Invited by Holly and the team at Ingram Micro to keynote Ingram Micro ONE, its annual partner conference, attended by more than 50,000 people from around the world.
Matthew GriffinFounder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
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Holly and the team at Ingram Micro asked Matthew to be the keynote speaker at this year's Ingram Micro ONE partner conference, attended by more than 50,000 people from around the world. His brief was to show how people will be able to harness increasingly powerful exponential technologies to unleash their own human potential in new ways and achieve even greater things. This is the long-form, 'special edition' version of that keynote, with more futuristic content than the original.
Held every year, Ingram Micro ONE brings Ingram's staff, customers and partners together to 'Imagine Next', and to see for themselves how technology is changing the world and helping them re-imagine their businesses and prospects. The event is normally held in Colorado, but COVID-19 meant all four days were re-envisioned and moved online, complete with virtual stages, breakout sessions, roundtables and behind-the-scenes previews.
"Many people see AI and automation as a threat to jobs, but change your perspective and it's also an entrepreneurial opportunity."Matthew Griffin, Virtual, November 2020
Matthew spoke straight after Ingram's CEO, Alain Monié. He showed the many ways emerging technologies, from artificial intelligence and creative machines to digital humans, will help companies transform their businesses and help people unleash their own exponential potential.
His closing message was about perspective. Many people see AI and automation as a threat to jobs, but looked at differently they are also an entrepreneurial opportunity for anyone willing to use them.
311 Intelligence
What this means for your leadership team
Automation is also an opportunity.
The keynote asked leaders to change perspective. Many people see AI and automation as a threat to jobs. Looked at differently, they are an entrepreneurial opportunity for anyone willing to use them. Job automation is already reshaping office and factory work, so the choice is how to respond, not whether.
Tools now reach many more people.
Exponential technologies keep improving even as classic chip scaling slows. Artificial intelligence and creative machines are spreading through work, research and media. Teams that learn to direct these tools can attempt more than their size would normally allow.
Digital humans change customer contact.
Digital humans are life-like computer-made people that can talk and show feelings. They point to new ways to meet customers and partners. Leaders should test where they add reach and where a real person still matters.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
Which tasks in our business could staff hand to machines this year?
Do our people see automation as a threat or an opportunity?
Where would a digital human improve how we serve customers?
The trends and technologies behind this session
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
It suggests that the winners will be organisations that help their people use powerful technology, not those that only cut cost. Leaders need a clear stance on automation, and a plan to turn it into new work and new ventures for staff, customers and partners.
How does job automation relate to the keynote?
The keynote's closing message was that automation can be a threat to jobs or an entrepreneurial opportunity. Job automation is a trend rated Act now by 311, so leaders should decide soon which tasks to automate and how to retrain and redeploy people.
How do digital humans relate to the keynote?
Matthew showed digital humans as one of the ways companies can transform their businesses. 311 rates the technology Explore, with a first product in 2016. Leaders should run small trials in customer-facing roles and watch how people respond.
How can 311 brief our leadership team on this?
311 offers a private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector, in person first.
Bring this to your leadership teamA private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. In person first, anywhere in the world.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s session and 311 data.
If Matthew gave this session today
One AI user already directs about 18 people's work.
311 Institute's Future of Work research measures what one person can make and direct with AI agents and robots, and finds a heavy AI user already directs the work of about 18 people for $180 a month. It is a concrete measure of the human potential Matthew described.
