The Earth’s temperature is increasing, and so is the tension in the Middle East. The global economy and Ukraine’s efforts to protect against Russia are struggling. The advancement of artificial intelligence could greatly impact our daily lives.

The list of top priorities for the global community has expanded for the current year’s World Economic Forum, where leaders from various fields and industries will gather in Davos, Switzerland from Tuesday to Friday.

More than 60 leaders from various countries, such as Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will be traveling to the city for both public events and private discussions. They will be joined by over 2,800 other participants, including scholars, creatives, and leaders from international organizations.

The event primarily focuses on lofty aspirations such as advancing business, promoting peace and security, and revolutionizing healthcare. It also serves as a platform for leaders from various industries to network and make important decisions.

Critics frequently criticize it as a symbol of the significant divide between the wealthy and the impoverished. On Sunday, the Young Swiss Socialists organized a demonstration to denounce the forum and label the participants as “the wealthiest and most influential individuals, accountable for current conflicts and disasters.”

According to Bronwen Maddox, director of the Chatham House think tank, it is often easy to make fun of Davos. However, in the current climate, it is difficult to bring people together for in-person discussions on global issues. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of face-to-face conversations.

Here are some things to keep an eye out for:

Although Davos typically focuses on broad topics, regional disputes can have a significant impact, as seen with the exclusion of a Russian delegation last year due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

This year, the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has lasted for three months, while the recent airstrikes by the U.S. and Britain on Houthi militants in Yemen, who have been targeting Red Sea shipping lanes with missiles, are causing concern.

The president of Israel, Herzog, will attend a Davos session on Thursday, along with the prime ministers of Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon. Herzog’s role is largely ceremonial compared to that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A meeting called “Humanitarian Update on Gaza” is scheduled for thirty minutes on Tuesday.

This year, at Davos, there will be approximately 30 sessions discussing the theme of Artificial Intelligence as a major influence on the economy and society, highlighting the significant role technology plays in capturing our attention.

The rapid rise of OpenAI’s ChatGPT more than a year ago, along with its competitors, has brought increased attention to the capabilities, potential, and implications of artificial intelligence. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will be attending Davos alongside key leaders from Microsoft, a major contributor to the success of his company.

Artificial intelligence in the field of education, promoting transparency regarding its ethics and effect on creativity, are all prominently featured at the Davos Promenade through various advertisements and displays showcasing this innovative technology.

Last week, forum organizers issued a warning that the primary immediate danger to the world is the spread of misinformation through AI, particularly through the production of fabricated material.

There is a possibility of an increase in false or inaccurate information this year, and a discussion will delve into the dangers posed by “bots and plots” on democratic systems.

The organizers of the forum have announced that elections will occur this year in countries with a combined population of 4.2 billion people. It is expected that many of these elections will be highly contested. (There is little doubt that Russian President Vladimir Putin will secure another term.)

This is happening amidst discussions of a potential new Cold War and the growing divide between authoritarian regimes and democratic nations.

On Tuesday morning, both Prime Minister Li Qiang of China and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, will deliver consecutive addresses, emphasizing their differences. Later in the day, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, will give a speech.

On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will both give speeches. Additionally, Argentina’s newly elected president, Javier Milei, a libertarian who has already stated his intentions to reduce the size of the government workforce, will also speak.

The Davos halls were already filled with chatter about the possibility of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who visited Davos twice during his term, being inaugurated again next year after the November election. President Biden used to attend Davos regularly, but has not done so since taking office.

In Davos, there is a common goal to find innovative and effective methods to combat climate change, which has been a recurring focus in recent years.

The situation remains unchanged: A group of leading climate experts from various countries recently announced that the average global temperature in the previous year surpassed previous record highs, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

John Kerry, who is resigning as President Biden’s advisor on climate, participates in a panel talk about a U.S.-supported program that seeks to involve private companies in the creation of eco-friendly technologies.

According to Maddox from Chatham House, the decision made at the recent U.N. climate conference in Dubai to move away from fossil fuels will result in a significant year for climate finance in 2024.

She stated that Davos has the potential to be a powerful combination of both environmental concerns and influential financial presence.

Source: wral.com