How AI can power progress

Global risksVideoMarch 7, 20252 min read

Zurich Insurance Group and Economist Impact joined forces at the World Economic Forum earlier this year to tackle some of the key challenges and opportunities for business and governments during a period of significant transition.

The Economist's Editor-in-Chief, Zanny Minton Beddoes, sat down with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to discuss AI governance and more. An expert panel, including Daniel Yergin of S&P Global, Meghan L. O'Sullivan of Harvard's Belfer Center, and Jason Bordoff of Columbia's Centre on Global Energy Policy, weighed in on how AI and shifting geopolitics are impacting energy use and supply. Both sessions addressed the challenge of navigating rapid technological advances, climate concerns, and shifting geopolitical alliances, the dominant theme at this year’s Davos.

The promise and perils of AI were recurring talking points across the Davos event, but many remain convinced AI can still be a powerful force for good. We talked to delegates about why and where AI is a transformative technology and its potential for driving innovation and efficiency. Discussions also covered the need for responsible energy practices as data centers expand, strategies for more effective global cooperation on climate change, and how emerging technologies might help rebuild declining trust in governments and institutions.

These discussions at Davos 2025 highlighted the need for strategic planning and international cooperation to address the challenges of AI, energy demand, and geopolitical shifts.