š¤ PeopleFirst
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Thinking Allowed
This is a People First post that was originally on the People First domain. It has been moved here as part of my domain consolidation program. Itās a steady and slow WIP as I check each entry, so do please bear with me.- More about People First
- Other People First Posts
(not just from the āother domainā ā¦ all of them.)
Part of an occasional series focused on the š§¶ thinking and methods. of š§¶ People First. Time will tell if it becomes something bigger like a book or ‘manual for survival’ (though that is the plan.)
Part of an occasional series focused on the š§¶ thinking and methods. of š§¶ People First. Time will tell if it becomes something bigger like a book or ‘manual for survival’ (though that is the plan.)
Part of an occasional series focused on the š§¶ thinking and methods. of š§¶ People First. Time will tell if it becomes something bigger like a book or ‘manual for survival’ (though that is the plan.)
š Identity as a Product … neat idea from @dave
An identity service as a business. Operated by a strong company with longevity and a good track record for treating users and developers fairly.
Hmm - let me think who that might be?
Over on LinkedIN, š Richard Foster-Fletcher - founder of š MKAI asks
The full piece is here
I started to reply and of course LinkedIN gave me its usual ātoo longā message ā¦ hence the post. (Those that follow me, might recognize some of the arguments.)
My Response
Yes we do need to rethink work-life balance ā¦ and we should start by scrapping the concept entirely. I doubt Ed Sheeran (to pick a random name) worries about his work-life balance? Or anybody who is doing what they love and getting paid to do it for that matter.
The problem is that for most people āworkā is not a passion, or love ā¦ it is the means to an end of building income that then allows them to follow their passion. Remember āhobbiesā? Remember āholidaysā? Remember retirement? ā¦ all constructs that allow people to take a break from āthe machineā and do what they really want to do.
Work-Life balance is one of those. It is only needed in a world where the work part is not your dream, passion, love ā¦. So bring on the AIs and let them pick up the drudgery of our work lives. Let people move on to thinking and doing things that they consider meaningful and love and have a passion for.
Of course, this Utopia is destined to fail, without significant changes in the social fabric of society.
Take a look at what most musicians, artists, writers (insert the thing you really love and want to do) actually earn and quickly realise that they donāt make a living, much less a good one. Now imagine doubling or trebling the number of people trying to earn a living in that way .. and ask yourself if X million people currently struggle to make a living, how 2X or 3X are going to do that?
Bonus question. When will corporations stop thinking of customers and staff as two distinct āaudiencesā, and realize that they are all connected, starting with the fact that they are all people. As more companies shed people from their books through automation, outsourcing, off shoring and now (apparently) AI, they get to produce more and more things for customers to buy at less and less cost. Thats the āmaximizing shareholder valueā bit.
Last time I looked, the buying power of the robot market was non existent - primarily because they donāt get paid for the work they do. As āthe machineā replaces more and more people by āmachinesā, there will be less and less people earning income to buy the stuff that the corporations are producing, it doesnāt matter how good their product is ā¦ nobody can buy it, even if they want to. Then what?
This is why asking what the future of work looks like is asking the wrong question.
BTW - Richard hosts an excellent salon under the umbrella of MKAI, hit me up if you would like to join - and I will connect some dots.
The Antidote To Worldcoin
and then there is this ….
ā¦ sheās talking about Sam Altman
š You can read the whole piece by Molly here, which includes substantial thinking on the challenges of decentralized identity.
The cryptocurrency industry is rife with projects that embrace the idea of āprogressive decentralizationā: beginning out as a highly centralized project run by a small group, but promising to eventually turn over control of the project to a DAO. Few ever follow through,10 but it is a convenient way to stave off criticism.
š¬ Molly White
In my same ‘reading session’ this piece from my friend Alan Mayo : The Reasonable Future: Identity 2.5 appeared. He concludes;
Some of the world is hell-bent on achieving Identity 3 Decentralization and, ironically, this is not going to happen anytime soon. With our current proven technologies we have all the building blocks to build sophisticated Identity solutions that provide a good customer experience and good security. That is where we should be spending our time, rather than dreaming of an impossible future.
š¬ Alan Mayo
The Antidote?
Stop listening to people who are playing both sides of the ‘Business Equation’ - even better … stop acting on their recommendations. Altman isn’t the only one.
This is a š§¶ People First post - to see others in the series, click here.
šļø The Future Of Income
Over the years I have used different words, different ‘lenses’, different āglassesā, āfiltersā - but it all comes down to this.
And too quickly I am told that āUBIā is not the solution, to which I point out that I never said it was. Delighted to hear David Wood making exactly the same point. He goes on …
what is happening is not business as usual.
I agree.
The Full Podcast:
šļø David Wood Talking On David Brownās Podcast
š A List of AI Links
Like a lot of us I guess - I have been reading and listening a lot to the AI chatter. This is a list of not everything I have read and listened to - and not quite sure why these ended up on a list and others didnāt - but still you might find an interesting nougat in here?
My last š Travels Without Charley makes for a short, thoughtful read.
Thinking Allowed
This is a People First post that was originally on the People First domain. It has been moved here as part of my domain consolidation program. Itās a steady and slow WIP as I check each entry, so do please bear with me.- More about People First
- Other People First Posts
(not just from the āother domainā ā¦ all of them.)
Am I missing a step with webmentions?
š A recent post on People First was syndicated to Micro Blog.
I replied to that post in MicroBlog.
And it seems to be approved
So, shouldnāt it appear here?
š³šæ Small Businesses in New Zealand - And Elsewhere
The particular comment I was responding to was in a private group hosted in New Zealand - hence the opening paragraph. BUT - I think it pertains to any country. In that post, this link was provided ā I think New Zealand has more businesses (and hence āsmallā businesses) per capita than pretty much any New Zealand just doesnāt have the people to support it.
BUT - when you leave New Zealand ā¦ there has been something happening for a while now. I will try to discover the article I wrote a while back ā¦.
Hereās the nub ā¦ In the US (but I am pretty sure this applies to most countries) 50 to 60 years ago, big employers like GM and GE were the dominant market cap companies on the financial exchanges. Not entirely un-coincidentally, they were also the companies that employed the most people. Fast forward to today ā¦ the market caps of the biggest companies are an order of magnitude higher than the ones back then and the number of people they employ is an order of magnitude less. Meanwhile the population of America has doubled? Tripled?
So where are all those people now working? Answer small ā¦ or at least smallER businesses.
Some of this has been achieved by improved efficiencies ā¦ we no longer need banks of people directing calls, typing up documents, manufacturing cars ā¦. But also ā¦ since the 70s there has been a steady drip of those organizations getting those people āoff the booksā .. why employ people if you can off shore, outsource, automate processes ā¦ and the new one - use AI. The result is that more and more people are in smaller and smaller businesses but often working in service to a larger organization.
Quite simply - If I am building a house (actually - or metaphorically) .. do I employ everyone full time ā¦ or contract with the right resources at the right time to get the job done?
Tongue in cheek .. but for the longest time, I have had this vision of the ideal company comprising a single individual with āagentsā managing their āvirtual supply chainā that they need to deliver value to their customers.
This thought informs the graphic below - 'The Business Equation' - and is foundational thinking in the People First domain.
š Clubhouse is laying off more than half of its workforce - The Verge
Quel surprise ā¦ I wrote this when I was still on the wait list ā¦ and once in I even guested on a couple ā¦ my one word summary of the experiences, the site, the conversations, the quality ā¦ ācrapā.
Ten things that you can do to embrace the future of AI whilst mitigating the threat of losing your liveliehood.
1.Ā Stay informed:Ā Keep up-to-date on the latest developments and trends in AI and automation, and how they are affecting your industry and job market.
2.Ā Develop new skills:Ā Continuously learn new skills to stay relevant in the job market, such as programming, data analysis, or other skills related to AI.
3.Ā Pursue higher education:Ā Consider obtaining a degree or certification in a field related to AI, such as computer science or data science, to prepare for the jobs of the future.
4.Ā Explore new career opportunities:Ā Look for opportunities to work with or alongside AI, such as in fields like robotics, automation, and machine learning.
5.Ā Be adaptable:Ā Embrace new ways of working and be open to adapting to changing work environments as AI and automation continue to transform the workplace.
6.Ā Build a strong professional network:Ā Connect with other professionals in your field and seek out mentorship and guidance to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in AI.
7.Ā Be creative:Ā Explore new ways of applying your skills and expertise to stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on emerging opportunities in the AI economy.
8.Ā Consider entrepreneurship:Ā Starting your own business or pursuing self-employment can provide greater control over your livelihood and allow you to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the AI economy.
9.Ā Advocate for policies that support workers:Ā Encourage policymakers to create policies that support workers and address the potential negative impacts of AI on employment, such as job retraining programs and income support for displaced workers.
10.Ā Stay positive:Ā Embrace the potential benefits that AI can bring, such as increased productivity and efficiency, and stay positive about the opportunities that lie ahead.
Ten things that corporations can do to empower their employees and their use of AI whilst NOT reducing their workforce to increase profits.
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Invest in upskilling and reskilling: Provide opportunities for employees to learn new skills and develop expertise in areas related to AI, such as data analysis, programming, or robotics.
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Foster a culture of innovation: Encourage employees to experiment with new technologies and processes, and provide the resources and support necessary to implement new ideas.
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Promote collaboration: Encourage cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing, to bring together employees from different departments with diverse skill sets and expertise.
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Ensure transparency and communication: Be transparent about the companyās AI strategy and communicate clearly with employees about how AI is being used and how it will impact their work.
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Emphasize ethical considerations: Ensure that AI is being developed and used in an ethical and responsible manner, and prioritize the well-being of employees and society as a whole.
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Implement AI for augmentation rather than automation: Use AI to enhance human decision-making and productivity, rather than replacing human workers with automated systems.
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Prioritize employee well-being: Consider the impact of AI on employee well-being, and take steps to mitigate potential negative effects, such as stress or burnout.
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Encourage employee feedback: Solicit feedback from employees on how AI is being used and how it could be improved, to ensure that employees feel empowered and engaged in the process.
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Reward creativity and innovation: Recognize and reward employees who come up with innovative ways to use AI to improve the companyās operations or products.
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Invest in long-term goals: Focus on the long-term benefits of AI, rather than short-term cost savings, and invest in initiatives that will create sustainable growth and benefit both the company and its employees over the long term.
šļø Whats good for the Goose is good for the Gander
13 seconds that neatly encapsulates the People First challenge. Maybe AI will finally push open the flood gates
The Full Podcast:
It’s been a while since People First released a newsletter - just put that to right.
ä· Glossary Terms
Slowly building up my glossary links ( thankyou @AndySylvester ) … 4 active so far … more in the background - and none of the embedded terms are yet implemented (except that one at the bottom of this post). None of the click throughs are final text yet - but that is kind of the beauty of the š glossary.
Learn more about People First.
An experiment as I think about moving peoplefirst.business into MicroBlog.
About my position on The Future of Work.
The glossary allows me to set one or more fixed footers on any post that are generated dynamically, so if I want to change anything - I change it once and it changes everywhere. This is an example of such a footer.