Ryan Goodwin, Trinity Industries

“My dad was in the Navy, so I grew up all over—five, seven, eight schools, I don't even know. For twenty years I did supply chain consulting, and everywhere I went, I saw the same thing: brilliant people trapped doing stupid work.

Years ago, before AI, I was putting in management systems and I met this woman—I can't remember her name—but she was a picker in a warehouse. They used paper for everything, and we were bringing in handhelds and green screens. She learned it all. Always early, always asking, 'Show me more.' She went from working the floor to being a supervisor, just because she was so willing to learn.

What I love about American workers is how we adapt and figure things out. Give us the right tools and we'll run with them. American workers have the confidence to take these tools and immediately start experimenting, iterating, improving.

That's why I'm optimistic about the impact of AI on our country—Americans have the cultural DNA to really unleash this. We're not trying to replace people, we're setting them free. Americans don't wait for permission; we just start doing. Other countries might build competent tech, but only here do we have the audacity to hand it straight to the people on the floor and say, 'Go make things better.'”