In the December 2 episode of The Young and the Restless, Jack moved toward the most extreme decision of his career: shutting Jabot down before Victor can weaponize the stolen AI that already crippled Cane’s company. With the Abbott Communications launch days away and Victor circling for a clean strike, Jack recognized that the only way to break the cycle was to pull the plug entirely — a move that could protect the family legacy or shatter it in the process.
Key Takeaways
• Jack prepares a Jabot shutdown to prevent Victor’s AI assault
• Cane surrenders everything to Victor, raising the stakes across Genoa City
• Audra pushes Nate for answers as trust fractures again
What Happened on Y&R
Jack (Peter Bergman) laid out the situation plainly to Diane (Susan Walters). There was no firewall strong enough, no tech solution that could disarm the AI Victor (Eric Braeden) stole from Cane (Billy Flynn). The program had already reduced Arabesque to rubble, and Jabot was next if they stayed online. Jack explained that shutting down every digital system for months — storefront, operations, and manufacturing — was the only way to escape becoming Victor’s next trophy.
Cane’s collapse only underscored the urgency. After admitting defeat, Cane walked into Victor’s home and handed over what was left of Arabesque. His surrender confirmed that Victor already knew how to wield the AI with ruthless precision. Cane’s downfall left Jack with a clear picture of what could happen to Jabot if he hesitated.
Why It Matters
Jack’s move is not strategic posturing — it’s a direct acknowledgment that Victor operates under an entirely new set of rules. This is no longer a corporate rivalry built on boardroom maneuvers. It’s a technological weapon that rewrites the balance of power.
The shutdown represents a philosophical shift for Jack. He has always fought Victor through open confrontation, public pressure, or business counterattacks. But Victor neutralized all of that when he turned Cane’s AI against him. Walking offline is Jack refusing to play the game on Victor’s terms. It’s a counterpunch that the Mustache cannot predict and one that blunts the impact of the AI entirely.
Inside the Abbott family, the decision lands differently. Jabot has always been the symbol of their identity — John Abbott’s legacy, their unity, their pride. Shutting it down challenges every instinct Jack has as a son, brother, husband, and CEO.
The Fallout
If Jack proceeds, Jabot’s shutdown will rattle every corner of Genoa City. Employees will panic. Investors will question his leadership. Victor will be forced to recalculate. And for the first time in a long time, the Abbotts will control the pace of the war rather than Victor.
But the emotional impact is even more significant. Diane worries about the risk, yet she stands by his side. Billy (Jason Thompson) is already preparing for the repercussions at Abbott Communications. The entire family senses the magnitude of what Jack is about to do — and how it might permanently reshape their feud with Victor.
Jack’s decision doesn’t just protect Jabot. It draws a line in the sand that Victor cannot step over without rewriting the rules again.
