Radio Davos

Technology that transforms: what an invention from 1450 can teach us about AI

Nov 30, 2023

If you’re a ‘digital native’ - someone who can’t remember a world before the internet - you might feel you have a good idea of the role technology will play in your life and perhaps in that of future generations. But journalism professor Jeff Jarvis, author of a history of another transformative technology from more than five centuries ago - the printing press - says we can have no way yet of knowing where the internet, and AI, will take us. The book is called The Gutenberg Parenthesis. Jeff spoke to us at the World Economic Forum's AI Governance Summit.

If you’re a ‘digital native’ - someone who can’t remember a world before the internet - you might feel you have a good idea of the role technology will play in your life and perhaps in that of future generations. But journalism professor Jeff Jarvis, author of a history of another transformative technology from more than five centuries ago - the printing press - says we can have no way yet of knowing where the internet, and AI, will take us. The book is called The Gutenberg Parenthesis. Jeff spoke to us at the World Economic Forum's AI Governance Summit.

'Reality kicks in': What just happened at talks to create a 'Paris deal for plastics'?

Nov 24, 2023

 • 32 minutes

Plastics pollution is a very visible, global environmental and health challenge, and last year the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) launched a process to draft a global treaty aimed at solving the problem. Earlier this week, delegations from all over the world met in Nairobi to work on the first full draft of a treaty that could set binding rules that would affect the production, use and disposal of plastics. To get a readout of what happened there, and what might happen next, we hear from Kwame Asamoa Mensa-Yawson, head of the Ghana National Plastic Action Partnership, a multistakeholder group looking at solutions to the plastics issue, under the auspices of the World Economic Forum.

Plastics pollution is a very visible, global environmental and health challenge, and last year the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) launched a process to draft a global treaty aimed at solving the problem. Earlier this week, delegations from all over the world met in Nairobi to work on the first full draft of a treaty that could set binding rules that would affect the production, use and disposal of plastics. To get a readout of what happened there, and what might happen next, we hear from Kwame Asamoa Mensa-Yawson, head of the Ghana National Plastic Action Partnership, a multistakeholder group looking at solutions to the plastics issue, under the auspices of the World Economic Forum.

"Not just sticks of carbon" - how growing trees for the climate must also benefit biodiversity

Nov 13, 2023

 • 25 minutes

When Professor Tom Crowther published research into the massive potential of trees to absorb more carbon than previously thought, he helped spur the Trillion Trees movement to plant, restore and conserve forests. But it also caused massive debate. As he publishes updated research, Crowther tells Radio Davos that growing trees must increase biodiversity, and not lead to monoculture plantations, and that it must never be an excuse to slow the drive to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.

When Professor Tom Crowther published research into the massive potential of trees to absorb more carbon than previously thought, he helped spur the Trillion Trees movement to plant, restore and conserve forests. But it also caused massive debate. As he publishes updated research, Crowther tells Radio Davos that growing trees must increase biodiversity, and not lead to monoculture plantations, and that it must never be an excuse to slow the drive to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.

Quality over quantity: why the time has come for 'value based health care'

Nov 9, 2023

 • 44 minutes

The concept of 'value based health care' - where patient outcomes are monitored and health care services are funded on the basis of quality care, rather than the quantity of procedures - has been around for a couple of decades, but has yet to become the norm. This podcast explores the potential benefits of a shift from 'volume' to 'value', to patients and to health care providers.

The concept of 'value based health care' - where patient outcomes are monitored and health care services are funded on the basis of quality care, rather than the quantity of procedures - has been around for a couple of decades, but has yet to become the norm. This podcast explores the potential benefits of a shift from 'volume' to 'value', to patients and to health care providers.

Lessons in leadership we can all learn from: celebrating 100 episodes of Meet the Leader

Oct 27, 2023

 • 45 minutes

This week we’re celebrating 100 episodes of our sister podcast Meet the Leader. Every week, Linda Lacina interviews leaders - of major companies, organisations, or what we might call ‘thought leaders; in the fields of academia or campaign groups. If you want to know what makes these individuals tick, and what lessons we might learn from their experiences, subscribe to Meet the Leader - you can find it on our podcast website, wef.ch/podcasts and on any podcast app.

This week we’re celebrating 100 episodes of our sister podcast Meet the Leader. Every week, Linda Lacina interviews leaders - of major companies, organisations, or what we might call ‘thought leaders; in the fields of academia or campaign groups. If you want to know what makes these individuals tick, and what lessons we might learn from their experiences, subscribe to Meet the Leader - you can find it on our podcast website, wef.ch/podcasts and on any podcast app.