Insights

Creative Machines: AI and the Future of Work

Nov 08, 2023

The digital landscape is undergoing unprecedented change, leaving many in the telecom industry grappling with an identity crisis. In a world where technological advancements are evolving at a breakneck pace, it raises the question, "Things are moving so fast – how do we keep up?" 

Well, Ian Beacraft, Founder, CEO and Chief Futurist of Signal and Cipher, can show you how.

During his keynote presentation, Creative Machines: AI and the Future of Work, delivered at the 2023 Somos Summit, Ian made it explicitly clear:  We need to embrace creativity as well as adapt to the convergence of technology and culture.

According to Ian, who is a leading authority on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the future of work, one of the best ways to stay ahead of the curve is to step out of one's comfort zone and harness the power of creativity.

Ian highlighted how properly embracing, utilizing and implementing AI can optimize the way we accomplish tasks. So, why the hesitation to adopt AI solutions? As Ian noted, AI is a deeply polarizing topic. While some anticipate its potential with awe, there are also several detractors that view its possibilities with trepidation and skepticism. Whether we like it or not, AI democratizes opportunities, largely because it places value on creativity over automation.

Technology is not only changing the way we work, but it’s also reinventing how we connect with what we do for a living. AI is not just touching our job descriptions though; it's also disrupting business modeling and how we approach formulating strategy. "We're commoditizing the creative product. Now, being creative is more important than ever," Beacraft passionately declared.

In a world where machines prioritize efficiency and effectiveness, Ian underscored the necessity of embracing our humanity and our creative capabilities, which are innately messy but uniquely valuable. This led to the introduction a concept Ian refers to as the “creative generalist.” Asserting that creativity is not an exclusive trait of artists, but a quality present in ALL of us, Ian used this opportunity to assuredly share that the advent of AI has offered a unique opportunity for individuals to thrive as generalists.

The concept of the “creative generalist” doesn’t come without its challenges. “How do we preserve human value?” According to Ian, the answer is clear: let machines handle administrative tasks and allow humans to focus on the complex and creative challenges that AI cannot easily handle. He specifically emphasized how critical it is to strike a solid balance between commoditizing creative content and preserving one’s individual worth. In other words, the more we can do with technology, the more we can focus on the altruistic aspects of humanity.

In an era where AI, robotics and other scientific advancements are redefining industries, Ian emphasized how technology is affecting both one’s daily personal life as well as one’s professional relationship with their place of work. The frameworks we use today will not be the same as those utilized in the future… Which is why it's especially critical that we constantly adapt and innovate.

As apprehensive as some may be about embracing a more tech-forward outlook, Ian stressed the fact that in the age of AI, change is inevitable, and it's the choices we make that will define our successes. Rest assured however that AI is not here to replace us, but rather to transform how we interact with technology and subsequently, the way we work in general. When looking at the convergence of AI and the future of work, one thing is abundantly clear: We’re not mechanizing labor; we’re digitizing it.

For every challenge that comes with embracing innovation, technology and creativity, there is an equal number of opportunities that stand just beyond the horizon. AI is not only changing our job descriptions and our perspective of work; it's disrupting business models and our approach to strategy. The future is calling, and its message is clear: "We'll find better ways to spend our time.” That is IF we can embrace the transformative landscape with open arms and minds.

Let's face it: the future is here, and it's moving faster than ever before. As technology continues to redefine industries – including telecom – it’s not about losing our jobs, but instead reshaping our roles and empowering all of us to embrace the creative potential within ourselves. At the 2023 Somos Summit, Keynote Speaker Ian Beacraft offered a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead and awakened a renewed determination to drive change in our dynamic, technologically advanced world .

Ian reminded all of us that for better or worse, we're living in an era of explosive technological growth that demands us to embrace creativity and adapt to the convergence of technology and culture.

To learn more about the 2023 Somos Summit and to gain access to on-demand recordings, visit www.somos.com/summit.