Our individual lives, the economy and society are being transformed by two interlocking factors. For the first time in history, we are creating technologies with intelligence, capable of analysing data and making decisions. AI and Robotics are advancing rapidly and bring both amazing opportunities along with very real threats. Similarly, for the first time in history, the young can expect to become the very old. In high income countries, a newborn has an estimated 50% chance of living into their early 90s. This too opens up many new opportunities but also brings new threats and problems.

 

Together these trends will reshape all aspects of our life and require major changes in individual behaviours, social norms, policies and institutions if we are to reap the benefits of these changes and avoid the pitfalls. The impact will be transformational and upend how we work, our education and health systems and how we behave on a day to day basis. It will see the emergence of new products and sectors but also pose dramatic questions that require answering. Will people and machines be complementary or substitutes at work? How do we earn income and remain engaged in a world transformed by technology and longevity? What can we do to prepare for this impending change and how rapidly will change occur?

 

In his work at Ellison Institute of Technology, where he is Principal Scientist (Economics), Andrew focuses on how AI and Robotics are already transforming the economy and labour markets and what is likely to happen in the future. He has a particular focus on how AI and Robotics will change the pace and direction of scientific progress, how this feeds into technological progress and above all social progress. The interaction of AI and biology in particular holds great promise but what does this mean for health, drug development and how we age better? Andrew is also the world’s leading expert on the economics of longevity and on ensuring that our lives aren’t just longer but also happier, healthier and more productive. That is how we can avoid the negative economic consequences of an ageing society and instead reap the benefits of a longevity economy. The implications for the health and financial sector are substantial and for our careers and education. Through his research, books, speaking and advisory work Andrew maps out a future where we make the most of the longer lives we now can expect. 

 

An award-winning researcher, speaker, author and teacher , author of the award winning “The Longevity Imperative” and co-author of the global bestseller, “The 100 Year Life,”, Andrew J Scott is Principal Scientist (Economics) at the Ellison Institute of Technology and Professor of Economics at Oxford University, having previously held appointments at London Business School, Harvard and the London School of Economics.