Klaus Schwab, chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), during an event in Dubai, called on global governments to work together and control new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to decide the fate of humankind, contradicting Musk’s recent warning at the same event.
Schwab cited technologies like AI, metaverse, cryptocurrencies, space tech, and synthetic biology that will change the world. “Our life in 10 years from now will be completely different, very much affected. And who masters those technologies in some way will be the master of the world,” Schwab stated.
The engineering of organisms to develop unique purposes and abilities, which are not inherently available, is known as synthetic biology. It involves changing the organism’s genetic code by infusing it with another creature’s DNA, a radical step-up from genome editing. The WEF is a proponent of the methodology.
“You cannot catch up with the new technologies. You have to be a frontrunner because otherwise, you will be on the losing outside.” One of the main concerns is how to shape “necessary policies” to ensure that technologies “serve” humankind.
“Change goes so fast in our world, and we go even faster. How can we make sure that the individual, each citizen, doesn’t feel overwhelmed by change because he cannot understand really what’s going on?” Schwab said, while adding that if people do not understand change, they can turn fearful and react negatively.
The WEF head called on governments “to have the ambition and the vision to show that those technologies can serve for the good.”
Danger of Too Much Government Cooperation
The WEF head’s call for close cooperation between governments globally to shape the future of the human race stands in stark contrast to that of industrialist Elon Musk, who on Wednesday warned at the World Government Summit against a “single world government.”He pointed out that throughout history, multiple civilizations have risen and fallen. However, these events did not result in the doom of humanity as a whole since these were separate civilizations that were separated by great distances.
‘Role Model’ China, Stakeholder Ideology
In his speech at the World Government Summit, Schwab did not detail what system he believes the world should adopt in the future.In Dubai, Schwab also pushed forward his “stakeholder” ideology whereby governments bring “directive power,” businesses bring “innovative power,” civil society brings “concerned power,” academia brings “the power of truth,” and media brings a “critical dimension in this dialogue,” with all of them working to “shape together the future.”
“Both purport to benefit broader society, especially the most vulnerable, and both purport to be vehicles for positive change. In reality, they benefit no one but those who already have too much power. Although it might sound obvious, power is a finite resource,” Ghlionn wrote.
“The more of its governments have, the less of its citizens have. The same goes for control. Stakeholder capitalism, similar to ‘common prosperity,’ involves giving more control to those who already control society.”