AI predictions 2026: Business professors debate whether AI is a bubble, why middle management is being hollowed out, and how China's efficient AI models threaten Western AI companies. Expert roundtable covers AI workforce impact, supply chain risks, geopolitical tensions, and the case for humans becoming more valuable as AI costs rise.

Year in review 2025: Major business disruptions including AI transformation from nice-to-have to must-have, unprecedented tariff volatility, global supply chain uncertainty, and blockchain tokenization of real assets. Four Northeastern professors analyze what worked, what failed, and critical predictions for business leaders navigating 2026.

In this special episode of International Business Today, "2025 Year in Review & 2026 Predictions," hosts Paula Caligiuri and Ravi Sarathy lead a roundtable discussion with Professor Nada Sanders (supply chain expert) and Professor Kwong Chan (AI Strategic Hub director) to explore:

• Is AI investment a bubble similar to 2008 financial crisis?

• Why AI hallucinations are features, not bugs - and how to leverage AI bias strategically

• How workforce skills must evolve: from AI reliance to human creativity and domain expertise

• China's efficient small AI models vs Western AGI race - who wins?

• Supply chain volatility, tariff uncertainty, and geopolitical fragmentation

• Blockchain and biotech breakthroughs beyond the AI hype

Whether you're planning business strategy for 2026, managing AI implementation, or navigating workforce transformation, this roundtable provides expert analysis on the year's biggest disruptions and what's coming next.

About the panel: Paula Caligiuri - Distinguished Professor specializing in global leadership, cultural agility, and organizational psychology at Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business.

Ravi Sarathy - Professor of International Business and Strategy, expert in blockchain, cryptocurrency, and biotech innovation at Northeastern University.

Nada Sanders - Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain and Information Management, author of 8 books including the forthcoming "Supply Chain Management with AI for Managers" (January 2026).

Kwong Chan - Academic Specialist in Marketing and Executive Director of the DMSB AI Strategic Hub, co-author of "Break the Wall: Why and How to Democratize Digital in Your Business."

Learn more: Nada Sanders: https://damore-mckim.northeastern.edu/people/nada-sanders/ Kwong Chan: https://damore-mckim.northeastern.edu/people/kwong-chan/ Paula Caligiuri: https://damore-mckim.northeastern.edu/people/paula-caligiuri/ Ravi Sarathy: https://damore-mckim.northeastern.edu/people/ravi-sarathy/ DMSB AI Strategic Hub: https://damore-mckim.northeastern.edu/ai-strategic-hub/ Graduate Certificate in AI Applications: https://online.northeastern.edu/certificates/ai-applications/

Watch Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pbZ71a3TfeA Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InternationalBusinessToday Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2y21XexVdXEiTBdZQIuSyf Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/international-business-today/id1665009512

#AI2026 #BusinessPredictions #SupplyChain #AIBubble #Blockchain #Workforce #YearInReview #Roundtable #BusinessStrategy #GlobalBusiness

🤖 Should your company build its own AI or just buy subscriptions? 💡

Most companies rush to license ChatGPT or other cloud AI services without understanding the strategic implications. But the organizations seeing real success are those treating AI implementation as a problem-solving exercise, not just technology adoption - using proprietary data, running local models, and empowering employees to experiment from the C-suite to first-year hires.

🎙️ In the latest episode of International Business Today, "Strategic AI Implementation with Kwong Chan," host Ravi Sarathy sits down with Professor Kwong Chan, Executive Director of the DMSB AI Strategic Hub at Northeastern University, to explore:

🎯 Why companies should run open-source models locally instead of just licensing cloud AI 📊 Understanding AI bias as a strategic advantage, not a problem to eliminate 💼 How proprietary data creates competitive advantage in an AI-driven world 🚀 Building AI capabilities through experimentation and rapid feedback loops

💡 Whether you're a business leader evaluating AI investments, a manager implementing AI solutions, or preparing for an AI-integrated workplace, this episode provides practical guidance on strategic AI adoption that drives real business value.

About the guest: Kwong Chan is Academic Specialist in Marketing and Executive Director of the DMSB AI Strategic Hub at Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business. Originally from Tasmania, Australia, he holds a PhD from Michigan State University and previously served as Associate Director at Nielsen's Telecommunication and Technology Practice Group. He has worked with Samsung, Goodyear, Visa, Nike, and General Motors, and co-authored Break the Wall: Why and How to Democratize Digital in Your Business.

Learn more about Kwong Chan: https://damore-mckim.northeastern.edu/people/kwong-chan/ Book: Break the Wall: Why and How to Democratize Digital in Your Business DMSB AI Strategic Hub: https://damore-mckim.northeastern.edu/ai-strategic-hub/ Graduate Certificate in AI Applications: https://online.northeastern.edu/certificates/ai-applications/

📺 Watch Episode on YouTube: [YouTube URL to be added] 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InternationalBusinessToday 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2y21XexVdXEiTBdZQIuSyf 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/international-business-today/id1665009512

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessStrategy #DigitalTransformation #MachineLearning #OpenSourceAI #KwongChan #Podcast #TechnologyAdoption #DataStrategy

💼 How can HR evolve from administrative function to strategic business driver? 🚀

The best HR leaders think like CEOs, focusing on business results rather than programs and processes. From navigating remote work debates to developing next-generation talent, HR faces the challenge of creating value while managing rapid workplace change including AI integration, skills-based hiring, and global team dynamics.

🎙️ In the latest episode of International Business Today, "The Future of HR with JP Elliott," host Paula Caligiuri sits down with JP Elliott, host of the Future of HR podcast, to explore:

🎯 Shifting from "HR for HR" to thinking like a CEO and driving business value 🌍 Remote work realities, hybrid strategies, and focusing on outputs over location 💡 Skills-based hiring, workforce planning, and next-gen leadership development 🤖 Where AI fits in recruiting, work design, and employee empowerment

💡 Whether you're an HR professional, business leader, or managing teams in today's changing workplace, this episode reveals practical strategies for elevating HR's strategic impact while navigating modern workplace challenges.

💡 Whether you're an HR professional, business leader, or managing teams in today's changing workplace, this episode reveals practical strategies for navigating AI disruption while keeping fundamentally human skills at the center.

💡 Whether you're an HR leader, business executive, or managing talent in any capacity, this episode reveals how the best organizations are navigating AI disruption while keeping the fundamentally human aspects of work at the center.

About the guest: JP Elliott is founder and host of the Future of HR podcast and runs programs developing next-generation HR leaders. A former HR executive, he is on a mission to elevate HR's impact and help HR professionals become strategic business leaders who drive organizational success. Through his platform, JP connects HR professionals worldwide with insights and strategies for transforming people management in the digital age.

Learn more about JP Elliott: https://www.futureofhr.com/

Future of HR Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hYspAS5g8hzSgFhgncMdi Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpelliottphd/

📺 Watch Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zNUqffxnHYQ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InternationalBusinessToday 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2y21XexVdXEiTBdZQIuSyf 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/international-business-today/id1665009512

#FutureOfHR #AIinHR #TalentManagement #WorkplaceInnovation #HRLeadership #JPElliott #Podcast #OrganizationalDevelopment #RemoteWork #BusinessStrategy