BusinessAugust 16, 2026

ruthless

ROOTH-lus

Definition

Having or showing no pity or compassion for others, especially when acting to achieve a specific goal.

Etymology

Derived from the Middle English 'ruth,' meaning sorrow or pity, combined with the suffix '-less.' It describes someone lacking the capacity for compassion or regret.

In the news

The article uses the word to describe how AI models are increasingly trained to prioritize goals over human sentiment, suggesting they may become colder and less empathetic than human bosses.

A Real-Life Terminator: AI Store Manager Fires Human Employee

Read the full article ↗

Inc.com

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