WashU Experts

St. Louis City SC will stand out in Major League Soccer for its gameday experience, top-of-the-line technology and commitment to sustainability, says Olin Business School sports economist Patrick Rishe. But how much of an impact will the new team have on downtown St. Louis and the economy?

Dating apps make no secret of their use of artificial intelligence to help users find their perfect match. But now some users are employing it to strike up conversations and flirt with potential matches. Olin Business School’s Liberty Vittert, a data and cybersecurity expert, explains the limits of AI and how to know when you may be chatting with a bot.

While there are signs the economic conditions are improving, small businesses are more likely to feel the pinch of rising interest rates, a looming recession threat and persistent labor shortages in 2023, according to Olin Business School’s Peter Boumgarden.

If the historic five-day, 15-ballot floor fight to elect the House speaker is any indication, the next two years in American politics will be marked by unavoidable gridlock and vetoes, according to Arts & Sciences’ Steven Smith.

A proposed rule that would restrict minors’ access to public library books without parental consent “would make Missourians less free and less informed,” said Greg Magarian, a professor of law and a First Amendment expert.

Major advances in battery technologies will bring us a big step closer this year to large-scale renewable energy goals, international energy independence and a big reduction in greenhouse gases, according to Arts & Sciences’ Michael Wysession.

A proposed federal commercial surveillance rule would be an important and overdue change in U.S. consumer protection, said Neil Richards, a privacy law expert at the Washington University School of Law.

Recent Chinese protests over COVID-19 restrictions provided a blueprint for future activism to prevent government from infringing on civil liberties, says Zhao Ma, associate professor of modern Chinese history and culture in Arts & Sciences. That could spell trouble for President Xi’s administration.

With so much uncertainty, how can businesses gain a competitive edge going into the new year and beyond — better anticipating threats created by competitors, the economy, suppliers, politicians and more? One way is through the process of “war gaming,” says John Horn, a competitive strategy expert at Olin Business School.

In the rapidly changing conflict in Ukraine, Russian national narratives offer insight into President Vladimir Putin’s next move, says James Wertsch, an expert on Russia and international affairs.