As we approach the brink of 2024, the entwined paths of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and spatial computing are not merely transforming industries; they’re also sculpting new ethical and societal contours. With every conference now an AI Conference including the upcoming CES in Vegas, everyone needs to think not just in terms of technology. In exploring how these technologies will evolve, it’s essential to examine their wider implications – from both the optimistic ‘Santa’ viewpoint and the cautious ‘Grinch’ perspective.

AI: The Santa’s Cheer and Grinch’s Sneer

The Santa View: AI, akin to Santa’s elves in its industriousness, promises to bring a sack full of efficiency and productivity gains. By automating routine tasks, AI is poised to streamline sectors like manufacturing, marketing, customer service, and healthcare, ushering in a new era of innovation and economic growth. It’s not just about replacing jobs; AI is set to create novel job categories in development, analysis, and system maintenance, offering a glittering array of opportunities for those ready to embrace the future.

The Grinch View: However, like the Grinch lurking in the shadows, there are concerns. AI’s rapid advancement could lead to significant job displacement, leaving swathes of the workforce in the cold unless reskilling and education are prioritized. Even Microsoft is trying partnering with labor groups to quell concerns about AI taking jobs. There’s a risk that the benefits of AI could be unevenly distributed, favoring those who are already tech-savvy, thus widening the socio-economic divide.

Brian Solis is a leading AI Influencer and is the head of global innovation at ServiceNow

He had this to say, “Marketers should approach AI by thinking about how they want customers to feel rather than aiming for transactional engagement. AI can help your marketing become, ironically, more human. And when customers feel engaged it enhances their experience and likelihood to take action. That’s what customer experience is all about…the feeling someone has in the moment. AI can unlock digital empathy to create meaningful experiences.” Brian recently published the GenAI Prism to help marketing professionals.

Blockchain: Trust’s Santa and Privacy’s Grinch

The Santa View: Blockchain is the Santa Claus of trust and transparency in the digital age. It’s set to revolutionize how we handle transactions and data, with its tamper-proof, decentralized ledger ensuring reduced fraud and enhanced privacy. The technology holds the potential to democratize data ownership, giving users unprecedented control over their personal information.

The Grinch View: But a Grinch is lurking here too. The immutable nature of blockchain could complicate privacy management. Once something is on the blockchain, it’s there forever – a concerning thought in an age where privacy is increasingly valued. Furthermore, its decentralization poses challenges to traditional governance models, potentially leading to regulatory gaps.

Maika Isogawa, CEO and co-founder at Webacy said, “”Blockchain is akin to a digital Santa, delivering a new era of integrity and transparency in data transactions. Its ability to provide a decentralized, secure ledger is not just a technological leap but a societal one, empowering individuals with unparalleled control and security over their digital interactions. This shift could redefine trust in our digital world, making it more democratic and accessible.”

Social Interactions: Santa’s Gathering or Grinch’s Isolation?

The Santa View: Spatial computing, bridging the digital and physical worlds, promises a future where social interactions are enhanced and diversified. Imagine virtual meetings that feel as real as physical ones or augmented reality that brings distant cultures into our living rooms. This technology could be the ultimate social Santa, bringing people together in ways we’ve never seen before.

The Grinch View: But there’s a potential Grinch in this too. What if these technologies lead us to a future where virtual interactions replace physical ones, leading to a more isolated society? The challenge is to ensure that these innovations serve to enrich, not diminish, our human connections. A GCF Global study found that heavy social media users were three times more likely to feel socially isolated than casual users. Social media can also make people feel like they’re missing out on meaningful social events, leading to feelings of exclusion, stress, and insecurity. ”

Cathy Hackl, tech and gaming executive and a Spatial Computing leader, wrote this in her latest HBR article. “There are two sides to every technology. From a business perspective, Spatial Computing will allow people to create new content, products, experiences, and services that have purpose in both physical and virtual environments, expanding computing into everything you can see, touch, and know. Sci-fi as this may sound, it’s already in use. One could argue that our mobile phones are primitive spatial devices. Many professionals in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR), and artificial intelligence (AI) have been working on spatial computing for years.”

Navigating the Ethical North Pole

As we ride the sleigh of progress powered by AI, blockchain, and spatial computing, it’s vital to steer through their ethical and societal implications with care. Policymakers, technologists, and society must engage in proactive dialogue, ensuring that these technologies are harnessed for the greater good. Our approach today will determine whether our future is one of Santa’s joy or the Grinch’s gloom.

And as Santa told me, “a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night.”