Davos 2026 ( WEF26 ) signalled a clear shift in the AI conversation: less speculation, more execution. For most corporates, the infrastructure stack matters, but it will be accessed via hyperscalers and service providers rather than built internally. The more relevant question is what happens inside the organisation once the capability is available.

A consistent theme across discussions: progress is coming from pragmatic leaders who are treating AI as an operating model change, not a technology project. That means building basic literacy across the workforce, redesigning workflows, and being willing to challenge legacy assumptions about how work gets done.

In the full write-up:

  • The shift from “AI theatre” to ROI and deployment reality
  • The five-layer AI stack (and why corporates mostly consume it via partners)
  • The emerging sixth layer: user readiness — and why it is becoming decisive
  • Energy and infrastructure constraints as real-world brakes on scale
  • Corporate pragmatism: moving beyond an “AI veneer” to process redesign and agentic workflows
  • Labour market implications: skills shifts, entry-level hollowing, and what employers must do now
  • The Global South dimension: barriers, pathways to competitiveness, and practical adoption strategies
  • Second-order risks: cyber exposure, mental health, and cognitive atrophy as governance issues

If you’re leading a business, the takeaway is straightforward: there are strong lessons from pragmatic programs outside of Silicon Valley.

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