"The Singularity is Near"

"...no matter what the quandries we face - business problems, health issues, relationship difficulties, as well as the great scientific, social, and cultural challenges of our time - there is an idea that can enable us to prevail. Furthermore, we can find that idea. And when we find it, we need to implement it." The words of inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil, in his book "The Singularity is Near".

We spent part of today with the amazing faculty of Singularity University - Susan Fonseca-Klein, Salim Ismail, Eric Dahlstrom and their colleagues. Their observation that the critical development issues of today - energy, climate change, food production, water use, etc. - are all rooted in exponential factors that are best addressed through exponentially advancing technologies seemed to challenge the linearity of current development thinking. Maybe not, but global leaders no doubt need a deeper understanding of these technologies and how to harness them for development.

We came to SU from another Silicon Valley outfit, IDEO, which uses design thinking to effect change in the marketplace. I found the company's human-centric approach, its singular focus on "the client", most interesting indeed. "It would be amazing to connect the World Bank to the Rwandan farmer in addressing solutions to the farmer's problems," Doug Solomon, Chief Technology Officer, suggested. "Coming up with an innovation process for the Bank and prototyping it could be very powerful," he said.

At the end of Day Two of this Learning Journey, there is a clear concensus within the team for some form of World Bank footprint on the American west coast. This would give the institution an upstream presence not only in the development of those exponentially advancing technologies that are changing the world but also on how they are used to help its client countries leap-frog in their development. It would allow the Bank to be part of a global technology collaborative and a leader in that school of development thought based not on past practice but on futuristic thinking and innovation that truly impact the base of the pyramid.

Our Journey continues, with a visit tomorrow to Stanford University's Design School and a session on design for Extreme Affordability, especially in low-tech environments. Stay tuned!



(Did I say I blogged, twitted, checked my Facebook entries, and e-mailed all in one day?)