I recently came across a rather insightful perspective from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who articulated his distaste for the common question: "What will the next 10 years look like?" Instead, he posits that a far more powerful question to ask is: "What won't change in the next 10 years?" Benzinga. This idea deeply resonates with me, as it cuts to the core of strategy and long-term thinking.
Bezos argues that by focusing on the enduring needs and desires of customers—things like lower prices, faster delivery, and a wider selection—you build a foundation that remains relevant irrespective of technological shifts or market fads. These are the fundamental principles that, once identified, allow for consistent innovation and growth.
Reflecting on my own journey and observations, I find immense validation in this approach. The core idea I've often conveyed centers on identifying these foundational truths. For instance, when I discussed the "Low Cost Economy," as detailed in my blog Low Cost Production and AI, I was echoing a similar sentiment. The drive for cost efficiency and accessible goods and services is an enduring human need. Peter H. Diamandis (LinkedIn, peter@a360.com), too, has highlighted this transformative shift towards declining production costs, which I found deeply aligned with my earlier thoughts on costing as a critical factor for product success.
Even in the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, the underlying principles remain constant. When I wrote about the advent of AI-powered chatbots and virtual avatars, I wasn't just predicting the technology itself. My focus was on the enduring human desire for more efficient communication, personalized interaction, and seamless service. The prediction of chatbots, animated faces, and even 3D volumetric holograms, as I laid out in my blog Chatbots: Some for Businesses, Some for Humans, was rooted in the persistent need to enhance customer experience and extend human presence, even virtually. I launched my own virtual avatar at www.hemenparekh.ai years ago, driven by this very insight into the desire for continuous interaction and the perpetuation of memory and knowledge.
Similarly, when we consider national initiatives like NITI Aayog's blueprint for pandemic preparedness, the emphasis is on enduring resilience and proactive measures. As I reflected in my blog Tackle Covid-like Outbreaks, the need for swift decision-making and collaborative efforts (which PM Narendra Modi (LinkedIn, n.modi@india.gov.in) has often emphasized) are not transient trends, but permanent requirements for a stable society. My earlier observations regarding the challenges in prompt decision-making, like with Giga-factories for batteries, highlighted the critical need for a robust policy framework and organized responses that are always essential, regardless of the specific crisis.
This principle also extends to the involvement of the private sector, such as the TATA Group, in skill development and self-employment. These are enduring drivers of economic resilience and growth, vital for any nation's future. The importance of digital infrastructure and skill enhancement remains a consistent thread across all these discussions.
Jeff Bezos's wisdom reminds us that while the future will undoubtedly bring new technologies and challenges, the human needs they serve and the fundamental principles that guide successful endeavors often remain unchanged. It's about looking beyond the ephemeral and anchoring ourselves in the perpetual.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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