[Wall Street Talk] Alphabet CIO on 'High-Performing Employees' vs 'Underperformers'

(Seoul=Yonhap Infomax) International Economics Department = Ruth Porat, Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, has identified key traits that distinguish outstanding employees from those who are average or underperforming.

According to CNBC on the 20th (local time), Porat shared her personal views in a recent media interview regarding what she expects from 'star employees' and the habits she observes in 'poor performers'.

Porat stated, "A star employee is someone who challenges me directly," adding, "I want them to stimulate and challenge my thinking in ways I may not have considered."

She explained that carefully questioning a superior's ideas in the workplace demonstrates the courage to express one's convictions for the benefit of the organization, rather than simply following the crowd.

When asked what employee behavior she dislikes most, Porat responded, "I don't want people who just process tasks."

"I want thinkers," she emphasized, encouraging employees to make meaningful contributions.

She added, "If someone were in a conversation with a head of state, wouldn't they ask themselves, 'Is what I'm conveying rich, deep, and insightful? Am I elevating this conversation to a higher level?'" (Min Jae Lee)

AI Adoption Turns Junior Roles into Mere Options

Companies are increasingly replacing entry-level and junior staff with artificial intelligence (AI), disrupting traditional career paths for many young white-collar workers.

On the 20th (local time), CNBC reported, "AI is erasing career development opportunities for many young workers."

Matt Beane, Associate Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara), explained, "Companies are reducing entry-level positions as they favor AI to boost efficiency, cut costs, and increase net profit. They no longer invest equally in experts and novices."

He added, "A report that once required five people and a week to complete can now be finished in an hour using AI. This is what companies and clients prefer."

Beane pointed out, "What this effectively means is that junior roles have become optional for companies, and these workers are losing opportunities to participate in such tasks."

CNBC warned, "Ultimately, this will make promotions more difficult for juniors and could create problems for companies and the broader economy in the coming years." (Yong Wook Kwon)

Chinese Robotaxi Firms Accelerate Overseas Expansion Ahead of US Rivals

Chinese robotaxi companies are moving more rapidly into overseas markets than their US counterparts, such as Tesla and Waymo.

According to CNBC on the 20th (local time), Robin Li, CEO of Baidu, said, "I believe robotaxis have reached a turning point in both China and the US."

He noted that a sufficient number of people have experienced autonomous vehicles, generating positive social media feedback through word of mouth.

Chinese firms are actively expanding abroad and are making robotaxis a viable business.

Baidu, Pony.ai, and WeRide have partnered with Uber to allow users to hail robotaxis in specific regions, with the Middle East as the starting point.

Abu Dhabi has granted Baidu's robotaxi service 'Apollo Go' a permit for fully driverless, paid operations.

WeRide has also received a similar permit from Abu Dhabi and claims that removing in-vehicle staff enables per-vehicle profitability.

Apollo Go is planning pilot operations in parts of Europe and completed its Middle East expansion this year.

Pony.ai plans to launch fully autonomous commercial robotaxi services in Dubai, with further expansion into Europe and Singapore scheduled.

In contrast, Tesla unveiled its Cybercab in Shanghai, but began robotaxi pilot operations only in June in Texas.

Waymo is rapidly expanding operations from major US cities into Texas and Florida, with plans to enter London next year and Tokyo as its first overseas market. (Kyung Pyo Hong)

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