Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, the minister of cabinet affairs of the United Arab Emirates and chairman of the World Government Summit, has forecasted that more than 20 billion robots will assist humans by the year 2050. This prediction was made during his keynote speech at the opening of the 2025 World Government Summit in Dubai, which is themed “Shaping Future Governments,” as reported by the Anadolu Ajansı.

According to Al Gergawi, the past 25 years have been both chaotic and transformative. According to him, the world’s population has grown to 8.2 billion people, and by 2024, the global economy has grown from $34 trillion to $115 trillion. During the same period, global trade also increased from $7 trillion to $33 trillion. Al Gergawi highlighted a significant change in the balance of economic power from traditional sectors such as heavy industry and oil to technological companies and online marketplaces.

There have also been notable changes in the political and economic spheres. While certain major industrial economies have seen a decrease, Al Gergawi noted the development of nations like China and India. At the beginning of the new millennium, globalization inspired optimism, he said, but the subsequent rise of populism has fueled protectionist views. He also emphasized the quick rise in digital connectivity, noting that over 60% of people worldwide now use the internet, up from fewer than 7% in 2000. In 2000, there were no digital currencies; today, they are worth almost $3 trillion.

Based on advancements over the last 25 years, Al Gergawi made four major remarks during his speech. He pointed out that just 4% of hostilities have ended with peace agreements, that over 2 million people have died in conflicts, and that 120 million have been displaced as refugees. He questioned whether other results could have been achieved by opting for diplomatic rather than military measures.

He also talked about how wealth and happiness are not always related, saying that the happiest individuals in the world do not always reside in major economies. Depression affects over 280 million people worldwide, and mental health problems cost the global economy about $1 trillion a year. Al Gergawi expressed doubts about whether governments ought to prioritize growth quality above merely economic expansion.

He pointed to a global rise in protests and populist groups as indicators of a deterioration in public faith in governments. He also noted that 630 million people still live in extreme poverty despite advancements in healthcare, education, and well-being. He underlined that research shows that $800 billion a year is required to end hunger, educate every child, and advance international healthcare systems.

Al Gergawi predicted that by 2050, there will be 10 billion people on the planet, with Africa and Asia seeing the biggest increases. More than 20% of the population will be over 60, he said, making strong social and healthcare systems necessary. In addition, he projected that the space economy will grow to $4 trillion.

He emphasized that significant changes in schooling are expected as a result of developments in human augmentation, which would improve both cognitive and physical capacities. In his closing remarks, Al Gergawi said that people will live longer, work harder, and overcome obstacles that were previously thought to be insurmountable in fields like environmental research, space exploration, and medicine.

World leaders, decision-makers, and specialists have gathered in impressive numbers at the World Government Summit, which is taking place in Dubai through February 14. In addition to more than 200 panel discussions and contributions from 80 international organizations, the event will feature more than 30 heads of state, 140 government delegations, 400 ministers, and 6,000 attendees. Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and X, will participate virtually in a debate with prominent speakers such as Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.