Discussing tech governance and foresight at CIVICA's Global Forum

Yesterday, the Center for the Governance of Change (CGC) at IE University had the privilege of hosting a conversation on tech governance and foresight at CIVICA's Global Forum, with four exceptional speakers:
- Amy Zalman (former President, World Future Society),
- Hector de Rivoire (Director of Public Policy, Office of Responsible AI, Microsoft),
- Irene Blázquez (Director, Center for the Governance of Change at IE University), and
- Stefan Haefliger (Professor of Digital Innovation and Strategy, Stockholm School of Economics).

Some of the key takeaways from the discussion were:

• Foresight equips us with tools to govern technology – through the science of foresight (forecasting), the art of foresight (creativity), and the politics of foresight (governance). —Zalman
• Academia provides an independent lens for deeply understanding AI risks, underscoring the vital need for grounded, independent, and free research. —de Rivoire
• We must recognize that technology is reshaping what it means to be human – and begin thinking more like futurists, anticipating change rather than merely reacting to it. —Blázquez
• Higher education should harness AI in ways that challenge students and foster the development of their critical thinking skills. —Haefliger

The conversation was part of CIVICA's Global Forum 2025, hosted by IE University, a two-day gathering of thought leaders, policymakers, academics, and industry innovators exploring the transformative role of the social sciences in addressing global challenges.