Global Leaders at Davos Discuss AI for Social Impact

At the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, global leaders from business, philanthropy, and policy convened for a high-level roundtable called 'AI and the Social Sector: Building an Intelligent Impact Continuum.' Co-organized by the UAE Presidential Court's Office of Development Affairs and Badr Jafar, Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy and CEO of Crescent Enterprises, the roundtable brought attention to the use of AI to redefine philanthropy and more broadly the social sector's strategies to address the world's most complex issues. In particular, the paper discussed how significantly different AI has been developed and applied across different parts of the world.

Over 75 influential leaders participated in the roundtable discussion, among them being John Kerry, 68th U.S. Secretary of State; Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Huda Al Hashimi, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, UAE; Mansoor Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi; Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government; and David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The others who joined included Angela Williams, President and CEO of United Way Worldwide; Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF; Cherie Blair, CBE, KC, Co-Founder and Chair of Omnia Strategy; Dr. Wladimir Klitschko, Founder of the Klitschko Foundation; Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank; Jagan Chapagain, Secretary-General & CEO of the International Federation of Red Cross; Francois Bonnici, Director of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and Head of Foundations, World Economic Forum; Professor Deep Saini, President of McGill University; Professor Mosa Moshabela, Vice-Chancellor & Principal of the University of Cape Town; Yann LeCun, VP & Chief Artificial Intelligence Scientist at META; and Yusuff Ali M.A., Chairman & Managing Director of Lulu Group International.

In his opening remarks, Badr Jafar spotlighted AI’s transformative possible while urging the need for a more equitable distribution of its benefits. He stated: “The AI revolution, much like the Industrial Revolution, will create winners and losers. Today, 90% of AI investment flows to the Global North. Meanwhile, many social innovators in the Global South – where 85% of the world’s population resides – struggle with limited resources and inadequate support. We must address these disparities, and to do so requires a whole-of-society approach, uniting governments, philanthropists, and business leaders from around the world.”

Reflecting on these changes, Badr Jafar highlighted the need for a collective response, stating: “The UAE offers an example – not necessarily as a model to replicate but as a partner in progress. One of the first nations to adopt a national AI strategy, the UAE is leveraging AI for economic and social advancement by investing in talent, fostering research, and building infrastructure. Global partnerships are essential to empower social innovators everywhere with the tools, knowledge, and data they need to create lasting change.”

The discussion inspected AI’s transformative potential for social impact, focusing on scalable solutions in health, education, and social organisations in driving inclusive and ethical AI development, and the importance of multisector partnerships to boost AI for societal good.

The final meeting of the World Economics Forum in Davos continues to serve as a vital platform for point outing the global Challenges and encouraging collaborative problem-solving.

The extensive incorporation of artificial intelligence in this year’s deliberations underscores the Forum’s commitment to shaping a future where technology serves humanity and advances equity.