Human Times

European Edition

2nd March 2026

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THE HOT STORY

BMW to trial humanoid robots at German factory

BMW plans to introduce two AI-powered humanoid robots at its Leipzig factory this summer. Developed by Swedish company Hexagon, the 1.65-metre tall robots can autonomously move components in a fully digitised environment. Milan Nedeljkovic, BMW's incoming chairman, said: "The robot is intelligent enough to generate its own decisions." Despite concerns about job losses due to automation, BMW's head of digitisation, Michael Stroebel, said: "It is not planned currently to reduce the workforce by replacing workers with new robots." The robot's battery life is about three hours, but Hexagon said the robots can replace their own battery in about 30 seconds using a charging station.

France 24

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

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RISK

StanChart advises staff to postpone travel to Middle East

Standard Chartered has advised its staff to delay any planned travel to the Middle East due to the US and Israeli military strikes on Iran. A spokesperson confirmed that the bank's operations remain unaffected, with locations continuing to function normally. Employees in the region have been instructed to shelter in place until further notice. The bank, which is focusing on expanding its cross-border services and wealth management in Middle Eastern markets, operates in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, ⁠Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Oman.

U.S. News

EU urges 'maximum restraint' in Iran conflict

The European Union has called for restraint and adherence to international law in the Iran conflict. "We call for maximum restraint, ‌protection of civilians and full ‌respect of international law, including the principles of the United Nations Charter, and ⁠international humanitarian ⁠law," said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in a statement issued on behalf of all EU members. The statement said the conflict "must not lead to an escalation that could threaten the Middle East, Europe and beyond, with unpredictable consequences, also in the economic sphere," adding "The disruption of critical waterways, like the Strait of ⁠Hormuz, must be avoided."

U.S. News

STRATEGY

Groupe SEB to cut 7% of workforce in AI-driven turnaround plan

French cookware maker Groupe SEB, the owner of the Tefal brand, plans to cut nearly 7% of its global workforce, up to 2,100 jobs, as part of a strategic overhaul aimed at boosting efficiency through artificial intelligence and digital growth initiatives. The company, which employed around 31,000 people at the end of 2024, said approximately 1,400 of the affected roles will be in Europe, including about 500 potential voluntary redundancies in France. The restructuring measures will largely be implemented in 2026, with associated costs scheduled for 2027. The company's like-for-like sales in 2025 edged up 0.3% to €8.17bn in 2025, while operating profit fell 25% to €601m, reflecting weaker profitability amid tougher market conditions.

Wall Street Journal

Chemical giant BASF to move jobs from Germany to Asia

BASF has announced plans to relocate jobs from Germany to Asia as part of a cost-cutting strategy. The company, which faces challenges including overcapacity and high energy costs, aims to enhance efficiency through digitalisation. CFO Dirk Elvermann said: "We will adapt our existing location structures and achieve significant cost savings." While the company's Berlin hub will remain open, it will operate with fewer staff. A union protest is underway against the relocation plans, which could affect around 3,000 employees in Berlin. BASF has already cut 4,800 jobs and said it has achieved €1.7bn in savings this year.

France 24

WORKFORCE

Dutch government workers to strike nationwide on Tuesday

Dutch civil servants will strike for 24 hours on Tuesday in response to a pay freeze for 2026. The protest, involving members of the 160,000-strong Rijksambtenaren, the national civil servants who work for the Dutch central government, aims to highlight the impact of a nullijn - a pay freeze with no salary increases for 2026 - on their purchasing power. The trade union FNV said: "These people do the work that keeps the Netherlands running, but they are not appreciated."

NL Times

CORPORATE

Puma sinks to record €645m loss as sales slide

Puma has reported a record net loss of €645.5m for 2025, reversing a €281.6m profit a year earlier, as sales fell 13% and the group absorbed €191.6m in one-off charges, largely tied to plans to cut around 20% of office jobs and clear excess inventory. The German sportswear company warned that Anta Sports’ recent acquisition of a 29% stake could have a “negative impact” on its Greater China business in 2026, as wholesale and franchise partners react to uncertainty over future distribution strategy.

Bloomberg

Financial Times

Wall Street Journal

REMUNERATION

Ahold Delhaize plans major boost to CEO and executive bonuses

Albert Heijn owner Ahold Delhaize plans to increase maximum bonuses for its top executives, including CEO Frans Muller, whose pay could rise to €12.5m from €8.3m. The change aims to attract and retain talent amid growing operational complexity. The CEO's short-term bonus can reach 1.5 times his base salary, doubling for exceptional performance. The long-term bonus, awarded in shares, can total 350% of his base salary.

NL Times

TECHNOLOGY

AI ‘pilots’ fall out of favour as companies push for real results

Large US corporations are increasingly avoiding the term “pilot” when discussing artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, as the word has come to signal stalled progress rather than innovation. While companies continue to promote their AI ambitions, references to “pilots” on earnings calls fell about 18% in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the prior quarter, according to AlphaSense. Once viewed positively by investors as a sign of experimentation and early adoption, AI pilots are now often associated with projects that fail to scale or deliver measurable financial impact. A 2025 MIT study found that 95% of enterprise AI pilots did not produce meaningful financial results, reinforcing scepticism and giving rise to phrases like “Pilot Purgatory” to describe initiatives that never move beyond testing.

Wall Street Journal

INTERNATIONAL

Block cuts 4,000 jobs amid AI workplace shift

Fintech company Block has announced it will lay off over 4,000 workers, or nearly half of its workforce, as artificial intelligence transforms operational dynamics. Jack Dorsey, co-founder and head of Block, emphasized that the layoffs are not due to financial issues but rather a shift in how companies operate. “We're already seeing that the intelligence tools we're creating and using . . . are enabling a new way of working,” he said. Dorsey said he opted for immediate cuts to avoid prolonged uncertainty, explaining: “Repeated rounds of cuts are destructive to morale.” Block aims to complete the workforce reduction by the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2026. Dorsey plans to address employees directly in a live session, keeping communication channels open for farewells.

Los Angeles Times

Influencers in shock as Dubai is attacked

France 24 reports that self-styled "influencers" in Dubai are grappling with the shocking reality of missile strikes as Iran retaliates against US-Israeli military actions. Many expatriates shared videos of smoke rising above the city, expressing disbelief at the sudden violence. Israeli influencer Hofit Golan exclaimed: "OMG!" as she filmed a nearby building on fire. The situation marks a "back-to-reality" moment for influencers, who often remain disconnected from geopolitical issues.

France 24

Woolworths reins in AI chatbot after it claimed to be human

Woolworths has adjusted its artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, Olive, after users reported it discussing its mother during customer interactions. Complaints surfaced on platforms like Reddit, where users described Olive's off-topic conversations, including personal anecdotes about its family. A Woolworths spokesperson clarified that these responses were scripted by a human employee years ago to create a personal connection. Following customer feedback, the company has removed this particular scripting. Olive has been operational since 2018 and was recently enhanced through a partnership with Google to expand its capabilities.

The New Zealand Herald

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