Davos 2025 had AI deliberation in the air
Artificial intelligence as a partner—not a replacement—for creative achievement
Refik Anadol’s Studies from Large Nature Model, 2024
At the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, AI’s role in creativity took center stage, sparking conversations that ranged from exhilarating to existential.
While tech leaders championed the potential to unlock new forms of human expression, others warned of its risks—both to jobs and to the very nature of creativity itself.
The week opened with media artist Refik Anadol’s breathtaking AI-generated installation, Studies from Large Nature Model, which transformed climate data into dreamlike visuals of melting glaciers. More than just an aesthetic marvel, the piece underscored the forum’s broader themes: AI as a tool for storytelling, but also a mirror reflecting the uniquely human intent behind it.
Following the divisive SAG-AFTRA labor strike of 2023, which centered around AI’s unregulated use of actors’ likenesses, Hollywood’s biggest union announced new agreements designed to give performers greater control over their digital replicas. The deal ensures that AI-generated versions of actors cannot be used without permission—an effort to strike a balance between creative innovation and individual rights. Still, many in the industry remain wary of deepfake technology and the possibility of synthetic performances replacing real ones.
Adding a more philosophical lens to the debate, Pope Francis (yes, the Pope Francis) weighed in via a written address—though, much to the disappointment of meme culture, not while sporting his now-iconic Balenciaga-inspired deepfake puffer coat.
The papal message was stark:
“Unlike many other human inventions, AI is trained on the results of human creativity, enabling it to generate new artifacts with a skill level and speed that often rival or surpass human capabilities. This raises critical concerns about AI’s impact on humanity’s role in the world.”
My grain of thought
Despite the mixed outlook, one thing is clear—AI isn’t going away. The real challenge now is shaping policies and practices that ensure it enhances, rather than erases, human ingenuity. AI’s role in creativity is still being written, and the future will depend on how we navigate the balance between innovation, ethics, and artistic integrity.