Research

Explore our collection of articles on the leading megatrends in technology, politics, and society.

Filter: Short-form articles

5

min

Perspectives on the post-truth era

The 'enshittification' of society

5

min

Magic in metamodern times

To be(lieve) or not to be(lieve), that is the question

5

min

The European elections and the next five years

What themes will drive European political discourse?

4

min

The weather is changing

What home insurance tells us about climate change

5

min

Knit’s Island and the future of the metaverse

An immersive and fascinating documentary about life in a virtual world

5

min

Short-sighted AI regulations miss the big picture

How can we ensure that AI is not only safe but also resonates with our broader norms and values?

4

min

What would it take for us to believe in aliens?

Believing the unbelievable in times of disinformation and deepfakes

3

min

The Indian Stack goes global

Is a decentralized, open-source Indian-European Stack emerging?

2

min

Will generative AI bring the productivity increases we need?

Information technology and the lack of corresponding increases in productivity

2

min

The hottest farmers' debate

On the power of Big Food over farmers

2

min

Breaking the bottleneck

Can state-led initiatives relying on market mechanisms help us achieve our decarbonization goals?

5

min

Beyond planetary boundaries: towards Earth systems justice

Linking new developments in Earth systems research to the Deep Transitions Framework

2

min

Has AI become indistinguishable from life itself?

Developments in AI lead to new speculations about the role of technologies in the evolution of life.

2

min

Urban greening should focus on equity, not nature

The external valuation of nature in city planning could withhold green areas from becoming accessible to all

3

min

Learning to waste

All manufacturing produces waste, even the clean energy industry. Critical clean energy technologies – EV batteries, solar panels, wind turbine blades – lead to a massive problem with waste management

3

min

Are weapons still a sin stock?

Changes in narratives, economic structures and the nature of technology could be altering the status of defense stock.

2

min

Human sensors will feed the global mega machine

Intelligent systems will increasingly solicit our ‘help’ to gather data

2

min

The return of the incumbent?

A reflection on the demise of Big Tech and the return of industrial incumbents

3

min

The case for climate radicalism

The impacts of climate change are increasingly being felt all across the globe.

3

min

Rediscovering the collective dimension of freedom

How the classic political philosophy of liberalism can broaden our individualistic interpretation of freedom.

2

min

De-influencers or re-influencers?

Criticism of consumer society is of all ages, but now it’s coming from an unexpected corner.

3

min

Sticky dependence: Europe’s reliance on Russia

Although Europe wants to decouple from Russia, our countries’ dependence is stickier and more complex than we might have estimated

1

min

Is AI still artificial?

Definitions are becoming obsolete as tech and science blur the boundaries between the natural and the artificial

2

min

Will generative AI favor the underdog?

The implications of generative AI for tech and talent

1

min

China’s not-so-responsive authoritarianism

What the Zero-Covid strategy reveals about Chinese power dynamics

2

min

The future of crypto is coming: what will it look like?

Regulation, decentralization and combined approaches battle for the crypto throne

1

min

Can art and imagination spur climate action?

Exploring other ways to increase our moral judgement on climate change

2

min

The short-lived revival of Keynes; welcome back, Hayek!

Has neoliberalism really left? Or was “COVID-Keynesianism” nothing more than a short-term crisis management tactic?

1

min

Is artificial intelligence smart enough to create a sustainable future?

Despite a hefty ecological footprint of its own, digital technology has the potential to contribute to a more sustainable future.

2

min

Hungary’s continued development toward autocracy prompts challenges for the EU

How will having an “electoral autocracy” in their midst affect the EU's solidarity during crises and its normative power abroad?

Is Texas becoming too self-confident?

Texan rebellion is likely to shake up federal politics in the U.S.

Picking up the crypto pieces

Companies are on the lookout for opportunities during the crypto crash

Gen Z chooses anonymity over fame

Why are Gen Zers more likely to prefer online anonymity compared to millennials?

From labor to exploitation: the dark side of blockchain games

What does it take to create a flourishing virtual economy?

Resurrecting the dead in the digital era

Will deepfake videos, the latest and most versatile medium to eternalize the dead, impel us to regulate digital immortality?

Extending the self with Instagram's augmented-reality face filters

Are we moving towards a culture in which our digitally positioned self is more important than our actual self?

Emerging markets face tough financial challenges

Will emerging markets' recovery be halted by increasing financial problems?

Technology on a leash

By sharing ownership and control with producers and governments, our smart devices are no longer what they seem

Politics should focus more on the Good Life

How can we reinstate the concept of the Good without downplaying the systemic risks threatening our global society?

The rise of CBDCs

Pim Korsten gives a rundown on the opportunities and risks of the rise of central bank digital currencies.