PROMOTING DIGITAL PRODUCTIVITY AND SECURITY IN THE ERA OF THE FOURTH

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONHOPETON S. DUNN

D I RE C TOR , M O NA I C T P O L I CY C E NT RE , C A R I BB EA N S C H O OL O F M E D I A

A N D C O MMU NI CAT I O N ( C A R I MA C )

T H E U N I V ER S I TY O F T H E W E S T I N D I E S , J A MA I CA

As at March 2019, according to Internet World Statistics, there were 4.3

billion users of the internet representing 56.8% of the world’s

population.

CONTEXT: Global Digital Divide

There is a large gap in access to the internet between the developed countries (81%) and the least developed countries (below 15%)

Inconsistency in electrical power supply is also a differentiating factor affecting Productivity in many countries and enterprises globally.

Caribbean and the Americas in Global View

Selected Caribbean Countries –Percentage Internet Penetration Rate 2019

Country Penetration % Population 2019 GDP US$ per Capita

Curacao 93.1 149,000 15,000

Antigua and Barbuda 87 94,000 27,542

Puerto Rico 85.2 3.6 m 27,400

Bahamas 84 392,000 33,516

Trinidad and Tobago 77.2 1.2 m 33,026

Barbados 78 291,000 18,866

Jamaica* 67.4 2.9 m 9,726

St Lucia 66.5 165,000 15,225

Dom. Rep. 57.1 10.6 m 19,435

Haiti 12.9 10.2 m 1,940

CONTEXT:4th INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (4IR)

• 4IR is “blurring the lines among the physical, digital, and biological spheres” (Schwab)

• It is heavily reliant on digital application in the delivery of services including the use of algorithms and robotics

• 4IR must better recognize that limited Internet and Data Access remains a major impediment to digital productivity, especially in the global south

• Digital Productivity in many jurisdictions involves a primary focus on investment in high-end digital infrastructure and services. , but also on investment in people, digital literacy and training.

• Most countries not yet in a ‘post access’ global scenario, so on-going attention also needed on investment in people, to increase digital literacy and to lower access costs, especially in the Global South.

4IR and Internet Access

WHAT IS DIGITAL PRODUCTIVITY?

• Thriving online with ‘creative output or other knowledge work’ using new digital tools, in a data-dense, yet security challenged eco-system.

• It’s building a virtual ‘second brain’, using modern tools that can enhance creativity and job performance (Tiago Forte) https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com/

Taken together with a wider array of online applications, these innovations are FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (4iR).

Neural Networks, Artificial Intelligence, Algorithms, Internet of Things (IOT), Drones, Robots have come centre stage in a process of productivity reforms

and continuous transformation in the

Artificial Intelligence

• Artificial intelligence (AI) gives machines the ability to ‘learn’ from programmed experience as they take in more data and perform tasks like humans. Computers with these advanced technologies are trained to complete human-like tasks by processing data and recognizing the patterns within it.

• As data volumes have increased, algorithms have advanced, and computing power and storage have improved, industries across the board apply AI and utilize deep learning and natural language processing to perform more advanced tasks every day.

Stanley 2018 - https://callminer.com/blog/artificial-intelligence-ai-definition-artificial-intelligence-challenges-benefits-ai/

AI: Productivity and Business Benefits• Businesses taking advantage of AI

technology can reduce operational costs, boosting efficiency, increase revenues, and Improve customer experience.

• AI empowers companies to save time and money by automating redundant processes and tasks and reduce human error.

• But AI is also being used online to undermine people’s identity and create false images

DEEP FAKE: Deep Learning Meets Fake• Deep Fake: An AI-based technology used to

produce authentic-looking video or audio content by digital manipulation, to create false images, speech or scenes.

• One application is to create convincing impressions of public figures in pornographic settings, as was done in Malaysia last week, to great public confusion.

• Beyond photoshop: Deep Fake disinformation is facilitated by use of innocent pre-existing video images, facial recognition and other AI machine-learning technologies.

Deep Fake Video

A Challenge to Authentic Digital Productivity• Otherwise called “AI Synthesized Content”,

such Deep Fakes can undermine authentic digital productions.

• It can put words into anybody’s mouth and pass off fake video images for real, thereby potentially calling every production or news item into question.

• Could be weaponized for elections, while allowing ‘plausible deniability’ for real occurrences.

Online Productivity Dashboard • Despite increasing anti-social usages, digital

tools are in widespread positive use in multiple other creative applications online

• The Internet of Things (IoT) now far exceeds the number of people connected online.

• Activities range from vast volumes of domestic digital devices, video productions and viewing apps, music creation and marketing tools, online shopping, emails and video messaging applications

INTERNET TRENDS IN 2019

• Projections indicate still increased activities on all platforms

• Yet, Facebook logins and Google searches both increased only incrementally over the last year.

• The number of emails getting sent is also quite stagnant, likely thanks to the rise of workplace collaboration tools.

• Snap saw a decrease in millions of users due to an attempted redesign that reduced the app’s rising popularity.

• Adaptability, creativity and security will enhance digital productivity on any Internet platform or tool being used online. But policy challenges abound….

Global Policy Challenge: Restore Net Neutrality

• This principle on which the internet was built, advocates that there be no two track system based on high-speed privileges for content providers.

• Assuming equivalency of computer capacity and service specifications, download of a Nollywood film, for example, should not be slowed in comparison with one from Netflix or Hulu.

• No to a two-speed or two-track internet system

The Gig Economy: Working both hard and smart?

• In an agile, gig economy, some companies lean toward hiring independent contractors and freelancers capable of doing temporary, flexible jobs, often in preference of full-time employees.

Sources: Gig Economy; Investopedia.

• Recent statistics suggest that more people are seeking contingency work, freelancing, and on-demand apps to make ends meet.

• In the US, 16.5 million people have

contingency work arrangements; 3.8% of

workers (approx. 6mil. people) held contingent

jobs and another 10.6 million worked as

independent contractors, on-call workers,

temporary help agency workers.

Planning for Transformation not Just Disruption• Public sector leaders, policy-makers,

educators, labour unions and individuals alike must develop a grasp of the new market conditions and the emerging technological eco-system and prepare for incoming changes.

• Business leaders across all industries and regions must develop new strategies to meet the challenges of an era of accelerating change and innovation.

• Training institutions are expected “to educate students for jobs that don’t yet exist, using technologies that haven’t been invented, in order to solve problems we don’t know are problems yet.” Richard Riley. Former US Secretary of Education

● For a competitive demanding future, schools, enterprises and HR will need to encourage new and diverse professional competences and interpersonal skills such as:

○ Entrepreneurship for digital innovators ○ Data analytics○ AI applications for business and science ○ Ethics in science and technology○ Web management and cyber security ○ Emotional intelligence and Critical Thinking○ Digital Production and Communication

DEVELOPINGNEW CREATIVE SKILLSETS FOR A NEW COMPETITIVE ERA

Mitigate Internet Security and Technology Risks

• Globalisation is a two edged sword

• It has created new opportunities and ideas, opened new markets and fostered greater access to technology for certain businesses, services and the global economy.

• But it requires active protection against cyber security risks, measures to cope with personal and cultural hostility online, intellectual property challenges and disadvantages to local communities, individuals and business start-ups.

New Approaches• In this context, “Power is

changing hands from dying hierarchies to living networks” (Ferguson)

• Leadership towards digital productivity is provided on the basis of expertise, not on age, position or geographical location

Globalization from Within (GFW)

Global

Regional

National

Community

Individual

Globalization from Within

A new analytical tool that seeks to:•empower individuals, enterprises and agencies, especially in emerging economies, to innovate locally and grow globally.

•engender strategic decision-making, not only in traditional businesses, but also in the new techno-cultural spheres

PLAN AND CREATIVELY IMPLEMENT FOR ENHANCED DIGITAL PRODUCTIVITY

• Identify and work with committed and skilled team members

• Value your ideas from conception, design and especially in their implementation in projects.

• Set clear organizational and project goals that can grow from local to regional to global.

• Respect leadership, teamwork and constant attention to detail as key to successful implementation

• Pay attention to data protection, cyber security, digital marketing and intellectual property rights

Reaping Benefits of GFW and 4IR

• Create more technology courses and expand media literacy curricular in schools, colleges and universities

• Maintain campaigns of public education on trends in technology, their implications for work, culture and education

• Create more easy access, alongside training programmes and courses to prepare the citizens to think locally and grow globally about digital productivity, including use of new tools such as robotics and data analytics.

• More active support for and promotion of youth start-ups, women-led projects and other creative enterprises that often face challenges for financing and marketing.

Conclusion

We can also enhance digital productivity by encouraging a CULTURE OF UPLOADING and not mainly one of DOWNLOADING.

hopetondunn@gmail.com