Richard

Gen Z is obsessed with eating more protein (at least on TikTok), and now brands from Pepsi to Starbucks are adding it to foods and changing packaging to cash in on the trend. Some are even adding a whole new product.

David Protein, which sells a line of popular high-protein snack bars (and claims it has more protein per calorie than any bar on the market), now sells something with even more protein — cod.

Related: Starbucks Is Looking to Remove Seed Oils From Some of Its Food Products

After hearing feedback from customers who were trying to avoid processed foods, David Protein CEO and co-founder Peter Rahal told the Wall Street Journal that the company was looking to do “something bold that sparks the conversation” while finding a new product.

Rahal, who previously founded Rxbar, which sold to Kellogg for $600 million, said they found it with cod. The 6-ounce frozen fillets have 23 grams of protein.

David Protein’s wild-caught Pacific cod is sourced from a sustainable fishing company, according to the company. It sells in a four-pack for $55 online and is marketed as having “slightly more protein per calorie than a David bar.” The fillets need to be boiled before consuming.

Keagan Tigges, chief of staff at David, told National Fisherman that the price “reflects direct, traceable sourcing and peak freshness.”

Related: Coca-Cola Is Releasing Coke Made with Cane Sugar. Here’s When It’s Expected in Stores.

“Most of our customers are in the continental U.S., where high-quality cod is harder to find and often more expensive and expensive to ship from Alaska,” Tigges said. “This is a premium, ultra-lean protein source for people serious about building muscle and reducing fat.”

How much protein you actually need depends on your weight and lifestyle factors, according to the Mayo Clinic.

On average, protein should account for 10% to 35% of your calories. If taking in 2,000 calories a day, it averages to around 200 to 700 calories from protein, or approximately 50 to 175 grams.

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Despite Microsoft’s position as the No. 2 most valuable company in the world, behind Nvidia, with a market value of $3.8 trillion, the tech giant has laid off more than 15,000 people this year.

In a memo to staff on Thursday morning, released publicly on Microsoft’s corporate blog, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addressed the recent job cuts, calling the decisions some of “the most difficult” that he had to make.

“Before anything else, I want to speak to what’s been weighing heavily on me, and what I know many of you are thinking about: the recent job eliminations,” Nadella wrote.

Related: Microsoft Is Laying Off More Workers as AI Continues to Trim Workforces

Nadella acknowledged “the uncertainty and seeming incongruence of the times we’re in” but noted that Microsoft is “thriving,” with exceptional market performance, strategy, and growth. For example, Microsoft’s stock price rose to an all-time high, hitting a closing price above $500 for the first time earlier this month.

Nadella also stated that the company is investing more in AI infrastructure than ever before, pouring over $80 billion into AI in the fiscal year that ended in June.

“Microsoft is being recognized and rewarded at levels never seen before,” Nadella wrote. “And yet, at the same time, we’ve undergone layoffs. This is the enigma of success in an industry that has no franchise value.”

Nadella explained the disconnect between thriving financials and layoffs by stating that “progress isn’t linear” and that it is “sometimes dissonant, and always demanding.” He noted that headcount at Microsoft “is relatively unchanged” as the company continues to hire new workers, and he doesn’t promise that there won’t be more layoffs in the future. Microsoft reported employing 228,000 workers as of June 2024.

^{Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Photographer: Chona Kasinger/Bloomberg via Getty Images}

In the memo, Nadella also redefined Microsoft’s mission from a “software factory” to an “intelligence engine.” He said that the company’s future opportunity was to bring AI to all eight billion people on the planet.

Related: Microsoft Executive Says Using AI Has Saved $500 Million in Productivity Costs, as the Company Conducts Mass Layoffs

Meanwhile, Microsoft has made huge profits recently, with its net income equaling about $75 billion across its last three fiscal quarters. For the first three months of 2025, the company’s profit rose to $25.8 billion, up 18% from the previous year, beating Wall Street expectations.

Microsoft stock is up 22% year-to-date.

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At Abercrombie & Fitch and Starbucks, CEOs made over 6,000 times more than what the median worker earned last year.

According to the AFL-CIO’s annual Executive Paywatch report, released Wednesday, Abercrombie & Fitch and Starbucks were the two companies with the highest pay differences between CEOs and median workers in 2024. The report was based on filings the companies submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Related: ‘We’re Not Effective’: Starbucks CEO Tells Corporate Employees to ‘Own Whether or Not This Place Grows’

Abercrombie & Fitch topped the list, with the median worker making $2,531 in 2024. That was 6,731 times less than the $17 million compensation received by the company’s CEO, Fran Horowitz, 61, that year. Meanwhile, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, 50, earned $95.8 million in 2024, or 6,666 times more than the median worker, who made $14,674 that same year.

^{Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Fran Horowitz. Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images}

Both companies employ thousands of hourly employees, which is the reason for the wide pay gap. Abercrombie employs approximately 32,600 hourly workers out of 39,200 associates globally, with hourly workers making anywhere from minimum wage to $37.47 per hour. Starbucks employs 400,000 global employees, the majority of whom are hourly workers making an average of $19 per hour.

These pay differences are outside the norm, especially when including companies that don’t have hourly workers. The report noted that for S&P 500 companies, the average CEO made 285 times more than the median worker in 2024.

Overall, the highest-paid CEO last year was Brad Jacobs, the founder and CEO of roofing company QXO, who received over $189 million in compensation. Peter Gassner of software company Veeva Systems and Patrick Smith of technology and weapons company Axon Enterprise followed on the highest-paid list, with compensation of over $172 million and $164 million, respectively.

^{Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images}

Do CEO pay ratios matter?

The report claims that high CEO-to-worker pay ratios, which indicate a greater income gap, can “undermine employee morale and productivity.” The Madison Trust Company, an investment firm with $5.5 billion in assets, agrees with this assessment, pointing out that high pay ratios can lead to a “demoralized workforce” and raise questions about “fairness, equity, and corporate oversight.”

Related: ‘Feels Like a Slap in the Face’: Some JPMorgan Employees Reportedly Aren’t Happy With Their Bonuses

The Executive Paywatch report found that the average CEO also received a $1.24 million raise last year, a 7% increase from 2023, for an average total compensation of $18.9 million. Meanwhile, the median U.S. worker received a 3% raise from 2023 to 2024, with earnings reaching $49,500 in 2024.

Overall, CEOs are compensated better than ever. Across the past decade, average CEO pay among S&P 500 companies has increased by $6.5 million.

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For decades, companies have concentrated their resources on full-time employees. But that model is overdue for an update. New data shows that part-time workers and independent contractors aren’t just filling gaps — they’re fueling growth, boosting productivity and helping businesses adapt faster than traditional employment structures allow.

In a recent study conducted by my company FORE, we analyzed workforce performance at an IT firm and uncovered a surprising truth: part-time and contingent workers consistently outperformed full-time staff across key metrics — including revenue per head and speed of delivery. In fact, losing one of these high-performing contractors often costs more than replacing a full-time hire. In today’s economy, where agility is critical, flexible talent might be your most underappreciated asset.

Related: Ask the Right First Question When You Hire Part-Time Employees

Why part-time talent delivers more

Part-time workers operate like precision tools. They bring ready-made expertise, deliver clear outcomes quickly and integrate without disrupting the broader team. When speed matters, waiting weeks to hire or upskill full-timers isn’t viable — but part-time specialists can start contributing immediately.

They also bring a fresh perspective. Many part-time professionals work across industries and companies, which sharpens their creativity and ability to challenge assumptions. Without being entrenched in company politics or legacy systems, they often identify smarter ways of working.

Their efficiency is another edge. With fewer meetings and less bureaucracy, part-time contributors tend to stay focused, outcome-driven and error-resistant. At FORE, we’ve seen this concentrated approach consistently lead to faster execution and lower costs.

And when you’re scaling — launching a new initiative, entering a market or testing a product, contingent talent offers flexibility. You can scale up or down without long-term overhead, giving your company agility in unpredictable markets.

Financially, their value holds. While hourly rates may seem higher, the savings on benefits, bonuses and infrastructure typically make up for it. What you gain in precision and speed often outweighs the upfront investment.

Loyalty is a two-way street

Just because someone isn’t a full-time employee doesn’t mean they should be treated as expendable. The companies that get the most from part-time workers are the ones that invest in them.

Treat them like part of the team — include them in key meetings, recognize their contributions and offer access to relevant tools. When they feel valued, they’re more likely to return and deliver at a high level.

Building a bench of trusted freelancers also pays off. A go-to roster saves ramp-up time and allows you to leverage their growing familiarity with your systems and culture.

And don’t overlook compensation. Independent workers face greater financial risks and fewer protections. Paying fair and timely rates shows respect, and keeps your projects top of mind.

Most importantly, ask what they want. More hours? More autonomy? A path to full-time work? Don’t assume. Ask, listen and adapt when you can.

Use data to drive better decisions

Smarter workforce strategies start with data. AI and analytics can help pinpoint exactly where flexible talent will have the greatest impact — from clearing recurring bottlenecks to bridging skills gaps or filling roles with high churn.

Look for patterns: Are hybrid part-time workers more engaged? Are certain conditions triggering burnout? These insights not only help manage contractors more effectively but can also improve full-time retention and productivity.

Related: Hiring This Type of Employee Can Protect Your Business From a Volatile Market

Rethink what “workforce” means

Part-time workers aren’t just stopgaps — they’re a strategic, scalable layer of your workforce. In a business landscape shaped by speed, specialization and constant change, they offer adaptability that full-time models often can’t match.

Companies that embrace flexible talent can build more agile teams, foster resilient cultures and set themselves up for long-term success. Because when you invest in people — regardless of contract type — you’re investing in the future of your business.

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Despite all the advancements in technology, billionaire investor Mark Cuban, 66, spends most of his day reading and responding to emails.

In a Wednesday interview with Business Insider, Cuban said that he receives “700 to 1,000 emails” a day through his Gmail account, and he uses three phones, two Android and one iPhone, “to manage everything.”

Related: Mark Cuban Says 60 Is the New 40. He Follows 3 Habits to Stay Youthful.

“I spend most of my day trying to get my unreads under 20,” Cuban told BI.

He praised email for being “asynchronous,” meaning that he can respond at any time from wherever he is in the world, and ubiquitous because “everyone” has an email address. Responding to a message is also “fast,” especially with Google’s auto-reply suggestions, Cuban said.

Cuban says he keeps his inbox organized with folders and has “never” considered hiring someone to help manage his emails. He is only away from his inbox for a full day or longer for “extraordinary situations, like a special event for a family member,” he told BI.

Cuban says he uses his unread emails as reminders of what he needs to get done that day. He only uses AI to write the autoreply messages, preferring instead to personalize longer emails and noted that he would rather process emails than sit through “long, boring meetings,” or send a Slack message or text because he can quickly search through emails years later.

“I have emails going back to the 90s,” Cuban told BI.

^{Mark Cuban. Photo by Julia Beverly/WireImage}

Still, using Gmail could pose a cybersecurity risk. Cuban’s Google account was hacked in June 2024 after he received a call from a fake Google employee. The bad actor said that Cuban’s Gmail had an intruder and faked Google’s recovery methods to receive the credentials for the account. The hacker got access to Cuban’s email and locked him out.

The hacking hasn’t stopped Cuban’s love of email, however.

Cuban rose to fame as an investor on ABC’s “Shark Tank” for the last 15 seasons, appearing in his final episode in May. He told CNBC that same month that he invested about $33 million in businesses during his time on the show and received $35 million in cash returns. He holds equity in those businesses that are now worth at least $250 million, he disclosed.

Related: Mark Cuban Compares AI Taking Jobs to When There Were ‘Millions of Secretaries’

Cuban’s first entrepreneurial venture was MicroSolutions, a software reseller that sold PCs, software, and training to businesses. He grew the company to nearly $36 million in annual sales and 80 employees before selling it to CompuServe, a subsidiary of H&R Block, for $6 million in 1990.

Cuban then founded AudioNet, the first video streaming company in the world. The startup, which became Broadcast.com, was sold to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in 1999, making Cuban a billionaire.

In 2022, Cuban co-founded Cost Plus Drug Company, an online discount pharmacy that delivers more than 2,300 prescription medications.

Cuban is now worth $8.6 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

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When I decided to launch a cold plunge company in Italy, I didn’t have much to work with — no team, no warehouse and nowhere in my home to shoot product content. But I believed in the product and knew wellness was a booming category. I’d built companies before, including an e-bike brand that hit eight figures in sales. This time, I relied on a lean repeatable system — and it worked.

Here’s the approach I used to get traction quickly without a massive ad budget or complicated launch strategy.

Pick a product people are already curious about

You don’t need to invent something new. In fact, it’s often better if you don’t. I saw cold plunges picking up steam with athletes, biohackers and wellness creators, but the category hadn’t gone fully mainstream yet. That meant there was room to stand out.

I looked at search trends, scrolled through niche subreddits, followed what health influencers were posting and paid attention to what products were crossing demographic lines — things like collagen for men or hormone tracking for women. The goal is to find something visual, results-driven and culturally relevant that solves a real problem.

Source simply, improve later

Finding a supplier doesn’t need to be a bottleneck. I started with a Chinese manufacturer. The quality was solid but slow communication and long shipping times made me rethink things. Eventually, I moved production to Italy to improve logistics and offer better customer service.

In the early stages, don’t obsess over perfecting every feature. Focus on sourcing a product that’s reliable and good enough to start selling. Keep order quantities low and build systems that let you test, learn and iterate.

Use real people to build trust

Instead of burning cash on ads right away, I turned to influencers. I sent cold plunge units to athletes and fitness creators I respected. Some posted quickly; others waited until they had personal results. That authenticity worked in our favor.

Start with creators who already talk about your niche. It’s not about follower count — it’s about fit. Give them something worth sharing and let them speak in their own voice. One well-timed video or post can outperform a five-figure ad campaign.

Related: Your Follower Count Is Irrelevant When It Comes to True Influence — These Are the Criteria That Really Matter

Add credibility by aligning with experts

In wellness, consumers are skeptical — and rightly so. That’s why I built an expert panel featuring doctors, physiotherapists and sports scientists who believe in the power of cold therapy. They contributed content and lent their names to the brand.

You can replicate this by reaching out to professionals who already talk about the benefits of your product type. Offer to feature them, link to their work and collaborate on educational content. It’s a win-win: they get exposure and your brand earns instant trust and SEO value.

Launch fast with a simple store

When it came time to sell, I built a clean Shopify store with clear product descriptions, a few solid photos and no overthinking. The goal was to start taking orders and gather real feedback — not chase perfection.

Over time, I added customer reviews, expert endorsements and better visuals. But I didn’t wait to launch. Starting fast, let me test pricing, messaging and demand in real-time.

Final thoughts

Launching a wellness brand doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need a groundbreaking product, a huge team or an investor-backed ad budget. What you do need is a product people care about, a smart sourcing plan, trust-building partnerships and a store that gets the job done.

This playbook helped me grow one business to eight figures — and it’s now fueling the early success of another. Different product. Same system. Still works.

Ready to break through your revenue ceiling? Join us at Level Up, a conference for ambitious business leaders to unlock new growth opportunities.

You can fake a handshake. You can fake a pitch.

You can’t fake a real smile.

I’m not talking about the “smile for the camera” look or the awkward half-smirk you throw your neighbor while grabbing the mail in a bathrobe.

I’m talking about the real thing. The kind that stops people in their tracks. That makes strangers feel safe. That turns a no into a maybe. That makes people remember you.

That smile?
That’s influence.
That’s currency.
That’s leadership.

Smiling is free. But it’s not cheap.

You don’t need a business degree or a black card to start shifting rooms.

All you need is your face.

Have you ever walked into a room where everyone looks like their dog died? It’s heavy. The energy sinks. But one real smile? The whole place lifts.

I’ve walked into million-dollar meetings with a $2 haircut and a $0 smile. And walked out with a signed deal. No gimmicks. Just presence. Just being human. A smile is proof you don’t need to be loud to be powerful.

Related: 7 Ways Body Language Speaks Louder Than Words

Confidence is cool. Kindness is cooler.

You want to stand out? Walk into a room with confidence and warmth.

That combo? Unstoppable.

People are drawn to energy. Not ego. A real smile says:
“I’m here. I’m grounded. And I’m glad to be with you.”

Whether you’re closing a deal or ordering an iced coffee, that smile tells the world you’re someone who’s not just in it to win. You’re in it with people.

That’s rare.
That’s magnetic.

You don’t need to sell harder. You need to connect faster.

A smile doesn’t mean you’re faking it

Let me be real.
Life’s not all showings, steaks and smooth sailing.

I’ve had days where everything blows up. Deals fall through. People walk away. Plans collapse.

You know what gets me through it? Not fake optimism.
Not denial.
A smile.

Because it reminds me:
I’m still here.
I’m still fighting.
I’m still choosing joy.

Smiling in the storm doesn’t mean you’re ignoring reality. It means you’re bigger than it.

A smile isn’t a mask. It’s a mindset.

I built a business with hustle. And a smile.

People ask me all the time,
“Rogers, what’s your secret sauce?”

It’s not fancy branding or paid ads. It’s relationships.

You can have the slickest brochure in Dallas, but if people don’t feel you, you’re toast.

I built my business by being the guy who showed up with a handshake, a smile, and a ridiculous amount of energy.

People don’t hire agents. They hire humans.
People don’t follow brokers. They follow leaders.
And leaders smile first.

Trust starts with the look on your face. Not the title on your card.

Smiles are contagious. Infect generously.

You want to shift a room? Smile. You want to build culture? Smile. You want to lead without saying a word? Smile.

Our brains are wired to mirror emotion. You smile, people smile back. That’s not a Hallmark slogan. That’s science.

Start being the one who flips the switch. Who sets the tone. Who shows up with light when everyone else brought clouds.

Your energy is either a gift or a drain. Choose wisely.

It’s better than kale. Seriously.

You can spend hundreds on supplements, or you can smile more. It lowers stress. Boosts immunity. Drops your blood pressure. Lengthens your life.

Even a fake smile can trick your brain into feeling better. I’ve tried all the anti-aging creams. Smiling works better. And it doesn’t clog your pores.

Want to feel better fast? Smile. Want to live longer? Smile more.

Smile when it’s hard

You don’t have to wait for the perfect day to crack a smile.

Waiting for the storm to pass? Nope. Smile in the middle of it. It’s not weakness. It’s strength.

I’ve had days where I lost the deal, the client, the plan. But I smiled anyway. My circumstances don’t get to boss around my spirit. Smile through the mess. Through the stress. Through the unknown.

Real smiles don’t come from perfection. They come from perspective.

Related: The Positive Effects of Smiling

Practice it!

Here’s your homework: Smile at five strangers today. No agenda. No follow-up. Just a smile.

Then look in the mirror. And smile at the person looking back.

Yeah, it might feel dumb. Do it anyway. We spend so much time beating ourselves up. Scroll culture. Comparison traps. But a smile, even just for yourself, is a form of grace.

Be kind to your face. You’ve survived a lot.

Make it your legacy

People won’t remember your listings or titles or cars. They’ll remember how you made them feel. They’ll remember if you made them laugh. If you lighten the load. If you saw them.

That’s the impact I want to leave.
For my family.
For my team.
For my city.

We don’t need more noise. We need more light. Let’s be the ones who lead with that.

Related: These 5 Body Language Secrets Could Put You on the Road to a Million Dollars

Smile first. Always.

You don’t need a reason. You don’t need permission.

Smile because you can.
Smile because it matters.
Smile because it opens doors even when everything else is locked.

It might not fix the problem. But it will change the energy.

And if you see me out in Dallas, I’ll be the one smiling first.

Let’s keep going.

Software engineers are likely making a few common mistakes that prevent them from advancing in their careers, says a former Meta senior staff engineer — and these mistakes are general enough to apply to any job.

Michael Novati, an engineer who spent eight years at Meta and earned the nickname “Coding Machine” after being the top code committer company-wide for several years, told “The Peterman Pod” that there are three common mistakes engineers and other professionals make that prevent them from moving forward in their careers.

Novati, who now works at a remote software engineering fellowship program, Formation, as its chief technology officer, said one problem is “thinking too much” and “not doing enough.” Novati said that oftentimes developers come to him to ask for advice or questions without first “turning the gears” and writing code to address the problem.

“Step one is do something, just do anything,” Novati told “The Peterman Pod.”

Related: ‘It’s Laughable’: Okta’s CEO Says AI Won’t Replace Software Engineers Despite Other Tech Leaders’ Predictions

The second mistake Novati identified is not asking “the right people” for feedback, or not going to “respected people” or “people who have that experience and taste and judgement” for advice on how to improve. He gave the example of his days at Meta, when he was writing so much code that his manager spent all day reviewing it. His manager was the respected person Novati turned to for feedback, because his manager had the “judgement and taste” that Novati aspired to have.

The third mistake, which Novati admitted to making “a lot,” was not taking action on feedback and taking it more as a harsh judgment or a pat on the back of approval than a call to action.

“My advice to people who are ambitious and who want to get those perfect scores and check off all the boxes is to really reflect on feedback, on how you can improve and try to push your comfort zone there, instead of trying to look at it as a judgment or a grade,” Novati said.

The end goal is to “write a lot of code,” get feedback from experienced people, and “actually [take] action” on the feedback, Novati said.

Related: OpenAI Is Creating AI to Do ‘All the Things That Software Engineers Hate to Do’

As AI advances, software engineers might not have to write as much code as they used to, anyway. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in April that engineers at Microsoft are using AI to generate up to 30% of new code at the company. Google CEO Sundar Pichai stated in the same month that Google was generating “well over 30%” of new code with AI.

Meanwhile, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicted in March that AI would take over coding completely for all software engineers within a year.

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Chili’s Grill & Bar is partnering with Texas-footwear brand Tecovas to launch a limited-edition collection of “Booth Boots,” which is exactly what it sounds like — cowboy boots made with the same material as its classic red booths.

In a statement, Chili’s said that this “first-of-its-kind collaboration” turns its “iconic” red booths, which have been around for 50 years, into “handcrafted boots made with time-honored techniques and heritage craftsmanship.” The company is also selling a matching Booth Belt.

Related: ‘Gen Z Is Obsessed’: Chili’s Sales Are Skyrocketing Thanks to the Triple Dipper and Turbo Chefs

“We thought it would be fun to celebrate this familiar piece of the Chili’s experience by turning it into something truly unexpected for our fans,” said Jesse Johnson, Chili’s vice president of marketing, in the statement. “Our new friends at Tecovas have been the perfect partners in bringing this wild idea to life with their handcrafted boots now reimagined with our booth material.”

Still, it will cost you a lot more than the popular Triple Dipper. Booth Boots (both women’s and men’s styles) will retail for $345, and the Booth Belt, with its “brass buckle in a matte nickel finish,” will sell for $75.

The limited-edition collection of Booth Boots and a matching Booth Belt will be available on Tecovas.com on July 29 at 10 a.m. CT.

Chili’s has 1,600 restaurants in 29 countries, according to Nation Restaurant News.

Sam Altman, the CEO of $300 billion AI startup OpenAI, is asking finance industry leaders to stay ahead of AI trends — and to avoid voice authentication at all costs.

At the Federal Reserve’s Regulatory Capital Framework Conference on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., Altman told a crowd of financial regulators and industry experts that “a thing that terrifies” him is banks that still accept voices to authenticate identity. AI voice cloning hoaxes can copy a person’s voice in three seconds and use the cloned voice to empty bank accounts.

“A thing that terrifies me is apparently there are still some financial institutions that will accept a voice print as authentication for you to move a lot of money or do something else,” Altman said at the event, per Business Insider.

Related: I Called Klarna’s New AI Hotline to Talk to the Company’s ‘CEO’ — Here’s What Happened

Altman said voice authentication was “a crazy thing to still be doing” and that AI has “fully defeated” many ways financial institutions currently confirm identity.

He also warned that AI has the potential to cause a “significant impending fraud crisis,” and predicted that institutions are going to have to transform the way they verify identity in response.

“People are going to have to change the way they interact,” Altman said. “They’re going to have to change the way they verify. This is a huge deal.”

^{OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks at the Federal Reserve’s Regulatory Capital Framework Conference on Tuesday. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images}

During a Q&A session at the Federal Reserve event, Altman was also asked about what keeps him up at night. He said a widespread financial crisis where an adversary uses AI to launch an attack on the U.S. The bad actor could “break into financial systems and take everyone’s money,” and there would be little we could do about it, Altman said. It would be difficult to uphold protective measures against an adversary with smarter AI, Altman explained.

Related: Nearly Half of Americans Think They Could Be Duped By AI. Here’s What They’re Worried About.

Altman’s fears that AI could be misused in the wrong hands are echoed by financial leaders. According to a survey released in March by consulting firm Accenture, 80% of bank cybersecurity leaders state that AI allows bad actors to launch attacks faster than banks can respond. In other words, the leaders can’t keep up with the rapid pace of AI scams targeting personal bank accounts.

Consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, a 25% increase from the previous year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. More people fell for scams and lost money to them last year, with $2.95 billion lost to imposter scams.

Still, some top executives at OpenAI are convinced it has the power to do a lot of good, from eradicating diseases to helping support equal pay initiatives.

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