On hitting refresh and seizing the opportunity of the digital revolution

On hitting refresh and seizing the opportunity of the digital revolution

On the 28th September the Birch & James team attended an outstanding event hosted by Intelligent Squared. It was a personal and honest interview which provided an interest insight into how Mr Nadella became the CEO of Microsoft and his style of leadership. Adding emphasis to the necessity of appreciating empathy as a valuable tool in good business, suggesting that it was arguable more valuable that traditional aggressive, ‘push back’ leadership.

My personal favorite take home lesson was his efforts to promote a learn it all culture as opposed to a know it all culture. Often, as we become “experts” within our respective industries we seize to challenge ourselves and our industries. And whether it be recruitment, finance, technology or whatever it is fundamental to assess and be self-reflective to strive towards constant personal and business growth.

On the topic of the digital revolution we are experiencing artificial intelligence, unsurprisingly, took center stage. Microsoft currently have in the app store Seeing AI, a revolutionary utilization of computer vision to significantly enhance the quality of life for those with visual impairments. The digital revolution is contributing, in this way and many others to continue to assist in the development of mankind.

Yet…on more than one occasion an audience of academics, professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs uttered concerns of an AI led conquest, a replacement of human led solutions to automated AI solutions to day to day and large scale complex problems. These fears, in my view, are not entirely misplaced and but are easily made redundant. This is through a promotion of instigating a contribution to the digital revolution for reasons other than financial reward. Microsoft and others have a duty to utilize their technology and resources to enhance and improve the world we live in by using AI and Machine learning to tackle global social, economic, and environmental problems. Using these technologies to tackle global warming, fight terrorism, improve access to education etc. Only then can we truly hit refresh and seize the opportunity of the digital revolution.

Thank you for reading.

Bawar Hamad