Next week, business leaders and heads of state from all over the planet will head to Davos in Cologny, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum – and this year’s agenda reads like a technology conference.
Computerworld UK counted 24 panels and talks about the economic and social impact of technology over the three-day event, beginning 17 January. These range in subject matter but, just like last year, the “fourth industrial revolution” is a topic that comes up time and again – following on from the acceptance that it is indeed happening, and into tacit planning for the seismic disruption to society that it will cause.
Indeed, the official website for the World Economic Forum has committed a full page under its ‘Global Agenda’ section for discussing the fourth industrial revolution.
“We stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live work and relate to one another,” the page reads. “In its scale, scope, and complexity, the transformation will be unlike anything humankind has experienced before. We do not yet know just how it will unfold, but one thing is clear: the response to it must be integrated and comprehensive, involving all stakeholders of the global polity, from the public and private sectors to academia and civil society.”
The annual Davos event sees politicians and heads of state rub shoulders with business leaders, celebrities, strands of academia, government officials, and heads of banks and hedge funds. This year the attendee list from European countries is somewhat thin as major figures like Angela Merkel skip the event. It will give pride of place to Chinese president Xi Jinping.
Major figures from the technology industry who will be attending include Marc Benioff, Bill Gates, Jack Ma, Bill McDermott, Chuck Robbins, Ginni Rometty, Sheryl Sandberg, Vishal Sikka, Meg Whitman and Satya Nadella. The event can be generally thought of as the reaching of consensus on the talking points that matter most economically, socially and politically, according to politicians and businesses.
Some events related to this fourth industrial revolution include how to prepare for it, what it will do to existing jobs, and even a talk about universal basic income – a concept that was once considered a fringe pipe dream but with the reality of automation on the horizon, is being given more consideration.
Satya Nadella will take part in a debate about in artificial intelligence and how this can “benefit society as a whole”. Other technology-specific events include the “future of warfare”, several on cybercrime, a debate on privacy becoming a “luxury good”, 'fake news', Fintech, cyber warfare and driverless cars.
The rise of right-wing populist politics, increasing social division, declining living standards in the West, Britain’s exit from the European Union, and the state of globalist neoliberal economics will all also be discussed during the event.
Live streams of sessions will be available during the event, via the World Economic Forum YouTube page. Here are some to look out for:
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