January 27, 2025
DAVOS – The World Economic Forum concluded its annual meeting on Friday. The meeting, under the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age,” focused on five pivotal areas: reimagining growth, industries in the intelligent age, investing in people, safeguarding the planet, and rebuilding trust. Some topics have frequently appeared in media reports and meeting discussions, becoming the keys to understanding the current development. Here’s some keywords you need to know.
Attendees participate in the meeting using VR (virtual reality) devices at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan 23, 2025. PHOTO: XINHUA/CHINA DAILY
AI agents
AI agents, widely used in sectors such as healthcare, education, and finance, are autonomous systems capable of sensing, learning, and acting upon their environments.
The World Economic Forum published a white paper titled “Navigating the AI Frontier: A Primer on the Evolution and Impact of AI Agents” in December 2024, highlighting how AI agents can enhance efficiency.
An autonomous food delivery vehicle serves people during the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan 22, 2025. PHOTO: VCG/CHINA DAILY
Digital trust
Digital trust is the expectation by individuals that digital technologies and services – and the organizations providing them – will protect all stakeholders’ interests and uphold societal expectations and values.
During this year’s annual meeting, leadership’s commitment to cybersecurity, privacy, transparency, redressability, auditability, fairness, interoperability, and safety became a hot topic.
A man paints on a large poster at the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan 22, 2025. PHOTO: VCG/CHINA DAILY
The intelligent age:
Rapid advancements in AI, quantum computing, and blockchain have shaped a new era. This requires us to develop both technological intelligence and environmental, social, and geopolitical intelligence.
Senior citizens learn about a smart door lock at the 2024 Shenzhen International Intelligent Elderly Care Industry Expo held in October in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. PHOTO: XINHUA/CHINA DAILY
Super-ageing societies
The World Health Organization defines “super-ageing” societies as countries with more than 20 percent of their population over the age of 65 years old.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report, some countries are experiencing rapidly aging populations, creating economic and labor market challenges.
An aerial drone photo taken on Jan 1, 2025 shows a view of the first power generation unit (L) of Zhangzhou nuclear power project in Zhangzhou, Southeast China’s Fujian province. PHOTO: XINHUA/CHINA DAILY
Advanced nuclear technologies
These technologies, from fusion to small modular reactors, are seen as key to the energy transition.