
The McKinsey Podcast Special episode: 2026 Davos highlights
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Jan 29, 2026 Becca Coggins, a McKinsey senior partner on AI and technology transformation, and Shelley Stewart III, a McKinsey senior partner on organizational resilience and geopolitics, share Davos takeaways. They discuss geopolitics shaping CEO agendas. They explore AI moving from speculation to conviction, workforce redesign for human-agent collaboration, rising demand for AI fluency and creativity, and the emergence of humanoid robots.
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AI: From Speculation To Electricity-Level Conviction
- AI moved from speculative talk to conviction that it will be as transformational as electricity.
- Executives feel pressure to close the gap between promise and ROI and make 2026 the pivot year to scale impact.
Redesign Work For Human–Agent Teams
- Redesign work for human–agent collaboration rather than treating AI as solo tools.
- Move from pilots to scaled impact by reconfiguring end-to-end workflows and orchestration.
AI's Biggest Payoff Could Be Growth
- AI can drive productivity but the biggest unlock is AI-driven growth, not only efficiency.
- Examples include pushing AI into R&D, personalized healthcare, and scientific innovation.


