The paper shows the importance of the 4th Industrial Revolution and its product — the digital economy — in the development of mankind, its dual impact on the welfare and labor market of a specific people, the country, as well as the world community as a whole. The author examines the consequences of introduction of artificial intelligence, cyberphysical systems in production processes. Also, the paper analyzes the German program “Industry 4.0” shifting a German manufacturing industry on a digital basis through the use of digital technologies and setting up smart factories. The author summarizes the digital programs of the USA, Great Britain, Japan. The possibilities and problems of development and blocking of digital economy in Russia are shown. The author describes such basic components of the digital economy as blockchain, cyberphysical systems, digitalization, big data, artificial intelligence. He considers adverse consequences of the digital economy, factors blocking its development, as well as possible ways of their neutralization and elimination.