Cassell Explores Impact of Fourth Industrial Revolution at WEF Summit
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The Fourth Industrial Revolution is already upon us and Justine Cassell, associate vice provost for technology strategy and impact and HCII professor, joined other thought leaders to explore its implications Monday at the World Economic Forum's Summit on the Global Agenda 2015.
The rapid proliferation of technologies, such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, nanotechnology, robotics and 3D printing, will have broad and deep impact on all aspects of life, the panelists agreed.
"Every previous industrial revolution has ridden on the backs of those in indentured servitude," Cassell said. "With the Fourth Industrial Revolution, robots are playing the roles that they should be and removing people from roles as servants."
Humankind is moving "from physicality to a data-based world," Cassell observed. This will mean work involving distributed teams, distance employment and the dynamic collection and exchange of data about ourselves. "We will need to train people in an entirely new set of 21st–century skills, which are in fact the oldest skills — communications, collaboration, empathy, respect and how to overcome cultural boundaries."
Read the full story on the School of Computer Science website.