Published in: Forum Agenda, 18. December 2024
Technological developments were a key topic in 2024, for global news and for the World Economic Forum.
From agritech advancements to progress on tackling the digital divide, here are some of our must-read stories from 2024.
1. The top emerging technologies from 2024
It’s been a year of technology headlines. In June 2024, the Forum released its Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2024 report.
Drawing on insights from scientists, researchers and futurists, the report identifies 10 technologies poised to significantly influence societies and economies within three to five years.
So what were some of the technologies identified?
- AI for scientific discovery
- Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces
- Immersive technology for the built world
- Carbon-capturing microbes
- Alternative livestock feeds
2. Developing, scaling and governing AI use
AI has been a major focus point for governments, businesses and researchers for much of this year.
From AI safety treaties being signed (and rejected) to increases in investment in the technology and related start-ups, much has happened in this space over the past 12 months.
Faced with a record year for democracy, much attention has been focused on tackling disinformation campaigns ahead of elections.
The political misuse of AI poses severe risks, with the rapid spread of deepfakes and AI-generated content making it increasingly difficult for voters to discern truth from falsehood, potentially influencing voter behaviour and undermining the democratic process.
In May, the Forum’s AI Governance Alliance convened a community meeting, bringing together 118 leaders from the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society for a full day of dialogue and work to advance the vision and objectives of the Alliance.
Discussions ranged from ensuring AI technologies are developed and deployed in ways that are inclusive and equitable, to the exploration of the convergence of AI with other frontier technologies.
The Alliance also published three reports in January that provided recommendations for constructing secure systems and technologies.
In October the Alliance released Governance in the Age of Generative AI: A 360° Approach for Resilient Policy and Regulation. This white paper equips policymakers and regulators with implementable strategies for resilient generative AI governance, framed within a 360-degree governance approach.
A paper on the evolution and impact of AI agents, published in December by the Alliance, looked at how these autonomous systems can enhance efficiency across sectors, including healthcare, education and finance.
The paper highlighted ethical considerations such as transparency and accountability and emphasized the need for robust governance frameworks and cross-sector collaboration.
Through this, stakeholders can responsibly leverage these systems to drive innovation, improve practices and enhance quality of life.
3. Developments in space technology
Space technologies can help society tackle many of the world’s most pressing challenges. Not only can this improve life on Earth, but it’s also a huge economic opportunity.
Lower costs and improved access to space-enabled technologies such as communications; positioning, navigation and timing; and Earth observation services could take the global space economy to $1.8 trillion by 2035, according to a report from the Forum and McKinsey & Company.
The earth observation (EO) sector alone is projected to surpass $700 billion while directly contributing to the abatement of 2 gigatonnes of greenhouse gases annually, according to the Forum’s Amplifying the Global Value of Earth Observation report released in May.
4. Meteoric rise of the metaverse
The metaverse, poised to redefine the internet, intertwines the digital and physical, emphasizing the pivotal role of “identity” in shaping immersive, human-centric experiences.
As the metaverse evolves, comprehensively understanding identity is crucial for its potential to revolutionize how people interact and express themselves digitally, facilitating a space that respects privacy, security and human rights.
A report produced by the Forum and Accenture earlier this year titled Navigating the Industrial Metaverse: A Blueprint for Future Innovations forecasts the metaverse as a $100 billion global market by 2030.
5. How agritech is revolutionizing food production
The changing climate is making farming an increasingly difficult profession.
Understanding the difference between weather and climate is vital for farmers as they adjust their operations to keep pace with a changing world.
6. How close are we to digital inclusion?
The reality that nearly a third of the world’s population, or approximately 2.6 billion people, remain offline is a concern.
This digital divide results in disproportionate access to essential life services, ultimately resulting in inadequate or poor living conditions for those living in the developing world.
So how can we bridge this digital divide?
The Forum’s EDISON Alliance released its annual impact report in January, highlighting the progress made and the critical need for continued commitment to achieving universal digital inclusion as a fundamental enabler of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Since then, the EDISON Alliance has successfully connected over 1 billion people globally — ahead of its initial 2025 target — to essential digital services in healthcare, education and finance in over 100 countries. The Alliance has also united a diverse network of over 200 partners from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society to create innovative solutions for digital inclusion.
(read original article to benefit from all graphs and visuals)
Image: Planet Volumes for Unsplash
