Much of the discussion at this year's World Economic Forum is centered around what's known as the 4th Industrial Revolution – the idea that in an interconnected world, new technologies will lead to innovation at an unprecedented pace.

But is all this new technology really improving our lives – or is it stressing us out and leaving us isolated? Could it be compounding inequality even?

It might sound surprising, but those questions are being asked by delegates in Davos this year.

And one answer often heard here is: Humans need to do a better job of keeping up.

For example, British social entrepreneur and author Hillary Cottam believes the 4th Industrial Revolution needs to be accompanied by a Fourth Social Revolution. And here's the controversial part: One of the first steps, she says, should be dismantling the welfare state as we know it.

Cottam's new book "Radical Help" argues that in a high-tech world that has transformed the way we live, the systems of social protection built up in the wake of the Second World War are hopelessly out of date, and a huge waste of resources.

Welfare for the 21st century, she argues, should be centered on human relationships and bolstered by technology.

Cottam was invited to speak to the global elite at this year's meeting, in a session called "Radically Re-inventing Social Systems."