A. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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February , 2023
A. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
In the February 2023 Newsletter
The ABCs of How Technology Impacts Life
Have you noticed that technology is everywhere? Being tech savvy, or having a tech savvy ‘assistant’, is important to survive and thrive. Consider these three tech priorities. Here are the ABCs.
A. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Remember HAL in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey? HAL, which stands for Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer, was artificially intelligent. By one definition, “Artificial intelligence is a field of science concerned with building computers and machines that can reason, learn, and act in such a way that would normally require human intelligence or that involves data whose scale exceeds what humans can analyze.” The big craze now is generative AI, an example of which is ChatGPT. It’s an AI chatbot that responds to inquiries by distilling information from a huge, predefined dataset. This is an exploding technology area with ethical questions, differing opinions, dangers, many applications, huge potential, and great opportunities. This topic is worthy of a separate article on its own.
TO DO:
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Learn. There has been a proliferation of articles and questions about this topic. Read about it. Try it.
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| 2. | Question. Consider a list of questions for how this technology can impact your work and life. |
B. Broadband
Broadband is another name for high-speed Internet access which is always on and is faster than traditional dial-up access. “Broadband is the big moment for our generation,” shared Kathryn de Wit of The PEW Charitable Trust at the Internet’s Midlife Crisis 2023 conference, held recently by Silicon Flatirons. The goal is to make universal broadband accessible, affordable, equitable, and high quality.
Funding. The federal government is providing $65 Billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $25 Billion from the American Rescue Plan to achieve this goal. State governments are working toward this end by drafting plans and proposals to get to universal access of minimum speeds for all.
Inequities. Yet the goal is difficult to achieve and there are great digital inequities. Rural communities, tribal nations, and low-income households are less likely to have broadband connections. Connections, devices, and training for literacy are critical elements to bridging the gap.
“It is important,” says Brandy Reitter, Executive Director, Colorado Broadband Office, “because broadband access is at the intersection of education, healthcare, economic development, and public safety. Without it, you are being left behind.”
TO DO:
| 1. |
Individuals. You can access the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to get financial aid. Reach out to your local Internet service providers (ISPs) and ask about it.
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| 2. |
State governments. Establish plans and proposals to design local solutions for utilizing the funding. Libraries and school districts can be big partners. Hire local digital navigators from local colleges who can help the vulnerable populations. Promote and do outreach.
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Educational institutions. Are you offering courses to build literacy for all ages? Do you make devices and connections available for those who need them?
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| 4. | Private sector organizations. Ask how you can help. Some firms are Internet service providers. Others hire and train digitally literate employees. Leverage this capability to digitally transform your business. |
C. Cybersecurity
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is about to issue new rules, effective April 2023, that require companies to better oversee cyber risk. One requirement will be to have at least one cybersecurity expert on public boards. Private boards should do the same. According to Forbes, “Boards are under increasing pressure to provide sound oversight of cybersecurity risk, but often lack the expertise required to be effective. Analysis showed that only 51% of Fortune 100 companies have a director on their boards with relevant cybersecurity experience. The situation in the Fortune 200 and 500 is more concerning: only 9% have cyber-savvy directors. Worse still are the companies in the Russell 3000 smaller than those in the Fortune 500: only 8% have cyber directors. There is a total shortage of 2,724 directors with cybersecurity expertise across all Russell 3000 companies.”
The SEC is not alone in prioritizing cybersecurity. The State of the CIO Study 2023 shows that most CEOs state that “upgrading IT and data security to reduce corporate risk” is one of their top three priorities for the coming year. And CIOs state that “security management and operations performance” are their top focus, with 70% stating they will increase involvement in cybersecurity over the next year. Cybersecurity, blockchain, data science/analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning are the top areas where they anticipate having the most difficulty finding appropriate skill sets.
The National Association of CIOs (NASCIO) agrees. Their top priority for 2023 is Cybersecurity and Risk Management, that includes governance, budget and resource requirements, security frameworks, data protection, training and awareness, insider threats, and third-party risks.
TO DO:
| 1. |
Individuals. Become aware, take training, avoid stupid clicks which can cause bad actors to get into the system, use strong passwords, and so much more.
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| 2. | Organizations. Prioritize cybersecurity, fund and hire to reduce risks, and add cybersecurity talent, like me, to your board of directors. |
Summary
Technology is an important part of our business and personal lives. Learn your ABCs: Become aware of Artificial Intelligence, Broadband, and Cybersecurity. Individuals and organizations need to follow simple TO DOs: Learn, question, prioritize, and take action.
Theresa M. Szczurek, Ph.D.
C-Level Executive, Corporate Director, Consultant, and Colorado CIO of the Year
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