Human Times

North American Edition

31st August 2026

THE HOT STORY

Employers tighten hiring checks as AI fraud grows

Employers are introducing tougher recruitment checks as AI-assisted cheating, deepfakes and fraudulent remote candidates complicate hiring. Companies are asking applicants to remove virtual backgrounds, show their surroundings, share screens and complete live assessments to verify identities and abilities. Some are checking IP addresses or using software to detect browser switching and suspicious behavior. A survey found 59% of managers suspected candidates had used AI to misrepresent themselves. HR teams are also reconsidering take-home assignments, which can be easily completed using AI, in favor of supervised exercises and in-person interviews. Employers still value candidates’ AI skills but increasingly want evidence they can independently explain previous experience, solve problems and think critically. The shift is adding new responsibilities for recruiters, who must balance fraud prevention with fair candidate assessment while determining when AI use is appropriate.

The Wall Street Journal

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Companies increasingly turn to younger CFOs

Companies are increasingly appointing younger finance chiefs while continuing to favor experience when selecting CEOs. Newly appointed CFOs at S&P 500 and Fortune 500 companies average 48.2 years old, the youngest in a decade and down from 51.9 in 2025, according to Crist Kolder Associates. By contrast, new CEOs average 53.5 years. Boards are increasingly willing to appoint younger or first-time CFOs who could remain with businesses longer and potentially progress into broader leadership roles. Recent appointments at McKesson, AT&T, GE Vernova, Caterpillar, Progressive and Regions Financial illustrate the trend. However, boards remain more cautious over CEO appointments, prioritizing seniority and experience, with companies including Verizon and Aon extending veteran chief executives’ contracts.

Bloomberg

Huge wage gap disconnects CEOs from workers

A report by the Institute for Policy Studies reveals that CEOs on the S&P 500 make, on average, 312 times what their median worker is paid. However, those leading the 100 S&P 500 corporations with the lowest median pay - dubbed the "Low Wage 100" - make 615 to 1. This widening wealth gap occurs as executive pay rises while employee wages stagnate. Report author Sarah Anderson says this inequality disconnects leadership from employee realities, leading companies to overlook government policies that harm workers - such as safety net cuts and strict immigration enforcement - during times of hardship.

Fast Company

WORKFORCE

Trump's new health plan proposal unveiled

The Trump administration is set to propose a new rule redefining "employer" in relation to health plans offered by associations, which could lower costs for self-employed workers accessing coverage through the ACA marketplace. The proposal aims to expand access to association health plans (AHPs) for self-employed individuals, potentially resulting in lower premiums. However, experts warn that this shift could lead to increased costs for those remaining in the ACA marketplace. The proposal is currently under review by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs and could significantly impact millions of self-employed workers facing rising health insurance costs.

CNBC

Colleges face tighter CPT oversight

President Donald Trump's administration has issued a memo that restricts certain internship work authorizations for international students, warning that non-compliant colleges may lose their ability to enroll foreign students. The memo, dated August 24, highlights a rise in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorizations that violate regulations. "Failure to comply with SEVP regulations may result in an institution losing certification to enroll foreign students," the memo stated. In response, universities like UCLA and UC Berkeley have paused certain applications for work authorizations. UC Berkeley's international office noted that the memo is "more narrow in focus, more direct, and includes content that is more restrictive in nature."

U.S. News

PRODUCTIVITY

Finance leaders struggle to measure returns from AI

Only 35% of finance organizations using AI can confidently measure their return on investment, despite 77% having deployed the technology, according to Protiviti. Just 14% are implementing AI under a detailed strategy, while data security and privacy remain finance leaders’ top priorities. AI use for financial forecasting has risen to 76%, with 67% using AI-powered analytics to manage financial risks and 56% automating repetitive tasks. Protiviti said measuring returns remains difficult because benefits such as improved employee experience are hard to quantify, while investment costs increasingly include tracking usage of AI tokens and third-party tools.

CFO Dive

CORPORATE

Corporate profits defy consumer unease

U.S. corporate profits and sales are accelerating across industries, prompting many major companies to raise full-year outlooks despite signs of softer consumer confidence. S&P 500 earnings per share jumped 53% in the second quarter, while sales climbed nearly 16%, aided by technology investment gains, strong artificial-intelligence spending, federal expenditures and tariff refunds. Retailers including Abercrombie & Fitch, Dollar General, Target and Walmart reported resilient consumer spending, though some households remain financially strained. Abercrombie CFO Robert Ball said, “The underlying business performed above our expectations.” Tariff refunds are temporarily boosting margins and economic growth, while elevated stock and home values support spending. Executives remain optimistic, although continued momentum may depend heavily on sustained AI investment and consumer income growth.

Wall Street Journal

HIRING

FBI softens hiring rules on prostitution

The FBI has revised its hiring policies, no longer automatically disqualifying applicants with past sexual encounters with prostitutes. The change reflects a broader shift in recruitment standards, as the bureau aims to attract a more diverse applicant pool amid concerns of a personnel shortage. The FBI stated, "It is false to suggest criminal behavior like this is no longer disqualifying at the FBI," emphasizing that applicants involved in criminal sexual acts remain ineligible. The new guidelines allow for a contextual evaluation of past conduct, particularly for those who may have been victims of abuse or engaged in legal prostitution. However, applicants with recent or repeated offenses will still face disqualification. The move has raised concerns among former agents about the implications for the quality of candidates.

U.S. News

Los Angeles Times

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

New grant program boosts job training

Colleges nationwide are pursuing approval for the new federal grant program, Workforce Pell, aimed at supporting students in short-term job training. Traditionally, Pell grants have been available only for programs lasting at least 15 weeks. However, this expansion allows shorter programs to qualify, providing crucial financial assistance to students like Sydney Webb, who expressed surprise at the costs of her nursing program. Chandler LeBoeuf, executive vice president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, said: “That's what excites me about Workforce Pell.” The maximum award for an eight-week program is $1,260, while a 14-week program can receive up to $4,310. The rollout of Workforce Pell grants may take years, with concerns about program quality and student outcomes.

U.S. News

REGULATION

Trump escalates attacks on media

President Donald Trump intensified criticism of news organizations, urging the Federal Communications Commission to investigate polling he considers inaccurate and calling for NBC’s Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker to face punishment over her reporting. Trump wrote “FCC TO THE RESCUE!” while arguing that news outlets are using “fake polls” showing weak approval ratings. The supplied text notes that the FCC regulates broadcast licensing but does not control polling companies, cable networks or print media, while the First Amendment protects press and speech freedoms. Trump also accused Welker of purposeful inaccuracy and urged FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to act. NBC defended Welker, saying she is “one of the best in the business,” while the text says the administration has limited legal avenues to punish her reporting.

Bloomberg

RISK

AI cyber risk tops FSB concerns

Financial Stability Board Chair Andrew Bailey identified AI-driven cyber risk as the most immediate threat to global financial stability, warning that advanced models could transform the speed, scale and cost of attacks. He said many countries lack adequate systems for managing increasingly powerful AI and cautioned that financial institutions’ dependence on a small number of technology providers could create broader vulnerabilities. Bailey said “advances in capability are matched by resilience and preparedness” must remain a priority, while also flagging stretched AI valuations, government debt-market weaknesses and growing equity-market leverage.

Reuters

ECONOMY

El Niño threatens global growth

A potentially historic El Niño is disrupting industries worldwide, raising shipping costs, constraining commodity supplies and threatening agricultural production. Drought has reduced Panama Canal capacity, while extreme precipitation has disrupted Chilean copper output and higher fish-meal prices have boosted demand for alternatives such as Innovafeed’s insect protein. Climate scientist Christopher Callahan warned the event could have economic consequences that are “accordingly quite severe.” Economists expect weaker growth and higher inflation, particularly across exposed Asian economies, while agriculture, energy, insurance and winter tourism could experience sharply different outcomes.

Wall Street Journal

INTERNATIONAL

U.K. universities face financial reckoning

U.K. universities are confronting mounting financial pressure as international student recruitment weakens, costs rise and government policies tighten. Greenwich and Kent are merging to gain economies of scale and centralize some services, potentially offering a model for other institutions. Universities UK estimates policy changes could impose a £3.7bn ($501bn) funding hit by decade-end, while study visas have fallen around 30% from 2022 and 2023 peaks. Nearly half of higher-education institutions are forecast to report deficits for 2025/26. London and South East University Group CEO Jane Harrington warned: “There will be some failures in the sector if the government doesn’t do anything.” Universities are responding with staff cuts, department closures, aggressive recruitment and incentives, while competition from improving Asian institutions further threatens lucrative overseas enrollment.

Bloomberg

AND FINALLY...

Tech workers ditch shorts for style

In the tech industry, a noticeable shift is occurring as men are opting for more polished attire, moving away from the casual shorts once common in the workplace. The change reflects the industry's maturation and the influence of social media on men's fashion. Meanwhile, some in finance are still embracing shorts, suggesting a potential convergence in workplace attire. Instagram head Adam Mosseri expressed his support for shorts, saying: "I am pro," but acknowledged that "not all shorts are created equal." Overall, the tech sector is increasingly prioritizing a more formal dress code.

NPR / National Public Radio

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