[Image of a stock market chart in a newspaper. Photo credit to Unsplash]

The 56th World Economic Forum was held from January 19th to January 23rd, 2026, in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. 

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an annual event that aims to address the most pressing global economic, political, and technological issues in the world.

It brings together various heads of state, business leaders and CEOs, academics and representatives from civil society to discuss economic and political trends.

Established in 1971, the forum has since grown into a large platform for networking and collaboration. 

This year, more than 3,000 leaders from 130 countries attended the forum.

The theme of the conference was “A Spirit of Dialogue,” to emphasize the importance of cooperation in the midst of economic uncertainty and tensions between nations. 

One notable event at the forum was the friction between the United States and European nations. 

U.S. President Donald Trump addressed his positions on trade and energy, as well as his thoughts on expanding territory. 

His comments regarding U.S. interest in Greenland were met with criticism from other nations. 

Trump and his officials have been expressing their desire to buy Greenland from Denmark, even framing it as a debt European leaders would be paying him for U.S.’s role in World War II.

Leaders from Europe emphasized the importance of protecting sovereignty and alliances. 

In response, Trump stated, “You can say yes and we will be very appreciative or you can say no and we will remember.” 

Trump also defended U.S. energy strategy and criticized Europe’s approach to green energy. 

“I want to see Europe do good,” he remarked, saying that European nations were “not heading in the right direction.”

He added, “The United States has the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we’re going to use it.,” and insisted that nuclear energy could be both “safe” and economical.

Another topic that was discussed in depth at Davos was the impact of Artificial Intelligence.

Firms and leaders from the technology sector addressed both the opportunities and risks posed by AI.

They discussed the potential increase in productivity through using AI, as well as concerns about job displacement, inequality and how to manage the powerful technology.

Analysts noted that AI could contribute trillions in economic value while also posing challenges to labor markets and regulatory institutions. 

Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that AI could be likened to a “tsunami hitting the labor market.” 

She meant that technology would completely transform the economy and replace a large number of jobs.

Major technology platforms and figures such as Elon Musk also shared their insights on automation and robotics.

They predicted scenarios where AI surpassed human cognitive abilities and discussed the long-term societal impact of the technology. 

This year, Davos was not only a place for technological debates but also an opportunity for economic cooperation and investment.

Several delegations were able to secure major business proposals during the forum.

Notably, Uttar Pradesh, a state in India, attracted investment totaling up to almost ₹3 lakh crore across the sectors of green energy, AI data centers and infrastructure.

Leaders also talked about the necessity of sustainable innovation and responsible governance in today’s complex global state.

After the forum concluded on January 23rd, participants departed with many insights and more questions.

Key issues to monitor in the months following the WEF include AI policy frameworks, changed alliances between nations and the flow of investment.