Why Walmart, Meta, Anthropic, Adidas, and other companies are moving faster than ever
In my previous Editor’s Note, which kicked off our special Summer issue on the autonomous future, I focused on the vertigo-inducing pace of change in the AI era, an unprecedented acceleration that was overwhelming even the most adaptable executives in tech. There was a real sense—illuminated by the CEO survey we published—that leaders were off balance and on the ropes, struggling to keep their…
In the latest issue of our special Summer edition focused on the autonomous future, we explore the rapid pace of change in the AI era. This acceleration has left even the most adaptable executives in tech feeling overwhelmed and off balance. However, a shift in mood among the C-suite appears to be occurring, with leaders displaying a newfound confidence and swagger.
Our cover story highlights Walmart's CEO, John Furner, who has rapidly deployed AI at scale since taking the top job in February. Furner is implementing AI to transform customers' shopping experiences and compete with Amazon's e-commerce dominance. The company's strategy of "build once, expand globally" is central to this rapid acceleration.
Furner acknowledges the need to manage employee anxiety over AI job displacement but remains determined to maintain the momentum. Other companies featured in the issue, such as Anthropic, Meta, and Adidas, also demonstrate a commitment to speed. Anthropic has moved quickly to turn an internal tool into Claude Code, ranking among the Best Workplaces for Innovators.
Meta is working to catch up to its peers in the AI race, while Adidas took the need for speed literally, winning an award for creating a shoe worn by a record-breaking runner. These examples showcase a welcome change of pace in the world of business and innovation.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
