We are at a momentous inflection point in our evolutionary history: generative AI is becoming mainstream, transforming the world of work, and specifically that of knowledge workers. This book helps you to navigate your upskilling journey to remain relevant and to add value in the workplace.
Knowledge workers must face up to the fact that there is a need to urgently reboot their skill set to survive and thrive in the new AI era. Many of the historic competences and points of differentiation that employees could offer are being challenged with AI technology. This book is all about building the power skills that knowledge workers will need to develop to maintain a competitive edge and work effectively alongside AI. It’s a future where AI will now do a lot of the heavy lifting and one in which employers will increasingly be looking for people to add value in areas where AI is weak. In particular, this puts the spotlight on the need for workers to dial up their potential as polymaths. These are people who can see the big picture from different perspectives and who can add that extra layer of innovative thinking and creativity to everything they do. Importantly, the book provides a framework for understanding how AI is likely to reshape the fundamental structure of the workforce, and how knowledge workers can strategically position themselves to enhance their value.
This book provides an essential guide to developing new skill sets for knowledge workers in the AI era. Not only does it ensure that you don’t fall behind, it will also enable you to succeed and thrive.
Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. An inflection point in history 2. The power and potential of AI 3. Responding to the arrival of AI 4. The architecture of a new society 5. The rise of the polymath 6. Turbo boosting our skills 7. The AI-Human interface 8. The Sensemaker 9. The Critical Thinker 10. The Audacious Creator 11. The Forward Thinker 12. The Inspiring Communicator 13. The Galvanising Leader 14. Collaborating with AI
About the Author :
David VL Smith founded the business research agency, DVL Smith Ltd, over 30 years ago and is a visiting professor at the University of Hertfordshire Business School. He holds a PhD in organisational psychology from the University of London. He is a former vice president of ESOMAR, the worldwide marketing intelligence association, and a fellow and past chairman of the UK Market Research Society.
Adam Riley started his career in London-based market research agencies in the early 1990s before becoming a global marketing strategist in the Chairman’s office of Samsung in South Korea, after gaining an MBA from the London Business School. Returning to London, Adam joined the marketing strategy practice of Monitor Company (now Monitor Deloitte) before founding Decision Architects consultancy in 2006.
David and Adam founded Polymathmind.ai in 2023 to help organisations collaborate with AI and develop the power skills needed to grasp the opportunities it presents for the future.
Review :
'Brilliant! You identify how we can learn to live with AI, and maybe even guide it. You outline the power skills we need to collaborate with AI. You highlight the quintessentially human power that gives us an edge over AI – the ability to comprehend and empathise with the complexity of the human condition and experience.'
C. Frederic John, Principal, Consilience Research and Consulting
'David VL Smith and Adam Riley are two of the smartest thinkers anywhere when it comes to research, insights, and marketing. So, when they turn their attention to our future with AI, it's time to sit up and read.'
Simon Chadwick, Managing Partner, Cambiar Consulting
