AI and inequality: Nobel-winning economist Daron Acemoglu on how to get AI right

How we develop and use AI will either strengthen prosperity or deepen inequality, argues Nobel Prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu. Today's choices could even put democracy under greater strain. In a special conversation, he shares insights collected in his latest book, What Happened to Liberal Democracy? Remaking a Politics of Shared Prosperity, breaking down:  - The forces weakening community and prosperity - and the growing divide between college-educated and non-college educated workers  - His concept of "pro-worker AI" (models that expand human capabilities, rather than just replace them) and the potential impact on prosperity and economies - The institutional choices that will have the biggest impact – and the key economic metric to watch in the years ahead Subscribe to Radio Davos for more conversations on the biggest forces shaping tech and economies. Links: Book: What Happened to Liberal Democracy? Remaking a Politics of Shared Prosperity:  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/815318/what-happened-to-liberal-democracy-by-daron-acemoglu/ Daron Acemoglu: https://economics.mit.edu/people/faculty/daron-acemoglu Related episodes: What I tell my Stern Business School students on how to thrive in the age of AI Watch here - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waYzMBSQuPo&list=PL7m903CwFUgmx14a5qRTlRdG5WeQDB7Hl&index=6 Listen here - Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/5sMqRcPLWfK5jz56xZ73Di?si=9eEVUcJWSe2SWjk_oC4Sow Read here - Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/arun-sundararajan-ai-jobs-skills-education   AI's real impact on jobs - what it means for you, your company and future generations Watch here - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAtp6z1Dh5g&list=PL7m903CwFUgmx14a5qRTlRdG5WeQDB7Hl&index=8  Listen here - Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wL0J7IIXoQ3q14Zq63A0C Read here - Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/ai-jobs-education-cognizant   Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552

You're not imagining it: the world really is more unpredictable than it used to be. That's the opinion of the chief risk officers at carmaker Volkswagen and the World Trade Organisation, who join us on Radio Davos to discuss how we can best confront the ever more complex risk landscape. Geopolitics, supply chains, disinformation and artificial intelligence are among the headline risks that are increasingly interlinked and therefore harder to predict, the risk officers say - but they are both optimistic about our ability to cope. This episode was recorded live on Thursday, 8 October in front of an online audience as part of the World Economic Forum's Strategic Intelligence programme of content available exclusively to Forum partners and digital members. To become a digital member: https://www.weforum.org/join-us/individuals/ Hosts:  Robin Pomeroy, head of podcasts, World Economic Forum Mitali Chatterjee, Manager, Global Risks, World Economic Forum Guests:  Natasha Fields, Chief Ethics, Risk and Compliance Officer, World Trade Organization Torben Oeder, Chief Risk officer, Volkswagen AG  Links: Risk Management, Reimagined: https://www.weforum.org/publications/risk-management-reimagined-outlook-to-2035/ The Global Risks Report 2026: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2026/ Related episodes: Top global risks in 2026 and how the Davos 'spirit of dialogue' can help us face them: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/global-risks-report-2026/ From 'polycrisis' to 'polytunity' - the future of geopolitics with Prof Yuen Yuen Ang: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/polytunity-geopolitics-cna-corresponent-yuen-yuen-ang/ The Hormuz shock, AI and China: the state of global energy, with Jason Bordoff: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/amnc26-energy-china-hormuz-oil-gas-renewables-bordoff/ The green revolution is unstoppable: Adam Tooze on "the single most dramatic story in the history of energy": https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/adam-tooze-china-trade-energy-climate-pandemics/ Chief Economists Outlook: what bond yields and interest rates tell us about the global economy: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/chief-economists-outlook-gregory-daco-ey/ "Everything has changed" - Gita Gopinath on the global economy in 2026: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/gita-gopinath-global-economy-2026/ Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552  

Global demand for electricity is soaring, as wars in Ukraine and Iran squeeze fossil fuel supply chains and the race for AI makes data centres a significant power consumer.  Divya Reddy, Manager of Energy Initiatives at the World Economic Forum sets out the challenge, and Varun Sivaram, Founder and CEO of Emerald AI explains how data centres can be made "good citizens to communities and power grids alike". Links: World Economic Forum Centre for Energy and Materials: https://centres.weforum.org/centre-for-energy-and-materials/home Future of Power Systems: https://initiatives.weforum.org/future-power-system/home Innovation Playbook for Future Power Systems: https://initiatives.weforum.org/future-power-system/innovation-playbook Emerald AI: https://www.emeraldai.co/ Related podcasts: The Hormuz shock, AI and China: the state of global energy, with Jason Bordoff: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/amnc26-energy-china-hormuz-oil-gas-renewables-bordoff/ How cutting emissions is future-proofing industries beyond the 'green premium': https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/first-movers-coalition-2026/ The green revolution is unstoppable: Adam Tooze on "the single most dramatic story in the history of energy": https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/adam-tooze-china-trade-energy-climate-pandemics/ What I tell my Stern Business School students on how to thrive in the age of AI: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/arun-sundararajan-ai-jobs-skills-education/ Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552    

Conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East have exposed the vulnerability of fossil fuel supply chains and prices. Coupled with Chinese supply of cheap renewables hardware, that makes the transition to green energy unstoppable, despite political resistance in some parts of the world. So says historian and podcaster Adam Tooze, director of the European Institute at Columbia University. In this wide-ranging interview, recorded at the World Economic Forum's Summer Davos in Dalian, China in June, Tooze also talks about how Europe and China can avoid a massive trade war over cars; the future of economic development in the Global South; and what he sees as the greatest threat to humanity that most of us are choosing to ignore. Episode page with transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/adam-tooze-china-trade-energy-climate-pandemics Related podcasts: How cutting emissions is future-proofing industries beyond the 'green premium': https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/first-movers-coalition-2026/ Trade, tech and geopolitical rivalry: what you need to understand about China today: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/qian-liu-asian-insider-china-trade-tech-geopolitics-amnc26/ From 'polycrisis' to 'polytunity' - the future of geopolitics with Prof Yuen Yuen Ang: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/polytunity-geopolitics-cna-corresponent-yuen-yuen-ang/ From 'US innovates, China imitates' to 'Opportunity 2.0' - lessons from Summer Davos: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/strategic-intelligence-amnc26-debrief-china-innovation/ Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wef Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552  

Why are there so many headlines right now about bond yields and interest rates? And what does it all mean for the global economy? The latest Chief Economists Outlook, a regular pulse-check of the global economy, shows an uptick in the number of economists expecting stability rather than a downturn. We ask EY's Chief Economist Gregory Daco why that is. And he weighs in on the issue of interest rates: "Higher commodities prices, higher oil prices ... are feeding into higher inflation and leading to expectations of central banks around the world tightening monetary policy to prevent inflation from becoming an anchored phenomenon." Links: Chief Economists Outlook: https://www.weforum.org/publications/chief-economists-outlook-september-2026 Related episodes: AI's real impact on jobs - what it means for you, your company and future generations: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/ai-jobs-education-cognizant/ The Hormuz shock, AI and China: the state of global energy, with Jason Bordoff: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/amnc26-energy-china-hormuz-oil-gas-renewables-bordoff/ Chief Economists Outlook: counting the cost of the Hormuz crisis, with Maersk's Ilaria Maselli: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/chief-economists-outlook-maersk-ilaria-maselli/ Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552

Cutting the greenhouse gas emissions from heavy industry has often been framed as a cost problem: why pay more for low-emission products when the conventional versions are cheaper? But many companies are pushing ahead, with an eye on staying competitive, securing supply chains and preparing for future markets. This episode hears from two companies and an investor who say low-emission technologies are already making business sense. All three are involved in the First Movers Coalition, a World Economic Forum initiative working with companies and governments to make low-emission technologies commercially viable. Speakers: Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech Rebecca Boudreaux, President & Chief Executive Officer, Oberon Fuels Rajesh Swaminathan, Partner, Khosla Ventures, USA Noam Boussidan, Programme Head, First Movers Coalition Links: First Movers Coalition: https://initiatives.weforum.org/first-movers-coalition/home Follow the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2026: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/sustainable-development-impact-meetings-2026/ Related podcasts: The Hormuz shock, AI and China: the state of global energy, with Jason Bordoff: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/amnc26-energy-china-hormuz-oil-gas-renewables-bordoff/ A "fundamental shift" in energy thinking: the Energy Transition Index 2026: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/energy-transition-index-2026/ The scientific advances ready to change the world: the Top 10 Emerging Technologies 2026: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/top-10-emerging-tech-2026/ Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552  

For today's undergraduates, the impact of artificial intelligence on the jobs market means massive job uncertainty. So how should young people prepare themselves for the unknown unknowns of a career in the age of AI? "The uncertainty will be overwhelming for a fraction of them, but I think for a fraction of them they will look back in 10 years and say this was a period of such great opportunity," says Arun Sundararajan, a professor of entrepreneurship, technology operations and statistics at New York University's Stern School of Business. This episode was co-produced with China's CGTN and co-hosted by Xin Guan, CGTN anchor and chief business news editor. Related podcasts: AI's real impact on jobs - what it means for you, your company and future generations: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/ai-jobs-education-cognizant/ The scientific advances ready to change the world: the Top 10 Emerging Technologies 2026: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/top-10-emerging-tech-2026/ AI may spark a new era of progress, but that depends on more than just the tech: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/carl-benedikt-frey-ai-work-jobs-economics/ Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552    

As an astronaut, Samantha Cristoforetti knows a lot about leadership and teamwork. She spoke to our sister podcast Meet the Leader at the Annual Meeting in Davos in January. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI_7QcZy5A8 and find a transcript and more information here: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/samantha-cristoforetti-esa-teamwork-leadership/ Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552    

Artificial intelligence is already having an impact on the way most of us work - but it's still early days and it's hard to predict exactly which jobs will disappear completely, what new ones will be created, and when and where this will happen. It's a subject that's important to all of us - so Radio Davos spoke to the head of an AI services firm, Ravi Kumar of Cognizant, and to the head of the World Economic Forum's Centre for the New Economy and Society, Saadia Zahidi. Both have unique insights into the impact of AI on the economy, on employment, and the implications for education and training. Links: Centre for New Economy and Society: https://centres.weforum.org/centre-for-new-economy-and-society/home World Economic Forum: Artificial Intelligence: https://www.weforum.org/stories/artificial-intelligence/ New Economy Skills: Building AI, Data and Digital Capabilities for Growth: https://www.weforum.org/publications/new-economy-skills-building-ai-data-and-digital-capabilities-for-growth/ Jobs and skills transformation: What to know at Davos 2026: https://www.weforum.org/stories/jobs-and-the-future-of-work/davos-here-s-what-to-know-about-jobs-and-skills-transformation/ Related episodes: AI and Jobs Series: What's Next for Entry Level Workers: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/ai-jobs-entry-level-workers-pwc-peter-brown/ AI and Jobs Series: Upskilling's 'Messy Middle' and Fixing the Skills Mismatch: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/jobs-skills-mismatch-future-maria-flynn/ AI and Jobs Series: What tasks can humans stop doing? One HR lead weighs in: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/ai-jobs-what-tasks-human-stop-progyny/ 5 top leaders share career advice for grads - and anyone navigating change: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/leaders-advice-grads-ai-navigating-change/ AI may spark a new era of progress, but that depends on more than just the tech: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/carl-benedikt-frey-ai-work-jobs-economics/ The day after AGI: Two 'rock stars' of AI on what it will mean for humanity: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/ai-agi-dario-amodei-demis-hassabis/ From 'US innovates, China imitates' to 'Opportunity 2.0' - lessons from Summer Davos: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/strategic-intelligence-amnc26-debrief-china-innovation/ AI can lie, hack and blackmail: Yoshua Bengio on how to tame the "baby tiger" of tech: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/yoshua-bengio-honest-ai/ Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552  

Workslop – low-quality work produced through poor human-AI collaboration – is wasting time, slowing teams down and limiting the productivity gains leaders expect from AI. But the problem isn't always the technology – it's often a signal to leaders that teams need more support. Alexi Robichaux, CEO of digital learning platform BetterUp, says AI can amplify both good and bad leadership standards and leaders need to define what excellent work looks like before AI is deployed. This episode was first published on Radio Davos's sister podcast Meet the Leader. You can watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTAbIqqAf4Y&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.weforum.org%2F and find a transcript and more information here:  https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/alexi-robichaux-ai-workslop-leadership-coaching/ Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wef Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552