The most recent meeting of Columbus Futurists delved into the topic of IBM’s trivia-savvy supercomputer Watson and his most recent performance on Jeopardy. Some of the discussion had to do with the thorny issue of machine ethics, based on the very human fears that machines may become intelligent in unintended ways and make ethical decisionsContinueContinue reading “On Machine Ethics”
Monthly Archives: February 2011
The Forgotten Question: Why?
Over the years, I’ve reviewed a couple of hundred long-term and annual business plans and a few dozen proposals for new products or projects. These business plans almost inevitably followed the cookbook approach you would find in any modern business school curriculum: a review of past and recent financial results; a simplistic SWOT analysis thatContinueContinue reading “The Forgotten Question: Why?”
The New Model Revolution for 2011
As I watched and listened to events unfolding in Egypt the last three weeks , I had a nagging feeling that there was something new here, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Then it occurred to me. Like a twist in a detective story, I realized that – for a million people inContinueContinue reading “The New Model Revolution for 2011”
Revisiting Future Shock
It’s been forty years since the publication of Future Shock, Alvin Toffler’s 500-page manifesto about the acceleration of change and its impact on individuals and society as a whole. I remember reading it soon after it came out (it was about the same time that I read the Whole Earth Catalog, Silent Spring, and TheContinueContinue reading “Revisiting Future Shock”
Even “innovation” is a 2-edged sword in a quest for growth
The TechColumbus Innovation Awards last week give us yet another opportunity to praise the innovators in our culture. Seems like our entire economy hinges on innovation – and particularly new ideas and new companies in the high tech sector. But there are some who are questioning the actual track record of innovation – as we know it – inContinueContinue reading “Even “innovation” is a 2-edged sword in a quest for growth”
Columbus Futurists 