FREE TO READ] The AI pioneer on stepping down from Meta, the limits of large language models — and the launch of his new start-up

Taken together, these signals suggest one thing: we may be closer to AGI—and to systems capable of passing the Turing Test—than many once imagined.

Meta is buying artificial intelligence startup Manus, as the owner of Facebook and Instagram continues a push to amp-up AI offerings across its platforms.

At the centre of this transformation sits artificial intelligence — a tool that has elevated human progress in extraordinary ways, yet has simultaneously become the most powerful enabler of modern criminality.

Here are 11 of the year’s top quotes, all taken from real stories, mini case studies in emotional intelligence. Each one teaches a lesson in how to leverage the power of emotion for good. (If you enjoy this article, consider signing up for my free emotional intelligence course .)

A.I. is broad. A breakthrough in manufacturing may affect only manufacturing, but an A.I. breakthrough could transform manufacturing, physics, finance, music and dozens of other fields. So the backlash is just as sprawling, and there are various reasons for it:

In past years, CES in Las Vegas has highlighted such groundbreaking technologies as electric salt spoons and Tasers that double as MP3 players. But, increasingly, the annual event is moving beyond gimmicky inventions to be a major player in the world of artificial intelligence.

During 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) stocks like Nvidia and Palantir Technologies comfortably outperformed the broader market. But a new year can bring new opportunities, and some of the best returns in 2026 might come from the less-obvious areas of the AI industry.