TI CEO Podcast · episode 32
Why I am an optimist
1-minute summary
In this episode of his CEO diary, Christoph Standl explains why he is an optimist – and why that has a lot to do with becoming an entrepreneur. For him, optimism does not mean that everything always goes well; projects turn out differently than planned and decisions prove wrong. Optimism rather means believing that a solution can be found for most problems. When it comes to artificial intelligence, automation and robotics, people usually ask what might get worse – he prefers the opposite question: What will get better? When routine tasks take thirty minutes instead of three hours, productivity grows, things become cheaper, transport and logistics safer, construction more efficient. Technologies that used to be unaffordable now sit in everyone's pocket. Of course there will still be problems in 2050 and 2100, but it is worth seeing the future also as something to look forward to. Everyone can influence a small part of it – as an entrepreneur, employee, developer or customer. That is why he is an optimist: the future does not simply happen, it can be shaped. Big changes often begin with small daily steps.
Description
I am fundamentally an optimist. Not because I believe everything always goes well – but because I believe we can find solutions for most problems. With AI, automation, robotics or autonomous driving in particular, we often talk about the risks first. But what happens if these technologies also make our lives better? If work becomes more productive, transport cheaper, mobility easier, or certain manufacturing and construction processes more efficient? In this episode I therefore think a little further ahead – to 2050 and even 2100. The earth will keep turning then, too. People will work, travel, start companies, start families, develop new technologies and solve new problems. So perhaps we shouldn't only see the future as something we need to protect ourselves from. Perhaps we may also see the future as something to look forward to. Because the future doesn't just happen. A small part of it we can shape ourselves. Big changes often begin with small daily steps.