A frightening number of robots are set to overwhelm and dominate humanity, if the prediction of a powerful, oil-rich Arab state minister is anything to go by.
Speaking at a high-level meeting of globally important government officials, including Elon Musk, Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi (pictured with Musk in main image), minister of cabinet affairs of the United Arab Emirates and chairman of the World Government Summit, suggests an astonishing “20 billion robots” will bash human beings into shape, in a manner of speaking.
Under the theme of “Shaping Future Governments”, Gergawi posits that an unprecedented number of robots will reshape human lifestyles, human labour markets and human societies – effectively making the world robot-oriented, rather than human-centred.
Gergawi predicts the number of robots will be 20 billion by 2050, as reported on the website AA.com.tr.
Gergawi said: “The world’s population has grown to 8.2 billion today, and the global economy has expanded from $34 trillion to $115 trillion by 2024. International trade surged from $7 trillion to $33 trillion over the same period.
“China and India have risen, while some advanced industrial economies have declined. At the turn of the millennium, globalization sparked optimism, but the rise of populism has fueled protectionism.
“Back then, military robotics and technological warfare existed only in science fiction. Today, we see drone warfare, AI-driven conflict, and fears extending beyond nuclear threats to include cyber and biological warfare.
“In 2050, over 20 billion robots will assist humans, and the space economy is expected to reach $4 trillion.
“People will live longer, work more productively, and solve problems once deemed impossible in fields such as medicine, environmental science and space exploration.”
He added that education will undergo a major transformation, with advancements in human augmentation enhancing both physical and cognitive abilities. In other words, students of the future may look and sound more like cyborgs or androids than humans.
A worrying future for us all, but not completely without hope.
As Gergawi says, the world has “achieved unprecedented levels” of well-being, education and health care.
He adds: “Studies show we need $800 billion annually to eradicate hunger, educate all children and develop global health care systems.”
