ES+ | No.3 | 2025/2026 From the vantage point of the OECD, is humanity doing well? Data confirms that humanity has made remarkable progress in several areas. Life expectancy has increased significantly in recent decades. Today, life expectancy at birth reaches 81 years across OECD countries, an increase of more than 11 years since 1960. The global literacy rate has doubled, rising from 42% in 1960 to over 87% today. However, significant inequalities persist between countries, social classes and genders. Therefore, it remains crucial to continue joining forces to address these issues. Are we in a difficult period for economic cooperation and development? The multilateral system established after World War II (whose effectiveness has been proven) will likely evolve. In a world where challenges are global, our countries, cities and communities cannot face the magnitude of these challenges alone. In all these areas, the OECD’s work focuses on providing data, analysis and recommendations to help governments better serve their citizens. Give me an example of an area where public-private partnerships have worked. I have been deeply involved in technology transfer and have seen how collaboration among universities, research centers, private companies and social organizations can deliver very positive results. These alliances can both accelerate innovation and generate greater value from investment in education and research. You have expressed concern about the use of Artificial Intelligence. Are we opening Pandora’s box? Artificial Intelligence offers great opportunities. It can improve efficiency and transparency in public administration, enabling better decision-making. In education, AI can personalize learning, adapting to individual student needs and improving outcomes. In healthcare, it can support early diagnosis of diseases. And in finance, “In a world where problems are global, our countries cannot tackle the magnitude of the challenges on their own” 85