The Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, long characterized by the folksy wisdom and humor of Warren Buffett , saw a significant shift this Saturday as Greg Abel, the new CEO , took the helm for the first time. Shareholders still queued outside the Nebraska arena from midnight, but the atmosphere was notably different, with attendance down significantly and the venue only a little over half full. This marks a departure from previous years when over 40,000 people gathered to hear Buffett, 95, and his late partner Charlie Munger, who passed away in 2023. While Buffett stepped down as CEO in January, he remains chairman and offered a few comments during the proceedings. Discussions at the meeting largely centered on Berkshire's diverse businesses, but also touched upon pressing global issues such as the Middle East conflict and the evolving risks and benefits of artificial intelligence.…