Insights from the Harvard Business Review's Future of Business Conference

The Harvard Business Review's Future of Business Conference on November 9th offered a wealth of insights from industry leaders. With any conference, there are some awesome talks...and some duds. But I found almost all of HBR's speakers to be really good this year.

Here are my key takeaways from the event:

CEO Q&A: Jensen Huang of NVIDIA - A New Computing Era

Human in the Loop: Will AI Always Need a Human?

• Jensen Huang emphasized the importance of keeping humans in the loop with AI. He believes that, for the foreseeable future, it's essential not to exclude human oversight and intervention in AI processes.

Theory of Management

• Huang's approach to management at NVIDIA is characterized by a flat organizational structure. This model is designed to facilitate extensive communication across different levels of the organization.
• A key principle in this structure is the rapid and barrier-free flow of information. Huang believes that information must move at "light speed," with no boundaries or barriers, to ensure efficiency and responsiveness in a dynamic tech environment.

Mini-Masterclass: Lynn Perry Wooten of Simmons University - Leading Through Uncertainty

Defining Resiliency

• Wooten's definition of resiliency in leadership is about preserving and experiencing growth, making positive adjustments amidst challenges, changes, disruptions, and adversity. The goal is not just to survive but to thrive.

Mini-Masterclass: Frances Frei of Harvard Business School - How to Solve Any Problem Quickly

Key Strategies

• Frei advocates for a shift from the "move fast, break things" approach to "move fast, fix things."
• Trust is the foundation of effective problem-solving.
• Deliberation in actions is crucial to avoid what Frei terms "exhausted mediocrity."

Mini-Masterclass: Prithwiraj (Raj) Choudhury of Harvard Business School - Success Strategies for Hybrid and Work-from-Anywhere Teams

Hybrid and Remote Work Insights

• Choudhury emphasizes a trend towards 50% occupancy in offices, with employees showing a willingness to accept a 5-7% pay reduction for the flexibility to work remotely.
• He highlights the unique model of Zapier: 270 employees, no physical office, presence in 18 countries, and a diverse workforce.
• The ideal model, according to Choudhury, is "work from anywhere," not just from home. This involves flexible hybrid models where teams choose their working arrangements based on what suits them best.

Embracing Flexibility and Experimentation

• Choudhury advocates for allowing teams to pick their model depending on what works for them and to experiment with different approaches.
• One of his favorite examples of a flexible model in action is in Japan, where small conference rooms have been set up on train platforms. These rooms enable teams to assemble and collaborate effectively in unconventional but highly practical settings. This example illustrates the innovative ways in which workspaces can be adapted to suit the needs of a hybrid workforce.

Andrew McAfee of MIT Sloan School of Management - How Geeks Hacked Leadership

The Geek Way

• McAfee discusses his book, "The Geek Way," noting how "geeks" effectively manage large, complicated efforts.
• He contrasts the old "waterfall" method with the new "agile" approach.
• The focus is on value creation and attractiveness, with businesses being built to be less brittle by embracing openness.

Brad Lightcap COO of OpenAI - The Generative AI Revolution

Evolution of Generative AI

• Lightcap discusses the evolution towards personalized GPT models, emphasizing how the technology is becoming more adept at understanding individual work contexts and needs.
• The focus is on making Generative AI highly assistive, capable of accomplishing tasks efficiently while regularly seeking human input for guidance.

Risk Mitigation Strategies

• A key aspect of OpenAI's approach under Lightcap's leadership involves engineering models that are aware of their limitations and resilient to attacks. This includes developing a quantified sense of right and wrong within the AI models.
• An example of this cautious approach is the delayed release of GPT-4. OpenAI chose to wait six months before releasing the model, dedicating this time to thoroughly evaluate risks and safety concerns.
• Lightcap also addresses the challenge of runtime safety: ensuring models are not abused and developing strategies to prevent such misuse.

Social Responsibility and Adaptation

• OpenAI is not only focused on technological advancements but also on helping society develop the necessary "antibodies" to absorb the impact of Generative AI. This involves fostering institutions, social norms, and regulations that can adapt to and integrate these advanced technologies.
• A significant part of their mission is to assist people in adapting to the changes brought about by Generative AI, ensuring a balance between innovation and societal well-being.