I wanted to make sure that this be the first scientific and technology revolution in history in which the public thoroughly discussed all the potential benefits and all the potential harms, in advance of the technology coming online and running its course.

Rifkin has also advised Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of Spain during its presidency of the European Union. Rifkin presented the European Union's long term economic development plan to transition the European economy into the Third Industrial Revolution era.

Rifkin's work explores the potential impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy the workforce society and the environment. Jeremy Rifkin (born January 26 1945) is an American economist writer public speaker political advisor and activist.