Technological impacts are closely linked to the evolution of national politics, international politics, and global geopolitics. We need to interpret not only changes in the economy, society, and education; the world and its political circumstances are also undergoing enormous transformations. These changes are so significant that we are heading towards a new political, commercial, geopolitical design, and a new balance of power. Technology has transformed everything—relationships between states, relations between states and their citizens, as well as with businesses and organizations.

This has led to new forms of exchange, competition, influence, and struggles for scarce resources, new materials, and control over zones of influence. Powerful nations have seen their decline, while emerging powers rise, and in some cases, new forms of influence and resurgent imperial interests have appeared.

Technology has been a tool for democratizing many issues, but it also has its dark side, being used as a means to subjugate peoples and bring us closer to scenarios like those in 1984. It will be necessary to remain vigilant and attentive because, depending on how technology is applied, the line between democratizing and subjugating can become very thin.

In fact, when we add artificial intelligence technologies to this, we know they have the potential to improve people’s lives. But, at the same time, in the hands of unscrupulous or totalitarian governments and administrations, they threaten privacy, civil rights, public trust, and the very essence of democracy.

On the other hand, this MicroLab should serve as a tool to support politicians and governmental and regional institutions in their efforts to understand change, legislate accordingly, and adopt measures that influence development, while ensuring the protection of citizens.