business

Jack Dorsey’s Block Cuts Thousands of Roles as It Embraces AI

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Block, co-founded by Jack Dorsey, is laying off nearly half its workforce due to AI’s impact on business operations, reducing staff from 10,000 to under 6,000. Dorsey predicts AI will drive similar changes across companies soon. This follows tech industry-wide layoffs, including Amazon and Meta, as firms shift focus to AI investments. Block anticipates up to $500 million in restructuring costs but reported strong product demand, positively affecting its stock.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq570d12y9do

New Report: 80% of Executives View Agentic AI as Critical to Company Survival by 2027

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80% of executives view agentic AI as vital for company survival by 2027, according to a Cisco report. While excitement around AI grows, gaps in infrastructure and skills pose challenges. Companies must invest in robust networks to support AI transformations, with expectations of new job categories emerging. Early adopters of agentic AI see significant ROI, signaling the technology as a necessary investment for future success.

https://blogs.cisco.com/news/new-report-80-of-executives-view-agentic-ai-as-critical-to-company-survival-by-2027

AI Robots May Outnumber Workers in a Few Decades as Firms Ramp up Investment

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AI robots may outnumber human workers in decades due to increased corporate investment and profitability focus. Former Citi executive predicts AI robots’ rapid growth, estimating 1.3 billion by 2035 and 4 billion by 2050. Robots often pay for themselves rapidly, making them more cost-effective than humans. McKinsey reports the workforce will soon balance between humans and AI agents. AI’s impact on jobs will be significant, creating concerns over worker displacement while also promising high-tech job opportunities.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/ai-robots-outnumber-workers-agents-few-decades-citi.html

Professional AI Adoption Could Unlock up to $4.1 Trillion Capacity for US

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LinkedIn’s report reveals that adopting AI could boost the U.S. economy by $4.1 trillion, enhancing efficiency in sectors like manufacturing and education. However, U.S. AI adoption lags behind countries like India, with only 28% of working-age Americans utilizing AI tools. The report suggests upskilling employees and government support for AI programs to optimize benefits, highlighting that many businesses currently see limited impact from AI.

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/professional-ai-adoption-could-unlock-up-to-41-trillion-capacity-for-us/812915/

AI Will Either Save Work or Destroy It. Apparently.

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The future of work and AI is uncertain, with opinions ranging from AI being a productivity savior to a job destroyer. While some argue AI will create new jobs, others worry about job downgrading and increased inequality. The key to navigating this uncertainty lies in improving AI literacy, upskilling, and experimenting with AI tools to ensure they enhance human work rather than replace it.

https://workplaceinsight.net/ai-will-either-save-work-or-destroy-it-apparently/

AI Could Cause Workers to Rise Up Against the Corporations Driving Them Into Poverty

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AI may unite workers against corporations exploiting them, potentially reviving unions. As AI threatens jobs, discontent rises, suggesting the possibility of larger labor movements. Concerns over layoffs and a desire for union representation are growing, prompting business leaders to call for de-escalation amid unrest. Workers have a choice in how to use AI, which could either exploit or empower them.

https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-labor-workers-movement

Building Pro-worker AI

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Summary: AI can either displace workers or enhance their capabilities. Pro-worker AI technologies increase the value of human skills. However, most AI development focuses on automation rather than augmenting workers. Policy recommendations for promoting pro-worker AI include emphasizing its use in sectors like healthcare, enhancing government expertise in AI, fostering competition, and protecting worker rights.

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/building-pro-worker-ai/

Huge AI Jobs Disruption Coming. What It Means For You.

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AI’s job disruption is accelerating, causing concerns for industries like finance, insurance, and logistics. Major companies are freezing hiring or cutting staff due to AI’s increasing productivity, with predictions of significant headcount reductions. The unemployment rate among recent graduates is at a 12-year high, and overall job openings have dropped, signaling AI’s impact on employment. While some economists and Fed officials see resilience in the job market, fears of jobless growth are rising, highlighting challenges for young workers. Infrastructure jobs remain in demand, but overall, AI may render many roles redundant, leading to a complex economic landscape ahead.

https://www.investors.com/news/economy/ai-jobs-inflection-what-it-means-for-sp-500-fed-you/

Half the AI Agent Market Is One Category the Rest Is Wide Open

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Software engineering dominates AI agent usage at nearly 50%, while sectors like healthcare and legal remain under 5%, showcasing untapped opportunities. Founders should target these verticals for AI innovation, leveraging domain expertise and user trust in automating specialized workflows. The AI’s potential is significantly higher than current deployment, indicating room for growth and new ventures.

https://garryslist.org/posts/half-the-ai-agent-market-is-one-category-the-rest-is-wide-open

Sam Altman Says Companies Are ‘AI Washing’ Layoffs

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Sam Altman claims companies are “AI washing” layoffs, using AI as an excuse for job cuts while also acknowledging AI’s real impact on employment. He highlights that although 55,000 layoffs in 2025 were linked to AI, this represented less than 1% of total job losses. Companies, including Amazon, have vacillated in attributing layoffs to AI, suggesting economic factors are more responsible for job losses than AI itself.

https://gizmodo.com/sam-altman-says-companies-are-ai-washing-layoffs-2000724759

Louisiana Welders Team up With Robots to Handle Dangerous Work — and Train Data for a Top Humanoid Startup

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Louisiana’s SSE Steel Fabrication partners with Persona AI to integrate humanoid welding robots in response to labor shortages, enhance worker training, and improve safety. The robots will assist with tasks like welding and data collection, while not replacing human workers. The 18-month collaboration aims to innovate manufacturing processes and support small businesses by making advanced technology accessible, with hopes of balancing human-robot collaboration in the workforce.

https://technical.ly/workforce/persona-ai-sse-steel-humanoid-robot-pilot/

KPMG 2026 Perspectives: Local Insights From Boston

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KPMG’s 2026 report on Boston businesses shows a strategic shift towards AI adoption and workforce upskilling amidst economic uncertainty. Leaders emphasize efficiency, with 98% providing AI training and 91% focusing on internal upskilling to reduce hiring needs. Confidence in growth remains high (up to 94%), but there are concerns over integration of AI, cybersecurity, and market conditions. While hiring and expansion plans have slightly decreased, 93% intend to increase AI use, expecting transformative impacts on operations. Additionally, Boston’s talent quality and educational resources are seen as competitive advantages, with a substantial number aiming for acquisitions in 2026 despite tariff impacts affecting sales.

https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/boston-perspectives.html

Andrew Yang Says AI Will Wipe Out Millions of White-collar Jobs in the Next 12 to 18 Months

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Andrew Yang warns AI will cause mass layoffs of white-collar jobs in 12-18 months, affecting mainly desk jobs like managers and marketers. Yang believes companies will competitively cut staff to please the stock market. The layoffs could impact local businesses serving affected workers. January saw record layoffs, with some companies citing AI as a reason.

https://www.businessinsider.com/andrew-yang-mass-layoffs-ai-closer-than-people-think-2026-2

Why More Companies Are Recognizing the Benefits of Keeping Older Employees

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Companies are recognizing the benefits of older workers, shown by successful experiments at B&Q and BMW that increased productivity and reduced turnover. Despite aging populations and the need for experienced talent, many organizations still push older employees out prematurely. Studies show that firms with older workers perform better due to their judgment and experience, countering the “albatross theory” that views them as liabilities. As life expectancy increases and workforce demographics shift, companies should adapt strategies to retain older employees and serve an aging customer base. Investors are starting to see the financial importance of this shift, and businesses must design careers that leverage the value of older workers to maintain competitiveness.

https://longevity.stanford.edu/why-more-companies-are-recognizing-the-benefits-of-keeping-older-employees/

AI Hasn’t Changed Everything: Workforce Changes Still Follow The Money

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Workforce changes are driven more by revenue than AI. Despite perceptions, companies cut jobs mainly due to financial performance (71% cite revenue changes) rather than AI (31%). Staff levels fluctuate with sales, indicating economic factors dictate hiring strategies. As revenue fluctuates, organizations adjust staffing and workspace needs, emphasizing the importance of aligning business decisions with actual demand rather than technology trends.

https://allwork.space/2026/02/ai-hasnt-changed-everything-workforce-changes-still-follow-the-money/

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