What I love about this time of year, is that everyone seems to be looking forward and imagining what's to come for the year ahead.  This is exactly the type of mindset we try to build within innovation, so seeing people discussing how digital trends might impact us, and provide genuine value gives me a real boost. 

With that in mind, this week's TechShot summarises some of the key predictions being made about the direction of travel for digital innovation in 2024:

AI and Emerging Tech Unveiled at Davos 2024 (World Economic Forum):

Davos discussions exceeded the hype, revealing a consensus on AI and other crucial issues such as the digital divide, quantum economy, space tech, climate change, and AI governance. The article emphasizes the shift towards a mindful AI approach, emphasizing its application across sectors while prioritizing people.

Dive into the full article

2024's Top 10 Tech Trends: A Glimpse into the Future (BlueSoft):

Gartner's compilation spotlights trends like AI integration, sustainable tech, and democratized generative AI, transcending borders to impact industries worldwide.

Explore the complete article

Seven Game-Changing Technologies in 2024 (Nature):

Nature identifies pivotal technologies including protein engineering, 3D printing, and deepfake detection, with far-reaching global implications shaping our scientific landscape.

Read the full insights here

Decoding 10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2024 (MIT Technology Review):

Significance: MIT Technology Review's annual list spans biotechnology, AI, computing, robotics, and climate tech, unleashing breakthroughs that transcend borders and drive innovation worldwide.

Delve into the breakthroughs

What do you think?  Are these the technologies and transformations that will define 2024?  What are you excited to see pan out over the course of this year?  Let me know in the comments.

Generative AI is a powerful tool, but its magic lies in crafting the right prompt. Think of it as the conductor's baton, guiding the AI orchestra towards your desired creative vision. So, how do you become a maestro of prompts? I've recently been doing a lot of work with Generative AI having completed a number of Google AI certifications.  As a result I've learnt a fair bit about the dos and don'ts, so I've put this guide toether to help you create the most effective prompts you can to get great result.  Let's delve into the essential steps and explore the "why" behind each one:

Step 1: Define Your Goal with Laser Focus 

Imagine entering a restaurant without knowing what you crave. Similarly, a vague prompt leaves the AI guessing. Be specific! Knowing your goal (poem, script, code snippet, etc.) sets the foundation, helping the AI tailor its response to your intended format and purpose.

Good Prompt: "Write a suspenseful short story (around 1000 words) about a time traveler trapped in the past, using elements of historical fiction."

Bad Prompt: "Make me something cool." (This leaves the AI lost in a sea of possibilities, potentially missing your mark.)

Step 2: Paint a Vivid Picture with Context

Think of this step like setting the scene for a movie. Provide details about the world, characters, and situation. The richer the context, the better the AI can understand the relationships, motivations, and overall atmosphere you envision.

Good Prompt: "In a dystopian future where corporations rule, a group of rebels led by a charismatic hacker plans a daring heist to steal sensitive data from the megacorporation headquarters. Describe their tense infiltration under heavy security."

Bad Prompt: "People doing something in a place." (This lacks the specifics that bring your scenario to life, hindering the AI's ability to generate a truly immersive response.)

Step 3: Be the Director, Not Just the Producer

Imagine wanting a specific genre of music but only telling the musician to "play something." With generative AI, you're both the producer and the director. Specify the desired tone (serious, humorous, etc.), style (formal, informal, etc.), and even length to guide the AI towards the specific output you have in mind.

Good Prompt: "Write a humorous blog post in a conversational tone, targeting tech enthusiasts, about the latest developments in virtual reality, aiming for a length of around 500 words."

Bad Prompt: "Write a tech article about VR." (This leaves the AI unsure of the intended tone, style, or target audience, potentially resulting in a mismatched output.)

Step 4: Show, Don't Just Tell, with Examples 

Think of this as providing reference photos to an artist. Share examples of similar content (poems, scripts, code, etc.) you like, highlighting specific elements you want the AI to incorporate. This gives the AI a concrete understanding of your preferences and desired style.

Good Prompt: "Generate a poem in the style of Emily Dickinson, similar to her 'Hope' poem, exploring the theme of resilience in the face of adversity."

Bad Prompt: "Write a sad poem like Dickinson." (Without a specific reference, the AI might miss the nuances of Dickinson's style and tone, leading to a poem that doesn't capture the intended essence.)

Step 5: Remember, Iteration is Your Friend 

Don't expect perfection on the first try. Experiment with different phrasings, adjust details, and see how the AI responds. Each iteration is a learning opportunity, helping you refine your prompt and guide the AI closer to your creative vision.

Bonus Tip: Don't be shy to explore existing prompt libraries and communities. Learn from others' successes and failures to enhance your own prompt-crafting skills.  GoDaddy have a library you can explore, its aimed primarily at small business users, but its equally as useful for larger enterprises.  You can find it Here

By following these steps and understanding the "why" behind each one, you'll transform from a novice prompt writer to a confident conductor, wielding the power of generative AI to bring your unique creative visions to life. So, grab your metaphorical baton and start composing!

In the ever-evolving landscape of business and technology, the traditional approach to problem-solving is undergoing a profound transformation. Design Thinking has emerged as a potent methodology, placing people at the forefront of design and innovation. It represents a shift from a solution-centric to a human-centric mindset, recognizing that understanding the needs, aspirations, and challenges of individuals is paramount to achieving true success and delivering genuine value to customers.

To help you understand and deliver the impact of human-centric design for your organisation, here are some amazing online resources that will elevate you to a hemp-clad, mystical CX guru in no time at all.

1.  Interaction Design Foundation (IDF): Design Thinking Guide

Link: IDF Design Thinking Guide

 2.  Make:Iterate: Design Thinking Case Studies

Just the fact that you're here, means you probably already realise the power of taking a human-centric approach to design and innovation.  However, getting the support and investment from leaders to move to new approaches can sometimes be challenging.  This isn't surprising given the number of new and shiny supposed silver bullets everyone tries to sell us on what seems like a      weekly basis.  So how can you convince the people that matter that this is not just a fad? What can really help is real world examples of how Design Thinking has been deployed, and the impact it can bring. Make:Iterate have put together alist of 6 practical examples of Design Thinking in action, which can help you build the business case, and bring your organisation's leaders along with you.

Link: Make:Iterate DT Case Studies 

3.  Green Dot: Design Thinking Tools and Templates

So, you've learnt what Design Thinking is all about, and you've got your team and the company's decision makers on board.  Now it's time to kick off your first Design Thinking project.  Green Dot Consulting Group provide an excellent library of Design Thinking tools and templates to help you on your way.  Need to plot out your customer journey map?  Want to build needs and requirements in a 'How Might We' Exercise?  Green Dot have you covered.

Link: The Green Dot: Tools & Templates  

4.  The Argonauts: Design Thinking Playlist

A great companion to the Green Dot's Templates is The Argonauts Design        Thinking playlist on Youtube.  In this series of videos they walk you                  through examples of how to make use of many of the templates and tools          on the Green Dot site (as well as some additional ones).  If you find video easier to follow than reading through wordy websites, this is a great place to start.

Link: The Argonauts: Design Thinking Playlist

 5.  The Big Bang Partnership: Digitising The Process

Sometimes an analog approach can provide great benefits when undertaking Design Thinking sprints.  Most Design Thinking practioners will be used to rooms filled with Post-It notes and hand-drawn prototypes.  Digital tools can have their place though, particularly where you need to integrate into existing digital workflows, or where you need to collaborate amongst a distributed team.  The Big Bang Partnership have produced a very comprehensive list of some of the most effect digital tools which you can use for your Design Thinking projects.  What's nice about this list is that they also explain how they can be used to provide value in each of the Design Thinking Phases.

                                                  Link: The Big Bang Partnership: Digital DT

 Bonus Resource:  Change By Design, Tim Brown

"Change by Design" by Tim Brown is a best-selling, seminal work that explores the principles and applications of Design Thinking in driving innovation. Brown, the CEO of IDEO, a renowned design and innovation consultancy, provides a compelling framework for problem-solving and creativity. The book emphasizes the human-centric nature of Design Thinking, advocating for empathy, collaboration, and experimentation in the design process. Through engaging case studies and real-world examples, Brown illustrates how integrating Design Thinking into organizational culture can lead to transformative change and sustainable success. "Change by Design" serves as a guide for leaders, designers, and innovators seeking to harness the power of creative problem-solving to address complex challenges and foster a culture of innovation within their teams and organizations.  You can get this as a Free audiobook with a trial of Audible using this link: Change By Design