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.
France is banning mobile phones in schools
The country's education minister announced that the devices will be banned from primary, junior and middle schools, calling it a matter of 'public health'.
Fourth Industrial Revolution technology patents are flourishing
Patent applications for smart object technologies have risen dramatically, according to a new report.
Could artificial intelligence soon become conscious?
Here's the impact that AI gaining conciousness would have on the human race.
Google’s AI has mastered all the chess knowledge in history - in just 4 hours
Google's AlphaZero, developed “superhuman performance” in chess, taking just four hours to learn the rules before obliterating the world champion chess program, Stockfish.
The revolution will be boring, the future of work and other top stories of the week
Also in this week's round-up: regulating cryptocurrencies and how China chats.
Disney is working on a gravity-defying robot that can scale walls
Disney just showed off a new robot that’s capable of scaling walls, taking the term “all-terrain” to a whole other level.
Gentle nudges teach robots to better assist us
Like toddlers, robots can use a little help as they learn to function in the physical world.
Chernobyl's nuclear disaster site is being transformed into a solar energy farm
Both Rodina and Enerparc could develop up to 100 megawatts of solar energy at Chernobyl. However, that’s only a small fraction of the nuclear reactor’s capacity.
These researchers have created shape-shifting pasta
Researchers have created flat sheets of gelatin and starch that, when submerged in water, instantly sprout into three-dimensional structures.
This tiny robot made of algae could swim through your body and kill cancer cells
Scientists have made a miniature robot from spirulina that can enter your body and fight disease.
Microsoft has a big idea to build a mini-city
Microsoft announced a major renovation of its campus that will transform its Redmond, Wash. headquarters into a mini-city of sorts.
Scientists have created a silicon beating heart
ETH researchers from the Functional Materials Laboratory have developed a silicone heart that beats almost like a human heart