AI CEOs transformed Davos into a tech conference
In this episode of TechCrunch's Equity podcast, hosts discuss how AI dominated the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos this year, overshadowing traditional topics like climate change and global poverty. The conversation covers public criticism of trade policy, warnings about AI bubbles, and the trend of AI startups raising large sums on vision alone. A central example is Humans&, which raised a $480 million seed round with no product on the market.
Key Takeaways
- Tech CEOs dominated Davos while AI startups raise hundreds of millions on mission statements alone.
- There was public criticism of trade policy, warnings about AI bubbles popping, and a lot of talk about what comes next for the industry.
Meanwhile, back in Silicon Valley, AI startup Humans& raised a $480 million seed round with no product on the market, just a vision for "social intelligence" AI and a team of ex-Anthropic, Google, and xAI employees.
- You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod.
Theresa Loconsolo Audio Producer Theresa Loconsolo is an audio producer at TechCrunch focusing on Equity, the network's flagship podcast.
- Previously, he worked as a tech reporter at Adweek, a senior editor at VentureBeat, a local government reporter at the Hollister Free Lance, and vice president of content at a VC firm.
She is currently the transportation editor at TechCrunch and co-host of TechCrunch's Equity podcast.
- He previously worked at The Verge, where he also covered consumer technology, hosted many short- and long-form videos, performed product and editorial photography, and once nearly passed out in a Red Bull Air Race plane.
Stats & Key Facts
- #A central example is Humans&, which raised a $480 million seed round with no product on the market.
- #Meanwhile, back in Silicon Valley, AI startup Humans& raised a $480 million seed round with no product on the market, just a vision for "social intelligence" AI and a team of ex-Anthropic, Google, and xAI employees.
- #Listen to the full episode to hear more from the week, including: Whether Meta's 10% layoffs at Reality Labs means the end for the metaverse , and who's defending Meta's VR investments Serve Robotics' acquisition of Diligent , a startup bringing delivery bots into hospitals OpenAI's rumored earbuds and what we expect to see from the AI company's first hardware product.
Tech CEOs dominated Davos while AI startups raise hundreds of millions on mission statements alone. Equity breaks it all down on today's episode. Theresa Loconsolo , Anthony Ha , Kirsten Korosec , Sean O'Kane Jan 23, 2026 Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify The World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos felt different this year , and not just because Meta and Salesforce took over storefronts on the main promenade.
AI dominated the conversation in a way that overshadowed traditional topics like climate change and global poverty, and the CEOs weren't holding back. There was public criticism of trade policy, warnings about AI bubbles popping, and a lot of talk about what comes next for the industry. Meanwhile, back in Silicon Valley, AI startup Humans& raised a $480 million seed round with no product on the market, just a vision for "social intelligence" AI and a team of ex-Anthropic, Google, and xAI employees.
Today on TechCrunch's Equity podcast, Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O'Kane discuss why raising hundreds of millions before building a product is apparently the new norm, which conversations took over Davos this week, and more. Listen to the full episode to hear more from the week, including: Whether Meta's 10% layoffs at Reality Labs means the end for the metaverse , and who's defending Meta's VR investments Serve Robotics' acquisition of Diligent , a startup bringing delivery bots into hospitals OpenAI's rumored earbuds and what we expect to see from the AI company's first hardware product.
For more details please read the original article at TechCrunch M&A.
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