Conflicts, climate change, polarization: there are many global risks. A man-made invention threatens to make things even worse, risk analysts believe with a view to the next few years.
The world is facing dark times, according to risk analysts, business leaders and civil society representatives. In a survey by the World Economic Forum (WEF), almost 1,500 experts named climate change and natural hazards, the growing division in many societies, economic uncertainty and unwanted migration. There is also great concern about the misuse of artificial intelligence, according to the WEF report on global risks.
The WEF annual meeting will take place in Davos from January 15th. Among the guests is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In a separate survey of more than 11,000 entrepreneurs worldwide, participants in Germany cited an economic downturn, a shortage of skilled workers, energy supply bottlenecks, inflation and the erosion of social cohesion as the biggest risks.
Fake news can be easily created with AI
The expectations of the almost 1,500 experts are even bleaker in the long term than for the next two years: While around 30 percent expect stormy or turbulent times worldwide by the end of 2025, the figure is 63 percent with a view to the next ten years.
In the short term, they see the spread of misinformation as the greatest risk, also in view of elections in the USA, Great Britain and India. With artificial intelligence (AI), fake material can be produced quickly and reach huge numbers of voters in no time, said Carolina Klint from the consulting firm Marsh McLennan. Disruptive actions could come from home and abroad. Marsh McLennan contributed to the report, as did the financial services provider Zurich Insurance Group.
For example, AI can be used to create deceptively real-looking videos in which politicians and other celebrities supposedly say things that they never actually said. The WEF recommends more education and training so that people can protect themselves from misinformation.
Over ten years, respondents saw climate change and other threats to nature as the greatest risks. “World leaders must come together to address short-term crises and lay the foundations for a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive future,” said WEF Executive Director Saadia Zahidi.
Source: Stern
