The Fourth Industrial Revolution represents a fundamental change in the way we live, work and relate to one another. It is a new chapter in human development, enabled by extraordinary technology advances commensurate with those of the first, second and third industrial revolutions. These advances are merging the physical, digital and biological worlds in ways that create both huge promise and potential peril. The speed, breadth and depth of this revolution is forcing us to rethink how countries develop, how organisations create value and even what it means to be human. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is about more than just technology-driven change; it is an opportunity to help everyone, including leaders, policy-makers and people from all income groups and nations, to harness converging technologies in order to create an inclusive, human-centred future. The real opportunity is to look beyond technology, and find ways to give the greatest number of people the ability to positively impact their families, organisations and communities.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
In pictures: the history of space travel
A look back at an incredible six decades of humans in space.
Emerging Technologies
Our current internet architecture was conceived for the 1980s. It's time for an upgrade
BGP allows thousands of the internet's individual to communicate, but is also responsible for major outages. A new protocol, SCION, can shore up those vulnerabilities
Education and Skills
How COVID-19 is ending the stigma of online learning
In the post-COVID workplace, employers are revisiting candidate evaluation criteria and how online education can prepare students for the future of work.
Climate Action
Five satellite images that show how fast our planet is changing
Satellite images can measure changes in sea level down to a millilitre or land and ocean temperatures, so scientists can carry out a full 'health check'.
Cybersecurity
To make it cybersecure, CEOs must truly get to know their business
CEOs now recognize the extent of the cybersecurity threat. But do they understand their businesses well enough to implement the right solutions?
Fourth Industrial Revolution
This start-up is using blockchain to help smallholder farmers prosper
Many workers in emerging economies are unbanked because they can’t prove their existence in the supply chain. A US-based start-up wants to change this.
Health and Healthcare Systems
GDP is no longer an accurate measure of growth. So what can take its place?
It’s seen us through the 20th century. But now we need a more holistic metric to guide us through the global, post-pandemic economic recovery, says a new report.
Cybersecurity
8 steps to starting a cybersecurity virtuous cycle
Cybercrime is estimated to be worth $2.2 trillion this year – businesses must develop their cyber-resilience to avoid becoming victims
Emerging Technologies
Your smartphone has become your home, anthropologists say
For The Global Smartphone, researchers spent 16 months living in communities in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America to investigate how smartphones are used.
Geographies in Depth
Drones are delivering vaccines to rural communities in India
The purpose of these drones is to achieve faster vaccine delivery straight to citizens' doorsteps and improve healthcare access in more isolated communities.
Cybersecurity
The average ransomware demand is now $170K. Here's how we can fight back
The World Economic Forum's Partnership against Cybercrime aims to strengthen the collective response to the ever growing menace of ransomware extortion.
Emerging Technologies
These sustainable floats gather vital data about the ocean - while using the water to recharge
Oceanic research using data-gathering floats is vital to combat climate change. But each year, thousands of these floats lose power and pollute the ocean.