innovation

Almost everything that makes up our world first appeared in a solitary head—the innovations, the tools, the images, the stories, the prophecies, and religions—it did not come from the center, it came from those who ran from it.

That right there is the recipe for genuine innovation:

• Embrace uncertainty and the fact one doesn’t know the future.


• Understand that people are inventing things — and not just technologies, but also use cases — constantly.


• Remember that the art comes in editing after the invention, not before.

When you’re focused on something few others are thinking about, you find yourself constantly making the case to yourself and others that your vision is worth pursuing and worthy of other people’s attention. This ongoing need to justify your work creates a significant emotional overhead.

Never forget that time Mckinsey told AT&T that cell phones would be a “niche” market and it ended up costing the company $12B+. https://t.co/HMoLD5jJNe

The Google AI team is in such a tough place: the targets will keep moving as their competitors advance. Any launch will hurt the brand that doesn’t live up to expectations which are rising. Throwing thousands of engineers to accelerate typically will slow things down. It’d be… Show more