Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to Digitally Curious, a podcast to help you navigate the future of AI and beyond. Your host is world-renowned futurist and author of Digitally Curious, Andrew Grill. Every episode is filled with actionable advice about technology that will help enhance you and your business.

Speaker 2: 0:23

Welcome to the Digitally Curious podcast, and today's episode is a little different. As I'm sure you're aware, I've just published my new book, digitally Curious, and it's now available around the world. The reception has been overwhelmingly positive and I believe it's a book that will help many people better understand the technology that surrounds us. I've already been interviewed on a number of podcasts about the book and you can find links to these in the show notes. I wanted to showcase the book Digitally Curious on the podcast of the same name, but it would be strange for me to interview myself Today.

Speaker 2: 0:59

I presented at the Skillsoft London Perspectives event at the Shard. My topic was the future of work in the age of AI. I always strive to present the latest thinking in my keynotes and in preparing. I wanted to try out the new Google product, notebook LM, which stands for Notebook Language Model. You can access it via notebooklmgoogle. In Google's own words, can access it via notebooklmgoogle. In Google's own words, notebook LM is your personalized AI research assistant, powered by Google's most capable model, gemini 1.5 Pro. One of the cool features is the ability to upload your own data and have it turned into a podcast with two AI generated hosts. I decided to try this out with the book. I uploaded the book's PDF containing 74,000 words and pushed the button to make a podcast. I did nothing else. Five minutes later, what you hear next is what was produced verbatim. I've not edited the 12-minute AI-generated podcast in any way, so, mind blown, let's listen to the deep dive on Digitally Curious.

Speaker 3: 2:10

Hey everyone and welcome back. We're diving deep this time on the deep dive, really getting into Andrew Grill's Digitally Curious.

Speaker 4: 2:17

Yeah, and we've got a ton to unpack.

Speaker 3: 2:19

We do Excerpts from the book, some related articles, even podcast appearances. Really amazing stuff.

Speaker 4: 2:26

A real treasure trove, exactly. So we're going to dig into what he really means by this whole digital curiosity thing, why it should matter an ivory tower. This is a guy who wrote his first program at six years old Wow, six years old.

Speaker 3: 2:52

I was like playing with dolls at six.

Speaker 4: 2:53

He's been on the front lines of technology for over three decades, leading teams at IBM, living and breathing the changes most of us just read about.

Speaker 3: 3:00

Right, it's like his journey as the evolution of tech. Yeah, and he's adamant that digital curiosity isn't just about having the latest phone or knowing how to code, it's a mindset, right.

Speaker 4: 3:10

Absolutely.

Speaker 3: 3:10

And girl says you can like kickstart yours by picking one new technology every week and just diving in.

Speaker 4: 3:16

I love that.

Speaker 3: 3:17

Read about it, play with it, see how it works. It's about being proactive, a seeker of knowledge, not just a passive consumer of it.

Speaker 4: 3:27

Yeah, there's a real reason why. It points to research showing that businesses led by digitally curious people are well seriously outperforming everyone else they're not just keeping up.

Speaker 3: 3:38

It sounds like they're gaining a real edge.

Speaker 4: 3:39

Exactly.

Speaker 3: 3:40

He even has this concept. He calls it the Starbucks test. Have you ever noticed how you'll be like overhearing people at a coffee shop and suddenly everyone's talking about some new tech? That's your cue, grill says. That means that tech is about to hit the mainstream. So if you're already in the know, you're already ahead of the game.

Speaker 4: 3:57

It's about spotting the next big thing before it's everywhere, understanding its potential impact and being ready to adapt and even like, capitalize on it before anyone else.

Speaker 3: 4:06

And speaking of the next big thing, we have to talk about chat, gpt, oh, yeah. Grill says that when it exploded onto the scene in 2022, it was a wake up call for everyone, even like tech veterans like himself.

Speaker 4: 4:20

Definitely.

Speaker 3: 4:21

Suddenly, AI wasn't some far off concept. Concept, it was here and it was changing everything.

Speaker 4: 4:27

And Grill doesn't just jump on the AI bandwagon, he takes us all the way back to the beginning.

Speaker 3: 4:31

Oh, interesting.

Speaker 4: 4:32

He traces AI from Alan Turing's mind-blowing question can machines think?

Speaker 3: 4:37

It's a big one.

Speaker 4: 4:45

All the way to the latest breakthroughs in deep learning. It's a fascinating journey that gives us the context to really understand where AI is going.

Speaker 3: 4:48

I love that he emphasizes that AI isn't about robots taking over the world, which, let's be honest, we've all thought about at some point, right.

Speaker 4: 4:54

Of course, but Grill stresses that it's about understanding both the strengths and delimitations of this technology, being able to separate the hype from the reality.

Speaker 3: 5:05

So how do we go from AI being this big, mysterious thing to actually using it in our everyday work lives?

Speaker 4: 5:11

Well, grill really emphasizes the need for a strategic approach. Okay, yeah, he says it's not about finding some magic AI button to fix everything Right, but rather like identifying specific tasks or processes where AI can really add value.

Speaker 3: 5:25

OK, so start small.

Speaker 4: 5:26

Exactly Experiment, see what works.

Speaker 3: 5:28

Yeah, he also says something that I think is so important Don't underestimate change management.

Speaker 4: 5:33

Absolutely.

Speaker 3: 5:34

Bringing in any new technology can be disruptive.

Speaker 4: 5:37

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 5:37

But especially something like AI right.

Speaker 4: 5:40

It's true, people can be resistant to change, especially if they feel like their jobs are on the line.

Speaker 3: 5:45

Yeah.

Speaker 4: 5:45

Grill says it's about bringing everyone on board, getting them comfortable with the technology, giving them the training and support they need to succeed in this new landscape.

Speaker 3: 5:54

I love how he gives readers those actionable steps. He calls it the Curious Five Challenge.

Speaker 4: 5:59

Right.

Speaker 3: 5:59

And encourages listeners to engage with AI directly.

Speaker 4: 6:03

Yeah, get your hands dirty.

Speaker 3: 6:04

That could be anything from like testing out an AI writing tool to actually exploring AI use cases in their own industries.

Speaker 4: 6:12

It's about making AI less abstract and more tangible, yeah, showing you how it can be relevant to your work and your life.

Speaker 3: 6:21

OK, so we've covered a ton of ground on AI we have, but Grill doesn't stop there, right? Nope, he argues that being digitally curious means understanding the entire tech landscape.

Speaker 4: 6:32

And it's always evolving.

Speaker 3: 6:33

And a big part of that is, like the often overlooked backbone of it all Cloud computing.

Speaker 4: 6:39

The backbone, absolutely, and he doesn't just throw out jargon. No, he's good at that.

Speaker 3: 6:43

He really breaks down those different cloud models.

Speaker 4: 6:46

Yeah, public private hybrid.

Speaker 3: 6:48

And focuses on like one key difference with each one yeah. Like with the public cloud. He says it's all about affordability and scalability.

Speaker 4: 6:57

Makes sense. Yeah, you only pay for what you use.

Speaker 3: 6:59

And then he dives into security, which is something everyone seems to worry about with the cloud right.

Speaker 4: 7:03

Yeah, it comes up a lot.

Speaker 3: 7:04

Grill argues that it's often more secure than traditional on-premises systems, interesting Especially with all the advanced security measures that cloud providers have in place.

Speaker 4: 7:14

They have whole teams dedicated to it.

Speaker 3: 7:16

Right. It's their bread and butter and to really bring it home. He talks about Origo, a company that's developing those. What are they called?

Speaker 4: 7:24

Autonomous vehicles.

Speaker 3: 7:25

Yes, autonomous vehicles, and they're using cloud services combined with a 5G network to allow for remote supervision of their vehicles. This is fascinating. It's a real-world example of how these technologies are converging to create something totally new.

Speaker 4: 7:43

It's amazing to see it in action.

Speaker 3: 7:45

Speaking of real-world impact, we have to talk about the Internet of Things.

Speaker 4: 7:48

Oh yeah, or as the cool kids call it, IOT.

Speaker 3: 7:51

IOT Right Grill points out that IOT is already deeply embedded in our lives.

Speaker 4: 7:56

Oh, for sure.

Speaker 3: 7:57

Even if we don't always realize it. It's everything from smart homes and fitness trackers to the smart refrigerators that can like order groceries for you. I know, I know my fridge orders me more oat milk than I could ever drink. But on a serious note, Okay.

Speaker 4: 8:11

Okay.

Speaker 3: 8:12

Grill points out that the real power of IoT lies in its potential across industries.

Speaker 4: 8:18

Right, it's bigger than just our kitchens.

Speaker 3: 8:20

He talks about healthcare with remote patient monitoring, retail with like personalized shopping experience.

Speaker 4: 8:27

Oh yeah, those targeted ads are getting scary. Good, I know. Like, how do they know I needed that?

Speaker 3: 8:32

Even manufacturing, with real time data analysis to optimize production.

Speaker 4: 8:36

It's revolutionizing so many fields.

Speaker 3: 8:38

And, of course, we can't talk about interconnected devices without mentioning 5G.

Speaker 4: 8:42

It's the glue that holds it all together mentioning 5G.

Speaker 3: 8:47

It's the glue that holds it all together. Grill takes the time to explain 5G in a way that even like your tech challenged uncle could understand.

Speaker 4: 8:51

That's a high bar.

Speaker 3: 8:52

He walks us through each generation of mobile technology, like clearly laying out what makes 5G different.

Speaker 4: 8:58

It's about time someone did.

Speaker 3: 9:00

He also clears up some confusion around those standalone and non-standalone 5G networks which I think a lot of us, myself included, find a bit confusing.

Speaker 4: 9:09

Definitely.

Speaker 3: 9:10

He really breaks it down and makes it crystal clear.

Speaker 4: 9:13

I like that. No jargon.

Speaker 3: 9:14

He doesn't shy away from the challenges either, like the need for a lot more infrastructure if we want to unleash the full potential of 5G.

Speaker 4: 9:21

We need those cell towers.

Speaker 3: 9:23

And the security concerns that come with having, like billions of devices connected to the internet.

Speaker 4: 9:29

Yeah, security is always a moving target.

Speaker 3: 9:31

Right. But he's also really optimistic about the possibilities like using 5G to power smart cities.

Speaker 4: 9:37

Imagine that.

Speaker 3: 9:38

Create truly immersive entertainment experiences. Oh man, Even enable remote surgery.

Speaker 4: 9:44

The possibilities are mind boggling.

Speaker 3: 9:46

It's about looking beyond the hype to see the real world applications and understanding how those applications impact our daily lives, but it sounds like Grill is all about prepping us for what's next thought this was something straight out of Star Trek, until I really dug into it. Yeah, it does sound a bit like science fiction.

Speaker 4: 10:11

It does.

Speaker 3: 10:12

But Grill actually makes it surprisingly accessible. Okay, even if you don't have, you know, a physics degree. He explains how these quantum computers use things called crebits, which can be both a zero and a one at the same time.

Speaker 4: 10:25

Wait what? How is that even possible? It's quantum mechanics. It's like they operate on another level entirely, which lets them tackle problems that would take traditional computers well, basically forever.

Speaker 3: 10:39

So much faster.

Speaker 4: 10:40

Exponentially faster.

Speaker 3: 10:41

He uses this really interesting example of fertilizer production.

Speaker 4: 10:44

Oh yeah, it's not something like most of us think about every day, not exactly a glamorous topic, I know right, but it's actually a hugely energy intensive process. Oh, wow. And Grill says that quantum computers could be the key to designing, like way more efficient enzymes for this process. Okay, making a real impact on, you know, energy consumption in the environment.

Speaker 3: 11:06

That's amazing. So it's not just about, like making computers faster, it's about solving real world problems.

Speaker 4: 11:11

Exactly, and that's just you know. One example Drug discovery, material science, financial modeling, quantum computing could completely revolutionize all of them. It's a lot to take in, it is, it is, and you know, grill doesn't shy away from the potential downsides either.

Speaker 3: 11:25

Because there always are some Right, always.

Speaker 4: 11:28

He talks about something called Q-Day, which you know sounds a little ominous, to be honest.

Speaker 3: 11:33

It does what is?

Speaker 4: 11:34

Q-Day. It's this idea that quantum computers will get so powerful that they could actually crack the encryption that protects, well, basically everything online.

Speaker 3: 11:43

Everything Our bank accounts, our email, like everything.

Speaker 4: 11:46

Pretty much yeah.

Speaker 3: 11:47

That's a scary thought.

Speaker 4: 11:48

It is, and Grill is very upfront about this threat, you know, encouraging everyone to start thinking about quantum-resistant encryption now, but he also reassures us that Q-Day is still a while away, maybe a decade or more.

Speaker 3: 12:02

Okay, so their eye is time to figure it out.

Speaker 4: 12:04

There is, it's not an immediate crisis.

Speaker 3: 12:07

That's a relief. So, as always with like emerging tech, it's about being aware of both the amazing possibilities and, you know, the potential downsides.

Speaker 4: 12:17

Right. And speaking of possibilities, Grill doesn't just stop at quantum computing.

Speaker 3: 12:22

No.

Speaker 4: 12:22

He takes us even further into the future with this idea of, well, the lines between the digital and physical worlds, you know, blurring completely.

Speaker 3: 12:30

OK, now, this is where it gets really sci-fi. What does that even look like?

Speaker 4: 12:33

Well, he paints this really vivid picture of a world with things like digital pills that can, like, perform full body scans from the inside.

Speaker 3: 12:43

What.

Speaker 4: 12:44

Smart watches that can predict health problems before you even have symptoms.

Speaker 3: 12:48

No way.

Speaker 4: 12:49

Even information beamed directly to our retinas.

Speaker 3: 12:51

Okay, that's a little freaky, I'm not going to lie.

Speaker 4: 12:53

It sounds both incredible and a little unnerving.

Speaker 3: 12:55

Right, yeah, like are we ready to live in a world where technology is that integrated into our lives?

Speaker 4: 13:01

That's exactly the question Grill leaves us with.

Speaker 3: 13:04

He does like to make us think, doesn't he?

Speaker 4: 13:06

He does. Are we going to just be swept along by these technological waves or are we going to actively participate in shaping this future? It's a powerful challenge.

Speaker 3: 13:16

It is, and it kind of brings us back to that core idea of digital curiosity, doesn't it?

Speaker 4: 13:21

Absolutely. It's not just about, you know, staying ahead of the curve or impressing your friends with your knowledge of the latest gadgets.

Speaker 3: 13:28

Right.

Speaker 4: 13:28

It's about understanding how these technologies are going to impact our lives, our work, our societies even, and using that understanding to make informed choices about the future that we want to create.

Speaker 3: 13:40

It's like Gorilla saying look, the future is being written right now and you have a chance to grab the pen and, like add your own chapter.

Speaker 4: 13:48

I love that.

Speaker 3: 13:49

It's exciting, it's daunting and, honestly, it's a little bit terrifying.

Speaker 4: 13:52

Well, at the same time.

Speaker 3: 13:53

But it's up to us to decide what role we want to play.

Speaker 4: 13:56

And that's the beauty of it, right.

Speaker 3: 13:57

It is.

Speaker 4: 13:58

It's about embracing that constant learning, that drive to understand, that willingness to engage with the unknown. It's what makes this whole journey so fascinating.

Speaker 3: 14:07

Absolutely so. Go out there, get curious and let's shape this future together. That's our deep dive for today. Thanks for joining us.

Speaker 2: 14:15

So what did you think? I don't think this will immediately replace podcast or podcast host. However, it may be a new way to present written information. We all have different learning styles, and so perhaps this would help people learn who prefer to listen instead of reading content. I look forward to your thoughts on this and also the content from my AI host about the book. If you'd like to pick up a copy of the book, head to curiousclick forward. Slash order and, as always, I encourage you to stay curious.

Speaker 1: 14:51

Thank you for listening to Digitally Curious. You can find all of our previous shows at digitallycuriousai. Until next time, we invite you to stay digitally curious.