Artificial intelligence has been utilized to create virtual news anchors. There are now rocket flights that can cover half the distance around the world in just thirty minutes. Additionally, there are fully automated restaurants in existence.
In a high-speed keynote speech titled “The Future is Here” by Elizabeth “Betsy” Ziegler, CEO of Chicago-based incubator 1871, glimpses were shared on the current state and potential future of technology at the ABA Techshow (https://techshow.com).
According to her, the current rate of change will never be slower than it is at present. In her discussion, she emphasized four emerging trends: artificial intelligence, robotics, transportation, and what Ziegler refers to as “the internet of everything” – everyday items that are now linked to a network.
The keynote on Friday focused heavily on providing various examples. Ziegler presented the concept of haptic wallets, which have the ability to track your budget and become increasingly difficult to access as the month progresses and spending increases. Another noteworthy example was a robot capable of laying 1,000 bricks per hour. Additionally, Ziegler showcased a luxurious housing project in Miami that features designated landing areas for flying cars.
In her discussion, she mentioned the significance of technology in the legal industry and provided examples such as J.P. Morgan Chase utilizing automation for contract analysis, as reported by the ABA Journal, and a 2018 document by LawGeex that also advocated for the adoption of computerized contract review.
According to her, in order to adapt to the constantly evolving world, companies must establish an environment that fosters the generation of fresh concepts, allows for the implementation of chosen ideas, and facilitates the dissemination of these ideas within the organization.
Aside from the given instances, Ziegler’s perspective on the ultimate consequences of these technologies was not clearly stated. Nevertheless, she appeared to have a positive outlook. During the Q&A session, she was repeatedly asked about her thoughts on evaluating the buzz surrounding these technologies, corporations, and their uses.
According to her, she spends a daily two-hour time period reading about technology to gain knowledge from other experts in the field. She also takes advantage of opportunities to try out various new software and hardware, in order to determine the true value behind the hype. She is convinced that this approach allows her to distinguish between passing fads and truly groundbreaking innovations.