Earlier this year, the World Economic Forum held its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The theme for 2025 was ‘Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.’
President Deep Saini was there to represent McGill, one of 30 universities from around the world invited to participate in the event. He recently shared his thoughts on what he experienced at Davos with the McGill News.
While many people are familiar with the World Economic Forum, some might only have a vague notion of what it is about. Why do you think it is valuable for McGill to take part in the WEF?
This was an idea that began with Klaus Schwab, a German engineer and economist, to bring people together from around the world, people with diverse backgrounds and roles in society who all have some influence on the way the world functions at the economic level. The economy is the glue for the event, but there are many other topics that are discussed at the Forum.
The WEF is unique in the sense that it brings together people who might not otherwise meet: you have the business leaders and the various heads of state, but you also have NGOs and, of course, the universities from around the world.
President Deep Saini
“Universities have been the key generators of the fundamental knowledge that has led to the development of AI. We provided the foundations for it. But we haven’t done much yet in terms of adopting it for use within our own systems.”
One thing that strikes me about the WEF is the degree to which the hierarchy disappears once you are there, people talk to one another openly, as equals. I had a random encounter with the current prime minister of a country and, last year, I had a similar meeting with a former prime minister of the U.K. There are these interesting collisions between people and, as a result, there are conversations happening at Davos that you aren’t likely to have anywhere else, and this is valuable.
Largely because of that, it is a unique forum for the exchange of ideas. If we didn’t have the World Economic Forum, I think we would need to invent something to replace it, to have those kinds of exchanges.
The WEF is often described as a barometer of sorts, a place where you can get a sense of emerging global trends. What were some of the issues you heard about while you were there?
This year, the one broad underlying theme was Artificial Intelligence. You realize what a juggernaut we have coming our way. It’s already here, but its sophistication, applications, and impact are expanding rapidly.
Thanks to the decisions that were made by my predecessors at McGill, we are at the fore in terms of our ongoing scientific research and activities in AI. And, more recently, through the McGill Collaborative on AI and Society, we have been building on our strengths in understanding the impact that these technologies will have on society, with a particular focus on its ethical development and use, which is critically important.
But, like all universities, we need to think more about how we will adopt these technologies for our own use.
Universities have been the key generators of the fundamental knowledge that has led to the development of AI. We provided the foundations for it. But we haven’t done much yet in terms of adopting it for use within our own systems. Universities are largely on the perimeter, compared to what’s happening in other sectors. There are many ways in which AI can enhance and optimize the delivery of a university’s academic mission, and this needs to be explored in more depth.
In the wake of generative AI, a professor no longer has the same monopoly on knowledge. Applications such as ChatGPT or DeepSeek can provide answers to questions within seconds that, in some cases, might have earlier taken weeks to answer. So, if students have access to information through those means, what is a professor’s role now?
If I was teaching in a classroom today, I would say that my role is to help students make sense of all that information. Not so much to provide the information, but to provide the context for how to use it.
There are, of course, certain things that only a professor can teach. I would not want to be operated on by a surgeon who used Chat GPT to learn how to do it. The knowledge and training imparted by a human professional is essential in such cases. But if AI can answer the more mundane, repetitive questions that routinely come up during a course, what would that free a professor to do instead?
Were there any other topics that came up during the meeting?
Sustainability was also a leading theme, and understandably so. With 2024 being the hottest year on record, accelerating global efforts to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change is critical for the future of our planet and humanity.
Although this year’s WEF Annual Meeting unfolded soon after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to pull out of the Paris Agreement, Davos attendees made it clear that global efforts to combat climate change would persist, and with vigour. The urgency of the crisis and its widespread impacts are undeniable, and the discussions held at the event reaffirmed a commitment to achieving net zero and advancing decarbonization.
Through our teaching and research activities, McGill has a key role to play. The QS World University Rankings recently placed McGill 15th in the world for our achievements in sustainability, and, with the New Vic Project on the horizon, our capacity to make a positive impact will only expand.
The incredible possibilities that exist at the intersection of sustainability and AI were also explored at length in Davos. For example, thanks to the power of AI, experts are increasingly capable of making data-driven decisions to drastically improve the preservation of biodiversity. McGill already has a strong foundation in both these areas, and I foresee that this would be one of the many ways in which we could contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.
What role did universities play at the WEF?
The universities that participated in the WEF engaged in meaningful exchanges, particularly on the pressing issues shaping the higher education sector. A key focus was how universities can continue to serve as society’s “town square,” a space where even the most complex and contentious discussions can take place openly and respectfully.
Fostering civil dialogue is at the heart of a university’s mission, and while today’s divisive climate –
both online and in the real world – poses challenges, it also reinforces the essential role universities play in bridging differences and promoting understanding.
These discussions were both valuable and thought-provoking, but I believe universities must take an even more active role in broader global conversations.
For example, a major focus at the Forum was on talent – how to develop it, attract it, and retain it. As the institutions that educate and prepare the next generation of leaders, universities are central to this discussion. There cannot be a disconnect between those who cultivate talent and those who rely on it. Beyond the Forum, the relevance of universities is being questioned in some circles, and I believe we must do a better job at asserting our role in the world. We need to actively demonstrate the value we bring – highlighting how we drive innovation, grow the economy, and contribute to the wellbeing of society on so many levels.
Did you encounter any other McGillians at Davos?
Among the highlights for me at Davos were the many serendipitous encounters with McGill alumni or those with McGill connections in their family – each a wonderful reminder of the University’s incredible global reach and impact, as well as the lifelong affinity people feel for their alma mater.
I met a young woman from Pakistan, Shehrbano Jamali [BA’20], who stopped me and asked, ‘Are you President Saini?’ In her very next sentence, she said, ‘McGill taught me how to think.’ She was participating in a panel discussion on youth and uncertainty. At another moment, while speaking with the chief innovation strategy officer of Philips, someone nearby overheard us and said, ‘I’m a McGill alum too!’ – he now works for Barclays.
Every time I meet an alum – whether it’s someone like Shehrbano, who credits McGill with teaching them critical skills, or a professional making their mark in industries like finance or innovation I’m reminded of the incredible impact this University has on individuals and, in turn, on the world.
There’s a deep sense of pride in seeing how a McGill education shapes people’s lives and empowers them to take on big challenges, whether in policy discussions, business leadership, or groundbreaking research. Seeing that in action, not only at home, but in places far from our campuses, is incredibly rewarding.
