Meet the Moment at Davos
World Economic Forum 2025
World Economic Forum 2025
At Davos, a focus on agentic AI
Meet the Moment at Davos
At Davos, a focus on agentic AI
AI was a dominant theme at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this year. A Bain-hosted breakfast featured Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey, DeepLearning.AI founder Andrew Ng, and other corporate leaders engaging in a lively discussion on the best ways to deploy and scale AI, the need to balance innovation and practical applications, and how to effectively invest in AI to achieve measurable results. Bain’s Worldwide Managing Partner, Christophe De Vusser, encouraged companies to be on “high alert” for AI opportunities, noting that many companies remained mired in experimentation. The annual gathering concluded with a strong consensus on what’s ahead: “If there is one thing to focus on in 2025,” De Vusser said, "it’s the importance of driving results through agentic AI.”
AI is not just the next technological wave—it’s the engine of a new industrial revolution. As it rapidly transforms productivity, innovation, and customer experience, companies will need to move quickly from pilots to scalable solutions. But they’ll also need to proceed ethically and responsibly.
The energy transition is a critical global challenge that will stretch to 2050 and beyond. To balance decarbonization with energy security and access amid growing demand is essential, and will require the right mix of technology, policy, and investment.
The end of ultra-cheap money combined with inflation and the scope of technology and climate investments presents a long-term challenge for businesses. To thrive in today’s more volatile environment, companies must adopt a disciplined capital allocation strategy that prioritizes projects that align with their long-term goals, optimizes investments, and can adjust to tighter financial conditions.
As geopolitical shifts and rising multi-polar tensions reshape global trade companies face new risks—de-globalization, trade conflicts, and regulatory hurdles, to name just three—that demand supply chain resilience and technological independence. But post-globalization also opens doors for automation, reshoring, and enhanced security, creating strategic advantages for companies that can effectively navigate this new world order.
Circularity represents a decoupling of economic growth from resource consumption. For companies, it means conserving materials and extending product life through repair, reuse, and recycling. It also includes improving utilization through new business models, which can spur growth, reduce costs, and improve resilience. A circular economy will fundamentally reshape industries—and it’s already underway.
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