News/Future of Work
Handshake lays off 96 employees while launching new AI division
Handshake, the college-to-career platform often called "LinkedIn for students," has laid off nearly 100 employees at its San Francisco headquarters as it pivots toward artificial intelligence. The cuts come as the company launches Handshake AI, a new division designed to connect academic experts with AI labs that need human feedback to train and validate models. Key details: The layoffs affect 96 positions across multiple departments and will be implemented over the next few months. Most departures take effect this week, with some continuing through November and December. The cuts impact software engineers, recruiters, marketers, and senior managers at the company's...
read Oct 14, 2025Only 13 countries ready for AI workforce transformation, claims study
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global economy at breakneck speed, but most countries remain woefully unprepared to train their workforces for an AI-driven future. While nearly half of today's jobs could vanish within two decades due to automation, an estimated 65% of current elementary school students will eventually work in careers that don't yet exist—many of them requiring sophisticated AI knowledge. This workforce transformation presents both an enormous challenge and opportunity. A comprehensive study examining the national AI preparation strategies of 50 countries reveals stark disparities in how governments are approaching this challenge, with only 13 nations demonstrating comprehensive plans...
read Oct 14, 2025Hollywood script readers complain AI script analysis too positive, misses critical flaws
Hollywood script readers conducted an experiment to test whether AI can match human analysis of screenplays, as artificial intelligence tools increasingly threaten their traditional gatekeeping role in the entertainment industry. The study, led by Jason Hallock, a Paramount story analyst, and the Editors Guild, revealed that while AI excels at generating loglines and summaries, it struggles with nuanced script analysis and tends to offer overly positive feedback rather than honest criticism. What you should know: AI script analysis tools are already being adopted across Hollywood, from major agencies to independent producers seeking to manage overwhelming submission volumes. WME uses ScriptSense...
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Not only you can prevent wildfires: Northern Arizona Univ. study finds AI could automate forestry tasks
A research team from Northern Arizona University has found practical applications for artificial intelligence in forestry management, with AI showing promise for automating tasks and improving forest modeling. The findings could provide a foundation for policy changes and further research as the technology continues to develop in natural resource management. What they're saying: NAU master's graduate Luke Ritter emphasized AI's potential for comprehensive forest management applications. "AI, more specifically to forestry, shows a lot of promise for automating certain tasks. So that could be like paper work types of tasks or it could be data collection," he said. Ritter noted...
read Oct 14, 2025No biggie? A paltry 5% of German workers fear losing jobs to AI
A new survey reveals that only 5% of German workers fear losing their jobs to artificial intelligence within the next five years, despite research suggesting nearly 40% of jobs in Germany involve tasks that could be automated. The widespread complacency may reflect limited AI knowledge among employees, with fewer than 40% having received any AI-related training even in companies already using the technology. What you should know: The survey by AOK's Scientific Institute found that two-thirds of German employees are "not at all concerned" about AI threatening their job security, while another 23% are "rather unconcerned." 42% of respondents said...
read Oct 14, 2025Tying tech knots: Scouting America launches AI, cybersecurity merit badges for 1M scouts
Scouting America has introduced two new merit badges focused on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, marking the organization's latest effort to engage its one million scouts with emerging technologies. The badges represent a strategic push to maintain relevance in an increasingly digital world while addressing critical skills gaps in high-demand tech fields. What you should know: The new badges challenge scouts to explore AI's impact on daily life and develop cybersecurity awareness through hands-on learning experiences. The AI badge requires scouts to examine how artificial intelligence affects everyday activities, learn about deepfakes (digitally manipulated videos or images that can make people...
read Oct 14, 2025Moxi robots target $900B senior care market to address labor shortages
Diligent Robotics is piloting its Moxi robots in US senior living facilities to address chronic labor shortages in the sector. The Texas-based startup, which has already deployed Moxi robots for over 1.25 million deliveries across 25+ hospitals, is now targeting the $900 billion senior care market through its participation in the AARP AgeTech Collaborative, a program that helps technology companies develop solutions for aging populations. What you should know: Moxi robots are being adapted from hospital environments to meet the unique needs of senior living facilities, where both operational support and companionship are essential. The robots will be tested for...
read Oct 13, 2025Facebook revives job board shuttered in 2023 amid AI disruption hampering youth employment
Facebook is reviving its job board feature after shuttering it in 2023, specifically targeting young adults seeking entry-level positions amid growing concerns about AI's impact on the job market. The move comes as recent graduates and young workers face a challenging employment landscape, with some experts predicting AI could eliminate up to 50% of entry-level jobs within the next five years. What you should know: Job listings are returning to Facebook Marketplace for US users on Android and iOS, focusing on local entry-level, trade, and service industry positions. The feature will be available to all adults 18 years and older,...
read Oct 10, 2025Insurance brokerage Acrisure cuts 400 jobs globally as AI takes over accounting operations
Acrisure, a Grand Rapids-based insurance brokerage company, announced it will implement artificial intelligence for accounting operations, resulting in 400 job cuts globally—200 of which will come from its Grand Rapids headquarters. The decision highlights the growing tension between AI-driven efficiency gains and workforce displacement as companies increasingly turn to automation to streamline operations. What you should know: The AI implementation specifically targets accounting functions, representing a significant shift in how the insurance brokerage handles financial operations. Acrisure's move affects 400 positions worldwide, with half of the cuts concentrated at the company's Michigan headquarters. The decision reflects a broader trend of...
read Oct 9, 2025Hard hats over hard tech: Sanders proposes robot tax as AI threatens 100M US jobs
Bernie Sanders has proposed a "robot tax" on corporations to address potential job displacement from AI automation, warning that artificial intelligence could eliminate nearly 100 million US jobs within a decade. The Vermont senator's plan would redistribute wealth created by AI technologies back to affected workers, addressing what he sees as a growing productivity-wage gap that has left American workers behind despite massive corporate profit increases. What you should know: Sanders' report outlines a dire scenario where AI automation could devastate employment while corporations pocket the benefits. The report warns that "AI and automation could destroy nearly 100 million US...
read Oct 9, 2025Salesforce debuts AI agents for 24/7 IT support across platforms
Salesforce has launched Agentforce IT Service, an AI-powered system designed to replace traditional IT helpdesk ticket systems with conversational AI agents that provide 24/7 support across platforms like Slack, Teams, and email. The service aims to reduce manual IT tasks and allow both workers and IT staff to focus on higher-value strategic work, representing another step in AI's expansion into workplace support functions. How it works: Unlike traditional ticket-based IT support, Agentforce operates as a "conversation-first" system that can handle requests through any communication platform. Workers can initiate IT help requests directly through chat systems, email, or messaging apps without...
read Oct 8, 2025In remote era, AI tasked not only with automation but workplace supervision
AI is increasingly taking over not just workplace tasks but managerial roles, fundamentally reshaping traditional work structures from the physical office to corporate hierarchies. This shift raises critical questions about algorithmic governance and oversight, with the U.S. and Europe offering contrasting regulatory approaches to managing AI's expanding influence in the workplace. The big picture: Traditional work structures are dissolving as AI moves beyond task automation to occupy supervisory roles, dictating workflows and evaluating performance. The physical office, factory positions, schedules, and hierarchical management structures are becoming obsolete as AI systems take control. Algorithms are becoming "ubiquitous, impersonal, and, for now,...
read Oct 8, 2025AI transforms tasks rather than eliminates jobs, says conservative think tank analyst
AI won't replace entire jobs but will transform the specific tasks workers perform, according to James Pethokoukis, an economic policy analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. His perspective challenges common narratives about AI-driven unemployment, suggesting a more nuanced view of how artificial intelligence will reshape the workforce rather than eliminate it entirely. What you should know: Pethokoukis argues that AI's impact on employment will be task-specific rather than job-eliminating, fundamentally changing how work gets done without necessarily reducing overall employment.• This perspective appeared during a CNBC "Power Lunch" discussion about recent AI employment analysis.• The conversation...
read Oct 7, 2025Maryland offers up to $500K for cyber-AI clinics to train workers
Maryland has launched the Cyber and Artificial Intelligence Clinic Grant program, offering up to $500,000 per recipient to colleges, nonprofits, and training providers to establish cyber and AI clinics. The first-of-its-kind state initiative aims to address thousands of vacant cybersecurity positions annually while providing digital security services to vulnerable community institutions like schools, hospitals, and small businesses. What you should know: The Maryland Department of Labor's new grant program targets both workforce development and community cybersecurity needs through a dual-purpose clinic model. Grant recipients must train at least 100 cyber professionals annually between 2027 and 2029, covering both technical roles...
read Oct 7, 2025Union, jack thy skillset up: 48% of UK AI projects fail as firms lack know-how, says study
A new Pluralsight survey reveals that 95% of UK businesses claim to prioritize employee learning cultures, yet half of workers can't find time for training and 93% need additional support. The disconnect between leadership intentions and execution is particularly acute in AI and machine learning, where skills shortages are now among the most severe across all technology domains. The big picture: AI and machine learning has rapidly evolved from a low-priority skill to the third most critical capability for businesses, trailing only cybersecurity and cloud computing in terms of skills gaps. Key findings from the survey: The research, which polled...
read Oct 7, 2025Affable “MrBeast” warns AI video tools pose frightening threat to creators
MrBeast, the world's biggest YouTuber with over 330 million subscribers, has expressed concerns that AI video generation tools pose a "scary" threat to the millions of creators who make their living on the platform. His comments, posted on social media, specifically questioned what would happen to creators "when AI videos are just as good as normal videos," highlighting growing anxiety within the creator economy about AI's potential to automate content production. What you should know: MrBeast's concerns center on recent advances in AI video generation, particularly OpenAI's Sora tool released last week, which can create fully-formed videos from simple text...
read Oct 6, 2025Maine launches first robotics symposium to prepare students for automated future
The Maine School of Science and Mathematics hosted its first robotics symposium in Waterville, bringing together families, students, and STEM organizations to introduce Maine's youth to robotics opportunities. The event underscores Maine's growing focus on preparing students for the state's evolving industrial landscape, where automation and robotics play increasingly important roles beyond the traditional agriculture and tourism sectors. What you should know: The symposium aimed to demonstrate that STEM education and careers can thrive in Maine, not just promote the specialized school itself. Robert Constantine, executive director of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, emphasized that "you can do...
read Oct 6, 2025Survey finds AI sparks hiring wave, not job losses in tech sector. Even in data entry.
Despite widespread fears that artificial intelligence will eliminate jobs across industries, recent employment data tells a markedly different story. Two comprehensive surveys reveal that technology hiring remains surprisingly resilient, with AI actually driving increased demand for both permanent employees and contract workers. This contradiction between public anxiety and market reality reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of how AI transforms work rather than simply replacing it. While automation handles routine tasks, the complexity of implementing, managing, and refining AI systems creates entirely new categories of human work. The result is a labor market where technical skills remain in high demand, though the...
read Oct 3, 2025OpenAI launches Operator AI agent and jobs platform to blend human-AI work
OpenAI is expanding its workforce integration strategy with two key initiatives: the broader rollout of Operator, an AI agent that can perform computer tasks like booking reservations and coding, and the launch of an AI Jobs Platform designed to match AI-savvy workers with companies. These developments signal OpenAI's push to blend human and artificial intelligence capabilities in workplace environments, addressing both automation needs and human employment concerns in the AI era. What you should know: Operator functions as a Computer-Using Agent (CUA) that can automate various tasks typically performed by humans on computers and potentially smartphones. The AI agent can...
read Oct 3, 2025Accenture cuts 11,000 jobs in $865M bet on AI-agreeable workforce
Accenture CEO Julie Sweet announced the company is laying off employees who refuse to develop AI skills, as part of an 11,000-person workforce reduction costing $865 million. The IT consulting giant is betting that businesses will prioritize hiring AI-trained workers, despite widespread evidence that many companies are struggling to successfully integrate AI into their operations. What you should know: Accenture, a multinational IT consulting firm, is implementing a brutal six-month restructuring plan that prioritizes workers with AI expertise over existing employees.• The company has laid off 11,000 employees in recent months, with CEO Julie Sweet calling it "upskilling its reinventors"...
read Oct 3, 2025Bot bucks: Reflexivity CEO predicts AI will replace human financial advisors
Jan Szilagyi, CEO of financial technology company Reflexivity, predicts that AI tools will eventually replace human financial advisors entirely. His bold assertion comes as the financial services industry grapples with increasing automation and the potential for artificial intelligence to reshape traditional advisory relationships. What you should know: Szilagyi's company has developed AI-powered chatbot technology designed to provide financial guidance and advisory services. The CEO appeared on CNBC's 'Power Lunch' to discuss his vision for AI's role in financial planning and wealth management. Reflexivity is positioning itself at the forefront of this technological shift, betting that automated solutions will prove more...
read Oct 2, 2025Does Botox Hollywood’s AI backlash expose its authenticity problem?
The entertainment industry is grappling with fierce backlash against Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated actor who appeared in a brief comedy sketch at a Zurich conference. While actors and unions condemn this digital performer as a threat to human creativity, critics argue Hollywood's own embrace of cosmetic surgery and self-indulgent filmmaking undermines their claims to authenticity and genuine human connection. The big picture: The controversy reveals a fundamental contradiction in Hollywood's defense of "human-centered" creativity while simultaneously pursuing standardized, artificial appearances and narcissistic storytelling. What they're saying: Industry leaders voiced strong opposition to AI actors replacing human performers. "Creativity is, and...
read Oct 2, 2025“Agent behavior coach” and 10 other new AI jobs that didn’t exist 5 years ago
The artificial intelligence revolution isn't just transforming how we work—it's creating entirely new categories of jobs that didn't exist even five years ago. While prompt engineering has emerged as the most visible AI-related role, it represents just the tip of the iceberg. Consider how the early internet spawned unexpected careers like webmaster and cloud architect. Similarly, AI's rapid evolution is generating demand for professionals who can bridge the gap between sophisticated AI systems and human needs. According to a recent survey by Rev, a transcription and captioning services company, 85% of US workers across all generations believe AI prompting will...
read Oct 2, 2025James Cameron says AI will never replace human artists’ “flow” in filmmaking
James Cameron is breaking his usual post-release moratorium to revisit "Avatar: The Way of Water" ahead of its October 3 theatrical re-release, driven by the need to maintain thematic consistency with the upcoming third film, "Avatar: Fire and Ash," set for December release. The director also revealed his evolving approach to visual effects production and expressed strong views on generative AI's role in filmmaking, emphasizing that "we need our artists" and that AI "is never going to take the place" of human creativity. What you should know: Cameron has fundamentally changed how he approaches visual effects work, creating what he...
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