In the last few years, the field of transformative technologies has expanded at a dizzying rate. While scientific advances can offer untold benefits to humanity, they also pose a myriad of thorny questions about equality, ethics, security – and our very existence.

This course examines the latest developments in transformative technologies, including but not limited to Artificial Intelligence (AI), autonomous weapons, Big Data, and virtual reality. It examines the short and long-term ramifications of these technologies in today’s interconnected world.

Our course on Transformative Technologies provides participants with a comprehensive and analytical overview of the impact of transformative technologies across several domains, including their ethical and security implications. In addition, the course will further participants’ understanding of how transformative technologies will impact the future of warfare.

Learning objectives

The course is interactive and employs different teaching methodologies including group work, lectures and participant-led discussions.

It comprises lectures by international experts and will provide participants with a comprehensive and analytical overview of the role that transformative technologies have started to play in many fields, as well as their ethical and security implications.

Participants will also gain better understanding of how transformative innovations will impact future conflicts, and develop four key competences:

• define and understand the impact of transformative technologies;
• analyse the impact of such technologies on questions of moral philosophy and global security;
• adopt critical thinking skills for analysing the impact of transformative technologies;
• identify key future risks and debates surrounding advances in these technologies.

Confirmed speakers

• Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan, Director of the Geopolitics and Global Futures Department, GCSP
• Professor Pierre-Alexandre Balland, Chief Data Scientist of the Centre for European Policy Studies and Visiting Professor of the Growth Lab at Harvard University
• Captain James E. Fanell, GCSP Government Fellow
• Dr Mauro Gilli, Senior Researcher in Military Technology and International Security, Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
• Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Executive Director, GCSP
• Dr Lennart Maschmeyer, Senior Researcher, Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
• Dr Neil Renic, Researcher, Centre for Military Studies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
• Dr Markus Schmidt, Founder and Team Leader, Biofaction, Vienna, Austria

Provisional Course Schedule

Day 1: 23 October 2024

• 10:55 – 13:00: Live Sessions
• 13:00 – 14:30: Lunch Break
• 14:30 – 16:15: Live Sessions

Day 2: 24 October 2024

• Morning: Independent Study
• 13:25 – 16:35: Live Sessions

The sessions will be recorded and posted online for viewing by confirmed participants after they are held live.

All information you need to know (language, certification, technical and application process) before applying to the GCSP are available here. 

You will receive a GCSP certificate once you have completed all the course modules to the satisfaction of the course director.

This course is designed for officials from governments and international organisations, as well as members of the security and defence policy planning and the intelligence communities. This course is also relevant to representatives from the private sector and nongovernmental organisations, journalists, and anyone with a professional interest in understanding future international security challenges.

The GCSP reserves the right to modify the programme dates, location and fee at any time.
15% Early-Bird Discount if you apply before 1 October 2024. GCSP Alumni qualify for a 20% discount on the standard rate of 500 CHF.