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BI Davos Diary: After a night of parties, delegates packed the hall to hear what Trump had to say

People gather talking in the foreground with World Economic Forum signage in the background

Attendees at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 23, 2025.World Economic Forum / Boris Baldinger
  • Thursday was the last full day of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

  • At panels and parties, the rich and powerful were discussing what's next for the economy, tech, and business.

  • Delegates packed the 700-seater hall to hear Donald Trump's virtual address.

Thursday is the last full day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the rich and powerful have been discussing the year ahead in economics, business, and tech.

This is what happened.

You can tell the parties in Davos have been running late when the security lines at the Congress Center are shorter. That was the scene on the morning of day four.

Last night, the Business Insider crew was out mingling with the rich and powerful, trying to gauge their biggest takeaways from the week.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told me he loves coming to Davos—not just for the events but also for the sheer number of connections he's able to make. Connections were certainly the theme of the night.

From Uber, we made our way to one of the most sought-after gatherings: J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon's annual drinks reception. Hosted at the iconic Kirchner Museum, this event is a Davos staple, bringing together the biggest names in business and politics. It's not just about the cocktails — it's a chance to meet Dimon, his top leadership, and an exclusive circle of global power players.

A photo of four men and two women standing in front of JPMorganChase signage

Business Insider's journalists met J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon (left), former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (center), and Mary Callahan Erdoes, J.P. Morgan Asset Management CEO Mary Callahan Erdoes (right).Business Insider

And yes, we managed to sneak in a photo with Dimon himself, alongside Mary Callahan Erdoes, CEO of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and none other than former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Just another night in Davos. — Spriha Srivastava

 President Donald Trump's virtual address on Thursday afternoon drew a huge crowd.

A shot from the audience of 5 people on stage, beneath a video showing a livestream of Donald Trump speaking at a podium.

The hall was packed for Donald Trump's address at Davos.Business Insider

The 700-seater hall was full and an audience of CEOs and leaders listened to the new president, who attacked EU regulation while indulging in rhetoric reminiscent of the campaign trail. One delegate told me she'd walked out after his remark about "transgender surgeries". I wrote here about the strange atmosphere. — Spriha Srivastava

The AI agents are coming, but who will manage them? It's a very real concern among some business leaders I've met with.

HR software maker Lattice got some backlash last year when it announced it would start giving AI workers official employment records. The idea might not seem so ridiculous now as business leaders think about how to govern a new class of AI capable of carrying out certain tasks without human input. "We were ahead, but by months," Lattice CEO Sarah Franklin told BI at Davos.

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