With the ringing of bells, the World Economic Forum, or WEF, opened its new “Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution” in San Francisco, California, on Friday.
The center aims to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of the technological revolution, which, writes WEF Founder Klaus Schwab, “is disrupting almost every industry in every country.”
“The breadth and depth of these changes herald the transformation of entire systems of production, management, and governance,” he writes. “Like the revolutions that preceded it, the Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to raise global income levels and improve the quality of life for populations around the world.” But this technological revolution, which WEF sees as building on the digital revolution, could also “yield greater inequality, particularly in its potential to disrupt labor markets.”
About the author
Catherine Cheneycatherinecheney
Catherine Cheney is the Senior Editor for Special Coverage at Devex. She leads the editorial vision of Devex’s news events and editorial coverage of key moments on the global development calendar. Catherine joined Devex as a reporter, focusing on technology and innovation in making progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to joining Devex, Catherine earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yale University, and worked as a web producer for POLITICO, a reporter for World Politics Review, and special projects editor at NationSwell. She has reported domestically and internationally for outlets including The Atlantic and the Washington Post. Catherine also works for the Solutions Journalism Network, a non profit organization that supports journalists and news organizations to report on responses to problems.
