Fourth Industrial Revolution main theme at #WEF16 World Economic Forum

Another year gone as the 2016 World Economic Forum in Davos draws to a close. Experts weighed in about upcoming global changes for robotics, AI, internet of things, and the rise of digital transformation across industry.

Global leaders across business, government, international organizations, and academia gathered at the World Economic Forum to discuss political, business, and social aspects around the world. The Forum’s Executive Chairman and Founder, Professor Klaus Schwab, wrote about The Fourth Industrial Revolution and its potential to raise global income levels and improve quality of life for populations across the globe. As an economics forum, central messages in the talks involved future impact of robotics in business and, interestingly, why technology actually makes us more human.

This emerging theme of the next “cultural renassiance” with powerful new technologies and concepts — from artificial intelligence to advanced analytics — converged nicely with deep philosophical questions about human values and human traits, like belonging and creativity. How do we continue to make technology work for us and ensuring that our humanity and humanness are not lost?

Speakers included Alan Winfield, Stuart Russell, Vanessa Evers and many others. Videos and posts about these central themes can be found below.

The Future of Jobs
Employment, Skills and Workforce Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

The Fourth Industrial Revolution

• The next revolution in the car industry
• What happens when robots take our jobs?
• The next industrial revolution will not be televised
• What the Fourth Industrial Revolution will do for people with disabilities

On the agenda: Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

• Why you shouldn’t fear robots
• No, the robots are not about to rise up and destroy us all
• What will the home of the future look like?
• Is technological change creating a new global economy?
• 6 disruptive technologies that will shape how we do business
• How wearing a robot suit could help us understand ageing

Kassie Perlongo Kassie is the Managing Editor at Robohub.

Kassie Perlongo Kassie is the Managing Editor at Robohub.