The Invisible Hand Shaping Your Future
Tech Decisions You can't Afford To Ignore
I recently became a writer / contributor to Forbes … an opportunity I’m grateful for no doubt … check out my first FORBES article!
In exploring what to write, I debated with myself! What can I write that hasn’t been written before? What should I share that isn’t a regurgitation of something else? What can be discussed that is a cross section of both non-technical & technical worlds that is relevant to all of us? We all have access to articles, newsletters, news, social media and more - there’s no shortage of information in today’s world.
Filtering information happens to be is a BIGGER exercise than staying informed.
In the discovery, I found a gap. What we don’t have access too are interpretations that are unbiased, not self-serving (because our livelihood depends on it), and one that gives us a broader view that incorporates enterprise, big tech, starts-ups, small businesses, regulators, and non-techie mere mortals (like my mother and sister). A voice that blends everything together so that we’re aware of the decisions being made in the tech industry that is shaping our future, whether we like it or not!
When we think of big tech, who do we think of? Apple, Google, Amazon, etc.
When we think of AI, what do we think of? ChatGPT
When we think of Tier 1 VC’s, who do we think of? Sequoia, YC, etc.
When we think of Enterprise, who do we think of? Fortune 100’s like Walmart.
When we think of Non-Tech, what do we think of? Perhaps Small businesses who run our communities (i.e. coffee shops and dry cleaners) & our parents.
How do these worlds connect and collide in a recent decision that was just announced?
Apple, a company we all love and know for our beloved iPhones, and Microsoft, a company we live with because of corporate emails, somehow secured ‘non-voting’ rights on OpenAI’s board (the creators of ChatGPT for non-techies). Why the hell does this matter to us?
Non-voting seats have limited influence on a board
Non-voting seats have limited accountability and responsibility on a board
Sounds like the opposite of why boards exist .. because it is! Somehow the tech giants of today’s world (Amazon & Google excluded) secured visibility into one of the most powerful AI companies of today, while abdicating responsibility. One can suspect this is for profitable/commercial reasons, perhaps. But that’s not what matters here, what matters is …
A woman by the name of Margrethe Vestager put a stop to it, and essentially said ‘not in my house’! She used the recent EU AI legislation as a catalyst and kicked off an investigation, or what is commonly known as a Discovery. She went on record saying Big Tech can block smaller companies from being successful, and basically, she ain’t having it!
The best part is … after the discovery was kicked off, both Microsoft and Apple pulled out of their 'non-voting’ seats on the board. Simply put, the exposure and questioning was too much, and the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze. Go Vestager!
Whats the moral of this story?!?
Whether you’re a mere mortal and not sure of what’s happening around you, or a techie trying to keep pace with the evolution of AI, boring words like regulations, governance, ethics, and privacy are keeping the big guys in check. And thankfully, some individuals with enough hutzpah are holding the big guys accountable.
Will certain things slip through the cracks, YES!
Will everything be caught in a timely matter, NO!
Do countries like Russia & China have the regulations, unfortunately NOT!
But its important we are aware and paying attention to both the micro and macro decisions being made so that one day we don’t wake up and say “how did that happen.” We can all make an impact in small ways, and in our daily lives, like Margrethe Vestager, whether the impact is felt in 1, 5, or 10 years. The seeds you plant today, and the voice you broadcast tomorrow - can and will create change. Techie or not, we can all use a little bit of Vestager in us!