| Forum Stories | | Your weekly curated analysis of the top global issues |
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Welcome to Forum Stories!- In the spotlight this week: How AI is shaping the industries of tomorrow.
- We’re also looking at the ongoing situation with trade and tariffs and the latest developments on sustainability and green technologies.
This week’s newsletter is 846 words, a 3-minute read. |
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| Feel free to forward the Forum Stories newsletter to a friend or colleague. Our editorial team hand-picks the most relevant stories for you every week. You can also read today’s edition in your browser. |
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| 1. Spotlight: AI and industries of tomorrow |  | Developments in AI are a primary driver of change and disruption for businesses across sectors.Why it matters: AI holds transformative potential to address society’s most pressing challenges, but unlocking this requires informed, adaptable and responsible policy-making to ensure it helps, not hinders.
Zoom in: - Telecoms are well-positioned to leverage Gen AI having already integrated AI into operations over the past decade. As AI adoption accelerates, the industry needs a strategic approach, investments and collaborations across the tech ecosystem. Here’s more about what they need to do to succeed.
- A century of human progress in science could be achieved by AI in just five or 10 years, said Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, at the Annual Meeting 2025. But just how close is society to harnessing very powerful AI that will transform lives? Four experts discussed this in Davos.
- AI agents – purpose-built AI tools designed for specific industries – offer the potential to revolutionize global trade for SMEs and entrepreneurs. From autonomous decision-making to enabling purposeful action, here’s how they could change the game.
- Healthcare is another industry undergoing major transformation thanks to AI. From AI-guided surgery to early disease detection, this video highlights five healthcare advances.
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| 2. Tariffs, trade and economic growth | | | At a time of rising protectionism, here’s how tariffs and global trade are impacting economic growth. Why it matters: The global economic outlook is murky. Greater cooperation is needed between governments and businesses to spur positive growth that creates opportunities for all. | |
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| 3. Sustainability and green technologies | | Nearly half of global GDP, $44 trillion, is at risk due to nature loss. Green innovations are key to making industries sustainable and reversing the decline of the natural world. Why it matters: If the world is to achieve its climate goals such as those set out in the Paris Agreement, then innovations across sectors will be critical. Reducing regulatory red tape and improving access to finance could accelerate this transition.
Zoom in: - One focus area for decarbonization is hard-to-abate sectors such as shipping. E-methanol offers a viable path for reducing the sector’s emissions, but it’s currently far too expensive. Here’s how that could change.
- The world produces 400 million tonnes of plastic every year and much of this isn’t managed. CleanHub is innovating in the sector by providing an app to verify plastic going through waste management.
- The built environment accounts for 27% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it a key focus of decarbonization efforts. The Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network highlights three examples of sustainable innovation in this space.
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