Davos Overshadowed by Ukraine War and Tech Threats Despite Absent Putin and Trump
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Putin and Trump dominated conversations at Davos despite not being there in person. Warnings against ceding territory to end the Ukraine war and concerns about another Trump presidency.
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Labor politicians like Rachel Reeves positioned themselves as pro-business moderates, trying to reassure executives. Some saw similarities to the Blair-Brown years.
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Volodymyr Zelensky pushed for ongoing Western support for Ukraine, warning against "freezing the conflict." Said the war is a global issue, not just about Ukraine.
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AI and tech featured prominently at Davos, but leaders warned of risks like disinformation around the US election. Marc Benioff warned of an "AI Hiroshima moment."
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Jeremy Hunt called for light regulation of AI, but Kristalina Georgieva said governments need to "wake up" to the threats. Elections coming up in 40% of countries in 2024.