At this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz also mingled with guests and shared his views in advance on the challenges for 2024.
“It's good to be back in Davos for this year's World Economic Forum,” Kurz begins his contribution, which he published on LinkedIn, a social media platform for entrepreneurs and companies. “There's a lot going on in the world right now and in the following article I've chosen a few topics that I find particularly interesting.”
Briefly about the upcoming elections
“Looking ahead, there are also many important elections in 2024, especially the European elections on June 6-9 and the US presidential elections on November 5,” Kurz explained. There is currently dissatisfaction in Europe with political decision-makers in some countries, illegal migration, the cost of living and weak economic prospects, which is fueling a shift to the right.
©Instagram/sebastiankurz
This is visible in past elections, such as in the Netherlands and Sweden, but also in current surveys. Kurz cited the French Rassemblement National and the German AfD as examples. “Greens, leftists and socialists fear a loss of power due to the change in the dynamics of the European Parliament.” Finally, regarding the EU elections, Kurz said: “There are almost no revolutions in Europe, but these elections will certainly bring change.”
US elections: Biden vs Trump
The US presidential elections, where the primaries begin in Iowa today, are equally “fascinating”. There is a “good chance that the US presidential election will bring déjà vu for Trump and Biden, as both will lead in party polls.”
Trump's lead in election polls faces several challenges. For example, Trump could be excluded from the primaries in some states. “The Supreme Court will decide here whether Trump can run in some states or not.” If he is too relaxed, Kurz says, his chances of Trump returning to the presidential chair are not bad. “Otherwise, the outcry from Trump fans will be extremely loud because they would see the election being rigged.”
Briefly about AI
According to Kurz, ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, is just the tip of the iceberg of what artificial intelligence is capable of. It shows that we are currently in a “shock period”, similar to the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century or the rise of the Internet in the 20th century.
The “transformative power” of AI would encompass not only everyday life, but also medicine, journalism and the financial sector, among others. “The dream of reducing working hours is awakening for some, while others fear for their jobs,” says Kurz.
AI would also bring some “significant challenges to our society” as it represents a “mixture of technology and ethics, without a precise plan on how to deal with it”. However, he is convinced that “artificial intelligence will enrich our lives in many areas”. At the same time, Kurz also warns us not to underestimate the associated risks, such as cyber attacks or disinformation.
“In short, I am looking forward to an interesting week at the World Economic Forum and the year 2024,” concludes Kurz in his LinkedIn post.