Introduction

CHAPTER 7

Converging technologies are offering opportunities and posing threats to South Asia in human development, as well as pointing to possible pathways for addressing the socioeconomic disruptions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on the framework outlined in chapter 2 describing the multiple interactions between human capital development and converging technologies, the study team developed a structured scenario exercise to explore a broad spectrum of uncertainties, to raise awareness of alternative futures, and to identify strategic responses. Box 7.1 describes the methodology adopted for conducting this exercise.

The framing question for this exercise was anchored in the three pillars of the human capital framework: What positive or negative roles can digital and nondigital technologies play in building and protecting, deploying and utilizing, and empowering human capital to accelerate the achievement of better human capital outcomes and strengthen societies’ future resilience in the South Asia region?

The purpose of this exercise was not to arrive at a consensus about what will happen but to test hypotheses about what could happen. It was also intended to raise awareness about opportunities, hidden risks, and second-order impacts as well as to inform recommendations for improving decision-making in the use of converging technologies to develop, protect, deploy, and empower human capital.