The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos has faced criticism from financier and anti-Putin activist Bill Browder. Browder, a regular attendee of the forum, boycotted the event last year due to the increased price of entry. He has been known for challenging Russian government officials at Davos sessions regarding the murder of his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, and the hypocrisy of investing in Russia. The Russians eventually requested off-the-record sessions and later demanded no questions at all, which WEF accommodated. This year, Browder applied for entry to WEF as the head of the Magnitsky Justice Foundation, but his request was denied. Despite being denied entry, Browder continued his activism during the forum, hosting dinners and meeting foreign officials. The article suggests that WEF's failure to recognize Browder's human rights activism may be a blind spot for the organization, as it allows representatives from illiberal regimes to attend and potentially stifle liberal exchanges of ideas [5ef2ee7d].
The World Economic Forum in Davos concluded with experts and business leaders expressing optimism about the US economy, downplaying the risks of AI, and little discussion about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Economic experts and executives do not expect a US recession in 2024, citing potential interest rate cuts and rising stock markets. The Middle East crisis was not a prominent topic, possibly due to the lack of obvious solutions or fear of causing controversy. The rise of global antisemitism and potential dangers of another Donald Trump presidency were also not widely discussed. AI dominated conversations and advertising at Davos, with technology leaders and musicians praising its promise. Panel discussions and conversations about AI were optimistic, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stating that AI will have less impact on the world than anticipated. Chinese Premier Li Qiang revealed that China's GDP grew 5.2% in 2023, slower than pre-pandemic growth, and expressed concerns about growth and foreign investment. The popularity of Davos has created infrastructure challenges, with high demand for hotel rooms and increased traffic [f4510439] [a8ca8798].