Machines Vs. Humans: The Impact of A.I. on Society
It's been over 200 years since the industrial revolution, and we could be in the midst of a cybernetics revolution as machines and humans become more and more interwoven. Mazin Gilbert, VP of AT&T Labs, was with us to discuss whether the Cybernetics Revolution will be more disruptive than the Industrial Revolution.
Just like the Industrial Revolution, which marked the beginning of automation and retooling of machinery and the workforce, the Cybernetics Revolution is changing the way society works. Only now, the automation is software-centric and even more data-driven, allowing AI to self-repair and continuously self-optimize to become more intelligent. Gilbert explained the ways data and automation are changing the way we work and how there's a re-teaching of skills in the workforce underway.
There's an ongoing debate between Zuckerberg and Musk on the impact of A.I. on society. Just like any technology, Gilbert said there are always both benefits and things we have to watch out for. Without search, he said we would not know what to do as a community.
Nestlé has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after an investigation into an undisclosed relationship with a direct subordinate. The company announced on Monday that the dismissal was effective immediately. An investigation found that Freixe violated Nestlé’s code of conduct. He had been CEO for a year. Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive, will replace him. Chairman Paul Bulcke stated that the decision was necessary to uphold the company’s values and governance. Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 and has held various roles, including CEO of Nestlé's Nespresso division since 2024.
Kraft Heinz is splitting into two companies a decade after they joined in a massive merger that created one of the biggest food companies on the planet. One of the companies will include brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The other will include brands like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. When the company formed in 2015 it wanted to capitalize on its massive scale, but shifting tastes complicated those plans, with households seeking to introduce healthier options at the table. Kraft Heinz's net revenue has fallen every year since 2020.