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
Introducing Meet the Leader, a World Economic Forum podcast
On this first episode of Meet the Leader, IBM's Dario Gil explains why the world needs 'Science Readiness Reserves' to help prevent future crises.
Emerging Technologies
NASA is looking for alien worlds - and needs your help
NASA's new citizen science project called Planet Patrol is asking volunteers to look over images taken by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
Emerging Technologies
Amazon introduces the Amazon One, a way to pay with your palm when entering stores
Amazon’s physical retail stores are introducing a new biometric device that will allow shoppers to pay using their palm, connected to their card.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
Coffee without contact: Welcome to the virus-proof office break room
Major coffee brands such as Nestle and Lavazza are working with their suppliers to make sure break rooms and coffee machines can be used during coronavirus.
Forum Institutional
How businesses can accelerate technology for sustainable impact
Technology can help global businesses measure sustainability and resilience, manage carbon emissions and accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
Emerging Technologies
Rethinking risk and compliance for the Age of AI
The rise of AI is changing risk management and compliance, and creating new risks for businesses. Integrated audit solutions are needed to manage them.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
How $1 scratch cards are helping farmers invest for the future
A new scheme allows farmers to put aside small amounts of cash during the dry season to pay for seed and fertilizer to increase harvests when the rains come.
Manufacturing and Value Chains
Global Lighthouse Network: Four Durable Shifts for a Great Reset in Manufacturing
The World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network comprises 54 leading companies that have succeeded in the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technology at scale, at individual ...
Emerging Technologies
Will your next phone be made from recycled materials? These 6 tech giants are working on it
Tech Giants are betting big on the circular economy as a way to lower emissions and to tap a responsible and sustainable supply of finite materials.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
The dark side of digitalization – and how to fix it
The digital economy can drive our recovery from the pandemic, but governments need to start ensuring it is sustainable and equitable – starting today.
Forum Institutional
Harnessing COVID-19’s digital dividend to finance the Sustainable Development Goals
The pandemic's disruption creates an opportunity to harness digital to deliver citizen-centric finance – and deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
This technology is offering a completely new way to monitor sleep
This wireless device, called BodyCompass, captures sleep data without using cameras or body sensors and could aid patients with Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, or bedsores.