Latest Thoughtworks Looking Glass Brings Into Focus the Ethical Implications of Technology

Rhea-AI Summary

Thoughtworks (NASDAQ: TWKS) has released its annual report, Looking Glass, highlighting technology-driven shifts impacting businesses in 2022 and beyond. The report emphasizes the convergence of physical and digital worlds, the rising importance of AI and machine learning, the necessity for sustainability, the evolving definition of 'hostile tech', and the strategic significance of platform building. Thoughtworks aims to help companies navigate these shifts to enhance competitiveness and ethical technology usage.

Positive

• Release of the annual 'Looking Glass' report provides strategic insights for businesses.
• Focus on AI and machine learning offers potential to enhance operational efficiency and decision-making.
• Emphasis on sustainability aligns with rising consumer and investor demand for environmental accountability.
• Encouragement for businesses to redefine platform building connects innovation with clear business goals.

Negative

• None.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Thoughtworks (NASDAQ: TWKS), a global technology consultancy that integrates strategy, design and engineering to drive digital innovation, today released Looking Glass, a guide to the critical technology-driven shifts set to shape business in 2022 and beyond. Based on Thoughtworks’ unique approach to delivering cutting-edge innovation to businesses before new technologies reach mass adoption, this report offers industry leaders recommendations on how to best compete and become disruptors themselves.

Metaverse promises endless possibilities for consumers and businesses to work, live, play and learn in this new medium of extended reality (XR) technology. When XR is combined with artificial intelligence (AI) and devices, there are many inventive ways to play to human strengths and produce good outcomes that benefit society. Yet, it’s important to bear in mind that these technologies change the user experience and people represent themselves differently in virtual worlds, which can have moral and ethical implications.

“As AI-supported techniques become more mainstream, they can touch on more areas of our lives and their impacts need to be considered from an ethical perspective,” said Dr. Rebecca Parsons, chief technology officer at Thoughtworks. “Thus, it will be important for businesses to develop balanced and productive partnerships between their people and AI to extract maximum value from emerging technologies such as extended reality solutions, while also remaining mindful of the potential ethical implications. Understanding how AI systems work is key to perceiving and mitigating against unintended consequences.”

The five lenses in today’s Looking Glass report are:

• Evolving the human-machine experience: In moving with some inevitability toward the metaverse, the physical and digital worlds will further converge in a way that will open new possibilities for businesses.
• Partnering with AI: Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to gain traction across industries. We are seeing rapid adoption in use cases that range from automating everyday operational processes, to augmenting strategic decision-making.
• Accelerating towards sustainability: As consumers, governments and investors demand greater environmental accountability from companies, going green has gone from being optional to a business imperative.
• Expanding impact of hostile tech: ‘Hostile’ technology is commonly associated with criminal activity such as ransomware, breaking into a system to steal data or creating computer viruses — but this misses the complete picture. The landscape is evolving in a way that the definition of hostile tech should be broadened to include legal, even widely accepted, acts that ultimately threaten societal well-being.
• Realizing the potential of platforms: Platform building is core to modern business strategy - yet also an area that’s fraught with ambiguities. We see a new focus on resolving the uncertainties around platforms and connecting platform building to clearly defined business goals.

Thoughtworks’ Looking Glass is updated on an annual basis, to keep pace with the constant shifts in technology priorities and applications for businesses. Visit thoughtworks.com/insights/business to stay up to date with the latest business and industry insights for digital leaders.

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About Thoughtworks

Thoughtworks is a global technology consultancy that integrates strategy, design and engineering to drive digital innovation. We are 10,000+ people strong across 48 offices in 17 countries. Over the last 25+ years, we’ve delivered extraordinary impact together with our clients by helping them solve complex business problems with technology as the differentiator.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211207005505/en/

Media:

Linda Horiuchi, global head of public relations

Email: linda.horiuchi@thoughtworks.com

Phone: +1 (646) 581-2568

Source: Thoughtworks

FAQ

What is the focus of Thoughtworks' 2022 Looking Glass report?

The 2022 Looking Glass report by Thoughtworks emphasizes technology-driven shifts affecting businesses, including AI adoption, sustainability, and the evolution of the metaverse.

How does the Looking Glass report address AI in business?

The report highlights the growing adoption of AI and machine learning across industries, stressing its impact on operational processes and strategic decision-making.

What are the five lenses discussed in the Looking Glass report?

The five lenses are: evolving the human-machine experience, partnering with AI, accelerating towards sustainability, expanding impact of hostile tech, and realizing the potential of platforms.

When will Thoughtworks update its Looking Glass report?

Thoughtworks updates its Looking Glass report annually to reflect evolving technology priorities and applications.

What does Thoughtworks emphasize regarding sustainability in the Looking Glass report?

The report states that sustainability has become a business imperative as consumers and investors demand greater environmental accountability.