Prof. Hilbert opening United Nations Science & Tech. Panel

The United Nations ́ Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) is one of the six main organs of the United Nations and provides high-level advice on science and technology issues through analysis and appropriate policy recommendations. It's 2015-2016 Inter-sessional Panel is being held in Budapest, Hungary, Jan 11-13, 2016, where Prof. Hilbert is opening the discussions on "Foresight for Digital Development".

Prof. Hilbert's presentation focuses on a variety of current issues of global interest and concern, including big data, artificial intelligence, and the ongoing merger of technological and social worlds (aka the technological singularity); and outlines several policy options to meaningfully confront and guide the ongoing transitions. Drawing from his experience during his tenure at the United Nations Secretariat, his presentation also points to various experiences with the institutionalization of technological foresight methods to benefit international development. "The best way to predict our future is to create it", he reminds the representatives from the participating member countries, "this accounts more than ever for our current times, in which we are outsourcing an ever growing part of our decisions and life-sustaining processes to digital intelligence".