AI is a problem solver and has become a huge part of daily life. In fact, many companies now use AI functions that are able carry out tasks effectively on their own without human intervention. Despite how useful this tool is, its use might come with some risks. At Davos 2026, global leaders came together to address an issue regarding the use of this tool.
Leaders at Davos 2026 addressed some risks AI might pose
Davos is a global event where leaders from different parts of the world come together to talk about several topics, including the promotion of technology. But this year, Davos was different. Of course, technology was still promoted, but there were discussions about the control of certain technologies like AI. There was more focus on the conditions and control of this technology. The discussion at Davos 2026 went beyond what AI can do and focused on certain questions: how can we prevent the risk of people’s private lives being exposed? Who is in charge of this powerful technology? It wasn’t a conversation about the technology but about its impact on society.
Most tech companies never really knew the importance of trust
Many tech companies have overlooked the importance of trust and ethics. All they did was write principles, make it look transparent, and form a committee. But they never did take it seriously. At Davos 2026, this issue was addressed. People are starting to wonder the amount of data AI is allowed to reach, and if the tool has a wealth of data, including their personal details. The reality is, AI can access a lot of information, including bank data, work emails, and health history. The AI systems being built don’t need anyone to control them: they act independently on their own.
You must give AI tools specific permissions so they don’t take total control
One way to control how AI has access to one’s personal details is by giving it specific permissions. At Davos, it was explored that permissioning is an important design theme in this era, and users must explore it. This means that users can limit AI’s access to certain information depending on the situation. If no permissions are given, AI can carry out actions that you do not command them to, similar to this new Data Omnibus unveiled by the EU.
Companies that want to use AI must prove their legitimacy
At Davos 2026, it was noted that the adoption of AI is no longer the main hurdle. Using AI alone shouldn’t just be the yardstick for success. The focus now should be shifted towards legitimacy. This implies that countries and companies that are heavily reliant on AI must be able to protect users. Aside from protecting users, they must also be held accountable if users’ identities are misappropriately exposed. It was emphasized at Davos that public trust is important, and companies must work to protect users.
The truth is, AI is getting smarter each day. It is no longer a tool that just answers questions and solves problems, but also makes real-life decisions. Therefore, rules and ethical safeguards are no longer optional: they are compulsory. Companies that are willing to commit to ethics will be allowed to demonstrate this trustworthiness to customers and regulators. On the other hand, companies that can’t prove their trustworthiness will be blocked, similar to this review of the Cybersecurity Act by the European Union.
At Davos 2026, they explored how much access AI has to users’ lives and how it can carry out actions without consent. To protect users, leaders at Davos said that companies and countries must remain ethical and build trustworthiness. They concluded that to reach AI’s full potential, one must build trust. This means that trust is no longer an option: it is now compulsory.
