Image via Wikipedia
For years, I’ve been saying that the advent of networks is like the “Industrial Revolution, only bigger.”
At least 5 years ago, I argued that it would start making sense to outsource most legal work to a lower-cost center, like India.
My dad, a long time litigator, was doubtful.
Wednesday, he sent me this note with a link to this article from the NY Times:
This is an idea that you expressed a few years ago.
I was skeptical.
Dad
There is NO part of our lives as we once knew it that isn’t going to be dramatically impacted in incredible ways by the wave of technologies which is unfolding around us.
This is my biggest concern for American competitiveness…that we just don’t fully comprehend that there are upwards of 500 million? a billion people? who, ultimately, can do much of the work we do for much, much less.
So, innovation, and creativity become the only way for us to drive value.
I once said to a friend whose brother is a plumber’s apprentice “that’s a good job, it can’t be outsourced.”
But, actually, it can be. Maybe not tomorrow or next week, but…
We’ll one day have “smart pipes” in our house that tell us where the problems are. Nano-robots that can identify pin holes, and even automated repair delivery systems that can be fed up through the water main to any part of the house. A robot can replace a toilet, right?
And, that whole process can be managed by a guy sitting in his basement in Zimbabwe.
