Three executives from different companies gathered on Tuesday evening at the Annual Impact Gala in New York to discuss their leadership roles in the current technology era.
The Role of Human Decision-Making in Technological Advancements
David Griffiths, Head of the Artificial Intelligence Group at Citibank, highlighted the importance of human decision-making amid rapid technological advancements during the event. He stated that human choices can have positive or negative impacts on these advancements.
Griffiths said, "Many of us have spent our entire careers waiting for this moment. Technology is finally coming closer to our aspirations. The future is very exciting. But to be honest, it is also concerning." He continued, "Most of the choices we make about the future will not be in a historic decision-making moment. These choices will usually be quiet: who we listen to, what we fund, when we decide to wait, and when we decide to act."
The Role of Humans in the Technology Era
Selena Declman, Director of Technology and Products at the Wikimedia Foundation, also spoke about the ongoing role of humans in the technology age. She emphasized that technology cannot determine the meaning of a good life, and it is humans and communities that do this.
Declman explained that a storm led to her parents' acquaintance, and she was able to access a musician in New York who had written a page about the storm thanks to Wikipedia. She said, "The technology behind Wikipedia encourages these human connections, and these connections and sharing them are essential for building a future where we have a good life."
Gray Brantley, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at the National Football League, took a different approach in his speech, referring to his parents' role in his upbringing and his approach to leadership. He said, "They taught us one of the most important lessons I have ever learned: Show up every day, even when you are tired, even when you are discouraged, and especially when you don't feel like it."
The Annual Impact Gala: Executive Year: Technology and Data, was presented by Rocket.
