New Year’s Promise: Pragmatic Shift to a Digitally Charged Future

Speaker 1 [00:00:01] Hi, it’s John here. Welcome back and happy New Year. I don’t know if you’re like me and make New Year’s predictions and even resolutions. I won’t bore you with mine, but I was struck this year by how negative so many outlooks were for 2024. It seems like we all need to brace ourselves for a pretty bumpy year ahead. Now, 2023 was a year of disruptive change, with the cost-of-living crisis, rising geopolitical tensions, the ongoing climate emergency and rapid technological transformation.

Speaker 2 [00:00:32] Will inflation get better for Canadians who are really feeling the price?

Speaker 1 [00:00:37] Countries continue to deal with the aftermath of the pandemic. With inflation and looming recessions. Tensions in the Middle East have escalated further tonight, and Israel continues. There’s the Hamas Israel conflict, civil war in Sudan and so many other places. The ongoing war in Ukraine, they all continue to have far reaching implications.

Speaker 2 [00:00:55] According to the United Nations, India surpassed China as the most populous country on the planet.

Speaker 1 [00:01:00] For the first time in more than two centuries, the global order has shifted. India’s population eclipse China’s.

Speaker 2 [00:01:07] 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record.

Speaker 1 [00:01:10] Climate change is no longer a threat, it’s the world’s new reality.

Speaker 2 [00:01:13] If there’s one word that’s been at the top of every tech companies mind lately, it’s AI.

Speaker 1 [00:01:20] ChatGPT, and AI, they’re exploding onto the scene, and new technologies continue to disrupt our daily ways of doing things. But amid all that murky backdrop, there’s always hope and opportunity. There’s a tech resurgence already underway, and it may rise like a phoenix from the Silicon ashes. A future filled with AI is no longer a concept, it’s a dynamic reality shaping the future before our eyes.

Speaker 2 [00:01:44] The second biggest item in the budget after health, is boosting clean energy.

Speaker 1 [00:01:48] And advancements in clean tech continue to be a driving force for progress. Innovative technologies seek to revolutionize the way we connect, create, and work to solve some of the most pressing issues. To come this year on disruptors. We’ll continue speaking with Champions of Change and Icons of Innovation as they navigate the twists and turns of an increasingly disruptive world. We can’t promise a smooth road ahead, but we will do our best to help you navigate it. 2024 isn’t just a new year. It promises to be a pragmatic shift into a digitally charged future. So, join us next week as we kick off the 2024 edition of disruptors with a special look at green hydrogen. Will it be the tech sensation of the 2020s or just another distant promise? Until then, I’m John Stackhouse and this is Disruptors, an RBC podcast.

Speaker 2 [00:02:45] Disruptors, an RBC podcast is created by the RBC Thought Leadership group and does not constitute a recommendation for any organization, product or service. For more Disruptors content, visit RBC.com/Disruptors and leave us a five-star rating if you like our show.

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