THE HOT STORY

Finnish push to protect AI’s unseen workforce

Finland's Social Democrats have passed new legislation to safeguard the rights of often “invisible” AI workers, including data annotators, AI trainers and content moderators. The resolution, adopted in May, highlights the reliance on a largely outsourced workforce in the Global South. Many of these workers face low wages, exposure to harmful content, and lack formal recognition. According to the resolution: “Without their labour, AI would not exist. The Copilot, ChatGPT and equivalent systems used in Finnish workplaces would not function. Yet the work of these coal miners of the 21st century remains invisible.” Christy Hoffman, UNI Global Union General Secretary, said: “The discussion around AI focuses so much on how it is used that we lose sight of how it is produced. The jobs that make AI possible are difficult, precarious, low-paid and high-pressure. We welcome this resolution as a necessary step towards recognising the rights of data enrichment workers and establishing rules that keep Big Tech in line.”

IceNews

HIRING

UK hiring down 24% since before the pandemic

UK hiring fell by 24% between January 2019 and January 2026 and 12% of British workers are in roles potentially under threat from AI, according to research by LinkedIn. The professional networking site said the decline was largely down to employers being more cautious about recruitment amid geopolitical and trade uncertainty, rather than a consequence of the shift towards AI. The research found 95,000 AI-related roles have been created in the UK since 2023, but more than one in 10 (12%) of workers are in AI-exposed jobs, and have “low skill adaptability.” Janine Chamberlin, head of LinkedIn UK, said: “The data points to economic uncertainty and low business confidence rather than AI job shocks. However, leaders know that they need to continue investing in AI and skills if they are to continue growing. There is high demand for talent that can combine AI literacy with crucial human skills, such as collaboration and creativity – this is what will help to give companies the edge as the economy recovers.”

The I

WORKFORCE

Uniper workers protest potential sale

Workers at state-rescued German utility Uniper are protesting a potential sale of the business, as they push for a public listing as a government deadline for prospective buyers to submit expressions of interest looms. They contend that a stock market listing would offer the best long-term prospects for the company, its workforce and energy security.

Bloomberg

Train strike in Italy suspended after talks

Trade unions in Italy have suspended an eight-hour train strike scheduled for Thursday after talks at the transport ministry. The strike had been linked to Intercity service competitions.

ANSA.it

LEGAL

Carers in UK could get maternity-style ‘right to return’ to work

Employees in the UK who quit work to care for relatives with a long-term illness could gain rights similar to those granted to new parents, including a right to paid carer’s leave and a new maternity leave-style “right to return” to work after a period of intensive caring, under proposals set out in a government consultation. Launching the consultation, the employment rights minister, Kate Dearden, said: “Whether you’re caring for an elderly parent, a partner with a long-term illness, or a child fighting a serious disease, you shouldn’t have to choose between your job and those you love.” Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “Too many carers currently have no choice but to reduce their hours or leave work altogether because workplace support and employment rights do not reflect the realities of caring.”

TECHNOLOGY

Apple unveils ‘Siri AI’ in challenge to rival chatbots

Apple has unveiled a major artificial intelligence upgrade to Siri, transforming its voice assistant into a more conversational and capable AI agent that can understand personal context, interact across apps and respond similarly to ChatGPT and Claude, with a full launch planned for autumn 2026. The revamped Siri, powered by Google’s AI models under a partnership signed earlier this year, can access information on a user's device, understand on-screen content, retrieve personal data such as contacts and photos, and perform complex tasks across applications. Apple said the service will enter beta testing next month and initially support English on iPhones released after 2023. The company's Worldwide Developers Conference marked Tim Cook’s final annual developer event as chief executive before he hands over leadership to John Ternus in September, and takes up the role of executive chair.

INTERNATIONAL

Walmart shareholders reject AI workforce review amid automation push

Walmart shareholders have voted against a proposal seeking a report on how the retailer's growing use of AI affects employee wellbeing, despite concerns raised by workers about increased pressure, burnout and workplace safety risks. The vote came as Walmart expands its use of AI and automation across stores, warehouses and e-commerce operations in a bid to strengthen its position against Amazon. The company said AI is being deployed responsibly to support, rather than replace, human decision-making. Shareholders also rejected a proposal requesting an assessment of the impact of changing US immigration policies on Walmart’s operations.

Reuters

Taliban urged to end arrests of women over dress rules

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed its concern regarding the recent arrests of women in Herat province for allegedly not adhering to "dress requirements." Local media reported that at least 21 women and girls were detained following a Taliban directive mandating women to wear a "proper hijab" in public. UNAMA stated: "We remind the de facto authorities that all people have the right to freedom of movement and that all persons, both women and men, are entitled to equality before the law." Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, they have imposed numerous restrictions on women, including access to education and employment, precipitating widespread international criticism. A UNICEF report warned that over 25,000 female teachers and health workers could be lost by 2030 if these restrictions persist.

U.S. News

Nvidia is working with LG on humanoid robots

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has said the company is partnering with South Korean tech conglomerate LG Group on humanoid robots. "We are working with them in motor technology as well as mechanical systems so that we can bring together humanoid robotics and ‌the ⁠future of robotics," Huang said after meeting with LG Group ⁠Chairman Koo Kwang-mo in Seoul.

Reuters

Bolivia President signs protest crackdown law

Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz has promulgated legislation that eases the state’s ability to impose emergency measures amid escalating anti-government protests, led by the national labour union (COB) and former president Evo Morales, that have caused unrest and led to an estimated 10 deaths and 37 injured. Bolivia has witnessed episodes of violence in the past “but none has ever been so prolonged and indefinite, and this has been one of the most violent,” observed Bolivian human rights lawyer Ramiro Orias, program director at the Due Process of Law Foundation in Bolivia. Protesting groups are angry at their exclusion from the government’s decision-making process, among other grievances.

Bloomberg

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