Good morning, Broadsheet readers! The FTC tries to block Tapestry’s $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri, 23andMe cofounder and CEO Anne Wojcicki intends to take her company private, and a Salesforce exec turns to humans to ensure AI reaches its full business potential. Have a thoughtful Thursday.
– Trust factor. Companies have no question that AI will help them advance business goals. It’s already happening, from tech startups to fashion brands. But Paula Goldman, Salesforce’s chief ethical and humane use officer, argues that guardrails and a human counterbalance to AI are instrumental to ensuring that the technology’s potential fully translates into results.
“I think that’s what’s going to continue to unlock AI productivity and AI gains for companies,” Goldman said. She joined Fortune’s Brainstorm AI conference in London earlier this week in a conversation with Fortune executive editor Nick Lichtenberg. “There’s no doubt right now about the capabilities of AI,” she said. Yet, she added, “it’s possible that the next AI winter is caused by trust issues with AI or people adoption issues with AI.”
Simply put, failing to address people’s concerns about AI—from a doomsday takeover to racial and gender bias—could prevent AI’s productivity advancements from reaching their full potential.
Salesforce chief ethical and humane use officer Paula Goldman aims to add human guardrails to AI. Joe Maher/Fortune Brainstorm AI Goldman said that companies have so far implemented checks like a human signing off before a consequential decision is made by AI. But “that’s no longer enough,” she said. Instead, organizations need “next-level controls,” with a human copilot participating throughout the process, not only at the end point.
Goldman has been in her unusual role at Salesforce for five years—well before the launch of ChatGPT. Now that the public has more awareness of AI, building trust is even more important than when the technology was discussed mostly among those already in the know. A top question Salesforce clients ask about AI is “Can we trust it?,” she revealed. Her job is to help them answer that question in the right way for their own businesses.
As AI becomes par for the course across global business, Goldman hopes that focus on trust doesn’t wane. “I hope that the attention that’s being paid to these issues of trust continues and is not a momentary thing,” she said.
Emma Hinchliffe
emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com
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- Going private. 23andMe cofounder and CEO Anne Wojcicki wants to take her DNA-testing company private as its stock price craters. Shares closed at 36 cents on Wednesday, a new low that gives the company a market valuation of $200 million, down from its peak of $6 billion. Wojcicki, who controls 49.99% of voting power, has struggled to find recurring revenue sources as demand drops for 23andMe tests. Wall Street Journal
- Takeover holdup. The Federal Trade Commission is reportedly planning a lawsuit to block Tapestry’s proposed $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri Holdings. Tapestry CEO Joanne Crevoiserat has said she expected the deal to close before the end of 2024, though the FTC believes the takeover, which would put brands like Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, and Versace under the same roof, could violate antitrust laws. Bloomberg
- New efforts against an old ban. Arizona state GOP lawmakers yesterday blocked the House from taking a vote on whether to repeal the 1864 abortion ban that the state Supreme Court recently reinstated. Hours later, several Senate Republicans allowed Democrats to introduce a bill to repeal the ban. NBC News
- GS vs. the Street. Retiring Goldman Sachs partner Anne Marie Darling blames an exodus of women from the bank on other firms’ interest in poaching Goldman’s top performers. “The Street wants to cultivate and access this amazing talent,” she said. “As leadership has said, we also need to lean in and continue to do more to elevate women to the highest levels of the firm.” Fortune
- Serving Justice. The Justice Department will pay approximately $100 million to 100 victims of Larry Nassar for failing to properly address initial complaints of sexual abuse made to the FBI. Larry Nassar, the former doctor of the U.S. women's gymnastics team, abused patients for almost 14 months after the agency received its first claims. Wall Street Journal
- Hot seat cools. Questioned by members of Congress yesterday, Columbia University President Nemak Shafik more forcefully condemned instances of antisemitism on campus than Harvard and University of Pennsylvania presidents did in the testimonies that led to their resignations. New York Times
- Bad moves. The Supreme Court ruled that job transfers don't have to include a change in rank or pay to be deemed discriminatory. The ruling was in response to a discrimination lawsuit from a St. Louis police sergeant who claims she was moved to a less reputable position because she is a woman. The decision opens the door for other discrimination suits to move forward under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act without plaintiffs quantifying how much they were harmed as the result of a transfer. Wall Street Journal
MOVERS AND SHAKERS: U.S. Digital Response added Tammy Mank Wincup to its board of directors. Likarda appointed Shelly Adams as chief commercial officer.
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