World Economic Forum ditches Greta Thunberg for Sam Altman in push toward AI: sources

Goodbye, Greta – and hello, Sam.

Those flying into next week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland are quietly rejoicing that climate activist Greta Thunberg –  a notable fixture at the conference in recent years – isn’t expected to make an appearance this time around, sources told On The Money.

Instead, OpenAI boss Sam Altman will headline a panel discussion titled “Technology in a Turbulent World” on how artificial intelligence can be used as a driving force for the economy and society.

The AI-centered talk will be one of many both formal and informal gatherings that will focus on the disruptive technology at the 54th annual WEF, entitled “Rebuilding Trust,” which runs from Jan. 15 to 19. 

That’s a radical shift from the twin left-leaning initiatives of DEI and ESG that have been at the forefront of the annual gathering in recent years.

In the past, the conference has unveiled ESG Metrics, released a manifesto that pushes stakeholder capitalism, and of course trotted out Thunberg as ofteh as possible.