2025 Wrapped: The AI Bubble Debate & What It Means for the Future of Work

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

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