A new report from a federal think-tank called Policy Horizons Canada (PHC) lists a number of plausible global disruptions that could reshape Canada and the world in the near future.  The authors of the report point out that the list is an exploration of theoretical threats, but thinking about them can help governments create robust and resilient policies.   Number one threat that could have the greatest impact and is most likely to happen is the threat to truth.  PHC’s report says that in as little as three years the world’s” information ecosystem” could be flooded with misinformation and disinformation created by both people and artificial intelligence.  Public decision making could be compromised as institutions struggle to effectively communicate key messaging on education, public health, research and government information.  We already saw an example of this on the public health front during the Covid-19 Pandemic with a flood of disinformation.  Within four years cyberattacks could disable critical infrastructure.   Within five years billionaires could be running the world and downward social mobility could be the norm.  Within six years emergency response could be overwhelmed and healthcare systems collapse.  AI could be running wild and democratic systems break down.  Within seven years biodiversity could be lost and ecosystems collapse.  And withing ten years vital natural resources will be scarce.   Some of or all these things won’t really happen, right?? 

That’s Coffeetalk.  I’m Vic Dubois.