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A growing disconnect between C-suite leaders and talent acquisition teams over hiring priorities in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) is prompting calls for a more balanced approach that combines technical expertise with leadership and interpersonal skills. While executives increasingly prioritize AI capabilities to drive innovation and competitiveness, recruiters emphasize critical thinking and the ability to inspire teams, highlighting the need for hybrid leaders who can do both. Kathleen Duffy, chief executive of Duffy Group, argues that companies should avoid focusing solely on hiring AI specialists and instead invest in broader workforce development, including continuous learning, upskilling, and embedding AI knowledge into daily work and performance reviews. She also stresses the importance of ongoing workforce planning to adapt roles and identify talent gaps as technology evolves.

 

Forbes

David Miller, the new enforcement director at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has said the regulator will focus on ‌policing misconduct including insider trading in prediction markets and manipulation in energy markets. The agency, which oversees commodities and swaps markets, will focus on a handful of enforcement areas, also including market abuse such ​as spoofing and willful violations of laws designed to prevent money laundering, Miller ​said in his first public remarks since joining the CFTC last month. “Unfortunately there’s a myth in mainstream media and social media that insider trading doesn’t apply in the prediction markets,” Miller said at a panel at New York University. “That is wrong.”

 

Bloomberg

Reuters

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has appointed Citigroup chief executive Jane Fraser to the Federal Advisory Council for a one-year term starting in January, representing her district in advising the Fed on economic and banking issues. Separately, Ms. Fraser highlighted growing geopolitical uncertainty, noting that shifting government policies and global tensions, particularly in the Middle East, are reshaping trade, capital flows and the broader economic order.

 

Reuters

Apple has awarded substantial bonuses to its iPhone hardware designers to combat talent loss to AI startups such as OpenAI. These out-of-cycle bonuses, valued at between US$200,000 and US$400,000 over four years, are designed to encourage employees to stay at the tech giant. OpenAI has hired several former Apple engineers.

 

Business Times SG

Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick is reassigning cases involving Elon Musk to other judges in the state’s business court. Last week, lawyers for Musk called for McCormick to step back from cases involving the billionaire entrepreneur after she  allegedly responded with a supportive emoji to a LinkedIn post that was viewed as critical of Musk. McCormick said in a subsequent letter to Musk’s attorneys that she didn’t intend to click any emoji expressing support for the post, and that she had reported possible “suspicious activity” on her account to LinkedIn. McCormick wrote in her order that “disproportionate media attention surrounding a judge’s handling of an action is detrimental to the administration of justice,” and said she has “complete faith” in her colleagues’ abilities to adjudicate the cases.

 

CNBC

Financial Times

Reuters

Vermont is defending in federal court its pioneering climate superfund law, which aims to make fossil fuel companies contribute to the costs of climate damage. In U.S. District Court in Rutland, Vermont argued against lawsuits from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Petroleum Institute which claim the law is unconstitutional. Jonathan Rose from the Vermont attorney general's office said: “As a sovereign state, Vermont gets to do certain things that are exercises of a traditional state authority.” The law aims to fund climate adaptation projects following severe flooding in 2023. The outcome of the litigation could set a precedent for other states pursuing similar actions against fossil fuel companies. Jennifer Rushlow from the Conservation Law Foundation emphasized the significance of Vermont's initiative, saying: “This is the first time that a state legislature has taken the gigantic step of pursuing polluters and holding them accountable.”

 

U.S. News

U.S. job openings fell to 6.88m in February from an upwardly revised 7.24m in January, undershooting expectations and signalling a moderation in labor demand after a brief uptick at the start of the year. According to the Labor Department's latest JOLTS report, hiring also slowed markedly, to its lowest level since April 2020, reflecting weaker recruitment across sectors including construction, leisure and hospitality, and business services. The slowdown in vacancies was driven by declines in accommodation and food services, healthcare, and manufacturing, suggesting softness is concentrated in specific industries rather than broad-based. Meanwhile, the quits rate held at 1.9%, matching its lowest level since 2020, indicating reduced worker confidence in securing new roles, while layoffs edged up slightly but remained subdued overall. The ratio of job openings to unemployed workers fell to 0.9, down significantly from a peak of 2 in 2022, reinforcing the Federal Reserve’s view that the labor market is no longer a key source of inflationary pressure. 

 

Bloomberg

Wall Street Journal

Oracle has announced job cuts affecting around 10,000 employees. In a LinkedIn post, Michael Shepard, a senior manager, noted that senior engineers, architects, operations leaders, program managers, and technical specialists had been let go but noted that the "significant" reductions were not performance-related, saying: "The individuals affected were not let go because of anything they did or didn't do."

 

Business Insider

CNBC

BBC News

Nike shares fell about 9% on Tuesday after the company issued a weaker-than-expected outlook, overshadowing a third-quarter earnings beat and raising fresh concerns about the pace of its turnaround. For the quarter, Nike reported revenue of $11.28bn and earnings of 35 cents per share, both ahead of expectations, but net income fell 35% to $520m as margins declined due to higher costs, including tariffs. Chief executive Elliott Hill said turnaround efforts are progressing, the company acknowledged that improvements will take time, with restructuring initiatives continuing to weigh on performance in the near term.

 

Bloomberg

CNBC

The Oregonian

Wall Street Journal

PCAOB chair Demetrios Logothetis has outlined the regulator’s priorities for its 2026–2030 strategic plan, emphasizing audit quality, investor protection, and modernization through technology, while launching a public consultation process open until May 15. Key initiatives include revisiting audit standards, refining inspection processes to deliver clearer insights, and incorporating automation and AI into oversight activities, alongside potential revisions to quality control standard QC 1000. The board also plans to expand stakeholder engagement, establish a formal consultation function for complex audit issues, and invest in talent through programs such as the Audit Practitioner Fellowship, as it seeks to adapt regulation to a rapidly evolving audit landscape.

 

Accounting Today

CPA Practice Advisor

Financial Times

Journal of Accountancy

JPMorgan Chase has unveiled a new “American Dream Initiative” aimed at supporting economic growth through expanded lending to small businesses, increased access to homeownership, and broader healthcare support, reflecting chief executive Jamie Dimon’s concerns about stagnation and inequality in the U.S. economy. As part of the plan, the bank aims to add three million new small-business customers and lend up to $80bn over the next decade. While the initiative builds on JPMorgan’s existing activities and prior large-scale commitments, it is intended to scale up efforts and mobilize employees and resources more aggressively, with leadership emphasizing the bank’s role in strengthening local economies and improving financial access despite limited new funding details disclosed.

 

Wall Street Journal

Unilever is freezing hiring for at least three months. The company, which owns brands such as Dove soap and Hellmann’s mayonnaise, told staff the ban on hiring will affect “all levels” of recruitment and was taken in response to the “significant challenges” posed by the crisis in the Middle East. "Macro economic and geopolitical realities, especially in the Middle ​East conflict . . . bring some significant challenges for the coming few months," Fabian Garcia, head of Unilever's personal care business, wrote in a memo. "With this in mind, the Unilever Leadership Executive team has agreed a global recruitment freeze at ​all levels. This will be effective immediately and last for a minimum of three months."

 

U.S. News

Bloomberg

Reuters

Australia is investigating Facebook, TikTok and YouTube for possible breaches of the country's under-16 social media ban. "Australia's world-leading social media laws are not failing. But big tech is failing to obey the laws," Communications Minister Anika Wells said. "Australia will not let the social media giants take us for mugs." Reuters notes that governments around the world are watching Australia's moves to rein in the tech giants. "We are now moving ⁠into an enforcement stance," said eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.

 

Reuters

The Star (Malaysia)