THE HOT STORY

Meta made 'mistakes' in AI workforce shift, Zuckerberg says

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has told staff that the social media company has made mistakes in the AI transformation of its workforce, according to an internal memo seen ‌by Reuters. "Given ⁠the complexity of these changes, we've made mistakes and will almost certainly make more," Zuckerberg wrote in the memo. He also said that he is "focused on providing as much stability as possible" regarding future organisational changes. "I don't want to overpromise because the world is changing in ways that are out of our control," he wrote. Zuckerberg reiterated that Meta does not expect more company-wide layoffs this year.

Reuters

TECHNOLOGY

HR must manage AI bots as well as humans, says Accenture executive

Accenture UK CEO Matt Prebble says HR directors will have to take responsibility for managing AI agents alongside human workers in future, and businesses will be forced to rethink leadership models.

Financial Times

The skills people still perform better than AI

Many workers fear machines will supplant them as adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates - but some workplace experts say well-honed soft skills such as empathy, critical thinking and ethical decision-making will help employees become indispensible as more businesses adopt AI tools. “The skills that are most resistant to displacement by AI are the ones that are the most distinctly human,” observes Maria Flynn, president and chief executive of Jobs for the Future, a nonprofit focused on workforce development. “Some of those things are relationship building, conflict resolution, the ability to guide and motivate other people and ethical judgment.”

ABC News

STRATEGY

DMCC plans new learning and intelligence platforms

Leading international business district DMCC has announced the launch of two new platforms, DMCC Campus and DMCC Intelligence, aimed at enhancing global trade capabilities. The expansion reflects the growing need for expertise in trade strategy, technology, and economic development. DMCC Campus will focus on professional development through executive education and training, while DMCC Intelligence will offer advisory services to various organisations. Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chair and chief executive of DMCC, said: “These platforms will enable us to share knowledge more broadly, helping businesses, governments and institutions build capability.” The rollout will occur in phases, starting with educational content and strategic partnerships.

Zawya EN

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Landmark Arabia advances Saudi talent

Landmark Arabia, in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, aims to provide 30,000 training opportunities by 2028 as part of the WAD National Training Campaign. The initiative supports Saudi Vision 2030 by enhancing workforce readiness and developing local talent. Landmark Arabia is the only non-academic institution involved in this vocational training effort, which includes classroom and virtual sessions. Chief country officer Vedapuri Thachampattu said: "We are proud to partner . . . in developing a skilled, future-ready workforce." The company says it has already delivered over 79,000 training opportunities in 2025 alone.

Saudi Gazette

LEGAL

Dubai court orders firm to repay Dh1.38m for workers' dues

A Dubai court has mandated a company to repay Dh1.38m to an insurance provider after it covered the unpaid labour entitlements of 86 workers. The court also imposed a 5% annual interest from the lawsuit's filing date, alongside legal costs. The case stemmed from the UAE's workers' insurance system, which protects workers' rights when employers default. The insurance company had previously paid the workers' dues and sought reimbursement, but the employer failed to comply, leading to legal action. The court emphasised the binding nature of contractual obligations and ruled in favour of the insurer.

Gulfnews.com

INTERNATIONAL

India's largest bank plans HR overhaul to address employee burnout

State Bank of India (SBI), India's largest bank, is revamping its human resources strategy to address workplace stress issues and adapt to generational shifts. The bank plans to enhance its employee wellness programme, focusing on mental health support for new and mid-career employees. SBI aims to implement a crisis response plan for those facing acute psychological distress, and it will launch a Mental Health Champion Programme to promote awareness and destigmatise mental health issues. “The intent of such a programme would be to strengthen early identification, destigmatisation, and access to support by creating a human bridge between employees in distress and the formal employee assistance programme,” the bank said.

Livemint.com

AI giants flock to London

CNBC reports on how major AI companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, have in the last year announced significant expansions in London, driven by the need for top technical and commercial talent. “It's all about talent,” Mike Wiseman, head of campuses at British Land, says. “London has built a deep and mature technology ecosystem over many years, and if you're looking to scale a business internationally, it's one of the few markets globally that can support that level of growth.” Meanwhile, Frederic Groussolles, partner at executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, observes that “A decade of investment anchored by DeepMind, major research labs and leading universities has created a mature talent base spanning AI research, engineering and commercial leadership.” London is also one of the world's foremost financial centres, Groussolles adds, allowing companies “ready access to venture, growth equity and corporate development networks.”

CNBC

Bosch pivots to humanoid robotics

German auto supplier Bosch has announced a strategic shift towards humanoid robotics amid challenges in its traditional business caused by fierce overseas competition and weak demand. The company is a key producer of the tiny sensors which are crucial in robotics. These sensors determine whether a robot "should tighten its grip or not, whether it is dealing with a sturdy object, or whether it needs to act delicately because it is an egg," explained Bosch chief executive Stefan Hartung, who added: "Humans have 4m touch sensors. If we were to build robots equipped with as many sensors, four years of global sensor production would barely be enough to equip 12,500 robots." Hartung forecast: "With the advent of humanoid robotics, the demand for Bosch components and solutions is increasing."

France 24

Japan to roll out nationwide LGBTQIA+ education programme

Japan is set to launch a nationwide education programme on LGBTQIA+ issues across schools, universities, and workplaces. The initiative aims to enhance public understanding of gender and sexual diversity, and address the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals due to a lack of awareness. Alisha Khojanazar, a molecular neuroscience research technician at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology who identifies as a woman of transgender origin, welcomed the education plan as a "great initial step," observing: "I think it will help a lot, especially young adults and queer adolescents who are just discovering their identities or genders . . . If it would lead to some kind of broader protection by law, that would be great. But with the current political climate in Japan, I would love it to be more inclusive."

ABC Online

OTHER

Children 'disproportionately affected' by intensifying climate-related risks

The United ‌Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said that almost all of the world's children are exposed to at least one climate hazard. UNICEF's Children's Climate Risk Report says as many as 1.1bn children globally were exposed to at least three overlapping climate risks that could overwhelm governments and social services. "It's not just the exposure to the single hazards like floods or droughts ‌or ⁠heat waves and extreme heat that children face, but it is the exposure to multiple hazards," explained Rohini Sampoornam Swaminathan, UNICEF statistics manager.

Reuters

UNICEF

The Guardian

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