AI Index (Stanford University)
Website: https://aiindex.stanford.edu/
The AI Index, produced by Stanford University, is an comprehensive annual report that tracks, collates, distills, and visualizes data relating to artificial intelligence. This initiative covers a wide range of AI-related metrics, including technical performance, research and development, the economy and education, AI policy and governance, and AI ethics and safety. The report provides valuable insights into the speed of AI advancement, which is crucial for many aspects of automation. It includes data on AI capabilities in areas like natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics, as well as tracking the economic impact of AI and automation technologies. The AI Index is particularly valuable for its global perspective, allowing us to monitor worldwide progress towards AI-driven automation.
International Federation of Robotics (IFR)
Website: https://ifr.org/
The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) is a premier source for global robotics data, offering comprehensive statistics on industrial robot installations worldwide. Their annual World Robotics Report provides detailed market analysis, forecasts, and trends in the robotics industry. The IFR’s data is crucial for understanding the pace of automation across different industries and geographical regions. They track metrics such as robot density (number of robots per 10,000 workers), which is a key indicator of automation progress. The IFR’s reports also offer insights into emerging applications of robotics, making it an essential resource for monitoring our advancement towards the widespread automation characteristic of a Type 1 civilization.
Our World in Data - Technology Adoption
Website: https://ourworldindata.org/technology-adoption
Our World in Data is a scientific online publication that focuses on large global problems and tracks progress made in these areas. Their section on technology adoption provides extensive data visualizations on the adoption rates of various technologies, including those related to automation. This resource is particularly valuable for its historical perspective, allowing us to compare the adoption rates of current automation technologies with past technological revolutions. The data covers a wide range of relevant technologies, from internet and mobile phone adoption to more specific automation-related technologies. By analyzing these adoption curves, we can gain insights into how quickly automation technologies are spreading globally, which is a key indicator of our progress towards a Type 1 civilization.
Automation Readiness Index (The Economist Intelligence Unit)
Website: https://www.eiu.com
The Automation Readiness Index, developed by The Economist Intelligence Unit, is a comprehensive assessment of how well-prepared countries are for the challenges and opportunities of intelligent automation. The index evaluates countries based on their innovation environment, labor market policies, and education policies. This multifaceted approach provides a nuanced view of automation readiness, considering not just technological capabilities but also the policy and societal factors that will shape automation adoption. The index covers 25 countries, offering a global perspective on automation preparedness. By tracking changes in this index over time, we can monitor how different nations are progressing in their journey towards the kind of advanced automation infrastructure that would be characteristic of a Type 1 civilization.
Internet of Things (IoT) Analytics
Website: https://iot-analytics.com/
IoT Analytics is a leading provider of market insights and competitive intelligence for the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0. Their reports and databases offer in-depth market data, forecasts, and insights into IoT adoption across various industries. This is particularly relevant to automation as IoT technologies are fundamental to creating the kind of interconnected, smart environments that would be ubiquitous in a Type 1 civilization. IoT Analytics tracks metrics such as the number of connected devices, IoT platform revenues, and adoption rates of IoT in different sectors like smart cities, industrial IoT, and connected vehicles. Their insights into emerging IoT technologies and use cases can help us understand how quickly we’re progressing towards a fully connected and automated global infrastructure.
Global Innovation Index
Website: https://www.wipo.int/web/global-innovation-index
The Global Innovation Index (GII) provides detailed metrics about the innovation performance of countries and economies around the world. Its 80 indicators explore a broad vision of innovation, including political environment, education, infrastructure and business sophistication. While not specifically focused on automation, the GII is a valuable resource for understanding the innovation ecosystems that drive automation technologies forward. It can help identify which countries are leading in areas crucial for automation, such as ICT infrastructure, knowledge creation, and high-tech manufacturing. By tracking changes in the GII over time, we can gauge how different parts of the world are building the innovative capacity necessary to contribute to the global automation efforts required for a Type 1 civilization.
Gartner Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies
Website: https://www.gartner.com/en/research/methodologies/gartner-hype-cycle
The Gartner Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies is a graphical representation that provides a cross-industry perspective on technologies and trends. It offers a balanced view of how technologies progress from hype to productivity, helping to separate reality from speculation. For automation technologies, this tool is invaluable in understanding where different components of automation (like AI, robotics, IoT) are in their development cycle. It can help identify which technologies are moving towards widespread adoption and which may be facing challenges. By tracking the movement of automation-related technologies through the Hype Cycle over time, we can gain insights into the maturation of these technologies and their likely impact on our progress towards a Type 1 civilization.
McKinsey Global Institute - Automation and the Future of Work
Website: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work
The McKinsey Global Institute provides in-depth research and insights on the impact of automation on the global workforce and economy. Their reports on automation and the future of work offer detailed analyses of how different sectors and job categories are likely to be affected by automation technologies. This resource is particularly valuable for understanding the societal implications of increased automation, a crucial consideration as we move towards a Type 1 civilization. McKinsey’s research includes projections on job displacement and creation due to automation, as well as insights into the changing skill requirements in an increasingly automated world. Their global perspective allows for comparison of automation’s impact across different countries and economies.
World Robotics Report
Website: https://worldrobotics.org/
The World Robotics Report, published annually by the International Federation of Robotics, is a comprehensive study on the global robotics market. It provides detailed statistics and analysis on both industrial and service robots, offering insights into sales, stock, and forecasts for different types of robots and their applications. The report covers a wide range of sectors, from manufacturing and healthcare to agriculture and construction, providing a holistic view of robotics adoption across the global economy. This resource is crucial for tracking the increasing use of robots in various aspects of human activity, a key indicator of progress towards the high level of automation expected in a Type 1 civilization. The report’s regional breakdowns also allow for monitoring how different parts of the world are progressing in robotics adoption.
Autonomous Vehicle Readiness Index (KPMG)
Website: https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/06/autonomous-vehicles-readiness-index.html
KPMG’s Autonomous Vehicle Readiness Index (AVRI) is a tool for measuring how prepared countries are for autonomous vehicles. The index evaluates countries on four pillars: policy and legislation, technology and innovation, infrastructure, and consumer acceptance. This comprehensive approach provides insights not just into technological readiness, but also into the regulatory and societal factors that will shape the adoption of autonomous vehicles. As autonomous transportation is a key component of the high level of automation expected in a Type 1 civilization, tracking progress in this area is crucial. The AVRI allows us to monitor how different countries are advancing in creating the necessary conditions for widespread autonomous vehicle adoption, providing a glimpse into how we’re progressing towards a future of fully automated transportation systems.
