Brink of World War III?

New podcast! Also, don’t miss Davis Wilson’s take on AI and job losses below. October 10, 2024 [WEBSITE]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( New podcast! Also, don’t miss Davis Wilson’s take on AI and job losses below. Brink of World War III? JAMES ALTUCHER Dear Reader, Remember 2008? Of course you do. Every headline screamed disaster. Everyone was predicting the end of capitalism as we knew it. I was the lone optimistic voice on CNBC. (Little did I know, this would be one of many times they would laugh at me.) That’s the thing about dire times—they always have that one glimmer of something better if you squint hard enough. But lately, it feels like we might be squinting at the shadows of World War III. This is against a backdrop of major advancements in areas like AI, crypto, healthcare, and robotics -- all of which have the potential to improve lives rapidly. That’s why I had Brandon Webb on [the podcast this week](. Brandon’s a former Navy SEAL and the guy behind SOFREP.com -- which delivers insider military and defense news, primarily from former special operations personnel. He’s got his ear to the ground with all things military. This conversation wasn’t your typical “war is bad” chat; it was more like, “Are we actually in World War III right now?” According to Webb, this isn’t some abstract possibility. He painted a picture of a world more tangled in proxy wars than we realize, with a new kind of conflict that creeps in through the back door. Webb and I dove into the big players: Russia, Iran, China, and the U.S. He brought up a chilling point—Russia is arming Iran with nuclear capabilities to boost its standing in the Middle East. This isn’t a chess game with wooden pieces; this is one with live ammo. And that’s just one part of the picture. Iran isn’t acting alone; it’s backed by China and Russia, which makes this a geopolitical web that’s almost impossible to untangle. As we talked, Webb noted how the U.S. has lightened sanctions on Iran, even releasing funds they claimed wouldn’t go to weapons. “And yet here we are,” he said, pointing out how Iran has funneled support to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah for years. Webb also highlighted a shift in the Middle East alliances. Countries like Jordan and Saudi Arabia are finding themselves rooting for Israel—not because they’re best friends, but because they all want to see Iran's influence stamped out. “It’s not like they’re holding hands and singing Kumbaya,” Webb said, “but it’s a case of ‘my enemy’s enemy.’” But war isn’t just about who’s firing bullets. It’s also about who’s making money in the chaos. Webb mentioned how there’s a lot of profit for the middlemen who deal in arms—like ammo dealers who play the role of shadowy brokers. Wars feed them fat, and as long as these people can line their pockets, they have little incentive to push for peace. The stakes are high, and leadership is more critical than ever. Webb didn’t mince words about the role a weak or distracted president can play. He brought up Carter’s legacy of being compassionate but ineffective, and he didn’t shy away from discussing Biden’s perceived lack of strength. So what does he think about Trump? [Check out the full episode to hear it for yourself](. And don’t miss Davis Wilson’s insights on AI… and the big bugaboo coming down the pike: job losses. Read on. FOR {EMAIL}: A $511 Credit Has Been Applied To Your Account Congrats! [Please click here to learn how to claim this credit.]( AI’s Ugly Underbelly – Job Losses DAVIS WILSON Here’s an insight that I’m only sharing with you. What I’m about to share will soon change corporate America as we know it. It will also have a tremendous impact on our stock market. This insight deals with the impending workforce adjustment stemming from artificial intelligence. I’m sure you know that AI is a major threat to many job functions. Call center jobs and administrative roles are typically mentioned as being first to go. What you probably didn’t know is just how soon artificial intelligence could start replacing other jobs as well. I know this because I’ve got close contacts at a company that’s currently leading the way in this transition. Let me explain. Accenture: “Together, We Can Reinvent Your Business” Accenture (ACN) is one of the largest consulting firms in the world. As of 2023, the company employed more than 700,000 people across over 120 countries. Accenture’s clients include Microsoft, Google, BP, Unilever, Oracle, and hundreds of other major companies. These companies hire Accenture to “reinvent their business” through strategy, technology solutions, and outsourcing. I cannot overstate how influential this company is. Recently, I was told on good authority what Accenture has in store for the AI revolution. Currently, the company is using AI to reinvent its own business. More specifically, the company is using agentic AI to automate job functions, streamline operations, and decrease headcounts. Agentic AI systems are a type of artificial intelligence that can achieve goals and make decisions without direct human supervision. Agentic AI promises to boost productivity and control labor costs – perfect for businesses looking to increase efficiency and profits. Next, the company will offer these services to clients – using themselves as the case study. If they’re successful, their long list of Fortune 500 clients will likely be next to “reinvent themselves” through artificial intelligence. Yes, that means more automated job functions, streamlined operations, and, of course, decreased headcounts. [Note: there are a few other large consulting firms like Accenture with a similar playbook, too.] A few days ago, Accenture reached a big milestone on this journey. Accenture partnered with AI chip leader Nvidia in a deal that promises to bring AI to businesses. Accenture and Nvidia announced a partnership last week with Accenture’s new Nvidia business group focused on helping customers rapidly scale AI adoption. “AI will supercharge enterprises to scale innovation at great speed,” Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, said in a statement. “Nvidia’s platform, Accenture’s AI Refinery, and our combined expertise will help businesses and nations accelerate this transformation to drive unprecedented productivity and growth.” Based on my conversations with company insiders, it seems like Accenture’s AI experiment on themselves is working well enough that they’re now beginning to roll out their AI consultancy services to their long list of clients. And they just partnered with Nvidia to do it. I’m telling you this for a couple of reasons. Of course, this is the underbelly of artificial intelligence that many people are afraid of – mass job losses. However, it’s important to know this is a playbook we’ve seen before. Think about the invention of the internet, the automobile, ATMs, electric vehicles, and countless other technologies people thought were going to destroy jobs. Like all of these inventions, AI is just another step forward in the evolution of technology, which one day will likely employ more people than it ever replaces. Because you’re reading this, you’re likely in the investing class which gives you a unique advantage over most of the population. The best way to protect yourself is to be an owner of the companies benefitting most. We talk about them constantly here in Altucher Confidential – Nvidia, Intel, and Tesla to name a few. Stick with us as we continue to follow this story closely. For now, just know that this AI revolution is coming sooner than most people expect, and your best defense is to own the companies benefitting most. Regards, Davis Wilson For Altucher Confidential Rate this email Like Dislike Thanks for rating this content! Looks like something went wrong. Please try to rate again. 99% of Americans are not prepared It has nothing to do with ballot tampering, election fraud, or – god forbid – another assassination attempt. [Instead, this is an act of warfare that could cripple the U.S. financial system.]( Almost overnight, we could see the purchasing power of the dollar – the money sitting in your bank account right now – disintegrate. Very few people know what’s coming. I’d guess 99% of Americans are completely unprepared. [Click here to be part of the 1% that is.]( ☰ ⊗ [UPDATE PREFERENCES]( [Contact Us]( © 2024 Paradigm Press, LLC. 1001 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. By submitting your email address, you consent to Paradigm Press, LLC. delivering daily email issues and advertisements. 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