News/Future of Work
Paying it backward: Gen Z workers teach older colleagues AI, saving 55 minutes daily
Gen Z employees are increasingly taking on the role of AI tutors for older colleagues, with nearly 60% actively coaching veteran workers on AI app usage, according to a new survey by International Workplace Group, a hybrid workplace provider. This mentorship dynamic is not only bridging generational divides in the workplace but also driving significant productivity gains and creating new business opportunities for companies. What you should know: The study surveyed 2,016 professionals from the U.S. and U.K., revealing that Gen Z's digital fluency is transforming workplace dynamics through AI education. Nearly two-thirds of Gen Z workers voluntarily help older...
read Sep 19, 2025Zoom CEO Eric Yuan predicts AI could enable 3-day workweeks by 2030
Zoom CEO Eric Yuan predicts that artificial intelligence could enable a three-day workweek by taking over mundane and repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on more meaningful work. This vision aligns with growing concerns about employee burnout and the "infinite workday" phenomenon, where workers struggle to disconnect from professional responsibilities even during personal time. What you should know: Yuan's prediction comes as companies increasingly integrate AI into workflows to boost productivity and employee satisfaction. Microsoft's Work Trend Index report revealed that employees feel trapped in an "infinite workday," starting work at 6 AM while still in bed and carrying tasks...
read Sep 18, 2025Semper AI: Marines launch artificial intelligence training for entire workforce in 2-year plan
The Marine Corps is deploying digital transformation teams and preparing to launch comprehensive AI training for its entire workforce, according to AI lead Capt. Christopher Clark. The service has developed a two-year strategic implementation plan to integrate artificial intelligence across all levels, from headquarters to small tactical units, aiming to make Marines "more effective, more involved and more able to do their job." What you should know: The Marine Corps has established a structured approach to AI adoption through specialized teams and partnerships with leading institutions. Digital transformation teams (DTTs) are now operational at three key locations: II Marine Expeditionary...
read Sep 18, 2025AI is turbocharging every engineer, says Macroscope CEO
Kayvon Beykpour, CEO of Macroscope and founder of Periscope, appeared on CNBC's 'Closing Bell' to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming software development and the challenges engineering teams face in this evolving landscape. His insights highlight the growing importance of AI-powered tools in understanding and managing increasingly complex software development processes. What you should know: Beykpour emphasized that AI is serving as a force multiplier for engineers across the industry.• Every engineer is being "turbocharged by AI," according to the Macroscope CEO, suggesting widespread adoption and impact of AI tools in development workflows.• The discussion focused on Macroscope's AI-powered tools...
read Sep 18, 2025Cleanup on AI-sle nine: Vibe coding creates new bug-correcting specialist jobs for developers
A new job category called "vibe coding cleanup specialist" is emerging as AI-generated code often contains errors, bugs, and potential security vulnerabilities that require human intervention to fix. This role addresses a critical gap in the AI coding workflow, where non-technical users can prompt AI to generate programs but lack the expertise to debug the flawed output, creating demand for specialists who can clean up AI-produced code. What you should know: Vibe coding refers to using natural language prompts with AI models like ChatGPT or Claude to generate programming code, but the output frequently requires significant human oversight and correction....
read Sep 18, 202534% of workers uncomfortable with AI calculating their pay, claims survey
A new PayrollOrg survey reveals significant worker resistance to artificial intelligence in payroll management, with 34% of American workers uncomfortable with AI calculating their wages and 45% opposing AI handling payroll inquiries. These findings suggest that despite AI's broader workplace adoption, employees remain particularly cautious about automation in areas directly affecting their financial wellbeing, highlighting the need for human oversight and transparent communication in payroll technology implementation. What you should know: The 2025 "Getting Paid In America" survey captured responses from over 25,900 workers nationwide, revealing deep skepticism about AI's role in payroll processes. Of 22,464 respondents asked about AI...
read Sep 18, 2025Bank of America raises minimum wage to $25 as AI reshapes workforce
Bank of America has raised its U.S. minimum wage to $25 per hour, fulfilling a "25 by 2025" commitment made in 2021 and translating to annual salaries exceeding $50,000 for full-time employees. The announcement comes as CEO Brian Moynihan acknowledged that artificial intelligence is shrinking some departments, though the bank is focusing on redeploying and reskilling affected workers. The big picture: This wage increase represents a 67% jump since 2017, when Bank of America's minimum wage was $15 per hour, positioning the financial giant at the forefront of corporate wage policy during a period of slowing employment growth and rising...
read Sep 18, 2025Oof, $2.8M startup uses fake job posts to funnel candidates into AI interviews
A job seeker named Conor applied for a content architecture position and received an immediate interview offer, only to discover he was being interviewed by a poorly programmed AI system that couldn't provide basic job details. After the interview, he received an email promoting "mock interviews with an AI interviewer," leading him to suspect the entire job posting was a fake designed to generate leads for Alex's new product. The big picture: Alex, a $2.8 million startup founded by Brown University dropout John Rytel and former Facebook AI employee Aaron Wang, appears to be using fake job listings to funnel...
read Sep 17, 2025New study challenges AI job displacement predictions with emphasis on job transition, not elimination
Northeastern University researcher Esteban Moro has developed a new skill-based model for measuring individual workers' risk of job displacement due to artificial intelligence. The approach challenges traditional unemployment statistics by recognizing that AI transforms jobs by redefining skills and tasks rather than simply eliminating positions, offering a more nuanced understanding of how automation affects the workforce. What you should know: Moro's research reveals that existing "doomsday predictions" about AI-driven job losses have proven inaccurate when compared against real unemployment data. A recent study published in PNAS Nexus found that historical models predicting nearly 40% of certain jobs would disappear and...
read Sep 17, 2025“Tell companies it looks uncool”: Illustrator against AI art now helps artists in NYC fight back
Artist and illustrator Molly Crabapple discovered in 2022 that AI companies had scraped her distinctive artwork—including illustrations of Aleppo's skyline and protest portraits—to train image-generation models that now produce crude imitations of her style. Her experience highlights a broader concern among creative professionals who argue that AI threatens artistic livelihoods while degrading the quality of visual content across the internet. What happened: Crabapple led a workshop in Manhattan's Lower East Side called "Artists Against the Slop Beast," where she and tech editor Edward Ongweso Jr. outlined strategies for resisting AI adoption in creative industries. The big picture: Silicon Valley executives...
read Sep 17, 2025No Fortune 500 company will fully replace customer service agents with AI by 2028, claims report
A new Gartner report predicts that no Fortune 500 company will completely replace human customer service agents with AI by 2028, challenging widespread expectations about AI's rapid displacement of service jobs. The research also suggests that half of organizations currently planning to slash their workforce in favor of AI systems will abandon those plans by 2027, indicating that the current AI adoption surge may be experiencing bubble-like characteristics. What you should know: Human agents remain irreplaceable for handling complex customer interactions that require nuance and relationship-building skills.• While AI excels at routine tasks like collecting customer information and looking up...
read Sep 16, 2025Google cuts 200+ elite AI contractors amid unionization efforts
Google has laid off more than 200 contractors who work on improving its AI products, including Gemini and AI Overviews, in at least two rounds of cuts last month. The layoffs come amid an ongoing dispute over pay, working conditions, and alleged retaliation against workers attempting to unionize at outsourcing company GlobalLogic, which is owned by Hitachi. What you should know: These AI raters are highly skilled contractors responsible for training Google's chatbots and search features to provide more human-like responses. Most raters are required to have master's degrees or PhDs and include writers, teachers, and creative professionals who evaluate...
read Sep 16, 2025White House launches AI education task force with 2M worker training pledge
The White House Task Force on AI Education held its inaugural meeting, positioning artificial intelligence literacy as a cornerstone of America's competitive strategy and educational future. Led by science and technology policy director Michael Kratsios, the task force outlined plans to integrate AI education across K-12 systems while securing major private sector commitments to train millions of American workers. What you should know: The task force was established through President Trump's April 2025 executive order and focuses on three core missions: promoting AI literacy among students and educators, organizing a nationwide AI challenge, and forging public-private partnerships for K-12 AI...
read Sep 15, 2025Airbnb CEO says company will hire workers displaced by AI (for at least 5 to 10 years)
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced that his company plans to hire workers displaced by artificial intelligence, positioning the hospitality giant as a potential refuge for those losing jobs to automation. Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference, Chesky outlined Airbnb's evolution into an "everything app" that would expand beyond rentals to include services like private chefs, massages, and photography—areas he believes will remain largely human-driven for the next five to ten years. The big picture: Chesky sees AI displacement as inevitable across industries but argues that hospitality and personalized services will remain insulated from automation due to their...
read Sep 12, 2025Companies quietly rehire freelancers to fix subpar AI work
Companies that laid off human workers in favor of AI are now quietly rehiring freelancers to fix substandard artificial intelligence outputs across industries from design to coding. This reversal highlights AI's persistent quality limitations and has created an unexpected new freelance economy focused on refining machine-generated content, though often at reduced compensation rates. What you should know: AI adoption has reached a tipping point where initial cost savings are being offset by quality control issues requiring human intervention. Independent illustrator Lisa Carstens, based in Spain, found herself rehired to fix AI-generated visuals that were "at best, superficially appealing and, at...
read Sep 12, 2025“Learning how to learn”: Humans’ own inference ability will be key, says Nobel winner
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, who recently won the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry, told an Athens audience that "learning how to learn" will be the most crucial skill for the next generation as AI rapidly transforms education and workplaces. Speaking at an ancient Roman theater beneath the Acropolis, the neuroscientist warned that artificial general intelligence could arrive within a decade, making continuous adaptation essential for career survival. What they're saying: Hassabis emphasized the unpredictable pace of AI development and its implications for future planning. "It's very hard to predict the future, like 10 years from now, in normal cases....
read Sep 12, 2025Ray Dalio warns AI will create massive wealth inequality, claims redistribution essential
Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, warns that artificial intelligence and humanoid robots will dramatically increase wealth inequality, with the top 1% to 10% benefiting significantly more than everyone else. The legendary investor argues this technological shift will require new "redistribution policies" to prevent profound societal conflicts and fragmentation. What he's predicting: Dalio envisions a future where highly intelligent humanoid robots and AI systems render many professional jobs obsolete, creating "a limited number of winners and a bunch of losers." He questioned the need for lawyers, accountants, and medical professionals when robots with PhD-level knowledge become commonplace, stating "we will...
read Sep 11, 2025Young VCs, like young coders, question industry involvement
Dawn Capital partner Shamillah Bankiya warns of an "exodus" of young venture capitalists from the industry as the end of the 2022 bull run and AI's impact reshape investment dynamics. The 34-year-old, who becomes a full equity partner this week, believes the industry may be returning to its "artisanal roots" after years of excess, with young investors increasingly questioning whether venture capital remains the fastest path to wealth. The big picture: The venture capital industry is experiencing a significant talent drain as market conditions tighten and AI transforms traditional investment practices. Research by Pitchbook shows the number of active venture...
read Sep 11, 2025Construction robotics market to hit $8.47B by 2034 amid labor shortages
The advanced robotics in construction market is projected to surge from $1.53 billion in 2024 to $8.47 billion by 2034, representing a compound annual growth rate of 18.7%. This dramatic expansion reflects the construction industry's urgent need to address labor shortages, safety concerns, and efficiency demands through automation technologies ranging from autonomous vehicles to 3D printing robots. Why this matters: Construction companies are increasingly turning to robotics to solve persistent industry challenges while meeting growing infrastructure demands in an era of rapid urbanization. Key market drivers: Several factors are accelerating adoption of construction robotics across the industry. Labor shortages in...
read Sep 10, 2025517K AI workers drive rent spikes in Seattle, San Francisco and more
The artificial intelligence job boom is driving up rents in major tech hubs across the US and Canada, as more than 517,000 AI-skilled workers compete for housing in already expensive markets. This surge in high-paid tech talent is creating a double squeeze on housing costs, with AI professionals able to afford premium rents while pricing out other residents in cities like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle. The big picture: AI worker populations have exploded by more than 50% in the past year, with growth concentrated in cities that were already struggling with housing affordability before the AI revolution began....
read Sep 10, 2025Luxury beliefs: AI is a brilliant tool but can’t replace human creativity, says Aston Martin chief
Aston Martin's chief creative officer Marek Reichman argues that artificial intelligence should remain a tool rather than replace human designers in automotive creation. While acknowledging AI as "a brilliant tool" and "the most important element we've ever created," Reichman contends that human creativity and intuition are irreplaceable for designing vehicles that capture future consumer desires and emotional connections. Why this matters: As AI capabilities expand across creative industries, luxury automakers face pressure to integrate automation while maintaining the human touch that differentiates premium brands from mass-market competitors. The limits of AI creativity: Reichman explains that AI's backward-looking algorithms fundamentally constrain...
read Sep 9, 2025Somewhere between Big AI and blue-collar are the skills driving the robotics and automation hiring boom
The robotics and automation industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, fundamentally reshaping how companies across sectors approach work and productivity. As businesses increasingly integrate intelligent machines into their operations, a surge in specialized job opportunities is creating new career pathways for professionals ready to embrace this technological shift. This transformation extends far beyond traditional manufacturing floors. From surgical robots assisting in operating rooms to autonomous vehicles navigating city streets, the applications of robotics and automation are expanding rapidly across industries. Understanding these hiring trends—and the skills driving them—provides crucial insight for professionals navigating this evolving landscape. The automation talent boom Companies...
read Sep 9, 2025NASA scientist proposes AI astronauts could replace humans on Mars missions
Planetary scientist Pascal Lee proposes that "artificial astronauts" — AI-powered humanoid robots with human-like physical capabilities — could serve as actual crew members on Mars missions within the coming decades. These space-rated artificial humans would eliminate the need for life support systems and consumables required by human astronauts, while potentially surpassing human capabilities in space exploration tasks. What you should know: The concept builds on rapid advances in robotics and artificial intelligence that could mature alongside planned Mars mission timelines. Lee, who chairs the Mars Institute and directs NASA's Haughton-Mars Project, presented this vision at a Space Robotics Workshop in...
read Sep 9, 2025“Lord of the Rings” star Sean Astin leads SAG-AFTRA prez race as AI contract negotiations loom
Sean Astin is running for president of SAG-AFTRA against Chuck Slavin in an election that concludes September 12, positioning himself as the frontrunner to succeed Fran Drescher. The winner will lead the 160,000-member performers union through critical 2025 contract negotiations with major studios, facing mounting challenges from AI threats, runaway production, rising healthcare costs, and an industry still recovering from 2023's 118-day strike. What you should know: Astin brings Hollywood star power and extensive union experience, while Slavin represents a more aggressive negotiating approach as a rank-and-file candidate. Astin, known for roles in "The Lord of the Rings" and "Rudy,"...
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