September 2, 2026: Salus Forum

Howard

If I may offer a little different perspective, I certainly think the political turmoil that we’re in now gives a sense of that dramatic change that you were describing. But I don’t think that it really is an example of hard emergence, though it feels like hard emergence because I think a lot of it is because we’re living in that context and we feel it. However, the political nature, and more generally the nature of human beings in general, I don’t think really has changed. So, I don’t think it’s that kind of catastrophic change we’re feeling now. I think it’s just contextually we’re in that and it just feels like turmoil.

I think we are facing a more significant emergence and that’s what we’re seeing with artificial intelligence, which really challenges humanity in an emergent way. And that really will differentiate how we’re going to lead because is it man versus machine, or is it man and machine? Is it the singularity of man with machine? I think that is the emergent issue of the day.

Politics obfuscates everything because it’s in our daily reads and some of the things that happen are so outlandish. By nature, by definition, they’re outlandish. They’re designed to be outlandish because it creates a haze that keeps us from seeing whatever else is happening. But that’s the way politics have always been. I don’t think it’s emergence right now. I think it’s a continuation.

Jeremy

I would add that stampedes were used by humans in order to get food. So the induction of fear is a tool of humanity to control others. And if we look at it as these stampedes are being stimulated, as you’re saying, Howard, then we are witnessing an intentionally as part of the political process. It does seem as though it’s been fairly successful. I haven’t expected law firms to stampede the way they did. I would have thought they were a little more immune to stampeding. We can witness universities stampeding. Thankfully, it appears as though Harvard didn’t stampede. They sort of sat back and said, let’s see what we can get. And they gave in a little here, gave in a little there, but they have settled. I think their case has concluded in their favor. So to me, that demonstrates that at times not going with the flock over the cliff really requires that leadership sort of stand up. And as you’re saying, Howard, sort of recognize, okay, there’s political stuff. The big emergence is AI. I think that is a fascinating topic. So I’d love to hear what other people’s thoughts are about that.

Bill B

Howard, if we look at leadership, what are some of the ways in which you are being a leader, providing leadership and addressing the issues of AI? What are some of your own thoughts about what it means to be a leader in the midst of AI?