A recent IBM study found that 81% of consumers say that they have become more concerned about how their data is used online. But most users continue to hand over their data and tick consent boxes impatiently to get to the next site, giving rise to a” privacy paradox,” where users’ concerns aren’t reflected in their behaviors. Data governance is a daunting challenge for companies and regulators alike. What we’re missing is a system that defines and grants users “digital agency” – the ability to own the rights to their personal data, manage access to this data and, potentially, be compensated fairly for such access. This would make data similar to other forms of personal property: a home, a bank account or even a mobile phone number. A recent IBM study found that 81% of consumers say they have become more concerned about how their data is used online. But most users continue to hand over their data online and tick consent boxes impatiently, giving rise to a “privacy paradox,” where users’ concerns aren’t reflected in their behaviors. It’s a daunting challenge for regulators and companies alike to navigate the future of data governance....

Inconsistent output has stymied widespread adoption....

Here is a common story of how companies trying to adopt AI fail. They work closely with a promising technology vendor. They invest the time, money, and effort necessary to achieve resounding success with their proof of concept and demonstrate how the use of artificial intelligence will improve their business. Then everything comes to a screeching halt — the company finds themselves stuck, at a dead end, with their outstanding proof of concept mothballed and their teams frustrated....

Without doubt, software is the backbone of virtually all the intelligent solutions designed to support the environment. It’s critical, for example, in efforts to tackle deforestation and reduce emissions. In many instances, however, software is also part and parcel of a rapidly growing carbon footprint. In fact, recent and proliferating digital technologies have begun to worsen many of the environmental problems they are aimed at solving. But companies can make software an integral part of their sustainability efforts by taking its carbon footprint into account in the way it is designed, developed, and deployed and by rethinking some aspects of how the data centers that provide cloud-based services operate....