Young leaders at Davos discuss innovation at scale

Young leaders from the Global Shapers Community (GSC), known as global shapers, gathered in Dalian to discuss innovation solutions and the social impact those advances can deliver. Their conversations explored how new technologies can be scaled responsibly, reach ordinary people and address real-world challenges.

During visits to local enterprises, the global shapers were briefed on China's recent developments in digital technology, intelligent manufacturing and industrial innovation. Zhang Yunnian, member of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and founding curator of GSC Haikou hub, shared to CGTN during an interview, "In many areas, Chinese companies are very strong at turning technology into practical products quickly. They are good at reducing costs, improving efficiency, and bringing new technologies into real-life scenarios."

As emerging technologies reshape industries, the question is no longer whether innovation is possible but how it can be scaled and made widely accessible. Edwin Lai, curator of the GSC Sydney hub, told CGTN that the most transformative innovation lies in applying AI beyond software, through robotics and connected, autonomous vehicles that could automate routine work, ease urban traffic and make transport networks more efficient and sustainable.

Others stressed communication, cross-cultural collaboration and the people that technology is ultimately meant to serve. Confronting global challenges such as climate change, public health and technological governance, they said, will increasingly require international cooperation and the exchange of ideas. Cai Luona, GSC Community Champion for Greater China, told CGTN, "The real challenge of AI is no longer building something, since anyone can create with a few clicks, but understanding people's actual needs and where technology can meaningfully fit into their daily lives."

Echoing that view, He Qiqing, impact officer of the GSC Chengdu hub, said, "In an age of AI and rapid technological change, human connection becomes even more important, not less."

Discussions also turned repeatedly to the future of work and the skills younger generations will need. Many participants said adaptability would prove one of the most valuable qualities as artificial intelligence transforms industries, arguing that the ability to learn new skills may outweigh deep expertise in any single field. Palthy Alvarado, vice curator of the GSC Managua hub, shared to CGTN that the most important skill for young people is systems-level thinking to understand how a problem fits within a wider system before acting on it.

Wang Ziming, impact officer of the GSC Dalian hub, shared to CGTN, "We need to develop the ability to keep learning on your own. Any single skill goes out of date fast, so knowing how to learn matters more."

Beyond the formal sessions, the participants also toured Dalian's waterfront and urban districts, getting a closer look at the coastal city that will host this year's gathering. For many, the program offered a chance both to study China's innovation ecosystem and to build ties with peers from other parts of the world.

The exchanges took place during the global shapers Pre-AMNC event, a series of company visits, city tours and discussions organized around one of this year's central themes: Innovating at Scale. The program preceded the 2026 Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC), known as Summer Davos, which is hosted by the World Economic Forum and taking place in Dalian.