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.
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The GDP of 25 African countries is expected to grow 5% annually between now and 2025. How can the continent sustain such high growth?
A brief overview of Africa’s tech industry – and 7 predictions for its future
Forget Silicon Valley, it's all about Silicon Savannah. Tech in Africa is about to take off.
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The robotics industry is experiencing an investment boom, as the technology develops. What could it mean for humans?
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Drone researchers hope the construction of a new bird wind tunnel will reveal more of the secrets of bird flight.
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If Africa can get more women in science, tech, engineering and maths, it could master the digital revolution, writes Bineta Diop.
Could your emotions be hacked?
The Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity, at the University of California, Berkeley have looked at some possible cybersecurity risks of the near future.
What is microgravity?
What does it actually mean to be “weightless”
These maps reveal the best shape for batteries
A team of engineers has obtained a first look inside phase-changing nanoparticles, showing how their shape and crystallinity can affect their performance.
Could technology teach literacy in the poorest areas?
A long-term project providing students from the poorest areas in Africa and the US with tablets has shown promising results.
This 15-ton computer provides internet access, electricity and clean water
An Italian entrepreneur has developed a potentially revolutionary computer to provide vital services to the developing world.
Google has plans for a delivery drone that talks to you
A patent awarded to Google outlines how the company's delivery drones could work.
17 must-read stories for the weekend
The forces tearing the internet apart; have we reached "peak stuff" and other top stories from the last seven days.