World news, ideas and perspectives
For centuries, astronomy advanced by looking carefully at a relatively small number of objects. Scientists observed individual stars, measured the motion of planets and gradually built theories about how the universe works. Modern space...
Cultural identity was once closely connected to place. The language people spoke, the traditions they inherited, the food they ate and the communities around them provided a relatively clear framework for understanding where they...
Cultural exchange once depended heavily on physical movement. People travelled, artists performed abroad, books crossed borders through publishers, and films reached international audiences through distributors and television networks. The process could take months or...
Popular culture used to have a relatively clear center. Films, television, radio, magazines and major music labels helped determine which songs people heard, which celebrities became famous and which ideas entered everyday conversation. Audiences...
For much of the modern economy, business strategy was built around a simple assumption: the more efficiently companies could connect different parts of the world, the better. Manufacturing could move to lower-cost locations, components...
For a long time, business growth was measured in familiar terms: more customers, higher revenue, new markets and larger teams. Expansion was often treated as proof that a company was moving in the right...
For decades, business decisions followed a familiar rhythm. Managers collected reports, analysts examined spreadsheets, executives debated forecasts, and only then did a company decide what to do. Artificial intelligence is beginning to compress that...