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
Artificial intelligence is learning to interact with the world the way humans do
MIT researchers have developed a machine learning model that understands the underlying relationships between objects in a scene and can generate accurate images of scenes from text descr...
Energy Transition
What are countries doing to encourage the transition to electric vehicles?
New homes in England will need electric vehicle charging points by law - but what are other countries doing to encourage the transition to EVs?
Financial and Monetary Systems
Digital currencies are cutting across borders. Here's how regulators can catch up
Central bank digital currency and stablecoins could streamline global payments – but only if the technology's supervisory bodies are fit for purpose
Nature and Biodiversity
The space AI keeping tabs on COP26 carbon pledges
How do we know that measures to reduce carbon and protect the environment really work? Satellites and artificial intelligence may be the answer.
Nature and Biodiversity
Here's how cameras are helping protect the world's rarest gorillas
Hidden camera traps in Nigeria are helping conversation efforts to protect Cross River gorillas which are the world's rarest and most endangered ape.
Emerging Technologies
Robot workers are being hired at record rates in US companies - here’s why
Growing investment in AI and automation is causing a large uptick in the use of robots. Here’s what it means for the modern workplace.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
Explainer: What is a DAO - and how did one of them almost succeed in buying the US Constitution?
Decentralized autonomous organizations are part of digital investing, with attention spiking after one DAO group tried to buy a historic copy of the US Constitution.
Sustainable Development
Why the world needs a fresh take on smart and sustainable infrastructure
To build more sustainable infrastructure, industry must embrace digitalization, establish new working practices and increase public sector collaboration.
Emerging Technologies
From Amazon to Zoom: This is what happens on the internet every minute
The amount of data and information in the digital universe effectively doubles every two years, and every minute 6 million people shop online.
Health and Healthcare Systems
How can technological advancements in synthetic biology benefit everyone? An expert explains
An ideal bioeconomy policy agenda needs to be established so that everyone can benefit from the latest advancements made in synthetic biology, expert says.
Emerging Technologies
6 positive AI visions for the future of work
We asked experts to discuss the challenges of artificial intelligence developments in the workplace, their economic impacts and share their positive AI visions for the future.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
Improving access to finance for businesses in MENA region
Public-private collaboration is needed to form a regulatory framework that enables businesses in MENA to access finance and grow a resilient economy.