Power Play

The focus of the 2024 World Economic Forum at Davos was on rebuilding trust, with artificial intelligence top of the agenda. Since the roll out of AI-powered chat bots, AI has developed a major trust problem among the public. The majority of Americans said last year that the risks of AI outweigh the potential benefits, and in the EU, Europeans were overwhelmingly in favor of restrictions around its use to protect jobs and privacy.Meanwhile, implementation by corporations is steadily growing. A 2023 AI Adoption Index from IBM and Morning Consult found 73 percent of companies surveyed are actively deploying or exploring AI in their business. AI built on a foundation of trust and transparency could be a catalyst that drives progress for society and the economy, creates jobs for a new era and reshapes the world for the better. But, continued public skepticism in the technology could be a serious roadblock to realizing AI’s future.On a special branded episode of Power Play, from our sponsor IBM, we explore AI’s trust problem and what business and political leaders can do to rebuild trust in the technology. The episode features Rob Thomas, senior vice president of software and chief commercial officer at IBM, who talks about ways to ensure the deployment of responsible AI, the importance of good data when creating AI models for business, and why policymakers need to ensure that future regulations still allow innovation to flourish.Power Play is a POLITICO original podcast series.This special branded episode from IBM was produced by POLITICO Focus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the World Economic Forum draws to a close in Davos, Power Play rounds off the week with analysis of an eventful week in the Swiss Alps.Host Anne McElvoy brings together a top team of POLITICO's reporters: Alex Ward, national security reporter based in Washington; Nahal Toosi, senior foreign affairs correspondent; and Suzanne Lynch, author of POLITICO's Global Playbook, your must-read each morning to keep up with the latest news from Davos.They discuss China's notable presence this week, President Zelensky's plea for the international community to refocus on Ukraine's war with Russia and whether American eyes have been distracted by events back home as Donald Trump returns to the fray. We unpack how the business community is grappling with fast-changing technological advances as well as geopolitical uncertainty in a bumper election year. And stay tuned to hear who our team deems as the surprising "hero" of the Davos crowd.Further reading:"Why the Davos Smart Set Sounds Dumb," by John Harris"China snubs Zelenskyy in Switzerland," by Nahal Toosi"Lawmakers’ short stay in Davos spiked fears of a distracted America," by Alex Ward"Trump’s ghost stalks Davos," by Suzanne Lynch and Zachary Warmbrodt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron sits down with Anne McElvoy at the World Economic Forum to discuss the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Britain's role in the Israel-Hamas war, as well as Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine — which he says is his "absolute number one priority." Cameron adds, "One thing we can do is demonstrate during the course of this year that Putin isn't winning."Cameron also addresses U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's controversial policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to process their applications (known as the Rwanda policy) and reveals more about his return to front-line Conservative party politics, reflects on what it's like to be a former prime minister returning in a different role. "I say that being prime minister for six years was a good apprenticeship for being foreign secretary," he tells Anne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump's emphatic victory in the Iowa caucuses has been the talking point of many at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Meanwhile, the accelerating pace of artificial intelligence is also never far from the lips of those attending this year's WEF.In today's edition of Power Play — continuing our special coverage of Davos — host Anne McElvoy explores these two prevailing themes.Anne talks to Anthony Scaramucci, who was briefly White House director of communications under President Trump, about the impact technological advances like AI are having on the economy. They also dive into the consequences of the Iowa result for the United States and the rest of the world.Then Anne talks to James Manyika, senior vice president of research, technology and society at Google, about how the how AI is changing the world before our eyes — a subject he's advised on from the White House to the world’s leading tech companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the World Economic Forum gets underway in Davos, many of the world's most powerful business leaders, politicians and tech gurus — and even the odd veteran pop star — have arrived in the Swiss Alps hoping to set the agenda for the year ahead. This week we present four episodes of Power Play with an array of interviews and analysis. Today, host Anne McElvoy brings together three of POLITICO's keenest Davos watchers to chart the week ahead. She's joined by Alex Ward, a national security reporter based in Washington; Nahal Toosi, a senior foreign affairs correspondent; and Suzanne Lynch, author of POLITICO's Global Playbook, your must-read each morning to keep up with the latest news from Davos.Together they'll explore a range of topics including how the prospect of a Trump return is impacting discussions, as well as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's in-person push to regain the spotlight for Kyiv. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After weeks of relative calm, Russian forces ushered in the New Year by pounding Ukrainian cities. While global attention has been gripped by the war in Gaza, it’s a reminder that there is no end in sight to the conflict in Ukraine. This week, NATO ambassadors met in Brussels to reinforce their commitments to help Ukraine’s air defences fend off devastating Russian air strikes, which have killed dozens of people in the last few days. It's a critical moment for Kyiv as continued military and financial support from the U.S. and the EU hangs in the balance.In this week’s edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to Krišjānis Kariņš, Latvia's foreign minister, one of the contenders to become NATO's next secretary-general, about the alliances's plans to combat renewed Russian aggression.And Anne is joined by Matthew Kaminski, editor at large at POLITICO in Washington, and Jan Cienski, senior policy editor at POLITICO in Europe to hear our own experts delve into the what 2024 brings for Ukraine — and NATO. Further reading: "Zelenskyy in Lilliput: Someone Shrunk Ukraine’s War Coalition," by Matthew Kaminski Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we enter a mammoth election year on either side of the Atlantic, Power Play looks back on the highlights from our interviews in 2023 to set the scene for the big geopolitical stories of 2024. In this week's bumper New Year edition, host Anne McElvoy takes a tour through the best of Power Play since the podcast launched last September, talking to some of the most influential figures in the United States, Europe and beyond. We'll hear from prime ministers, business leaders, diplomats and generals about major conflicts, fraught elections and tussles over how to address climate changeGuests include John Kerry, Rishi Sunak, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Ron Prosor, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Mark Carney, Mathias Döpfner, David Petraeus and Keir Starmer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Taiwan, political parties are entering the final stint of a lively campaign as voters prepare to go to the polls in a presidential election on 13 January. With a population of 23 million, Taiwan is at the precarious juncture of the South and East China seas, buffeted by geo-strategic gusts as China maintains its claim on sovereignty. In this special edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to Vincent Chao, a prominent figure from the incumbent pro-independence party, hoping to win an unprecedented third term, and Alexander Huang, from the principal opposition party, which seeks closer links with Beijing. And Anne speaks to the man who is about to head to Washington to become Taiwan’s top diplomat — Alexander Yui.To reflect on the interview with the ambassador and look ahead to the final weeks of the election campaign, Anne is joined by Stuart Lau, co-author of POLITICO’s China Watcher newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As negotiators from nearly 200 countries enter the final week of climate talks at COP28 in Dubai, all eyes will be on the big players and who moves first.In this week’s special edition of Power Play from Dubai, host Anne McElvoy talks to one of the most influential figures in the talks — John Kerry, the U.S. special presidential envoy for climate. A close ally of President Joe Biden and veteran of climate negotiations over several decades, the former secretary of state has the ear of this year's controversial host — COP president Sultan Al-Jaber from the UAE.Kerry also has a domestic audience in mind. He tells Power Play: "The subsidies are crazy and we have them still in the United States. President Biden has said we've gotta get rid of these subsidies. But again ... you have to legislate to do that and we've been pretty gridlocked in our country for a period of time."To reflect on the interview and look ahead to the finale of this year's COP, Anne is joined by POLITICO climate and energy reporter Zack Colman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The diplomatic caravan is rolling into Dubai for this year’s COP — the United Nations' round of global climate talks. Scores of world leaders and luminaries — including King Charles and the pope — from nearly 200 countries are due to attend, alongside an estimated 70,000 delegates.What are the chances of a meaningful agreement emerging at COP28? In this week’s edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to Mark Carney, the U.N.’s special envoy for climate finance and action. He's banging the financial drum for the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, encouraging CEOs, financiers and leaders to put their money where their mouths are. "Let's see who stands up in the UAE at COP amongst the oil and gas companies and countries and we'll start to judge who's performing and who isn’t," he says as the conference begins.Anne is then joined by POLITICO’s "Power Panel" to reflect on the interview. Zack Colman is a climate and energy reporter at POLITICO in Washington and Rachel Kyte is visiting professor at the Blavatnik school at Oxford University and co-chair of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices