What Is the Academic's Role in the Age of AI?
That's why my colleagues and I built custom chatbots to help students think through problems. I have my students debate an AI to refine their reasoning on contentious issues. Our AI tutors assist students at all hours, complementing our in-class instruction. We teach our students how to use technology responsibly, to deepen rather than replace their thinking.
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CNBC
a few seconds ago
- CNBC
The S&P 500 may not be a leading economic indicator anymore. But the ‘S&P 495' is
The S & P 500 as a whole is telling a bullish story taking place on Wall Street this year. Strip out the megacap technology names, and it tells a much different one. Investors have piled into the tech giants — including Nvidia, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms — this year as they mount bets on the proliferation of artificial intelligence. This has propelled the benchmark to all-time highs despite an ongoing tariff threat and questions around U.S. inflation. However, it's also led to massive market concentration in just a handful of names. The seven-largest names in the index make up about one-third of the benchmark's total market valuation. There's another knock-on effect from tech's dominance: It's diluting the S & P 500's capabilities as a leading economic indicator. For years, investors have looked to the benchmark to forecast future economic conditions, and even predict recessions. The Conference Board includes it in its 10 components of its Leading Economic Index. This time around, investors could be better served by looking at the "S & P 495" for clues on how well the economy is doing. "You cannot use the market as an indicator of economic activity if you're just focused on the ... companies involved in the largest market cap companies that are the AI darlings," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley Wealth. "But if you look at the whole market in say — either the equal weight S & P 500 or the other 495 stocks — I think it's a pretty clear indication that there's some concern about the U.S. economy," Hogan continued. "And I think that's where it shows up." Walmart on Thursday reported fiscal second-quarter earnings that missed analyst expectations, with the company saying tariff costs are rising . Target on Wednesday said sales fell once again in the second quarter year over year. The retailer imports about half of the products it sells , making it susceptible to changes in tariff policy. Stock market internals are also not a rosy as the S & P 500's year-to-date performance suggests. The S & P 500 has rallied more than 8% in 2025. By comparison, the top seven stocks by market cap in the benchmark have surged more than 14% on average and more than 20% on a median basis. The other 493 stocks haven't fared nearly as well. On average and on a median basis, they're collectively up more than 5% year to date. Hogan also pointed out that the majority of S & P 500 members remain below their 50-day moving averages, a short term momentum indicator, despite the benchmark trading near record levels. "The internals of the market are more reflective of the view on the economy," Hogan said. "The top of the market is more reflective of the enthusiasm around artificial intelligence." A discounting mechanism That increasing divergence could fundamentally change how investors are trained to think of the stock market, given that its ability to work as a discounting mechanism — or its ability to adjust to changing earnings and economic expectations — is so skewed by its largest components. "For most of my career the markets were often the leading indicator ... and where cyclicals (cap goods, industrials, consumer, banks) led the economic data would follow," Goldman Sachs trader Bobby Molavi wrote in a recent note. "Now i wonder if the two can live in total separation." "To put it another way ... is the market now just 5 stocks ... 3 themes (ai, banks, defence) ... and 1 factor (momentum) and therefor not really a market at all?" the note continued. To be sure, the stock market will continue playing a key role in the economy, and in shaping it. "The stock market is this good anticipating discounting mechanism. But I don't think they've put enough emphasis on the stock market, via the wealth effect and via the firing up of animal spirits also can drive the economy," said Doug Ramsey, investment chief at The Leuthold Group. "And that aspect of the S & P 500 is probably more important than ever." Market internals also may be flashing a more positive signal about the economy, at least this week. The Invesco S & P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) is down just 0.1% week to date, while the market cap-weighted version has lost more than 1% in that time. Sectors that have lagged year to date, including health care, energy and real estate, are outperforming this week — while tech languishes. The small-cap Russell 2000 , which is up just 1.6% this year, has outpaced the S & P 500 in August. It's up 2.5% in that time, while the large-cap benchmark has gained less than 1%. .RUT mountain 2025-08-01 Russell 2000 in August Some of those groups could also get a jolt if macroeconomic conditions can improve, or if there are signs that the Federal Reserve will start easing interest rates — giving relief to more leveraged companies. Yet, given the market's heavy tilt to megacap tech, any leading economic signal from such a turnaround could be muddled. On top of that, if tech falters, it could wipe out billions of dollars in wealth. "If the stock market had not rebounded as rapidly as it has in the last four months, I think other economic indicators are so weak that we would have slipped into recession," Ramsey said. "And the market rebound, in essence, kind of inoculated the economy from slipping into recession for a little while longer." — CNBC's Fred Imbert contributed to this report.
Business Insider
a few seconds ago
- Business Insider
Screenwriters are wrestling with AI's role in Hollywood — and what it means for the future of storytelling
For decades, Hollywood has experimented with technology to make movies and TV shows faster, cheaper, and flashier. Now, with generative AI, that experimentation is creeping into one of the industry's most sacred spaces: the writers' room. From blockbuster franchises to indie productions, writers are grappling with AI's role in shaping scripts — sparking fierce divisions among industry insiders. Some see it as a tool that could add depth to the storytelling process. Others see it as a soulless machine, incapable of capturing the lived experiences that make great stories resonate. Studios like Lionsgate are already striking deals with AI startups to speed up production and cut costs. Meanwhile, the Writers Guild of America has staged protests against the technology, waving signs that say "ChatGPT doesn't have childhood trauma." Audiences may also be wary: A recent survey of 5,000 people across the US, UK, Europe, and Australia by Baringa, a management consulting firm, found that 53% of US consumers would feel uncomfortable watching content touched by AI. Despite some startups' cautious approach, the usage of AI raises legal and existential questions about what stories get told, who gets to tell them, and how audiences will connect with the next era of entertainment. Still, there's been a wave of experimentation, like using AI to predict the likelihood of a script's box-office fate and filmmakers treating it as a tool for rote parts of script writing. Startups are using AI to transform the screenwriting process Some companies see AI as a way to place safer bets on risky projects. a Swiss startup, uses predictive AI to analyze screenplays and forecast their commercial potential. Studios can upload anything from a synopsis to a finished cut, and the system maps plot, genre shifts, emotional arcs, casting, and audience and financial predictions. Once the screenplay is uploaded, the AI compares its elements to a database of 400,000 films, featuring data on the successes, failures, and narrative components of past Hollywood and indie films. The AI also runs simulated focus groups with "digital twins" that represent real consumers. Largo then generates detailed insights on genre trends, audience demographics, and revenue forecasts. Studios can later use these insights to decide which projects to greenlight and to guide rewrites. If a story's emotional arc reads as "too flat," for example, that feedback can be relayed to writers. According to the company, producers using its software have a green-lighting rate of three times higher than average. The company also said simulated focus groups are 10 times faster and cheaper than traditional ones, giving smaller studios access to testing once reserved for big-budget productions. "The goal is not just to increase commercial value, but to use the feedback to increase creative value as well," Sami Arpa, the CEO and cofounder of told Business Insider. Filmmakers are experimenting with AI as a creative collaborator Filmmaker Nik Kleverov used ChatGPT on " Memory Maker," a sci-fi short he directed for AI film studio Wonder Studios. He used the chatbot to check story originality, brainstorm plot twists, and expand the project's fictional universe. But Kleverov rejects letting AI draft full scripts, calling the "regurgitated" results "stale" and "trite." At the same time, he sees it as a way to explore big, budget-impacting ideas without costly risk. "As far as original creativity, the human mind is unparalleled," Kleverov told Business Insider. "Humans always need to lead those stories." For some creators, AI can spark inspiration in unexpected ways. Rahul Gautama, EY's media and entertainment consulting leader in the Americas, recalls an animator client who tested prompt-based image generation and received a "hallucinated" image that inspired a new narrative direction. It's an example of how AI-image generators — even if they don't work as intended — can inspire fresh ideas. "Script visualization is an exciting space," Gautama told Business Insider. "Providing writers an opportunity to 'see' their ideas before filming can offer valuable creative provocation." AI creates new forms of storytelling — but with limits Some filmmakers are using AI to reimagine how stories are told. Steven Ilous, the founder and CEO of an entertainment technology startup, works with clients like Netflix and Porsche to make "Smart Content" that blends narrative with audience engagement. In " Lollipop Racing," a 10-episode series with "The Fast and the Furious" writer David Ayer as executive producer, viewers can participate in a parallel race. proprietary AI creates digital avatars of the viewer, which are woven back into the show — sometimes even using their own voices. While the main plot remains human-written, algorithm delivers dynamic, personalized content, like bonus scenes based on audience choices. Ilous imagines AI enabling "never-ending" shows or fan-built universes. However, despite its potential, he keeps its use limited to interactive experiences to protect the artistic integrity of writers. "I don't think there's enough clarity yet on how AI can be used ethically from a writing perspective," Ilous said. Not all experiments go well. Robert J. Locke, the executive producer at August Sun Productions, tried an AI coverage service for script feedback and found it "useless." AI, he argued, "will always fall short" because it doesn't have personal experiences to draw from to convey emotional depth. "Screenplays have to touch people's hearts," Locke said. "AI just can't do that." AI in screenwriting raises legal and creative concerns Using AI in writing introduces thorny copyright issues. US law requires human authorship for copyright protection, meaning a fully AI-written screenplay without meaningful human modification can't be copyrighted, said Matthew Asbell, an intellectual property attorney. AI-assisted scripts, however, can be protected if the human author shapes the creative expression. Even with legal protection, though, overuse could erode audience trust. "The risks of AI-generated content are real and significant," Gautama said, adding that in a long-running series, dropping in an AI-written episode could undermine continuity and character authenticity. Arpa acknowledged the risk of "content inflation" — formulaic output from over-reliance on AI — but said talent will still stand out. "If you just use these tools like a magic wand, you'll get something average, and that average won't be satisfactory," Arpa said. For now, most filmmakers don't see AI as a replacement for human writers. Studios may embrace it to speed up development and cut costs. But the consensus is that the best stories still require human judgment, lived experience, and emotional depth. The challenge will be integrating AI in ways that preserve those qualities. "Time will tell if we are willing and able to develop an emotional connection with these stories," Gautama said.
Associated Press
a few seconds ago
- Associated Press
Liquid Web and BrightEdge Announce AI-Driven Ecommerce Webinar to Maximize Holiday Revenue
Free August 26 webinar shows ecommerce brands how to boost visibility, conversions, and uptime ahead of the Black Friday 2025 and Cyber Monday 2025. ATLANTA, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Liquid Web, part of CloudOne Digital and a leader in high-performance hosting for growing businesses and enterprise teams, announced a new webinar designed to help ecommerce brands turn AI-era search trends into holiday revenue, and keep sites fast and reliable during peak demand. In partnership with BrightEdge, the global leader in AI-powered search intelligence, this webinar will share exclusive ecommerce search insights, explore how artificial intelligence is transforming search, discovery, and purchasing, and outline what businesses can do now to win more customers during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond. Titled 'AI-Driven Ecommerce: Winning Holiday Shopping with Smarter Search & Faster Hosting,' the live event is free, but registration is required. Register for the webinar now > Webinar Details Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Time: 2 PM EST Hosts: Liquid Web & BrightEdge RSVP: Register for the webinar here AI is Redefining the Ecommerce Landscape In 2025, AI is no longer experimental, it's a growing force in how consumers discover, evaluate, and purchase products. 25 percent of consumers use generative AI for shopping and price comparison, according to a recent Adobe study. Among current AI users, 72 percent rely on AI as their primary tool for product and brand research, and as of February 2025 more than 90% of respondents say AI has improved their shopping experience. Millennials lead AI shopping adoption with 46 percent already using AI, and another 12 percent plan to start by the end of 2025 (58 percent combined), per Adobe. With AI-powered search, in-app shopping, and voice assistants reshaping behavior, traditional SEO and infrastructure models will need to be adapted. Ecommerce teams must adapt both content strategy and infrastructure ahead of the holidays if they want to capitalize on this growing shift in consumer search. Traffic alone won't win Black Friday. Speed, reliability, and experience decide who converts. This webinar delivers exclusive BrightEdge search insights, practical playbooks, and the hosting patterns that help you rank higher, convert faster, and scale with confidence. Save your seat for the live webinar today > What Attendees Will Learn Featured Expert Speakers 'Many ecommerce businesses are struggling with visibility right now, and they'll feel it even more during Black Friday in what may be the most pivotal holiday season yet,' says Amanda Valle, Global Director of Search at Liquid Web. 'As a leader in ecommerce hosting solutions, Liquid Web is uniquely positioned to help brands not just stay online, but thrive under peak demand. By combining our high-performance hosting with BrightEdge's real-time search intelligence, we're giving businesses a clear plan to capture demand, convert faster, and stay reliable at peak shopping times.' Reserve Your Spot Today Register for the webinar now to ensure your brand is ready to win the holiday shopping season with smarter search strategies and faster, more reliable hosting. To learn more about Liquid Web's ecommerce hosting solutions, visit About Liquid Web As part of CloudOne Digital, Liquid Web delivers reliable, secure, and scalable cloud infrastructure tailored to the needs of small businesses, regulated digital enterprises, performance-centric teams, and enterprise backbone institutions. With more than 25 years of proven success, we power mission-critical websites, ecommerce stores, and applications with premium hosting and hands-on support. Trusted by nearly 200,000 customers worldwide, Liquid Web's global presence and exceptional service make us a partner businesses rely on. Our expert team is available 24/7/365 to ensure performance and peace of mind. Most recently named Best Dedicated Hosting Provider for 2025 by HostAdvice, Liquid Web continues to lead through innovation, trust, and unwavering customer commitment. For media inquiries, please contact: Media Contact Name: Amanda Valle Title: Global Director Email: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Liquid Web
