way.
To close this entry I thought a good example of being a technologist would be to show what it means to be at the early part of the adoption curve today. Artificial Intelligence platforms are becoming more user-friendly, and as I write these daily life lessons, I’m seeing AI generated art from text prompts being shared from my network.
For example, check out this post from my friend James Crowley for insight on how the image of a truck driver below was created. It’s amazing. He’s been experimenting with Midjourney.
the above image is generated by artificial intelligence engine Midjourney
His post inspired me to check out OpenAI’s ChatGPT engine to see what it’s AI would write about being a technologist. It’s pretty good.
What does this mean for the future? How will we know what my actual thoughts are and what was created by an algorithm?
I suppose we’ll find out.
In closing, here are my last human thoughts for this entry:
We now live in a world where we don’t merely use technology to create. We create technology that creates for us. Being a technologist today means having a willingness to learn, experiment, and leverage new innovations so that you can make a positive, virtuous difference for those you serve.
Ready for some robot thoughts?
Here’s the prompt I typed in ChatGPT:
write at least 250 words about why it is important for leaders to be technologists. Provide examples for how leaders can leverage technologies to improve communities, build teams, and improve relationships
And here’s what it created:
It is important for leaders to be technologists because technology is an integral part of our lives and it is continuously evolving. As a result, leaders who are knowledgeable about technology are better equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with it.
One of the key ways that leaders can leverage technology is to improve communities. For example, technology can be used to connect people, facilitate communication, and facilitate the sharing of information and resources. This can help leaders to build stronger, more cohesive communities and address the challenges that communities face.
Another way that leaders can leverage technology is to build and manage teams more effectively. Technology can be used to facilitate collaboration and communication among team members, as well as to automate repetitive tasks and free up time for more valuable activities. This can help leaders to build stronger, more effective teams that are better able to achieve their goals.
Finally, leaders can use technology to improve relationships with stakeholders, such as customers, employees, and partners. For example, technology can be used to facilitate personalized communication and to provide better customer support. This can help leaders to build stronger, more trusting relationships with stakeholders and improve their overall satisfaction with the organization.
Overall, it is clear that being a technologist is an important skill for leaders in today's world. By leveraging technology, leaders can improve communities, build and manage teams more effectively, and improve relationships with stakeholders. This can help leaders to be more effective in their roles and make a positive impact on the organizations and communities they serve.
Not bad for a robot.
