Each month, “Lochhead on Different” episodes will explore the need to differentiate people, products, and services in a world that encourages a lot of imitation. A best-selling author, top podcaster, and former tech-industry CMO, Christopher Lochhead is a student of not only business and technology and marketing but also human nature, human folly, human genius, and very human joy.
Episode 10
In this episode: Chris kicks off with John Doerr of the legendary venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins. In the 90s, Doerr famously said the internet was underhyped. He took heat for it at the time. But guess what? He was right—and the same thing is happening today with cloud, AI, and ML. The cloud is underhyped.
Then Chris and I talk about some of the wildly innovative ways that cloud, AI, and ML are transforming life on Earth. Chris talks about his buddy Ben Rewis. Ben is advising a startup called Verdant Robotics, which puts sensors on plants to detect moisture levels – a/k/a chill hours – thereby transforming agricultural management through big data. We also talk about activating surfers to help monitor coastlines, producing data that AI can analyze, and new technologies that can save millions of tons of CO2 by optimizing manufacturing and supply chains.
Chris is a leading podcaster, and he has some strong opinions about folks who say that the podcasting world is oversaturated. People are saying that with 800,000 shows, no more innovation can come about. But we spend a couple minutes on a specific new show that Chris feels is doing something totally new, and look to the future of this popular format. Back in 1907, folks probably said that the world was done innovating. They were wrong—just like those who say that the podcasting is “done,” the cloud is overhyped, and that AI will ruin the world are wrong.
As Chris says to wrap up: “For those of us who are lucky enough to be living at the intersection of business and technology, I think if you’re not excited, if you’re not engaged, if you’re not committed, you’re not paying attention.” The cloud is underhyped.
You can also stream this episode in audio-only format:
Highlights
'The Luddites are always wrong, always. Whether you want to talk about the wheel or fire, or is the world better off because we invented the cloud—yeah, it is.' #CloudWars Click To Tweet 'You know what the first TV shows were? They took television cameras and put them in a theater and they essentially videotaped a play. That's where we're at in podcasting for the most part. Most podcasts are not innovative.' #CloudWars Click To Tweet 'For those of us who are lucky enough to be living at the intersection of business and technology, I think if you're not excited, if you're not engaged, if you're not committed, you're not paying attention.' #CloudWars Click To Tweet
Cloud Wars Live Digital All-Stars
Christopher Lochhead is one of our regular Digital All-Stars. The All-Stars are experts whose video podcasts will focus on the critical themes shaping (and re-shaping!) the business world here in the digital age of 2020. Our intention is to provide regular chunks of timely ideas and insights about high-priority subjects from industry veterans with diverse backgrounds.
