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Chief information officers are facing mounting pressure from boards and investors to demonstrate measurable returns on artificial intelligence investments, or risk budget cuts and potential career consequences, according to a survey of 600 CIOs commissioned by Dataiku. The report found 98% of respondents say board pressure to show clear AI return on investment is increasing, with 71% expecting funding freezes or reductions if targets are not met by mid-2026. Meanwhile, 85% believe compensation — including their own — will soon be tied directly to AI performance outcomes. Concerns extend beyond ROI. Nearly a third of CIOs said they had been asked to justify AI decisions they could not fully explain, and 70% expect formal audit or explainability requirements within the next year. At the same time, “agentic AI” systems capable of taking autonomous actions are already embedded in critical workflows, with 25% of respondents saying such agents now form the backbone of key operations — despite three-quarters admitting they lack full real-time visibility over them.

 

The Register

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Apple has dropped environmental performance targets from the 2025 bonus plans of chief executive Tim Cook and other top executives, marking a retreat from linking pay to ESG goals. The company removed an “ESG modifier” that since 2021 allowed bonuses to be adjusted by up to 10% based partly on progress in areas such as greenhouse-gas reductions and renewable energy use. Apple joins firms including Starbucks, Salesforce, Mastercard, and Procter & Gamble in weakening or scrapping climate-linked pay incentives.

 

Bloomberg

Edison International has announced a 40% reduction in executive bonuses in the light of the severe consequences of a Los Angeles-area wildfire that resulted in 19 fatalities and significant damage to over 10,000 structures. The decision comes after the company faced scrutiny for its role in the Eaton Fire, which lasted nearly four weeks in January 2025, amid indications that its equipment may have caused the blaze. Edison is now contending with multiple lawsuits from homeowners and businesses affected by the disaster.

 

Bloomberg

SEC chair Paul Atkins has said fewer senior corporate executives could be subject to extensive investor disclosures about their compensation under pending regulatory reforms. "I agree . . . that we should reconsider the number of executives for whom compensation information is provided," he said. Reuters notes that the remarks foreshadow proposals aimed at substantially reducing the burden companies face in complying with regulations for public companies, part of a general shift in the balance of power away from investors and back towards companies.

 

Reuters

A coalition of investors, including public-sector pension funds, has urged Starbucks shareholders to vote against the re-election of lead independent director Jorgen Vig Knudstorp and board committee chair Beth Ford, citing concerns over the company’s handling of labor relations. The move comes as Starbucks continues protracted negotiations with unionized baristas, following a nationwide strike involving more than 3,800 workers last year. The investors warned that failure to build a constructive relationship with its workforce could undermine efforts by chief executive Brian Niccol to revive sales. Starbucks said it offers competitive pay and benefits, and confirmed that oversight of labor matters now sits with the full board after the elimination of its Environmental, Partner, and Community Impact Committee.

 

Reuters

An arbitrator has mandated Air Canada to raise wages for its 15,000 cabin crew members by over 20% over the next four years, aligning closely with the company's original proposal. The dispute escalated after flight attendants went on a three-day strike in August, leading to the cancellation of more than 2,000 flights, and subsequent negotiations fell through when union members rejected an initial agreement.

 

Bloomberg

Federal Reserve officials were split at their January meeting over the future direction of interest rates, with most agreeing to pause further cuts for now but differing on what should come next, according to newly released minutes. While several policymakers said additional rate cuts could be appropriate later this year if inflation continues to ease, others argued rates should remain steady until there is clearer evidence that inflation is firmly back on track toward the 2% target. A few officials even suggested that rate hikes could be considered if price pressures persist, calling for a more “two-sided” policy outlook. The Fed has already reduced rates by 0.75 percentage points since September, bringing the benchmark range to 3.5%-3.75%. Officials acknowledged that inflation is expected to decline this year but warned progress could be slower and uneven, with tariffs and other pressures posing risks. Markets are currently pricing in a possible rate cut in June, followed by another later in the year, as policymakers continue balancing inflation concerns with labor market conditions. 

 

Bloomberg

CNBC

New York Times

Reuters

U.S. single-family homebuilding rose in December, the Commerce Department reported on Wednesday, but a drop in permits pointed to continued strain in the housing sector amid high costs and mortgage rate pressures. Single-family housing starts increased 4.1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 981,000 units in December, rebounding from 942,000 in November and 894,000 in October, according to the Commerce Department. However, permits for future single-family construction fell 1.7% to 881,000 units, suggesting weaker activity ahead. Builders continue to face higher material costs due to tariffs on imported goods, labor shortages linked to immigration crackdowns, and elevated land prices. A recent survey showed homebuilder sentiment declined further in February, reflecting affordability challenges as home prices remain high relative to incomes.

 

Bloomberg

Market Watch

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

U.S. orders for core capital goods rose more than expected in December, signaling solid business investment momentum at the end of 2025 as trade policy uncertainty eased. Core capital goods orders - which exclude aircraft and military hardware and serve as a proxy for equipment investment - increased 0.6% in December, following a revised 0.8% gain in November, according to Commerce Department data. The rise exceeded economists’ expectations of a 0.3% increase. Overall durable goods orders fell 1.4%, largely due to a drop in aircraft bookings. However, orders excluding transportation equipment posted their strongest gain since September 2024. Core capital goods shipments, which feed directly into GDP calculations, rose 0.9% in December and increased at an annualized 8.2% rate in the fourth quarter. The gains were broad-based, including communications equipment, computers, machinery and motor vehicles, with AI-related investment seen as a key driver. Economists expect business investment to strengthen further this year, supported by tax incentives under President Trump’s recent legislation and continued spending on artificial intelligence. 

 

Bloomberg

Wall Street Journal

U.S. industrial production rose 0.7% in January, marking its largest increase in nearly a year, driven by broad gains in manufacturing and higher utility output, according to Federal Reserve data. Manufacturing output, which accounts for about three-quarters of total production, climbed 0.6% - the strongest rise since February 2025. Gains were widespread, including increases in business equipment, consumer goods, machinery, motor vehicles, and computer and electronic products. Production of nondurable goods also advanced. Utility output jumped 2.1%, boosted in part by extreme winter weather across parts of the country, while mining and energy extraction declined. The data add to signs of a nascent recovery in manufacturing, supported by easing trade policy uncertainty, improved business equipment orders, and recent job gains in the sector. Capacity utilization at factories rose to 75.6%, the highest level since September, indicating stronger use of production capacity. 

 

Bloomberg

Wall Street Journal

The Trump administration has intensified its assault on the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), claiming the agency it is trying to dismantle has cost Americans hundreds of billions of dollars in extra borrowing costs. The analysis by the Council of Economic Advisers suggests that the CFPB regulations have raised interest rates and restricted access to credit, estimating that affected borrowers paid on average 16 basis points more on regulated loans, increasing costs by $237bn-$369bn since 2011. Acting director Russell Vought said the agency had made credit “dramatically more unaffordable” and reiterated his aim to shut it down. CFPB data shows it has returned nearly $20bn to consumers and secured $5bn in fines since its creation.

 

Financial Times

PYMNTS

eBay has agreed to acquire British secondhand fashion app Depop from Etsy for $1.2bn in cash, aiming to strengthen its appeal among younger, fashion-focused consumers as resale marketplaces continue to grow. Depop, which had 7m active buyers at the end of 2025 - nearly 90% under 34 - and 3m sellers, generated about $1bn in gross merchandise volume (GMV) last year, with strong U.S. growth. The platform will retain its brand and operate separately. The sale represents a $400m loss for Etsy, which bought Depop for $1.6bn in 2021 as part of a broader expansion strategy. The deal, approved by both boards, is expected to complete in the second quarter, subject to regulatory approval. eBay also reported that its revenues rose 15% $2.97bn in the fourth-quarter, with GMV up 10% to $21.2bn, beating Wall Street expectations for $20.8bn. Adjusted per-share earnings came in at $1.41, beating analyst estimates of $1.34bn per share.

 

Bloomberg

CNBC

New York Times

The Guardian

PacifiCorp, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is selling its wind and natural gas assets in Washington to Portland General Electric (PGE) for $1.9bn, citing liquidity issues due to wildfire litigation. The transaction includes key facilities and 4,500 miles of transmission lines, allowing PGE to expand its customer base in Washington. The deal, which could take over a year to close, comes as PacifiCorp faces significant financial and regulatory pressures linked to ongoing wildfire-related legal challenges.

 

Reuters

Airbus has revised its jet production target to between 70 and 75 aircraft per month, down from 75, due to delays caused by engine supplier Pratt & Whitney. The company indicated "significant shortages" in engines and has yet to finalize supply agreements for 2026 and 2027, which normally are set 18 months in advance. Despite the setbacks, Airbus reported a 17% increase in fourth-quarter core profit, amounting to €2.98bn, while forecasting 870 jet deliveries for 2026.

 

Reuters

Legal scholars argue that the U.S. tax code is far from neutral and often reinforces gender and economic inequality, particularly by undervaluing caregiving and privileging wealth over work. Bridget J. Crawford, a law professor at Pace University, says tax rules assume household income is shared equally and treat caregiving as a personal choice rather than essential labor. Policies such as the limited child and dependent care tax credit and joint filing rules can disproportionately disadvantage women, especially in dual-earner households where the second income is taxed at a higher marginal rate. Crawford and other academics have explored how a feminist lens - broadly defined as promoting dignity, autonomy and economic security for all - could reshape tax law. They argue that preferential treatment of capital gains over wages fuels wealth concentration and indirectly benefits men, who hold a larger share of capital. While mid-20th-century tax policy did more to curb extreme wealth, Crawford contends recent changes continue to favor the wealthy while offering limited relief to low- and middle-income families. A feminist tax code, she argues, would better support caregivers, reduce structural inequities and stop privileging accumulated wealth over earned income.

 

New York Times

German labour union IG Metall has filed a defamation complaint against Tesla's factory manager in the Berlin area, accusing him of spreading false allegations amid deteriorating relations with the automaker. The union is also pursuing a temporary injunction to prevent further claims from the manager, who had previously filed a criminal complaint against an IG Metall member for allegedly recording a works council meeting without consent. Union representative Jan Otto emphasized that while legal disputes are not preferred, they are necessary to defend workers' rights against Tesla's aggressive stance on union activities.

 

Reuters

India's information minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has called for significantly stronger regulations to tackle the growing threat of deepfakes. He said that all digital platforms operating in India must adhere to the country’s legal framework and the Constitution. “It's very important for the multinationals to understand the cultural context of the country in which they are operating,” Vaishnaw said during a briefing at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi.  “The problem of deepfakes is growing day by day. We need much stronger regulation,” he said.

 

Fortune India

The Tribune