Buzzwords and phrases you might hear at Davos 2025

World leaders are gathering in Davos for the World Economic Forum's Annual meeting, taking place from 20 January under the theme 'Collaboration in the Intelligent Age'.

But what exactly is the Intelligent Age?

From agentic AI and frontier tech to NDCs and critical minerals, here's a glossary of terms that will come up throughout the week - and the sessions to watch that will bring you up to speed on the latest developments.

In a blog post published on 6 January, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote: "We believe that, in 2025, we may see the first AI agents join the workforce” and materially change the output of companies.

But what are they? The World Economic Forum's Cathy Li, Head, AI, Data and Metaverse explains, "Among the most transformative developments in this field are AI agents – autonomous systems capable of sensing, learning and acting upon their environments. They are on course to transform industries, enhance efficiencies and tackle complex societal challenges such as healthcare and education."

OpenAI is set to launch an AI agent codenamed 'Operator' this month.

Read this explainer article to learn more about agentic AI.

Watch this session at Davos: AI: Lifting all Boats

In 2024, cyber-attacks targeted everyone and everything from individuals to global financial institutions and even the Olympics.

In a record year for elections, misinformation and deepfakes became ever-more ubiquitous, leading to significant financial scams.

Cyber resilience is an organization’s ability to minimize the impact of significant cyber incidents on its primary goals and objectives – and cybersecurity is essential to achieving cyber resilience.

The Forum's recent Global Cybersecurity Outlook revealed how rising cyberspace complexity is exacerbating cyber inequity, widening the gap between large and small organizations.

Watch this video to discover three things to know about cybersecurity and listen to Radio Davos for a deep dive into the cyber risks we all face and how to fight back.

Watch this Davos session: Cutting through Cyber Complexity

Digital trust and digital sovereignty are two sides of the same coin.

Digital trust can be defined as the promise "that digital technologies and services – and the organizations providing them – will protect all stakeholders’ interests and uphold societal expectations and values”.

Trust is earned when tech leaders set security and reliability goals, to ensure accountability and oversight over their platforms and programs, and promote inclusivity, ethics and transparency.

Read this explainer article to learn why digital trust is key in the intelligent age.

Digital sovereignty refers to a country's ability to have control over its digital destiny - the data, hardware and software it creates and uses – through regulation of digital services and technologies. But it also refers to fostering entrepreneurship and funding innovation.

For example, on 13 January, the UK announced a new plan to supercharge the economy by leveraging the power of AI – and becoming a global hub for AI investment and innovation. This will include expanding its 'sovereign' AI Research Resource (AIRR) capacity – of supercomputers – by 20 times by 2030.

Read this explainer article to find out the different approaches countries are taking to digital sovereignty.

Watch these Davos sessions:

To Moderate, or not to Moderate?

State of Play: AI Governance

By 2030, UN Trade & Development estimates the 'frontier technologies' market will be worth more than $9.5 trillion.

The umbrella term includes everything from AI, 5G, Big Data and robotics, to electric vehicles, 3D printing and green hydrogen.

And they are rapidly reshaping industrial and manufacturing operations across the globe – particularly the rise of AI agents in combination with robotics.

Frontier technologies have the potential to bring substantial benefits for productivity, flexibility, workforce empowerment and sustainability throughout the value chain.

Read this explainer article to find out how AI and other frontier technologies are reshaping industrial operations and here's a reminder of 2024's Top Ten Emerging Technologies.

Watch this Davos session: Keeping up with Smart Factories

Back in September, in this curtain-raiser article for Davos, Klaus Schwab, the Forum's Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, explained how rapid advancements in AI, quantum computing and blockchain have propelled us into the Intelligent Age.

"These converging technologies are reshaping the very fabric of our world, demanding swift adaptation and global cooperation," he wrote.

"For this transformation to develop rather than divide society, it must go well beyond technological advances to actually enhance human potential. It is imperative that we develop environmental, social and geopolitical intelligence alongside technological intelligence."

Mirek Dušek, Managing Director, World Economic Forum, has also explained how the ‘Intelligent Age’ might accelerate SDG progress.

One of the thematic pillars at Davos 2025 is, 'Industries for the Intelligent Age'. Read live coverage on the theme and 'What you need to know'.

Watch this Davos session: Cooperation in a Divided World

By 2035, McKinsey estimates quantum technology could be worth £2 trillion, with chemicals, the life sciences, finance and mobility first in line to realize its benefits.

Quantum technology is based on the principles of quantum mechanics – the laws of physics that apply to sub-atomic particles.

One of the main areas where quantum technology is applied today is quantum computing, which enables data to be processed fundamentally differently from the conventional computer – and has the potential to solve complex problems much faster than even the most powerful supercomputers today.

Other quantum technologies are at various stages of development, including highly sensitive quantum sensors and quantum data networks.

Read this explainer article to learn more about quantum technology and analysis on how quantum could advance the sustainability agenda.

Watch this Davos session: From High-Performance Computing to High-Performance Problem Solving

Every year at Davos, there is a new take on globalization that generates a new buzzword. In 2023, for example, Adam Tooze and Niall Ferguson were debating de-globalization or re-globalization.

This year, Brazilian diplomat, Braz Baracuhy argues that post-Cold War economic globalization has been replaced with geo-economic bi-globalization – defined by the new US-China geopolitical bipolarity.

Read Baracuhy's explanation of bi-globalization and what it means for geo-economics and global trade.

Watch this Davos session: US-EU-China Triangle

On 6 January, Indonesia officially joined the BRICS bloc of developing economies, which is presided over by Brazil this year.

BRICS was formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2009 as a counterweight to the Group of Seven. It has expanded since, with South Africa joining in 2010 and Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the UAE all joining in 2024.

The bloc accounts for around half of the world’s population and, before Indonesia joined, it represented 35% of global GDP.

Read this explainer to find out more about the BRICS international bloc.

Watch this Davos session: India's Economic Blueprint

In September, the World Economic Forum’s quarterly survey of chief economists – the Chief Economists Outlook – found the majority believed public debt constitutes a threat to macroeconomic stability in both advanced (53%) and developing (64%) economies.

Almost 40% of chief economists expected defaults to rise in developing economies over the next year.

UNCTAD estimates that 3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt interest than on education or health.

Read this article to learn about why global debt levels are on the rise.

Watch this Davos session: Back into the Black: How to Ease the Debt Burden?

In recent years, as a combination of economic shocks, growing geopolitical tension and the climate crisis has threatened economic stability, industrial policy has been making a comeback.

Industrial policy refers to targeted measures taken by governments to support specific sectors or industries and boost national economic development or competitiveness.

The International Monetary Fund warned that "industrial policy is costly, and can lead to various forms of government failures ranging from corruption to misallocation of resources".

Read more about why industrial policies are having a moment and the implications for the global economy here.

Watch this Davos session: Demystifying Industrial Policy

Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on the day Davos starts – 20 January.

His 2016 campaign slogan, Make America Great Again (MAGA), has become a movement and is synonymous with his economic plans for the country, policies that would provide a greater degree of economic protectionism, including trade tariffs.

Economists have warned protectionist policies could impact growth and raise inflation. However, investors are bullish, with equity strategists predicting gains of around 10% for Wall Street’s S&P 500 index in 2025 on the back of strong earnings growth.

Watch these Davos sessions:

First Impressions: Inauguration Day

47th US Presidency, Early Thoughts

Tariffs are simply taxes imposed on imported goods, which give a price advantage to locally-produced alternatives and raise money for the government imposing them.

They've been around for millennia but they're hitting headlines again with the incoming Trump administration set to impose new tariffs, which will raise the prices of imported goods for US consumers.

There are two main types of tariff countries leverage today – on sectors and on specific countries. They are generally aimed at rebalancing trade or reducing trade deficits, gaining leverage in negotiations unrelated to trade, protecting sectors critical to national security, and protecting or creating jobs.

Since 1998, members of the World Trade Organization have had a moratorium on digital trade flows from streaming movies to software.

Read more on why avoiding tariffs on digital trade helps innovation and productivity.

Watch this Davos session: Debating Tariffs

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when microbes – bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses – evolve to the point where the antimicrobial drugs that worked against them are no longer effective. Some strains of bacteria have developed resistance to multiple treatments, becoming “superbugs”.

Although AMR affects all countries, some are feeling the impact more than others, with Sub-Saharan Africa experiencing a heavy burden.

We urgently need more innovative, high-quality antimicrobials as resistance spreads and drugs such as antibiotics become less effective.

Read this article from Shyam Bishen, the Forum's Head of the Centre for Health and Healthcare to learn more about AMR.

Watch this Davos session: Action on Antimicrobial Resistance

At the current rate of progress, it will take 134 years to reach full gender parity in 2158 – roughly five generations from now.

This is according to the Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2024, which measures progress towards reaching gender parity – the equal contribution of men and women to every dimension of life, both public and private.

Each year, the report looks at four gender gaps in 146 countries. In 2024, it found the Health and Survival gender gap is the most closed at 96%, followed by the Educational Attainment gap (94.9%), the Economic Participation and Opportunity gap (60.5%). Trailing behind is the Political Empowerment gap - at just 22.5% – which will take another 169 years to close.

Read this article to find out more about the state of gender parity around the world – and what needs to happen to close the gender gap.

Watch these sessions:

Adding Trillions with Gender Parity

Towards Parity in Power

Breaking Free

By 2032, the market size of the gig economy is expected to triple from $556.7 billion in 2024 to $1,847 billion.

The gig economy uses digital platforms to connect freelancers with customers to provide short-term services or asset-sharing, such as ride-hailing, food delivery and holiday rental.

It’s a growing segment, bringing economic benefits of productivity and employment. But it also raises questions about levels of consumer and worker protection. The challenge is to balance innovation with a fair deal for workers.

Read more about the gig economy and the deal for workers in this explainer.

Watch this Davos session: Flexibility 2.0

In September 2024, Japan reached a new milestone – its elderly population reached a record high of 36.25 million people, almost 30% of the population.

Japan is the oldest "super-aged" society in the world. “Super-ageing” societies are defined by the World Health Organization as countries with more than 20% of their population over the age of 65. In the coming years, such societies present economic and labour market risks – from pension crises to labour shortages.

Global demographic divergence is expected to widen over the next decade between super-ageing and youthful populations.

Read more about the implications of the widening gap between super-ageing and youthful populations here.

Watch these Davos sessions:

Global Risks 2025

Reinventing Retirement

Changing demographics and an ageing workforce are major factors in talent shortages or talent scarcity, impacting our ability to deliver everything from healthcare to the green transition.

The tech industry is particularly affected by talent scarcity. In May 2024, industry leaders warned Europe faces a tech skills shortfall of around 8 million workers.

The European Union has targets of employing 20 million ICT specialists by 2030, but estimates indicate only 12 million skilled professionals may be available.

Potential solutions to talent scarcity range from migration to upskilling and talent retention through DEI-focused policies.

Read more about how equitable AI skilling can help solve talent scarcity here.

Watch these Davos sessions:

Closing the Jobs Gap

Redrawing the Geography of Jobs

The global economy could receive a $1 trillion boost by 2040 from closing the women's health gap, due to fewer early deaths and health conditions, and a greater capacity for women to contribute to society and the economy, according to a 2024 Forum report, in collaboration with McKinsey.

The women's health gap refers to the lack of equity in healthcare for women and men – and can take many forms, from access to care to research.

The women’s health gap equates to 75 million years of life lost due to poor health or early death each year. Closing the gap would give the 3.9 billion women in the world today an extra seven healthy days a year, or an average of 500 days over a lifetime.

In 2020, only 1% of healthcare research and innovation was invested in female-specific conditions beyond oncology, according to McKinsey. But according to that same research, every $1 invested in women’s health would return around $3 in economic growth.

Read about the six conditions that highlight the women's health gap here.

Watch this Davos session: Investing in Women's Health

Advanced nuclear technologies range from fusion and small modular reactors (SMRs) to nuclear fuels and waste management, and they can help address some of the concerns around safety and cost.

While nuclear fusion is often dubbed as the holy grail of energy, it is also in the early stages of realization. In contrast, SMRs are moving quickly towards commercial deployment.

Other areas where innovation is moving fast include nuclear fuel and waste management: advanced fuel enables existing plants and new ones to generate more carbon-free power while increasing safety; new waste management approaches can reduce the volume and reuse some of what remains.

At COP29 in Baku in November, the UK and US signed an agreement to pool nuclear research and development – including the world’s leading academic institutions and nuclear innovators – to decarbonize industry and boost energy security.

Read more about the nuclear technologies and their role in the energy transition.

Watch this Davos session: Road to Tripling Nuclear Capacity

Critical minerals like lithium, cobalt and nickel are vital building blocks for many green technologies including solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles.

More investment in critical minerals will boost the chance of meeting global climate targets, the International Energy Agency says.

But a secure, abundant and affordable supply of critical minerals is needed to ensure a smooth energy transition, according to the Forum's Fostering Effective Energy Transition report.

On 14 January, the UK announced it would sign a critical minerals partnership with Saudi Arabia, which estimates it has $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources.

Read more about how critical minerals demand has doubled in the past five years – and some solutions to the supply crunch here.

Watch this Davos session: The Geoeconomics of Energy and Materials

The so-called 'hard-to-abate' sectors combined represent around 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions and a similar share of the global economy.

The term refers to industries where it's harder to lower greenhouse gas emissions, such as shipping, aviation, trucking and steel.

It could take an additional $30 trillion in capital to reach net zero in eight hard-to-abate sectors tracked by the Forum's Net Zero Industry Tracker 2024. This represents around 45% of the total incremental net zero investment required by 2050.

Read this article by Roberto Bocca, the Forum's Head of the Centre for Energy and Materials, on how to raise $30 trillion for the 'hard-to-abate' sectors.

Watch this Davos session: Industrial Decarbonization as a Growth Strategy

Around half of global GDP – approximately $44 trillion – is dependent on nature.

The Nature-Positive Initiative is a global goal to halt and reverse nature loss and increase the health, abundance, diversity and resilience of species, populations and ecosystems by 2030.

It mirrors the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, endorsed by 196 countries at COP15 in 2022, which sets an ambitious goal to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030.

The Forum's Spotlight on Nature report features examples of how companies are transforming their operations to support a nature-positive future.

Read more about six sustainable development strategies that support the transition to a nature-positive economy here.

Watch this Davos session: State of Climate and Nature

By February, countries have to update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the terms of the Paris Agreement.

NDCs include each country's pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with specific targets, as well as measures countries are taking to adapt to climate change, alongside implementation strategies and timeframes to achieve these goals.

As the name suggests, they are unique to each nation, reflecting their specific circumstances, capabilities and priorities in the fight against climate change.

Some countries, including the UK, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates, announced their targets at COP29 in November.

Read this explainer article to find out more about NDCs and the commitments countries have made.

Watch this Davos session: Road to COP30

Under the terms of the Paris Agreement, which was adopted at COP21 in 2015, countries agreed to keep global warming well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, as well as actively pursue efforts to “limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels”.

To achieve this, countries have committed to reaching the target of net zero by 2050, and every five years they increase their commitments – the NDCs.

Net zero means that any carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from the company’s activities is balanced by an equivalent amount being removed.

Read this explainer to learn more about the difference between net zero, carbon neutral and carbon negative.

Watch this Davos session: European ___ Deal: Industrial, Clean or Green?

Professor Tim Lenton – a climate academic and director of the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter – is pioneering research on “positive tipping points”. These are shifts in societies and economies that gain momentum so rapidly they become the new norm and, crucially, propel decarbonization to help avert catastrophic climate change.

Frequent droughts in the Amazon rainforest and the loss of Arctic sea ice are among the better-known climate tipping points happening now.

But Prof Lenton’s focus is on positive tipping points, or “super-leverage points”, which can speed up the shift to a net-zero future, to avoid irreversible climate tipping points.

Read Prof Lenton's thoughts about why positive tipping points are a credible way to reach climate and nature goals here.

Watch this Davos session: Water at a Tipping Point

Listen to Professor Lenton talking to Radio Davos about positive tipping points below.