From Stone Age to Silicon Age, the world has been evolving overtime. Pre-20th century witnessed the ultimate victory of monarchies and autocracies. The turn of 20th century marked the period of transition towards liberalism, communism and fascism. Meanwhile, liberalism defeated fascism and communism in world war-ll and Cold War, respectively. Afterwards, dawn of 21st century brought a revolution in world dynamics where we can experience the triumph of Digital Dictatorship. This rising digital challenge is posing a real threat to the world.
The first and foremost threat the digital world is posing is the Emergence of Artificial Intelligence. This technology is creating multiple problems for humanity as a whole. From loss of jobs to reading human mind, suggesting preferences to sensing hidden equipments, the lives of humans are forecast to be turned upside down. These threats may probably damage the human freedom very badly.
Moreover, Hybrid Warfare alongside cyber crimes are serious insecurity concerns for the world. This new type of warfare is changing the world very rapidly. Alleged manipulation of Trump election results bear witness to it. On the other hand, misinformation, hate speech and propaganda on social media reflect the disastrous future of man's freedom.
Apart from hybrid warfare, another Danger in the form of intelligence and spying is well-known to this modern world. 200,000 cameras installed by China inside their homeland snatch their right to privacy and is posing a question to democratic norms. These practices facilitated by modern technology are supposed to make more harm in the coming times.
AI- based terrorism is another foretold risk factor given by technology. Traditional methods used by terrorists have already sabotaged the global peace. But this digital terrorism is believed to create far more menace than the existing one.
The question is who will be the Global Leader in the face of these challenges? The answer is the one that will show the maximum ability to adapt and adjust more speedily in this fast approaching ‘IT programmed automation’ age. The challenge would be of linking education with the emerging demands on AI-related mechanics and jobs. This challenge will be more pronounced with the USA and China, the leading growth engines in the world. It is estimated that by 2020 China, USA, Germany, South Korea, and Japan will be purchasing 80% of world robots. Industrial robots are already in use in the export-driven economies of South Korea, Japan, Germany and China, being cheaper, and more reliable.
Advancing ten years will witness substantial tectonic Forces of globalization China playing a dominant role in that, and astonishing technological progress mainly to be contributed by the USA, Germany, Japan, France, and China. These advanced countries will not be needing immigrants in the numbers they required in the late 20th century. As regards the main commercial hub of robotics and industrial output, it appears to be the China, India and ASEAN and East Asia. Among the advanced world, Australia and Canada would do better on account of its capacity to assimilate immigrants due to their sizeable accommodating space. China, in the beginning, will be the largest purchaser of robotic equipment and subsequently will become the largest manufacturer and exporter. With technology and speed racing ahead, what we need to do is to invest in innovative automation. Incoming technology will act as a facilitator of not only of new ideas, but new employment opportunities as well. We will indeed be employing fewer people in the existing model but will also be opening new domains of engagement that will be in the robotics and AI world, conceiving still higher and higher models.
In order to acquire ultimate peace, these threats demand high restrictions by utilizing technology positively.
Countless tribes fused into empires. Commonality of culture fused them into civilizations. Now, common challenges and opportunities will fuse all world civilizations into a single global civilization to block the path of mutual destruction. Unity among states will heal the ongoing human disturbance to attain global peace. This is possible only when technology is used, not misused.
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