Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
22 January 2025 | 12:16 p.m. CAT
3-minute read

The 55^th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is currently underway in Davos, Switzerland. Davos 2025, which began on Monday and is set to conclude on Friday, convened under the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”.

Since its inception in 1971 by German engineer Klaus Schwab, the WEF has grown significantly, with Davos 2025 bringing together 3 000 attendees from over 130 countries. An international organisation that connects leaders from business, government, society, and academia to shape global, regional, and industry agendas, the WEF’s “Great Reset” plan has been criticised as a strategy to instate a communist world order by abolishing private property while using COVID-19 to solve overpopulation and enslaving what remains of humanity with vaccines.

Discussions at Davos 2025 will include geo-economic uncertainty, AI, reimagining growth and safeguarding the planet, among other topics.

“Looking at artificial intelligence (AI), issues of language models, and how they can impact skills, labour; technological advancements, and also sustainability, because these processes and data centres require much energy,” Hafidh Ibrahim said during this week’s Media Lens. “Two other big focuses is the issue of building trust, especially artificial intelligence and misinformation, geopolitical contestation, and the need to promote more cooperation.”

Discussions thus far have explored the transformative potential of large language models and machine learning on industries and the workforce. Experts warned that 40% of jobs worldwide are already impacted by AI technologies, a figure expected to rise significantly. Policymakers and business leaders emphasised the urgent need for comprehensive upskilling and reskilling strategies to prepare workers for the evolving job market.

Concerns over sustainability also featured prominently. AI-driven data centres consume enormous amounts of energy, raising questions about their long-term environmental impact. Forum participants stressed the importance of balancing technological growth with sustainable practices to mitigate ecological harm.

Combating misinformation and navigating geopolitical competition were highlighted as key challenges. The rise of multipolarity—with China, India, and a resurgent Europe increasingly asserting economic influence—presents both opportunities and risks. Protectionist trade policies and heightened competition among major economies have fuelled concerns about global stability.

Media coverage of WEF meetings is typically sparse, and this year has been no different, with two major events having eclipsed Davos 2025: the Gaza ceasefire deal and Trump’s inauguration as the 47^th president of the United States of America (USA).

Trump’s transactional approach to international relations, including potential withdrawal from key agreements, has raised concerns because his policies could weaken global cooperation on trade and climate change.

“We see this with the US-China competition, but also EU-China, EU and itself: this ‘protectionism’ from last year’s IMF and WEF conferences,” Hafidh Ibrahim said. “The US, as much as it wants to protect itself as the world’s main hegemony, is actually decreasing in favour of the growing power of China, the growing power of India, a resurgent Europe, Japan, and now with the African continent free trade agreement and the growing power of the African continent—that opens possibilities for global conflict and global tensions.”

Forum participants from the EU and China voice apprehensions about threats to global trade, and experts warn that a fragmented global economy could hinder efforts to address collective challenges like conflict and technological colonialism—a term used to describe the dominance of powerful nations in the AI race.

Analysts suggest increased competition, rather than cooperation, may dominate international relations in the coming years. The potential for economic conflict and strained multilateral relations has raised concerns about world peace and stability among some, while others see it as a combatant against a “New World Order”.

Listen to the Media Lens on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.