Issue #1: AI, Shoe Dogs, Self-Disruption & Hopper.
Polymathic is back!!!
For old subscribers, hope it was a good 2016. For new additions to the list, welcome! Polymathic is where I share fascinating books I’ve read, the best articles on technology and product recommendations.
A few updates
1. Polymathic will now be monthly. This is because…
2. …with every issue, subscribers will get a free copy of an industry digest that I put together. The digest is a deep dive into innovation and strategy in utilities (water & power), transportation, built environment and the technologies impacting these industries.
This month, the digest is ‘Designing The New Utility’, we talk Artificial Intelligence, Shoe Dogs and personal travel tech…
1. Article: The Great AI Awakening. We all fail to realize how ubiquitous artificial intelligence is today. Google Translate, Siri, Echo, Maps etc they are all powered by Artificial intelligence and this NY Times longform article sheds some light on how Google has transformed itself into an AI first company. There are business lessons to be learned here. And AI might truly be our future. Sidenote: the word polymath is used in this article :).
2. Book: Shoe Dog. Similar to AI, Nike (the brand) is ubiquitous. Most of us have had at least one Nike in our lifetimes and we have stories attached to those Nikes. But few have heard the story of the founder, Phil Knight. Few books are as revealing as this well-written gem that shares about life, love, business and the things that truly define us. Product: I can safely say that, ever since a colleague put me on to Hopper, I have paid the lowest possible price for any ticket I bought this year.
3. Book: Disrupt You: Continuous self-promotion aside, Jay Samit makes a compelling case for why and how to apply to our personal lives the disruptive thinking that’s enabled companies like Uber to upend industries. Worth a read. I also share lessons from the 40 books I read last year.
4. Product: I can safely say that, ever since a colleague put me on to Hopper, I have paid the lowest possible price for any ticket I bought this year.
5. Digest - ‘Designing A New Utility’: The convergence between Design Thinking, Customer preferences and the utility industry is leaving incumbents confused. It’s the classic industry unbundling we’ve seen before. Download here (Dropbox link).
I’m pretty excited about bringing you Polymathic this year! Please send any recommendations and also share with friends to subscribe here.
Happy 2017!
Best
Seyi