Key Takeaways:
- The state of U.S. business is complex and varies depending on the industry and location.
- AI is becoming increasingly important in the healthcare industry, with CEOs such as Suresh Gunasekaran and Erik Wexler praising its potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.
- The adoption of AI is expected to accelerate in 2026, with a focus on outcomes and cost savings.
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark is optimistic about the state of American business, citing a threefold increase in GDP and a 40% rise in median household income since 1976.
- Business leaders are advised to focus on using AI to increase access to care, improve quality and outcomes, and reduce staff burden.
Introduction to the State of U.S. Business
The state of U.S. business is a complex and multifaceted topic, with varying perspectives depending on the industry and location. In San Francisco, a dinner sponsored by Philips brought together a dozen CEOs of major hospital systems to discuss the AI dividend and its potential to improve healthcare outcomes. Suresh Gunasekaran, CEO of UCSF Health, noted that AI is becoming increasingly integrated into the patient experience, while Erik Wexler, CEO of Providence, praised the technology as "life-changing" for its ability to act on insights gleaned from doctor-patient conversations.
The Impact of AI on Healthcare
The adoption of AI in healthcare is expected to accelerate in 2026, with a focus on outcomes and cost savings. Many Americans struggle with affordability and access to healthcare, with the average cost of healthcare reaching $17,000 per person and accounting for almost 19% of U.S. GDP. AI has the potential to lower these costs and improve patient outcomes, making it a key area of focus for business leaders. As Jeff DiLullo, chief region leader of Philips North America, advised health systems leaders, "AI either has to increase access to care, increase the quality and the outcomes, or reduce staff burden. And if it can’t do those things, don’t do it."
The State of American Business
U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark delivered an upbeat speech on the state of American business, citing a threefold increase in GDP and a 40% rise in median household income since 1976. Despite challenges such as inflation, unemployment, and rising energy costs, Clark noted that America is "very good at getting better." She drew comparisons between the current state of the economy and the last time America had a big birthday in 1976, when the mood was dour and shaped by high inflation, unemployment, and soaring energy costs.
Business News and Updates
In other business news, the search for the next Fed chair has been delayed due to a criminal probe into current Chair Jay Powell, with two Republican Senators vowing to withhold any vote until the investigation is resolved. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has ruled out taking the job, but said he would consider running the Treasury. Meanwhile, conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair has sued xAI, Elon Musk’s AI firm, over the chatbot Grok’s ability to undress images of her. The Trump administration is reportedly considering a plan to have tech companies bid on building new power plants to lower electricity prices, and California Governor Gavin Newsom has come out against a billionaire tax for the state.
Market Updates
The markets were up slightly in early trading, with the S&P 500 futures up 0.28% and the STOXX Europe 600 up 0.08%. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 was up 0.02%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 was down 0.32%. China’s CSI 300 was up 0.41%, and the South Korea KOSPI was up 0.90%. Bitcoin was at $95K. In other news, Oracle is struggling to bring employees to its new headquarters in Nashville, and Tesla customers are speaking out against the company’s self-driving subscription model.
Around the Watercooler
In exclusive news, former OpenAI policy chief has created a nonprofit institute to call for independent safety audits of frontier AI models. The new rules of office space are also being discussed, with the "genie out of the bottle on hybrid" work arrangements. New research from Anthropic shows that AI taking jobs is not as simple as it seems, and Singapore is trying to give its flagging stock market a kickstart with a link to the NASDAQ. CEO Daily is compiled and edited by Joey Abrams, Claire Zillman, and Lee Clifford.
