Is It the 1930s All Over Again?


A historian sees parallels between the world today and the economic uncertainties and rise of authoritarian rule in the pre-World War II era August 26, 2024 The past decade and a half has seen upheaval across the globe. The 2008 financial crisis and its fallout, the COVID-19 pandemic, and major regional conflicts in Sudan, the Middle East, Ukraine, and elsewhere have left residual uncertainty. Added to this is a tense, growing rivalry between the U.S. and its perceived opponents, particularly China. In response to these jarring times, commentators have often reached for the easy analogy of the post-1945 era to … Continue reading Is It the 1930s All Over Again?

Deloitte analysis of 10 years … 4,000 global organizations digital transformation … enterprise value


Our analysis of 10 years of financial disclosures from more than 4,000 global organizations reveals where digital transformation actions can increase enterprise value—and, just as importantly, where they can erode it. Digital transformation is on everyone’s agenda. But the hardest part of any transformation is not deciding whether to embark on it; it’s understanding whether you’re seeing distinctive returns on your investment. Organizations often struggle to determine which actions drive the most impact and which investments yield the most enterprise value. We examined which actions can increase the odds of transformation success, and we identified the actions that drive value: … Continue reading Deloitte analysis of 10 years … 4,000 global organizations digital transformation … enterprise value

AI’s race for US energy butts up against bitcoin mining


Mrinalika RoyAugust 28, 202411:27 AM EDTUpdated 2 hours ago Aug 28 – U.S. technology companies are pursuing energy assets held by bitcoin miners as they race to secure a shrinking supply of electricity for their rapidly expanding artificial intelligence and cloud computing data centers. Those data centers are driving the fastest U.S. power demand growth since the start of the millennium, outpacing grid expansions and leaving giant technology companies, like Amazon (AMZN.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O), to scavenge for vast amounts of electricity. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The electricity scramble is jolting the energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining industry. Some miners are making huge profits leasing or selling their power-connected infrastructure … Continue reading AI’s race for US energy butts up against bitcoin mining

AI Regulation Is Coming. Fortune 500 Companies Are Bracing for Impact.


Some 27% of Fortune 500 companies cite AI regulation as a risk in their annual reports Belle LinAug. 27, 2024 at 7:00 am Relevance to Bankwatch Roughly 27% cited AI regulation as a risk in recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, One of the clearest signs yet of how AI rules could affect businesses. The extent of concern across company SEC filings is a clear indication that this risk is real and enough that Boards and Senior Management will reduce their motivation to take on transformative processes associated with AI. We already see that conservatism manifested in AI … Continue reading AI Regulation Is Coming. Fortune 500 Companies Are Bracing for Impact.

Dual transformation: Optimizing the core and building new businesses


August 23, 2024 | Article By Ari Libarikian,  Chris Hagedorn,  Matt Banholzer, and Ryan NguyenShare PrintDownload With the economy still in flux, established companies could potentially unlock and sustain growth by building new businesses while simultaneously transforming the core. DOWNLOADS Article (8 pages) In recent years, the world has experienced significant disruptions to the global economy—with lasting effects. Elevated inflation, though easing in some parts of the world, remains a serious issue, and heightened geopolitical tensions show no signs of dissipating. High interest rates continue for now, and volatile commodity prices also persist. It’s become increasingly clear that these disruptions may not be temporary; rather, they … Continue reading Dual transformation: Optimizing the core and building new businesses

Will Harris’s Lead Last? A Few Questions That Will Shape the Answer.


By Nate Cohn Republicans have struggled to cast Kamala Harris in a negative light.Credit…Jamie Kelter Davis for The New York Times Kamala Harris has wrapped up an extraordinary month. In that short time, she’s completely transformed the 2024 presidential election. She leads in most national and battleground state polls, and the real-world signs of the enthusiasm for her candidacy are everywhere, from filled-up stadiums to record-setting campaign contributions. All this was hard to imagine before President Biden dropped out, when a majority of Americans had an unfavorable view of her. Her previous run for president did not go well. If anything, her record in national politics saddled … Continue reading Will Harris’s Lead Last? A Few Questions That Will Shape the Answer.

How US military planning has shifted away from fighting terrorism to readying for tensions and conflict with China and Russia


 Eric RosenbachPublished: August 26, 2024 1.31pm BST President Joe Biden’s recent approval of a major shift in U.S. nuclear weapons strategyhighlights the attention the country’s national security officials are paying to Chinese ambitions for influence in the world. As changes emerge in the types of threats facing the U.S., the American military adjusts its strategic focus, budgets and planning. For instance, after 9/11, the U.S. military refocused away from its Cold War emphasis on preparing for combat against a powerful nation – the Soviet Union – and toward fighting small terrorist and insurgent groups instead. Over the past decade, the Pentagon’s efforts have … Continue reading How US military planning has shifted away from fighting terrorism to readying for tensions and conflict with China and Russia

Workers in Canada are now only 70 per cent as productive as their counterparts in the US


Workers in Canada are now only 70 per cent as productive as their counterparts in the United States, and our productivity growth lags that of the United Kingdom, Germany and France.August 14, 2024 From: Martin Eichenbaum, Michelle Alexopoulos and Jeremy M. Kronick >Many reasons have been cited for the country’s poor performance, over-regulation and barriers to competition and interprovincial trade among them. >But a lesser-known contributor to the problem is Canada’s focus on investment in the construction industry which tends to have weaker productivity than other industries, said Caranci. >Along with regulation barriers, the industry contains a large number of small … Continue reading Workers in Canada are now only 70 per cent as productive as their counterparts in the US

Trying to Head Off War, U.S. Moves Naval Forces Closer to Israel


Trying to Head Off War, U.S. Moves Naval Forces Closer to Israel American officials are sending a signal to Iran and its allies, in the form of two aircraft carrier groups and an attack submarine. By Eric Schmitt With fears rising that a wider war could break out in the Middle East, the United States has steadily been moving Navy forces closer to the area, including two aircraft carrier groups and an attack submarine. And it has not been shy about announcing the details, in a clear effort to deter Iran and its allies from more intense attacks on Israel. Earlier … Continue reading Trying to Head Off War, U.S. Moves Naval Forces Closer to Israel

Mike Gallagher is a new hire at Palantir


Palantir Hires Someone Very Important… Let’s dive into Mike Gallagher. AMIT KUKREJA AUG 25 READ IN APP Welcome back to DailyPalantir! On today’s newsletter, we dive deep into the latest employee Palantir just hired. Let’s get into it! Who is Mike Gallagher? Mike Gallagher is a new hire at Palantir, and he brings a background that’s a bit different from your typical defense industry professional. Before joining Palantir, he was a Republican congressman from Wisconsin, serving seven years in the House of Representatives. Gallagher’s new role marks his first job in the defense sector, but his experience in politics and national … Continue reading Mike Gallagher is a new hire at Palantir