The Fourth Revolution and the Bottom Four Billion: Making Technologies Work for the Poor

Products and services based on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain are normally considered to be for rich consumers in advanced countries. Fourth Revolution and the Bottom Four Billion demonstrates how marginalized and vulnerable groups with limited resources can also benefit from these technologies. Nir Kshetri suggests that the falling costs and the increased ease of developing and deploying applications based on these technologies are making them more accessible.

Format: Hardback
Length: 374 pages
Publication date: 18 April 2023
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

Products and services based on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain are often perceived as catering to affluent consumers in developed countries. However, the book Fourth Revolution and the Bottom Four Billion highlights how marginalized and vulnerable groups with limited resources can also derive significant benefits from these technologies. Nir Kshetri argues that the decreasing costs and increased ease of developing and deploying applications based on these technologies are making them more accessible. He provides examples of how key emerging technologies are revolutionizing major industries and application areas, including healthcare, pandemic preparedness, agriculture, finance, banking, and insurance. The book also examines how these transformations are impacting the lives of low-income individuals in low- and middle-income countries, emphasizing the need for regulatory attention to ensure that marginalized and vulnerable groups are adequately protected from the abuse and misuse of these technologies.

Kshetri discusses various barriers that have hindered the adoption of these technologies among marginalized and vulnerable groups, such as lack of data, limited resource languages, underdeveloped technology infrastructures, lack of computing power, and shortage of skill and talent. He emphasizes the responsibility of diverse stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, international development organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and others, to ensure that these transformative innovations benefit all segments of society.

By leveraging advanced technologies, Fourth Revolution and the Bottom Four Billion offers a glimpse of hope for marginalized and vulnerable groups, enabling them to participate in the digital economy and access opportunities that were previously out of reach. It serves as a reminder that technology can be a powerful tool for social change and inclusion, and it is essential to ensure that its benefits are distributed equitably and responsibly.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472075898