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Curious Mind Podcast :The Digital Agenda
[S3] EP14: Dr Jim Spohrer: Service Science Innovation, AI and Digital Twins
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[S3] EP14: Dr Jim Spohrer: Service Science Innovation, AI and Digital Twins

TDA Episode 14 fireside with Jim Spohrer, (MIT & Yale PhD) founder of ISSIP focuses on his pioneering work in service science, his views on AI and digital transformation plus experience at Apple &IBM

Video

Summary/Key Takeaways

Key takeaways from the Fireside Chat Between Piyush Malik and Jim Spohrer

  1. Jim Spohrer’s Unique Career Path

    • Jim’s journey includes influential roles at Apple, and IBM after degrees at MIT and a PhD at Yale with a strong emphasis on innovation, open source leadership, and fostering collaboration across organizations

    • Founder & Director, ISSIP , Retired from IBM as Director, Cognitive OpenTech (2017 - 2021) Global University Programs (2009 - 2016) Almaden Service Research (2003-2008),,CTO IBM Venture Capital Relations (1999-2002), Apple Computer Distinguished Engineer Scientist and Technologist (1993-1998), Apple's Advanced Technology Group (1989-1998).

  2. Leadership Philosophy: Run, Transform, Innovate

    • Jim highlighted a leadership model learned at IBM: balance routine operations (“run”), adopt best practices (“transform”), and pursue unique innovation (“innovate”) to maximize both organizational and individual growth

  3. The Importance of Timing in Innovation

    • Drawing from his experience with Steve Jobs at Apple, Jim emphasized that successful innovation is as much about timing as it is about the idea itself—being too early or too late can hinder success

  4. Service Science: Applying Knowledge for Societal Benefit

    • Service science is defined as the application of resources, especially knowledge, for the benefit of others. While it has made progress, Jim noted its full societal potential is still unrealized, especially in addressing challenges like misinformation and polarization.

  5. Digital Twins for Scalable Knowledge Sharing

    • Jim discussed the creation of his own digital twin—an AI-powered avatar that can communicate, mentor, and deliver talks in multiple languages—demonstrating how technology can scale expertise and personalize learning

  6. Universities as Laboratories for the Future

    • Universities are seen as key environments for experimenting with future innovations and entrepreneurship, with the vision that students will increasingly become job creators rather than job seekers1.

  7. Lifelong Learning and Self-Control as Essential Skills

    • Both speakers stressed the necessity of continuous learning and cultivating self-control to thrive as leaders and innovators in a rapidly changing world

  8. Context Matters in Leadership and AI

    • The discussion underscored the critical role of context in effective leadership and in AI development, noting the evolution from prompt engineering to context engineering for better outcomes1.

  9. Accessible Learning and Community Through ISSIP

    Jim encouraged listeners to explore ISSIP’s accessible, volunteer-driven courses on service innovation and to connect for further resources, including his book “Service in the AI Era,” highlighting the value of community engagement and knowledge sharing

  10. Resources/ Call to action

These lessons that can be equally valuable for executives, technologists, aspiring founders, business leaders and young folks entering the professional world

Additional Resources

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