A Conversation with Satya Nadella and Klaus Schwab
16 Jan 2024 16:30h - 17:00h
Knowledge Graph of Debate
Session report
Full session report
Klaus Schwab
Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, expresses his keen interest and hope in technological advancement. He mentions his passion for technological innovation, referring to it as an engineer's heart. Schwab appreciates the steps taken to democratise the World Economic Forum, particularly mentioning the creation of the Global Collaboration Village. This virtual forum allows people who are unable to physically attend the forum to participate, widening public engagement.
Schwab acknowledges the significant role played by Microsoft as a leading tech company. He identifies Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, as a prominent leader in the industry. Schwab anticipates that Nadella will provide valuable insights and perspectives on the evolving tech landscape.
The collaborative relationship with Accenture is highly valued by Schwab. He expresses gratitude for their cooperation, highlighting the importance of partnership and collaboration in driving positive change.
Schwab believes that virtual forums, like the Global Collaboration Village, have immense potential in widening public participation and engagement. He mentions a discussion held two years ago about democratizing the World Economic Forum, allowing individuals who cannot physically attend to actively partake in the event. The Global Collaboration Village, a three-dimensional virtual room, is seen as a solution to this challenge. Schwab notes that partners and international organisations are already established in the virtual village, engaging with the public.
One of Schwab's concerns is the potential digital divide between developed and less developed countries due to technological advancements. He had discussions with heads of government and state regarding this issue and expresses particular worry about less developed countries.
The fast rate of technological change is also a cause for concern for Schwab. He observes that this rapid pace leads to fear and concern in society, contributing to the polarisation of opinions and perspectives.
To ensure a better future, Schwab emphasises the importance of harnessing technology and rebuilding trust. He highlights trust building as a crucial aspect of his opening speech and discusses the negative impacts that rapid technological progress could have.
The development of global regulations for the technology industry is deemed essential by Schwab. He notes that Europe and the US currently have different approaches, while Chinese premiers have shown commitment to a global regulatory approach. Schwab suggests the need for an international organisation similar to COP or the International Energy Agency specifically for the technology industry.
Schwab expresses concern about the understanding of AI technology among politicians. As an engineer, he admits struggling to comprehend new forms of AI and mentions the learning curve he experienced with the chat GPT. He questions the ability of politicians to fully understand and effectively regulate AI.
Another issue raised by Schwab is the high energy consumption of artificial intelligence. He warns that this could lead to environmental unsustainability and poses a challenge to achieving goals related to affordable and clean energy and climate action.
Schwab questions the potential impact of emerging technologies on economic productivity and global prosperity, drawing from past disappointment with the internet's impact on productivity. While there is optimism about future technologies such as the energy transition and AI, Schwab remains cautious.
Schwab acknowledges that the capability to think conceptually has become increasingly important. He notes the increased complexity resulting from widening conceptual horizons and the ongoing transition from an agricultural to an industrial age, then to a service-dominated economy, and now to an intelligent economy. He suggests that the transition to an intelligent economy is happening at a much faster pace than previous economic shifts.
In conclusion, Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, expresses his interest and hope in technological advancement. He appreciates the steps taken to democratise the forum and acknowledges the contributions of leading tech companies like Microsoft. Schwab emphasises the importance of virtual forums in widening public participation and engagement. He raises concerns about the potential digital divide, fear and polarisation caused by rapid technological change, and the need to harness technology and rebuild trust for a better future. Schwab advocates for global regulations in the technology industry and highlights the importance of understanding AI among politicians. He warns against the high energy consumption of artificial intelligence and questions the impact of emerging technologies on economic productivity. Lastly, he notes the increasing importance of conceptual thinking and the transition to an intelligent economy.
Satya Nadella
Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, expresses his optimism regarding the impact of generative AI and its widespread adoption across different industries and countries. He believes that generative AI has the potential to revolutionise the field of software engineering and bring back joy to the profession. Nadella is particularly impressed by the rate at which generative AI is diffusing, highlighting the significant impact that models like ChatGPT have had in revealing the potential of AI.
Nadella also recognises the era of 'intelligence at your fingertips,' pointing to the launch of AI applications in various sectors, including healthcare. This demonstrates the practical implementation of AI in enhancing frontline work, healthcare services, and broader horizontal work. He predicts that the development and adoption of AI will continue to accelerate, leading to significant advancements and positive outcomes across industries.
In the field of education, Nadella is positive about the capabilities of generative AI. He notes that the United Arab Emirates has successfully rolled out a personalised tutor for every student in the country, showcasing the potential of AI to improve and personalise the learning experience for students on a global scale.
Furthermore, Nadella believes that AI will revolutionise the field of science. He cites examples such as the use of Microsoft's model, Matagen, to generate new molecules and materials, resulting in the creation of a battery that uses 70% less lithium. Additionally, AI applications are being utilised in molecular biology and cancer detection at institutions like the Broad Institute and the Project for the Advancement of Genome Editing (PAGE). Nadella envisions AI playing a pivotal role in accelerating advancements in these areas, potentially compressing centuries of chemistry into just a few decades.
Nadella also expresses enthusiasm about the quantum revolution and the growth of mixed reality. He highlights the potential of AI to act as the emulation layer for what will become the simulation layer in the future, specifically in relation to quantum computing. Moreover, Nadella sees significant potential in the development and application of mixed reality technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality devices, as well as the convergence of compute, AI, and autonomous and mixed reality devices. He believes that these elements will collaborate to create new innovative platforms.
Acknowledging the transformative impact of digital technology across sectors like healthcare and education, Nadella observes how it has led to innovative and improved ways of conducting various activities. He emphasises that digital technology is a general-purpose technology that can yield better outcomes in multiple sectors, addressing challenges and fostering progress.
Nadella also underscores the importance of responsible technology governance. He believes that the technology industry's licence to operate depends on being proactive in considering safety, trust, equity, and the potential unintended consequences of new technologies. Government regulators worldwide are also becoming more involved in setting safety and deployment norms for technologies, reflecting a growing global focus on technology regulation and safety standards.
Furthermore, Nadella recognises the need for stakeholder capitalism, asserting that finding profitable solutions to people and environmental challenges is essential for the long-term success of corporations. He believes that corporations should aim to serve all stakeholders and not solely focus on investor returns. This approach aligns with the social contract for corporations and the principles of the World Economic Forum.
Nadella emphasises the importance of leadership adaptability and continuous learning in navigating paradigm shifts and driving innovation. Drawing from his own experiences at Microsoft, he highlights the need for leadership to strike a balance between embracing new technologies and sustaining existing operations. Nadella also acknowledges the value of global learning, encouraging businesses to study and learn from economic recessions and crises in different countries to develop a global perspective and improve crisis management.
In conclusion, Satya Nadella's views on generative AI, technological innovation, responsible governance, stakeholder capitalism, and leadership reflect his belief in the potential of AI and its ability to drive economic growth, enhance various sectors, tackle global challenges, and create a more inclusive and abundant world.
Speakers
KS
Klaus Schwab
Speech speed
140 words per minute
Speech length
1484 words
Speech time
635 secs
SN
Satya Nadella
Speech speed
190 words per minute
Speech length
4483 words
Speech time
1418 secs
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