Are We Already in the 4th Industrial Revolution?

Throughout modern history, there have already been three Industrial Revolutions, each of which has changed the world and how it operates for good. 

The First Industrial Revolution began in 18th-century Britain and centered around the growing use of water and steam power, which led to machine-powered production rather than manual production. In the latter half of the 19th century, the Second Industrial Revolution emerged as the growth of electric power allowed for mass production of consumer products. 

The Third and most recent Industrial Revolution, which is also known as the Digital Revolution, began in the mid-20th century and revolved around the introduction and succeeding pervasive influence of modern electronics, information technology, and—perhaps most notably—the Internet in industries and the average person’s daily life.  

Will There Be Another Industrial Revolution? 

Three Industrial Revolutions have taken place throughout the last 250-plus years. As society continues to advance and become more automated and tech-dependent, many people have suggested that another Industrial Revolution is currently on the rise.  

There is no doubt that the continued advancement of technology and the important role it now plays in virtually every aspect of both industrial production and the goings-on of the average person’s daily life have changed the world permanently. 

However, there is some debate regarding whether these changes can be attributed to the expansion of the 3rd Industrial Revolution or the introduction of a brand-new, 4th Industrial Revolution. 

What is the 4th Industrial Revolution? 

There are several factors that distinguish the 4th Industrial Revolution from the 3rd and establish this brand-new Revolution as its own separate entity apart from the Industrial Revolutions of the past. 

Each Industrial Revolution throughout history has been centered around specific shifts and developments that have changed the world—and more specifically major industries worldwide—and the way it operates. 

The 4th Industrial Revolution is focused on robotics, virtual reality, and—perhaps most importantly—artificial intelligence. All of these innovations have been made possible by digital technologies, but take the information technology and electronics that were globalized during the 3rd Industrial Revolution and expand them and their capabilities to brand-new heights.

The personal and mainframe computing that became widespread during the Third Industrial Revolution gave technology new avenues through which to grow and expand more rapidly and innovatively than ever before. Each Industrial Revolution builds off of the preceding one, and the robotics, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence that have emerged throughout the beginning of the 4th Industrial Revolution have been made possible by the technological advancements that were made during the 3rd Industrial Revolution. 

How Will the 4th Industrial Revolution Change the World? 

Although the 4th Industrial Revolution has just begun, it is already evolving much more quickly than the previous three Industrial Revolutions—which is primarily a result of how far technology has advanced, especially since the emergence of the Third Industrial Revolution in the 1950s. 

So what does that mean for the world at large? How will the 4th Industrial Revolution change the world? Here’s a hint—it already has. 

Robotic toys and kits line the shelves of your local Target and Walmart, and you might just have a robotic Roomba vacuum cleaning up your home for you right now. Virtual reality headsets are readily available for entertainment purposes and VR tech is widely used as a training aid in many different industries. Artificial intelligence already automates many daily tasks. Everything from ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft to popular virtual assistants like Siri and Google Alexa are dependent on AI. The central properties of the 4th Industrial Revolution have already shifted life as you know it in many ways—likely for good. 

Despite its already pervasive influence on industries and daily life, the 4th Industrial Revolution is just getting started and only time will tell what lasting changes it will bring to the world at large.