The concept of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is no longer sufficient to encompass the profound transformations of our time. Digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and robotics are driving a comprehensive turning point that goes far beyond the boundaries of industry, reshaping how we work, do business, and govern society. Time to “retire” the concept of Industry 4.0 The term “Fourth Industrial Revolution” first appeared in Germany in 2011, marking a turning point in the digitization of production, where people, machines, and data were closely connected to create the “smart factory.” For years, we have continued to use the concept of Industry 4.0 to describe the convergence of various foundational technologies and to regard it as the “driving force” of change. In reality, however, the concept of Industry 4.0 is too “narrow” to capture today’s reality. Nowadays, digital transformation is not simply about adopting new technologies but about a comprehensive reconfiguration of how businesses, organizations, and even public administrations operate—from strategy and processes to culture and people. Artificial intelligence (AI) has gone far beyond research labs to become a practical tool, present in data analytics, customer service, market forecasting, business efficiency enhancement, market expansion, and even in the invention of new technologies. […]
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