The Innovators Network

07/06/2025

Last weekend, my 12-year-old grandson showed me how he's using AI to enhance his small laser cutting business—not replace his own creativity, but amplify it.

Meanwhile, his 9-year-old sister immediately reaches for AI whenever she needs to design something for my 3D printer. Same family, same access to technology, completely different approaches.

It hit me: we're making parenting decisions about AI that will shape how our kids think and create for the rest of their lives. And most of us are winging it.

After 30 years of watching Fortune 100 companies make terrible technology adoption decisions, I thought I understood the stakes.

But watching my grandkids navigate AI has shown me something crucial—the difference between using technology as a tool after mastering fundamentals versus using it as a shortcut to avoid building those fundamentals in the first place.

The families getting this right aren't the ones who banned AI or embraced it blindly. They're treating it like we treated the internet in the 1990s: powerful tool, clear purposes, active oversight. Most importantly, they're teaching their kids decision-making frameworks that will matter long after today's AI tools are obsolete.

What's your family's approach to AI? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Full article and FREE assessment and tools in the comments below. 👇

09/05/2025

Recent research from the University of Toronto found that college students today show a 42% decrease in divergent thinking scores – our ability to generate multiple solutions to problems – compared to students just five years ago.

The difference? The widespread adoption of AI tools.

Creative professionals show similar patterns.

But this isn't a rant against technology. AI is here to stay, and it offers tremendous benefits.

The real issue is how our relationship with these tools is taking away critical human cognitive abilities and its impact on society.

Latest post on our Substack newsletter …

🎥 https://open.substack.com/pub/theinnovatorsnetwork/p/your-brain-on-ai-the-shocking-decline

As AI handles more thinking tasks, human creativity declines 30%. The solution? Targeted creative thinking training that strengthens neural pathways AI can't replicate.

28/11/2024

Ever notice how innovation stories are a lot like Thanksgiving recipes? Everyone's got one, they're best when shared, and sometimes the unexpected combinations turn out to be the biggest hits! 🦃✨

This Thanksgiving, we're grateful for every innovator who's let us tell their story - from garage startups to global changemakers. You've filled our newsroom with more plot twists than a holiday family dinner (and that's saying something!)

Special thanks to our amazing community of readers and listeners who prove daily that curiosity never takes a holiday. You're the ones who keep asking "What's next?" even with a full plate of turkey in front of you.

And to all the innovators out there currently explaining their latest breakthrough to confused relatives at the dinner table - we see you, we appreciate you, and yes, we'd love to hear that story! 😉

Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with great ideas, better conversations, and maybe even an innovative approach to leftover turkey sandwiches!

31/10/2024

Many people have asked about my journey in building a career in Innovation.

Instead of rehashing how I did it, I invited a special guest to share his story.

Ni**od Ben-Natan, the CEO of Harmonic, shares his incredible story of how he built a model career in Innovation.

Watch the interview 👉 https://youtu.be/kVsbvu--F8E

💡 Key lessons:

- Never stop learning - tech changes fast!
- It's okay to fail - just learn from it
- Be ready to change direction when needed
- Think long-term (like, really long-term)

👉 Remember: Success isn't a straight line. Sometimes you need to:

- Try new roles
- Face tough challenges
- Keep going when things get rough
- Stay curious about everything

The best part of his advice? You don't need to be perfect. You just need to keep learning and growing.

What's your take on building a career in innovation? Share your thoughts below! 👇

Many people have asked about my journey in building a career in Innovation. Instead of rehashing how I did it, I invited a special guest to share his story. ...

19/09/2024

Understanding how top innovators think can be a great way to see how others do it.

Innovators don't just come up with ideas; they embody a mindset that fosters curiosity, resilience, and adaptability.

✅👉 https://youtu.be/6fH4iDpjodc

There's some specific traits to thinking like an Innovator. Discover what those are here.00:00 - Opening00:15 - Intro to the Innovator's Mindset01:15 - Key E...

12/09/2024

The importance of a Chief Innovation Officer (CINO, CIO) cannot be overstated.

In today's fiercely competitive marketplace, customers and shareholders expect a pipeline of innovation, no matter an organization's size, industry, or geography.

However, the role of a Chief Innovation Officer is not without its challenges, which are numerous and complex.

✅ 📽 👉 https://youtu.be/0DsvDFhHtEY

How to master the relatively new industry role of Chief Innovation Officer (CINO, CIO)The role of a Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) has become increasingly c...

09/09/2024

Creating an innovation studio is essential for fostering creativity, developing ideas, and transforming concepts into reality. Whether you're an inventor, a designer, or a creative professional, having a dedicated space for your work is crucial. In this episode, we'll walk you through building your innovation studio, inspired by my experience setting up a multifunctional space that caters to various aspects of innovation.

08/09/2024

Tim and Barton are joined by Dr. Harvey Castro, an innovator at the leading edge of AI in healthcare. His years as an ER doctor informed his pioneering research and empowered his understanding of the innovations at the intersection of technology and patient care.

07/09/2024

In this episode, we will explore how DBOS empowers developers to build and deploy cloud applications faster and more efficiently than ever before. We’ll also discuss real-world use cases, the challenges DBOS aims to solve, and the vision behind this transformative technology.

In this episode, we will explore how DBOS empowers developers to build and deploy cloud applications faster and more efficiently than ever before. We’ll also discuss real-world use cases, the challenges DBOS aims to solve, and the vision behind this transformative

23/08/2024

To boost your creativity and innovation, it's essential to prioritize time off. Disconnecting from work and the digital world allows your mind to rest and recharge, enhancing productivity and groundbreaking ideas.

22/08/2024

Doug Hohulin discusses the advances being made in Digital Health and Telehealth with the evolving technologies of AR, XR, and Generative AI.

Doug Hohulin discusses the advances being made in Digital Health and Telehealth with the evolving technologies of AR, XR, and Generative

22/08/2024

This is the first in a series on how to design and build an Innovation Studio based on the refresh of my studio that is currently underway.

I am a firm believer that having an innovation/creative studio (space) is essential for fostering creativity, developing ideas, and transforming your ideas into innovations.

If you have suggestions on what I should do with my studio, post them in the comments.

✅ 👉 https://youtu.be/q1pakU_8U0E

First part in a series on building your own Innovation Studio based on my own experience of building and now updating my studio. Creating an innovation/creat...