Age of Invisible Machines: A Practical Guide to Creating a Hyperautomated Ecosystem of Intelligent Digital Workers
Robb Wilson with Josh Tyson
Wiley (2023)

How to establish and then strengthen an ecosystem of intelligent digital workers

Henry Ford’s assembly lines demonstrated that machines don’t replace people. Rather, they are replaced by other people who know how to work with machines. In Future Shock (1970), Alvin Toffler observes, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” I was again reminded of that prediction as I worked my way through Age of Invisible Machines, written by Robb Wson with the substantial assistance of Josh Tyson. This is a major contribution to knowledge leadership in the field of hyperautomation, especially given the emergence of conversational AI.

I agree with Robb Wilson that, until recently, the “missing link” in the creation and widespread adoption of strategies for achieving hyperautomation has been a scalable interface. “In the course of building a platform for leveraging conversational AI,” he explains, “I’ve come to realize that it’s really a combination of three key technologies: conversational user interfaces, composable architecture, and no-code rapid application programming. In essence, this trinity is truly the white whale of experience design.”

Later in the Introduction, Wilson adds these thoughts: “When automation of your organization’s external and internal operations are leveraged through conversational AI, anyone can create and iterate software solutions on their own.  Conversational AI, orchestrated alongside other disruptive technologies on an open platform, can create an ecosystem that allows your team members to work collaboratively on automating tasks and processes in ways that people alone cpould never achieve. Conversational AI gives customers infinitely more rewarding interactions with your organization while also giving your team members an entirely new paradigm within which to work.”

These are among the other passages of greatest interest and value to me, also listed to suggest the scope of Wilson’s coverage:

o Part I: Imagining  an Ecosystem of Intelligent DigitalnWorers (Pages 1-2)
o Hypedrautomation Brings Hyperdisruption  (12-13)
o Dispelling [14] Common Myths About Conversational Artificial Intelligence  (16-23)
o To Stay Competitive, Hyperautomate  (28-310
o Where There’s Hyoeraugomastion, There’s Hyperdisruption  (43-62)

o Part II: Planning an ERcoisyetm of Intelligent Digital Workers  (71-73)
o IDEA IN BRIEF: Operating Without Design Strategy  (84-86)
o The Four Evolution Phazses of an IDW [intelligent digital worjer]  88-89
o Figure 9.2: Tracing an Example Through All Four Evolutionary Stages  (91-95)
o IDEA IN BRIEF: Get Your Team “Design TBhinking”   (106-107)

o Orchestrating Hyperautomation Requires an Open System (116-119)
o Cover All Your Bases (120-121)
o Whatever Yiu Do, Don’t Overlook UX {user’s experience] 139-141
o The Path of Persuasion (148-151)
o Part III: Building an Ecosystem of Intelligent Digital Workers (153)

o Figures 14.1 and 14z.2: Some of the many functions within organizations where skills are being automated by companies today (157-158)
o Design for Human-Controlled Outcomes (174-176)
o KeyPatterns for Sequence for ConversationalAI (179-186)
o Best Practices in Conversational Design (201-213)
o Part IV: Where Do We Go from Here? (229-234)

With substantial assistance from Josh Tyson, Robb Wilson has written a book in whch — in the superb Introduction — he compares his pursuit of “a powerful and elusive white whale” (i.e. conversational AI) with Captain Ahab’s pursuit of Moby Dick in Herman Melville’s epic novel.  The extended metaphor is appropriate.

“In the pages to follow, we’ll take a deep dive into the complexity of this new realm. By sharing with you everything I have learned, I want to help your organization to swim with the speed, strength, and flexibility necessary to propel itself forward in choppy waters. This will be an arduous and complex journey fraught with difficult decisions, but it will also give you the chance to reflect on the outdated processes and systems that have been holding you back. Regardless of whether this sounds appealing to you, or horrifying, the bottom line is that it’s time to take the plunge. In this space I’ll share the perspective of my journey over the course of 20+ years. If you’re going to do this, it’s crucial to have a point of you, so I’ll lend you mine.”

Here are two suggestions while reading Age of Invisible Machines: Highlight key passages, and, keep a lined notebook near at hand  in which you record your comments, questions, action steps (preferably with deadlines) and page references as well as your responses to the excellent end-of-chapter “Key Takeaway” sections.  These two simple tactics will facilitate, indeed expedite frequent review of key material later.

I highly recommend that this book be read in combination with two others: Aytekin Tank’s Automate Your Busywork: Do Less, Achieve More, and Save Your Brain for the Big Stuff and Workforce Ecosystems: Reaching Statrfgeic Goals with People, Partners, and Technologies,co-authored by Elizabeth J. Altman, David Kiron, JeffSchwartz, and Robin Jones.