News/Economy
Cheshire East Council eyes £60 million AI savings amid financial struggles
Cash-strapped Cheshire East Council is exploring artificial intelligence as a potential financial lifeline, with an internal report claiming AI implementation could save the local authority between £40-60 million over five years. This initiative comes at a critical time for the council, which has faced ongoing financial difficulties requiring exceptional government support for two consecutive years, making AI adoption a potentially significant strategy in its broader transformation plan. The big picture: An internal assessment by Cheshire East Council identifies artificial intelligence as a source of substantial potential savings across multiple service areas. The report suggests AI implementation could generate between £40-60...
read Apr 6, 2025Instagram’s AI tools match brands with creators for smarter influencer marketing
Instagram's AI-powered creator marketplace partnership represents a significant evolution in influencer marketing, directly addressing the challenge of matching brands with the right creators. By leveraging artificial intelligence to facilitate more effective collaborations, Instagram is positioning itself as an essential platform for businesses looking to harness creator influence in a data-driven way. This development could fundamentally transform how brands approach influencer partnerships on a platform with 1.4 billion monthly active users. The big picture: Instagram is deploying AI technology to transform how businesses discover and partner with creators, enabling more strategic and effective influencer marketing campaigns. The platform's new AI-powered tools...
read Apr 5, 2025AI’s limitations may shape geopolitics more than its capabilities
The evolving role of artificial intelligence in geopolitics requires a nuanced understanding of both its capabilities and limitations. While AI continues to reshape various domains of human activity, its impact on global power dynamics will be defined as much by what it cannot do as by what it can accomplish. Recognizing the boundaries of AI technology is essential for policymakers and strategists seeking to understand how these tools might reshape international relations in the coming years. The big picture: AI's influence on geopolitics encompasses both indirect effects on economic and social systems and direct applications in military and strategic decision-making....
read Apr 4, 2025AI expertise up, coding skills down, as developer job market shifts
The software development job market is experiencing a significant shift as artificial intelligence expertise surpasses traditional coding skills in demand. Salesforce's recent announcement that 2025 will be its first year without adding software engineers, coupled with Indeed's report of developer job postings hitting a four-year low, signals a fundamental restructuring of technical talent priorities. This transition reflects how AI's accelerating adoption is reshaping the skills hierarchy in technology careers, pushing developers to evolve their expertise or risk career stagnation. The big picture: Traditional software development roles are seeing decreased demand while AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity positions dominate the tech...
read Apr 4, 2025Strategies of influence(r): How AI, youth and external networks are reshaping B2B buying decisions
B2B marketing is evolving beyond buying groups into complex networks influenced by AI, external experts, and partners. This shift resembles moving from isolated chess games to simultaneous matches, requiring companies to navigate multiple spheres of influence simultaneously. As 95% of buyers now leverage generative AI in purchasing decisions and younger buyers consult extensive networks outside their organizations, B2B companies must adapt their strategies to thrive in this increasingly interconnected ecosystem. The big picture: B2B purchasing decisions have transformed from simple "checkers" (focused on individual leads) to "chess" (buying groups with different roles) and now to multiple simultaneous chess games involving...
read Apr 1, 2025Royally pained: King Charles’ charity warns AI could widen global digital divide
A new report from King Charles III's charity reveals AI's potential to either bridge or widen global digital inequality. As President Trump pledges $500 billion for AI infrastructure that could create 100,000 American jobs, many people worldwide still lack basic access to digital devices—highlighting a stark contrast nearly 50 years after Queen Elizabeth II sent her first email. This digital divide threatens to exacerbate existing inequalities unless governments, educators, and employers collaborate on inclusive digital access policies. The big picture: The King's Trust's 2025 Future of Work Report warns that without equitable access, the digital revolution could deepen global inequality...
read Apr 1, 2025Slow, controlled burn: Experian’s 20-year AI strategy expanded credit access to 26 million Americans
Experian's multi-decade AI strategy has transformed the credit bureau into an AI-powered platform company, leveraging advanced capabilities long before generative AI became mainstream. The company's methodical approach to AI integration has improved business operations while expanding financial access to approximately 26 million previously excluded Americans—demonstrating how strategic, long-term AI development can create both business value and positive societal impact. The big picture: While many enterprises rushed to adopt AI following ChatGPT's 2022 debut, Experian has been methodically building AI capabilities for nearly 20 years, creating a foundation that enabled rapid capitalization on recent generative AI breakthroughs. The credit bureau has...
read Apr 1, 2025Online education, AI help millions finish college degree last mile
Online education and AI-powered support systems are emerging as key solutions for the millions of Americans with unfinished college degrees. With over 40 million people having some college credit but no credential—a number that grew by 1.4 million from 2021 to 2022—institutions like Southern New Hampshire University are leveraging flexible online courses and artificial intelligence to address the structural barriers that prevent degree completion, including work schedules, caregiving responsibilities, and financial constraints. The big picture: While traditional college enrollments decline ahead of a projected "enrollment cliff," online education is experiencing significant growth as it provides flexible pathways for students who...
read Apr 1, 2025Alibaba is warning of an Ali-bubble in AI buildout
A growing chorus of high-profile tech executives is warning that the astronomical spending on AI infrastructure may be outpacing actual demand, creating conditions for a potential market correction. While companies have committed hundreds of billions of dollars to building data centers and developing AI models, Alibaba's chairman has joined those questioning whether the industry is becoming detached from market realities, suggesting the early signs of a bubble that could leave massive investments without sufficient customers. The warning signs: Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai expressed concern that the AI industry is showing early indicators of a speculative bubble, particularly in data center...
read Mar 31, 2025Why generalists will thrive in the AI era while specialists face growing competition
Generalist adaptive thinking is emerging as the essential skill in an AI-driven era where specialists with narrow expertise face increasing competition from intelligent systems. Dan Shipper's analysis reframes what it means to be a generalist—not merely someone with shallow knowledge across domains, but rather a curious, adaptable problem-solver who thrives in ambiguous environments where patterns aren't obvious and rules aren't well-defined. This distinction becomes crucial as AI systems increasingly match or exceed humans in specialized knowledge work, shifting the competitive advantage to those who can navigate uncertainty and formulate the right questions. The big picture: The true value of generalists...
read Mar 28, 2025Amazon blocks 99% of counterfeit listings with AI-powered fraud prevention
Amazon's latest Brand Protection Report reveals significant advances in AI-powered fraud prevention, showcasing how the e-commerce giant has weaponized artificial intelligence to combat counterfeiting. The company's billion-dollar investment and strategic hiring of ML scientists and software developers has enabled them to block over 99% of suspected infringing listings proactively, demonstrating how AI has become central to maintaining marketplace integrity and consumer trust in digital commerce. The big picture: Amazon invested more than $1 billion last year and expanded its workforce with specialized AI talent to strengthen its fraud prevention capabilities. The company specifically hired machine learning scientists and software developers...
read Mar 28, 2025They who hesitate, deteriorate: Adapt or risk obsolescence amid AI-driven business competition
The rise of artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping competitive dynamics across industries, creating both transformative opportunities and existential risks for businesses. As AI dismantles traditional business models, it's enabling innovative companies to unlock new markets and customer experiences while threatening those resistant to change. This technological revolution isn't approaching gradually—it's already actively rewiring entire sectors from digital marketing to retail, requiring businesses to adapt quickly or risk obsolescence. The big picture: Traditional digital marketing is being transformed by generative AI, shifting from keyword-based strategies to conversational, intent-driven customer interactions. The rise of tools like ChatGPT is replacing traditional search result...
read Mar 26, 2025More than enough: China’s AI data centers overextend as facilities sit empty and GPU prices plummet
China's AI data center boom is rapidly deflating as newly constructed facilities sit empty and GPU prices plummet. This unraveling infrastructure bubble illustrates the risks of speculative tech investment, as government-backed and private companies poured billions into AI computing resources that now face weak demand. The situation has been further complicated by the rise of more efficient AI models like DeepSeek, which require less computational power and have fundamentally shifted the economics of the AI industry in China. The big picture: China's AI infrastructure gold rush has turned into a crisis with up to 80% of newly built computing resources...
read Mar 26, 2025Bill Gates predicts AI will reduce workweeks to 2-3 days as humans keep only specialized jobs
Bill Gates predicts a future where AI handles most jobs, leaving humans with potentially shorter workweeks and only specific roles requiring human expertise. His recent interviews highlight a vision where artificial intelligence handles most production tasks, while certain fields remain uniquely human domains due to their complexity and need for creative problem-solving. Gates suggests this technological shift might fundamentally transform how we structure our work lives in the coming decades. The big picture: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates believes AI will eventually replace humans in most jobs, potentially reducing the traditional workweek to just 2-3 days. In a recent appearance on...
read Mar 25, 2025Bubble trouble? OpenAI losing $2 for every $1 earned as cheaper rivals emerge
Generative AI faces a growing economic bubble that could burst, as massive investments into companies like OpenAI seem increasingly disconnected from their financial reality. Despite billions flowing into the sector, OpenAI is hemorrhaging money—losing $2 for every dollar earned—while simultaneously facing competition from significantly cheaper open-source alternatives. This potential bubble threatens not just AI startups but could ripple through the entire tech ecosystem, where major companies have staked their future growth on AI's continued expansion. The big picture: Venture capitalists have committed approximately $200 billion to generative AI while Big Tech plans to invest over $1 trillion in AI infrastructure...
read Mar 25, 2025Nearly half of UK job seekers use AI tools in applications, claiming fake skills
The increasing use of AI in job applications creates a growing disconnect between candidates' presented abilities and their actual skills, posing significant challenges for employers. Nearly half of UK job seekers now use AI tools in their application process, threatening to undermine traditional hiring methods and potentially leading to poor hiring decisions. This trend highlights the complex balance between leveraging technology for opportunity and maintaining authentic human judgment in recruitment. The big picture: Business leaders are reporting a noticeable surge in AI-generated job applications, creating concerns about their ability to identify truly qualified candidates. Advertising executive James Robinson has observed...
read Mar 24, 2025Wisconsin’s private colleges pivot to serviceable tech, healthcare instruction amid enrollment crisis
Wisconsin's private colleges are rapidly pivoting toward technology and healthcare programs to survive financial and demographic challenges reshaping higher education. With over half of the state's private institutions facing budget shortfalls and three colleges closing since 2020, these schools are making strategic shifts away from traditional liberal arts offerings. The trend reflects broader pressures in higher education, including Wisconsin's declining high school graduate pool and a significant drop in college enrollment rates from 63% in 2015 to just 51.7% today. The big picture: Private colleges across Wisconsin are radically transforming their academic offerings to remain viable amid severe financial constraints...
read Mar 24, 2025Unicorns in retreat as emerging VC funds see 30% drop in returns since 2021 peak
Venture capital returns for smaller "emerging manager" funds have plummeted by 30% or more since their 2020-2021 peak, according to new data from Carta. This significant decline highlights the challenging environment for funds managing between $10-100 million, which once thrived during the boom years but now face the harsh reality of devalued portfolios. The potential resurgence of these funds may hinge on whether their AI investments can deliver the outsized returns needed to reverse this downward trend. The big picture: Carta's latest data on smaller VC funds reveals a dramatic decline in returns for "emerging managers" who raised funds between...
read Mar 21, 2025Expert: Open-source AI models threaten OpenAI’s $7B annual losses
The battle between open-source and closed-source AI models is intensifying, with industry expert Kai-Fu Lee raising serious doubts about OpenAI's long-term viability. As foundation models become increasingly commoditized, the fundamental economics of AI development are shifting dramatically, potentially favoring companies with leaner operations and open-source strategies over heavily funded but financially strained closed-source operations like OpenAI. The big picture: AI scholar and entrepreneur Kai-Fu Lee questioned OpenAI's sustainability in a Bloomberg Television interview, highlighting the company's massive annual losses against the rise of efficient open-source competitors. "You're spending $7 billion or $8 billion a year, making a massive loss, and...
read Mar 21, 2025AI and automation aim to attract youth to farming while creating new jobs
Automation and AI are transforming agriculture through advanced technologies that enhance workforce productivity while addressing labor shortages. As farming continues to shift from a once-dominant profession to one requiring fewer but more technically skilled workers, innovative companies are developing solutions that make agricultural work more precise, efficient, and appealing to younger generations. These technologies don't aim to replace human workers but rather augment their capabilities, allowing them to focus on higher-value tasks while automation handles repetitive operations. The big picture: Modern farming is evolving through automation and AI that enable precision agriculture while potentially making the profession more attractive to...
read Mar 20, 2025AI or Bye: Execs and some employees seek career-critical roles at companies adopting artificial intelligence
A significant gap is emerging between organizations' AI adoption strategies and their employees' expectations, creating workplace tension as companies struggle to integrate generative AI effectively. New research from Writer reveals that while professionals overwhelmingly want to use AI tools to enhance their productivity, many organizations lack clear implementation plans and face interdepartmental power struggles. This disconnect could impact talent retention and organizational competitiveness as workers increasingly view AI proficiency as essential in their career decisions. The big picture: Employees and executives are aligned on wanting AI in the workplace, but organizations are struggling to deliver effective implementation strategies. The research...
read Mar 20, 202575% of Gen Z car shoppers use AI to time their purchases, prefer in-vehicle tech connectivity
Gen Z's embrace of AI is reshaping automotive shopping patterns, as revealed in a new Salesforce study. This generation, born between 1997 and 2012, is applying their digital native status to vehicle purchasing decisions by leveraging artificial intelligence for timing and value optimization. Their tech-forward approach represents a significant shift in consumer behavior that automotive manufacturers are now racing to accommodate, with implications for everything from vehicle features to pricing models. The big picture: Three-quarters of Gen Z car shoppers are using AI to determine the optimal time to purchase a new vehicle, according to Salesforce research. This digitally savvy...
read Mar 20, 2025AI hiring tools could reduce inequality and boost economy by $350 billion
New technologies powered by big data and machine learning are poised to transform the labor market by closing critical information gaps between job seekers and employers. These innovations have the potential to reduce hiring inefficiencies that currently contribute to wage inequality, prolonged unemployment, and economic underperformance. Understanding these emerging AI-driven hiring tools is crucial for policymakers and business leaders as they navigate both the opportunities and ethical challenges of algorithmic job matching in an increasingly digital economy. The big picture: AI-powered hiring platforms are leveraging digital footprints to create more efficient job matching by analyzing and interpreting previously untapped data...
read Mar 20, 2025Fed holds rates steady as tech giants launch $100 billion AI infrastructure fund
The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates while slowing its balance sheet reduction has created modest market optimism amid continued focus on AI infrastructure investments. The central bank's projection of two potential rate cuts in 2025 signals cautious economic confidence, while major tech companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, and BlackRock are doubling down on AI with a massive new infrastructure fund. Meanwhile, JPMorgan analysts view Meta as particularly resilient among tech stocks due to its diverse advertiser base and strong ad platform performance. The big picture: The Federal Reserve unanimously voted to keep interest rates steady in the 4.25% to...
read