Government’s Role in Navigating the Physical-Digital Divide
Throughout history, humanity’s greatest frontiers and societal challenges have been explored and navigated through partnerships between the public and private sectors. Governments leverage public funds to invest in the research and development of disruptive, transformational technologies and the private sector creatively monetizes and continuously improves them to realize their full potential.
The internet is a perfect example of this partnership. As former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates put it:
“The crucial connection between private companies and public research is something I know well from my own experience with Microsoft. Consider how central the Internet is to the business strategy of virtually every technology company today, including Microsoft. But the Internet only exists because the Defense Department agency DARPA created the foundation for it with groundbreaking research into computer networking. No single business would ever have taken on a project of that scope.
As the next great frontier, the physical–digital divide, calls into question the very nature of reality and humanity itself, it is imperative we continue to deepen and broaden the hard-earned lesson learned from the last two frontiers of the Earth and Space: we’re all humans and all life has inalienable rights. In doing so, the fears of a brave new future portrayed in countless dystopian visions where technology is ubiquitous, and the physical and digital worlds have merged can remain just that: science fiction.
This will require the public sector to lay a foundation—not only from a research, innovation and regulatory standpoint, but also in terms of creating a guiding star to show us the way. And, when creating this guiding star, there are three areas of considerations, each with their own complexity, that must be addressed:
- Personal: In a world where nearly everything can be digitized, stored, and analyzed, how do we define and protect personal privacy?
- National: Are the boundaries in the digital world similar to the physical, and what role will governments play in regulating and taxing what crosses them?
- Societal: If our push towards automation leads to pervasive joblessness, how do we ensure the divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ does not increase?
When navigating these considerations, we believe it is incumbent upon public sector to remember 3 core aspects of humanity that technology will never replace, but if not actively fostered, can easily be destroyed: Collaboration, Adaptability, and Justice.
Placing these three defining characteristics as the foundation for future societies pierce the veil of all social, economic, and political systems: how do governments engender trust, how are public resources invested, and how are resources distributed? It also makes clear that the public sector must embark on three expeditions:
- Build trust in public institutions
- Invest in the needs of tomorrow, today.
- Deliver economic opportunity and stability for all
Enabling innovation is Microsoft’s core mission: we understand that transformation can be challenging, but we also believe that it holds incredible promise. Our approach is to empower organizations to achieve more by accelerating the value imagined and realized from their digital experiences.
As your trusted technology partner, we offer both public sector know-how and government-grade solutions. No matter where you are on your digital transformation journey, Microsoft can help as you envision your digital society, and innovate for economic opportunity and stability for all.
