CEO Confidential: 10 gadgets for the CEO agenda

In Q3 2025, CEOs should navigate combined financial indicators. U.S. GDP grew +2.1% and EU +0.5%, however Germany’s -1.1% contraction alarms buyers. Inflation is secure and markets upbeat, although rates of interest stay excessive. A U.S.-EU tariff deal eased tensions, however Switzerland faces a 39% import obligation threatening exports.

AI dominates headlines: Anthropic battles lawsuits over coaching information, the EU AI Act takes impact, and OpenAI launches GPT-5. Apple integrates AI into units, whereas Switzerland unveils its open multilingual mannequin, Apertus. Denmark strikes to legislate private digital identification rights, signaling broader authorized shifts.

Past tech, disruption spans industries. Giorgio Armani’s passing marks the top of a style period, Nestlé struggles with management churn and shrinking worth, and world inactivity raises well being alarms. In the meantime, fintech reshapes cash: Klarna lists at $20B in New York, and Revolut expands throughout Europe with modern digital providers.

Right here is our decide of ten highlights, which ought to be on the agenda of each CEO for Q3 2025.

1. Germany, all good? Macro-economic indicators present world development additionally in Q3 2025. US GDP at +2.1% vs. LY; EU GDP at +0.5% vs. LY, with Germany’s -1.1% worrying analysts and buyers (Germany is EU’s largest economic system). France modifications once more its Prime Minister in September, signalling turbulence for the subsequent yr. Inflation stays below management. Inventory markets are optimistic for G7 markets. Rates of interest (10 years’ bonds) stay excessive: 4% US, 2.6% EU. The US tariffs’ struggle has seen some progress in Q3,  with the settlement between the US and the EU on a 15% flat charge. The FED, the US central financial institution, continues to chop rates of interest, according to what the President and his authorities need, specifically to decrease the price of cash.
2. 39%, actually? Switzerland was particularly impacted by the newest developments of the US tariffs’ insurance policies. A 39% import obligation will apply for all Swiss-made imports in America. Swiss authorities are discussing, by way of formal and casual channels, tips on how to problem the 39% charge, which can impair exports similar to Swiss luxurious watches and jewels, moreover high-tech merchandise made within the nation. Traditionally peaceable, Switzerland is dealing with a real “struggle”, and should discover methods to reply and combat.
3. Pay per learn. Anthropic, the AI start-up accountable for the Claude mannequin, has provided to pay $ 1.5 billion to settle the case of a category motion pushed by authors whose work was utilized by the corporate’s LLM for its coaching. The case if removed from over, because the choose has to this point declined to acknowledge the supply. That is fascinating, because it goes on the coronary heart of how we construct a enterprise mannequin round AI fashions and purposes. How a lot is it to learn and digest somebody’s IP for AI functions?
4. I personal me. In a world that’s more and more digital, the identification of each single particular person will probably be essential, and so is the possession of personal likeness and digital company. The Danish authorities needs to combat AI-generated deepfakes by altering its copyright legislation. Everybody could have the appropriate to their very own physique, facial options and voice. If authorized, the brand new legislation will symbolize an fascinating precedent in Europe and can pave the best way for the definition of each digital possession and tasks for its use by anybody else or a enterprise.
5. The EU AI Act is stay. In August, the European Synthetic Intelligence Act (AI Act) has gone into execution in each EU jurisdiction, having been authorized in August 2024. In case you run a enterprise, it’s time to seek the advice of your Authorized Division, as there are obligations to be taken care of, when AI offers with shoppers. EU is the primary area to attempt to information AI growth and deployment, making an attempt to guard followers and markets.
6. AI, AI, AI. Open AI, backed by the likes of Microsoft, launches its new chatbot, known as Chat GPT 5, with many different instruments round it, reaching its finest degree of intelligence but. Apple, which launched new variations of its iPhone and iWatch is in talks to leverage Google’s Gemini for the revamp of its Siri utility. Apple additionally launched a brand new model of its AirPods – known as Professional 3, now in a position to translate in actual time a bunch of languages and measure heart-beat, to say two new options. Extra newness coming from all different AI and {Hardware}/Software program suppliers (for instance, Claude 4 from Anthropic). Many are nervous a couple of new tech bubble, whereas companies are simply centered on how AI might help them survive, earlier than AI itself takes out of enterprise.
7. Open! EPFL, ETH Zurich, and the Swiss Nationwide Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) have launched Apertus, Switzerland’s first large-scale open, multilingual language mannequin, a terrific achievement for Switzerland within the discipline of AI. Apertus consists of many languages which have to this point been underrepresented globally, similar to Swiss German, Romansh, and plenty of others. Apertus, which implies ‘open’, transparently reveals customers how it’s constructed and the way it capabilities. Talking Swiss German, the mannequin is able to welcome followers with its Gruetzi!
8. Lengthy stay the King. Giorgio Armani handed away, at 91, shortly earlier than the massive celebration of fifty years of the corporate that carries his identify. The undisputed King of Trend, most likely along with the likes of Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren and Coco Chanel, the Signor Armani, as his groups used to name him, leaves behind a EUR 12 billion inheritance and an organization in good well being. He’s identified for giving women and men a slick, elegant and highly effective wardrobe, and for exhibiting the enterprise world that long run plans and steady innovation do pay again, even with out AI.
9. Meals for thought. Nestlé, the most important meals conglomerate on the earth, misplaced greater than a 3rd of their market capitalization up to now 5 years and lately, and abruptly, modified their CEO – the third in a yr, as a outcomes of an organization love affair, because it appears. International provide chain strains and tariffs are making a vortex of inflation on most important items. In accordance with Sweat Financial system, a wellness app, 1.8 billion individuals right now, all around the globe, are thought-about inactive, of which 28% are adults. However the surprising quantity is that 81% of teenagers aren’t shifting in any respect. Ailments like diabetes are rising yr after yr and are immediately linked to weight loss plan and train. The tech growth, when it comes to funding, has one sufferer for certain: the meals trade.
10. New shapes of cash. Klarna, the Purchase Now Pay Later hottest app globally and an organization from Sweden, listed at a $20 billion worth on the NYSE, within the US. It’s an enormous success for a scale-up that picked up a fair proportion of dangerous press alongside the best way and nice traction amonth the younger, due to its aggressive enterprise mannequin and no rates of interest on funds. Revolut, a UK born digital financial institution, continues its development in EU, and locations itself because the fifth largest financial institution in Italy. It’s also the primary financial institution to pay out every day curiosity payouts in Belgium, for instance. Cash is altering its face, changing into digital and nearly a commodity. New generations don’t need to pay extra charges and prices for monetary providers any longer.