Search results

Big Tech firms bristle at the mention of regulation, and unlike major industries including finance, energy, and pharmaceuticals, tech has so far managed to avoid the strong arm of governmental control. But companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon wield an out-sized amount of influence over how we shop, communicate, and get the news. Just in case these companies don’t ha...

Within our lifetimes, AI will, by design, begin to behave unpredictably, thinking and acting in ways which defy human logic. Big tech companies may be inadvertently building and enabling vast arrays of intelligent systems that don't share our motivations, desires, or hopes for the future of humanity. Is it too late to change course and realize a human-centered future for a...

A majority of Americans say that distrust is their default setting, fueled by growing distrust of democracy, media, and government, according to the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer survey. The survey found that business is now the most trusted institution, filling the void left by paralyzed and incompetent governments, but that trust has simultaneously become localized: in my...

As a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia wearily sustains, Ukraine’s government still feels the two-year-old burn of Russia’s unlawful Crimea annexation. And although this defining geopolitical provocation still sets the governments of Moscow and Kiev at odds, Ukraine has many competing priorities. What is the future of economic sanctions on Russia? Can Ukraine defeat cor...

Hear first-hand from four extraordinary social entrepreneurs who are working in communities around the world to solve some of society’s most complex issues from education to healthcare and human rights.

America’s heartland is quietly upending traditional notions of how cities work to deliver on their promise of shared prosperity. This means local governments, philanthropy, and the private sector have to work together and work differently. Jennifer Bradley of the Center for Urban Innovation and Rip Rapson of the Kresge Foundation discuss how leaders from Detroit, Fresno, M...

Renewables are on the rise, but so is fossil fuel consumption as global development demands more and more. Does the oil and gas industry have a role in reaching net-zero goals? How do government policies shape the strategies of oil and gas giants as fossil fuels fade away?

Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker joins Walter Isaacson to discuss the opportunities for growth inherent in the digital economy, as well as the challenges they present for both governments and businesses. How are we to make sense of the tectonic changes taking place in our labor markets? How can we ensure that our workforce will have the skills they need to succeed? Hav...

Around the world, people who are angry at stagnant wages and growing inequality have rebelled against established governments and turned to political extremes. Liberal democracy, history's greatest engine of growth, now struggles to overcome unprecedented economic headwinds — from aging populations to scarce resources to unsustainable debt burdens. Democracies risk falling...

The award-winning economist Mariana Mazzucato has been called the “world’s scariest economist.” Why? She challenges us to reconsider capitalism as it exists today. Focusing on innovation-led, inclusive, and sustainable growth, Mazzucato examines the critical — and misunderstood — role that governments play in fostering innovation. Her latest book, The Value of Everything,...

What is "productivity," and how does it work? Why are some individuals and some firms seemingly so productive, where others languish? Pulitzer Prize winning author Charles Duhigg criss-crossed the United States talking with neurologists, business people, government leaders, filmmakers, and even poker players, in a quest to understand how to set goals and live up to ambitio...

How will government survive without the skill of tech superstars among its ranks? Jen Pahlka’s Code for America was launched with the mission to use the principles and practices of the digital age to rebuild the institutions we rely on for our democracy. Kathleen Janus, whose recent book took her around the country meeting top social entrepreneurs, guides this conversation...

Technology used to be a lot more accessible, open, and ethical. It was driven by optimistic tinkerers rather than big companies. That changed. The entire industry and ecosystem is now ruled by a handful of companies rather than upstarts. American tech giants are now among the most powerful institutions in the world, rivaling governments in their power over media, culture,...

Americans are more connected than ever – at home, at work, and in everyday life. Yet few people understand the privacy trade-offs that come with each connection, and companies don’t make it easy to find out. How can we ensure consumers have a fair say in how companies use their personal data? Allstate CEO Tom Wilson and Harvard University lecturer Bruce Schneier sit down w...

George F. Will enjoys a reputation as one of the nation’s most distinguished and widely read columnists. Highly decorated for his writing and commentary, Will is known for his reflections on Western thought and its application to current political life in America. His newest book, The Conservative Sensibility, contrasts the Founders’ vision for America, embracing natural r...

The 2016 Edelman Trust Barometer is the company’s 16th annual global survey, measuring trust in key institutions—business, NGOs, media, and government—in more than 28 countries. This year’s barometer reveals a growing trust disparity between the informed public and the mass population, and explores the opportunity this presents for business and CEOs to play a leading role...

“Our people are our most important asset” is a common refrain from the C-suite — but does the walk match the talk? For decades, working Americans have seen rising living expenses and flat paychecks, resulting in widespread financial stress among American families, communities, and the nation. What constitutes a “good job”? What roles should business and government play in...

It’s been dismissed as a geeky fad, and exalted as the God Protocol. Among its supporters are futurists and cryptographers, venture capitalists and banks, governments and anarchists. Known by many as the backbone of bitcoin, blockchain technology promises to revolutionize the way financial institutions conduct transactions, and it's radically challenging how we think about...