World Economic Forum

Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken about grass in public settings, mentioning it in at least 45 events or interviews over the past 18 months. His interest stems partly from his decades as a New York real estate developer and his ownership of golf courses. He recently discussed planting new grass on the White House’s South Lawn.

IKEA's AI-powered customer service bot, Billie, has not replaced workers but led to retraining call center staff, resulting in a 15-20% annual sales growth. The article highlights how AI is reshaping jobs rather than eliminating them, with leaders emphasizing AI's role in productivity and growth. The World Economic Forum estimates 92 million jobs may be displaced by 2030, but 170 million new roles could emerge with proper upskilling.

The article discusses how the low-cost revolution in finance has led to increased retail investor participation in high-risk, zero-sum products like zero-date options and perpetual futures, driven by financial institutions' push for higher-margin offerings. This trend, termed 'financial nihilism,' reflects a shift away from traditional, low-risk ETFs toward volatile investments such as crypto and derivatives, with critics blaming brokerage houses for prioritizing profits over investor stability.

The Board of Peace is a group supported by President Trump, as indicated by his attendance at its founding charter signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January. The event marked the establishment of the organization.

President Trump claims the Peace Board has a plan for Gaza disarmament. He attended the Board of Peace charter announcement at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Alphabet (Google) added over 4,000 employees in the last quarter of 2026, while Meta reduced its workforce by over 2,000. The article discusses how AI adoption is influencing hiring trends, with some companies restructuring teams and others hiring as they invest in AI technologies.

Saadia Zahidi, born in Lahore, has been appointed as the new director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), succeeding Willie Walsh. She will assume the role on November 1, becoming the first woman to lead the organization. Currently a managing director at the World Economic Forum, Zahidi will focus on advancing sustainable growth and innovation in aviation.

Two economists warn that replacing workers with AI could lead to self-destructive layoffs by eroding consumer demand. They suggest taxing AI workforce replacement and subsidizing employee retention to mitigate the risk, as companies face pressure to automate despite potential economic harm.

Pakistan, chairing the OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, faces criticism for its low global ranking in gender equality. The conference emphasized the need for tangible progress over declarations, with proposals for measurable targets in girls' education and women's leadership. Challenges include weak enforcement of women's legal protections and low workforce participation.

Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of TCL, a global technology brand, spoke at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions about the digital future and innovation. The event, themed 'Innovating at Scale,' brought together over 1,800 leaders and innovators to discuss technology and new practices.

US President Donald Trump criticized China's renewable energy achievements and the EU on climate issues, with his rhetoric described as politically motivated and factually weak. His claims about China's clean-energy 'overcapacity' have not withstood scrutiny despite attempts to rally support in the American Midwest.

The article details the author's experience of skipping college to start multiple companies, emphasizing the changing job market, the impact of AI, and lessons learned about adaptability, hiring autonomous employees, and engagement as a business metric.

The South China Morning Post and Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited co-hosted a C-Suite roundtable during the Summer Davos event, featuring a keynote from Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan and guest speakers Clara Chan of HKIC and Charles Lee of PwC. The event highlighted global investor alignment on the future of the Greater Bay Area.

The article discusses how the debate over screen time for children in the U.S. overlooks a more urgent issue: millions of students and adults lack basic digital skills and access to technology. It highlights that 9 million children lack home internet access and only half of U.S. high schools offer computer science courses, creating a workforce readiness gap as 92% of jobs now require digital skills.

Meta's new AI research chief, Dawn Song, stated that the next frontier of AI involves agents performing economically valuable tasks across real-world domains without replacing humans. She emphasized enhancing AI effectiveness in these areas during an interview with the South China Morning Post at the World Economic Forum in Dalian.

Gulf states should prioritize diverse defenses and domestic capability-building to hedge against uncertain US commitments and Middle East volatility, per an expert at the World Economic Forum in Dalian.

An expert from China’s top state-affiliated think tank warns that deep-seated structural rivalry and regulatory barriers will limit a durable improvement in China-US ties, despite a temporary stabilization from last month’s leaders’ summit. The discussion highlights concerns over AI and rare earths as critical areas of fragility in the bilateral relationship.

China’s Premier Li Qiang defended the country’s technological advancements as a global opportunity rather than a threat during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Dalian. He dismissed claims that state subsidies drive China’s high-tech industry growth, attributing success to a large domestic market and corporate investments, while citing Huawei and Unitree as examples of innovation.

At the Summer Davos in Dalian, China, Middle East firms are focusing on economic integration as a driver of regional change. The event coincides with U.S.-Iran negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz. Observers suggest economic ties may be more impactful than China’s potential mediation role.

China’s Premier Li Qiang stated that the country’s technological advancements represent a global opportunity rather than a threat, countering claims that state subsidies drive its high-tech industry growth. He cited China’s large domestic market and corporate investments as key factors behind its tech progress, naming Huawei and Unitree as examples of innovation success.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang warned that failing to regulate artificial intelligence could lead to serious consequences, emphasizing the need for governance to prevent losing control of technology. The statement was made during his address at the World Economic Forum in Dalian.

Tuya Smart, an AI cloud and IoT platform provider, reports continued growth despite slowing consumer appliance demand in China. Co-founder and COO Alex Young discussed the company's performance at the World Economic Forum in Dalian and on Bloomberg's Insight with Haslinda Amin.

Huang Yiping, a member of the People’s Bank of China's monetary policy committee, indicated a potential rate cut this year during a discussion at the World Economic Forum in Dalian with Bloomberg's Minmin Low and Insight's Haslinda Amin.

McKinsey Greater China Chairman Joe Ngai highlights China's 'Opportunity 2.0' as innovation, consumption, and advanced manufacturing reshape its growth outlook. He discussed this during interviews with Bloomberg's Minmin Low at the World Economic Forum in Dalian and on Insight with Haslinda Amin.

China’s premier Li Qiang dismissed complaints from trading partners about subsidies during a speech at the World Economic Forum’s ‘Summer Davos’. He emphasized that competitiveness is not solely driven by subsidies.

A Hong Kong lawmaker urged authorities to prioritize ensuring fair access to AI in sports rather than restricting its use, emphasizing AI's transformative impact on athlete development and competitions. Kenneth Fok Kai-kong spoke at a World Economic Forum panel in Dalian, China, highlighting how AI is reshaping sports differently from past technological advancements.

Palantir objects to France ending a domestic security contract, calling it a serious matter. The company made the statement at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

A record-breaking El Niño event in 2026 could cost the global economy $5.7 trillion, with forecasts suggesting it may be stronger than previous cycles. NOAA warns of a 63% chance of very strong sea surface temperatures, which could disrupt supply chains, raise costs, and strain sectors like agriculture and energy.

Asia’s C-suite leaders are addressing global and economic uncertainties driven by geopolitics, AI advancements, socio-economic concerns, and environmental risks. The World Economic Forum’s 'Global Risks Report 2026' highlights 57% of experts predicting a turbulent decade ahead.

Elon Musk stated at the World Economic Forum 2026 that the primary bottleneck for AI advancement is not computing hardware but a shortage of something else, suggesting that chip production may outpace usage except in China.

Soaring fertilizer prices are harming poorer nations reliant on imports, with Brazil's farmers reducing purchases and India's fertilizer subsidy spending doubling. Shortages risk missing planting seasons and triggering humanitarian crises, according to reports.

Melinda French Gates pledged $215 million to improve women's health globally, focusing on contraceptive access, maternal care, and menopause research. The donation, part of her philanthropy through Pivotal, brings her total contributions in this area to over $600 million in two years.

Federal Reserve officials caution that AI's potential productivity benefits may not offset immediate inflation risks, citing insufficient evidence of sustained gains. While some, like Kevin Warsh, argue AI could drive long-term disinflation, others warn against relying on future AI impacts to address current inflation, emphasizing the need for concrete data.

The article argues that traditional deterrence strategies are ineffective against modern synthetic asymmetry, where non-state actors and cyber operations exploit technological convergence to cause disproportionate economic and societal disruption. It emphasizes the need for democracies to adopt 'synthetic resilience'—a capacity to absorb and adapt to multi-domain attacks—highlighting examples like the 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, which caused billions in downstream economic losses.

Gita Gopinath discussed global interest rate surges during a Bloomberg Television interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The event took place on January 20, 2026, as part of the annual Davos gathering.

Educators in New York City participated in a training session on fostering critical thinking in the age of AI, organized by the National Academy for AI Instruction. The article highlights debates about balancing abstract critical thinking skills with content knowledge in subjects like math and history, citing research that domain-specific knowledge is essential for effective critical thinking.

A survey by King's College London found that one in five people in the UK believe AI could trigger civil unrest due to job losses, with 69% of workers worried about the economic impact and 57% thinking AI will destroy more jobs than it creates. The study also revealed that university students are particularly concerned, with around a third believing rapid AI-driven job losses could lead to civil unrest. Many employers have already made roles redundant or reduced hiring due to AI.

The US Pentagon has suspended its involvement in a joint military consultation body with Canada due to remarks made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, amid tensions between President Trump and Trudeau. The move affects the joint board that coordinates military matters between the two countries. This decision comes after Trudeau's address to the World Economic Forum earlier this year.

Ray Dalio discussed China during a Bloomberg Television interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Whitney Tilson commented on Mamdani's feud with Griffin. The annual gathering took place from January 19-23.

John Collison, co-founder and president of Stripe, spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, discussing how agentic commerce will reshape the internet. The event took place from January 19-23 and featured various political leaders, executives, and celebrities. John Collison's discussion highlighted Stripe's perspective on the future of online commerce.