Industry 4.0: From Smart Factories to Artificial Intelligence

The subject of the study is the theoretic analysis and interpretation of the fourth industrial revolution referred to as Industry 4.0. Attention is primarily paid to smart factories and questions linked with the development of artificial intelligence. The main objective of the study is to describe the basic attributes of Industry 4.0 and typical development trends linked with the fourth industrial revolution. Partial objectives of the study include putting Industry 4.0 into a wider historical context and mapping security risks that modern information and digital technologies bring about. The study consists of four relatively independent parts in which various aspects of the researched topic are described and analysed from complementary points of view. The first part of the study applies an anthropological approach that allows the analysis of developmental changes in different types of manufacturing to make use of the terms “culture” and “sociocultural change.” The second part of the study maps the history of humanity from a historic perspective together with transformations of manufacturing technologies during the first, second, and third industrial revolution with emphasis on the use of energy resources. The third part of the study, discussing the fourth industrial revolution, presents basic visions of Industry 4.0 including its main aspiration, i.e. connecting the Internet of Things, Services, and People. The fourth part of the study deals with legislative and security risks resulting from the acceptance of new digital technologies and progress in the research of artificial intelligence.