This January, the snow-covered streets of Davos, Switzerland, will once again become a focal point for CISOs, cyber strategists, and security professionals.
Nestled in the Swiss Alps, the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will convene nearly 3,000 global leaders from 130 countries, from January 20-24, 2025. The theme for this year is “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.”
World Economic Forum
The WEF sessions offer a valuable opportunity for cyber strategists. Attendees will gain critical insights into the latest market and technology trends, understand the expectations of business leaders, and explore the associated cybersecurity implications. These insights will help CISOs prepare for the secure transformation of their organizations and demonstrate a proactive, business-focused approach to cybersecurity.
For those unable to attend the meeting in Davos, there are still numerous ways to engage with the key discussions and gain valuable insights:
WEF Digital Membership. A WEF Digital Membership provides access to live streams and recordings of selected sessions from the annual meeting.
Open Forum. The Open Forum offers additional sessions that are open to the public, providing a platform to share insights, experiences, and perspectives on today’s pressing issues. A highlight this year is the “Empowering Bytes” session, which will cover the risks associated with our digital and online presence.
Other Opportunities. The WEF Annual Meeting can be followed through various online channels. For a comprehensive overview of these digital engagement opportunities, visit Davos 2025: How to Follow the Annual Meeting on Digital Channels.
Supporting Events
In parallel with the WEF Annual Meeting, Davos transforms into a vibrant hub of activity. Many other organizations host events to connect with their communities and foster meaningful dialogue.
Here is a curated list of organizations with a presence in Davos this year, offering topics that will likely be of great interest to cyber strategists. Please note that this list may not be exhaustive, and it is organized in alphabetical order:
AI House. AI House is an independent, non-commercial initiative that brings together senior researchers, executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to address the most pressing questions in AI. This year’s AI House Davos, themed “After the Hype,” will focus on the critical intersection of rapid AI innovation and ethical responsibility. The complete program is available here. A curated selection of cybersecurity-focused events will be highlighted in the sections below. Due to high demand, early registration for these panels is strongly recommended.
Deloitte. Deloitte will host a Deloitte Haus on the Davos Promenade, aiming to explore how we can work together to harness transformative technology for purposeful progress. The event website allows you to register for both in-person and virtual events.
Imagination in Action. The Davos AI Summit 2025, a global gathering hosted by Imagination in Action and founded by John Werner, will occur on January 22. It will bring together thought leaders, innovators, and changemakers to discuss the most pressing challenges related to AI adoption. A detailed event schedule can be found here.
Polish Business Hub. The Polish Business Hub Davos 2025 aims to showcase the role of business in shaping global economic and social progress. Notable panels and roundtables will cover topics related to recent developments in AI, LLM architectures, quantum computing, tokenization in finance and investing, as well as the impact of overregulation on emerging technologies.
Qualcomm Haus. At their Qualcomm Haus Davos event, Qualcomm will convene global leaders from the public and private sectors for compelling conversations and networking opportunities. The event will feature a range of thematic sessions with a strong focus on artificial intelligence. The full agenda and registration details are available on the event website. We recommend signing up in advance, as there was significant interest last year.
WiseKey. WISEKey will be present in Davos for the 20th consecutive year, focusing on topics related to artificial intelligence and quantum computing – two transformative technologies with a significant impact on cybersecurity. Further details and registration information can be found on their dedicated website.
Below is a curated selection of sessions that are particularly relevant for CISOs and cyber strategists, offering valuable insights into recent technology advancements, associated risks, and potential solutions. Please remember that this is just a selection, and agendas may be subject to change. We highly recommend consulting the respective organizers’ websites for the most up-to-date information before attending any session. Advance registration is required for most events.
20.01.2025: Monday
Beyond the Limits of AI: Exploring New Possibilities through Multimodal and Real-World Understanding
This panel will explore the expanding capabilities of AI as it moves beyond language comprehension to incorporate diverse data streams like images, audio, and spatial context. For cyber professionals, this session offers valuable insights into the emerging landscape of associated risks that will require mitigation.
Breakthroughs and Promises: Foundation Models from Big-Tech to Localization
This panel will discuss the development of localized Large Language Models (LLMs) alongside those from major tech companies. Key discussion points will include security, data privacy, and compliance with local regulations.
21.01.2025: Tuesday
The State of Generative AI in the Enterprise
The panelists will discuss the key insights from Deloitte’s latest report, ‘The State of Generative AI in the Enterprise.’ For cyber strategists, this report provides valuable information on the major trends, opportunities, and challenges organizations face when adopting, scaling, and governing GenAI solutions.
Empowering Bytes
Organized by the WEF and open to the public, this session will focus on our online presence and the challenges of safety and accountability in an increasingly digital world. It will present a practical approach to identifying and mitigating digital risks, preventing harm, and fostering trust and safety online.
Agentic AI
This session will explore the emerging trend of agentic AI – autonomous AI agents capable of independent decision-making. The discussion will cover the potential benefits and the risks for companies adopting this technology.
Is Explainable AI our Solution to Mitigate Bias?
This session will examine the role of explainable AI in mitigating bias, focusing on enhancing the transparency and accountability of AI systems.
Addressing the AI Readiness Gap
This panel will convene experts to discuss AI’s role in the future of work, exploring not only its benefits but also the crucial aspects of availability, reliability, and security of supporting infrastructure.
AI and the User Experience
This event will bring together technology leaders to discuss AI’s transformative impact on user experiences. It will also address key considerations of trust, privacy, and transparency – topics of particular interest to cyber professionals.
A New Groundbreaking LLM Architecture Changes the Game for AI Sovereignty
During this session, the panelists will discuss how to control your data, infrastructure and value creation in the AI age – the topic associated with AI sovereignty in nations and organizations.
Critical Infrastructure Protection: Who Is Responsible?
This event will explore the evolving threats to critical infrastructure. It will examine the UN framework for responsible behavior in cyberspace and its implications for non-state stakeholders, including critical infrastructure operators, ICT developers, and cybersecurity researchers.
From Crisis to Confidence in Cyberspace
This session will be particularly valuable for cyber professionals engaged in crisis management. It will explore collaborative and responsible approaches to maintaining customer trust throughout the lifecycle of a cyber incident – before, during, and after a crisis. According to WEF data, 75% of organizations experience challenges related to customer trust, business performance, and brand reputation following a cyber incident.
AI Regulation: Policy Silos Meet International Cooperation – Strategic Priorities for 2025
This panel will particularly interest regulatory teams, exploring the evolving landscape of AI regulation in 2025, with diverse perspectives from Europe, the USA, and Asia. Key topics will include cross-border enforcement mechanisms and shared standards for transparency and bias mitigation.
22.01.2025: Wednesday
In the Era of AI, the World Is Only as Strong as Our Network Connection
The panelists will focus on the critical dependence of AI deployments on robust networking technologies, including reliable, secure, and ubiquitous connectivity. It will underscore the importance of technological, organizational, and infrastructure collaboration.
AI in Action: Delivering Societal and Economic Impact with LLMs and Agentic Systems
This session will concentrate on the topic of agentic AI, exploring how LLMs are revolutionizing operations across various industries. It will also address topics of key interest to cyber professionals, such as infrastructure scalability, data security, and ethical deployment.
Cybersecurity in a Post-Quantum AI Era
This session will address the emerging risks quantum computing poses to current encryption standards. It will explore strategies for reimagining security infrastructures to mitigate these risks.
Cutting Through Cyber Complexity
Building on the WEF’s annual Global Cybersecurity Outlook report, this session will examine the escalation of cyberattacks, geopolitical tensions, technological shifts, and emerging trends that could impact cyber resilience. It will provide valuable insights for cyber strategists seeking to understand the latest changes in their business context.
AI at Scale: Navigating Speed, Security, and Strategy
This panel will explore the opportunities and challenges of deploying AI at scale, focusing on the need for robust and secure systems.
The Cutting Edge of AI
This session will examine how industries leverage Edge AI to accelerate digital transformation. It will highlight use cases and their benefits and strategies to ensure the security and reliability of AI implementations.
Architects of the Global Future
In collaboration with Imagination in Action, Deloitte invites you to a series of sessions covering the latest trends in the AI industry, including Edge AI, AGI, Tool AI, recent innovations, and predictions for the future of AI. These sessions will be particularly insightful for cyber strategists seeking strategic direction in secure AI adoption. Featured speakers include Nobel laureates, MIT leadership, and visionary business executives.
23.01.2025: Thursday
Is Overregulation Hindering Europe’s Economic Impact and Global Competitiveness In New Technologies?
This topic can be interesting for teams dealing with the regulatory landscape and its impact on emerging technologies. This roundtable discussion will explore the potential consequences of overregulation in Europe on technologies like AI, blockchain and green tech.
Unlocking the Potential of AI in financial services
This session will be highly relevant for cyber professionals in the financial services industry. It will explore the safe adoption of AI/GenAI solutions within heavily regulated companies, addressing the challenges of complex technology stacks and substantial risks. The speakers will discuss strategies for realizing AI’s benefits while upholding trust and meeting regulatory requirements.
How Tokenization Is Transforming Finance and Investment
This session can spark high interest among security professionals in the financial industry. The panelists will discuss how tokenized assets transform global financial markets, future trends in this area and how leading financial firms can utilize the latest innovations.
Next-Gen Industrial Infrastructure
This session will be particularly relevant for cyber professionals involved in critical infrastructure, covering trends in AI, quantum computing, and hyperconnectivity, as well as their transformative impact on infrastructure development and management.
24.01.2025: Friday
Beyond Borders: Keeping AI Talents Local, Making AI Impact Global
This panel will address a critical aspect of successful AI adoption: cultivating and retaining a skilled talent pool capable of driving groundbreaking innovations.
The insights gained from the WEF Annual Meeting and associated events in Davos are invaluable in preparing us for the technological challenges that lie ahead. They provide a glimpse into the future of technology and a roadmap for navigating the evolving cybersecurity landscape, enabling us to develop proactive and resilient cybersecurity strategies.
We deeply value the collective wisdom of our community. If you discover other events or sessions in Davos that could benefit CISOs or cyber strategists, please share them with us. Together, we can cultivate a stronger, more informed network of cybersecurity professionals ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
