Tag Archives: Cathy Li

Sci-Tech

World Economic Forum Report- Technology Convergence Is Redefining Competitive Advantage

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  • A World Economic Forum report finds competitive advantage is shifting from owning key technologies to combining them across data, people and ecosystems.  
  • The biggest barriers to scaling innovative solutions are no longer individual breakthroughs but connecting a combination of AI and digital tools with real-world operations.
  • The research shows how technology convergence is already reshaping value chains in healthcare, manufacturing, energy, life sciences, wearable electronics and more.
  • Read the full report here.

Geneva, Switzerland, April 2026 – The next wave of competitive advantage will come not from individual breakthrough technologies but from the ability to combine and scale multiple technologies across entire operating systems, according to a World Economic Forum report released today. As artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced materials, spatial computing and next-generation energy systems mature simultaneously, the organizations and countries moving fastest to apply these technologies together in intelligent systems are already pulling ahead.

The report, Technology Convergence: The New Logic for Competitive Advantage, produced in collaboration with Capgemini, draws on cross-industry research and real-world case studies in 12 sectors, identifying recurring patterns, including the blending of mature and experimental technologies and the blurring of industry boundaries, that determine whether convergence scales or stalls.

“Breakthrough technologies are advancing rapidly, and value is created when they are applied together,” said Cathy Li, Head of the Centre for AI Excellence and Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum. “The real differentiator is not who owns the most advanced tools, but who can combine them across systems and applications at scale.”

As advanced technologies scale, the main bottlenecks to competitive advantage are no longer time or materials but how well organizations connect digital tools with physical operations. This is already playing out across sectors and geographies. From operating rooms to factory floors, power grids to research labs, converging technologies are reshaping how systems perform worldwide.

In the United Kingdom, novel surgical robots are extending clinician capacity (this article’s feature image shows robots with surgeons at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust first used in 2022) while preserving workflow continuity across care teams. In China, automated labs are linking robotics, AI and data platforms to accelerate discovery while coordinating workflows across research networks.

“Technology convergence has evolved from a technical discussion into a strategic leadership mandate with direct operational impact,” said Aiman Ezzat, CEO of Capgemini Group. “Competitive advantage increasingly depends on an organization’s ability to integrate technologies, teams, partners and operating processes into coherent systems that deliver value at scale. Leaders who master orchestration, not just adoption, are the ones translating convergence into sustained performance and growth.”

“This shift has implications not only for companies but also for national growth strategies and industrial policy,” said Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “Economies that align talent, infrastructure, data and policy will be better positioned to capture the benefits of converging technologies amid a fast-shifting global landscape.”

The report is part of the World Economic Forum’s Technology Convergence Initiative, launched in 2024, and builds on the first edition published in 2025. It draws on two years of cross-industry research, including expert interviews, workshops and case studies in healthcare, manufacturing, energy, life sciences and emerging fields such as brain-computer interfaces. The analysis examines how eight advanced technology domains interact, using the Forum’s 3C framework (combination, convergence and compounding) and the Technology Maturity Index to track how technologies move from experimentation to real-world impact.

Sci-Tech

AI Governance Alliance Calls for Inclusive Access to Advanced Artificial Intelligence

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World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance says a global effort is needed to create equitable access to artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence holds the potential to address global challenges, but it also poses risks of widening existing digital divides or creating new ones. Three new Forum papers offer recommendations on building safe systems and technologies, ensuring responsible applications and transformation, and advancing resilient governance and regulation.

Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 18 January 2024 – The AI Governance Alliance (AIGA) released today a series of three new reports on advanced artificial intelligence (AI). The papers focus on generative AI governance, unlocking its value and a framework for responsible AI development and deployment.
 
The alliance brings together governments, businesses and experts to shape responsible AI development applications and governance, and to ensure equitable distribution and enhanced access to this path-departing technology worldwide.
 
“The AI Governance Alliance is uniquely positioned to play a crucial role in furthering greater access to AI-related resources, thereby contributing to a more equitable and responsible AI ecosystem globally,” says Cathy Li, Head, AI, Data and Metaverse, World Economic Forum. “We must collaborate among governments, the private sector and local communities to ensure the future of AI benefits all.”
 
AIGA is calling upon experts from various sectors to address several key areas. This includes improving data quality and availability across nations, boosting access to computational resources, and adapting foundation models to suit local needs and challenges. There is also a strong emphasis on education and the development of local expertise to create and navigate local AI ecosystems effectively. In line with these goals, there is a need to establish new institutional frameworks and public-private partnerships along with implementing multilateral controls to aid and enhance these efforts.
 
While AI holds the potential to address global challenges, it also poses risks of widening existing digital divides or creating new ones. These and other topics are explored in a new briefing paper series, released today and crafted by AIGA’s three core workstreams, in collaboration with IBM Consulting and Accenture. As AI technology evolves at a rapid pace and developed nations race to capitalize on AI innovation, the urgency to address the digital divide is critical to ensure that billions of people in developing countries are not left behind.
 
On international cooperation and inclusive access in AI development and deployment, Generative AI Governance: Shaping Our Collective Global Future – from the Resilient Governance and Regulation track – evaluates national approaches, addresses key debates on generative AI, and advocates for international coordination and standards to prevent fragmentation.
 
Unlocking Value from Generative AI: Guidance for Responsible Transformation – from the Responsible Applications and Transformation track – provides guidance on the responsible adoption of generative AI, emphasizing use case-based evaluation, multistakeholder governance, transparent communication, operational structures, and value-based change management for scalable and responsible integration into organizations.
 
In addition, for optimized AI development and deployment, a new Presidio AI Framework: Towards Safe Generative AI Models – from the Safe Systems and Technologies track – addresses the need for standardized perspectives on the model lifecycle by creating a framework for shared responsibility and proactive risk management.
 
AIGA also seeks to mobilize resources for exploring AI benefits in key sectors, including healthcare and education.
 
Quotes from the initiative:
 
“As we witness the rapid evolution of artificial Intelligence globally, the UAE stands committed to fostering an inclusive AI environment, both within our nation and throughout the world. Our collaboration with the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance is instrumental in making AI benefits universally accessible, ensuring no community is left behind. We are dedicated to developing a comprehensive and forward-thinking AI and digital economy roadmap, not just for the UAE but for the global good. This roadmap is a testament to our belief in AI as a tool for universal progress and equality, and it embodies our commitment to a future where technology serves humanity in its entirety.” – H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications of the United Arab Emirates
 
“Rwanda’s participation in the AI Governance Alliance aims to ensure Rwanda and the region do not play catch up in shaping the future of AI governance and accessibility. In line with these efforts, Rwanda’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, will host a high-level summit on AI in Africa towards the end of 2024, creating a platform to engage in focused and collaborative dialogue on the role of AI shaping Africa’s future. The event’s primary goal will be to align African countries on common risks, barriers, and opportunities and, ultimately, devise a unified strategy for AI in Africa.” – Paula Ingabire, Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation of Rwanda
 
“IBM continues to drive responsible AI and governance. We all have an obligation to collaborate globally across corporations, governments and civil society to create ethical guardrails and policy frameworks that will inform how generative AI is designed and deployed. IBM is proud to work with the Forum’s AI Governance Alliance as the knowledge partner for this paper series.” – Gary Cohn, IBM Vice-Chairman
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“The evolution of AI is unique in that the technology, regulation and business adoption are all accelerating exponentially at the same time. It’s critical that the public and private sector come together to share insights, resources and best practices for building and scaling AI responsibly. Leaders in this space must prioritize inclusive AI so that the benefits of this technology are shared in all parts of the world, including emerging markets. The Forum’s three-part briefing paper series offers insightful considerations across responsible applications, governance and safety to empower businesses, respect people and benefit society.” – Paul Daugherty, Chief Technology Innovation Officer, Accenture.