Are You Chasing a Future That Isn't Actually Being Built?

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Love this Opinion Guest Essay by Julie Averill, a former chief information officer of Lululemon. 

Averill says, "Companies these days are quick to stick “A.I.” in news releases, in earnings calls, in product names, in job postings and in titles at the top of their organizations. The real question is what strategy sits behind the abbreviation. A title costs nothing, but it doesn’t produce anything, either."

And she says that's a problem.  

When companies mistake an announcement for a strategy, they spend real money — and sometimes cut real jobs – chasing a future that isn’t actually being built. And in doing so, they’re persuading Americans to reject a powerful innovation that could do so much good for all of us.

Company leaders think A.I. is magic.  But Averill says the way out of this is not more hype. It’s honesty.

Read Averill's entire Opinion Guest Essay for the NY Times here.

Today in Global Small Business: $4 Almond Butter In the U.S. Matters

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• How Aldi is taking on U.S. supermarkets with its $4 almond butter (requires subscription).
• Foreign policy hawk South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, dies at 71.
• Trump's verbal flubs are piling up.
• Quote of the week:  “Almond butter is an affordable and easy nutritional powerhouse,” explains Lee Cotton, R.D., author of A Nourishing Perspective.
• Driving global growth through the power of small business.
• AI presents a major opportunity for small businesses but support is needed.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement! 

Today in Global Small Business: Entrepreneurship Is For Everyone, Even Later in Life

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• It is a myth that entrepreneurship is for the young. Later-in-life business owners are blurring the line between their working years and retirement.
• Smithsonian ponders what it means to be an American.
• AI isn't a substitute for human skills.  It's a multiplier.
• Quote of the week:  “I alone will decide when I'm retiring." – Jupp Heynckes
• From principles to practice: How McKinsey is helping Ownership Works scale employee ownership.
• Leading through uncertainty in the age of AI.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement! 

Costco's CEO Ron Vachris Views AI As a Supplement to Human Value

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As executives name AI as one of many reasons for mass layoffs, Costco’s CEO Ron Vachris views AI as a supplement to human value.

Last month Vachris spoke at the Economic Club of Chicago about how AI is—and isn’t—changing Costco’s workforce of 341,000. 

“AI has been extremely good for our company in an assistive nature,” Vachris said. “What we found is, it has worked very well, complementing our employees and the systems that we put in place in the pharmacy, in our gas stations, and in the accounting department that we have. And also in some of our IT. It was writing some code.”

Discover how Costco is using AI to empower its employees rather than replace them.

Today in Global Small Business: The Global Women Presidents Organization

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Making sure the world knows about the global peer advisory group the Women Presidents Organization for women business owners generating $2 million (USD) in gross annual sales for a product-based business or $1 million for a service-based business.  If that is you, discover what a WPO membership could mean for your business.  Note: I ([Laurel Delaney] have been a WPO Chicago Chapter Chair since 2003 so I know first hand how exceptional the organization is.
• IMF Chief:  We can't repeat the mistakes of globalization with AI.
• Alternatives to the major powers must play a larger role, no matter if the aim is preservation of the existing global order, reform of its institutions, or transformation into a new model of governance.
• Quote of the week:  “These incredible women [business owners] have inspired me every single day. Their drive, resilience, and impact have shaped not only the economy but also communities and generations to come. It has been the honor of my life to help support this global movement for women’s economic development and leadership." – Camille Burns (second from left in photo), CEO, at the Women Presidents Organization
• The Qatar lesson:  In the age of globalization, new tools of influence have entered the arena. In the past, a country’s power was measured by the number of tanks, aircraft, and soldiers at its disposal.
• According to the World Economic Forum, globalization isn’t over. It’s being rebuilt around resilience, regions and intelligence.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement! 

The Global Trade Effects of the AI Infrastructure Boom

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According to the Federal Reserve, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key driver of the global economic outlook, underscored by the unprecedented scale of announced investment commitments aimed at expanding AI-related infrastructure. The AI boom is also increasingly influencing international trade by boosting demand for critical inputs and intermediate goods needed to build data centers. This surge in AI-related investment has already supported international trade since early 2025, with strong demand for critical components boosting exports in key supplier economies.

Looking ahead, AI-related trade is likely to remain an important feature of the global trade landscape as investment in AI infrastructure continues to scale.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month. 

How AI Will Transform Marketing

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Artificial intelligence can automate and streamline many basic marketing functions, but the real opportunity lies in AI's ability to help CMOs reinvent their entire operating model.

• Although AI can automate basic marketing processes, CMOs who focus exclusively on productivity gains are missing the bigger picture.
• Marketing leaders who fully embrace AI can transform their entire operating model in ways that were previously impossible.
• The challenge for CMOs is to sell their marketing vision to the C-suite and to their own teams while forging new partnerships with outside agencies.

Read more here.

Grievances and Drama On the World Stage in Artificial Intelligence

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A jury rejected Elon Musk’s claims against OpenAI, finding that he brought his lawsuit against the company and Chief Executive Sam Altman after the statute of limitations expired.

The verdict brings to a close a case that fixated the tech world on the grievances and drama of some of the most powerful personalities in artificial intelligence. 

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of February 1, 2026, we average more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Today in Global Small Business: How Starbucks Is Turning Around

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Here’s what most turnaround stories get wrong: They focus on the result and skip the method.  Not Starbucks.  They did things differently.  See how.
• Key US export controls considerations for global data center projects.
• State of US tariffs (as of 4/8/26).
• Quote of the week:  “Growth doesn't require us to become something new, it requires us to be exceptionally good at who we already are." – Mike Grams, Chief Operations Officer, Starbucks, on the focus of the turnaround
• AI and the self you left behind.
• Advancing communications skills in the age of AI.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  In April, 2026, we had more than 2,920,000 – yes, 2.9 million – readers visit our blog.

Today in Global Small Business: First Female Trainer to Win the Kentucky Derby 2026!

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• On Saturday, 5/2/26, Golden Tempo sprinted to victory at the 2026 Kentucky Derby, becoming the latest long shot to win. But the impressive win was also a historic one: With Golden Tempo beating out co-favorite Renegade at the finish line, trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win at the Kentucky Derby.
• One of the world's remote nations opens up.
• Spirit Airlines loses its spirit and ceases operations after escalating financial struggles.
• Quote of the week:  “Horse racing is a sport that transcends all boundaries. It's a celebration of speed, strength, and the indomitable spirit of the horse." – Anonymous
• What would the founding fathers say about Trump?  A guest essay by Stacy Schiff.
• AI isn’t a substitute for human skills. It’s a multiplier.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  In April, 2026, we had more than 2,920,000 – yes, 2.9 million – readers visit our blog.

6 Leaders On What Is Actually Scaling When It Comes to AI

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Artificial intelligence is finally crossing a threshold. Companies have long talked about AI as a transformational force, but most activity stayed in sandboxes and innovation labs. In 2026, that balance has begun to shift.

As more than 300 corporate strategy leaders gathered in Munich for the World Economic Forum's Industry Strategy Meeting this month, the question was less “Can AI work?” and more "Where is it already changing how we operate at scale?"

Find out more on what it takes to scale with AI.

Superintelligent A.I. Is Arriving Faster Than Anticipated

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You heard it here second, after Thomas L. Friedman, Opinion Column, The New York Times (4/7/26):

"Holy cow! Superintelligent A.I. is arriving faster than anticipated, at least in this area. We knew it was getting amazingly good at enabling anyone, no matter how computer literate, to write software code. But even Anthropic reportedly did not anticipate that it would get this good, this fast, at finding ways to find and exploit flaws in existing code."

Read the entire Opinion Piece here.

Highly Creative People Have the Performance Advantage Over AI for Now

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A new large-scale study demonstrates that when it comes to creativity, AI already outperforms the average human, but not the most creative among us.

“Despite widespread concern that AI could imminently replace creative professionals (like writers, for instance), the results suggest that such fears remain premature,” the researchers reported.

As the researchers said, "It seems natural that humans will always be more creative than machines. Yet artificial intelligence (AI) machine learning is rapidly improving and rapidly encroaching on the decidedly human realm of creative abilities.

Elevated Threats Are Ahead Yet CEOs Continue to Reinvent Their Companies

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CEOs are reinventing their companies with technology (AI) and seeking growth opportunities in new sectors, even as they see elevated threats ahead.

In the year ahead, CEOs see a world beset by challenges. They’ve grown significantly less confident about the short-term growth outlook for their companies and more worried about a range of threats, including macroeconomic volatility, cyber risk, and geopolitical conflict.

PwC’s Global Chairman Mohamed Kande discusses key findings from this year’s CEO Survey, featuring insights on AI adoption and innovating in the face of uncertainty.

Read the findings and listen to Mohamed's insights here.

John Yunker Is Back By Popular Demand for a wegginar® 12/3 on Deglobalization and AI: The Calm Before the Storm

©2025 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Register free of charge for the LIVE wegginar® on Wednesday, 12/3 at 11 AM CT.  Here's what John Yunker, Co-Founder of Byte Level Research will cover:

• Deglobalization is suppressing growth
• AI promises a new wave of global growth
• Smaller companies are best positioned to leverage AI

To learn more and to register, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2025/11/05/deglobalization-ai-the-calm-before-the-storm/

See you there!

Today in Global Small Business: Deglobalization & AI with John Yunker on 12/3 at 11 AM CT (wegginar)

©2025 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Attend the next wegg® wegginar® with John Yunker, co-founder of Byte Level Research on 12/3 at 11 AM CT when he discusses:  "Deglobalization & AI:  The Calm Before the Storm."  The program is free of charge to attend thanks to wegg's sponsors.
• Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global's 10-year anniversary on Thursday, November 6, 2025 in Chicago at the Tortoise Supper Club was a HUGE success.  Photos can be found here (courtesy of Lisa Miller Photography).  For those who couldn't attend and want to support the organization, go here.  Become a wegg® Angel!
• Quote of the week:  "Globalization is here to stay but not as we know it." – Guy Miller, Chief Market Strategist & Economist at Zurich Insurance
• David J. Lynch is worried about what happens next on globalization.
• Global shifts, or inflection points.
• The world as we know it is a product of globalization – and this era of globalization might be coming to a close.

Training Google's AI to Send You Customers

Are We Using Artificial Intelligence to Do the Brainwork For Us?

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Back in the day, if we wanted to get just about anything done, we had to rely on our entire mental faculty to do so. Today, many of us are resorting to shortcuts. Instead of relying on our own intelligence, we use artificial intelligence to do the brainwork for us.

Is artificial intelligence slowing our brain functioning?  Find out here. Spoiler alert:  AI should always be treated as a complement to human intelligence.

AI Is Used to Bring the Operating Cost of Fisheries Down

©iStock/Sasithorn Phuapankasemsuk

Because inflation continues to rise, the cost of all fisheries has become more expensive. The hope for the new FishVue AI technology is to help bring the cost of operating the fisheries down.

This new technology is coming to Alaskan fisheries thanks to a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

The grant was to the Alaska’s Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) and the $488,000 will be used to develop technology to incorporate artificial intelligence into the existing electronic monitoring (EM) program.

Achieving cost-efficiencies continues to be a high priority for the fishing industry.

AI Openness: A Primer for Policymakers

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The policy paper, "AI Openness:  A Primer for Policymaker," explores the concept of openness in artificial intelligence (AI), including relevant terminology and how different degrees of openness can exist. It explains why the term "open source" – a term rooted in software – does not fully capture the complexities specific to AI.

Further, the paper analyses current trends in open-weight foundation models using experimental data, illustrating both their potential benefits and associated risks. It incorporates the concept of marginality to further inform this discussion. By presenting information clearly and concisely, the paper seeks to support policy discussions on how to balance the openness of generative AI foundation models with responsible governance.