"Today's CEOs could be the most consequential corporate leaders in American history. The decisions they make will determine whether the most powerful technologies ever developed strengthen the foundations of American capitalism or further strain them. The stability of the modern socioeconomic system on which markets and business depend is on the line. Two realities define the leadership challenge ahead. First, companies must adopt new technologies fully, at speed, and with incredible levels of investment to remain competitive."
"Technological disruptions are not new. But this one is unfolding faster, at a greater scale, and with broader implications than any before. Whereas previous technological leaps forward were measured in decades, with agentic AI, automation, quantum computing, and humanoid robotics, the adaptation time has been compressed to months. Leaders simply do not have time to experiment, adjust, and course-correct. If they are perceived as being behind the curve or investing incorrectly, the consequences are swift and severe."
"At its core, our capitalist system is built on the shared belief that economic growth creates opportunity, and that hard work and talent are rewarded over time. As that belief dissipates, talent retention, consumer trust, and the social license to operate all decline. The warning signs are visible in Just Capital's research. In our latest polling, only 35% of Americans say the current form of capitalism is working for the average person."
CEOs face decisions that will determine whether powerful technologies strengthen or further strain American capitalism and the stability of the modern socioeconomic system. Companies must adopt new technologies quickly, fully, and with large investments to stay competitive. The transition to an AI-powered economy will reshape jobs, income models, communities, and the role of business, producing a decoupling of economic growth from the value of labor. The current technological wave—agentic AI, automation, quantum computing, and humanoid robotics—is unfolding far faster than prior disruptions, compressing adaptation time to months and leaving leaders little room to experiment. Erosion of belief that growth rewards effort undermines talent retention, consumer trust, and social license to operate.
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