“The 2024 general election in India, a mammoth exercise that took place over seven phases and 44 days, produced a surprising verdict on June 4.…It’s an opportune moment to examine the importance of new digital technologies and social media apps in these historic polls, and explore how they have reshaped the media ecosystem in the world’s largest democracy.”
Half the world’s population goes to the polls in 2024. This commentary by Sanjay Ruparelia is the seventh in a series from CIGI created in partnership with the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions at UBC to explore the intersection of technology with the most pivotal among these elections.
“Once confined to repetitive tasks in industrial factories, robots are now increasingly capable of learning from generic data to perform complex human tasks…across a range of working environments.…Germany and Japan are the current market leaders in this space but China is quickly catching up.”
China has become expert at combining strategic industrial policy with patient investment, says Daniel Araya. Can the United States and Canada compete? “As Chinese tech firms climb up the software value chain, Western policy makers will need to become much better at industrial planning.”
The Hill Times spoke to Aaron Shull and other experts about the “explosive” report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians and Justice Marie-Josée Hogue’s initial report from the public inquiry on foreign interference in Canada. Both reports made it clear that mainstream Canadian media outlets are targeted by foreign actors to promote their domestic activities. When those actors conceal their involvement, that activity is no longer within the bounds of acceptable diplomacy and lobbying.
“That’s what makes it so damn offensive, right?” said Shull, describing the findings as “extremely concerning.” “It’s being done for the betterment of a foreign power to the detriment of Canadians, and it’s in the shadows.”
“The power of artificial intelligence to transform the way we live and work…is undeniable. But with this promise comes a considerable human cost: job displacement, economic disparity, social anxiety.…Can we create a scenario where both business and society reap the benefits?”
Anthony Ilukwe says yes: “By strategically harnessing the technology’s capabilities, we can create a future in which companies save and gain, while society thrives through enhanced human virtues and continuous adaptation.”
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and CIGI call youth worldwide aged 18–25 to submit short original video entries on the theme “Why does space security matter to you? Keeping outer space secure and sustainable” for the OS24 Youth Video Competition.
With the launch of this competition, UNIDIR and CIGI aim to incorporate youth perspectives into the agenda, highlighting the importance of youth participation in multilateral space security discussions. Selected finalists will be invited to attend the Outer Space Security Conference taking place September 10–11 through a funded trip to Geneva, Switzerland. Find out more about the competition requirements and how to enter.
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