Business
‘Black Swan’ Author Nassim Taleb’s Life Lessons, What Keeps Him up at Night
Nassim Nicholas Taleb, the author of “The Black Swan” and “Antifragile,” has advice for navigating this period of economic instability, geopolitical upset, and technological upheaval: Stick to what you believe in, future-proof yourself against AI, exercise your mind and body, and have a holistic view of success.
The scholar, statistician, and former hedge fund manager also shared what keeps him up at night.
Here are four life lessons he shared during a wide-ranging interview with Business Insider.
1. Have the discipline to stick to what you said you’d do
A cornerstone of success is having the “discipline to stick to what you promise you’re going to do, and do it in the best possible way,” Taleb said.
Universa Investments, a “Black Swan” fund where he serves as a distinguished scientific advisor, specializes in protecting client portfolios against rare and extreme market events. It now has more than $20 billion in assets under management.
The fund has spent “two decades doing the same trades, and we haven’t drifted,” Taleb said. “If you stick to something that you really believe in, you should never stray,” he continued.
2. Future-proof yourself against AI
Taleb championed the “Lindy Effect,” the theory that the longer an idea, technology, or cultural practice has survived, the longer it is likely to continue to survive.
“AI is not denting Lindy skills,” he said, advising people to work in “robust” professions less likely to be displaced by AI.
He pointed to gardening, nursing, cooking, plumbing, and masonry as “essential” skills that AI can’t replace for now. The AI revolution marks the “first time in history” that white-collar knowledge professions are “in danger” relative to manual trades, he said.
3. Exercise your mind and body
Taleb told BI that he does 10 to 15 hours of exercise a week, and emphasized that working both the mind and body is essential to living a good, long life.
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“We all underestimate how much exercise we need,” Taleb said. “Being sedentary requires a lot more exercise than we think.”
He praised Wall Street legend Ed Thorp, 92, for remaining “athletic, in shape, mentally sharp.”
Now that Taleb is no longer running a hedge fund, he relishes having more free time to read widely and dig into anything that intrigues him, he said.
4. Redefine success as more than getting rich
“What I consider success is looking at yourself in the mirror and not being ashamed,” Taleb told BI.
Taleb, who was born in Lebanon, said his concept of success extends beyond having a great career and making money. It also involves behaving ethically, being useful to others, surrounding yourself with grandchildren and other family members, and being loved by your community.
What keeps him awake at night
When asked what keeps him awake at night, Taleb said he fretted over the “physical and financial health” of friends and family.
Taleb said it’s troubling when he sees older people “realize they don’t have enough for retirement.” A key underlying issue is that advanced economies “struggle to keep the momentum going” as they mature, leading to slower growth and “less of a good future” for their citizens.
“They don’t realize the dangers,” Taleb said. “That worries me.”
The system “worked for a few generations because people were always doing better than their parents,” but that’s no longer true for many, he said.
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Silicon Valley tech giants battle for AI dominance, offering huge pay and adopting the 9-9-6 culture in San Francisco startups.
AI Boom, Human Cost: San Francisco Startups Push 9-9-6 Work Schedule
The race for AI heats up, with tech companies in Silicon Valley pouring billions into overpowering others and grabbing the largest pie in the emerging market. Companies have reportedly begun poaching human resources by offering millions of dollars in a pay package. No one wishes to lag behind when things are high at stake. Everyone is ready to pour sweat and blood, literal and metaphorical.
At the center of this heated race, a new culture called 9-9-6 has emerged in the startups of San Francisco, USA.
What Is 9-9-6 Culture?
It means employees of these startups work from 9 in the morning to 9 in the evening, Monday through Saturday. It translates to 72 hours of work weekly, going away from 4 or 5 day work week culture being promoted across Europe, particularly Nordic countries for more leisure time.
An X handle named TBPN in the post said that they checked the receipts and found that the claims are “true” – Saturdays have become a workday. “The great lock-in is in full effect,” it added.
Many San Francisco startups claim they practice 9-9-6, so we checked the receipts.We worked with Ramp to look at the data and it’s true – Saturdays have become a workday.
The great lock-in is in full effect. pic.twitter.com/MbwAICe3Dy
— TBPN (@tbpn) September 8, 2025
AI War Among Tech Titans
Several big tech giants, including Meta, Google, Microsoft and Amazon, have poached the startup founders with a high paycheck to work with their teams building the smartest Large Language Models (LLMs) and improving the hot application-based technology. For instance, Meta shocked the tech industry when it announced to invest a $14.3 billion in data labelling startup Scale AI. As part of the agreement, Meta took a 49% stake in the company, hired its CEO Alexandr Wang to lead a new superintelligence lab and said it would deepen the work it does with Scale.
Since the inception of ChatGPT by OpenAI in late 2020, the official age of AI has begun. Two years after the trailblazing technology, there’s no official winner, but a sudden push to have everything as AI-laced.
A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al…Read More
A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al… Read More
September 10, 2025, 10:22 IST
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Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the landscape of customer service, offering businesses new ways to engage with consumers and streamline operations. From chatbots to predictive analytics, AI-driven solutions are now at the forefront of digital transformation, enabling organisations to deliver faster, more personalised support. As industries adapt, the implications for business models and consumer expectations are profound and far-reaching.
The Expanding Role of AI in Customer Engagement
The integration of AI into customer service has moved well beyond simple automation. Today, intelligent systems can interpret natural language, understand context, and even anticipate customer needs before they arise. This shift allows companies to provide round-the-clock assistance, reduce response times, and resolve issues with greater accuracy. For example, virtual assistants powered by machine learning can handle complex queries, freeing human agents to focus on higher-value interactions. As AI transforms customer interactions, consumers increasingly look for intuitive platforms, a trend also reflected in how users select reliable sports betting sites that offer seamless digital experiences.
How Cross-Industry Adoption Impacts Business
AI-driven customer service is not confined to any single sector. Financial institutions deploy AI to detect fraud and offer tailored product recommendations, while retailers use it to personalise shopping experiences and manage inventory. Healthcare providers leverage AI-powered chatbots to triage patient inquiries and streamline appointment scheduling. This widespread adoption is driving operational efficiencies and enabling businesses to scale support without compromising quality. Many companies in the UK attribute their rapid growth and resilience in 2025 to strategic adoption of AI technologies and innovative business models, as highlighted in an article detailing the UK business success secrets that can inspire emerging enterprises.
Addressing Challenges and Shaping the Future
Despite the clear benefits, integrating AI into customer service presents challenges. Data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the need for transparent decision-making remain top concerns for both businesses and consumers. Companies must invest in robust governance frameworks and continuous training to ensure AI systems are ethical, secure, and aligned with customer expectations. Looking ahead, the evolution of AI will likely see even deeper personalisation, with systems learning from every interaction to refine their responses. As technology matures, organisations that prioritise trust, transparency, and human-centric design will be best positioned to thrive in this new era of customer engagement.
AI as a Catalyst for Transforming Business
The rise of AI in customer service marks a pivotal moment for global business. By embracing intelligent technologies, companies can enhance customer satisfaction, unlock new efficiencies, and gain a competitive edge. The journey is ongoing, and the most successful organisations will be those that balance innovation with responsibility, ensuring that technology serves both business goals and the evolving needs of their customers. As AI continues to advance, its role as a catalyst for transformation across industries is set to grow, offering exciting opportunities for those ready to adapt.
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