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.
Education and Skills
How can we improve children's screen time management in the digital age?
Children are now growing up in a digital society, with the boundaries between recreation, communication and learning increasingly merging together.
Emerging Technologies
Top 10 tech trends that will shape the coming decade, according to McKinsey
McKinsey predicts 10 tech trends will shape the next decade. These include digital connectivity, distributed infrastructure and next-generation computing.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
Smart cities are great but we also need smart villages
Connectivity allowed people to learn, socialize and work from home during COVID. But for 3.6 billion people without internet access, all of that was impossible.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
The role of smartphones in the COVID-19 recovery
A recent World Bank webinar explored the role of smartphones in development programmes, particularly in light of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
This robot looks for lost items
MIT researchers have created a robotic system that can sort through clutter to find an item, with potential applications in manufacturing and more.
Nature and Biodiversity
These 'living seawalls' are bringing ocean life back to Sydney Harbour
Researchers in Australia have come together to develop a seawall to provide habitats for marine life in Sydney Harbour.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
3 predictions for the future of responsible technology
Based on the work of the Forum's Responsible Use of Technology project here are 3 future trends to look out for in the ethical use of technology.
Health and Healthcare Systems
Microsoft has found we’re working longer and collaborating less during COVID-19
A study of tech usage of more than 61,000 Microsoft US employees has looked at the impact of company-wide shift to remote work on communication and collaboration.
Emerging Technologies
How to build digital public infrastructure: 7 lessons from Estonia
How digital mature governments, including Estonia, are delivering automated and reusable government services in a human-centric, secure and private way
Fourth Industrial Revolution
Here's how companies could have prepared for the microchip shortage
The microchip shortage has wiped billions from balance sheets across the world. AI could help companies to identify risks and act on them more quickly
Emerging Technologies
Scientists used AI to create smarter health records and improve patient care
Researchers at MIT and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are using machine learning and human-computer interaction to create a better EHR.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
How 'digital highways' could boost inclusion and advance the SDGs
DPIs connected people with vital services during the pandemic. Building more of these digital highways will boost inclusion and help us achieve the UN SDGs.