Reimagining the future: enter the next Enlightenment

The context: the Intelligent Age

Rapid technological evolution—most notably in artificial intelligence—is accelerating humanity into what may be described as the Intelligent Age. Klaus Schwab, Founder of the World Economic Forum, in his book ‘Thriving in and Leading in The Intelligent Age’  clearly articulates the emergence of this new technological era—one that extends beyond the Fourth Industrial Revolution he identified in 2016. It is widely recognized that the pace of transformation associated with human progress is accelerating at a rate unprecedented in history.

In 2026, artificial intelligence is deeply embedded across economies, industries, scientific research, manufacturing systems, and everyday life. Yet a significant gap remains: the need to better define, target, and implement AI where it can deliver the greatest societal value—particularly in advancing sustainable development and enabling the creation of new, meaningful forms of employment.

This transformation presents not only unprecedented opportunity, but also profound responsibility: How might intelligence—human and artificial—be directed toward social good? How might innovation advance prosperity while regenerating ecosystems and strengthening social cohesion?

History reminds us that technological revolutions are not new—but their outcomes are never inevitable.

Historical perspective: from industrial revolutions to the next Enlightenment

In his 2005 Stanford commencement address, Steve Jobs famously observed that meaning becomes clear only when we connect the dots looking backwards. As Apple approaches its 50th anniversary in April 2026, this insight feels newly relevant.

The AI revolution is not humanity’s first encounter with disruptive technology. There are precedents—before and after the First Industrial Revolution—when science, ethics, and imagination converged to reshape societies.

The question before us is whether the Intelligent Age will be remembered as a period of acceleration alone—or as the beginning of a next Enlightenment.

The Gilded Age marked a period of remarkable industrial expansion in the United States, particularly in steel, oil, and railroads. It saw the rise of influential figures such as John D. Rockefeller, founder of the Standard Oil Company; Andrew Carnegie, whose Carnegie Steel Company—in partnership with Henry Clay Frick—was ultimately sold through the negotiations of Charles M. Schwab to J. P. Morgan in 1901, leading to the formation of U.S. Steel. At the same time, Cornelius Vanderbilt expanded the New York Central Railroad, shaping national infrastructure.

Contemporaries such as Alfred Nobel developed parallel industrial enterprises, including Alfred Nobel & Co. and ventures such as the United States Blasting Oil Company, focused on explosives and related technologies.

What distinguishes many Gilded Age industrialists from Nobel is that, during their lifetimes, a significant portion of wealth generated from heavy industries was redirected toward social enlightenment. This enabled unprecedented investment in science, education, the arts, and culture. Many institutions founded over a century ago by these visionary figures continue to exist today.

This legacy enabled me to form the idea of The Next Enlightenment: an effort to redefine, through collective intelligence, how technological progress in the Intelligent Age can once again be aligned with societal, cultural, and scientific advancement.

The question before us is whether the Intelligent Age will be remembered as a period of acceleration alone—or as the beginning of a Next Enlightenment.

The advantages of abstract thinking

In June 2025, the Power of Nature Initiative brought together U.S. Steel, The Amaranthine Foundation, NYCxDESIGN and an exceptional group of leading scientists for “The Powers of Nature: The Beginning of Light” event at The Explorers Club in New York.

It was an honour to convene this gathering, which marked the beginning of a new dialogue—bridging industry and science, and connecting culture with public art. The discussion centered on the Observable Universe, the evolving space industry, and the role of steel within the broader context of materials science and innovation.

As a natural continuation of this exchange, it became clear that this dialogue must evolve and be further shaped by contemporary opportunities. Inevitably, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has come to define the next phase of these discussions, positioning AI at the core of future collaboration between science and industry.

Convening an idea of a new mission for The Next Enlightenment took place at the epicentre of the rise of artificial intelligence—California—a setting uniquely positioned to host such forward-looking discussions. It was essential to frame a model of collective intelligence that extends beyond the traditional dialogue between science and industry, encompassing the bio and blue economies in both territorial and job-creation contexts.

This approach seeks to expand the capabilities of AI through real-world applications across the diverse landscapes of Southern California, with the ambition of developing a bioregional model adaptable to similar climate zones across the globe.

The response from both the public and private sectors was outstanding, and it is worth celebrating the organizations willing to engage in a constructive dialogue on both local and global challenges. It is also important to acknowledge the vital role of the auspices of the Amaranthine Foundation, which provides a completely neutral space for informed and thoughtful debate on today’s most pressing issues. The Next Enlightenment as well as The Power of Nature initiatives enable meaningful exchange on how science, industry, the public and private sectors—together with the creative industries—can advance a broadly understood vision of progress for the benefit of society.

Economic foundations of imagination

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences underscored this imperative of the role of science and innovation in economic progress. Dr. Joel Mokyr was recognized for identifying the prerequisites for sustained growth through technological progress, while Dr. Philippe Aghion and Dr. Peter Howitt were honored for their theory of growth through creative destruction.

According to the Nobel Prize: Joel Mokyr used historical sources as one means to uncover the causes of sustained growth becoming the new normal. He demonstrated that if innovations are to succeed one another in a self-generating process, we not only need to know that something works, but we also need to have scientific explanations for why. The latter was often lacking prior to the industrial revolution, which made it difficult to build upon new discoveries and inventions. He also emphasised the importance of society being open to new ideas and allowing change.

Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt also studied the mechanisms behind sustained growth. In an article from 1992, they constructed a mathematical model for what is called creative destruction: when a new and better product enters the market, the companies selling the older products lose out. The innovation represents something new and is thus creative. However, it is also destructive, as the company whose technology becomes passé is outcompeted.

“The laureates’ work shows that economic growth cannot be taken for granted. We must uphold the mechanisms that underlie creative destruction, so that we do not fall back into stagnation,” says John Hassler, Chair of the Committee for the prize in economic sciences.

Science at the service of society

One of the most impactful organizations working at the interface of science and society is NASA. I am particularly grateful to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), based in Pasadena, California, where my journey with The Next Enlightenment introduced me to the Earth Science to Action program. This initiative demonstrates how data science can inform decision-making at the city and regional levels, translating complex research into practical solutions for communities.

In other words, the concept of science as a service to society is brought directly to the local level. NASA’s Earth Science to Action Strategy 2023–2024 is unique in its focus on serving communities by addressing key areas such as public understanding and exchange, solutions and societal value, Earth system science and applied research, foundational knowledge, technology, missions, and data.

Together, these efforts show how science can extend beyond research and laboratories to create meaningful impact at the societal level—helping communities understand, respond to, and plan for environmental and technological challenges.

Through programs like these, science becomes more than discovery; it becomes a tool for societal benefit, fostering innovation, resilience, and connection. NASA’s approach exemplifies how scientific knowledge, when applied thoughtfully, can truly serve society, bridging the gap between research and real-world action. This is really important to bridge this gap, and NASA JLP is an example of how it should be done.

The Nobel Prize highlights the pivotal role of science, research, and development in driving economic growth, further enhanced by NASA JLP’s Science-to-Action strategies. These initiatives, combined with a need for new emerging forms of futurism that are yet to be created, emphasize the need for applied science and real-world scenarios as compelling entry points for The Next Enlightenment. This movement will naturally evolve around core values, ethics, and the continued championing of women in leadership and decision-making, ensuring a more equitable and inclusive future for all.

Acknowledgement to the Board of The Amaranthine Foundation, the Future Literacy context of Dr. Riel Miller, and Dr. Youssef Nassef with Resilience Frontiers.