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Blind to Disruption – The CEOs Who Missed the Future

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128 points ArmageddonIt | 2 comments | 08 Jul 25 13:41 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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johncole ◴[08 Jul 25 15:08 UTC] No.44500724[source]▶
> Even with evidence staring them in the face, carriage companies still did not pivot, assuming cars were a fad.

I like this quote. But this analogy doesn’t exactly work. Withe this hype cycle, CEOs are getting out and saying that AI will replace humans, not horses. Unlike previous artisans making carriages, the CEOs saying these things have very clear motivations to make you believe the hype.

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bluefirebrand ◴[08 Jul 25 15:20 UTC] No.44500864[source]▶
I'm not sure I agree much

Cynically, there's no difference from a CEO's perspective between a human employee and a horse

They are both expenses that the CEO would probably prefer to do without whenever possible. A line item on a balance sheet, nothing more

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johncole ◴[08 Jul 25 15:41 UTC] No.44501066[source]▶
I think ceos that think this way are a self fulfilling prophecy of doom. If they think of their employees as cogs that can be replaced, they get cogs that can be replaced.
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1. nemomarx ◴[08 Jul 25 16:15 UTC] No.44501436{3}[source]▶
Isn't this good for the CEO? if your employees aren't cogs then what do you do if they leave? the more replaceable they are the better bargaining power you have as a capitalist right
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2. johncole ◴[08 Jul 25 17:11 UTC] No.44501964[source]▶
If you have all cogs, the scope of your business is almost always local. You’re running a lawn mowing business or a subway. And I’m not denigrating those businesses just making the point that they’re not the bulk of the economy. If you’re running a serious business part of your business may be cogs but there’s a very important layer of non cogs that you spend most of your time recruiting, keeping, and guiding. These folks are irreplaceable.