This book presents a system view of the digital scientific and technological revolution, including its genesis and prerequisites, current trends, as well as current and potential issues and future prospects. It gathers selected research papers presented at the 12th International Scientific and Practical Conference, organized by the Institute of Scientific Communications. The conference “Artificial Intelligence: Anthropogenic Nature vs. Social Origin” took place on December 5–7, 2019 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. The book is intended for academic researchers and independent experts studying the social and human aspects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the associated transition to the digital economy and Industry 4.0, as well as the creators of the legal framework for this process and its participants – entrepreneurs, managers, employees and consumers. It covers a variety of topics, including “intelligent” technologies and artificial intelligence, the digital economy, the social environment of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its consequences for humans, the regulatory framework of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the “green” consequences, prospects and financing of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

World-renowned economist Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, explains that we have an opportunity to shape the fourth industrial revolu­tion, which will fundamentally alter how we live and work. Schwab argues that this revolution is different in scale, scope and complexity from any that have come before. Characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, the developments are affecting all disciplines, economies, industries and governments, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human. Artificial intelligence is already all around us, from supercomputers, drones and virtual assistants to 3D printing, DNA sequencing, smart thermostats, wear­able sensors and microchips smaller than a grain of sand. But this is just the beginning: nanomaterials 200 times stronger than steel and a million times thinner than a strand of hair and the first transplant of a 3D printed liver are already in development. Imagine “smart factories” in which global systems of manu­facturing are coordinated virtually, or implantable mobile phones made of biosynthetic materials. The fourth industrial revolution, says Schwab, is more significant, and its ramifications more profound, than in any prior period of human history. He outlines the key technologies driving this revolution and discusses the major impacts expected on government, business, civil society and individu­als. Schwab also offers bold ideas on how to harness these changes and shape a better future—one in which technology empowers people rather than replaces them; progress serves society rather than disrupts it; and in which innovators respect moral and ethical boundaries rather than cross them. We all have the opportunity to contribute to developing new frame­works that advance progress.

This book presents an international review of the modern geo-economy and a scientific take on the geo-economy of the future. It identifies the challenges of climate change and their impact on the modern geo-economy. Prospects for the geo-economy of the future are outlined based on sustainable agriculture and alternative energy. Policy implications are put forward to develop a geo-economy of the future in response to the challenges of climate change. The book presents management implications for the development of the geo-economy of the future in response to the challenges of climate change at the regional and global scale. It presents the lessons-learned through the COVID-19 pandemic, and applies experiences of countries with different environmental conditions for agriculture and the development of the energy sector. Based on these results, advanced practical recommendations and ready-made frameworks at the national, regional, and enterprise level are provided.

""The Scientific-Technological Revolution"" and Soviet Foreign Policy explains the effects of the worldwide scientific-technological revolution (STR) on Soviet foreign policy under ""the collective leadership"" of Leonid Brezhnev. Organized into five chapters, this book carefully examines Soviet views of the relationship of STR with political, economic, and military dimensions of ""peaceful coexistence"" and ""detente."" This text also evaluates the impact of scientific discoveries, technological innovations, foreign economic relations, strategic arms development, and instability in Third World countries. Some of the functions performed by Soviet perspectives on scientific-technical change and international politics are also reported.