The Fourth Industrial Revolution

The Fourth Industrial Revolution
Author: Klaus Schwab
Publisher: Crown Currency
Total Pages: 194
Release: 2017-01-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1524758876

World-renowned economist Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, explains that we have an opportunity to shape the fourth industrial revolu­tion, which will fundamentally alter how we live and work. Schwab argues that this revolution is different in scale, scope and complexity from any that have come before. Characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, the developments are affecting all disciplines, economies, industries and governments, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human. Artificial intelligence is already all around us, from supercomputers, drones and virtual assistants to 3D printing, DNA sequencing, smart thermostats, wear­able sensors and microchips smaller than a grain of sand. But this is just the beginning: nanomaterials 200 times stronger than steel and a million times thinner than a strand of hair and the first transplant of a 3D printed liver are already in development. Imagine “smart factories” in which global systems of manu­facturing are coordinated virtually, or implantable mobile phones made of biosynthetic materials. The fourth industrial revolution, says Schwab, is more significant, and its ramifications more profound, than in any prior period of human history. He outlines the key technologies driving this revolution and discusses the major impacts expected on government, business, civil society and individu­als. Schwab also offers bold ideas on how to harness these changes and shape a better future—one in which technology empowers people rather than replaces them; progress serves society rather than disrupts it; and in which innovators respect moral and ethical boundaries rather than cross them. We all have the opportunity to contribute to developing new frame­works that advance progress.

The Gift of Global Talent

The Gift of Global Talent
Author: William R. Kerr
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Total Pages: 250
Release: 2018-10-02
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1503607364

The global race for talent is on, with countries and businesses competing for the best and brightest. Talented individuals migrate much more frequently than the general population, and the United States has received exceptional inflows of human capital. This foreign talent has transformed U.S. science and engineering, reshaped the economy, and influenced society at large. But America is bogged down in thorny debates on immigration policy, and the world around the United States is rapidly catching up, especially China and India. The future is quite uncertain, and the global talent puzzle deserves close examination. To do this, William R. Kerr uniquely combines insights and lessons from business practice, government policy, and individual decision making. Examining popular ideas that have taken hold and synthesizing rigorous research across fields such as entrepreneurship and innovation, regional advantage, and economic policy, Kerr gives voice to data and ideas that should drive the next wave of policy and business practice. The Gift of Global Talent deftly transports readers from joyous celebrations at the Nobel Prize ceremony to angry airport protests against the Trump administration's travel ban. It explores why talented migration drives the knowledge economy, describes how universities and firms govern skilled admissions, explains the controversies of the H-1B visa used by firms like Google and Apple, and discusses the economic inequalities and superstar firms that global talent flows produce. The United States has been the steward of a global gift, and this book explains the huge leadership decision it now faces and how it can become even more competitive for attracting tomorrow's talent. Please visit www.hbs.edu/managing-the-future-of-work/research/Pages/default.aspx to learn more about the book.

Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence

Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence
Author: Tom James
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Total Pages: 220
Release: 2021-08-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3110661349

Blockchain and artificial intelligence are perhaps the two most significant disruptive technologies this century and both will significantly rewire the world of global financial markets and the world in which we live. While blockchain offers a number of significant advantages over traditional forms of finance including lower cost and massive increases in operational efficiencies of traded markets, property records and a whole host of transaction processes, artificial intelligence is moving fast from basic structured machine learning doing menial yet important big data tasks like credit card fraud detection to predictive analysis and real-time real-world risk management and investment decision making. There is still a lot of confusion in the market about cryptocurrencies, bitcoin and the underlying blockchain technology. Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence highlights the underlying technologies of blockchain and the differences between cryptocurrencies and blockchain financial applications. It explores the current AI offerings and gives a vision of the fast-moving developments in this area including the many solutions that are expected to revolutionize the way financial and commodity markets will operate in the future.

100 Pioneers in Efficient Resource Management

100 Pioneers in Efficient Resource Management
Author: Mario Schmidt
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 549
Release: 2018-12-04
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3662567458

The book presents about 100 current examples of how energy and materials can be saved in manufacturing companies. They serve to show which measures can be used in modern companies to exploit the potential for resource efficiency. The book is aimed at practitioners in companies and consulting firms, but is also suitable for the university sector as a practical introduction to the topic of resource efficiency. The materials used account for almost 43 percent of the costs of an average industrial company in Germany. Personnel costs, on the other hand, are only 22 percent, while energy costs are as low as 2 percent. If a company wants to save costs, above all it must consider the use of materials and produce in a resource-efficient manner. This simultaneously relieves the environment and reduces dependence on scarce raw materials. The implementation of resource efficiency is not easy. There are indeed numerous starting points in production, often in process innovations or in product development. However, only a few companies publish their measures and savings potentials. In practice, this means that there are often no learning examples in practice, but some of them are explicitly listed in this work. As you can see, resource efficiency in production and products can also be seen as a success factor for many companies. In the project 100 Pioneers in Efficient Resource Management, committed companies from Baden-Wuerttemberg are showing their solutions. The project was carried out by a competent team from the Pforzheim University and the State Agency for Environmental Technology. Leading trade associations in Baden-Württemberg have supported it.

The Smart Revolution

The Smart Revolution
Author: Weston Clarke
Publisher: eBookIt.com
Total Pages: 197
Release: 2024-10-04
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 145665621X

Revolutionizing Industry with Cutting-Edge Innovations Step into the future where technology redefines the very fabric of manufacturing and industry. The Smart Revolution: How AI and 3D Printing are Transforming Industry delves into the groundbreaking fusion of artificial intelligence and 3D printing, two of today's most transformative technologies. Witness how they seamlessly collaborate to revolutionize traditional practices, leaving no stone unturned in their quest to reshape our world. From the origins of industrial revolutions to the latest advancements, this book provides an in-depth exploration of how AI and 3D printing are leading us into a new era of production and innovation. Discover the basics and complexities of AI, its diverse industry applications, and the historical evolution of 3D printing that has led to incredible milestones in additive manufacturing. Unleash the potential of a world where AI-driven design systems and rapid prototyping redefine efficiency. Imagine a landscape where custom manufacturing meets sustainable practices, and advanced materials revolutionize supply chains. This book unveils real-world case studies across multiple sectors, from healthcare innovations and aerospace engineering to fashion design and construction, illustrating the profound impact of these technologies. Beyond exploring the technological marvels, the book addresses critical legal and ethical considerations, workforce transformations, and the economic implications of these advancements. Learn from industry leaders, and navigate the pathway to strategic implementation for lasting competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving global market. With visionary predictions and practical insights, this book is an essential guide for businesses and individuals eager to harness the power of AI and 3D printing. Embark on this journey to understand not just the technologies themselves, but their far-reaching societal impacts. Embrace the future and transform your perspective on what is possible in manufacturing today.

Trust

Trust
Author: Tarun Khanna
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Total Pages: 214
Release: 2018-08-14
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1523094850

A Harvard Business School professor and international entrepreneur explains the crucial ingredient for success in the developing world. Entrepreneurial ventures often fail in the developing world because of the lack of something taken for granted in the developed world: trust. Over centuries the developed world has built up customs and institutions like enforceable contracts, an impartial legal system, credible regulatory bodies, even unofficial but respected sources of information like Yelp or Consumer Reports that have created a high level of what scholar and entrepreneur Tarun Khanna calls “ambient trust.” If a product is FDA-approved we feel confident it’s safe. If someone makes an untrue claim or breaks an agreement we can sue. Police don’t demand bribes to do their jobs. Certainly there are exceptions, but when brought to light they provoke a scandal, not a shrug. This is not the case in the developing world. But rather than become casualties of mistrust, Khanna shows that smart entrepreneurs adopt the mindset that, like it or not, it’s up to them to weave their own independent web of trust—with their employees, partners, clients, and customers—and with society as a whole. This can requires innovative approaches in places where the level of societal mistrust is so high that, as in one example Khanna provides, an official certification of quality simply arouses suspicion—and lowers sales! Using vivid examples from Brazil, China, India, Mexico and elsewhere, Khanna shows how entrepreneurs can build on existing customs and practices instead of trying to push against them. He highlights the role new technologies can play (but cautions that these are not panaceas), and explains how entrepreneurs can find dependable partners in national and local governments to create impact at scale

Eco-Pioneers

Eco-Pioneers
Author: Steve Lerner
Publisher: MIT Press
Total Pages: 482
Release: 1998-07-31
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780262621243

The idea for Eco-Pioneers came to Steve Lerner while he was attending the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Although he was moved by the vision of sustainable development evoked by citizens and officials at the summit, as a reporter he felt a need to put a human face on the rhetoric and find out what sustainable development actually looks like in the United States. He spent the next four years searching out what he came to call "eco-pioneers"—the modern pathfinders who are working in the American pragmatic tradition to reduce the pace of environmental degradation. These practical visionaries are people who are willing to push the limits of whatever tools they can find for dealing with ecological problems. Lerner provides case studies of eco-pioneers who are exploring sustainable ways to log forests, grow food, save plant species, run cattle, build houses, clean up cities, redesign rural communities, generate power, conserve water, protect rivers and wildlife, treat hazardous waste, reuse materials, and reduce both waste and consumption. Some of those profiled run businesses, some address environmental practices within their immediate community, and some combine their environmental concerns with social goals such as the creation of inner-city jobs. Together they are creating ways of living and working that many analysts believe to be essential to an ecologically sustainable future.

The New Pioneers

The New Pioneers
Author: J.P. Faber
Publisher: BenBella Books, Inc.
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2017-06-13
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1944648313

Imagine a world where there are no building codes, no licensing requirements, no permit fees, no inspectors—no rules or regulations, only common sense and the desire to build something better. This is the world that forged America, the land where the early pioneers and town developers thrived. But this type of open environment is long gone. It's prohibitively expensive for young entrepreneurs to start a business today. In fact, it is almost impossible to build anything unless you are part of a larger organization that has the expertise and resources to navigate the system. Our municipal, state, and federal codes, from business permitting and OSHA compliance to occupational licenses and tax requirements, have blossomed out of control. Today's innovators and builders must ignore the rules, go to places where the rules are not enforced, or figure out how to get around them. The New Pioneers is the story of Americans—millennials, immigrants, artists, and entrepreneurs—who are doing just that in cities across the nation, including Detroit, San Diego, New Orleans, Phoenix, and many more. Written by journalist J.P. Faber, The New Pioneers shows the entrepreneurs of today, especially those in urban areas, how they can work around obstacles to create wealth and revive our cities. Small business owners and individual builders have the power to fix what's broken in society—if only they are allowed to do so. This book is an optimistic look at how we can rebuild our cities and jump-start more small businesses. It shows how we can make far better use of our resources, both human and physical. The New Pioneers paves a road to success in a crumbling world. It's time for the little guy to have a fighting chance to get ahead once again.