During a recent workshop discussion about the evolution of AI, and the fear that it will take all the jobs, disrupt the economy, and redefine the future of work forever, one of the participants said something that stopped the room cold:

“No matter what happens, your AI assistant will never eat a pizza.”

It was such a simple, almost humorous statement. But it was also profound.

He was referring to a fundamental truth about the U.S. economy: it is, and will remain, consumer-driven. And consumers—human consumers—will always be the ones eating the pizza.

AI may order it.

AI may optimize the supply chain behind it.

AI may manage the labor scheduling, demand forecasting, marketing campaigns, revenue management, and customer service interactions.

AI may even send you the perfect personalized offer at 5:32 p.m., right before you hit decision fatigue and give in to the pepperoni.

But it will never take a bite.

And that insight matters.

Because while AI is becoming indispensable to workflows, productivity, and decision-making (I myself would love to reward my AI assistant with a hot slice), the economic engine still ultimately relies on human behavior, human choice, and human consumption.

From a business acumen perspective, there are five big things today’s leaders should take away from this “AI will never eat the pizza” truth:

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So much is being written about how AI will displace millions of jobs, reshape entire functions, and eventually automate large parts of how companies operate. But I’d rather look at the other side of the story, the positive side.

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Like a final box score, the Income Statement tells the truth about how well your business decisions performed.

The Friday after Thanksgiving has quietly become one of my favorite new traditions, not just because of leftovers, but because this year, my Philadelphia Eagles are now part of the NFL’s post-holiday lineup. As usual, I’ll be glued to every snap and coaching decision… all of it pointing toward one thing: the scoreboard.

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It has been a wild and volatile year in business, and as we head toward the holiday season, most companies expect the usual mid-December slowdown. This year, I think it’s going to arrive early. Economic caution, delayed budgets, and a growing “let’s revisit this in January” mindset are kicking in before Thanksgiving.

But while the pace slows, leaders have a rare window to step back from short-term pressures and think strategically about what’s next. And when it comes to AI, it is still very much in its early innings; two major shifts are coming that will reshape how organizations compete in 2026.

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It’s earnings season, and publicly traded companies are conducting their quarterly earnings calls. As usual, Q3 2025 is filled with good news and bad news. While the estimated GDP growth rate was a fairly robust 4%, a lot of companies, especially those that rely on consumer purchasing power, are starting to feel the impact of a bifurcated economy where higher wage earners continue to spend, but lower wage earners continue to struggle.

As a leader in the design, development, and delivery of Business Acumen training programs, I pay special attention to these trends because they influence how we teach financial literacy and best-practice business decision-making. The pattern we’re seeing isn’t just about numbers; it’s about how leaders interpret and act on those numbers.

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