Omniscient technology

Eric Schmidt & Jared Cohen

That the steady march of globalisation will continue apace, even accelerate, as connectivity spreads will come as no surprise. But what might surprise you is how small some of the advances in technology, when paired with increased connection and interdependence across countries, will make your world feel. Instant language translation, virtual-reality interactions and real-time collective editing — most easily understood today as wikis — will reshape how firms and organisations interact with partners, clients and employees in other places. While certain differences will perhaps never be fully overcome — like cultural nuance and time zones — the ability to engage with people in disparate locations, with near-total comprehension and on shared platforms, will make such interactions feel incredibly familiar.

Supply chains for corporations and other organisations will become increasingly disaggregated, not just on the production side but also with respect to people. More effective communication across borders and languages will build trust and create opportunities for hardworking and talented individuals around the world. It will not be unusual for a French technology company to operate its sales team from south-east Asia, while locating its human-resources people in Canada and its engineers in Israel…

And for those living on a few dollars per day, there will be endless opportunities to increase their earnings.

From “The New Digital Age"