In a constantly changing world, it’s difficult to predict the future accurately. Nevertheless, Magnus Lindkvist is one of the futurists who like to use words like “ever” and “never”. In the interview, Magnus Lindkvist discusses his views on digitization, artificial intelligence, robotics, and their impact on society, as preparation for the d.velop forum 2023.
Personal vs. Professional: Who is Magnus Lindkvist?
d.velop blog: If someone asks you, who is Magnus Lindkvist and what does he do, what do you answer?
Magnus Lindkvist: My professional answer is author of seven books about trendspotting and future-thinking. I like thinking, writing, and speaking about all things future.
My personal answer would be a middle-aged Swedish man, too sensitive for social media and with a mild fear of flying. Also, I’m a sloppy reader of The Economist.
Photography by Walter Naeslund
The meaning of digitalization from the perspective of a futurist
d.velop blog: What does digitalization mean to you?
Digitalization is about breaking things – stuff, activities, companies, transactions, etc. – into little bits and building them back up again in a better and more beautiful way. Like Lego.
Magnus Lindkvist
Magnus Lindkvist: If we look beyond the cliché it has become, digitalization is about breaking things – stuff, activities, companies, transactions, etc. – into little bits and building them back up again in a better and more beautiful way. Like Lego.
Impact of digitalization on the workplace
d.velop blog: How will digitalization affect the world of work in the coming years?
Magnus Lindkvist: We’re stuck in “hybrid mode” right now. The stretch between the digitalized and non-digitalized have never been greater.
I expect the work-from-home-or-anywhere-crowd to lead the way. I expect Cloud/SaaS to show the path, and I expect the Scrum/Improvisational way of working to give light to it. But it will neither be smooth nor peaceful. Factories still have nuts and bolts to sell, and coffee shops still need floor cleaners.
The role of AI and robotics in the future: Opportunities and risks
d.velop blog: What role will AI and robotics play in the future? What are the opportunities and risks?
Magnus Lindkvist: We don’t actually have AI today – in the sense of true intelligence. We have machine learning capable of scanning vast amounts of data and guessing what comes next. It’s a fantastic tool. I use it when researching and writing. Songwriters use it to find new lyrics and chords. Medical researchers use it to map proteins. And so on. But it is a tool firmly in the head and hands of human beings.
Technology is merely an extension of human imagination, not a replacement for it.
Magnus Lindkvist
I’m even more skeptical of robotics. We keep getting lost in trying to copy human hands and legs, which have had hundreds and thousands of years of evolution to perfect them. Nobody will ever want a massage from a robot or have them cuddle your baby to sleep. I can see exoskeletons and more humanoid designs for diggers/excavators but no meaningful impact of robots. I threw my Roomba out last year – I clean my floor much better than it ever did.
By the way, I’m the kind of futurologist who enjoys using words like ”ever” and ”never.” I also like making long bets, so if you want to bet a good bottle of German wine that I’m wrong, let’s go!
Impact of digitalization on societey
d.velop blog: How will the relationship between humans and machines evolve in the future?
Magnus Lindkvist: I don’t like the word ”relationship” as It anthropomorphizes technology. Machines will always be our slaves. But they will become better at anticipating and serving our needs. Just think about the vast leaps that ergonomics have made in the past century. We will also become better at using humans for what they do best – transformative creativity.
Definition Transformative creativity
Transformative creativity refers to the ability to generate new and innovative ideas that can bring about transformation or change. It involves being creative to solve problems or develop new approaches to a particular challenge that can bring about profound changes. Transformative creativity can help create new industries or markets and drive innovation.
Magnus Lindkvist: Flying an Airbus A350 or scanning passenger luggage before they board is primarily about ”saming,” which is phenomenally boring for humans (and boredom is a workplace hazard). But in 1% of cases, we need fully engaged human improvisational skills. Where insights are cross-fertilized and synapses fire in new directions.
Definition Saming
“Saming” is a term that refers to repetitive, standardized, or routine tasks that can be performed by machines or systems without the need for human intervention or decision-making. This type of task does not require creative or improvisational skills.
d.velop blog: How will society and its values change as a result of advancing digitalization?
Magnus Lindkvist: Looking at my teenage children – always a good way to predict future societies along with interviewing kindergarten teachers – everything is much more fluid today. Gender, power dynamics, borders, identity. There is not solid hierarchy and no solid truth either. Middle-aged white men like myself are, of course, deeply worried about this.
But it presents new possibilities. Society was too rigid when I grew up. The borders we drew around industries made companies too inflexible for change. The nation-state model was prone to us-and-them-ing.
Knowledge is always slightly wrong, which is the essence of scientific discovery. “Be fluid!” is what digitalization and teenagers seems to be telling us.
Further insights at the d.velop forum
No one can predict the future exactly, but as a future researcher, Magnus Lindkvist has a clear idea of how digitization, artificial intelligence, and robotics will affect our lives. Have these topics also sparked your interest? If you are interested in the future and the impact of digitization, feel free to attend the d.velop forum on May 24th in Düsseldorf. Magnus Lindkvist will be giving a keynote speech as a speaker.
