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How the World Economic Forum Addressed AI’s Impact on Global Challenges and Opportunities

Seth Hauben, VP & Head of Global Partnerships at OneValley, shares key takeaways from the World Economic Forum in Davos, where AI dominated discussions on global challenges, workforce transformation, and ethical governance.

Seth Hauben

Feb 13, 2025

Reflections from Davos: A Front-Row Seat to AI’s Transformation

Attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos for the second time was nothing short of extraordinary. The conversations were richer, the insights deeper, and the global urgency around Artificial Intelligence (AI) more palpable than ever before. AI was not just a side topic—it was the topic. Every panel, every networking session, and every fireside chat seemed to circle back to the same fundamental question: How will AI reshape our world?

Having had the opportunity to listen to industry leaders such as Dario Amodei (CEO of Anthropic), Dara Khosrowshahi (CEO of Uber), Marc Benioff (CEO of Salesforce) Kevin Weil (CPO of OpenAI), leading AI scientist Andrew Ng, plus many more, it became clear that AI is moving out of the experimental phase and into full-scale implementation.

Many open questions remain on what this means to the workforce and where we will be in a year or two but one thing is certain, things are changing and changing rapidly so buckle up.

Below are my key takeaways from this year’s discussions. If you prefer the actual content to my crib notes I have included the recordings to many of the sessions below.

The AI Race: Infrastructure, Investment, and Global Competition

One of the most pressing themes was the AI race between global superpowers, particularly the United States and China. As OpenAI’s Kevin Weil revealed, Stargate, a landmark $500 billion joint venture between OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank, aims to secure U.S. leadership in AI infrastructure. With an initial commitment of $100 billion over the next four years, the investment underscores the belief that AI supremacy will define the next century of global economic power.

Leaders emphasized that compute power is the limiting factor in AI’s progress. AI models are improving exponentially, but without the necessary data centers, chips, and infrastructure, advancements could stall. The U.S. government’s role in incentivizing AI growth—while balancing ethical concerns—was a hot topic throughout the week.

From Hype to Execution: 2025 as the Year of AI Agents

If 2024 was the year of AI hype, 2025 is set to be the year of AI implementation. OpenAI’s Kevin Weil and Andrew Ng agreed that AI agents—autonomous digital workers capable of executing entire tasks—will define the next stage of AI evolution. Unlike chatbots that provide answers, AI agents will take action—booking flights, managing bills, resolving customer support tickets, and even assisting in coding tasks.

From Uber’s perspective, Dara Khosrowshahi highlighted how AI agents could streamline rideshare and delivery operations by improving dispatching, optimizing pricing, and even managing electric vehicle (EV) fleets. Uber drivers are already adopting EVs five times faster than the average driver, and AI-powered fleet management will only accelerate this transition.

What was particularly interesting to hear was Salesforce CEO, Marc Benioff saying that the CEO’s today will be the last CEO’s to manage a fully human workforce. Starting this year CEO’s will manage both humans and digital workers (agents).

Workforce Transformation: AI’s Impact on Jobs

Much of the debate at Davos revolved around AI’s impact on jobs. The consensus? AI will augment, rather than replace, most jobs—at least in the near term. However, Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, and Andrew Ng emphasized the importance of adapting to AI, not resisting it.

Coinbase is already using AI to enhance compliance, automate trading, and optimize financial infrastructure. Armstrong noted that AI will also reshape regulation, with clearer rules needed to ensure innovation isn’t stifled by outdated policies. For businesses, this means embracing AI tools now to remain competitive.

The advice from nearly every speaker? Use it. Try it. Understand it. Get comfortable with it. Those who engage with AI early will have a significant advantage in the workforce of the future.

AI and the Future of Regulation

Regulation was another central theme. With AI becoming more embedded in financial, healthcare, and geopolitical systems, the need for structured governance has never been greater. Armstrong noted that the crypto industry suffered for years due to unclear regulations, and AI could face similar roadblocks if proactive policies aren’t established soon.

The sentiment echoed across industries: AI governance should be a collaborative effort between the private sector and policymakers. Regulation should promote innovation while ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability. Leaders called for AI models to be open to scrutiny while maintaining proprietary advantages for businesses.

AI’s Role in Climate, Healthcare, and Finance

Beyond productivity, AI is tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges:

Climate Change: AI is optimizing supply chains and logistics to reduce carbon emissions. Andrew Ng spoke about AI-powered shipping route optimization, which has already reduced fuel costs by 10% in pilot programs. Meanwhile, AI-driven climate modeling is assessing geoengineering solutions to mitigate global warming.
Healthcare & Drug Discovery: AI is shortening drug discovery timelines, personalizing treatment plans, and revolutionizing diagnostics. OpenAI’s research into multimodal AI models—systems that can process images, video, and text simultaneously—promises breakthroughs in medical imaging and patient care.
Financial Systems & Crypto: Coinbase’s Armstrong highlighted AI’s role in improving financial inclusion and automating fraud detection, making digital assets more secure and accessible.

AI Trust, Ethics, and the Human Element

With AI’s growing influence, concerns around trust, bias, and accountability were top of mind. OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and IBM leaders agreed that AI systems must be aligned with human values. Ethical AI isn’t just a regulatory issue; it’s a business imperative.

Andrew Ng emphasized the need for transparency in AI decision-making. Companies must develop models that can explain their reasoning, particularly in high-stakes sectors like healthcare and finance. The discussion also touched on AI’s geopolitical impact—how misinformation, deepfakes, and algorithmic biases could shape political outcomes.

Final Thoughts: Embracing the AI-Powered Future

Attending WEF reinforced what we at OneValley already know: AI is not just a tool—it’s a paradigm shift. The next 12 months will see AI transition from experimental deployments to fully integrated systems across industries. The businesses, entrepreneurs, and ecosystems that embrace AI early will thrive. Those that resist? They risk being left behind.

My key takeaway? AI isn’t coming—it’s already here. The best way to prepare? Engage with it. Experiment with it. Lean into the transformation.

Stay tuned for deeper dives into specific AI applications, emerging regulatory trends, and how OneValley is leveraging AI to support startup and innovation ecosystems worldwide.

Content Sessions:

Antropic CEO - https://video-api.wsj.com/api-video/player/v3/iframe.html?guid=F2944D05-F5B5-4C48-91F9-24E296DCA5A2

OpenAI CPO - https://video-api.wsj.com/api-video/player/v3/iframe.html?guid=032E43E1-FFF6-46BC-B94A-72614E862D97

Uber Ceo - https://video-api.wsj.com/api-video/player/v3/iframe.html?guid=7CD9E2B9-F649-43EB-9172-22C2F0847DAE

Coinbase CEO - https://video-api.wsj.com/api-video/player/v3/iframe.html?guid=70FE368B-A716-4191-A1AB-CA6AEBEAC44F

Powering AI Collaboration - https://vimeo.com/1049686154/f4476b3b95