E-Waste Recycling: Addressing the Issue from the Wrong End

26.03.2024
E-Waste Dump site

As the digital economy expands, so does its technological waste—a critical issue I've been highlighting since 2007. In 2022, a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste was produced, marking an 82% increase from 2010. This staggering volume of waste underscores the immense challenge we face. Computers and other devices demand a plethora of resources, including rare earth elements, each new device necessitating further extraction from the Earth. This reality presents a significant environmental dilemma.

Many PC manufacturers tout recycling as a universal solution. Yet, this perspective is not only overly simplistic but also problematic. It shifts the responsibility onto end consumers to manage waste and neglects the fact that no device is fully recyclable, with only 60% of materials potentially recoverable.

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The digital history of knowledge management and the advent of ChatGPT

20.03.2024
Rows of employees talking to a chatbot

A year has passed since ChatGPT's launch, and amidst the buzz, it's clear that chatbot assistants have significantly impacted the knowledge work domain. Yet, the specifics of where and how they influence remain somewhat nebulous. To gain a clearer understanding, examining the effect of AI bots on knowledge management—a field that has seen modest progress since the advent of the read-write web, or social media—is essential. Given that content creation and sharing are crucial for knowledge management, what role does generative AI play in this process?

Over the past 15 years, I've observed a fascinating trajectory: a journey that began with the celebration of knowledge, transitioned into the data "revolution", and now, perhaps, is circling back to the core essence of knowledge itself.

To fully grasp the potential and implications of large language models like ChatGPT in the realm of knowledge management, considering the objectives of knowledge management and its digital evolution proves helpful.

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E-Commerce's Dual Realities and Their Impact on Small Online Businesses Globally

13.03.2024
Small Package delivery

E-commerce, likened to a coin with two distinct sides, embodies the dichotomy between digital and physical goods and products. This metaphor illustrates not just the diversity of e-commerce but also the unique challenges and opportunities each side presents.

Digital Products and Services: A Transformational Landscape

The landscape of digital products has undergone a radical transformation since the 2000s. Initially, the concept of purchasing digital services online was met with skepticism. However, the advent of social media and e-commerce ecosystems, such as Shopify, revolutionized this space. These platforms democratized online sales, enabling virtually anyone to market their products from the comfort of their living room, provided they reside in the right country.

This digital boom has seen a surge in the sale of online courses, ebooks, and even Excel templates on platforms traditionally associated with handmade goods, like Etsy. Even seemingly niche products, like sales templates for the information platform Notion, have millions of users.

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