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5 Genie Out of the Bottle
digitally literate people may gain informational advantages over today’s experts.
Therefore, classical hierarchies may dissolve.
It is also important to recognize that we are entering an increasingly non-material
age, characterized by an abundance of information and ideas rather than a shortage of
goods. Data can be replicated as often as we like. It’s a virtually unlimited resource,
which may help us to overcome conflicts over scarce resources. In fact, this opens
up almost unlimited possibilities for new value generation.
In the digital society, ideas will spread more quickly. Information is both ubiquitous and instantly available almost everywhere, such that borders tend to dissolve.
Furthermore, the more data we produce, the more difficult is it to keep secrets. Data
will also become cheaper, i.e. one can make increasingly less profits on data. In addition, the rapid growth in data volumes will result in potential information overload.
So, we need to learn how to convert raw data into useful information and actionable
knowledge. Most value will be derived from algorithms rather than data, and from
individualized, personalized, user-centric products and services. I further believe that
the organization of our future socio-economic system will increasingly be based on
collective intelligence.
Finally, what used to be regarded as science fiction may become reality one day,
and possibly much more quickly than we think. As Sir Arthur Clarke realized:
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
The countries which are first to recognize these new principles and use them to
their advantage will be the leaders of the digital age. Conversely, those which fail
to adapt to these trends on time will be in trouble. Given that computers may soon
match the capabilities of the human brain, we may only have two or three decades
to adapt our societies—a very short time considering that the planning and building
of a road often takes 30 years or more.
5.9 Creating a Resilient Society
The best way to prepare for a future, which is hard to predict, is to create a society
capable of flexibly adapting to new kinds of situations. The digital revolution certainly
has the potential to precipitate disruptive change. But are our societies well-prepared
for such shocks? Our response to September 11, 2001, calls this into question. Even
though it was initially a local event, it has changed the face of the entire world. In the
aftermath, we have built a security architecture to protect us from terrorism. But even
with mass surveillance and armed police, are we now safe? The bomb attack at the
Boston marathon and the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, for example, question this.
Moreover, less than 10 years later, an even more serious event changed the face of
5 Genie Out of the Bottle
digitally literate people may gain informational advantages over today’s experts.
Therefore, classical hierarchies may dissolve.
It is also important to recognize that we are entering an increasingly non-material
age, characterized by an abundance of information and ideas rather than a shortage of
goods. Data can be replicated as often as we like. It’s a virtually unlimited resource,
which may help us to overcome conflicts over scarce resources. In fact, this opens
up almost unlimited possibilities for new value generation.
In the digital society, ideas will spread more quickly. Information is both ubiquitous and instantly available almost everywhere, such that borders tend to dissolve.
Furthermore, the more data we produce, the more difficult is it to keep secrets. Data
will also become cheaper, i.e. one can make increasingly less profits on data. In addition, the rapid growth in data volumes will result in potential information overload.
So, we need to learn how to convert raw data into useful information and actionable
knowledge. Most value will be derived from algorithms rather than data, and from
individualized, personalized, user-centric products and services. I further believe that
the organization of our future socio-economic system will increasingly be based on
collective intelligence.
Finally, what used to be regarded as science fiction may become reality one day,
and possibly much more quickly than we think. As Sir Arthur Clarke realized:
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
The countries which are first to recognize these new principles and use them to
their advantage will be the leaders of the digital age. Conversely, those which fail
to adapt to these trends on time will be in trouble. Given that computers may soon
match the capabilities of the human brain, we may only have two or three decades
to adapt our societies—a very short time considering that the planning and building
of a road often takes 30 years or more.
5.9 Creating a Resilient Society
The best way to prepare for a future, which is hard to predict, is to create a society
capable of flexibly adapting to new kinds of situations. The digital revolution certainly
has the potential to precipitate disruptive change. But are our societies well-prepared
for such shocks? Our response to September 11, 2001, calls this into question. Even
though it was initially a local event, it has changed the face of the entire world. In the
aftermath, we have built a security architecture to protect us from terrorism. But even
with mass surveillance and armed police, are we now safe? The bomb attack at the
Boston marathon and the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, for example, question this.
Moreover, less than 10 years later, an even more serious event changed the face of