AI’s Ascendancy at Davos 2025: What It Means for Project Managers and the Future of Work

Introduction

This year’s World Economic Forum in Davos felt like an AI conference. Leaders from every corner of the world—from Sam Altman of OpenAI to Marc Benioff of Salesforce—came together to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming our lives, businesses, and the global economy.

AI was everywhere, with over 20 sessions dedicated to topics like AI in education, ethics, regulation, and even geopolitics. It’s clear: AI is no longer just a tool—it’s becoming the backbone of how we work and make decisions.

But what does this mean for project managers and the future workforce? Will AI replace us, or will it help us work smarter and faster? Let’s explore how AI will shape project management and what it means for your career.

1. Why AI Was the Star of Davos 2025

One of the main themes at Davos this year was “Artificial Intelligence as a Driving Force for the Economy and Society.” The message was loud and clear: AI is here to stay, and it’s growing faster than anyone expected.

Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, shared how his company is using AI through their tool, Agentforce. This AI “agent” is already taking over repetitive customer service tasks, freeing up employees to focus on sales and strategy. He called this shift “digital labor”—AI doing the grunt work while humans take on higher-value tasks.

But it wasn’t all excitement. Leaders like Sam Altman highlighted challenges, too. For example, AI uses a lot of energy, and there’s still a lot of work to do on regulating AI to ensure it’s used fairly and ethically.

For project managers, these conversations bring both opportunities and challenges.

2. How AI Will Change Project Management

Less Admin, More Strategy AI is amazing at automating repetitive tasks, like creating reports, tracking progress, and updating schedules. Imagine not having to spend hours preparing a project status report—AI could generate it in seconds by pulling data from your tools like Jira or Monday.com.

What does this mean for you? Instead of focusing on paperwork, you can spend more time leading your team, solving problems, and making big-picture decisions.

Smarter Decision-Making AI can analyze massive amounts of data and find patterns humans might miss. For example, it can predict project delays based on past performance or flag risks before they become issues.

This means project managers will have better tools to make decisions and prioritize tasks. Think of AI as your assistant, helping you make informed choices faster.

Better Communication with Stakeholders One of the hardest parts of project management is keeping everyone on the same page. AI can help by customizing reports for different audiences—giving executives a high-level overview while providing your team with detailed updates.

This not only saves time but also ensures everyone gets the information they need in a format they understand.

3. Challenges PMs Need to Prepare For

While AI brings incredible benefits, it’s not without challenges. Here are a few areas where project managers need to stay ahead:

1.????? AI Literacy: You don’t need to be a coder, but you’ll need to understand how AI works and how to use it effectively. This means staying curious and learning how AI tools fit into your workflows.

2.????? Ethics and Fair Use: AI raises tough questions: How do we make sure it’s unbiased? How do we use it responsibly? As a project manager, you’ll need to lead by example, ensuring your team uses AI in ways that are fair and ethical.

3.????? Energy and Sustainability: AI consumes a lot of energy, which can impact sustainability goals. As a PM, you may need to balance the benefits of AI with its environmental footprint, especially in industries focused on green initiatives.

4. A Vision for the Future of Work

In five years, project managers won’t just manage tasks—they’ll guide teams in a world where humans and AI work side by side. Here’s what the future could look like:

• AI as a Partner: AI will handle the repetitive tasks, giving you the time and tools to focus on leadership and strategy.
• New Skills for PMs: The best project managers will be those who can combine technical know-how with emotional intelligence, using AI to empower their teams while fostering trust and collaboration.
• More Focus on Ethics and Impact: PMs will play a key role in ensuring AI is used responsibly, balancing innovation with fairness and sustainability.

5. What Can Project Managers Do Today?

If you want to stay ahead of the curve, here are a few steps you can take now:

• Experiment with AI Tools: Start using AI-powered project management tools to automate tasks like reporting and scheduling.
• Learn About AI: Take a course or attend a webinar to build your knowledge about how AI works and its potential in project management.
• Stay Ethical: Create guidelines for how your team uses AI, ensuring transparency and fairness in all projects.

Conclusion

AI was the star of Davos 2025 for a reason—it’s transforming the way we work. For project managers, this is an exciting opportunity to evolve, lead, and make a bigger impact. By embracing AI as a partner, focusing on ethical practices, and staying open to learning, you can thrive in this new era.

What role do you see AI playing in your PMO? Let me know your perspective in the comments!

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