Twenty-two years after the release of the god of all real-time strategy games “Age of Mythology”, Ensemble Studios “retold” the historic chapter with its new edition recently. Built on years of research, hard work, data, character development, additional powers, unimaginable motion graphics, audio, story narration to name just a few, everything is simply top-notch: a utopian gateway—idiosyncratically opened with the favour of the Gods—to an “age of intelligence”.
A virtual world that had disappeared in the sand of time, like the city of Atlantis, is now back to make its preachers realise that the real world can even be reimagined, restored and recreated in a similar way where hurdles are many, but opportunities are even more. Collab is not just an Instagram thing of working together with people, but in real life, “collaboration for the intelligent age” is the way forward to unlock opportunities.
A theme chosen by the World Economic Forum for 2025, Davos-Klosters is all set to witness industry and government giants speak, discuss, act and pact on a similar path from January 20 to 24. The impact will be seen on a wide range of real-life implications and how crisis and abundance situations transform global investors into Good Samaritans who collaborate as a force for good to make the world a better place to stay.
The analogy and comparison to the Microsoft strategy game isn’t an amateur move in this context but a wise one! Reason: As a global player and a collaborator in a multiplayer mode, this is where you know the strength and weakness of your allies and opponents. The strongholds to areas of opportunities, how to protect against the enemies, utilise your resources, strategise, make smart moves and many more.
From geopolitical shocks to economic growth, this is where the responses of the stakeholders, who are all set to attend the WEF next year, matter and simultaneously stimulate economic growth to improve living standards. The latter can only happen when thinking of the long-term benefits, organisations move ahead to invest in people and their abilities, skillsets and talent—thereby generating employment opportunities.
The role of technology
No more in its nascent stage and two years to its inception in the form of ChatGPT, this is where people are transitioning to utilise GenAI as a force for good in anything and everything. Now, AI is simply p-ai-nting possibilities in everything. Today, safeguarding the planet looks possible from the ill effects of fossil fuels with the introduction and wide use of renewable energy. AI, along with next-gen technologies, is rebuilding trust.
Catalysing energy, climate and nature action, AI is bringing forth the benefits of inclusive energy transition, minimising the waste of natural resources like water, helping in waste management, sharing solutions to recycling plastic wastes, eliminating greenwashing and ensuring circularity. These are not peculiarity but practicality. Thereby, presenting circular economic ways to deal with age-old linear practices that have been destroying Earth.
For example, WEF’s Uplink is a digital platform that has been facilitating communication and collaboration among stakeholders, particularly in the context of global issues and initiatives. It serves as a tool for governments, businesses and other organisations to connect, share knowledge and take actions on critical global challenges. It’s part of the WEF’s broader efforts to foster multistakeholder collaboration and provide real-time solutions to pressing issues such as water crisis and management and restore balance.
“I like the example of Uplink here. From enabling collaborations to providing access to data and insights and supporting niche yet global initiatives, this platform has been backing innovations from the remotest of dry areas in Africa with water purification, preservation and generation of new techniques to AI Flood Prevention System that’s helping people in inundated areas,” says Ravi Kathuria, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Senior Vice President at Invest India.
“Similarly, if you look at India, it has been inviting global investors and organisations to its untapped, irresistible and unexplored opportunities with strong moves such as SEMICON India or Make in India. Simultaneously, India has also been showcasing the beauty and true worth of its indigenous products with its ODOP (One District One Product) initiative. Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this is how India is bringing back balance into its manufacturing potential while catering to the world its skilled and rising workforce that’s amongst the best in the world today,” the CMO adds.
These measures to find new ways to collaborate on solutions have been rebuilding trust in the potential a country and its workforce holds. On the lines of “Age of Mythology: Retold” in which balance is tricky and yet key to success, while industries will evolve exponentially in the intelligent age, striking the right balance for short- and long-term imperatives in the transformation of industries is what we await to see at the upcoming meet of the industry experts in Switzerland.
“It’s all about innovation, implementing and practising sustainable ways and providing solutions in the right ways. Even after having a lot of potential in their ideas and ways of innovations, many startups fail to take off. Your products, solutions, tools, services, platforms need collaborations with the right partners, for solving the problems which are far more globally intertwined.
“For example, funding from the right partners, showcasing the potential of your products to the right takers and many more. It need be global only. Another example is of Generation Earth or Gen E. Look at its LinkedIn and Instagram profiles. Its co-founder and video presenter Srishti Kukreja is simply presenting sustainable stories from across India. Collab, you see! This is the only way forward in the age of intelligence,” concludes Kathuria.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or “The World is One Family” is a term used in India for many years. Our visionary PM, Narendra Modi, reintroduced it during G20 presidency in New Delhi last year, the motive was simple and clear: collaboration for the intelligent age. We’ve already entered this age and to further have an edge over others here, collaboration with local and global players and partners is the key to unlocking the doors to unimaginable opportunities in this interconnected world.
