Davos, amid threat of Trump avalanche, AI earthquake

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is one of the most influential gatherings as far as global capitalism is concerned. The high and mighty of business and policy meet in the backdrop of the snow-covered Alps and often discuss what the future can hold.

- By Sreedev Krishnakumar and Roshan Kishore

WEF's glory days have been associated with the rise of globalisation and free markets. In fact, what is today the WEF used to be just a European gathering before the end of the Cold War. This year's WEF meeting, however, is taking place in an environment which embodies anything but optimism and confidence. The biggest threat to the Davos sentiment, ironic as it sounds, comes from one of the biggest delegations this time, namely, US President Donald Trump's. What makes things even worse is that Trump is not the only variable as far as the global economy is concerned. Here are three charts which capture how the world has changed since the last Davos gathering.

WEF's own risk assessment has shifted for worse between 2025 and 2026