Human-centric innovation a must in age of disruption

NEW technological breakthroughs are creating massive disruptions across industries and generating buzz around artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of things (IoT), autonomous vehicles and other advanced technologies.

It is pertinent to remember that innovation is, and will remain, a human-centric endeavour; and the future lies with people, not machines. What has to change is our way of doing things.

When humans discovered how to control fire, it changed the way that they lived. Fire provided protection, warmth and a way to cook. With the advent of agriculture and the invention of the wheel, humans formed the earliest civilisations. The Gutenberg printing press paved the way to preserve information, while the steam engine was the crux of the industrial revolution. Humans have had centuries to learn and maximise the benefits of each innovation before a newer one came along. Even mainframes and microprocessor-based computers were at the forefront of technology for much of the 20th century.