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Artificial intelligence (AI)-related job cuts are expected to increase ninefold in 2026, according to a survey of 750 U.S. chief financial officers, but will still account for only around 0.4% of the workforce, far below more alarmist predictions about widespread job losses. While 44% of CFOs said they plan some AI-driven layoffs, the projected impact equates to roughly 502,000 roles, with about half affecting white-collar jobs, highlighting a significant gap between public warnings from tech leaders and actual corporate plans. The report also found that productivity gains from AI are not yet translating into measurable financial results, reflecting a “productivity paradox” where adoption outpaces economic impact, while smaller firms may increase hiring in technical roles, partially offsetting job losses and suggesting a more gradual labour market shift.

 

Fortune

Dollar General has appointed Ahold Delhaize’s U.S. chief Jerry “JJ” Fleeman Jr. as its new chief executive, effective January 1st 2027, replacing Todd Vasos as the retailer looks to stabilize performance and return to growth following a period of weak sales. Mr Fleeman, a veteran retail executive with over 35 years’ experience, is expected to focus on improving sales and margins, while Mr Vasos - who returned in 2023 to steady the business - will remain as a senior adviser until 2027. The leadership change comes amid ongoing pressure on consumer spending from inflation, tariffs and rising fuel costs, with the company recently warning of softer full-year sales.

 

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

Meta has introduced a new stock option incentive programme for senior executives that could deliver payouts worth hundreds of millions of dollars if the company reaches a $9tn market capitalisation by 2031. The scheme, which excludes chief executive Mark Zuckerberg but includes key leaders such as the CTO, CFO and COO, requires a fivefold increase from Meta’s current valuation of around $1.5tn, reflecting an aggressive growth target tied to long-term share price performance. The move comes amid intensifying competition for AI talent and rising stock-based compensation costs, which consumed 96% of Meta’s free cash flow in 2025, as the company seeks to retain top executives and drive expansion in AI and related technologies.

 

Wall Street Journal

OpenAI has scrapped its Sora video platform and related video capabilities just months after launch, as it shifts strategy toward enterprise-focused productivity and coding tools ahead of a potential IPO. The company will discontinue the consumer Sora app, developer tools, and video features within ChatGPT, reallocating resources and talent to higher-priority areas such as its combined “superapp” integrating ChatGPT, Codex, and browser functionality, as well as longer-term initiatives like agentic artificial intelligence (AI) systems and robotics. Originally launched as a TikTok-style platform for AI-generated video content, Sora struggled to demonstrate sustained demand despite significant investment and faced early copyright concerns, while OpenAI’s pivot also ends a planned partnership with Disney, underscoring a broader move away from consumer media products toward business applications.

 

The Hollywood Reporter

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink has cautioned that AI could exacerbate wealth inequality. In his annual letter to shareholders, he noted that the benefits of AI might concentrate among a few businesses and investors, leaving many behind. Fink stated: "The massive wealth created . . . flowed mostly to people who already owned financial assets." He emphasized the need for broader participation in AI's economic growth, highlighting that investment firms are financing significant data center expansions to support the technology.

 

Financial Times

Financial Times

The Guardian

Amazon-owned Zoox is preparing to launch a paid robotaxi service in the U.S. by the middle of the year, in Austin and Miami, as it seeks to catch up with rivals Waymo and Tesla in the fast-developing autonomous vehicle market. The company has already rolled out free rides and built the infrastructure to begin charging customers, but its commercial launch depends on securing regulatory approval, including an exemption for vehicles without traditional features such as steering wheels. Zoox is also expanding its operational footprint, planning to significantly increase coverage in San Francisco and broaden services in Las Vegas, including airport routes. Backed by Amazon since its $1.3bn acquisition in 2020, Zoox is differentiating itself with purpose-built driverless vehicles rather than modified cars, and has struck a partnership with Uber to extend distribution. 

 

CNBC

Financial Times

Austin American-Statesman

Alibaba has unveiled its XuanTie C950 processor, a RISC-V based chip designed for artificial intelligence (AI) inference and cloud computing, as part of efforts to expand its in-house semiconductor capabilities and meet rising demand for AI. The move supports Alibaba’s strategy to become a full-stack AI provider and compete with rivals such as Nvidia and Huawei, while advancing China’s adoption of alternative chip architectures amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

 

Bloomberg

Lawyers for Elon Musk want Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick to step back from cases involving the billionaire entrepreneur, after her account “liked” a LinkedIn post celebrating his recent legal defeat.

 

Financial Times

Epic Games, the developer of “Fortnite,” is laying off over 1,000 employees and cutting costs by $500m. Chief Executive Tim Sweeney announced the layoffs, attributing them to a decline in “Fortnite” engagement last year. “Despite Fortnite remaining one of the most successful games in the world, we've had challenges delivering consistent Fortnite magic with every season,” he said. The company has faced industry-wide challenges, including slower growth and tougher cost economics. The State of the Game Industry Report from the Game Developers Conference revealed that about one-third of U.S. video game industry workers were laid off in the past two years. Sweeney aims to focus on enhancing “awesome Fortnite experiences” and improving developer tools moving forward.

 

The Baltimore Sun

Los Angeles Times

U.S. News

U.S. business activity has slowed to its lowest level in 11 months, with the S&P Global Composite PMI falling to 51.4 in March from 51.9 in February, as rising energy costs and heightened uncertainty linked to the Iran conflict weighed on demand. The slowdown was driven primarily by the services sector, where activity weakened more than expected, while manufacturing showed a modest improvement, partly due to easing tariff pressures. At the same time, private-sector employment contracted for the first time in over a year, reflecting companies cutting costs and reducing hiring amid a more uncertain economic outlook. Inflationary pressures intensified sharply, with input prices rising to 63.2 and output prices also increasing, as businesses passed on higher costs driven largely by a more than 30% surge in oil prices and a near $1 increase in gasoline prices. The data suggests consumer inflation could accelerate toward 4%, complicating the Federal Reserve’s policy path.

 

Reuters

U.S. worker productivity growth was revised down more sharply than expected to an annualized 1.8% in the fourth quarter, from an initial estimate of 2.8%, reflecting weaker economic output following a downgrade to GDP growth. Despite the softer quarterly reading, the broader trend remains solid, with productivity rising 2.5% year-on-year and averaging around 2.1% since 2019, suggesting underlying efficiency gains in the economy. However, the revision was accompanied by a significant increase in unit labor costs, which rose at a 4.4% rate, as stronger-than-expected hourly wage growth, up 6.3%, outpaced productivity gains. The rise in labor costs has raised concerns about inflation, with economists noting that sustained increases at this pace would be inconsistent with the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, though some expect the pressure to ease as the labor market softens.

 

Reuters

The IRS has significantly reduced its examination of large partnership tax filings due to staffing shortages and resource constraints, as highlighted in a recent report by TIGTA. The report reveals that while large partnership filings surged from over 140,500 in 2011 to nearly 335,000 in 2023, examination rates plummeted from 2.7% to below 0.1%. Despite efforts to enhance audits under former IRS commissioner Danny Werfel, budget cuts and staffing reductions have hindered progress. The IRS issued 483 soft letters regarding balance sheet discrepancies, but many responses were inadequate or unreturned. "The IRS will need to reassess their exam coverage goals for large partnerships following the reduced staffing," the report states. TIGTA recommends that the IRS streamline future projects to eliminate duplicative steps and ensure all large partnership returns are assessed for risk. The IRS has agreed to these recommendations and plans corrective actions.

 

Accounting Today

The New York Stock Exchange is partnering with digital asset ​company Securitize to help create tokenized versions of ‌traditional financial securities. Securitize will serve as the first digital transfer agent eligible to create blockchain-based securities for issuers of corporate and ​exchange-traded funds on an upcoming NYSE-affiliated Digital Trading ​Platform, the company said.

 

CoinDesk

Reuters

The Financial Times reports that closely watched purchasing manager sentiment data indicates that business activity around the world has slumped as the Iran war and surging energy costs weigh on confidence.

 

Financial Times

A German court has dismissed a climate lawsuit aimed at forcing BMW and Mercedes-Benz to cease selling combustion-engine vehicles by 2030. The case, brought by Environmental Action Germany (DUH), referenced a 2021 ruling that the state must protect future generations from climate change. However, the Federal Court of Justice ruled that individual rights were not impacted by the companies' actions. "Private individuals cannot demand that automobile manufacturers refrain from placing passenger cars with internal combustion engines on the market" ahead of European Union deadlines, it said. DUH's executive director, Barbara Metz, said the ruling does not absolve the carmakers of their climate responsibilities and urged the government to take stronger action.

 

Deutsche Welle (EN)

France 24

U.S. consumers are expected to spend a record $24.9bn on Easter in 2026, according to a new report from the National Retail Federation (NRF), up 5.5% year-on-year, with average spending per person reaching $195.59 as households continue to prioritize holiday celebrations despite ongoing economic uncertainty. Food is set to account for the largest share of spending at $7.5bn, followed by candy at $3.5bn and gifts, reflecting the holiday’s strong focus on traditional gatherings and family occasions. Industry data suggests demand remains resilient even among non-celebrants, with over half planning to take advantage of Easter-related promotions, while the NRF noted that holidays continue to drive consumer spending as families seek opportunities to connect and celebrate.

 

USA Today

Reuters