December 29, 2024
The Technology Problem
I recently had a long conversation with a non-Valley entrepreneur that just raised a significant amount of money from Valley angels. During our conversation, he brought up a very interesting point: Valley investors and entrepreneurs are singularly focused on the "apply technology and stir" model of business-building.
Valley investors think you can throw enough smart developers at a problem to get it solved. Valley entrepreneurs see a problem and want to solve it with development: the best tool they have at hand.
In our hurry to simplify, commodify, and “scale” every experience, it feels as though we have lost sight of what ultimately creates many experiences: the human element. Time and time again we insist on leaving human interaction behind, to be replaced with screens, buttons, and automated responses to our problems.
When you step outside that thought bubble for just a moment, you begin to discover that most people use technology as its intended to be used: a supplement to their experiences and day-to-day, rather than a replacement. Even with a map in their pocket, most people will still verbally debate the directions to a place rather than look it up. Instead of booking a reservation for a restaurant online, most people still happily call the restaurant and do the process over the phone.
You cannot adequately imitate the warmth of a person’s voice, the feeling of a personalized experience, or the benefit of someone truly understanding what you want by simply applying some technology and stirring thoroughly. There’s nothing quite like the intersection of technology and human interaction.
Some experiences absolutely benefit from increased efficiency and the application of smart technology, but the lack of thoughtful discretion can often be frightening.
As the old saying goes, "when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."
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