AI agents, senior housing, a new weekly spotlight on geopolitics, and more: The Weekend Read

McKinsey & Company

The Weekend Read

CURATED PICKS FOR YOUR DOWNTIME, FROM OUR EDITORS

Icon headshots of Alex Panas and Axel Karlsson

Brought to you by Alex Panas, global leader of industries, & Axel Karlsson, global leader of functional practices and growth platforms

Welcome to the latest edition of The Weekend Read. We hope you find our perspectives useful. Let us know what you think at Alex_Panas@McKinsey.com and Axel_Karlsson@McKinsey.com.

—Alex and Axel

Take a breather this weekend and dive into the week’s highlights on AI agents, senior housing, sustainable packaging, plus a new weekly spotlight on geopolitics , and more.

Two businesswomen sit in modern chairs facing a large, translucent screen displaying complex data visualizations. The futuristic setting suggests a collaborative work environment utilizing advanced technology.

What are AI agents? Senior Partner Jorge Amar joins talent leaders Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock to talk about what they are, how they are being used, and how leaders can prepare now for the workforce of the not-too-distant future.

Tune in to the podcast

Two elderly gentlemen playing chess on a warmly lit patio in a senior living facility.

How can the senior-housing industry help support aging societies while expanding successful businesses? Associate Partner Sam O’Gorman explains three approaches that could make senior housing more appealing, expand its reach, and enable better and more affordable care.

Understand the potential

Weekly spotlight on geopolitics

In a recent article, Cindy Levy , Shubham Singhal , and coauthors explore how understanding the full scope of government incentives can help business leaders maximize returns on investments and navigate the competitive dynamics in global markets. Those who integrate industrial-policy considerations into strategic decisions can reduce their costs of capital, minimize risk in priority innovation projects, and find new avenues for growth.

An image linking to the web page “From protection to promotion: The new age of industrial policy” on McKinsey.com.

3 forms of industrial policy

An image linking to the web page “Europe’s moonshot moment: Fueling its tech ecosystem for scale” on McKinsey.com.

Europe’s tech start-ups and scale-ups are gaining momentum. Ruben Schaubroeck and coauthors explore what is working and where targeted shifts could meaningfully accelerate the growth and success of start-ups and scale-ups.

Seize Europe’s tech opportunities

Woman Shopping in Supermarket Aisle Searching for Products

Do consumers still care about sustainable packaging during these times of high inflation and global geopolitical uncertainty? Now, more than ever, the winning packaging companies will be those that can simultaneously meet the full range of consumer needs, write David Feber and coauthors.

Explore the research

Ready to unwind?

An image linking to the web page “Author Talks: Are your employees happy at work?” on McKinsey.com.

Author Talks: Are your employees happy at work?

A workplace well-being expert explores how employee satisfaction drives company performance—and makes the case for why investing in it is not just good business, but a societal imperative.

Read exclusively on the Insights app

Drew Ungerman on patient-centric care, leadership, and technology

McKinsey’s Drew Ungerman discusses how healthcare leaders can improve patient care and use technology in a way that complements clinicians’ work and enhances care delivery.

Improve patient access to care

The McKinsey Crossword: Light-Headedness | No. 235

44-Down: Dessert squares ... and a hint to this puzzle’s theme

Know the answer? Test yourself with the latest McKinsey Crossword: Light-Headedness | No. 235

Keep it light

—Edited by Joyce Yoo, editor, New York

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