BI Davos Diary: How an AI agent was so good it was literally given a seat at the boardroom table

• Tech and business leaders are in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.

• They’ve been discussing Donald Trump’s inauguration and AI as they wait for the event to begin in earnest.

• This is what Business Insider is hearing and seeing at the convention of the rich and powerful.

The World Economic Forum in Davos doesn’t begin in earnest until later on Monday, but business and tech leaders have already descended on the Swiss mountain resort.

AI and what Donald Trump’s presidency will mean are proving hot topics.

Business Insider is on the ground and talking to people. This is what we’re hearing.

• Talk of AI and AI agents is already in full swing here, but Mihir Shukla, CEO of Automation Anywhere, believes this year the conversation is turning from hype to questions about practical realities. “As CEOs here are chasing AI, they find it cool, but the job is to find value,” he told BI in an interview. “I know this is cool, but what can I do with it? I think that conversation happens this year.”

  Can AI do his job yet? Not completely, but he admitted it could do some. A fun example: His company built a boardroom AI agent and trained it on years of the company’s financial information and presentations. “It was able to match patterns that the most experienced people couldn’t,” he said. It was so good, they even gave the AI agent an empty seat at the boardroom table for dramatic effect. — Hugh Langley

• One hurdle with AI agents: How do companies get paid for their work, and who gets the credit, and more importantly, the revenue, internally? Raj Sharma, EY’s global managing partner for growth and innovation, told BI the power of AI agents is forcing the professional services giant to reconsider its commercial model. Instead of just charging clients based on the hours and resources EY might spend on a project, Sharma said with AI agents it can take a “service-as-a-software” approach where clients pay based on outcome.

  The issue isn’t just external. Some thought needs to be given to who owns the agents and is responsible for the revenue they bring in. As much time as we are spending on the technology aspect of these things, the whole commercial model, the risk models associated with that, there’s an equal amount of energy, at least companies like ours are spending, to say ‘What is the right commercial model?'” Sharma said. — Dan DeFrancesco

• It’s a bit warmer than usual in the mountain town this week, with daily highs reaching the mid-to-high 30s. At night, it’s only expected to drop to the mid-to-high 20s. (The daily average temperature for the town is typically in the low 20s.) And the famous “suits and boots” look the conference has become known for won’t be as necessary this week with no snow forecast.

  All of that is in stark contrast to the US, where the East Coast is dealing with some severe cold weather and a rare snow and ice storm threatens the South. — Dan DeFrancesco

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• Walking down the Promenade in Davos Sunday night, I couldn’t help but notice something different — emerging economies are showing up in a bigger way this year. Last year, India and Saudi Arabia made a splash, staking out prime real estate along this iconic stretch where you’re just as likely to bump into a government leader as you are a tech billionaire.

  But this year? The guest list has expanded. Brazil, Indonesia, Mongolia, and Korea have all joined the Davos scene, setting up their own hubs and signaling that they’re ready to be heard. I’ve got meetings lined up with officials from these countries, and I’m curious to hear what’s top of mind for them. One recurring theme? Donald Trump’s reelection and what it could mean for the developing world. With global capital still flowing largely from the US, there’s a lot at stake. Policies shaped in Washington have ripple effects from Jakarta to São Paulo. The mood here suggests leaders aren’t just watching—they’re strategizing. — Spriha Srivastava

• Davos is known for its big parties. JPMorgan hosts one of the week’s biggest blow-out events. Google, Qualcomm, and others are also hosting big gatherings. CEOs and other folks on the ground tell me going to parties is the best way to network but say that the smaller parties can be best for meaningful conversations. — Hugh Langley

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