Azeem Azhar's Exponential View Davos 2026 and the end of the rules-based order
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Jan 29, 2026 Live dispatches from Davos capture political tension and a sense that the rules-based order is fracturing. European leaders push technological and political sovereignty. On the ground, conversations focus on practical AI adoption in enterprises, open source models, startup innovations, and energy transition challenges.
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Arriving With Three Clear Priorities
- Azeem Azhar described arriving at Davos and tracking three priorities: AI adoption, startups, and the energy transition.
- He met founders and investors and planned sessions to probe each theme across the week.
Rules-Based Order Is Fracturing
- Mark Carney and European leaders signaled that the rules-based order is fracturing and the era of easy interdependence is ending.
- Azeem frames this as a rupture requiring new sovereignty thinking, not a smooth evolution.
Technological Sovereignty Is Urgent
- Technological sovereignty became a focal point as Europe realises heavy dependence on US software and cloud providers.
- Azeem suggests open source and alternative cloud strategies can mitigate some risks, though chip dependence remains a bottleneck.