News/Talent Trends
Filmmaker Harmony Korine partners with Runway to develop AI-powered cinema projects
Harmony Korine's experimental film collective EDGLRD has formed a strategic partnership with AI company Runway, signaling another significant integration of artificial intelligence into traditional creative production. This collaboration between an avant-garde filmmaker known for pushing artistic boundaries and a well-funded AI development platform highlights the growing intersection of experimental cinema and generative technology, potentially establishing new creative workflows for visual storytelling. The big picture: Filmmaker Harmony Korine's EDGLRD has signed a first-look development deal with AI company Runway to create new projects using generative AI tools. Key details: The partnership builds on previous collaborations between EDGLRD and Runway, including work...
read Apr 10, 2025How smart AI is helping smaller teams challenge tech giants’ big compute energy
The race to develop advanced artificial intelligence has historically been dominated by tech giants deploying massive computational resources. However, recent innovations from smaller teams suggest that AI development may be entering a new era where intelligent approaches could outpace sheer computational power. This shift has significant implications for the industry's competitive landscape and suggests that AI innovation could become more democratized and accessible beyond the handful of tech behemoths currently dominating the field. The big picture: A growing number of smaller AI labs are creating high-performing models that compete with those from well-resourced tech giants, despite using significantly fewer computational...
read Apr 8, 2025Reinforcement learning pioneers win computing’s highest honor for AI breakthroughs
Machine learning pioneers Andrew Barto and Richard Sutton have been awarded the 2024 Turing Award, computing's highest honor often compared to the Nobel Prize. Their foundational work in reinforcement learning laid crucial groundwork for breakthrough AI systems like Google DeepMind's AlphaGo. This recognition highlights how theoretical research from earlier decades directly enabled today's most impressive AI achievements, bridging academic concepts with practical applications. The big picture: Barto and Sutton's research on reinforcement learning—where AI systems learn through trial and error—has become central to modern artificial intelligence development. Their theoretical work, developed well before the current AI boom, proved essential to...
read Apr 3, 2025Is Tim cooked? Apple faces critical crossroads in 2025 with leadership changes and AI strategy shifts
The future of Apple in 2025 appears to be at a pivotal crossroads, with significant leadership transitions, AI strategy shifts, and hardware refreshes potentially reshaping the tech giant's direction. While specific details from the Bloomberg Live Q&A between Mark Gurman and Tim Stenovec remain limited, the discussion highlights critical areas of transformation that could determine Apple's competitive positioning in an increasingly AI-driven tech landscape. The big picture: Apple faces a potential leadership transition, major software overhaul, and AI strategy realignment in 2025, marking one of the company's most consequential periods since the introduction of the iPhone. Key developments: The company...
read Mar 31, 2025H&M’s digital twin models spark debate over AI’s impact on fashion workers
Red carpets, red flags? H&M's plan to create digital twins of fashion models signals a significant shift in how the fashion industry is embracing AI technology. This development highlights the tension between technological innovation and labor rights in creative industries, raising important questions about consent, compensation, and the future of human work in an increasingly AI-driven world. The big picture: Fashion retail giant H&M plans to create 30 "digital twins" of its models in 2025, joining other major brands experimenting with AI-generated imagery in fashion. The company claims models would own the rights to their digital replicas and "get paid...
read Mar 24, 2025Apple cooks current AI leadership as Vision Pro creator is tapped to revive Siri
Apple's strategic AI leadership shuffle marks a critical turning point in its efforts to revive Siri amid growing competition in the voice assistant market. The reassignment of Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell to lead Siri development signals CEO Tim Cook's determination to accelerate AI innovation after months of delays that have positioned Apple behind competitors in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. The big picture: Apple CEO Tim Cook is reorganizing the company's AI leadership structure, moving Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell to take charge of the Siri virtual assistant. This rare executive shake-up follows months of delays and setbacks in...
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 19, 2025LinkedIn report: AI and people skills top engineering demands for 2025
LinkedIn's latest Skills on the Rise report reveals the critical engineering competencies that will dominate the job market in 2025, highlighting a blend of technical expertise and soft skills. This evolution reflects how AI integration, cloud technologies, and interpersonal abilities are reshaping engineering careers, creating new opportunities for professionals who can adapt to these changing demands. The big picture: LinkedIn's 2025 Engineering Skills report identifies Large Language Model development as the top rising skill, signaling AI's central role in tomorrow's engineering landscape. The report emphasizes that successful engineers will need to combine AI and cloud technical expertise with strong communication...
read Mar 19, 2025Gaming execs push AI adoption despite layoffs and developer resistance
Gaming industry leaders are embracing AI technology despite industry-wide layoffs and developer concerns, with executives viewing AI integration as essential for future game development, marketing, and business efficiency. At the Game Developers Conference, Griffin Gaming Partners' Peter Levin emphasized that AI adoption in gaming is inevitable regardless of developer sentiment, positioning it as a critical component for both content creation and business operations in an industry already struggling with significant workforce reductions. The big picture: AI's role in gaming is rapidly expanding beyond traditional uses like NPC behavior and procedural generation to now encompass content creation, user-generated content, and marketing...
read Mar 19, 2025McKinsey consultants tackle economic inequality through nonprofit fellowship program
McKinsey's nonprofit fellowship program enables consultants to leverage their professional expertise to tackle economic inequality at the grassroots level. Through this initiative, nearly 50 fellows in 2025 are helping organizations advance economic opportunity by applying strategic business skills, data analytics, and AI capabilities to social challenges. The program exemplifies how corporate talent can create meaningful impact beyond traditional consulting, particularly by strengthening institutions that serve marginalized communities. The big picture: McKinsey consultants are dedicating six to twelve months of their careers to help nonprofits strengthen their operations and expand their impact through specialized fellowship placements. The program deployed nearly 50...
read Mar 18, 2025New Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan faces critical turnaround time amid AI chip battle
"Intel Inside." And now, fresh exec Lip-Bu Tan is inside Intel, taking it to unknown but hopefully positive places. Intel's new CEO Lip-Bu Tan takes the helm at a critical juncture for the once-dominant semiconductor giant, facing immense pressure to revitalize the company amid fierce AI chip competition. Since Tan's appointment was announced, Intel's shares have surged in what analysts describe as a "show me" moment, reflecting cautious optimism about his ability to implement the dramatic changes needed to restore Intel's competitive edge against market leader Nvidia. The leadership transition marks a potential turning point in the semiconductor landscape, with...
read Mar 18, 2025Executive hesitance: 85% of managers aren’t using AI daily despite its potential as a “co-thinker”
Generative AI is reshaping how managers work, yet adoption remains surprisingly low with only 15% of managers using it daily according to Capgemini Research. A new Harvard Business Review guide aims to change this by reframing AI as a "co-thinker" rather than just a productivity tool, offering practical frameworks for integration while warning of potential pitfalls. The book provides timely guidance for executives feeling pressured to leverage AI's rapid evolution without undermining company culture or profitability. The big picture: Capgemini's management experts Elisa Farri and Gabriele Rosani have partnered with Harvard Business Review to publish "The HBR Guide to Generative...
read Mar 17, 2025Actor Ashly Burch literally gives voice to SAG-AFTRA strike against Sony and co.
The gaming industry faces a growing tension between technological innovation and the rights of voice actors as AI voice replication capabilities advance. Ashly Burch, whose performance as Aloy has been central to the PlayStation "Horizon" franchise's success, is raising ethical concerns about an unauthorized AI replication of her character, highlighting broader questions about consent, compensation, and artistic integrity within the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike against game developers. The controversy: Ashly Burch, voice of Aloy in the "Horizon" PlayStation games, expressed alarm over an internal Sony tech demo featuring an AI imitation of her character. The leaked footage showed an AI-puppeted version...
read Mar 14, 2025Total HR: How AI is transforming recruitment, employee compensation, and more
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming human resources departments, with AI applications becoming increasingly sophisticated in automating repetitive tasks and enhancing strategic decision-making. According to new research from The Josh Bersin Company, organizations are leveraging AI across recruiting, HR administration, and employee support functions, allowing HR professionals to focus more on strategic initiatives while improving efficiency and employee experience. This shift represents the next phase of digital transformation in the workplace, with potential to redefine how HR departments operate. The big picture: HR departments are implementing AI solutions most extensively in recruiting processes, where the technology demonstrates its most mature applications....
read Mar 12, 2025Survey: AI helps job seekers land higher salaries but extends search time
AI is now playing a pivotal role in the job search process, creating unexpected advantages and challenges for both applicants and recruiters. New research reveals that while AI tools help candidates secure higher-paying positions, they also extend the job search timeline and create authenticity concerns among hiring managers who remain skeptical of AI-generated application materials despite having difficulty identifying them. The big picture: AI adoption in job applications has reached a tipping point, with 75% of candidates now using AI tools to create resumes and cover letters. Software Finder's survey of over 1,000 hiring managers and job seekers reveals a...
read Mar 11, 2025Tech hiring down overall, but AI job postings surge 68%
The AI workplace revolution is creating a massive surge in demand for AI-skilled professionals, with 25% of US tech job postings now requiring artificial intelligence expertise. This fundamental shift in hiring priorities comes despite an overall slowdown in tech recruitment, highlighting how organizations across multiple sectors are positioning themselves to capitalize on AI integration for competitive advantage. The big picture: AI-related tech positions have more than doubled in recent years, with 36% of information sector IT jobs now requiring AI skills, according to data from UMD-LinkUp AI Maps. While overall job postings fell 17% in the two years since ChatGPT's...
read Mar 10, 2025Ex-Google DeepMind researchers launch $130M AI startup to build autonomous coding tools
Former Google DeepMind researchers have launched a new superintelligence venture with substantial backing from top-tier investors. Reflection AI's $130 million funding and ambitious focus on autonomous programming tools positions it alongside other AI labs developing agent-based automation systems. The startup's focus on practical programming tools represents an initial step toward their long-term vision of creating advanced AI capable of performing most computer-based work. The big picture: Reflection AI has secured $130 million across two funding rounds, achieving a $555 million valuation led by prominent investors including Sequoia Capital, CRV, and Lightspeed Venture Partners. The startup raised an initial $25 million...
read Mar 6, 2025College-educated Americans earn up to $1,000 weekly fixing AI responses
The perennial notion of the side hustle is converging with AI and turning everyone these days into a minor editor. A new digital economy is emerging where college-educated Americans earn substantial side income by correcting and improving AI responses, with workers at Scale AI making up to $1,000 weekly for ensuring AI outputs remain accurate and human-like. This growing segment of AI-adjacent labor highlights how human oversight remains essential even as AI systems become more sophisticated, creating new earning opportunities for those with relevant expertise. The big picture: Scale AI, a $14 billion company, is increasingly turning to U.S.-based workers...
read Mar 6, 2025Reinforcement learning pioneers win computing’s Nobel Prize for AI breakthroughs
Reinforcement learning pioneers Andrew Barto and Richard Sutton have been awarded the prestigious 2025 A.M. Turing Award, computing's equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Their groundbreaking work in developing the conceptual and algorithmic foundations of reinforcement learning has fundamentally shaped modern artificial intelligence, creating a field that allows systems to learn optimal behaviors through trial and feedback. This recognition not only celebrates their decades of contributions but also highlights how their research now powers everything from autonomous vehicles to personalized recommendation systems. The big picture: Barto, professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Sutton, professor of computer science at...
read Feb 28, 2025San Francisco’s Autodesk cuts 1,350 jobs in AI pivot, matching similar moves by Salesforce, Workday
In the newest instance of yes-AI-is-coming-for-your-tech-job, Autodesk's decision to cut 1,350 jobs, representing 9% of its global workforce, signals a strategic pivot toward artificial intelligence and cloud technology for the AutoCAD maker. This restructuring by the San Francisco-based software company reflects a broader trend among enterprise technology firms reallocating resources to capitalize on emerging technologies while adapting to subscription-based business models. The big picture: Autodesk is reshaping its go-to-market organization while increasing investments in AI, cloud technology, and industry-specific solutions to maintain competitive advantage. Key details: The restructuring affects approximately 1,350 employees globally as part of a larger efficiency initiative....
read Feb 28, 2025Salesforce goes zero tolerance on engineer hires while boosting sales team by 20% due to AI
Engineers, down. Salesfolk, up. Salesforce's dramatic shift in workforce strategy reflects a pivotal moment in enterprise AI adoption, as CEO Marc Benioff announces plans to completely halt engineering hiring while aggressively expanding sales operations. This strategic pivot, aimed at dominating what Benioff calls the "Digital Labor Revolution," represents an unprecedented bet on AI's ability to boost engineering productivity while doubling down on human-driven sales efforts to capture the enterprise AI market. The big picture: Salesforce plans zero engineering hires in 2025 while expanding its sales force by 20%, marking a stark departure from traditional tech company growth strategies. Key details:...
read Feb 26, 2025Microsoft workers protest sale of AI to Israeli military
Microsoft's $1.2 billion cloud computing contract with Israel's defense ministry has sparked internal protests among employees concerned about the technology's use in military operations. Recent investigations revealed a significant increase in Israeli military's use of Microsoft Azure and AI services following the October 2023 Hamas attack. Latest developments: Five Microsoft employees disrupted CEO Satya Nadella's company-wide meeting with a dramatic protest over the company's military contracts with Israel. Protesters wore T-shirts spelling out "Does Our Code Kill Kids, Satya?" before being quickly removed from the venue Nadella continued his presentation without acknowledging the demonstration Company representatives stated they support employee...
read Feb 26, 2025Power, hardware and skills: Strategic imperatives in the US-China AI race
The United States and China are engaged in an intensifying technological competition, with artificial intelligence emerging as a critical battleground. Recent developments, including the emergence of DeepSeek and TikTok controversies, have highlighted the need for strategic technology policies to maintain U.S. technological leadership. Core infrastructure challenges: America's aging power infrastructure and limited domestic hardware production capabilities are creating bottlenecks that could impede technological advancement. The U.S. power grid is significantly outdated, with over 70% of transmission lines exceeding 25 years of age Grid congestion issues are already hampering technological progress, while the growing demands of AI systems threaten to further...
read Feb 25, 2025British musicians release silent album in protest against AI
Recent developments in artificial intelligence regulation have sparked tension between UK lawmakers and the creative community, particularly around proposed changes to AI legislation. In February 2025, prominent British musicians launched an innovative form of protest against these regulatory shifts, expressing deep concerns about their artistic rights. The protest strategy: Several iconic British musicians, including Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, Cat Stevens, and Blur's Damon Albarn, released a "silent album" as a symbolic statement against proposed changes to UK AI laws. The unconventional protest format of a silent album serves as a powerful metaphor for artists' fears about losing their voice and...
read