Artificial Intelligence and the Steam Engine?

My training in cultural anthropology has given me an unusual view of the world, sharpening my eye to look beyond the surface.

In our weekly groups, we have focused much of our conversation over the last month on artificial intelligence. AI is the catalyst for much of the work that I do these days as well as my writing and speaking. My focus is not on the technology, but on the ways (intentional and not) that we are shaping the future around AI.

By 2021, I was saying to those around me, "We are at the equivalent of the start of the Industrial Revolution." Covid was a catalyst. The Great Resignation was a catalyst. And more recently, AI is a catalyst.

Which brings me back to my cultural anthropology background. In a Substack post, I went back to the steam engine and asked, what lessons can we learn from how this technology was rolled out that we can apply to the roll out of AI? It turns out there are several, and they are important. "Lessons from the Steam Engine: AI, Leadership, and the Future of Work" is attached. I look forward to your response!

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