Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM, creators of the Watson AI system, spoke of AI and individual interactivity, and the fear individuals have of their positions being rendered obsolete. AI can sort potatoes into those set for French fry production, or those better suited to crisp or potato wedge products, meaning less waste. AI technology is being developed that could render fast food burger cooks obsolete through new and innovative cooking methods, entirely automated. Artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on business was a key talking point at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (Davos 2017). Speaking at an AI panel at Davos 2017, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed how simple it was to eliminate human input altogether: "its augmentation or replacement, that's a design choice. You can say replacement [of humans] is the goal, or you can say augmentation is the goal."

As business opportunities for artificial intelligence multiply, how can industry leaders design the principles and technical standards into their products that benefit society as a whole?

It was no surprise that artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on business was a key talking point at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (Davos 2017), especially as concern of AI-powered machinery displacing human workers grows. Speaking at an AI panel at Davos 2017, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed how simple it was to eliminate human input altogether: "its augmentation or replacement – that's a design choice. You can say replacement [of humans] is the goal, or you can say augmentation is the goal." But while Microsoft are developing tech to aid with human interaction, others may be less willing to design AI machinery that interacts with humans, instead opting to replace them altogether. However, the way in which AI is currently being developed is to work alongside individuals, or, as IBM CEO Ginni Rometty at the panel puts it, "in service" of them.

Over four days there are over 400 sessions on the official World Economic Forum Annual Summit program. In addition, there are a multitude of breakfasts, lunches and dinners with speakers and panels. No person can truly summarize the event since one only gets to experience a sliver of what is possible. Keeping this reality in mind, here are some of the key themes and takeaways from my perspective. Globalization on the whole has been dramatically good for the world, helping lift a billion people out of poverty, reducing prices, and bringing new opportunities.

Could AI be Society's Secret Weapon for Growth? As we move towards machines that think and learn, society is equal parts excited and terrified. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming the most talked-about and worried-about technology of the modern age. This session explores the growing impact of AI on business and society, and how we can prepare for the opportunities and challenges. What controls will we need to ensure that AI benefits everyone in society?

As business opportunities for artificial intelligence multiply, how can industry leaders design the principles and technical standards into their products that benefit society as a whole?

Open markets and global trade have been blamed for job losses over the last decade, but global CEOs say the real culprits are increasingly machines. And while business leaders gathered at the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos relish the productivity gains technology can bring, they warned this week that the collateral damage to jobs needs to be addressed more seriously. From taxi drivers to healthcare professionals, technologies such as robotics, driverless cars, artificial intelligence and 3-D printing mean more and more types of jobs are at risk. Adidas, for example, aims to use 3-D printing in the manufacture of some running shoes. "Jobs will be lost, jobs will evolve and this revolution is going to be ageless, it's going to be classless and it's going to affect everyone," said Meg Whitman, chief executive of Hewlett Packard.

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We are in the midst of an extraordinary period of computing platform revolution, a renaissance in artificial intelligence, which is going to change the lives of billions of people around the globe. No other technology is gaining more momentum, seeing more progress--or inciting more fear--than the radical sharpening and rise of intelligence of machines. While the promise of AI has been known for years, the current pace of breakthrough is stunning. Machines are set to reach and exceed human performance on more and more tasks, thanks to advances in dedicated hardware, faster and deeper access to big data, and newer sophisticated algorithms that provide the ability to learn and improve based on feedback. AI has driven crucial progress in fields such as medicine, where it has spurred breakthroughs in disease diagnosis and the development of treatment plans.