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One recent rainy afternoon, I found myself in an unexpected rolephilosophy teacher to a machine. I was explaining the story of the Bhagavad Gita to a leading large language model, curious to see if it could grasp the lessons at the heart of one of the world’s most profound philosophical texts. The LLMs responses were impressively structured and fluent. They even sounded reflective at times, giving a sense that the AI model knew that it was itself part of this millennia-long conversation. Yet there was something fundamental that was missing from all the answers the machine gave methe lived experience that gives wisdom its true weight. AI can analyze the Gita, but it does not feel Arjuna’s moral dilemma or the power of Krishna’s guidance. It does not struggle with duty, fear, or consequence, and it does not evolve through a process of personal growth. AI can simulate wisdom, but it cannot embody it. The irony wasn’t lost on me. One of humanity’s oldest philosophical texts was testing the limits of our newest technology, just as that technology challenges us to rethink what it means to be human. Technology is just one part of the story As a founder of several technology companies and an author on innovation, I’ve followed AI’s evolution with both excitement and trepidation. But it was as a father that I first truly understood how important this technology will be for all of us. When my son was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer, I spent hundreds of hours using LLMs to find and analyze sources that might help me understand his condition. Every flash of insight I gained and every machine hallucination that steered me down the wrong path left a permanent mark on me as a person. I began to see that the technical challenges involved in implementing AI are just one part of the story. Much more important are the philosophical questions this technology raises when it leaves its imprint on our lives. Arjuna, Krishna, and the Morality of Inaction In the Bhagavad Gita, the warrior Arjuna faces an impossible choice. Seeing his family and teachers arrayed on the battlefield across from him in the opposing army, he lays down his weapons. Unwilling to harm those he loves, he believes that inaction will absolve him of responsibility for the deaths that will take place when the armies clash. His charioteer, the god Krishna, disagrees, sharing an invaluable piece of wisdom that still resonates today: “No one exists for even an instant without performing action; however unwilling, every being is forced to act.” Arjuna may think that his refusal to participate in the battle removes him from the moral fray just as it does from the physical conflict. But Krishna shows him that this is not so. Sitting out the battle will have consequences of its own. Krishna may not kill those he values on the other side, but without his protection, many on his own side will fall. His choice not to act is an action with consequences of its own. Decisions (and Nondecisions) Have Consequences This mirrors our predicament with AI. Many people today wish they could opt out of the AI revolution entirelyto disengage from a technology that writes essays, diagnoses diseases, powers weapons of war, and mimics human conversation with often unsettling accuracy. But as Krishna taught Arjuna, inaction is not an option. Those who want to wash their hands of the problem empower others to make decisions on their behalf. There is no way to rise above the fray. The only question is whether or not we will engage wisely with AI. This wisdom extends beyond individual choices to organizational and societal responses. Every business decision about whether to adopt AI, every regulatory framework that governments consider, every educational curriculum that addresses (or ignores) AI literacyall are actions with consequences. Even choosing not to implement AI is itself a significant action with far-reaching effects. As Krishna taught Arjuna, we cannot escape the responsibility of choice. AI As a Mirror of Societyand Business AI systems, and LLMs in particular, hold up a mirror to humanity. They reflect back at us all the human-created content they have been trained on, both the good and the bad. And this has ethical, social, and economic implications. If AI-driven recommendations reinforce past trends, will innovation and sustainability suffer? If algorithms favor corporate giants over independent brands, will consumers be nudged toward choices that consolidate market power? AI doesn’t just reflect historyit is shaping the future of commerce. As such, it requires careful human oversight. Recently, I conducted an experiment with a major retailer’s recommendation engine. The algorithm consistently steered me toward established brands with large advertising budgets, even when smaller companies offered better products or alternative options that might have interested me. This algorithmic preference wasn’t maliciousit simply optimized for historical purchasing patterns and profit margins. Yet its cumulative effect could make it harder for innovative, purpose-driven companies to gain visibility, potentially slowing the adoption of alternative business models. AI and Philosophy AI-driven automation is also transforming the workforce, reshaping entire industries, from journalism to customer service to the creative arts. This transition is bringing new efficiencies but it also raises critical questions: How do we ensure that the economic displacement of human workers does not widen inequality? Can we create AI systems that augment human work rather than replace it? These are not just technical questions but questions with deeply philosophical ramifications. They demand that we think about issues such as the value of labor and the dignity of work. At a time when so much attention is being paid to bringing manufacturing jobs back to the United States, they also have an intensely political dimension. Will reshoring matter if these jobs, and many more, are automated within just a few years? As AI becomes more capable, we must also ask whether our reliance on it weakens human creativity and problem-solving skills. If AI generates ideas, composes music, and writes literature, will human originality decline? If AI can complete complex tasks, will we become passive consumers of algorithmic output rather than active creators? The answers to these questions will depend not just on AI’s capabilities but on how we choose to integrate this technology into our lives. The Middle Way Public sentiment toward AI swings between utopian optimism and dystopian dread, and I have witnessed this same polarization firsthand in boardrooms and policy discussions. Some see AI as a panacea for global problemscuring diseases, reversing climate change, creating prosperity. Others fear mass unemployment, autonomous weapons, and existential threats. I have seen senior leaders chasing the latest technology without thinking about how it can help deliver on the companys mission while others reect out of hand the possibility that AI could do more than automate a small number of IT services. The Buddha taught the virtue of the Middle Way: a path of balance that avoids extremes. Between the fascination of the AI maximalists and the fear of the AI Luddites lies a more balanced approachone informed by both technological innovation and ethical reflection. We can strike this balance only if we start by asking what values should guide the development and implementation of AI. Should efficiency always take precedence over human well-being? Should AI systems be allowed to make life-and-death decisions in healthcare, warfare, or criminal justice? These are ethical dilemmas we must confront now. We cannot afford to sit idle while these questions are answered in a piecemeal way depending on what seems to be most convenient at the moment. If we allow unreflective answers about AI usage to become deeply embedded in our social structures, it will be all but impossible to change course later. The Path Forward Jean-Paul Sartre, the influential French existentialist philosopher, argued that human beings are condemned to be freeour choices define us and we cannot escape the need to impose meaning on life through those choices. The AI revolution presents us with a new defining choice. We can use this technology to amplify distraction, division, and exploitation, or we can take it as a catalyst for human growth and development. Transcending what we are now does not mean finding an escape from our humanity but rather finding a way to fulfill its potential at the highest possible level. It means embracing wisdom, compassion, and moral choice while acknowledging our limitations and biases. AI should not replace human judgment but rather complement itembodying our highest values while compensating for our blind spots. As we stand at this technological crossroads, the wisdom of ancient philosophical traditions offers valuable guidance, from the Bhagavad Gita and Buddhist mindfulness to Aristotle’s virtue ethics and Socratess self-reflection. These traditions remind us that technological progress must be balanced with ethical development, that means and ends cannot be separated, and that true wisdom involves both knowledge and compassion. Just as the alchemists of old sought the philosopher’s stonea mythical substance capable of transforming base metals into goldwe now seek to transform our technological capabilities into true wisdom. The search for the philosopher’s stone was never merely about material transformation but about spiritual enlightenment. Similarly, AI’s greatest potential lies not in its technical capabilities but in how it might help us better understand ourselves and our place in the universe. A more human future This journey of philosophical reflection cannot be separated from technological development; it must be integral to it. We must cultivate what the ancient Greeks called phronesisthe practical wisdom that can guide action in complex situations. This wisdom enables us to navigate uncertainty, to accept that we cannot predict every outcome of technological change, and yet to move forward with both courage and caution. By balancing innovation with caution, efficiency with meaning, and technological progress with human values, we can create a future that enhances rather than diminishes what is most valuable about being human. We can build AI systems that amplify our creativity rather than replacing it with mechanistic outputs, that expand our choices rather than constraining them, that deepen our human connections rather than substituting virtual alternatives. In doing so, we may finally realize what philosophers have sought throughout history: not just mastery over nature, but wisdom about how to live well in an ever-changing and uncertain world.
Category:
E-Commerce
U.S. stocks soared to one of their best days in history on a euphoric Wall Street Wednesday after President Donald Trump said he would back off on most of his tariffs temporarily, as investors had so desperately hoped he would.The S&P 500 surged 9.5%, an amount that would count as a good year for the market. It had been sinking earlier in the day on worries that Trump’s trade war could drag the global economy into a recession. But then came the posting on social media that investors worldwide had been waiting and wishing for.“I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE,” Trump said, after recognizing the more than 75 countries that he said have been negotiating on trade and had not retaliated against his latest increases in tariffs.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later told reporters that Trump was pausing his so-called ‘reciprocal’ tariffs on most of the country’s biggest trading partners, but maintaining his 10% tariff on nearly all global imports.China was a huge exception, though, with Trump saying tariffs are going up to 125% against its products. That raises the possibility of more swings ahead that could stun financial markets. The trade war is not over, and an escalating battle between the world’s two largest economies can create plenty of damage. U.S. stocks are also still below where they were just a week ago, when Trump announced worldwide tariffs on what he called “Liberation Day.”But on Wednesday, at least, the focus on Wall Street was on the positive. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shot to a gain of 2,962 points, or 7.9%. The Nasdaq composite leaped 12.2%. The S&P 500 had its third-best day since 1940.The relief came after doubts had crept in about whether Trump cared about the financial pain the U.S. stock market was taking because of his tariffs. The S&P 500, the index that sits at the center of many 401(k) accounts, came into the day nearly 19% below its record set less than two months ago.That surprised many professional investors, who had long thought that a president who used to crow about records for the Dow under his watch would pull back on policies if they sent markets reeling.Wednesday’s rally pulled the S&P 500 index away from the edge of what’s called a “bear market.” That’s what professionals call it when a run-of-the-mill drop of 10% for U.S. stocks, which happens every year or so, graduates into a more vicious fall of 20%. The index is now down 11.2% from its record.Wall Street also got a boost from a relatively smooth auction of U.S. Treasurys in the bond market Wednesday. Earlier jumps in Treasury yields had rattled the market, indicating increasing levels of stress. Trump himself said Wednesday that he had been watching the bond market “getting a little queasy.”Analysts say several reasons could be behind the rise in yields, including hedge funds and other investors having to sell their Treasury bonds to raise cash in order to make up for losses in the stock market. Investors outside the United States may also be selling their U.S. Treasurys because of the trade war. Such actions would push down prices for Treasurys, which in turn would push up their yields.Regardless of the reasons behind it, higher yields on Treasurys add pressure on the stock market and push upward on rates for mortgages and other loans for U.S. households and businesses.The moves are particularly notable because U.S. Treasury yields have historically droppednot risenduring scary times for the market because the bonds are usually seen as some of the safest possible investments. This week’s sharp rise had brought the yield on the 10-year Treasury back to where it was in late February.After approaching 4.50% in the morning, the 10-year yield pulled back to 4.34% following Trump’s pause and the Treasury’s auction. That’s still up from 4.26% late Tuesday and from just 4.01% at the end of last week.Of course, the trade war is not over. Bessent and Trump clearly showed their anger at China, which has been ratcheting up its own tariffs on U.S. goods and announcing other countermeasures with each move Trump has made.China earlier said it would raise tariffs on U.S. goods to 84% on Thursday. “If the U.S. insists on further escalating its economic and trade restrictions, China has the firm will and abundant means to take necessary countermeasures and fight to the end” the Ministry of Commerce said.Later the U.S. Treasury secretary said in a message to countries worldwide, but perhaps most directly aimed at China, “Do not retaliate, and you will be rewarded.”Wednesday’s rally provided the latest reminder that some of the U.S. stock market’s best days have been clustered around some of its worst days historically. That’s one of the reasons many financial advisers suggest not trying to time the market and selling stocks and other investments meant for the long term when nervous, because of the risk of missing out on such huge up days.The biggest gain for the S&P 500 since World War II was an 11.6% surge on Oct. 13, 2008, for example. That was during the depths of the Great Recession, when worries were high that the financial system was collapsing and the S&P 500 was in the midst of a nearly 57% plunge from its peak in late 2007 until its bottom in March 2009. A couple weeks later, the index had another one of its best days in history, soaring 10.8%.Wednesday’s gains were widespread across the U.S. stock market, and 98% of the stocks in the S&P 500 index rallied.Leading the way were airlines and other stocks that need customers feeling confident enough to travel for work or for vacation.Delta Air Lines soared 23.4%. Earlier in the day, it had pulled financial forecasts for 2025 as the trade war scrambles expectations for business and household spending and depresses bookings across the travel sector. All told, the S&P 500 rocketed higher by 474.13 points to 5,456.90. The Dow Jones Industrial gained 2,962.86 to 40,608.45, and the Nasdaq composite surged 1,857.06 to 17,124.97.In stock markets abroad, indexes tumbled across most of Europe and much of Asia after they closed before Trump’s announcement.London’s FTSE 100 dropped 2.9%, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 sank 3.9% and the CAC 40 fell 3.3% in Paris. Chinese stocks were an outlier, and indexes rose 0.7% in Hong Kong and 1.3% in Shanghai. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. Stan Choe, AP Business Writer
Category:
E-Commerce
Yesterday was a head-spinning day in the markets. After President Donald Trump announced out of the blue that he would be placing a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for many countriesexcluding Chinastocks rallied. As noted by CNBC, the S&P 500 had its biggest one-day gain since 2008. It surged 9.52% to 5,456. Meanwhile, the Dow rallied 7.87%, and the Nasdaq climbed 12.16%. Yet despite the market recovery, one stock had a particularly bad day. WW International, Inc. (Nasdaq: WW), owner of the WeightWatchers brand of weight management products, saw its shares crash over 62%. Heres what you need to know about the WW stock plunge. WW International reportedly mulling Chapter 11 bankruptcy The main driver of WW International, Inc.s stock price fall yesterday was a report from the Wall Street Journal that said the company was preparing to file for bankruptcy in the coming months. After the report was published, WW stock plummeted. Its important to note that WW International has said nothing publicly about any bankruptcy plans or the WSJs report. However, the WSJ cited people familiar with the matter in its reporting. Fast Company has reached out to WW International for confirmation of its bankruptcy plans. According to the report, one of the big financial challenges affecting WW International is that the company has over $1.4 billion worth of bonds and loans that are set to come due in 2028 and 2029. The report also says that the company would prefer to restructure its balance sheet outside of court processes, but because WW International is publicly traded, that option is likely not feasible. Ozempic and a lackluster 2024 The report notes that one of the main challenges WeightWatchers has faced in recent years is the rise of weight loss drugs like Ozempic. This, combined with an aging subscriber base and a failure to attract younger users, has resulted in a diminished brand image. Partly due to the above, the company has faced financial headwinds. In February, WW International reported its full-year Fiscal 2024 results, in which it said that it made $785.9 million in revenues but that subscription revenues were down 5.6% from the year earlier. The company also reported an operating loss of $236.2 million for fiscal 2024 and a net loss of $345.7 million. Announcing its results at the time, the companys new CEO, Tara Comonte, acknowledged the company was in a period of significant transition as we navigate industry shifts and reposition our business for long-term growth. In 2024, the company launched a telehealth arm aimed at providing weight loss drugs, but that endeavor has struggled. Early in 2024, WeightWatchers lost its most prominent board member, Oprah Winfrey, when the media mogul announced her departure from the company because she wanted to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest with a TV show she was making about weight loss drugs. WW stock plummets After the Wall Street Journal published its report about WW Internationals alleged bankruptcy plans, WW stock plummeted yesterday. Shares fell a staggering 62.21% in the trading session. But while that is a massive double-digit drop, it only equated to a per-share loss of slightly over 28 cents. WW shares had already been below $1 per share since early February. They ended up closing at 0.175 yesterday. As of the time of this writing, in premarket trading this morning, WW shares have recovered slightlyup about 2.9% to around 18 cents per share. Year to date, WW shares have fallen over 86%, and over the past 12 months, WW shares have declined more than 91% as of yesterdays close. Over the past five years, WW shares are down more than 99%. Back in June 2018, WW shares traded above $100 per share.
Category:
E-Commerce
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