Industry Agenda

How global tech companies can champion ethical AI

The ethics of artificial intelligence is a critical challenge for the tech industry. Global tech companies can learn from Microsoft's Responsible AI Champs.

Tim O'Brien, Steve Sweetman, Natasha Crampton, and Venky Veeraraghavan 14 Jan 2020

Agriculture, Food and Beverage

Your favourite chocolate is about to get a lot tastier - here's why

By making the production chain transparent, from farmer to consumer, this Ecuadorian initiative could be a game-changer for smallholders.

Carla Gomez 10 Jan 2020

European Union

Europe can be at the heart of tech with purpose

Compared to their US and Asian peers, European start-ups are standing out for their socially progressive ambitions.

Tom Wehmeier 09 Jan 2020

Forests

How cocoa farming can help stop deforestation

The competing demands of farmers and conservationists are acute in the cocoa industry. If it can learn how to mitigate deforestation, others can too

Gerard A. Manley 09 Jan 2020

Water

A 6-year drought has devastated South Africa’s wildlife

With South African temperatures rising at twice the global average rate, drought is ruining crops - in turn killing animals which fuel the safari industry.

Tanisha Heiberg and Onke Ngcuka · Thomson Reuters Foundation trust.org 08 Jan 2020

Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

How can AI make machines run faster?

A new innovation may aid programmers writing computer code as with a new tool created by MIT researchers, they can now test code reading time on any chip.

Rob Matheson and MIT News · MIT News 08 Jan 2020

Global Health

This AI was as good as the experts at detecting breast cancer

Although the study had limitations, it shows further evidence of the potential of AI to detect breast cancer.

Julie Steenhuysen · Reuters 03 Jan 2020

Blockchain

Will 2020 be the year blockchain overcomes its hype?

In 2019, blockchain went from a buzzword to a business. Here's what's in store for 2020.

Sheila Warren 02 Jan 2020

Workforce and Employment

The future of work requires a return to apprenticeships

With apprenticeship programs, government and the private sector can partner to train and reskill workers – and meet the challenges of 4IR.

Matthew Lauer 16 Dec 2019

Climate Change

Severe droughts are putting Bangladeshi farm labourers out of work

The landless Oraon minority of northwest Bangladesh have traditionally earned a living labouring in local paddy fields, but are struggling as that work dries up due to water shortages.

Rafiqul Islam · Thomson Reuters Foundation trust.org 16 Dec 2019

Innovation

The importance of social networks for innovation and productivity

Social networks facilitate the diffusion of ideas across individuals and firms, which in turn plays an important role in productivity growth.

Esteban Ortiz-Ospina · Our World in Data 13 Dec 2019

Fourth Industrial Revolution

This infographic charts the decline of manufacturing worldwide

According to new data from the World Bank and the United Nations, manufacturing as a proportion of global GDP has been in decline since the 1980s.

Katharina Buchholz · Statista 13 Dec 2019

Book Club

5 book recommendations for the holidays from Bill Gates

From bedtime science to a tragic love story, here are 5 of Bill Gates' recommendations to read.

Bill Gates · Gatesnotes 13 Dec 2019

Arts and Culture

A 1939 Marvel comic book just sold for $1.26 million – and it’s not even the most expensive comic out there

Here are five things to know about the economics of the steadily growing superhero industry.

Charlotte Edmond 12 Dec 2019

Environment and Natural Resource Security

Eight years after Fukushima, nuclear power is making a comeback

As Japan looks to restart another reactor, global nuclear generation is growing.

Katharine Rooney 11 Dec 2019

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