The Future (and Present) Is Technological
What Do I Think Is Coming Next?
Good things, when brief, are doubly good, so I’ll summarize it like this:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Artificial Intelligence
- Artificial Intelligence
- Inteli…
Okay, I think you’ve got the point with just one, but just in case. Actually, each item on the list has its own description, but artificial intelligence will ultimately control these areas as well:
Cybersecurity
Within the next 10 to 12 years, no human will be able to manage cybersecurity in real time if we’re serious. At best, we can advise, but not orchestrate a defense quickly enough.
Augmented Reality
I wonder how many years it will be before it’s no longer called “augmented reality,” but something more everyday—like a data interface or data layer. Over the coming years, we’ll start seeing it much more often: HUDs in vehicles (increasingly common), smart glasses (which will cease to be called “glasses” and “smart” sooner than we think), and home offices (with remote work so widespread that we’ll stop calling it “remote” or “offices” once it becomes the norm).
Automations
Almost all online processes have layers of automation. The companies and projects that integrate these mechanisms earliest will be best prepared, with lower costs and greater flexibility in adapting to technological changes. For them (and for you), the future will be “plug & play” in technological terms. (More on this “simplicity” below.)
Your Reality as a Digital Business Owner
Okay, now we arrive at the part that interests you (or should): what will affect you—the average business owner, whether more or less tech-savvy.
You’ve been using artificial intelligence and cybersecurity tools for years, almost without realizing it. I could give many examples, but I’ll focus on two of the most well-known: Google’s machine-learning search algorithm (RankBrain) and reCAPTCHA (a lightweight filter for bot traffic that also protects contact forms, subscriptions, online payments, etc.). To be honest, reCAPTCHA isn’t a highly complex cybersecurity solution, but as an ultra-simple fix to a rampant problem, it works. In both AI and cybersecurity, simplicity often wins.
People want simplicity.
Simplicity wins.
Let’s be simple.
So, with that background on a technology we’ve used for years, here’s what most businesses should already have implemented yesterday:
Tips for a Project This Decade
- Prepare to decentralize your structure. Be modular both offline and online. Create a “puzzlerian” architecture to adapt, grow, and organize your project more effectively—a principle long used in code development and applicable to any business.
- Optimize operations, reduce costs, and automate or delegate (when possible) each piece of your organizational “puzzle.”
- Divide your staff into specialized teams.
- Modularize your digital structure into interconnected microservices, each performing a single function.
- Create multiple customer acquisition channels to diversify your cash flow and revenue streams.
- Prepare for “quiet hiring” and promotion: reward those who take on responsibilities beyond their roles—those aspiring to higher positions—secure top talent, and attract candidates who demonstrate experience rather than relying on resumes. That era is over, though some regions still lag behind this trend. Let go of underachievers—those who do the bare minimum and lack ambition.
Points 1 and 2 directly relate to adopting (or initially implementing) artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in your organization. Points 3 and 4 will secure human resources and stabilize your operations, enabling growth in a rapidly changing world. Large corporations may grow their bank balances, but the number of employees performing the same tasks will shrink until they disappear. Meanwhile, financial systems will continue to evolve and automate.
The Achilles’ Heel in Cybersecurity
Contrary to what many believe, the weakest link in digital security is the human factor. Does “phishing” ring a bell?
Phishing refers to social-engineering techniques used to steal data or access sensitive information through deception. Methods range from spoofed emails to alarming SMS messages that mimic public services or reputable companies.
The best defense is staying informed. Learn what phishing is, which techniques are currently used (and any new ones that emerge), and keep up with recent incidents in your region.
Most organizations deploy brute-force protection (like reCAPTCHA—a simple yet effective solution; two-factor authentication; etc.), along with DDoS protection, peer-to-peer encryption, anti-malware tools, antivirus software, and more. As long as the human factor holds up, technology has your back. But if you still have doubts, apply my earlier advice, train your team to detect phishing, and enforce organizational control of sensitive information—you’ll be safer than most.
And What About Money?
Money is simply a store of value, subject to the whims of markets (Wall Street and other exchanges), central banks (the Fed, ECB, etc.), and ultimately the flow of large investment capital. This refers to fiat currencies. Cryptocurrencies are another story—also influenced by markets but far more volatile.
So when we talk about money, that’s one thing; economics, another; and value… well, that depends.
What truly matters is the value of wealth (by which I mean any asset that holds value). To me, the primary form of value is energy in its various forms and the means to create, transform, and transport it. If something can’t perform those tasks or relate to them, it falls outside financial value.
As for crypto, blockchain, and related topics… I’ll cover them in another post. And AI is a vast subject we’ll unpack in future articles. Keep me in your feed to stay updated. I don’t have a fixed posting schedule, so articles will surprise you when they appear—but I’ll make sure they’re worth your time.
Live long and prosper!
