Thriving in a digital world

Today we are living in a world already transformed by Artificial Intelligence (AI). When we use a smartphone or go on the internet or even use the automobile, we are actually interacting with AI. This is the thesis of the book “The Digital Mindset: What it Really Takes to Thrive in the Age of Data, Algorithms and AI” written by Paul Leonardi and Tsedal Neeley published by the Harvard Business Review Press, 2022.

This is what differentiates this book from other publications that say that we are only still in the early stages of the Age of AI.

The two authors are both academic professors.  Leonardi is a professor of Technology Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara.  Neeley is professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School.  According to the two authors, the digital revolution is already here and is changing how work gets done and how people from all walks of life work, behave and relate to each other.

This new revolution is driven by data and powered by algorithms and is forcing us to see, think and act in new ways. Therefore, there is a need for those who want to meet these new challenges to develop a “digital mindset.” This term engenders a fear in all those who are afraid of the new technologies and believe that they cannot cope with the intricacies of coding, algorithms, machine learning, robotics and everything that is about to happen in the world of AI.

Again, the two authors say that any person with a certain level of education and literacy can develop a digital mindset and this book will show them how.  The book will also help the ordinary person to develop the digital skills that are needed.

What can having a digital mindset accomplish? To the average reader, with a digital mindset, one can at least ask the right questions, make smart decisions in today’s world and appreciate new possibilities for a digital future. According to the two authors, “Leaders who adopt these approaches will be able to develop their organization’s talent and prepare their company for successful and continued digital transformation.”

According to Hiroshi Nikitani, founder, chairman and CEO of the Rakuten Group: “The digital mindset is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to become a better leader, future-proof their career or simply gain a better understanding of the present and future of business.”

Eli Girard, former CEO of Atos, said: “If we continue to consider the digital age as a purely technological revolution, we will miss the most significant economic, political and behavioral disruption of our societies since the Industrial Revolution.” The Digital Mindset offers the 360-degree understanding necessary to seize this moment.

For those who are new to reading books about the digital revolution and AI, they will discover that one good feature in the book is that it offers a definition of terms. Perhaps this is because the two authors are university professors. Here are some examples of useful definitions:

“Data” refers to any information that can be used for reference, analysis or computation. A grocery shopping list and a weather forecast are examples of data.

“Technology” creates, captures, transforms, transmits or stores data.  For most of human history, the technologies that perform these tasks were very simple, like stone tables, papyrus and paper. Today, data are transformed at exponentially higher volumes and speeds through myriad devices or interconnected devices like sensors, computers, software programs, cloud-based storage and smartphones.

“Digital mindset” is the set of approaches we use to make sense of data and technology. These are the sets of attitudes and behaviors enabling people and organizations to see new possibilities and chart a path for the future.

According to the authors:  “Big data, algorithms, AI, robotic teammates, internal social media, blockchain, experimentation, statistics, security and rapid change are some of the major digital forces that are reshaping how we live and work. These forces are disrupting how we interact with our colleagues and creating new demands to restructure organizations to become more competitive.”

“Algorithm” is a set of instructions that tells a computer how to perform a certain task. Algorithms are made up of scripts which are lines of code put together.

Another interesting definition is the term “digital,” which refers to the interplay of data and technology that actually is already running much of our daily life in this modern world. Some examples are smartphones, apps and streaming services that are reshaping how we work and how we entertain ourselves.

For those who believe that developing a digital mindset is going to be extremely difficult, the book states it is not as hard as you might think. Most people can actually become digitally savvy if they follow the “30 percent” rule. This is the “… the minimum threshold that gives us enough digital literacy to understand and take advantage of the digital threads woven into the fabric of our world.” It should be enough to get one started.

The book with all its definitions will make the reader attain a degree of digital mindset that will “future-proof” yourself, your career and your organization.”

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