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Technology has always been at the forefront of social and economic progress. Today, the pace of breakthroughs in several clusters of technology - from gene editing to machine learning and advanced materials - may signify that a new technological revolution is at hand, which could be not only transformative for almost every industry and every country, but also disruptive. Just as these new technologies hold immense promise, there are concerns that technological innovation will lead to increased unemployment, suppressed wages and greater inequality. There are fears that machines enabled by artificial intelligence will replace many human jobs, resulting in mass unemployment and impoverishment. However, the impact of these new technologies on labour markets and income distribution is not predetermined. The right policy mix and institutional arrangements can ensure that benefits of innovation are shared broadly, an essential step to achieving the [Sustainable Development Goals] SDGs for all. Governments, as well as the United Nations, should create a regulatory and legal framework that facilitates the adoption and diffusion of new technologies, while helping to address their negative consequences.

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Knowledge and technology have spread around the world as societies and economies become increasingly interconnected. As globalization of technology, of trade, of finance and of people are interrelated and mutually reinforcing, it is easy to imagine examples whereby technology enabled greater trade and finance, where trade led to the diffusion of technologies and demand for finance, where finance has enabled trade and technological progress, and where movement of people led to knowledge spillovers. The rapid diffusion of technology around the world has brought extraordinary benefits to many people who would otherwise have limited access to innovations in communication, production, health, education, and many others. Access to knowledge and technology have contributed to solutions for environmental, social, and economic problems. From opening new options for renewable energy, to revolutionizing the delivery of government services, improving health care, and creating new jobs, technology impacts almost everyone's lives.

But the access to technology and innovation has been uneven. While some have access to advanced technologies, including the latest developments in science, engineering, healthcare, and others, many are still lacking access to technologies that were invented decades ago. There is a growing gap between developed and developing countries in how much recent technologies are used. This has accentuated the division between countries, in particular it has increased the difference between those in the frontier of technological advancements (core) and those lagging behind (periphery). To achieve the potential of technology while leaving no one behind, it is important to achieve greater diffusion and adoption of technology in areas where it can have great impact. The number of people lacking access to even basic technologies like electricity and basic water and sanitation systems, for example, illustrates the challenge of diffusion. Advanced technologies can unlock large productivity gains for those that can use them and widen the gap with those that cannot. The multilateral system has an important role to play in promoting and facilitating technological diffusion. At the same time, some technologies involve trade-offs or have unintended consequences. Automation enabled by technology creates winners and losers. There is a concern, for example, that technology will lead to a mass replacement of workers. Understanding these issues require institutional approaches to ensure that the path towards the 2030 objectives is not undermined by the negative effects of technological progress. The multilateral system has a central role in supporting national efforts.

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