When folks in Silicon Valley talk about how technology can change the world, it is not usually assumed that they are talking about affecting social or political change. But why not? The ways in which technology can disrupt systems don’t have to end with things like ride sharing and room rentals. Some now say that the right technology at the right time in the right hands could click into place and change the fates of nations. Moreover, just such a technology is already here.

Isabelle Moulinier, director of Product Innovation at Thomson Reuters, is doing research into blockchain and says its promise is far reaching.

She told co-host Rebecca Knight (@knightrm) of theCUBE, from the SiliconANGLE Media team, blockchain takes the middle man out of transactions and lays the ledger bare for all parties to see.

Be the chain you want to see

“Can we bring some anti-corruption aspects and transparency aspects to land registry, especially in developing countries?” Moulinier wondered. She said that, indeed, blockchain can automate transactions, “and you can also track who changed the contract on the property, so that the land cannot be stolen from other people.”

Moulinier continued: “What we find is that land is a great driver for economic development in countries, and so if you can help with that, then people can get financial security, and then you can help development overall.” She added that while Reuters is not saving the world just yet, they are currently researching this use of blockchain.

When pro tools become pro toys

Thomson Reuters is branching out into other areas of research and development as well. They opened the Center for Cognitive Computing in Toronto, Canada, where they are using IBM Watson to work on more intuitive, user-friendly tools for professionals.

“As the new generation that has grown up with Google and Facebook comes along, they want their professional tools to look the same,” she said.

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE and theCUBE’s coverage of the Anita Borg Institute’s Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing.

Photo by SiliconANGLE