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.
Emerging Technologies
It's not a new drug, new technology or a lifestyle change, but it could have major health benefits
Better data has the potential to improve health around the world, argues Muhammad Hamid Zaman.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
The map of languages, tech giants battle ISIS and other must-read stories of the week
A weekly round up of some of the top stories from the past seven days.
Economic Growth
Technology could be the best or worst thing that happened to inequality
Technology: friend or foe in the fight against inequality?
Wellbeing and Mental Health
A lifeline in your pocket
Mobile technology can play a vital role in servicing vulnerable people, encouraging those affected to seek treatment, and providing public education that lessens persistent stigmas.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
The connection between a microwave oven and a NASA mission
NASA's Juno mission is using microwaves to examine Jupiter's atmosphere,
Fourth Industrial Revolution
Robot companions are coming into our homes. How human should they be?
Robot companions are becoming increasingly common. Questions remain over how 'human' they should be though.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
If two countries fought a cyber war, what might it look like?
Bill Buchanan, head of the Cyber Academy, Edinburgh Napier University, on the potential consequences of cyber attacks.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
Your smartphone could soon be learning from other smartphones
Artificial intelligence could allow devices connected to the Internet of Things to learn from each other.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
Why AI still has less common sense than a toddler
The Winograd Schema Challenge tests how much common sense some types of robots have. It turns out they're not doing so well.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
If you're addicted to your phone, you might be one of these personality types
A new study has examined smartphone addiction and personality types.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
A lesson from golf to make you more productive
Tech tools alone aren’t enough to make you more effective at work – you also need the skills to use them.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
Tech giants have found a way to fight extremism online. Is it working?
Google parent company Alphabet, with help from Facebook and Twitter, is using videos on social media to combat radicalization.