Blind to Disruption – The CEOs Who Missed the Future

> 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.

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

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.

Doesn't matter

The median CEO salary is in the millions, they do not have to ever worry about money again if they can just stick around for one CEO gig for a couple of years

Granted, people who become CEOs are not likely to think this way

But the fact is that when people have so much money they could retire immediately with no consequences, they are basically impossible for a business to hold accountable outside of actual illegal activity

And let's be real. Often it's difficult to even hold them accountable for actual illegal activity too

If you’re playing at that level, you’re not thinking about subsistence living and never having to work again. You are driven by ego, by winning, by legacy. All three incentivize you to do well if your board consists of non-asshats. You are playing a multi-shot game.