Strategic Foresight - Insights in Business and Technology

  Background of "The 48 Laws of Power" Published in 1998, " The 48 Laws of Powe r" is a non-fiction book by American author Robert Greene. It draws upon historical and philosophical examples to illustrate strategies for acquiring, maintaining, and defending power. Greene synthesised these laws by analysing the actions of influential figures throughout history, including courtiers, politicians, seducers, and war strategists. The book's approach is often described as amoral and Machiavellian, focusing on the practical realities of power dynamics rather than idealistic notions of morality. It quickly became a controversial yet popular read, finding an audience among business leaders, strategists, and individuals interested in understanding the dynamics of social interaction and influence. The book is structured into 48 distinct chapters, each outlining a specific "law" of power, accompanied by historical anecdotes that serve as cautionary tales or example...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamentally altering the landscape of modern warfare, and the enduring rivalry between India and Pakistan, characterised by frequent tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) and a history of armed conflicts, is no exception. As both nations progressively integrate AI into their respective military structures, spanning the army, navy, air force, and space domains, the very semantics of the battleground are evolving, carrying significant implications for strategic stability in the South Asian region. This analysis delves into how AI is reshaping military capabilities, assesses the current balance of power in this technological domain, and evaluates how AI could potentially tilt this balance, drawing upon recent developments and insights from expert analyses. India's Foray into AI Advancements India has demonstrated significant progress in the integration of AI into its defence apparatus, fueled by an annual budget of $12 million allocated to the Defe...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant promise—it’s a transformative force reshaping our world. As we stand at this technological inflection point, the path forward demands careful consideration of how we govern, develop, and deploy AI. Drawing from a comprehensive analysis of AI’s trajectory, this post explores five critical themes: oversight of AGI labs, targeted regulation versus deregulation, the accelerating pace of AI progress, the open source AI debate, and the potential for AI-driven institutional regime changes. Each theme is unpacked with real-world use cases, benefits, and challenges to provide a balanced perspective on navigating the AI frontier. 1. Oversight of AGI Labs: A Prudent Step for National Security Theme Overview: Close monitoring of frontier AI labs developing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is essential, particularly for national security. Using compute thresholds to identify labs for safety testing and disclosures offers a light-touch, targe...

  The space industry, once the domain of government-funded programmes like NASA’s Apollo missions, has transformed into a vibrant commercial landscape, projected to grow from $630 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2035. At the forefront of this revolution is SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002 with the audacious goal of making humanity a multi-planetary species. By slashing the cost of spaceflight and launching Starlink—a global satellite internet constellation—SpaceX has redefined what’s possible in aerospace. This 13,000-word blog post delves into SpaceX’s business model through Porter’s Five Forces framework , explores its product differentiation strategies , and applies the Marketing 5 Ps framework to dissect its market positioning. Supported by detailed data points in USD, this analysis highlights how SpaceX maintains its competitive edge in an increasingly crowded space economy, offering insights for investors, enthusiasts, and policymakers alike. SpaceX’s Business Model:...