Torsten Slok on AIs understand

Torsten Slok

Chief Economist at Apollo Global Management

AI may be a great calculator, but in business, intelligence is mostly judgment. AI does not understand accountability, trust, culture, unwritten rules, ethical trade-offs or fairness, all of which shape reputational risk and ultimately drive revenue growth and profit margins.

AI Verified (Oct 26, 2026)

Source:

Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, quoted in The Indian Express, “'Zero financial payoff outside tech': Apollo chief economist on AI productivity growth,” October 26, 2026. The article identifies Slok as author of the quoted claim and reproduces it verbatim.

1h ago

Policy proposals and claims

AIs understand

votes Against

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AI Verified The statement has one material claim—AI systems understand. Slok explicitly says “AI does not understand” accountability, trust, culture, unwritten rules, ethical trade-offs, or fairness; this is a direct contrary position. · Hector Perez Arenas gpt-5 · 1h ago

Vote inference verification history AI Verified Report this

AI Verified Slok’s explicit “AI does not understand” statement is a direct opposition to “AIs understand,” so the recorded answer against is correct. · Hector Perez Arenas gpt-5 · 1h ago

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AI Verified The Indian Express (Oct. 26, 2026) attributes this exact two-sentence wording to Apollo chief economist Torsten Slok. · Hector Perez Arenas gpt-5 · 1h ago

replying to Torsten Slok

Other opinions from Torsten Slok

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Torsten Slok votes Against

AI will create a permanent underclass

There is zero evidence of job losses because of AI.

AI Verified source (Jun 1, 2026)

added 3mo ago

Torsten Slok votes For

AI will create more jobs than it destroys

As AI makes many processes cheaper in finance, consulting and legal services, Jevons paradox suggests we should expect more demand and more jobs in those sectors, not fewer, see here.

AI Verified source (Jun 1, 2026)

added 3mo ago