TLDR: 2024: Historic global elections, Taiwan’s security, sustainable eVTOLs debut, AI regulation debates, industrial emission focus, BRICS expansion challenges U.S.-led order.
This article is a summary of a You Tube video “The World Ahead 2024: five stories to watch out for?” by The Economist
Key Takeaways:
- Historic Elections: 2024 will witness the largest election year globally, with significant attention on the U.S. and Taiwan due to their geopolitical impacts.
- Taiwan’s Uncertain Future: Taiwan faces threats from China, with U.S. intelligence indicating potential invasion plans by 2027, making the Taiwanese election critical for regional stability.
- Taiwanese Defense Concerns: Taiwanese citizens lack confidence in their government’s defensive capabilities against a Chinese invasion, leading some to take civil-defense workshops.
- U.S. Role in Taiwan’s Security: The U.S. policy towards Taiwan, especially under a potential second Trump presidency, could significantly influence Taiwan’s security and global geopolitical dynamics.
- Innovation in Transportation: The 2024 Paris Olympics will showcase eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles), marking a step towards sustainable public transportation.
- Emergence of Personal eVTOLs: Companies like Pivotal are introducing personal eVTOLs, offering a new form of transportation and recreation.
- AI Regulation Debates: As AI technology advances, the debate intensifies between fostering innovation and mitigating risks like bias and discrimination in AI applications.
- Focus on Industrial Emissions: 2024 will bring increased attention to industrial greenhouse gas emissions, with innovative solutions emerging to decarbonize industrial processes.
- Expansion of BRICS: The BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) is expanding, challenging the American-led world order with new members like Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
- Evolving Global Financial Order: The expansion of BRICS signifies a shift in the global financial system, potentially diminishing the dominance of the Western-led financial order established post-World War II.
