It’s fitting that Donald Trump’s inauguration day coincides with the first day of the World Economic Forum’s infamous Davos conference. The new and the old world orders are, in theory, competing for attention. But this is not a competition. It’s not even close.
This year’s conference theme is ‘Collaboration for the Intelligent Age’: an idea that means little to nothing if the world’s largest economy – and leader in AI development – is not on board. And ‘collaboration’ is hardly a word that suits the lead-up to inauguration day, as the 47th President of the United States has been gearing up for the return to an ‘America First’ policy, which is set to include the establishment of more trade barriers on his first day back in the Oval Office. It’s also expected to include a far more relaxed approach to AI innovation – breaking with the risk-adverse policies promoted, not just by Joe Biden, but by the WEF too.
Trump’s victory was a direct reproach of the Davos way
But it’s not just the theme of the conference to which Trump’s inauguration takes an axe.
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