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Heartificial Empathy: Putting Heart into Business and Artificial Intelligence
Heartificial Empathy explores how businesses can tackle making their organisation -- including key Artificial Intelligence initiatives -- more empathic. It is the author's conviction that empathy is one of the most untapped levers of productivity in business. In the new tech-infused era, where companies are scrambling with digital transformation, trying to be more customer centric and to spur innovation and growth, empathy is a killer app. Yet, it's a quality that can't be taught. It can only be learned. The same is true of both human beings and machines. Heartifcial Empathy looks at some the pioneering work being done on making bots more sentient and empathic. It also grapples with the major business and ethical challenges associated with making organisations and machines more empathic.
- GenresBusiness
215 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2018
About the author
Minter Dial
11 books14 followersMinter Dial is a professional speaker, author & consultant on Leadership, Branding and Transformation.
His three published books include: Heartificial Empathy (Dec 2018), Futureproof (Sep 2017) and The Last Ring Home (Nov 2016). His newest book comes out January 2021: You Lead, How Being Yourself Makes You A Better Leader (Kogan Page).
Minter has given over 500 talks and seminars to audiences in five continents about topics ranging from new tech trends to branding and digital strategy in the digital era. Minter was ranked top 3 speaker at the Adobe EMEA Summit 2014, 2015 and 2016. His core strength is making brand and digital strategies come to life through his experiential programs.
Prior to running The Myndset Co., Minter led a 16-year international career with the L'Oréal Group – including 9 different assignments in France, England, USA and Canada. In his last post with L'Oréal, Minter was a member of the worldwide Executive Committee of the Professional Products Division. Previously, Minter was Managing Director of the Canadian subsidiary (L'Oréal PPD) and MD Worldwide of the brand REDKEN, 5th Ave NYC.
Before working at L'Oreal, Minter began his career in Product Marketing for the investment bank, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, NYC, for 4 years. Then, he joined a startup, The Myriad Group, Travel Agency for Entertainers, based in Washington DC, for two years, before returning to Europe to do his MBA.
In terms of studies, Minter was educated at Eton College (1978-1982), received his BA in Trilingual Literature from Yale University (1987) and gained his MBA at INSEAD, Fontainebleau (1993).
Minter is board member of the ECV School, based in Paris, and previously NED of Lastminute.com Group. He is passionate about languages, all racquet sports and the Grateful Dead.
His three published books include: Heartificial Empathy (Dec 2018), Futureproof (Sep 2017) and The Last Ring Home (Nov 2016). His newest book comes out January 2021: You Lead, How Being Yourself Makes You A Better Leader (Kogan Page).
Minter has given over 500 talks and seminars to audiences in five continents about topics ranging from new tech trends to branding and digital strategy in the digital era. Minter was ranked top 3 speaker at the Adobe EMEA Summit 2014, 2015 and 2016. His core strength is making brand and digital strategies come to life through his experiential programs.
Prior to running The Myndset Co., Minter led a 16-year international career with the L'Oréal Group – including 9 different assignments in France, England, USA and Canada. In his last post with L'Oréal, Minter was a member of the worldwide Executive Committee of the Professional Products Division. Previously, Minter was Managing Director of the Canadian subsidiary (L'Oréal PPD) and MD Worldwide of the brand REDKEN, 5th Ave NYC.
Before working at L'Oreal, Minter began his career in Product Marketing for the investment bank, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, NYC, for 4 years. Then, he joined a startup, The Myriad Group, Travel Agency for Entertainers, based in Washington DC, for two years, before returning to Europe to do his MBA.
In terms of studies, Minter was educated at Eton College (1978-1982), received his BA in Trilingual Literature from Yale University (1987) and gained his MBA at INSEAD, Fontainebleau (1993).
Minter is board member of the ECV School, based in Paris, and previously NED of Lastminute.com Group. He is passionate about languages, all racquet sports and the Grateful Dead.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 18, 2020
A really good scientific approach to the application of artificial intelligence on mimicking people's empathy during some tasks execution.
The author brings not only a technical point of view of this subject, but also a social and anthropological implication on the AI agenda.
With prescriptive frameworks and checklists, there are several practical applications on work and life routines that might be immediately piloted.
By the end of the book the author brings dozens of references of books, podcasts, movies, seminars and also other sources of inspiration to keep updated around this topic.
The author brings not only a technical point of view of this subject, but also a social and anthropological implication on the AI agenda.
With prescriptive frameworks and checklists, there are several practical applications on work and life routines that might be immediately piloted.
By the end of the book the author brings dozens of references of books, podcasts, movies, seminars and also other sources of inspiration to keep updated around this topic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2019
I learned about this wonderful book when its author, Minter Dial, tagged me on Twitter with the following Tweet: "I really enjoyed your article 'Empathy toward others is a precondition to an ethical life.' I referenced it in my new book Heartifical Empathy: Putting Heart into Business and Artificial Intelligence. Cheers and Merry Christmas from London."
Since Minter's book is about empathy, I believe it's essential for people to know Minter's level of understanding of the skill of empathy. I'm therefore sharing information on my understanding of the skill of empathy to lend credibility to my review.
The article Minter referenced in his Tweet was a article of mine published on my Empathy and Relationships blog on Psychology Today. Not only did the editor of Psychology Today title my blog Empathy and Relationships: Fostering Genuine Open-Mindedness, but after I read an article critical of empathy that was published by the New York Times, I published an article titled Beware of Criticizing Concepts You Don’t Fully Understand.” Psychology Today shared that article on Twitter with the following comment: “Empathy is often misunderstood, yet it’s one of the most important skills you can practice.”
When people publish material about empathy based upon a misunderstanding of such an important skill, it isn't helpful and is actually harmful, in my opinion.
After reading the book, it is clear to me that Minter has an excellent understanding of the skill of empathy, how it works, why it’s important, what’s necessary to develop and foster it, and what impedes it.
In Heartificial Empathy, Minter said, “An empathic person will be a better leader, innovator, marketer and family member. It is because empathy will be the best antidote for the evil forces trying to tear many elements of our society apart.”
I couldn’t agree more.
In a word, empathy is about understanding. Minter expressed that by saying, “Empathy is about understanding the other.”
Heartificial Empathy is an easy to read, thoughtful and thought-provoking book about “one of the most important skills you can practice” written by an author with an outstanding understanding of this “often misunderstood” skill.
While this book was written for a particular demographic, as is evident from full title of the book itself, I believe that anyone interested in becoming “a better leader, innovator, marketer and family member” would benefit from reading it.
Since Minter's book is about empathy, I believe it's essential for people to know Minter's level of understanding of the skill of empathy. I'm therefore sharing information on my understanding of the skill of empathy to lend credibility to my review.
The article Minter referenced in his Tweet was a article of mine published on my Empathy and Relationships blog on Psychology Today. Not only did the editor of Psychology Today title my blog Empathy and Relationships: Fostering Genuine Open-Mindedness, but after I read an article critical of empathy that was published by the New York Times, I published an article titled Beware of Criticizing Concepts You Don’t Fully Understand.” Psychology Today shared that article on Twitter with the following comment: “Empathy is often misunderstood, yet it’s one of the most important skills you can practice.”
When people publish material about empathy based upon a misunderstanding of such an important skill, it isn't helpful and is actually harmful, in my opinion.
After reading the book, it is clear to me that Minter has an excellent understanding of the skill of empathy, how it works, why it’s important, what’s necessary to develop and foster it, and what impedes it.
In Heartificial Empathy, Minter said, “An empathic person will be a better leader, innovator, marketer and family member. It is because empathy will be the best antidote for the evil forces trying to tear many elements of our society apart.”
I couldn’t agree more.
In a word, empathy is about understanding. Minter expressed that by saying, “Empathy is about understanding the other.”
Heartificial Empathy is an easy to read, thoughtful and thought-provoking book about “one of the most important skills you can practice” written by an author with an outstanding understanding of this “often misunderstood” skill.
While this book was written for a particular demographic, as is evident from full title of the book itself, I believe that anyone interested in becoming “a better leader, innovator, marketer and family member” would benefit from reading it.
February 20, 2019
Minter Dial skillfully demystifies the most talked-about skill in the future of work ─ for humans and machines.
No fluff, no platitutes, with real-life examples and 100% actionable, the book boldly sets all things empathy-in-business (and life) straight: why it matters, what it is, how it works and what exact actions to take to inject it into our everyday business to ethically, sustainably and predictably drive growth moving forward.
No fluff, no platitutes, with real-life examples and 100% actionable, the book boldly sets all things empathy-in-business (and life) straight: why it matters, what it is, how it works and what exact actions to take to inject it into our everyday business to ethically, sustainably and predictably drive growth moving forward.
March 4, 2019
Minter Dial’s new book, Heartificial Empathy, is a must read for marketers and business leaders alike to help them understand AI and how leaders must still have the human element to gain competitive advantage. He takes Human (He)+ AI (the art) + empathy to make = Heartificial Empathy - the key ingredient for future success.
Minter Dial’s insight is sharp, his writing engaging and the book leaves you wanting him to write more on other marketing and business topics. He’s the closest I’ve read on digesting & explaining a topic in an interesting and easily readable fashion since Malcolm Gladwell.
Dial details ways to nurture and sustain empathy in the organization while leveraging the best of AI. So man, who has long been adaptable, with machine provide the best combination.
Minter Dial’s insight is sharp, his writing engaging and the book leaves you wanting him to write more on other marketing and business topics. He’s the closest I’ve read on digesting & explaining a topic in an interesting and easily readable fashion since Malcolm Gladwell.
Dial details ways to nurture and sustain empathy in the organization while leveraging the best of AI. So man, who has long been adaptable, with machine provide the best combination.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews