Will artificial intelligence bring an end to the traditional labour market? Fears of mass technological unemployment have a powerful impact on economical policies, but modern economic theory suggests that these fears might be misplaced.

The big cities of the 2020s are a fascinating market for innovations across all walks of life. Let's look at 22 trends that will likely make impacts on the future of cities. In this study, we use a comprehensive foresight tool to set up a process of anticipating changes.

That artificial intelligence (AI) is growing faster than ever before is no surprise. Our Future Proof blog has already discussed many of the consequences of this growth. But while we can go on about what AI will mean to our future, who exactly will create this AI. Or, better yet, what are the countries leading the AI revolution?

Last month, Sophia, a humanoid robot, was granted Saudi Arabian citizenship. This is a first for robots, and begs the question: should robots have equal rights to human beings?

Data and AI technologies are driving the development of our industries; and a demand for experts in STEM-related fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), and wages paid in those jobs, are growing fast in many countries.

Festo presents OctopusGribber, a robotic “hand” which mimics the multi suction cup tentacle of the octopus. How Industrial robots grab objects with “pliers” or single suction cups has prevented them from replacing human hands some tasks on production lines. Biomimicry in engineering may bring forward new innovations that enable robots to bypass manual touch.

Bill Gates proposed recently that robots should be taxed like human workers, based on the value of their work. His initiative stirred up a flow of pros and counter-arguments in the global media. Obviously, something needs to be done proactively, but is robot tax the best solution?

Exoskeletons exist all around us. Animals such as grasshoppers, cockroaches, and lobsters all have them. For them, exoskeletons provide protection and support, among serving other functions. What if we could allow human beings to experience the same benefits, while at the same time increasing their strength, precision, and power?