At Davos, Tech Leaders Say AI Is Now a Geopolitical Power Play

WEF 2026 discussions highlight artificial intelligence as a critical driver of national power, security, and global competition.

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Rajan Mhatre

Last Updated: January 21, 2026

Summary: Executives at WEF warn that AI shapes global competition and national influence.

At Davos this year, tech leaders didn’t just talk about AI as the next big thing for business—they made it clear: AI is now a real lever of geopolitical power.

The buzz surrounding artificial intelligence during the World Economic Forum's 2026 summit was impossible to ignore. Sure, there were plenty of discussions on investing patterns and the usual political issues, but AI consistently stole the show. It is no longer only a tool for transformation. It’s a card in the high-stakes game of global influence.

Dario Amodei, Anthropic’s CEO, put it bluntly. He compared selling advanced AI chips to selling nuclear weapons if they fall into the wrong hands. That hit a nerve. People in tech circles are genuinely worried—control over AI could tip national security and even shift the balance of global power.

There’s no denying the race is tightening, either. Executives pointed out that China has closed much of the gap with Western AI leaders in the past few months. The CEO of Google DeepMind said some Chinese models are now just months behind the world’s best. The message? The AI race is global, and the stakes are high.

But it’s not only about military might or market advantage. People at Davos stressed the need for broader participation in AI development. They want to see more voices from beyond just Silicon Valley and Beijing, and from more industries and countries, to avoid letting all that power pile up in a few places.

India’s IT sector got a nod, too. With the AI surge, foreign investors see real potential for growth there.

Business leaders didn’t mince words—nations that move fast, innovate, and spread AI across different industries will come out on top, not only in economic terms but in global influence too.

So as the summit goes on, one thing’s obvious: AI isn’t just a tech topic anymore. It’s a geopolitical force, reshaping who calls the shots in the world.