How progress ends: Technology, power & the fate of nations
How progress ends: Technology, power & the fate of nations
Business & Economy

Tue. September 2, 12:15PM

How progress ends: Technology, power & the fate of nations

An exclusive pre-release conversation with Carl Benedikt Frey, Oxford economist,  global authority on innovation, and award-winning author of The Technology Trap



Why do some societies flourish technologically while others falter? Why does every leap in innovation—from the steam engine to AI—spark disruption before progress? And what if today’s technological boom ends in stagnation rather than prosperity?


In this exclusive conversation ahead of global publication, Carl Benedikt Frey, Oxford economic historian and author of the acclaimed The Technology Trap, explores the forces that drive—and derail—progress. His sweeping new book, How Progress Ends: Technology, Innovation, and the Fate of Nations, traces a thousand years of history, from Song China to the AI frontier, revealing why breakthroughs alone are never enough.


Frey’s argument is urgent and unsettling: progress is possible, but never guaranteed. Innovation thrives only when societies strike a fragile balance—decentralized exploration to make discoveries, and centralized institutions to scale them. Get that balance wrong, and stagnation follows.


Already hailed as a landmark work:

• Mustafa Suleyman calls it “a grand, urgent must-read for anyone who cares about our past, present, and future.”

• Tony Blair says it offers “vital lessons for political leaders seeking to harness innovation.”

• Daron Acemoglu praises it as “far-ranging, intelligent, and essential reading.”

• Joel Mokyr calls it “a magnificent achievement in economic history and policy.”


Join us for this rare opportunity to engage with Carl Benedikt Frey in Brussels—before the book’s official release.

speaker

Carl Benedikt Frey

Carl Benedikt Frey is Associate Professor of AI & Work at the Oxford Internet Institute and Director of the Future of Work Programme at the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford. He is the author of the award-winning The Technology Trap: Capital, Labor, and Power in the Age of Automation, named a Financial Times Best Book of the Year and winner of Princeton’s Richard A. Lester Prize. His landmark study The Future of Employment—which estimated that nearly half of U.S. jobs were at risk of automation—reshaped global debates on the future of work and has been cited by policymakers worldwide. Frey advises governments and leading institutions, writes regularly for The Economist and Financial Times, and is a sought-after voice on how technological change shapes economies and societies. His forthcoming book, How Progress Ends: Technology, Innovation, and the Fate of Nations, will be published by Princeton University Press in September 2025.

moderator

Charlie Stuart

Charlie Stuart is a distinguished British diplomat with a rich background in military service, diplomacy, and security strategy. Currently the European Union’s Chief Security Advisor on Africa, Charlie plays a crucial role in shaping security policies across the continent. Before entering diplomacy, Charlie served with distinction in the British Army. His transition into diplomatic service saw him hold senior roles, including Head of Delegation for the EU in Tanzania and Deputy Chief of Mission in both Tanzania and Iraq. In addition to his public service, Charlie brings valuable experience from the private sector, where he served as a director of a global security firm based in the UK. He also has a background in corporate law, specializing in major projects and oil exploration.
Start
Tue. September 2, 12:15PM
End
Tue. September 2, 1:30PM
Format
TheMerode Talks
Language
English (US)
Guest allowed?
Yes, 1 per member

Address

Event
Place Poelaert, 6
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Parking
Parking Poelaert, Place Poelaert 1000 Brussels

Detailed programme

Welcome
Tue. September 2, 12:15PM
Start of the talk
Tue. September 2, 12:30PM
End
Tue. September 2, 1:30PM