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The WEF is an international nonprofit organization that was founded in 1971 to promote public-private cooperation and address global challenges. Best known for its annual meeting in Davos, WEF brings together leaders from politics, business, academia, and civil society to discuss issues such as economic inequality, climate change, and technology governance. Through its reports, initiatives, and multistakeholder approach, its aim is to improve the state of the world in an impartial manner. It has positioned itself as a significant platform for shaping global agendas and driving innovation.

Artificial intelligence has become one of the most popular topics and while the technology has demonstrated its potential across industries, its rapid advancement has also raised questions about growth, labor markets, regulation, and governance. Nobel Laureate Paul Romer’s work on endogenous growth theory, which shaped his career and transformed how ideas are defined and valued within a market, positioned ideas and thus innovation as crucial drivers of long term economic growth and expansion.

“One of the oldest questions in economics is what responsibilities fall to the government,” says Romer. “And what responsibilities can we give to individuals and let them independently compete, experiment, innovate. That’s kind of the government versus the market.”

In the context of AI, this perspective suggests that cultivating collaborative ecosystems—where knowledge sharing and policy are given a place to thrive—is essential to unlocking the full economic potential of intelligent systems.

Similarly, Nobel Laureate Michael Spence’s research on information asymmetry and signaling provides insights into the challenges AI poses in labor markets. The automation of routine tasks and the increasing sophistication of machine learning systems risk exacerbating inequality unless governments and corporations invest in reskilling and education.

“We’re in for a fairly complex transition that is going to challenge people and institutions and systems,” he says. Spence’s work reinforces the importance of transparent, inclusive policies that prepare the workforce for an AI-driven economy.

A central question at WEF will likely be how to govern AI responsibly on a global scale. The risks associated with AI, from algorithmic bias to geopolitical tensions over AI capabilities, demand multilateral cooperation. Elinor Ostrom was not just the first female Nobel Laureate in the field of economics, her groundbreaking work on collective action and shared resources still provides a valuable model for navigating some of our most modern challenges. Ostrom demonstrated that communities could effectively manage common-pool resources through locally adapted governance structures. Applying her principles to the digital commons—such as AI datasets and open-source tools—could inspire new approaches to managing shared technological resources.

Moreover, the growing influence of large tech corporations in shaping AI’s trajectory raises concerns about market concentration and power imbalances. Nobel Laureate Jean Tirole’s research on market regulation emphasizes the need for robust oversight to prevent monopolistic behavior and ensure fair competition.

“What economists are worried about is abnormal profits,” says Tirole. “We tolerate profits as long as they correspond to something which serves the consumer. If it doesn't serve the consumer, that's a different matter.” His insights are particularly relevant as policymakers grapple with regulating the tech sector without stifling innovation.

The theme of “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age” also invites reflection on ethical considerations in AI development.

This emphasis on ethical innovation aligns with the broader agenda of WEF 2025 as well. As climate change, health crises, and geopolitical instability continue to challenge global resilience, AI presents both risks and opportunities. Collaborative efforts to integrate ethical considerations into AI design and deployment can ensure that technological progress contributes to sustainable development.

Davos has always been a forum for bridging divides between the public and private sectors, and this year’s focus on the intelligent age is no exception. Encouraging dialogue between governments, businesses, academia, and civil society is crucial for shaping inclusive AI policies that are focused on a healthy future. As always, the work of our Nobel Laureates in Economic Sciences provides a helpful framework, taking the theoretical to the practical.

By leveraging lessons from economics, technology leaders and policymakers at WEF can build pathways to addressing these issues. The meeting’s agenda promises to tackle these challenges with a spirit of cooperation, recognizing that the intelligent age demands nothing less than collective intelligence.