Why we need global institutions | Gabriel Duque | TEDxKyoto

Summary

The speaker emphasizes the importance of global institutions in managing rapid technological advancements like AI and gene editing. They highlight how coordinated efforts through institutions have reduced hunger, sickness, and war. The speaker calls for embracing global interdependence and multilateralism to tackle challenges like poverty, disease, and environmental sustainability, stressing that institutions are shaped by our actions and decisions.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The necessity of building strong, inclusive, and global institutions to manage rapid technological innovations such as gene editing, AI, and robotics.
• 🏭 The speaker's journey from an engineer to a diplomat, emphasizing the importance of understanding how societies organize themselves.
• 🔄 The critical role of institutions in coordinating human actions and ideas, from informal customs to formal legal systems.
• 📈 Evidence that global cooperation through institutions has led to significant progress in reducing hunger, sickness, and war.
• 🌱 The historical progression of human societies and the corresponding need for institutions to evolve with changing realities.
• 🌐 The impact of globalization on production and distribution systems, highlighting the concept of 'global value chains'.
• 🌳 The interconnectedness of technological and production systems with environmental sustainability.
• 🤖 The need for new and revised institutions to address challenges posed by emerging technologies like AI, the Internet of Things, and gene editing.
• 🤝 The importance of multilateralism and global interdependence to tackle worldwide challenges effectively.
• 🌍 The speaker's call to action for countries to look beyond national interests and embrace the reality of global challenges that require collective action.

Q & A

What was the main purpose of the Science and Technology in Society forum?

The main purpose of the forum was to bring together scientists, policymakers, and business people from around the world to discuss the implications of rapid innovations such as gene editing, artificial intelligence, and robotics, and to explore how to manage the changes they bring about.

What does the speaker believe is crucial for managing technological change?

The speaker believes that building strong, inclusive, and global institutions is crucial for managing technological change, as they can coordinate actions and ideas at a wider scale, which is essential for human success.

How does the speaker's career trajectory reflect their understanding of societal organization?

The speaker's career trajectory from an engineer to an economist, policy maker, and diplomat reflects their understanding of societal organization by observing how different sectors and countries manage for success and how institutions play a role in that process.

What role do institutions play according to the speaker?

Institutions, according to the speaker, put ideas into motion and coordinate actions given specific circumstances and constraints. They are essential for human coordination at a wider scale.

What is the significance of the Millennium Development Goals in reducing extreme poverty?

The Millennium Development Goals, set by the United Nations, played a significant role in reducing extreme poverty by providing a common goal for all countries to work towards eradicating extreme poverty by the year 2015.

How does the speaker illustrate the importance of institutions in managing the internet?

The speaker illustrates the importance of institutions in managing the internet by discussing the role of ICANN, which transitioned from a U.S.-controlled entity to a global nonprofit institution, demonstrating the need for global governance in a borderless and open internet.

What does the speaker suggest about the relationship between technological advancements and institutions?

The speaker suggests that as the world evolves from hunting and gathering to information and communication, institutions need to change too, to handle new realities and challenges brought about by technological advancements.

What are the two main points the speaker emphasizes regarding global challenges?

The speaker emphasizes the need for new and revised institutions to address the growing speed of technological change and its effects on the environment and work, and the need to accept and embrace global interdependence, particularly through multilateralism.

Why does the speaker argue that we cannot take institutions for granted?

The speaker argues that we cannot take institutions for granted because they are made up of people like us and are the product of our actions and decisions. They are essential for addressing global challenges and ensuring the future of humanity.

What is the speaker's view on countries focusing solely on their national interests?

The speaker views countries focusing solely on their national interests as short-sighted, as global problems and challenges require a collective approach. They believe that looking inward is not sustainable in the long run and that we must act together for the future of humanity.

How does the speaker suggest we should approach global interdependence?

The speaker suggests that we should accept and internalize the idea of interdependence and work together through inclusive, multilateral institutions to address the sustainability of our planet and the pace of technological change.