Industries in the Intelligent Age

Industries have had to adapt their business strategies to account for major geo-economic and technological shifts. Recent surveys indicate that technology is now the primary driver of change and disruption for businesses across sectors and leaders will need to be equipped with a new leadership toolkit to adapt to and fully capitalize on these deep and structural changes. While advancements in AI, quantum computing, biotech, robotics and automation and other fields present numerous opportunities, new technologies are also hiking energy demand. Electricity demand from the sector could reach 1,000 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2026, as compared to 460 TWh today.

How can business leaders strike a balance between the short-term goals and long-term imperatives in the transformation of their industries?

In this context, it's crucial for businesses, governments, and civil society to work together to find common solutions and take decisive action. Through its Centres, the World Economic Forum integrates public-private efforts to achieve greater impact.