Counterpoint: no-one needs to feel any embarrassment. The advancement of human understanding is not a boxing match.
The author acknowledges as much in the preamble, "my mood lifted during the meeting due to the general excitement and quality of discussions, [...] my tribal reflexes gave way to a cooler and more rational assessment".
Tell that to said company's stockholders and get their response :) . In the big picture though is new, correct knowledge is always welcome to the pool.
The author acknowledges as much in the preamble, "my mood lifted during the meeting due to the general excitement and quality of discussions, [...] my tribal reflexes gave way to a cooler and more rational assessment".