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The article addresses the issue of contemporary problems of the social evaluation of technology in a hybrid society. In the course of the analysis carried out, selected theoretical and methodological concepts were presented, the main theme of which is the effects of the development of new technologies on social transformations. The introduction outlines the conceptual framework of the research problem undertaken. The first chapter describes the key concepts of hybrid society in the context of the increasing complexity of social and technical systems. The second chapter characterizes selected trends in the development of new technologies and identifies the main fields of their social impact. Chapter three examines contemporary problems of technology evaluation within the framework of the identified trends. The conclusions summarize the main findings and draw conclusions.

This article aims to juxtapose the conclusions from the debates on the varieties of capitalism in Poland, in particular dependent market economy and patchwork capitalism, with the discussion on the evolution of digital platforms and, more broadly, the digitalisation of Polish society and economy. The development of the institutional architecture of the economy in the context of digitalisation in Poland since the late 1980s is reconstructed, considering three major phases in the country’s history. These are respectively: (1) the period of economic and political transformation of the post-socialist system until Poland’s accession to the EU; (2) the phase of the global economic crisis caused by the financial crisis in 2008; (3) the period of polycrisis, starting from 2015, including the pandemic crisis and lasting until 2023 (the post-Covid-19 pandemic era). Based on the examination of the Polish case, we conclude that the growing dependence of the state on big tech transnational companies which provide critical infrastructure for key public services might present a danger to the digital sovereignty of the country.

We need to be aware of the very profound, significant and multi-sectoral changes in the environment of all higher education institutions, the oldest and the youngest, public and private, as well as changes in the higher education system and in individual universities in all countries.

The paper discusses the place and role of managers in modern societies. The starting point is James Burnham’s concept of the managerial revolution from eight decades ago. However, the author refers to classic concepts in the social sciences and the latest approaches in this field. He tries to prove that there will be no revolution in the management of modern economic organisations. However, he points to several evolutionary changes that have taken place and are still taking place — both in the social and economic structures. Analysing managers in a multidimensional way is possible by combining two perspectives of social reality: micro-sociological and macro-sociological.

The emergence of Industry 4.0, which is accompanied by revolutionary digital technologies, is changing the hitherto patterns of consumption, while also creating new ones. It is worth noting that digitization based on data and on internet platforms significantly determines the development of consumption online. Mobile equipment (cellular phones, smartphones, tablets) that has access to the Internet facilitates the acquisition and consumption of consumer goods outside of the traditional means of consumption. In this context, it is described in this paper how the adoption of breakthrough digital technologies may shape the future patterns of consumption. The principal aim of this paper is the identification of the most important directions of the development of consumption online. On the basis of qualitative research, the most important ones have been identified, namely, the growth of significance in the following: virtual shopping centres, virtual consumer reality, virtual consumer communities and changes in producer-consumer ties. The practical implication of the research conducted is the indication of the growth in the potential of consumption online. Nevertheless, the social implication of the paper is the emphasis of the significance of consumption online as the new trend in terms of consumption.

The article analyses changes in the unemployed population in the Polish job market from 2000 to 2020 focusing on people aged over 50. The analysis was based on two existing data sources: Statistics Poland and Eurostat. Empirical data were aggregated by gender to show the differentiation of this social problem between unemployed women and unemployed men. Statistical data clearly indicate that the share of people over 50 significantly increased in the unemployed population. It seems reasonable to argue that these people are disadvantaged in the dynamically changing job market. This group of the unemployed loses in the competition for vacancies with younger people who are better adapted to the rapid changes in the job market. The article also reviews the laws prohibiting age discrimination in the job market. The author give recommendations on how to improve the situation of the unemployed people aged over 50 in the job market, particularly in the face of ongoing technological changes.

Article discusses issues related to copyright law and its adaptation to modern technologies, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in the creative process. The author analyzes the historical development of copyright law, its impact on creativity and innovation, as well as on economic development. He particularly focuses on the challenges posed to copyright law by the development of AI, including issues of authorship and intellectual property. The article discusses specific AI legal cases, such as Thaler and the DABUS system, OpenAI and Microsoft v. Non-Fiction Authors, and Thomson Reuters v. ROSS Intelligence concerning authorship issues in a technology-determined modern world. The purpose of the article is, on the one hand, to open a debate on the question of authorship and its form and, on the other hand, the author emphasizes the complexity and dynamic nature of intellectual property protection in the digital age, pointing to the need for constant adaptation of legal and technological frameworks.

The concept of Industry 4.0 has, for some years, captured the imagination of both busi- ness communities and stakeholders involved in local and regional development. Although its dis- semination is accompanied by certain social concerns, it is generally regarded as a tool for mod- ernizing the economy. In this article, we explore the economic, spatial, and social determinants of Industry 4.0 development in Silesia — one of the most industrialized regions of Europe. We demonstrate that the processes associated with its implementation can vary significantly within the region’s internal structure. Consequently, Industry 4.0 is not a “game for everyone”, and for many actors, it may prove to be a highly demanding undertaking.

This article presents analyses based on the research project entitled “Industrial Architecture as a Carrier of Memory in the Context of Public Perception of Challenges and Opportunities of Second Life for Industrial Facilities in Katowice and Ostrava: A Comparative Study.” The study focuses on the perception of post-industrial adaptations of industrial architecture, specifically the adaptive reuse of former industrial buildings in Katowice and Ostrava. The selection of the two cities for the study is intentional, as both serve as regional capitals and academic hubs currently undergoing revitalization and transitioning from industrial to post-industrial economies. The findings discussed here come from recent sociological research conducted with the cooperation of two authors, and also from good practices related to the reuse of old industrial architecture in Katowice and Ostrava.

The presented article describes the process of implementing a prototype of an innovative IT system for the needs of command staff in the structures of the State Fire Service. It focuses on describing the approach of people involved in building, testing and implementing applications. The described period covers the years 2022—2023. The content of the article is a description of the conducted experiment introducing changes and innovations important for the organization of fire protection services, facilitating the organization of work, control and operation of services. The author refers to practitioners of management in enterprises and the principles of conducting business in the State Fire Service, combining his experiences with selected theories in the field of people management and change in organizations. The considerations are also based on the business approach to implementing innovative tasks and creating new knowledge in the organization. Observations indicate different approaches to introducing innovations among different fire protection
service communities and different reactions to the emergence of new technical solutions.

Abstract: This story could not have happened anywhere else. Everything pointed to Warsaw as the location. Yet, it was Zbigniew Religa in Zabrze, the support of the Silesian community, companies, but above all, the people who created this story, turning dreams into tangible achievements. It is a tale about medicine and technology, about the Polish artificial heart, Polish surgical robots, and the need for artificial intelligence, about us, about Silesia. A sociologist sees in every event a human being and their relationships with others, and with the environment. There is the Human (1.0), engaged, sensitive to the plight of the excluded; the School (2.0), because it is the students who ensure continuity; innovations, technology that change life in 3.0, industry in 4.0. And we are transforming themselves into Society 5.0.