Insights

Africa is undertaking a significant effort to integrate 54 economies into a single market, aiming to drive industrialization, job creation, and inclusive growth through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This initiative addresses fragmented markets and barriers that have historically hindered prosperity. The AfCFTA seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for trade, investment, and competition policy, projecting a potential regional income increase of 7%. Success depends on overcoming infrastructure deficits through coordinated investments, with examples like the Lobito Corridor demonstrating collaborative efforts among African nations and international partners to enhance connectivity and facilitate cross-border trade.
Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe | Financial services, Health
Is Africa a global testbed for 21st century economic multilateralism?
The global sports economy, valued at $2.3 trillion, is set to grow to $8.8 trillion by 2050. However, it faces significant risks from increased physical inactivity and environmental issues, which could lead to a loss of up to $1.6 trillion in annual revenue by mid-century. The World Economic Forum, with Oliver Wyman, emphasizes the need for coordinated public-private efforts to enhance long-term sustainability. The report outlines pathways and case studies demonstrating how sports can foster healthier societies and ecosystems, ensuring a competitive, inspiring, and inclusive future.
Health
Sports for People and Planet
The sports economy, valued at $2.3 trillion annually, is vital for fostering health and driving economic growth but faces significant challenges from climate change and rising physical inactivity. Projected to reach $8.8 trillion by 2050, it includes a range of sectors such as global events and sports tourism. Key challenges include declining physical activity—only one-third of adults meet exercise recommendations—and climate disruptions affecting events and infrastructure. The World Economic Forum report outlines three pathways for resilience through collaboration, promoting health, and sustainable practices to ensure the sector's long-term viability and impact.
Financial services, Education, Health
The sports economy: What is it and how could it improve the health of both people and planet?
Thriving in the Intelligent Age requires embracing paradoxes such as bold investment amidst resource constraints and collaboration alongside competition. Organizations need a flexible digital foundation, robust AI integration, and a collaborative mindset to navigate these complexities. Cloud migration plays a crucial role in modernizing enterprises, while responsible AI application demands deep integration into business processes alongside proper data management and jurisdictional control. Partnerships across sectors enhance responses to global challenges like cybersecurity and climate change. Ultimately, meaningful dialogue among all stakeholders is essential for leveraging opportunities and ensuring sustainable progress.
ICT, Education
Unlocking growth by embracing the paradoxes of the Intelligent Age
Agentic AI adoption is rapidly increasing in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with 19% of organizations transitioning from pilots to full-scale implementation. Structural advantages, such as sovereign cloud zones and aligned national strategies, facilitate quick scaling of AI systems. Effective implementations emphasize trust, training, and role transformation for AI agents, enhancing human capabilities. Organizations are prioritizing strategic oversight and ethical governance as AI takes over routine tasks. GCC's coordinated regulatory environment accelerates AI deployment, creating a framework where enterprises can innovate while maintaining compliance, positioning the region for global leadership in Agentic AI.
Education
Why the GCC might have an edge on implementing Agentic AI
Wind power is essential for enhancing energy security by reducing dependence on fossil fuels. It is a sustainable and affordable energy source that can stabilize electricity prices and improve energy independence. Collaboration between governments and industry is crucial for scaling wind energy, which entails cutting bureaucratic red tape, streamlining permitting processes, and investing in infrastructure. The energy crisis following geopolitical events has highlighted the need for diversification in energy sources. Europe has seen significant progress in wind energy's contribution to electricity generation, emphasizing the need for supportive industrial policies and modernization of energy infrastructure to ensure a reliable energy future.
Ukraine | Financial services, ICT
From renewable to reliable: How to unlock wind power for a secure energy future
In the age of AI, prioritizing brain health can enhance human capacities vital for well-being and progress. Competitiveness will hinge on the effective complementarity of human and machine strengths. Investment in brain skills for all ages is essential for economic strategies. The report introduces five action levers and provides a roadmap for stakeholders to strengthen brain health, promote long-term growth, and foster a healthier society through strategic investments in brain capital.
Education
The Human Advantage: Stronger Brains in the Age of AI
Global trade is experiencing significant strain, with discriminatory trade policies increasing from 55 in 2019 to over 2,700 by 2024, and merchandise trade growth expected to decline to 0.5% by 2026. Geopolitical tensions are disrupting supply chains and altering trade relationships, leading to heightened uncertainty and risk. Despite this fragmentation, digital technologies are enhancing connectivity among markets. The concept of the "tradetech stack" is introduced, demonstrating how digital tools can unify various stakeholders through collaborative governance and partnerships, ultimately fostering a more resilient and inclusive global trading system.
Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russian Federation, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Yemen, Zimbabwe | Financial services, Education, ICT
The TradeTech Paradox: Connectivity Amid Fragmentation
Global trade is facing significant challenges, with discriminatory trade policies increasing from 55 in 2019 to over 2,700 in 2024 and a predicted growth slowdown to only 0.5% by 2026. Geopolitical tensions are disrupting supply chains and altering trade relationships, leading to heightened uncertainty and risk. Despite this fragmentation, digital technologies are fostering unprecedented connectivity. The report introduces the "tradetech stack," highlighting how digital tools can connect institutions and businesses through collaborative governance and partnerships. Real-world case studies illustrate how technology, aligned with cooperation, can enhance the resilience and inclusivity of global trade.
Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe | Financial services, Health, Education, ICT
The TradeTech Paradox: Connectivity Amid Fragmentation
Harmonic's A.I. technology, Aristotle, claimed to have solved an “Erdos problem” with support from OpenAI’s GPT-5.2 Pro, marking a significant moment in A.I.'s role in academic research. While some view this as a landmark achievement, others, including mathematician Terence Tao, argue that the results lack genuine innovation and resemble earlier human work. The ongoing discussion highlights A.I.'s capability to analyze vast information and suggest new hypotheses, potentially accelerating scientific research. However, whether A.I. can generate truly original ideas remains contested.
Can A.I. Generate New Ideas?
Perceptions of personal and societal data harms significantly influence citizens' preferences for data control mechanisms. A study across six EU countries (N=2,889) reveals an inverse relationship between perceived personal harm and the desire for individual control, indicating privacy resignation. In contrast, perceived societal harm correlates positively with both individual and regulatory control preferences, especially concerning democratic threats. These insights suggest that regulatory frameworks should address individual and collective harms with distinct approaches, as relying excessively on individual control may be ineffective when citizens already feel exposed to data harms.
Education
Perceived personal and societal data harms shape users’ data control preferences
Robophilosophy engages with the phenomena and challenges presented by social robots, which are designed for various societal roles, including work and home use. This emerging research area combines applied philosophy with empirical studies in human-robot interaction and social robotics, addressing ethical concerns while also exploring social ontology, philosophy of mind, and metaphysics. The book, edited by Johanna Seibt, Raul Hakli, and Marco Nørskov, features contributions from interdisciplinary researchers, highlighting how philosophical perspectives can aid in managing the sociocultural risks associated with advancements in robotics.
Robophilosophy: Philosophy of, for, and by Social Robotics
Access to data for public interest use is increasingly restricted, driven by concerns over misuse, regulatory uncertainties, and concentrated data access due to AI competition. Traditional data governance models, while necessary, fall short as they create barriers that render data practically inaccessible and socially illegitimate. The paper proposes strategic data stewardship as a solution, advocating for a focus on enabling cross-sector data reuse, reducing missed opportunities, and fostering collaboration. It introduces core principles and a Data Stewardship Canvas to facilitate the responsible mobilization of data for societal benefit, particularly in the context of AI advancements.
Health
The Case for Strategic Data Stewardship: Re-imagining Data Governance to Make Responsible Data Re-use Possible
AI is redefining education, hiring, and the labor market, according to research by Eric Bradlow from the Wharton School and Accenture. The study empirically measures the skills gap, highlighting how technological advancements impact required skills and influence recruitment processes.
Education
How AI Is Reshaping Skills, Hiring, and Education
Wikipedia, launched in 2001, exemplifies the web 2.0 era through collective intelligence and user participation. Initially backed by co-founder Jimmy Wales's profit-oriented company, it evolved into a nonprofit under the Wikimedia Foundation. Wikipedia relies on volunteer editors for content quality, ensuring neutrality and verifiability, while serving 4.4 billion users by 2024. Despite its success, challenges arise from the emergence of AI-driven platforms like "Grokipedia," which generate content from Wikipedia's data. This raises questions about the resilience of Wikipedia's original ideals amidst changing digital landscapes.
Education
Wikipedia at 25: can its original ideals survive in the age of AI?
Governments globally are increasingly integrating AI into public services to enhance efficiency in areas like tax fraud detection and health screening. However, reliance on AI raises significant concerns about errors that can devastate lives, as seen in the Netherlands with harmful fraud assessments. Critics argue that substituting human judgment with AI poses risks of accountability and oversight, especially as these systems embed into critical sectors like education and defense. The profit-driven nature of AI firms may exacerbate these issues, echoing past challenges seen with social media's impact on society. A cautious approach toward AI deployment that considers ethical implications is essential.
Education
Governments are rushing to embrace AI. They should think twice
Large-scale strategic initiatives often fail not due to execution issues but because of fundamental flaws embedded before the project starts. W.H. van den Berg argues that decision-makers frequently blame “poor execution,” overlooking that problems often originate from the initial commitment under optimism bias and social pressure. Industries such as aviation and healthcare utilize pre-commitment checks to identify risks before action, a discipline that corporate decision-making lacks. These checks can uncover imbalances early, preventing errors that emerge during execution, thus highlighting the importance of commitment evaluation over just execution assessments.
Why strategic initiatives fail before execution even begins
The concept of an AI-run bank envisions AI agents managing lending, compliance, and customer interactions, promising enhanced efficiency and scalability in banking. However, the critical challenge lies in redesigning organizational structures, governance, and leadership to fully embrace AI. Many financial leaders recognize AI's impact but lack urgency regarding workforce readiness and necessary organizational changes. Effective implementation requires a shift towards skills-based roles, outcome-oriented leadership, and the governance of hybrid human-AI teams. Some banks are already adopting skills-based models, but most institutions still struggle to align capabilities with AI investments for optimal transformation.
Financial services, Education
Will AI run the bank of the future?
Artificial intelligence (AI) models are increasingly utilized across various sectors, yet they inherently contain biases stemming from multiple sources. Bias can arise from the training data, the decisions made by annotators, and how algorithms are optimized. Research indicates that users often prefer interacting with AI that reflects existing biases, indicating a lack of critical auditing on their part. Furthermore, psychological biases influencing human cognition can become embedded in AI systems, leading to negative outcomes such as social polarization. These complexities make it essential for organizations to consider biases throughout the entire AI development and implementation process.
Beware AI’s Very Human Biases
The era of globalization is transitioning from a positive-sum game to a competitive landscape marked by geopolitical fragmentation and economic rivalry. The decline of US unipolarity, without a stable multipolar order, has resulted in a weaponization of trade, finance, and digital ecosystems. Governments face difficulties in governance due to rising domestic volatility, weakening democratic structures, and economic pressures. The World Economic Forum's 2026 Global Risks Report highlights increased geopolitical confrontations and economic vulnerabilities, driven by technological disruption and climate stress. The need to restructure globalization is essential to manage risks and enhance resilience in this tumultuous environment.
Australia, Bahrain, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe | ICT, Health, Education, Financial services
How to upgrade globalization for our age of turmoil

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