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.
Could this lead to more efficient computers?
Scientists have developed a way of depositing different materials in a single chip layer.
We're in a world with no safe havens left
With war in the Middle East, a migrant crisis in Europe, and an economic downturn in China buffeting global markets, we are in a world with no safe havens left.
Could this help us develop a greater understanding of the brain?
Delivering genes across the blood-brain barrier could offer new insights.
Is this the world's smallest light switch?
Researchers have developed an optical switch that can be turned on and off with a silver atom.
How scientists have developed a new generation of biosensors
Researchers have developed a new generation of biosensors that can detect particular molecules of interest.
Could a quantum approach help with big data?
Quantum computing has the potential to help us tackle large datasets.
How self-stacking components are helping make computer chips smaller
Polymer nanowires that assemble in perpendicular layers could offer route to tinier chip components.
What happens when smartphones can 'see' as well as we do?
Putting machine learning in mobile devices would mean their cameras could not only see and record, but make sense of the world, just like humans do.
Will this material make 'smart windows' cheaper?
This breakthrough could be useful in the design of cheaper materials for smart windows — surfaces that automatically adjust the amount of incoming light.
What can technology do for global health?
For a vast portion of the world’s population, we need to rethink our approach to healthcare.
Are we ready for the connected airport?
Airports are on the cusp of a digital transformation that will be defined less by what is happening in the air than what is happening on the ground.
4 ways to stay ahead as digital disrupts your business
For businesses and governments around the world, the rapid integration of digital in business has opened enormous opportunities. But this digital era has also created challenges that didn...