Drivingasci-tech Revolution

The Summer Davos focuses on the path to inclusive growth

ALTHOUGH the theme of the 2017 Summer Davos, or the 11th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, focused on Achieving Inclusive Growth in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it was more than a discussion on science and technology.

“It’s a dialogue of human values,” said Jean Liu, President of Xiaoju Science and Technology Ltd., which owns the Chinese leading ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing. She was one of the co-chairs of the annual meeting held on June 27-29 in Dalian, northeast China’s Liaoning Province.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has triggered numerous debates on the impact of technology on humans. At the same time, the world has also witnessed breakthroughs in the fields of advanced robotics, drones, and virtual, augmented and mixed reality systems, as well as biotechnology, new materials and so on. All of this contributes to the creation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution that is founded on the digital technologies from the Third Industrial Revolution, according to the report Advancing Human-centered Economic Progress in the Fourth Industrial Revolution published by the World Economic Forum on June 22.

“The technological changes that we’ve seen coming are exponential in their development. We really have the risk of creating more disunity, displacing jobs, creating more polarization and division within society,” David Aikman, Chief Representative Officer with World Economic Forum Representative Office, told “The challenge for the Earth that we want to discuss in Dalian is how we can make technology more human-centered, how we can include the individual and our society as a part of that technology and find ways to use technology to create a more inclusive society.”

At the event, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that the world can make use of growing stability amid innovation and change to defeat uncertainty as long as a firm and indomitable spirit is maintained. “The industrial revolution is giving birth to new industries, business models and technologies. Never before have we human beings been presented with so many opportunities for development,” said Li, addressing the opening ceremony. of jobs. It has become part of Chinese people’s lifestyles ever since the car-sharing service started flourishing in recent years.

“The transportation 3.0 era has come,” Liu said. She noted that there will be three main changes in the future of the industry - the super car-sharing, intelligent driving and AI will completely solve the problem of traffic congestion; in addition, the intelligent driving will massively lower the accident rate; and the use of electric vehicles will make tail gas disappear.

Meanwhile, bike-sharing businesses also provide solutions. “Bike-sharing not only alleviates congestion but also changes city residents’ means of transportation,” said Dai Wei, founder and CEO of Ofo, a bike-sharing service provider.

From the point of view of regulatory authorities, adapting to these new trends is also a challenge.

The State Council, China’s cabinet, announced a decision to facilitate the healthy development of the sharing economy. According to a State Council Executive Meeting chaired by Premier Li on June 21, entrepreneurs are encouraged to explore the sharing economy, while the authorities should adjust administrative approval and business registration procedures in accordance with new business models.

“The Chinese Government is the first to legalize the car-hailing service in the world. It’s a great step,” Liu said. “However, the concept of trip-sharing is still fresh and changing - if the regulator can have a more inclusive attitude and perception of sharing economy, that will be better.”