AI at Davos 2026: Power, Permissions, and the Scarcity Stack

Davos 2026 spotlighted AI as a constrained resource, with executives framing it around energy access, data rights, and governance. The week centered on "the meter" (power grids), "the keys" (permissions and orchestration), and "proof" (ROI), shifting focus from model hype to physical infrastructure and policy. Companies like Microsoft and Nvidia emphasized securing energy and data access, while others highlighted compliance and scalability challenges. Geopolitical tensions emerged, with Anthropic criticizing export controls on advanced AI chips. The event underscored that AI's growth hinges on overcoming scarcity, with winners controlling critical inputs and proving tangible outcomes. This marks a shift from abstract ambition to concrete execution in the AI landscape.