Last week, I started getting “Happy Work Anniversary!” messages on LinkedIn ... and I was a bit confused because people kept mentioning 24 years.
Twenty-four years ... That can’t be right. Can it?
For context, here’s what I looked like around that time.
My eldest son (who’s now married with a baby) was in middle school. I was just out of the events I described in my TEDx talk.
However, depending on your definition, the 24th anniversary can be true or false. Legally, the Capitalogix that exists today is distinct from the initial iteration. Additionally, the company has expanded, its direction has shifted, and what was once a one-person operation has grown into a team of over 20 individuals focused on advancing and commercializing the field of Artificial Intelligence through something we call Amplified Intelligence (which is the ability to make better decisions, take smarter actions, and continually improve performance).
Thinking back on the effort, the ideas, the people, the inventions, and even the purpose ... in some respects, it feels like change is the only constant. However, there are certain things that remain unchanged. It is by observing these unaltered elements that you can truly understand the essence of the thing itself.
It reminds me of the Ship of Theseus (also known as Theseus’ Paradox), which is a philosophical thought experiment that poses the question of whether an object that has had all of its parts replaced is still considered to be the same object. It raises issues of identity, continuity, and change over time. The concept can be applied to physical objects, living organisms, and even organizations or businesses. It challenges our understanding of what it means for something to be fundamentally the same, and if an object can remain unchanged despite undergoing significant changes over time.
The name “Capitalogix” originated in 2000, and a surprising amount of the original “North Star” purpose still exists. Looking back at my early notes and plans, I’m surprised by how much holds up despite 20+ years of passing ... but almost all of it has needed some course correction to adjust to changing tides.
Regardless, it’s staggering to think about how long I’ve worked in A.I. (since 1991, when it was hard to spell A.I.) and how far we’ve come.
If I had known how difficult it was going to be at the beginning, I would have probably never pursued it. However, after experiencing the challenges and realizing how hard it is to make meaningful progress, I feel better that I did. This is because I now know that we didn’t just create a competitive advantage – we learned how to create a sustainable competitive advantage.
It’s easy for people to focus on a capability; it’s another to make it industrial-grade, robust, reliable, and able to work in challenging conditions.
They say that things that don’t kill you make you stronger. It’s true for people, but it’s also true for technologies.
Life (and Business) constantly expose us to conditions and opportunities that lead to new beginnings and evolutionary growth.
As I write this, I see it at Capitalogix as we pursue new possibilities and probabilities.
We didn’t come this far — just to come this far!
What about you?
Onwards!
The Doomsday Clock Is Ticking
There are a number of destabilizing events that make me hope for peace, love, and prosperity. There are increasingly dangerous active military conflicts, a contentious election in front of us, and a host of other issues related to the promise or peril associated with the clash between exponential technologies and human fear, greed, and discretionary mistakes.
With that said, random worry isn't a good strategy. I like to measure subjective things as objectively as possible. With that in mind, this post discusses something called the Doomsday Clock.
The History of the Doomsday Clock
The Doomsday Clock was created by a group of atomic scientists in 1947 (following the successful testing of the first atomic bomb by the United States) to warn the public about the dangers of nuclear weapons. The clock is a metaphor, with midnight representing the catastrophic destruction of the world. The closer the clock is to midnight, the closer humanity is to a global catastrophe.
In 1953, after both the US and Soviet Union tested hydrogen bombs, the clock was set at two minutes to midnight, which is the closest it has ever been to a global catastrophe. In recent years, the clock has taken into account not only nuclear weapons but also climate change and other emerging threats.
The Significance of the Doomsday Clock in Modern Times
Today, the Doomsday Clock remains an important symbol of humanity's vulnerability and the need for urgent action to prevent a global disaster. The clock serves as a reminder that we must work together as a global community to address existential threats facing our planet.
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists' Science and Security Board determines where to set the clock each year based on international events and scientific advancements. As such, it provides an objective measure of how close we are to destruction.
Nuclear war is still a significant risk, but not the only one. A list of the most significant existential threats to humanity includes:
Nuclear War: The threat of atomic weapons and the possibility of a global nuclear war continue to pose a significant risk to humanity.
Climate Change: Climate change is a growing threat to humanity and the planet, causing rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and loss of biodiversity.
Pandemics: The rapid spread of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, highlights the vulnerability of the human species to pandemics.
Artificial Intelligence: The development of advanced AI systems has the potential to pose existential risks if not adequately regulated and controlled.
Biotechnology: The rapid advancement in biotechnology, including genetic engineering and synthetic biology, has the potential to bring about new risks to humanity.
Natural Disasters: Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions can cause widespread destruction and loss of life.
Some would argue that our exploration of space is another potential threat. So, these are just a few examples, and the list is not exhaustive. Addressing these risks requires a global effort and cooperation between nations, organizations, and individuals.
The Doomsday Clock was initially set at 7 minutes to midnight in 1947. In the 76 years since it launched, the hands have been adjusted 25 times. The most recent change, in 2023, moved the clock from 100 seconds to midnight to 90 seconds. This was a small but significant shift. But, this year, 2024, there was no shift.
Flowing Data put together a chart to show the clock's movement since inception.
via flowingdata
The Doomsday Clock provides a long-term perspective on the dangers facing humanity. Despite the seemingly small number of seconds remaining to midnight, it serves as a reminder of the urgency to act.
And necessity is often the mother of invention.
We can move towards a brighter future by acknowledging the potential consequences of our actions (or inactions). Advancements in fields such as medicine, technology, and human potential offer hope and the potential to overcome even the most pressing challenges.
With collaboration among the brightest minds across the globe and private industry, we can solve even the world's most significant problems.
If I have to choose, I always bet on humanity.
Onwards!
Posted at 07:22 PM in Business, Current Affairs, Ideas, Market Commentary, Science, Trading, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0)
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