In a recent episode of Tech Leaders Unplugged, Tullio Siragusa interviews Piyush Malik, the Chief Digital and Transformation Officer at Veridic, Piyush shares his background, starting as an immigrant in the U.S. during the dot com era and his journey through management consulting and IBM before venturing into startups. Verdict, Piyush's current company, focuses on digital transformation and guiding clients on their AI-driven journeys.
The Workwave: Surfing the Digital Tide
Piyush introduces the concept of the "workwave" and highlights the impact of AI on work. He mentions the cognitive computing wave initiated by IBM in 2011 when their Watson system defeated human champions in Jeopardy. This breakthrough sparked interest in natural language processing and understanding. Piyush emphasizes the role of AI in digital transformation, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced a shift towards remote work and digital technologies.
AI's Impact on Work and the Resurgence of Interest
Piyush delves into the history of AI, highlighting its cycles of resurgence and decline. He emphasizes the current heavy interest in AI due to open AI and generative AI technologies. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation, leading to remote work, virtual conferences, and other applications of emerging technologies. Piyush expresses excitement about the intertwined nature of life and work in the digital era.
Evolving Work Culture in the AI Era
Tullio discusses historical shifts in work culture, drawing parallels to the industrial revolution. Piyush agrees that the current nine-to-five mindset no longer fits the digital age. He advocates for work-life integration instead of separation, enabled by digital technologies and AI. Piyush envisions a future where work hours and schedules are more flexible, driven by advancements in AI and emerging technologies.
Ensuring Equity and Fairness in AI Technologies
The conversation shifts to the potential biases and ethical considerations associated with AI technologies. Piyush highlights the importance of data quality, ongoing governance, and human oversight to mitigate biases. He shares examples of AI models creating biased outputs and emphasizes the need for equitable and balanced representation in AI systems. Piyush believes that through policies, conscientiousness, and responsible use, AI can be a force for positive change.
Balancing Efficiency and Work-Life Integration in the Future
Tullio and Piyush conclude that the concern of AI technologies leading to fewer people doing more work, potentially causing unemployment and societal issues. Piyush counters this by noting that technological waves in the past have ultimately created more jobs than they displaced. He emphasizes the importance of adaptation, balancing efficiency with work-life integration, and creating a world that leverages AI as assistive intelligence rather than fearing it.
Check out the video podcast about this blog by clicking here
