CEOs are still betting on the leadership trait AI can’t replace

In today's CEO Daily: Leaders have not forgotten the value of a good boss. The big leadership story is the new Fortune 500 Europe report. Stocks have rebounded ahead of the Federal Reserve's rate decision. This article covers the latest news and watercooler chatter from Fortune. Good morning.

The author returned from the Yale CEO Caucus in Washington feeling more hopeful than when they arrived. The week has seen the Iran War, with thousands killed, security gaps exposed, and costs of over $42 billion to U.S. taxpayers. Global protests have taken place due to rising fuel costs. Besides these issues, there are concerns about the economy, markets, jobs, climate, compute, and the state of the union, not to mention the ongoing controversy surrounding OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei.

While the semiannual gathering of CEOs, policymakers, journalists, and scholars hosted by Jeffrey Sonnenfeld is off-the-record, polling data and feedback from private conversations are shared. A shared desire for common ground and the rule of law is evident. The author did not meet anyone, regardless of political affiliation, who disagreed with the Supreme Court decision rejecting President Trump's plan to make voting by mail more difficult.

Former Vice President Mike Pence and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were honored for their leadership and commitment to the Constitution, public service, integrity, and something greater than themselves.

A shared celebration of the importance of human leadership is evident as well. Although tech leaders often vilify managers, the author emphasizes the value of a good boss. Corning CEO Wendell Weeks, honored with the Yale Legend in Leadership Award, exemplifies this. His success as a transformative leader in Corning's 175-year history is attributed not to his technical prowess but his ability to inspire excellence, loyalty, and respect.

There is an interest in addressing fears about AI technology. 88% of respondents in a flash poll believe President Trump should address AI safety with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during their upcoming meeting; 74% think he will. Additionally, 93% of attendees disagreed with Trump's Truth Social post claiming AI warnings are a hoax. The author highlights the importance of U.S. and China finding common ground around safety and regulation to ensure everyone benefits.