Augury Co-Founder and CEO Saar Yoskovitz returned to the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. “If I have to identify one idea that kept coming back during the event, it’s ‘trust’ – or rather the ‘erosion of trust’,” he reports. So why is Saar still optimistic? Read all about it…

Returning from the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, my reflections are both sobering and hopeful. While the event aims to unite leaders from government, business, and civil society to chart our global future, this year’s discussions revealed a deepening concern about trust – or more precisely, its erosion across multiple dimensions of society.

The Global Trust Crisis

Trust Between Nations

We’re witnessing unprecedented strain in international relationships. The rise of protectionism and an “every nation for itself” mentality is reshaping everything from immigration policies to supply chain strategies. The resurgence of terms like “glocalization” and “local for local” signals a fundamental shift in global commerce.

In this increasingly fragile world, businesses face a critical question: How do we adapt – and potentially thrive – in an environment where traditional global partnerships are being reconsidered?

Trust in Leadership

Recent global election cycles have introduced significant volatility into policy-making. This instability creates real challenges for business leaders trying to make long-term decisions. As one manufacturing executive shared, “I invested hundreds of millions relocating production from Asia to Mexico. Now the landscape shifts again. Are we expected to undertake another costly relocation to the US?”

Another industry leader captured the frustration perfectly: “After investing heavily in green energy initiatives, we’re hearing ‘drill baby drill.’ How can businesses create meaningful long-term strategies when the rules change every election cycle?”

While there’s broad agreement that change is necessary, the consensus is that we need balanced, holistic approaches rather than siloed solutions.

These challenges could drive us to embrace technology differently, focusing on upskilling our workforce and improving quality of life through innovation.

Trust in Artificial Intelligence

The conversation around AI has evolved from hype to impact. There’s powerful momentum from leadership to implement AI across organizations, transforming traditional work patterns. However, this enthusiasm is tempered by a nuanced understanding of AI’s limitations and complexities.

Key questions emerge:

• Can we trust the companies leading the AI charge, or is government regulation necessary?
• How do we ensure AI remains a productivity tool for good rather than an existential risk for humanity?
• Is our global infrastructure, specifically energy and networking, prepared for the computational demands of AI?
• How will AI reshape the workforce, especially considering demographic pressures and changing generational priorities?
• What roles should government, academia, and industry play in ensuring economic and societal sustainability?

For manufacturing specifically, the convergence of talent shortages and an aging workforce might actually present an opportunity. These challenges could drive us to embrace technology differently, focusing on upskilling our workforce and improving quality of life through innovation.

In the industrial sector specifically, we’re entering an era of unprecedented possibility.

Looking Forward with Hope

While I left Davos with more questions than answers, my optimism remains unshaken. The week introduced me to extraordinarily capable and ambitious individuals dedicated to solving our greatest challenges. Their commitment to advancing society gives me confidence in our ability to build a better future.

In the industrial sector specifically, we’re entering an era of unprecedented possibility. At Augury, we’re honored to play a role in shaping this future, helping to rebuild trust through technology that empowers rather than replaces human capability.

The path forward may be complex, but with collaborative effort and shared purpose, we can transform today’s challenges into tomorrow’s achievements.

Learn more about how Augury is building trust through its technologies.