In January 2026, the Davos World Economic Forum, which gathered world business and technology leaders, brought a touch of warmth to the chilly global economic downturn. Their discussion mainly focused on how AI impacts the economy, politics, and industry. Business leaders from around the world have put forward a series of viewpoints and plans that will likely significantly shape the future development of AI.
The most important consensus is to use and develop AI to amplify human intelligence rather than replace it. As the Industrial Revolution increased productivity and advanced civilization, AI should be used and developed to improve people’s lives and create new, diverse jobs rather than replace them. One key solution is education, with curricula designed to match the skills required for a new AI society.
The hot discussion is how AI is used, rather than solely on the accelerated development of new AI models. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized that AI should “do something truly useful.” Usefulness derives from the benefits brought when AI is incorporated in daily life and work as a tool, transforming society in a positive direction.
Although most leaders held a cautious attitude toward the widespread application of AI, some business leaders, like the founder of Nvidia, stated that nations should increasingly apply AI for infrastructure projects, such as highways and power grids, that use AI to plan, design, and build cities and countries. This usage would allow countries to develop environmentally friendly and efficient infrastructure. These plans require a vast amount of resources and hardware, which depend on a nation’s investment and available resources.
The world leaders also talked about how to build ethical AI. The consensus was that AI should not be manipulated or concentrated in the hands of the social elite, but instead made available to the public. Building ethically driven AI is, therefore, highly important, as its exploitation or misuse can have severe consequences. Equally important is providing internet access and technology education in underprivileged areas to ensure that AI becomes a force for promoting equal development opportunities, rather than a new source of division and unfairness stemming from unequal access to AI.
Sources:
McCallion, Pauline. “Davos 2026: Why scaling AI still feels hard – and what to do about it.” The World Economic Forum, 23 January 2026, https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/why-scaling-ai-feels-hard-and-what-to-do-about-it/. Accessed 15 February 2026.
McKenzie, Baker. “Beyond Trump and AI: What Davos tells us about 2026’s sustainability trends – edie.” Edie.net, 12 February 2026, https://www.edie.net/beyond-trump-and-ai-what-davos-tells-us-about-2026s-sustainability-trends/. Accessed 15 February 2026.
Minevich, Mark. “What Davos 2026 Revealed About The Future Of AI And Global Power.” Forbes, 30 January 2026, https://www.forbes.com/sites/markminevich/2026/01/30/what-davos-2026-revealed-about-the-future-of-ai-and-global-power/. Accessed 15 February 2026.
