Davos Talkfest: AI vs Pandemic on The Magic Mountain

Ranked highly among the ‘most mention-worthy events this year’ in the global business diary, the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in the darling Alpine hometown of Thomas Mann, Davos, is set to commence. Cue limos, champagne-filled hotels, and tech giants transforming local shops into temporary bases. But hold the confetti and the fanfare, folks! The mood around this year’s gathering, despite the lavish accompaniments, seems to be more gloomy than gleeful.

Key Points

Annual Alpine Affair

• The World Economic Forum is all set to kick off its annual meeting. A charming tradition that includes limos, champagne, and a continual reimagining of local shops into pop-up offices for technology stalwarts.
• The air, however, is heavy with a sense of collective unease among the 2,800 participants who’re descending upon Davos this year.

Gloom Amid the Glitter

• Whilst one might expect the glint of champagne bubbles and the shimmer of tech innovation to light up the faces of participants, they seem to be looking more like they’ve seen a ghost than sipped some bubbly.
• The economic downturn and the undercurrent of a global health crisis on the itinerary may be the culprits shadowing this typically glossy event.

Final Thoughts

The annual WEF meeting, donning its best frosty-white, shimmering-winter look this time of the year, appears to be more of a gathering of distressed moguls than a celebration of global achievers. While the surroundings are reminiscent of a postcard-perfect Christmas setting, it seems the only thing the attendees will be wishing for this season is a perfect solution to the economic woes and health crises at hand. If only the solutions could pop up as conveniently as tech giants’ offices do around Davos each year. Darn, if only AI could solve pandemics!