AT&T CEO John Stankey on AI, Return-to-office Mandates and Surveillance Law
When Alexander Graham Bell made the first telephone call in 1876, few could have predicted what would grow from that moment: A company that would invent the transistor, the solar cell and eventually become what is today America's largest telecommunications provider. AT&T celebrated the 150th anniversary of Bell’s first phone call on March 10. As it marked the anniversary, the company announced an investment and spend of more than $250 billion to build high-speed networks and support "the future of U.S. advanced connectivity."
The anniversary comes as the company faces another technological transformation. Its CEO John Stankey, who has spent his entire career at the company, said any executive who thinks artificial intelligence (AI) won't disrupt their business is "naive."
Meanwhile, the future of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which determines how the government can compel companies like AT&T to assist with surveillance, will be determined in April. Stankey told TIME the law needs reform, arguing that the focus on telecom companies is outdated, as much of the data on AT&T’s network is now encrypted.
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