The Economist-经济学人2024.06.22期下载电子版PDF网盘

THIS WEEK we had two covers. In the EU we explored how the character of warfare is about to be profoundly changed by artificial intelligence (AI). This rapid change has several causes. One is the crucible of war itself, most notably in Ukraine. A second is the recent exponential advance of AI. A third is the rivalry between America and China, in which both see AI as the key to military superiority. The scale of AI-based war means that mass and industrial heft are likely to become even more important than they are today. The uncertainties are profound. The only sure thing is that AI-driven change is drawing near.

On our cover in the rest of the world, we looked at the impact of the exponential growth of solar power. Solar panels occupy an area around half that of Wales, and this year they will provide the world with about 6% of its electricity. That is almost three times as much electrical energy as America consumed back in 1954, when Bell Labs unveiled a new technology for turning sunlight into power. But the most remarkable thing is that the rise of solar power is nowhere near over. Installed solar capacity doubles roughly every three years. Solar cells will in all likelihood be the single biggest source of electrical power on the planet by the mid 2030s. By the 2040s they may be the largest source not just of electricity but of all energy.