This article examines how polarization and information disparity have created a "black or white world" lacking nuance in public discourse, using examples like the US presidential race and Black Lives Matter movement. The piece attributes this polarization partly to social media advertising models that create echo chambers by showing users content similar to what they've previously engaged with, designed to benefit advertisers rather than promote diverse thinking. The author argues that this segmentation hinders problem-solving for complex "wicked problems" like educational access inequality, which require systems thinking and multiple perspectives to address effectively. The article also identifies information silos as a barrier, noting that comprehensive understanding requires time and resources to gather fragmented information from various sources, creating disparities between those who can access broad perspectives and those who cannot. The piece advocates for embracing diverse viewpoints and bringing people together around complex issues rather than treating differences as divisive badges.

This article discusses workforce adaptation needs in response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and COVID-19 pandemic, referencing a World Economic Forum report stating that 50% of employees will need reskilling by 2025. The piece notes that while critical thinking and problem-solving remain top priorities, the pandemic has elevated distinctly human skills like active learning, resilience, stress tolerance, and flexibility. The author argues these human capabilities are irreplaceable by machines, particularly the ability to adapt perspectives and grow from traumatic experiences. The article suggests that understanding different perspectives enhances flexibility and resilience, and proposes that human active learning—which considers nuance and context that machines cannot account for—can be augmented with AI rather than replaced by it. Using an HR practitioner example, the piece illustrates how combining human insights with AI analysis could improve decision-making processes in a post-pandemic workforce environment.

This article critiques major social media platforms following high-profile incidents like the Trump bans and WhatsApp privacy policy changes, arguing that these events revealed public unease about platforms' societal influence. The piece attributes social problems to the advertising-driven business model that creates detailed user profiles for targeted marketing, which the author claims has produced "deep polarization" as an unintended consequence. The article describes how algorithms serve advertisers rather than users, contributing to a "you're either with us or against us" mentality that the author argues has eroded discourse, empathy, and understanding. The piece suggests that society has reached a "crunch moment" requiring platforms that prioritize collective understanding over individual pontification, claiming this shift would actually benefit businesses seeking to understand customers as human beings rather than just demographic data points. It frames this as an opportunity to redirect society away from division toward comprehensive understanding.