Godfather Of AI On Promise, Power And The Danger Of Losing Control | Davos 2026

In a candid conversation, AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio addresses one of the most pressing questions of our time: can artificial intelligence still be controlled? Bengio says he remains optimistic that AI can be built without harmful intentions, but warns that companies racing for dominance may ignore safety. He highlights AI’s biggest positives so far- transformative breakthroughs in biology, medicine, drug discovery and climate solutions. From generating life-saving molecules to tackling energy and environmental challenges, AI could help solve humanity’s toughest problems. But Bengio stresses that intelligence brings power, and power can be weaponised. To truly benefit, he says AI must be steered wisely through responsible innovation, strong governments and global coordination before risks outpace rewards.