This year’s Davos drew a record 3,000 participants from 130 countries|World Economic Forum|CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

At this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, artificial intelligence, big technology firms, and the looming presence of President Donald Trump dominated attention, overshadowing nearly everything else.

Long lines formed outside tech panels and invite-only gatherings, while social and development-focused initiatives struggled to attract attention. The shift reflected how strongly technology now dominates the global conversation.

AI buzz outshines global causes
From tech leaders and executives to financial firms, everyone took the opportunity to talk about the impact of AI on society.

While BlackRock CEO Larry Fink criticized capitalism for concentrating wealth among a small minority, he warned that AI could further exacerbate the problem.

The CEOs of Anthropic and DeepMind said AI is already impacting entry-level hiring, with both citing internal evidence and warning that the effect could intensify in 2026. Anthropic’s Dario Amodei said fast-moving AI risks “overwhelming our ability to adapt.”

Meanwhile, Yoshua Bengio, a pioneer of artificial neural networks and deep learning, said that current systems are being trained to be too human-like.

Tech executives also discussed AI advancement in China. According to DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis, Chinese AI companies continue to trail Western competitors by approximately six months.

Politics adds tension to the scene
The arrival of President Donald Trump saw the dialogue shift to Greenland. European leaders voiced concern over his stance on the self-governing island territory under the jurisdiction of NATO ally Denmark.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and EU officials urged unity and restraint, warning against escalating tensions.

A changing Davos
With 3,000 attendees from 130 countries, Davos felt more crowded and more commercial than ever. Longtime observers noted a clear shift: the forum now prioritizes business opportunity over global problem-solving, signaling a new era driven by technology and profit.