Ep. 17: Darrell M. West on the macro forces that will redefine 2026: AI whiplash, global power shifts, the new space economy and why leaders must get humble

I wanted to talk about next year right now.In this wide-ranging and unflinchingly honest conversation, Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell M. West returns to the AfterShock podcast with a clear message: the pace of change has now broken the boundaries of what leaders once thought manageable.We talk about:• The macro trends already defining 2026: AI acceleration, climate volatility, geopolitical instability, authoritarian drift• Why white-collar workers should be just as prepared for AI displacement as entry-level roles• Whether Universal Basic Income is finally becoming unavoidable• The truth about CEO layoffs during record-profit years• How authoritarian decision-making is rising inside corporations, universities and governments• The warning sign every CEO should pay attention to in 2026• What’s coming in the space economy • How global inequity in AI infrastructure (like data centres) could destabilize the Global North• The one leadership trait Darrell believes will determine who thrives in the next two years• Why every leader must shift to a one-to-two-year strategy horizon — not 10.This is required listening for any CEO, CTO, board member or policy leader preparing for the Fifth IndustrialRevolution.With Darrell’s direct and sober diagnosis, and with these insights and momentum to shift, we can move forward with some sense of purpose and intention.More about Darrell M. WestDarrell M. West is a senior fellow in the Center for Technology Innovation within the Governance Studies program at the Brookings Institution and a co-editor-in-chief of TechTank. West is the former vice president and director of Governance Studies. His current research focuses on artificial intelligence, robotics, and the future of work.West is also director of the John Hazen White Manufacturing Initiative. Prior to joining Brookings, he was the John Hazen White Professor of Political Science and Public Policy and director of the Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University.His books include “Lies That Kill: A Citizen’s Guide to Disinformation” (Brookings Press, 2024 with co-author Elaine Kamarck); “Power Politics: Trump and the Assault on American Democracy” (Brookings Press, 2022); “Turning Point: Policymaking in the Era of Artificial Intelligence” (with co-author John R. Allen; Brookings Press, 2020); “Divided Politics, Divided Nation” (Brookings Press, 2019); “The Future of Work: Robots, AI, and Automation” (Brookings Press, 2018); and “Megachange: Economic Disruption, Political Upheaval, and Social Strife in the 21st Century” (Brookings Institution Press, 2016).https://www.brookings.edu/people/darrell-m-west/