In this episode of Beneficial Intelligence, I discuss the tendency to use too much technology. As technology enthusiasts, we must be aware of our tendency to implement technology where it doesn't really improve things. 

There is an Israeli startup that is building autonomous flying drones to pick apples. In my keynote "Everything that's wrong with IT," I talk about my internet-connected socks. In my house, I have various "smart" devices that allow me to control the lights. Over the past month, I've ripped out two different malfunctioning systems and replaced them with the simple on/off switches I used to have. And now I can control my lights again. 

We need to do a proper cost/benefit analysis and to evaluate the added risk by replacing humans (with common sense) with computers (without common sense). Our natural optimism leads us to underestimate the costs, overestimate the benefits, and under-appreciate the risks. We need to be aware of this so we can compensate for our own bias and avoid implementing too much technology. 

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Beneficial Intelligence is a weekly podcast with stories and pragmatic advice for CIOs and other IT leaders. To get in touch, please contact me at [email protected]