Breaking news

Davos 2025: Key Insights And What To Expect From This Year’s World Economic Forum

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 20, 2025

The stage is set for the 2025 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), taking place from January 20-24 in the scenic alpine town of Davos, Switzerland. With global attention on the event, here’s what’s on the agenda for this year’s high-stakes discussions.

This year’s gathering, themed “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age,” promises to be a pivotal moment for global leadership. As over 3,000 influential figures from more than 130 countries converge on the Swiss mountains, the focus will be on addressing some of the most pressing global challenges, including geo-economic instability, AI innovation, sustainable growth, and climate change.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Despite the complex global climate of rising tensions and uncertainties, the Forum also brings an optimistic outlook, with breakthrough technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotech offering new avenues for progress.

What to Expect At Davos 2025

As ever, the diversity of participants will be a hallmark of this year’s event. With over 350 political leaders, including 60 heads of state, the meeting will feature voices from every corner of the globe.

According to the WEF, the forum’s approach underscores the importance of this diversity, ensuring that the world’s most critical issues are examined from a multitude of perspectives, fostering solutions that take into account a broad spectrum of industries, generations, and genders.

Key Political Figures At Davos 2025

Among the most high-profile figures attending are:

Donald J. Trump, President-elect of the United States, will engage in an interactive discussion via live video link.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission,
Ding Xuexiang, Vice-Premier of the People’s Republic of China,
Javier Milei, President of Argentina,
Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany,
Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament,
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa,
Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain.

Additionally, the summit will host several key global figures such as Karin Keller-Sutter, President of the Swiss Confederation 2025; Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia; and Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, among others.

The event will also feature prominent leaders from Israel, Ireland, Ukraine, and the Palestinian National Authority, including Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, who is set to address attendees amid the ongoing geopolitical challenges in his country.

Leaders of International Organizations

Not to be overlooked, key figures from international organizations will also attend, including:

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General,
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization,
Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF,
Mark Rutte, Secretary-General of NATO.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, and Achim Steiner, Administrator of the UN Development Programme, will also be present.

Business Leaders and Innovators

The private sector will be well-represented, with over 1,600 business leaders attending, including more than 900 top CEOs and chairs from the Forum’s members and partners. Expect a strong presence of Global Innovators, Tech Pioneers, and Unicorns who are revolutionizing industries. This year, over 120 of them will showcase their groundbreaking contributions to the world.

Moreover, over 170 civil society leaders from labor unions, NGOs, and religious and indigenous communities will be present, alongside experts and heads of top universities and think tanks. They will bring local innovations to the table, offering solutions to global issues.

With such a broad spectrum of participants, Davos 2025 promises to be an intense and action-packed meeting, where crucial decisions on the future of the global economy, technology, and sustainability will be made. The outcome of this year’s discussions could have far-reaching implications for global politics, economics, and societal progress.

The Power of Diversity in Action

The World Economic Forum in Davos has long been a space for collaboration and dialogue, and the diversity of its attendees ensures that no stone is left unturned in addressing the challenges we face. As the world continues to navigate uncertain waters, the decisions made here will shape the coming years. The question is: will leaders at Davos 2025 rise to the occasion, or will they become entangled in the complexities of a rapidly changing world? Only time will tell.

The Decline Of Smartwatches: A Turning Point In The Wearable Tech Industry

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 13, 2025

For the first time in history, the smartwatch market is facing a significant downturn. Shipments are expected to drop by 7% in 2024, marking a major shift in a segment that has been growing steadily for over a decade. A report by Counterpoint reveals that while Apple still holds the top spot, its dominance is being challenged by a surge from Chinese brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, and BBK. Even as the overall market struggles, some companies are thriving.

The Big Picture: Why Smartwatches Are Slowing Down

Apple’s flagship products have long been the driving force in the smartwatch market, but even the tech giant is feeling the pressure. The company’s shipments are projected to fall by 19% this year, though it will remain the market leader. Meanwhile, brands from China are capitalizing on the shift, with Huawei showing an impressive 35% growth in sales, driven by the booming domestic market and a broad range of offerings, including smartwatches for kids.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Xiaomi, too, is experiencing remarkable success, with a staggering 135% increase in sales. In contrast, Samsung is seeing more modest growth, up 3%, thanks to its latest Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra series.

While some companies are succeeding, the broader market is facing headwinds. The biggest factor behind the overall decline is the slowdown in India, where consumer demand for smartwatches has stagnated. The segment is suffering from a lack of innovation and fresh updates, leaving many consumers with little incentive to upgrade their devices. Add to that market saturation, and it’s clear why many users are content with their current models. The Chinese market, however, is bucking the trend, showing 6% growth in 2024.

A Glimpse Into The Future

Looking ahead, the smartwatch market may begin to recover in 2025, driven by the increasing integration of AI and advanced health monitoring tools. As these technologies evolve, the industry could see a resurgence in demand.

Huawei’s Remarkable Comeback

Huawei’s impressive performance in the smartwatch space signals a broader recovery for the company, which has been hit hard by US sanctions. Once the world’s largest smartphone maker, Huawei’s business was decimated when it lost access to advanced chips and Google’s Android operating system in 2019. But in China, Huawei has maintained its dominance, with its market share growing to 17% in 2024.

This resurgence was partly driven by the launch of the Mate 60 Pro, a smartphone featuring a 7-nanometer chip developed in China. Despite US sanctions, the device surprised many with its capabilities, a testament to China’s rising investment in domestic semiconductor production.

In February, Huawei also unveiled its Mate XT foldable smartphone, the world’s first device to fold in three directions. Running on HarmonyOS 4.2, Huawei’s proprietary operating system, the phone further demonstrates the company’s resilience and ability to innovate despite international challenges.

Huawei’s smartwatch offerings are also catching attention, particularly the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro, which launched in September of last year. With a premium titanium alloy design, a high-resolution AMOLED display, and impressive health tracking features, the GT 5 Pro has become a standout in the market, available to both Android and iOS users.

A Brief History Of The Smartwatch Revolution

The smartwatch market has had its fair share of milestones, but the real breakthrough came in 2012 with the Pebble, a Kickstarter-funded project that raised over $10 million. Pebble introduced the world to smartphone integration, app downloads, and long battery life, becoming the first truly mass-market smartwatch.

In 2013, Samsung entered the game with the Galaxy Gear, marking its first attempt at wearable tech. But it was Apple’s entry in 2014 that truly set the industry on fire. The Apple Watch’s sleek design, integration with iOS, and emphasis on health and fitness catapulted it to the top of the market, establishing a standard that many other brands would try to follow.

By 2021, the smartwatch industry had grown to over $30 billion in revenue, with annual growth reaching 20%. Yet now, it finds itself at a crossroads, with innovation stagnating and market saturation taking a toll.