Progress Is not Inevitable

About this episode

The episode discusses the non-inevitability of progress and factors influencing societal advancement.

Progress is often assumed to be inevitable, yet history tells a different story. Periods of transformation have repeatedly shown how quickly momentum can stall or reverse. Carl-Benedikt Frey, Associate Professor at the Oxford Internet Institute and Director of Future of Work at Oxford Martin School speaks at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2026 on why some societies sustain progress over time while others see it stall. You can watch his talk here: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/sessions/progress-is-not-inevitable/ Coming soon: hear Carl-Benedikt Frey interviewed on our sister podcast, Radio Davos: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/carl-benedikt-frey-AI-work-jobs-economics Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts : YouTube: - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe : https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe : https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe : https://pod.link/1574956552

People in this episode

Guest: Carl-Benedikt Frey

Topics covered

• progress
• transformation
• society
• history
• economics

Keywords

• progress
• transformation
• society
• history
• economics
• World Economic Forum
• Carl-Benedikt Frey

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oxford Internet Institute, Oxford Martin School, World Economic Forum

More episodes of Agenda Dialogues

• When Code and Creativity Collide · June 8, 2026 · 31 min
• Chief Economists Briefing: May 2026 Outlook · May 28, 2026 · 37 min
• AI Infrastructure in the Age of Sovereignty · May 26, 2026 · 39 min
• Decade Déjà Vu: Are the 2020s the New 1920s? · May 18, 2026 · 46 min
• Technology Convergence Report · May 11, 2026 · 43 min
• When Artists and Scientists Talk · May 5, 2026 · 46 min