Inflation has fallen dramatically since its high point in 2022, although it has crept up in recent months. Why has progress on inflation slowed? Prior to the new administration, the Fed was projecting that the economy would stay fairly stable over the next couple of years, with output and employment near their maximum sustainable levels and inflation falling gradually back to its 2% target—a soft landing. A natural question,…
We were excited to find clear evidence that even at small scales—within neighbourhoods rather than whole populations—the movements and life histories of individual birds actively shape the songs they sing.Lead researcher Dr Nilo Merino Recalde, Department of Biology, University of Oxford.The researchers spent three years collecting over twenty thousand hours of sound recordings from a wild population of great tits (Parus major) in Oxfordshire, which has been studied for the…
Stanford economist and Nobel laureate Guido W. Imbens will become the next faculty director of Stanford Data Science (SDS), an initiative housed within the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research that supports research and scholars through data-driven discovery and data science education opportunities across campus. Imbens will begin his term on April 1, succeeding Professor Emmanuel Candès, the Barnum-Simons Chair in Mathematics and Statistics, who has served…
A new study led by the University of Oxford has found that mentoring programmes can significantly increase honesty in children, with effects lasting years after the intervention. The research, 'Malleability of Preferences for Honesty', forthcoming in The Economic Journal, shows that preferences for truth-telling are not fixed traits but can be shaped by positive social interactions, offering new insights into how moral behaviours develop. The study, by Professor Johannes Abeler,…
Topics Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy The Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy initiative explores the growing use of artificial intelligence in the business landscape. The exploration looks specifically at how AI is affecting the development and execution of strategy in organizations. In collaboration with More in this series Today’s episode is a bonus drop from our friends over at the MIT CSAIL Alliances podcast. We’ll back in two weeks for…
Global energy leaders from the power and utilities, oil and gas, and mining sectors are turning to the power of data and AI for streamlined workflows, more efficient operating systems, and better performing assets—the types of changes that help companies to empower their people and grow sustainable business. We’re prioritizing this work with customers and partners because we believe that widespread AI adoption signifies a pivotal shift for the energy…
The report highlights four steps directors can take to ensure that their governance approach meets these challenges. Enhance horizon scanning and risk management Our report reveals that only a minority of board members fully understand how sustainability (35 percent), GenAI (12 percent) and trade and geopolitics (22 percent) can affect a company’s value, and an even smaller proportion (12, 8 and 10 percent respectively) actively scan the horizon for weak signals that indicate…
HomeNewsTropical forests in the Americas are struggling to keep pace with climate change Tropical rainforests play a vital role in global climate regulation and biodiversity conservation. However, a major new study led by Dr. Jesús Aguirre-Gutiérrez from the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute (ECI), reveals that forests across the Americas are not adapting quickly enough to keep pace with climate change, raising concerns about their long-term resilience. The research involved over…
The DeepSeek phenomenon The first trend, as yet unconfirmed, is a “DeepSeek effect”. Unveiled on 20 January, this artificial intelligence, officially developed on a shoestring budget in comparison to the amount invested by the Americans in ChatGPT and Perplexity, has set share prices in the Chinese tech sector – which has had a rough ride over the past few years – soaring.First, at the end of 2020, there was the…
Modern processes in the global geopolitical and geoeconomic space indicate that multipolarity is becoming a reality and, in this context, the entire system of international relations is being transformed, Rustam Khaidarzoda writes. The new system of international relations has already affected all countries of the world community. For example, in Eurasia, the formation of new geopolitical alliances is being completed, and new geoeconomic projects are emerging. Regions such as the…
Coaching for the Future-Forward Leader A productivity focus in RTO mandates tells workers they aren’t trusted. Leaders must instead emphasize connection. Sanyin Siang March 04, 2025 Reading Time: 2 min Topics Coaching for the Future-Forward Leader Leadership roles come with new personal and professional challenges — and Sanyin Siang, board and CEO coach, adviser, and author, is here to help with an advice column for top managers. More in this…
Quick Hits Employees sued Paramount Global and CBS Interactive after mass layoffs in New York in 2024. Employees claim the companies did not provide ninety days’ notice under New York’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. But the companies argue they fulfilled their legal duty because the workers stayed on payroll and benefits for ninety days. Some of the laid-off employees worked remotely in other states, and the parties…
Celebrate Pi Day 2025 and support math skill building in your classroom with PiCraft, Ratio Riddles, Math Progress, and more. Pi Day, celebrated March 14 each year, is the perfect opportunity to fuel students’ love of math through hands-on and engaging math practice. By connecting abstract mathematical ideas like pi (𝜋) to real-world applications, you can create immersive experiences to boost student learning while strengthening their confidence in math. Pi…
In this episode of Eureka!, a McKinsey podcast on innovation in life sciences R&D, hosts Navraj Nagra and Alex Devereson speak to Kim Branson, senior vice president and global head of AI and machine learning at GSK. They discuss how these emerging technologies are being used to potentially reshape how drugs are developed and about the complexities AI and machine learning introduce in data management, cross-functional collaboration, and responsible innovation.…
On February 26, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14222 entitled, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Cost Efficiency Initiative” (hereinafter, the “E.O.”), as well as an accompanying fact sheet describing the E.O.’s goals. The E.O.’s stated purpose is to spur “transformation in Federal spending on contracts, grants, and loans” by encouraging transparency and ensuring accountability to the American public. To do so, the E.O. requires agencies to review…
Today, Microsoft is introducing Microsoft Dragon Copilot, the first AI assistant for clinical workflow that brings together proven natural language voice dictation and ambient listening capabilities with fine-tuned generative AI and healthcare-adapted safeguards. Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot enables healthcare partners and their customers to unlock new levels of efficiency and care by streamlining documentation, surfacing pertinent information, and automating tasks so clinicians can focus more on…
Through the five-year collaboration, students and faculty staff are now able to gain access to research grant funding, enterprise-level security and cutting-edge AI tools to enhance teaching, learning and research. The initiative builds on Oxford’s investment in strengthening the AI capabilities and skills of all staff and students with its AI & Machine Learning Competency Centre. Anne Trefethen, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Digital at the University of Oxford said: 'This new collaboration marks an…
Trucking is a significant source of emissions. Given that transportation is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, with medium- and heavy-duty trucks accounting for about a quarter of these, transitioning fleets to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) has emerged as an urgent priority. McKinsey’s recent survey of more than 200 US trucking fleets found that while two-thirds are committed to decarbonization and over half are piloting ZEVs,…
Topics Column Our expert columnists offer opinion and analysis on important issues facing modern businesses and managers. More in this series subscribe-icon Subscribe Share Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images What matters more at the end of the workday: actual results, or all of the sensory cues from people actively scurrying about? That’s the essential question that lies behind the gap in the adoption of flexible work practices such as…
Quick Hits In July 2024, TPS for Haiti was redesignated and extended until February 3, 2026. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reconsidered and partially vacated the 2024 decision, reducing the designation and extension period from eighteen months to twelve months. The initial registration period for new applicants under the 2024 designation and the 2024 Haiti TPS extension will remain in effect until August 3, 2025. On February 24, 2025, U.S. Citizenship…
In an amended complaint to recent civil litigation, Microsoft is naming the primary developers of malicious tools designed to bypass the guardrails of generative AI services, including Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service. We are pursuing this legal action now against identified defendants to stop their conduct, to continue to dismantle their illicit operation, and to deter others intent on weaponizing our AI technology. The individuals named are: (1) Arian Yadegarnia aka…
At Davos 2025, the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, Shelley Stewart III, senior partner at McKinsey, and Angela F. Williams, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide, sat down to discuss some of the key themes of the conference. The conversation explored investments in people, collaboration, AI and technology, and how United Way Worldwide is thinking about these themes in serving communities. Their discussion also highlights the…
To quote an analogy developed by Professor John Sterman at MIT, we are adding too much water to a bathtub that is already nearly full. The tub is in danger of overflowing if we don’t find a way to remove at least as much water as we add. According to estimates, even if firms and governments met their current targets, we still need to remove 7–9 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide per year from…
This was the title of both the book and the film by the well-known fantasist and, perhaps, adventurer Erich von Däniken. With excessive cleverness, he claimed – and even claimed to prove – that aliens had visited Earth multiple times, exerting a profound influence on the development of humanity. Observing the current state of affairs on Earth, one might be tempted to believe in the namesake of the Russian White…
Workplaces are full of talented, educated, and hardworking women. Many are caught off guard when, several years into their careers, they see that they are falling behind their peers, and they can’t put a finger on exactly how or why. Women, after all, are doing everything they can to prepare themselves for successful careers. As early as kindergarten, girls on average outperform boys across all disciplines, including math. Women in…
A study involving over 3,000 participants – both patients and clinicians – found that these misdiagnoses (sometimes termed “in your head” by patients) were often associated with long term impacts on patients’ physical health and wellbeing and damaged trust in healthcare services.The researchers are calling for greater awareness among clinicians of the symptoms of such diseases, which they recognise can be difficult to diagnose, and for more support for patients.…
By Becca Coggins, Christina Adams, and Kari AlldredgeIn the first quarter of 2025, US consumers reported feeling nearly as optimistic as they did at the end of the previous year. This optimism was buoyed by a robust economy with low unemployment, steady job growth, and stable inflation. However, for US consumers across income groups and generations, spending intentions were down across several discretionary categories. Unlike in early 2024 (when consumers carried their…
Telecom operators have long provided the infrastructure to power communication and connect people. Now they are poised to take on a new role: building the AI infrastructure that enables enterprises, governments, and consumers to unlock AI’s full potential. But finding the sweet spot to capture meaningful revenue and renewed success will require speed and precision amid complex market dynamics, uncertain demand, and significant competitive headwinds. Delays or missteps may heighten…
After a prolonged period of disruption spurred by new technologies, new competitors, rapidly evolving customer demands, and dwindling opportunities in the B2C space, the telecom industry is now in a position to catalyze rapid B2B growth. McKinsey’s latest survey of decision makers across industries and geographies found that more than half of companies are planning to increase telecommunications and technology spending this year as organizations rush to embrace artificial intelligence…
As telecommunications companies employ better AI and other analytics tools to increase the resolution of their view into customer satisfaction, they’re quickly reaching the point where they can be more precise about their capital allocations to efficiently expand and improve the network. By building on telcos’ recent advances in data and AI (such as data digital twins and a more robust cloud IT infrastructure) that provide clearer insights into how…
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The Washington Supreme Court recently entertained oral arguments in Branson v. Washington Fine Wines on the following certified question from the W.D. Washington regarding the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (“EPOA”): What must a Plaintiff prove to be deemed a “job applicant” within the meaning of RCW 49.58.110(4)? For example, must they prove that they are a “bona fide” applicant? Plaintiffs-Appellants Lisa Branson and Cherie Burke argued that the term…
Next time you’re in a public place, stop and look around. Notice how many people are head’s down, staring at their phones. This is one of the unintended consequences of technology: while the intent is to connect us more to the world, it often distracts us from what’s actually happening around us. This unintended technological distraction has also had a negative impact in healthcare. Over the last decade, increasing regulations and mounting administrative…
Banking has had a couple of very good years—the best, in fact, since the global financial crisis of 2007–09. Yet to some, the industry’s outlook seems less buoyant than recent profitability might suggest. On this episode of The McKinsey Podcast, McKinsey Senior Partners Klaus Dallerup and Pradip Patiath speak with McKinsey Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly about McKinsey’s latest global banking annual review, breaking down the sources of skepticism, the risks and…
Brazil’s economic sentiment has taken a hit. Overall, consumers are more pessimistic about the state of Brazil’s economy than they were last year or even last quarter. At first glance, this shift seems counterintuitive given the country’s robust economic landscape. Unemployment has fallen to 6.2 percent, almost the lowest level on record, and GDP is hovering at around 3 percent. However, this positive momentum is overshadowed by persistent inflation, at…
FlyD, Unsplash Wednesday, March 12, 20253:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Central1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mountain12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pacific Register Here About the Program Join us for an informative program that offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of privacy law in Illinois. The panelists will cover the latest developments in the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) and the Genetic Information Privacy Act…
Quick Hits On February 26, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in a lawsuit, Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, claiming a state agency discriminated against a straight employee because she is straight. The Supreme Court is expected to decide whether an employee who is part of a majority group must also meet the “background circumstances” rule in proving discrimination. The background circumstances rule…
Celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day 2025 with engaging experiences from Minecraft Education, Learning Accelerators, and more. Each year on March 8, communities around the world come together to celebrate International Women’s Day, recognizing the remarkable contributions of women who have shaped history and championed equality. In the US, this celebration coincides with Women’s History Month, an opportunity to learn about the lives of leaders like Ellen Ochoa…
Students at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School recently visited Stanford to learn from leading researchers in artificial intelligence and aerospace technology.The goal of the Test of AI & Emerging Technologies course, which took place over 10 days in January, was to help the students prepare for testing and evaluating AI-guided aircraft and satellites, which are expected to play a prominent role in future defense operations.During the first part…
Creative expression is essential for everyone—to think differently, connect deeply and thrive through uncertainty. In the Season 4 premiere of Learning Through Experience, Heidi Brooks welcomes Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen, co-authors of Your Brain on Art, for a thought-provoking conversation about how engaging with art can help shape the way we learn, collaborate and navigate life’s complexities. Ivy and Susan share their personal journeys into the worlds of art…