The Fourth Industrial Revolution. Global Risks, Local Challenges for Employment

Abstract

The authors are convinced that humankind is at the beginning of a new revolution that is fundamentally different from all previous industrial revolutions. This fourth revolution is characterized by the rise of new technologies which impact all disciplines, economies and industries. The new technologies could improve dramatically economic efficiency at the industry level and could change the workforce behaviour. In this article, we try to emphasize how societies can adapt the new technologies to the actual human needs, in order to capture their benefits and, at the same time, regenerate the natural environment. We also argue that information technologies and robotics are within the control of all of us, and man is able to dialogue with intelligent machines without any need to change the basic idea about what means to be a human.