McKinsey Global Institute

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, I've been reflecting on the generations that built the country's success and what it will take to prepare the next generation for the economic transition ahead. Like so many parents, I think about the future my children and their peers will inherit: the opportunities available to them, the skills that will matter, and whether they are prepared for a world changing faster than ever before, writes Kweilin Ellingrud in Forbes.

For all the constant buzz around AI, broad-based announcements about how AI has boosted profits are noticeably missing. The reason for this loud silence: it hasn’t happened—yet. AI is not an immaterial vapor hovering above the economy. The models that will power future change run on a foundation of physical inputs: cables, turbines, chips, and copper. These are bought and sold all over the world. This is why the one area AI is having a measurable effect on trade, write Olivia White and Tiago Devesa.

This time of year, many leaders find themselves in a familiar position. A child. A niece or nephew. A friend’s son or daughter. A new graduate reaching out for advice. The question sounds simple: “What advice do you have for me as I start my career?” But this year, it carries more weight than usual. Because the world they are entering is changing faster than the one we entered. And almost everyone can feel it, writes Kweilin Ellingrud in Forbes.