‘Intelligent life’ redefined – where does this leave humans?

Corporations around the world are spending billions of dollars in a race to secure their place in the artificial intelligence (AI) economy.

The stakes are high. Companies are under pressure to deliver returns for shareholders while ensuring they are not left behind by technological disruption.

But according to Professor Klaus Schwab – founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF) – AI is only one part of a much broader technological transformation that is reshaping economies, societies and institutions at unprecedented speed.

Read: Africa startups turn inward as US AI boom drains venture capital

Schwab is emerging as an expert on the impact of AI on economies, societies and individuals.

Intelligence meets wisdom

A Google AI Overview tells us artificial intelligence is about 70 years old, with the term officially coined in 1956.

The foundational concepts however date back to when mathematician Alan Turing proposed the famous ‘Turing Test’ to evaluate machine intelligence. That was more than 75 years ago, in 1950.

Klaus Schwab is 88. He was born on 30 March 1938.

He led the WEF for more than five decades before stepping down from executive leadership in 2025 – and delivered a public lecture at the University of Johannesburg recently.

New historical age

Schwab says humanity is entering a new historical age, which he calls the “Intelligent Age”.

“It is more than what is known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This Intelligent Age will fundamentally alter how people live, work, communicate and learn.”

He says the convergence of AI with other emerging technologies – including quantum computing, big data and robotics – is creating a transformation unlike any previous technological shift.

Read: AI bubble debate gets real as chip stocks rally turns historic

“We are witnessing more than a future driven by the technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We see the dawn of a new era for human civilisation.

“It goes beyond AI. Here are many technologies that will unleash potential for societies, such as the Internet of Things, 3D printing and quantum computing.

“AI should not be viewed in isolation. The greatest benefits will come from integrating multiple technological advances,” he says.

“We have to be ready for a world where we combine all of these together to get the greatest possible benefit to serve humanity.”

Beyond automation, beyond AI

While the Fourth Industrial Revolution has become closely associated with AI and automation, Schwab argues that the scale of change now under way warrants a new description.

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“We are not speaking just about the Fourth Industrial Revolution; we are speaking about the transition of humankind into a new era,” he says, noting a very important difference.

“Previous societal transitions unfolded over generations, giving people time to adapt.”

The “shift from agricultural societies to industrial economies took decades, while the move into the digital era occurred over several generations”.

“The current transition is unfolding far more rapidly. We have, perhaps, only 10 to 15 years to understand, adapt to and harness the opportunities created by AI and related technologies.

At the same time, he says, we must manage the associated risks.

We must prepare ‘with all our forces’

“The speed of this transformation is great, and we have to prepare with all our forces for this new type of intelligent age.”

Another difference is that AI is changing the world in a manner never seen before.

“Previous industrial revolutions and technologies have replaced human physical labour with machines.

“AI is replacing our cognitive capabilities,” says Schwab.

“The Industrial Age replaced our physical activities [with] the machine. What is the Intelligent Age doing? It is replacing our cognitive capabilities by algorithm, or by what we call artificial intelligence.”

Human identity

Schwab argues that this particular change raises profound questions about human identity, ethics and leadership.

“In order to master this new intelligent age, we have to remind ourselves much more what really creates a human being. What makes us human?”

Speaking at a university, and with his academic background, Schwab had a specific message. “Universities will be among the institutions most affected by the rise of AI.

“Higher education can no longer operate primarily as a mechanism for transferring knowledge because information is increasingly available through digital tools and AI systems, at no cost.

“Instead, universities must focus on equipping students with the capabilities needed to navigate constant change.”

Schwab argues that institutions of higher learning should prioritise adaptability, critical thinking, resilience and the ability to use emerging technologies effectively.

How to compete with a machine?

“If you want to succeed in the intelligent age, the key word is adaptability, but combined with adaptability is also resilience.

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“The world is changing so fast today, and the world has become so interdisciplinary, so complex, that people don’t really understand any more what’s going on.”

Schwab advocates a shift in the role of a university from one of “learning for life” to “lifelong learning”.

“Of course you need training, you need an education, but it should be mainly an education in capabilities and not so much in knowledge,” he says.

His comments come as universities globally are grappling with the implications of AI-powered tools that can generate essays, perform research tasks and provide instant access to information.

The debate has intensified as institutions consider whether traditional educational models remain fit for purpose in an increasingly automated world.

Schwab says universities must prepare students not for a single career, but for repeated cycles of reskilling and adaptation throughout their working lives, even calling for annual “certification”.

Central objective of progress?

Despite his optimism about technology, Schwab emphasises that human well-being should remain the central objective of technological progress.

He warns against allowing technological advances to create systems that prioritise efficiency while neglecting human values.

“In the new era, human well-being should be prioritised through robotics and AI,” he said.

“At the core of this transformation, there is commitment to ensuring that the benefits of technological advancement are equally shared to bridge the digital gap within societies.”

Schwab also highlights the potential benefits of AI in healthcare, particularly in improving access to medical services through telehealth technologies.

Intelligent systems could help expand healthcare access to underserved communities and improve outcomes for people who currently struggle to access specialist medical expertise.

“The future isn’t [just] happening … government leaders are shaping the future. We want to move into a human-technological world to use all our technological potential.”

Read: When governance becomes optional, systemic failure becomes inevitable

At the same time, Schwab acknowledges that many people feel overwhelmed by the pace of technological change.

“We feel we are not in control of what’s happening,” he says.

“I think we have to accept that we are living in a very fluid, in a very fast, exponentially changing world.”

Three priorities

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Schwab outlined three priorities that governments should pursue as societies transition into the Intelligent Age.

The first is ensuring that technology contributes to a more sustainable, resilient, humane and inclusive world.

The second is helping citizens understand and participate in the transition.

He said governments must actively engage populations in discussions about technological change because many people are anxious about the pace at which society is evolving.

“People fear this fast speed of change which they have to digest.”

The third priority is the development of ethical frameworks to govern AI and other advanced technologies.

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As AI systems become more powerful and influential, clear safeguards will be needed to prevent misuse and ensure these technologies are deployed responsibly.

Schwab says ethical considerations will become increasingly important as AI assumes a greater role in decision-making across society.

Collaboration to ‘create an even better world’

The challenge, he adds, is to ensure that technological advancement strengthens humanity rather than diminishing it.

We don’t want to move into “a cold bureaucracy” or a “technocracy”.

“We want to move towards what I would call a humanocracy, a world where we use technology to use all our human potential and to create an even better world,” he says.

As businesses, governments and educational institutions race to adapt to AI, Schwab’s message is that the challenge extends far beyond technology itself.

The emergence of the Intelligent Age, he argues, is not simply about machines becoming more capable.

It is about redefining what it means to be human in a world where cognitive tasks can increasingly be performed by algorithms, and ensuring that technological progress remains aligned with human values.

“We see the dawn of a new era for human civilisation.”

He warns against the current status of the AI world that mostly benefits the elite.

“If intelligence were to become a utility billed on a meter, then the intelligent age would only benefit the elite and those who could afford it.”

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