ABSTRACT. The traditional Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom (DIKW) hierarchy, often visualized as a pyramid, inadequately captures the complexity and dynamism of knowledge systems in the digital age. This paper argues for a reconceptualization of the DIKW model as a biodigital network ecosystem, challenging the hierarchical and linear assumptions of the pyramid model. I argue that wisdom and knowledge cannot be reduced to mere aggregations of data or information, as they embody complex, non-linear relationships and emergent properties not predictable from their constituent parts alone. Accumulated data lacks the uniformity and homogeneity often implied in pyramid models, misrepresenting the role of evidence and argument in the construction of knowledge and wisdom. I explore the analogies between DIKW processes and networks, including neural networks, media communication systems, and ecological systems, to propose a biodigital network model for General Artificial Intelligence (GAI). This model mirrors the intricate interactions and feedback loops found in natural ecosystems and the human brain, which comprises approximately 200 billion neurons, suggesting wisdom might better be understood as an emergent property of a delicate and intricate bio-eco-digital system and biodigital convergence and synergies. By drawing parallels with the structure and function of the human brain, this paper highlights the potential for a biodigital ecosystem approach to reflect the processes of generating, disseminating, and utilizing knowledge and wisdom more accurately in a complex, interconnected world.
JEL codes: E24; J21; J54; J64

Keywords: DIWK; network; biodigital; neural networks; ecosystem; knowledge; wisdom

How to cite: Peters, M. A. (2024). “From 2-D Pyramid to Generative Network: Reimagining the DIKW Hierarchy as a Biodigital Network Intelligent Ecosystem,” Psychosociological Issues in Human Resource Management 12(2): 7–17. doi: 10.22381/pihrm12120241.

Received 14 January 2024 • Received in revised form 1 May 2024
Accepted 5 May 2024 • Available online 25 May 2024