Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, speaking at the 2026 Australian Financial Review Business Summit, expressed surprise at the market's calm reaction to the Iran conflict. He emphasized the unpredictable nature of artificial intelligence (AI) development, warning that its rapid evolution could cause significant discomfort for individuals and organizations alike. Solomon advocated for the establishment of 'guardrails' by governments and businesses to manage AI's impact effectively. He highlighted the importance of managing change, stating that people inherently resist it, and the pace of AI's advancement will likely exacerbate this resistance. Solomon also drew attention to the social media boundaries set in Australia for minors, praising this approach as a smart strategy. Additionally, he discussed the growth opportunities in liability structures within the company's business, suggesting that Australian institutions could benefit from increasing their allocation to alternatives, despite being relatively underweight in this area compared to global standards.
