Snow Easy Answers

The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos opens this week amidst a backdrop of intensifying geopolitical divides, economic fragmentation and rapid technological change. As global leaders convene, the intersection of geopolitics, economics and innovation is reshaping priorities across governments and boardrooms alike:

• Geopolitical risk has moved to the forefront. The war in Ukraine and ongoing tensions in the Middle East continue to strain alliances, while new flashpoints – including heightened U.S. involvement in Venezuela and renewed debate around Greenland’s strategic future – raise fresh questions on sovereignty and global stability. This is driving a shift toward realpolitik, with higher defense spending and a renewed focus on strategic autonomy, particularly across Europe.

• Trade and economic policy are growing more unpredictable. Tariffs, industrial policy and national security are increasingly intertwined, forcing companies to reconsider supply chains, partnerships and investment strategies. Volatility is becoming a constant in the global economy.

• Artificial intelligence remains a defining theme. Investment continues to surge, but so do concerns about energy demand, scalability, governance and the future of work. The gap between technological advancement and regulatory clarity persists.

Taken together, Davos 2026 is less about distant visions and more about navigating immediate realities. Resilience, strategic positioning and adaptability are top priorities as leaders confront rapid change, interconnected risks and heightened uncertainty.

Contact our team on the ground in Davos at wef@fgsglobal.com if we can be of further help.

The biggest headline out of the 83rd Golden Globes ceremony last week wasn’t a film or actor but rather its partnership with prediction market platform Polymarket, integrating real-time betting data into the broadcast. While the markets correctly forecast several winners, drawing praise from crypto enthusiasts for their accuracy, the move sparked significant discussion online and drew controversy from journalists and influencers. Critics labeled the move “disgusting” and “dystopian,” highlighting concerns about the intersection of entertainment and betting markets.

The Golden Globes moment reflects a broader shift already underway across the industry. In recent months, major TV networks have increasingly partnered with prediction market platforms, incorporating real-time betting data into news, sports and political coverage, including election forecasts. Dow Jones and Yahoo Finance have partnered with Polymarket, while CNN and CNBC hold exclusive deals with rival Kalshi. Sports Illustrated and Time have launched prediction-market integrations with Galactic.

For organizations, the emergence of betting platforms within high-profile media events signals a need to evolve media engagement strategies. While prediction markets promise engagement and data-driven insight, they also raise ethical, regulatory and reputational questions that will intensify as adoption grows. As these models move from the margins to the mainstream, organizations should expect greater scrutiny and faster-moving narratives, and be prepared to navigate both the opportunity and the risk that come with this new media landscape.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future-facing investment for organizations. While it’s increasingly integrated into workplace infrastructure, it’s reshaping how reputations are built, challenged and defended in real time, often faster than governance, comms teams or regulators can respond.

Across sectors, leaders face a dual pressure. On one hand, AI promises dramatic gains in efficiency, insight and engagement. On the other, it is accelerating new categories of risk, from deepfake-enabled disinformation to coordinated online harassment and dark web activity that can spill quickly into the physical world. The gap between adoption and preparedness is widening.

Against this backdrop, FGS Global today announced the launch of an AI Advisory practice alongside the acquisition of Memetica, a specialist consultancy focused on AI-driven threat intelligence across social, fringe and dark web platforms. The move reflects growing demand from organizations seeking not just tools, but judgment, to navigate an increasingly volatile information environment.

This expanded offer also comes as regulatory expectations climb. With the EU AI Act setting a new bar for transparency and oversight, our focus on robust governance frameworks positions clients to navigate compliance confidently, even as U.S. regulation remains fragmented.

As AI reshapes how influence is generated and contested, organizations that treat it as a purely technical issue may find themselves reacting too late. The next competitive advantage will belong to those that pair adoption with foresight and innovation with resilience.

To learn more, contact the team at AIAdvisory@fgsglobal.com.