The Davos elite embraced AI in 2023. Now they fear it.

The event opened Tuesday with Swiss President Viola Amherd calling for "global governance of AI," raising concerns the technology might supercharge disinformation as a throng of countries head to the polls. At a sleek cafe Microsoft set up across the street, CEO Satya Nadella sought to assuage concerns the AI revolution would leave the world's poorest behind, following the release of an International Monetary Fund report this week that found the technology is likely to worsen inequality and stoke social tensions. Over canapés and cocktails down the street at the Alpine Inn, Google CFO Ruth Porat promised to work with policymakers to "develop responsible regulation" and touted the company's investments in efforts to retrain workers.