Digital natives have only known a world with cool technologies.
We call the most recent generation ‘digital natives’ because they have never known anything other than smartphones, smart watches, smart devices, and the internet. They have nothing to compare it to. They don’t shy away from technology and they are not freaked out about data privacy because they have never known anything other than a world of big data and social media. They are not stuck looking back to the way things were, with antiquated laws and regulations for data and privacy. Their leaders ‘get’ technology and are comfortable pushing the envelope on using technology in creative ways. They are used to innovations rolling out in just months.
The generation that knows the world before, during, and after the digital age
I kinda like being right just before that generation because we got to experience the world pre-PC, pre-smartphone, and pre-internet. We got to see innovation happening all around us. So as we glided into our digital age, we always viewed technology through the lens of not-having-it-first. We could appreciate the innovations, maybe even moreso than the digital natives because we could compare before, during, and after. The laws and regulations we are used to are based on a pre-digital world, which means we are playing catch up most of the time. Our leaders are oftentimes ill-equipped to lead in the technology age because they don’t understand the capabilities and potential of technology. We see innovation, but that sometimes took years to roll out.
AI Natives
This next generation will be AI natives who have never known anything other than ChatGPT. They won’t be stuck looking back to the way things were, with antiquated laws and regulations for AI, data, and privacy. They are comfortable with technology and rapid innovations. The leaders will be able to manage laws and regulations designed for this rapid-paced world. This generation will be used to new innovations rolling out in weeks and even days.
The meaning of the good ‘ol days is dramatically different for each generation. Every generation has to manage its own technology, laws and regulations, capability for leaders to relate to the people and culture in order to guide wisely, and rate of acceptance of innovation.
https://dispatchesfromthefront.net/blog/2019/7/7/the-good-old-days
Understanding and being in command of the technology that is in front of your face will always be one of the smartest ways to survive and thrive.
