Weekly Update | Apple Robotics | Top Skill | AI Making Movies | Hiring Bias | Human Exoskeletons

Future-Focused with Christopher Lind

It's been another wild week at the intersection of business, technology, and human experience. The pace of change is showing no signs of slowing, and this week's updates highlight why that can be both a great and a not-so-great thing.

Apple Robotics - Following its announcement to shut down investment into automotive, it has set its sights on personal robotics. While it's still too early to know exactly what Apple means by "personal robotics," there's no shortage of speculation. However, if you're thinking Rosy the Robot will be serving you dinner by 2025, you might want to slow your roll.

Top Skill of The Future - Autodesk did a recent and robust survey across a diverse spectrum of industries to assess the impact of AI on employees, and its findings were both encouraging and not completely surprising. The top skill for professionals was almost universally one's ability to work with AI. The encouraging news there is the word "with." The survey highlights how the future is continuing to show a tight partnership between humans and machines, not a replacement of one by the other.

AI-Generated Cinema - TCL is launching what it claims to be the first AI-generated romance film this summer. If the trailer is any indication of what we can expect to see, you won't need to buy your tickets in advance. You'll likely also have plenty of room to put up your feet, lean back, and store snacks in the seats around you. That said, people are already following AI influencers, so who knows, it may be the smash hit of the summer.

Data on Hiring Bias - The data is back on what may have been one of the most extensive studies on hiring bias, and it's an encouraging milestone while highlighting we still have room to grow. While there remains notable bias in selecting candidates, it's not as widespread as you may think. Granted, this shouldn't have us taking our eye off the target, but it's an encouraging milestone in our journey toward more equitable work.

All-Terrain Exoskeletons - If you've weaseled your way out of a mountain hike or backpack adventure due to bad knees or being out of shape, you might want to start noodling on some new excuses. DNSYS is launching an all-terrain exoskeleton for under a grand with a 15-18 mile range that might put scaling Everest back on your bucket list.

Show Notes:

This episode delves into a variety of future-focused topics, starting with Apple's shift from car production to personal robotics, examining both the opportunities and challenges this presents. It discusses the fast-paced advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and its integration into different industries, noting Apple's strategic position in the AI landscape. The conversation moves to the concept of personal robotics, exploring the potential and current limitations of such technology in everyday life. Additionally, the episode covers a recent report on the top skills for the future, emphasizing the importance of working with AI, alongside a critique of an AI-generated movie, questioning its quality and impact. The discourse also addresses a study on hiring bias, revealing a preference for white candidates in some companies, and concludes with an overview of an innovative all-terrain exoskeleton device designed to enhance human mobility and strength.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

02:01 The Evolution of Apple: From iCars to Personal Robotics

10:12 Mastering AI: The Essential Skill for Future Success

17:04 AI in Entertainment: The First AI-Generated Movie

24:50 Addressing Hiring Bias: Insights and Progress

34:35 Innovations in Mobility: The All-Terrain Exoskeleton

39:52 Closing Thoughts and Farewell

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