This Week in Business

 AI was supposed to eliminate huge numbers of jobs. So far, the reality looks much more complicated.Peter Cappelli, Wharton Professor of Management, discusses new research on how AI is actually affecting the workplace and why the technology is changing tasks more than eliminating entire jobs.The conversation explores AI agents, workplace management, programmers, organizational change, data management and why some of AI’s most valuable applications may involve work that companies simply could not afford to do before. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Consumer bankruptcies are rising, but does that mean Americans are facing a worsening economy? The answer is more complicated than you might think.Sasha Indarte, Wharton Associate Professor, joins the show to explain what is driving the increase in personal bankruptcies and why today's numbers may actually represent a return toward more normal levels.She discusses the stigma and misconceptions surrounding bankruptcy, the impact on credit scores, what the filing process looks like, and why bankruptcy can ultimately serve as an important financial safety valve for people overwhelmed by debt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when one of the world’s busiest fire departments faces a catastrophe unlike anything it has experienced before?Gregory P. Shea, Wharton Adjunct Professor of Management, and Author of Rising from Ground Zero, examines how the FDNY responded to the unprecedented challenges of 9/11.Shea explains how the department transformed its psychological support, leadership training, incident management, and collaboration with outside agencies. The conversation explores how the FDNY turned lessons from Ground Zero into lasting organizational change and became an all hazards department. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shared bikes and scooters have transformed how people move through cities, but can the business model actually work?Gad Allon, Wharton Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, explores the economics behind companies like Lime, including subscriptions, pay per trip models, utilization, and the challenges of operating across different cities.Allon also explains why cities have embraced and restricted scooters, how Lime emerged as a dominant player, and why building a culture around shared transportation may be just as important as the technology itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The AI boom could transform the economy, but who is financing it and where the risks are building may matter just as much as the technology itself.Joao Gomes, Wharton Professor of Finance and Senior Vice Dean of Research, Centers, and Academic Initiatives, argues that the Federal Reserve is too focused on inflation and not focused enough on financial stability.Gomes discusses the opaque role of private credit, lessons from the housing crisis and internet boom, the potential impact of AI investment on long term productivity, and why the Fed needs better models for understanding the financial risks surrounding AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.