DAVOS, Switzerland — The World Economic Forum’s annual gathering is set to feature an address from the United Nations’ secretary-general, exploring important themes such as the economic growth opportunities in countries like China and Russia, the implications of artificial intelligence, and discussions featuring leaders from various nations including Spain and Malaysia.
António Guterres, the U.N. chief, has become a prominent figure in advocating for climate action, an endeavor that has faced challenges particularly due to commitments made by U.S. President Donald Trump to boost fossil fuel extraction in the United States, which is the world’s predominant economy.
Wednesday’s session highlights crucial topics for the elite audience convened in the Swiss Alps.
In the realm of Artificial Intelligence: Is it a blessing, a threat, or a combination of both? The CEO of AI startup Groq, among others, will discuss the concept of artificial general intelligence (AGI), which envisions machines achieving capabilities comparable to human intelligence across various tasks or excelling in specific functions. Concerns have emerged regarding the potential dangers of AGI; leading scientists have cautioned that AI systems with advanced planning abilities could pose significant risks to humanity if left unchecked.
The day prior, Trump announced a collaborative venture aiming to invest as much as $500 billion into AI-related infrastructure. This initiative stems from a new alliance formed with Oracle, SoftBank, and OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. This chatbot has captured attention for its capacity to execute essential business functions and tackle complex queries, though with inconsistent accuracy.
Dubbed the Stargate project, this initiative is expected to establish data centers alongside the necessary energy infrastructure to meet the growing electricity demands of rapidly developing AI technologies in Texas, as stated by the White House.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to speak, representing the leadership of the European Union, which continues to evaluate the implications of Trump’s return to power. The U.S. president has indicated intentions to impose tariffs on imports from both friendly and adversarial nations in the near future.
In a recent mix-up, Trump appeared to inaccurately categorize Spain—one of the top economic achievers in the EU last year—within the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). The U.S. leader has been urging Europe to increase its defense expenditures.
The podium will also be taken by Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, following a recent agreement between Malaysia and Singapore aimed at establishing a special economic zone focusing on job creation and attracting foreign investment.
