THE HOT STORY

AI unlikely to lead to 'jobs apocalypse', Altman says

Speaking virtually at a Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) conference in Sydney, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman said he was initially concerned about the impact AI would have on global employment levels, but believed the rapid development ‌and adoption of the technology would not lead to a global "jobs apocalypse." Altman said his executive team had been "roughly right" on the technological predictions made by OpenAI when it launched ChatGPT in 2022, but were "pretty wrong" on the social and economic implications. "I'm delighted to ⁠be wrong about this, I thought there would have been more impact on entry-level white-collar jobs being eliminated by now than has actually happened," Altman said, adding that he didn't think the human interaction required in ⁠many jobs would be replaced by AI. "I don't think we're going to have the kind of jobs apocalypse that some of the companies in our space advocate or talk about."

Oman Observer

Reuters

TECHNOLOGY

HSBC CEO says staff need to embrace AI-driven change

HSBC chief executive Georges Elhedery has told an investor day event that the bank's employees need to embrace AI-driven change. "We all know generative AI will destroy certain jobs and will create new jobs," Elhedery said. "But my initial mission is I need 200,000 colleagues with us on this journey. However many will be ⁠left at the end of the journey isn't the problem. The problem is how can we make sure that those 200,000 colleagues have been given all the capabilities, the training, the tools to make themselves future ready, be more productive versions of themselves." He said the company's staff needed to ensure they were "not fighting us, not disenfranchised, not anxious, overwhelmed, and resisting the change."

Reuters

WORKFORCE

UAE unveils new labour accommodation rules

The UAE has announced new regulations for labour accommodations to enhance living standards for workers. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) said that operators must now provide free internet, healthcare access, and recreational facilities. Large accommodations housing over 1,000 workers must include a 24/7 medical clinic and sports amenities. The guidelines also enforce stricter planning requirements, ensuring facilities are located away from residential areas and pollution sources. Additionally, movement within accommodation areas will be regulated to improve safety and traffic flow.

Gulfnews.com

SUSTAINABILITY

Deal to develop green data centre in Oman

Five international companies have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to create a next-generation green data centre in Oman. The initiative aligns with Oman Vision 2040, and aims to enhance sustainable digital infrastructure. The agreement was formalised during Oman Sustainability Week 2026, involving Italian firms RINA, Vitali, and Forte Secur Group, alongside Oman's Dream Group and UAE's Corpolgia. Qais Al Bahri, chief executive of Dream Group, said: "Through this partnership, we aim to contribute to the development of a future-ready technological infrastructure." The project reflects growing cooperation between Oman, Italy, and the UAE.

Zawya EN

TAX

Treaty aims to boost nations’ rights to tax tech giants

Bloomberg reports that countries at the United Nations are rewriting international tax rules to tax technology giants based on where their users are located rather than where they are headquartered. A draft tax proposal seen by Bloomberg could significantly increase how much tax companies pay, and where. The draft contains some protections to ensure jurisdictions where companies are headquartered continue to receive some revenue, and it proposes a cap on the share a source country can tax, and has safeguards to ensure companies are not double taxed.

Bloomberg

INTERNATIONAL

Google rejects UK union recognition but offers talks

Google has agreed to negotiate with staff at its AI research lab, DeepMind, following its rejection of a request for union recognition. Formal discussions will involve the state-backed Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), delaying a potential statutory process that could force recognition. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) ⁠and Unite said earlier this month that they had sent a formal letter to Google seeking voluntary recognition after an employee-organised vote showed support for unionisation at the AI unit. "We've declined the unions' request for voluntary recognition to bargain collectively on pay, hours and holiday, but we have offered to meet via ACAS, which is a standard next step," a Google DeepMind spokesperson ‌said. "We continue to value the constructive and direct dialogue that we have with our employees about building a positive and successful workplace." Reuters notes that the UK's new employment rights legislation, which came into force last month, has simplified the union recognition process, lowering some of the thresholds and procedural hurdles for unions.

Reuters

The Guardian

White House proposes NDAs for federal workers

The Trump administration has proposed new guidelines requiring federal employees to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to prevent unauthorised communication with journalists. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) said that legal action could be taken against those who violate these agreements. The NDAs would cover sensitive information related to agency operations and would also apply to former employees. “This move is rooted in concerns that unauthorised disclosures of sensitive government information are disrupting agency operations and eroding trust across government,” said OPM spokesperson McLaurine Pinover. Critics, including Lauren Harper from the Freedom of the Press Foundation, argue that the policy undermines whistleblower protections and the public's right to know.

AlJazeera

Singapore wants banks to use AI to create better jobs

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong ‌has called on the country's banks and financial companies to use artificial intelligence to create better jobs and train workers for higher-value roles, rather than simply to cut costs. "For Singapore, the answer cannot be to hold back change. If we slow AI adoption, we will weaken our competitiveness and ultimately hurt workers more, not less," Gan said at an event in Singapore. "When firms implement AI, they should not only ⁠ask: how much cost can we save? They should also ask: What new roles can we create? How can existing workers be trained for them."

Reuters

Morgan Stanley issues China-only iPhones to its Hong Kong bankers

Morgan Stanley has given its entire Hong Kong investment banking team special devices to use in mainland China amid rising concerns over data compliance for staff travelling to the country.

Financial Times

OTHER

Pope urges AI regulation

Pope Leo XIV has issued an encyclical titled "Magnifica Humanitas," which addresses the need for regulation of artificial intelligence to ensure it serves humanity rather than profit. He criticises the "culture of power" driving AI advancements, particularly in warfare, saying: "It is not permissible to entrust irreversible, lethal decisions to AI systems." The pope called for robust legal frameworks and independent oversight to protect vulnerable populations, urging developers to prioritise ethical considerations. Taylor Black, a Microsoft AI executive and director of Catholic University of America's AI institute, said the document would prompt people “at the forefront of these tools” to ask questions such as “What does it mean to be human?”

AlJazeera

Los Angeles Times

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