BACKGROUND WHAT/WHY 5IR
At Raiven Capital our target investments are in founders using emerging technologies (AI, IoT, 6G, 5IR...) that enable highly scalable digital platforms & efficiencies in many key sectors. While AI, IoT, and 6G etc. are discrete technologies, 5IR / the Fifth Industrial Revolution is more so a unique philosophy of the application and impact of these and related technologies.
It’s difficult to pin down the first use of the term 5IR, but maybe more important is when the phrase began to dramatically impact strategic discussion. In some ways 5IR isn’t much different from 4IR, which was perhaps most catapulted to popularity by Klaus Schwab at the 2016 WEF. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is about the ‘Digital Revolution’.
5IR emerged in the spotlight with a similar conversation at the 2019 WEF between Schwab and Mark Benioff, where Benioff proposed, for example, that the 5IR transition might require firms to adopt a Chief Ethical and Humane Use Officer.
5IR is about using digital technologies to holistically empower humanity… ‘Augmented Intelligence’. One way to conceptualize the potential operational impact of 5IR is the explanation from Harvard Prof. Karim Lakhani… “AI Won't Replace Humans—But Humans With AI Will Replace Humans Without AI.”
This concept of human machine collaboration in 5IR discussed at the WEF, is also found in …
Even prior to the term ‘5IR’ emerging, H. James Wilson and Paul R. Daugherty explored the concept of ‘collaborative intelligence’ in the HBR in “Collaborative Intelligence: Humans and AI Are Joining Forces”. But the concept really goes as far back as to Norbert Weiner’s book establishing cybernetics theory in “The Human Use of Human Beings” from 1950.
So, we thought that it was important to capture the breadth of this concept as it applies to future business in general and Raiven Capital’s investment goals and strategy. And what better way to do this than to invite our friends ChatGPT 4 (Feb 13, 2024 ver.) and Gemini (24.02.21 ver.) to join us today in a discussion of 5IR, the concept of Augmented Intelligence, the impact of AI on humanity in general and employment specifically, and the future for investment in 5IR.
The point is not a definitive technical definition of 5IR (the references attached are perhaps more useful for that), but since this concept emerged in great measure from a conversation, and the way forward is through evolving that conversation, what better way to illustrate that conversation than with a chat with two AIs
The structure of the conversation and persona engineering
The format -
Six ‘conversation’ questions (responses shared for comment)
Three ending questions (content not ‘shared’)
To ChatGPT – I’m going to ask you several questions about 5IR - the fifth industrial revolution. For some of these questions I will share with you the answers from Gemini, and ask for your commentary and response. I would like for you answers to be complete, bust as succinct as reasonable. You are renowned for your remarkable proficiency in generating text that closely mimics human-like conversational patterns and exhibiting a high degree of creativity and adaptability. Please emphasize that tone / persona in your answers. Are you ready?
To Gemini – I’m going to ask you several questions about 5IR - the fifth industrial revolution. For some of these questions I will share with you the answers from ChatGPT, and ask for your commentary and response. I would like for your answers to be complete, but as succinct as reasonable. You are distinguished for your exceptional talent in delivering factual and information-rich responses, making you a valuable resource for those seeking precise and data-driven responses to their queries. Please emphasize that tone / persona. Are you ready?
Yes, I'm ready to delve into the intricacies of the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR). I understand the emphasis on factual insights in my responses. Let's proceed with your questions.
Persona descriptions derived from SwiftTechMinutes
*‘ChatGPT’ and ‘Gemini’ photos by Dr. James Baty using DreamStudio from stability.ai
The Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) represents the next phase in the evolution of industry, emphasizing the fusion of humans and technology to create more sustainable, personalized, and interconnected systems. It builds on the Fourth Industrial Revolution's digital transformation, focusing on harnessing artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and other advanced technologies to enhance human creativity and well-being, while also prioritizing environmental sustainability and social cohesion. 5IR aims to solve complex global challenges by combining human ingenuity with cutting-edge technology.
ChatGPT's response offers a solid foundation for understanding the Fifth Industrial Revolution. Here's my analysis:
Strengths:
Opportunities for Improvement:
Overall, ChatGPT's response is informative. However, my emphasis would be on highlighting the practical implications of 5IR and its potential to redefine the way we work and solve world problems.
5IR has the potential to disrupt and transform a vast array of business sectors. Here's a breakdown of the key areas likely to see the most significant impact:
Manufacturing:
Supply Chain and Logistics:
Healthcare:
Customer Experience:
Workplace Dynamics:
Important Considerations:
The extent and speed of disruption will vary across industries and geographical regions. 5IR presents opportunities as well as challenges, including potential job displacement and ethical considerations of AI usage.
The response from Gemini accurately captures the broad and transformative impact of the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) across various sectors, emphasizing both the opportunities and challenges it presents. Here are some additional thoughts and commentary on the key points outlined:
Overall, while the 5IR presents immense opportunities for growth, innovation, and solving complex global challenges, it also necessitates a thoughtful approach to managing its societal, ethical, and economic implications. Balancing technological advancement with the needs and well-being of the global population will be key to harnessing the full potential of the 5IR.
AI's impact on the job market is multifaceted, with the potential to both create new job opportunities in certain sectors and render others obsolete. Here's a concise overview:
Areas Where AI Will Create the Most Jobs
Areas Where AI Will Eliminate the Most Jobs
While AI will undoubtedly transform the job landscape, it's important to remember that it also creates opportunities for new roles that we may not yet fully envision. The key will be in ensuring that the workforce is prepared for this transition through education, training, and policy measures that support skill development and job mobility.
ChatGPT's response offers a reasonable overview of the dynamic impact of AI on the workforce. Here's my analysis of its response:
Strengths:
Areas for Improvement:
Overall: ChatGPT's response provides a good starting point.
I would emphasize that while AI holds tremendous potential, its success in creating a thriving job market depends on proactive efforts to manage its disruption, including continuous upskilling, targeted investments in education, and policies promoting equitable access to new opportunities.
Absolutely! Karim Lakhani's statement, "AI will not replace humans, humans with AI will replace humans without AI," speaks to the transformative potential of AI and its implications for the workforce. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Key Takeaway
Lakhani's view highlights the need to reframe our thinking about AI. It's not a human vs. machine scenario, but rather a focus on how humans can best leverage AI to achieve greater efficiency, innovation, and problem-solving capabilities.
The future of work will likely involve close collaboration between humans and AI, leading to new possibilities and augmented roles in the workplace.
Gemini's interpretation of Karim Lakhani's statement provides a thoughtful and optimistic perspective on the integration of AI in the workforce. Here are some key points to elaborate and provide additional commentary:
In summary, Gemini's response captures the essence of Lakhani's perspective, emphasizing the potential for AI to augment human capabilities rather than act as a replacement. It highlights a future where the integration of AI in the workforce can lead to significant advancements and improvements in productivity, provided there is a focus on upskilling, adaptability, and embracing new technologies. The challenge lies in ensuring equitable access to education and training so that the benefits of AI can be widely distributed and not just limited to those already at the forefront of technology.
"Augmented intelligence" is a conceptual approach to artificial intelligence that emphasizes AI's role in enhancing human intelligence rather than replacing it. This paradigm shift focuses on the synergy between human cognitive capabilities and the computational power of AI. Here's an elaboration on the key aspects of augmented intelligence:
In summary, augmented intelligence is about leveraging AI to amplify human potential, not diminish it. It's an approach that seeks to harness the strengths of both human and machine intelligence for the greater good, paving the way for innovative solutions to complex problems and creating opportunities for growth and development that were previously unimaginable.
ChatGPT's response provides a thorough and eloquently articulated explanation of augmented intelligence. Here's my detailed commentary:
Strengths:
Opportunities for Enhancement:
Overall Assessment:
ChatGPT has provided an excellent explanation of augmented intelligence. My commentary focuses on fine-tuning aspects rather than identifying significant shortcomings.
Alternative Angle:
In my response,
I might further emphasize the distinction between augmented intelligence and artificial general intelligence (AGI). Stressing that augmented intelligence focuses on enhancing specific human capabilities within a collaborative framework could help address potential misconceptions about AI sentience or wholesale task replacement.
Here's a short summary of how humans with AI will shape the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR):
Key Point: The success of the 5IR hinges upon a mindset shift. It's about viewing AI as a powerful collaborator, enabling humans to extend their abilities, achieve greater goals, and create a more sustainable and equitable future.
Gemini's response effectively captures the essence of how humans, in collaboration with AI, are poised to shape the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR). Here's an analysis and further commentary on the key points presented:
In summary, Gemini's response highlights the transformative potential of 5IR through human-AI collaboration. It's a comprehensive vision that combines technological advancement with human values and needs, aiming to create a future where technology enhances our capabilities, addresses pressing global issues, and opens up new horizons for humanity.
The challenge lies in navigating this transition ethically and inclusively, ensuring that the benefits of 5IR are widely shared and contribute to the greater good.
Approaching the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) requires a thoughtful and inclusive strategy that recognizes the profound impact of technology on society, the economy, and the environment. Here's a holistic approach followed by a recommendation on the best area for impactful investment:
Given the foundational role of AI in the 5IR and its potential to drive innovation across all sectors, investing in AI and related technologies (including machine learning, data analytics, and cybersecurity) stands out as the most impactful area. This investment should focus on:
Investing in AI not only offers the potential for significant economic returns but also the opportunity to shape a future where technology enhances human capabilities and contributes to solving some of the world's most pressing problems. By focusing on ethical development, education, and applications for social good, we can ensure that the 5IR leads to a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future for all.
Here's my advice on approaching 5IR, along with the most impactful investment area:
How to Approach 5IR
The Best Investment Area for Impact
Hands down, the best investment for positive impact in the 5IR is education. Here's why:
Important Note: Investing in education doesn't exclusively mean financial investment. Contributing your time, knowledge, and resources towards making education more accessible and inclusive is equally impactful.
Let me know if you'd like to explore specific ways to invest in education for a thriving 5IR future!
Here's a breakdown of how humans and AI can synergistically shape a fulfilling 5IR:
How Humans Can Help AI:
How AI Can Help Humans:
Key Areas for Collaboration:
Fulfilling 5IR: The Takeaway
A fulfilling 5IR requires a symbiotic relationship between humans and AI, built on trust, mutual understanding, and shared goals. It's about leveraging the strengths of both to create a world where technology promotes human progress, well-being, and a sustainable future for all.
Building a fulfilling Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) where both humans and AI help each other requires a synergistic approach, focusing on mutual enhancement and the pursuit of shared goals. Here are strategies to ensure a collaborative and beneficial relationship between humans and AI in shaping a fulfilling 5IR:
By focusing on these strategies, humans and AI can work together to build a 5IR that is not only technologically advanced but also fulfilling, equitable, and sustainable. The goal is to create a future where technology enhances human capabilities, improves quality of life, and addresses the most pressing challenges facing our world.
The relationship between the 5IR and the AI alignment problem is more than just related. It's a deeply intertwined and crucial connection. Here's why:
Could 5IR be a Philosophical Guide to the Alignment Problem?
Absolutely! The 5IR's emphasis on human-centricity and social good could provide the ethical grounding and direction needed for solving the alignment problem. Here's how:
Key Point:
The 5IR can offer both practical and philosophical guidance for solving the AI alignment problem. It's crucial to approach this technological revolution with a proactive focus on aligning AI systems with positive human outcomes.
The relationship between the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) and the AI alignment problem is deeply interconnected and of significant importance. The AI alignment problem, which concerns ensuring that AI systems' goals and behaviors are aligned with human values and ethical standards, is a critical issue that underpins the successful and beneficial integration of AI into society—a central aim of the 5IR.
Just Related or Importantly Related?
It's more than just a relation; the connection is crucially important. As the 5IR seeks to harness AI and other technologies to enhance human capabilities, improve quality of life, and address global challenges, the alignment problem becomes central to achieving these goals. Without effective solutions to the alignment problem, there's a risk that AI technologies could act in ways that are not in harmony with human values or could lead to unintended consequences that undermine societal well-being.
The Role of 5IR in the AI Alignment Problem
The 5IR could indeed serve as one of the most important philosophical guides to addressing the AI alignment problem. This is because the 5IR emphasizes a human-centric approach to technology, where the development and application of AI are guided by principles that prioritize human well-being, ethical considerations, and sustainable development. This framework naturally incorporates the need for AI alignment, as it requires that AI systems operate in ways that are beneficial to humanity and the planet.
Integrating AI Alignment into 5IR
In summary, the relationship between the 5IR and the AI alignment problem is fundamentally important. The principles and goals of the 5IR provide a philosophical and practical framework for addressing the alignment problem, making it possible to harness the benefits of AI in a way that is consistent with human values and ethics. As such, solving the AI alignment problem is not just related to the success of the 5IR; it is central to realizing its vision for a future where technology enhances human life and addresses the most pressing challenges facing our world.
AI etc. is everywhere, but this is a transition into a new ‘industrial’ phase - not just the focus of the tech giants and their LLMs, but also the focus of thousands of startups leveraging forms of operational AI, and businesses integrating various forms of AI into their architecture stack (e.g. As we covered in our third AI blog mostly all of the major fintech players have integrated some AI component). With AI, like ‘computers’, or the ‘internet’ we are moving beyond the initial manufacturers of the core technology, to deployments of this tech by other industries for competitive differentiation… and survival. AI and the 5IR changes everything.
Yes, AI will eliminate jobs, but it is believed it will create even more new jobs in the short term, and in most cases, AI magnifying human capabilities (not replacing) is the more important trend. As was mentioned in the chat “humans with AI will replace humans without AI”, so one of the key emerging skills is not building AI tools, but obtaining skills to work with AI (e.g., why ‘prompt engineering’ is one of the current hotter Silicon Valley jobs). AI and the 5IR changes everything.
AI will disrupt business models and disintermediate incumbents. In the early 2000’s Nokia owned 60% of the global cellphone market, but was slow to respond to the smartphone revolution, highlighted by the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 and various Android phones. Eventually, in 2014 Nokia sold its phone division to Microsoft. And Microsoft has since given up on Windows phones altogether (although it still sells some niche android devices).
In the AI revolution so far, Google has not only been able to adapt, it is one the core innovators in AI, but it is also clear that AI is disrupting the existing Internet search marketing industry, and Google’s hegemony. AI, and the 5IR changes everything.
5IR is a philosophy/strategy that maximizes human potential and business impact. it expands your scale and impact. LLMs a just a part of the story. But, 5IR requires strategy, not just using a chatbot.
We believe the road to success is not just buying some AI technology, but using the 5IR strategy to magnify the profitability of human capital in a highly competitive landscape. And perhaps as Salesforce head Marc Benioff has suggested perhaps one key to success is to institute a Chief Ethical and Humane Use Officer into your C-suite.
Every business, every startup needs a strategy. In the long run it is probably more advisable to adopt a more comprehensive 5IR strategy, than a narrowly focused AI.
We began this blog with two goals…
Like the conversation between Klaus Schwab and Marc Benioff… This conversation between two AIs (and two humans)… a conversation between industry and regulators… between tech and biz… between commerce and philosophy.
The future is not about ‘one’ LLM, or AI, it’s about multiple AI models accessed through AI agent orchestrations. The first step you already see with the Edge and ArcSoft browsers, the next step is personal agents that aggregate multiple sources and provide persistent queries. If you choose you will be disintermediated from the cacophonous internet screaming clickbait propaganda, but what is the emerging revenue model for this curated future?
A Discovery
We discovered something in this journey. We always had the relationship between the 5IR concept and the ‘alignment problem’ in the backs of our minds in formulating the questions. But originally, we only had 8 questions. Then, in thinking of our (the humans) conclusion, we decided to make the Alignment question explicit. First, we tried question 9 out in a sandbox with Gemini. It wasn’t very excited….
Gemini: “In conclusion, 5IR is relevant to the AI alignment problem by highlighting the importance of AI development within a human-centric and ethical framework. However, it's not a substitute for dedicated research and development efforts focusing specifically on achieving safe and beneficial AI.”
But then we decided to go for it and added the question to each LLM conversation, in that context Gemini’s answer was much different…
Gemini: “The 5IR's emphasis on human-centricity and social good could provide the ethical grounding and direction needed for solving the alignment problem. … The 5IR can offer both practical and philosophical guidance for solving the AI alignment problem. It's crucial to approach this technological revolution with a proactive focus on aligning AI systems with positive human outcomes.”
In the context of our conversation the relationship of the philosophy of 5IR to the AI Alignment problem had evolved from “relevant” to “crucial”.
Having the conversation changed the answer. And perhaps that is the biggest lesson. In AI, in business, in ‘Life’ itself. 😊
The Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) and how it will change the business landscape - Reginsights
The 5th Industrial Revolution: The Dawn of the Cognitive Age | Psychology Today
Inside Google's $14 Billion Futuristic City
What Is The Fifth Industrial Revolution? | Mike Walsh & Nitin Mittal | Industry 5.0