Industry 4.0.: socio-economic junctures

Economic Annals-ХХI: Volume 168, Issue 11-12, Pages: 33-37

Citation information:
Budanov, V., Aseeva, I., & Zvonova, E. (2017). Industry 4.0.: socio-economic junctures. Economic Annals-XXI, 168(11-12), 33-37. doi: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V168-07


Vladimir Budanov
D.Sc. (Philosophy),
PhD (Physics and Mathematics),
Main Research Fellow, 
Head of the Department of Interdisciplinary Issues in Scientific and Technological Development of the
Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences
12/1 Goncharnaya Str., Moscow, 109240, Russia
budsyn@yandex.ru
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2371-8659

Irina Aseeva
D.Sc. (Philosophy),
Head of the Department of Philosophy and Sociology,
Southwest State University
94, 50 let Oktyabrya Str., Kursk, 305040, Russia
irinaaseeva20111@yandex.ru
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4172-7762

Ekaterina Zvonova
PhD (Philosophy),
Senior Lecturer,
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
49 Leningradsky Ave., Moscow, 125993, Russia
inflammatur@yandex.ru
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6397-5268

Industry 4.0.: socio-economic junctures

Abstract. The modern civilization, known as Industry 4.0., is in the midst of a new industrial revolution. It is characterised by the pervasive implementation of convergent technologies, the shift in forms of ownership, fusion of cyber-physical and social realities, endowment of machines with elements of intellect and utilisation of social media in new communication alternatives. Such major social shifts will inevitably instigate a search for new methods of interaction between people and machines in all spheres, including economy, education, industry and everyday life. Gaining awareness of technological, economic and socio-anthropological risks is the primary subject of this paper. The authors analyse various social transformation scenarios, which are fraught with tectonic shifts in the modern society: disappearance of the middle class and unqualified workers, decreasing migration of unskilled workers to Western countries and their self-isolation, and increasing potential migration of the middle class to developing countries. The paper conducts an Umwelt-analysis of both man-machine system development prospects and the danger of the technological singularity, when machines endowed with artificial intelligence may create an economic and political situation that would threaten human strategic domineering and the very existence of humankind. The authors ponder alternative paths for the evolution of humanity through supporting international consolidating megaprojects, establishing network civil society structures, building an economy of trust, releasing mankind’s creative potential and spiritual values in the context of decreased industrial employment spurred on by the deployment of the digital economy, which will require a radical change in the aims and methods of education.

Keywords: Anthropotechnosphere; Socio-anthropological Risks; Digital Economy; Sharing Economy; Social Media; Umwelt; Technological Singularity; Artificial Intelligence

JEL Classification: O30; O39

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V168-07

References

  1. General Electric Company and Accenture (2014). Industrial Internet Insights Report for 2015.
    Retrieved from https://www.accenture.com/au-en/_acnmedia/Accenture/next-gen/reassembling-industry/pdf/Accenture-Industrial-Internet-Changing-Competitive-Landscape-Industries.pdf
  2. Buritt, R., & Christ, K. (2016). Industry 4.0 and environmental accounting: a new revolution? Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, 1, 23-38.
    doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41180-016-0007-y
  3. Atzori, L., Iera, A., & Morabito, G. (2010). The internet of things: A survey. Computer Networks, 54(15), 2787-2805.
    doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comnet.2010.05.010
  4. Dawson, R. (2015). What is the Future of Work? In E. Evans, R. Burritt, & J. Guthrie (Eds.), Future Proofing the Profession: Preparing Business Leaders and Finance Professionals for 2025, vol 6, (pp. 25-33). Academic Leadership Series. Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand/RMIT University.
    Retrieved from https://selectionpartners.com.au/download/industry-information/Future%20Proofing%20the%20Profession%20Report_WEB_FA.pdf
  5. World Economic Forum (2016, January). The Future of Jobs Employment, Skills and Workforce Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Global Challenge Insight Report.
    Retrieved from http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs.pdf
  6. Guthrie, J., Evans, E., & Burritt, R. (2015). Work: Past, Present and Future. In E. Evans, R. Burritt, & J. Guthrie (Eds.), Future Proofing the Profession: Preparing Business Leaders and Finance Professionals for 2025, vol. 6, (pp. 9-22). Academic Leadership Series. Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand / RMIT University.
    Retrieved from https://selectionpartners.com.au/download/industry-information/Future%20Proofing%20the%20Profession%20Report_WEB_FA.pdf
  7. European Parliament (2017). Robots and artificial intelligence: MEPs call for EU-wide liability rules.
    Retrieved from http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170210IPR61808/robots-and-artificial-intelligence-meps-call-for-eu-wide-liability-rules
  8. Golofast, A. (2016, April-September). Digital expansion of European solidarity, European Union: Facts and Commentaries, 84-85, 40.
  9. US Congress (2017). Legislative proposal «Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research. In Vehicle Evolution Act», or the «SELF DRIVE Act».
    Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3388/text;
    Legislative proposal «American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies Act».
    Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1885/text
  10. Rossi, B. (2017, June 22). Digital twinning explained. Raconteur.
    Retrieved from https://www.raconteur.net/business/digital-twinning-explained
  11. The Economist (2017, July 13). Millions of things will soon have digital twins. The Gemini makers.
    Retrieved from https://www.economist.com/news/business/21725033-factories-cars-range-consumer-products-millions-things-will-soon-have-digital
  12. The Economist (2017, March 30). Digital music tools are reshaping music education. The casual learner era.
    Retrieved from https://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2017/03/casual-learner-era
  13. The Economist (2017, July 13). What will businesses look like tomorrow? A new way to work.
    Retrieved from https://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21724976-two-experts-mit-analyse-business-implications-our-digital-future-what-will
  14. Golofast, A. (2017). Metamorphoses of the digital reality, Proceedings of the Southwest State University. Economy. Sociology. Management, 7(4), 344-352.
    Retrieved from https://swsu.ru/izvestiya/serieseconom/archiv/4_2017.pdf (in Russ.)
  15. Trüpel, H. (2017, October 11). The EU shouldn’t fall for false «digital freedom».
    Retrieved from http://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/opinion/the-eu-shouldnt-fall-for-false-digital-freedom
  16. Agence Europe S. A. (2017, July 8). Europe Daily Bulletin No. 11825.
    Retrieved from https://agenceurope.eu/en/bulletin/sommaire/11825
  17. The Economist (2017, June 19). New technology is eroding your right to tinker with things you own. Difference Engine.
    Retrieved from https://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21723679-digital-technology-eroding-peoples-right-tinker-things-they-own-end-ownership
  18. Agence Europe S. A. (2017, May 3). Europe Daily Bulletin No. 11779.
    Retrieved from https://agenceurope.eu/en/bulletin/sommaire/11779;
    Agence Europe S. A. (2017, May 11). Europe Daily Bulletin No. 11785.
    Retrieved from https://agenceurope.eu/en/bulletin/sommaire/11785
  19. Schnor, J. (2014). Debating the Sharing Economy. Great Transition Initiative.
    Retrieved from http://www.greattransition.org/images/GTI_publications/Schor_Debating_the_Sharing_Economy.pdf
  20. Chalmers, D. J. (2010). The Singularity: A Philosophical Analysis. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 17, 1-65.
    Retrieved from http://consc.net/papers/singularity.pdf
  21. Callaghan, V., Miller, J., Yampolskiy, R., & Armstrong, S. (Eds.). (2017). The Technological Singularity. Managing the journey. Springer Verlag.
    doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-54033-6
  22. Budanov, V. G., & Aseeva, I. A. (2017). Roadmap for the anthropotechnosphere of the XXI century. Ekonomicheskiye Strategii (Economic Strategies), 147(5), 120-127 (in Russ.).

Received 10.09.2017