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A survey of around 750 U.S. chief financial officers, produced with economists from the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and Richmond, suggests artificial intelligence (AI) will have a limited overall impact on employment in the near term, with companies expecting headcount to decline by just 0.4% in 2026. However, the effects are expected to be uneven, with AI most likely to displace workers in routine, clerical, and administrative roles, while enhancing productivity in higher-skilled positions such as engineering and technical fields. CFOs were notably more likely to anticipate job cuts in office support functions than in more advanced roles, reflecting a broader shift toward skills-based employment. The findings echo past technological changes, where automation reduced demand for routine work but complemented more educated workers, though economists warn displaced workers may struggle to transition into newly created roles. Larger companies appear more focused on using AI to cut costs, while smaller firms are more inclined to use it to expand and hire technical talent, highlighting a divergence in how businesses are deploying the technology.

 

Wall Street Journal

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has banned imports of new models of foreign-produced wireless routers, citing national security concerns over vulnerabilities that could be exploited in cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and households. The move, which does not affect existing devices or current retail inventory, could disrupt the global router market and increase pressure on major overseas manufacturers such as TP-Link, while allowing exemptions and potentially benefiting rivals if competition is reduced.

 

Bloomberg

BBC News

A U.S. appeals court has thrown out a Federal Trade Commission order barring Intuit from advertising TurboTax as “free,” ruling that the agency’s use of an administrative law judge to decide deceptive advertising claims violated constitutional separation of powers. The court said the FTC must instead pursue such cases in federal court, while returning the matter for further proceedings, leaving unresolved allegations that Intuit misled consumers over eligibility for its free tax products.

 

Reuters

Reuters reports that SEC Enforcement Division Director Margaret Ryan - who resigned last week after just over six months in the role - had clashed with agency leaders over the direction of its enforcement program, including the handling of cases with ties to President ​Donald Trump and his family, according to three people familiar with the matter. Ryan wished for a more aggressive pursuit of charges for fraud and other misconduct including in cases that touched the president's circle, but faced resistance from the likes of SEC chair Paul Atkins, two of the people said.

 

Reuters

Interviews with more than 80,000 users of Anthropic’s Claude chatbot across 159 countries provide one of the most detailed snapshots yet of how people use AI. The report found that AI in the workplace to automate tasks was one of the biggest use cases of the technology, although some people said they feared they would lose cognitive abilities in the process. Nearly half of lawyers interviewed said they had encountered AI unreliability firsthand, but they also reported the highest rates of realised decision-making benefits of any profession. Over a quarter (27%) of respondents said they were concerned about AI making poor or incorrect decisions, and 22% said they were fearful about the technology's impact on jobs and the economy.  Users in North America, Western Europe and Oceania were worried more about governance gaps, regulatory failure, and surveillance; those in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and South Asia were much more positive about AI.

 

EdTech Innovation Hub

Euronews

Financial Times

Gilead Sciences is close to acquiring autoimmune-focused biotech Ouro Medicines for up to $2bn, including around $1.5bn upfront and additional milestone payments, as it accelerates dealmaking following a period of relative inactivity. The potential deal, which would follow its recent $7.8bn acquisition of Arcellx, reflects Gilead’s strategy to strengthen its drug pipeline - particularly in high-growth areas - supported by a strong share price and momentum in biotech M&A amid looming industry patent expiries.

 

Financial Times

Reuters

DoorDash has announced a new emergency relief program to assist U.S. gig workers facing rising fuel costs. The initiative responds to a 30% increase in national average gasoline prices, now nearing $4 per gallon, driven by disruptions in crude oil supply due to the Middle East conflict. Eligible delivery drivers who log at least 125 miles weekly can receive weekly payments ranging from $5 to $15, potentially saving them up to $1.90 per gallon. The program will run until April 26th, according to the company.

 

Reuters

U.S. construction spending fell 0.3% in January, the Commerce Department reported on Monday, undershooting expectations for a 0.1% increase and highlighting continued weakness in the sector despite a modest rebound at the end of 2025. While December saw a 0.3% monthly rise driven by residential activity, broader trends remain subdued, with full-year spending down 1.4% and declines in both residential and non-residential construction. The sector continues to face headwinds including high mortgage rates, rising material costs linked to tariffs and labor shortages, although public construction has provided some support with modest growth.

 

Investing

RTT News

The average growth rate for accounting and financial services firms has decreased from a peak of 13% to below 10%, marking the lowest level in five years, according to a recent study by Hinge Marketing. The study surveyed 133 firms, revealing that high-growth firms achieved a median growth rate of 33.4%, while average-growth firms grew by 9.6%, and no-growth firms contracted by 10%. High-growth firms are investing 9% of their revenue in marketing, nearly double that of no-growth firms, and are leveraging artificial intelligence tools for content creation and market research. "The vast majority of firms across all growth categories use LinkedIn," the study noted, highlighting the importance of social media in their marketing strategies.

 

Accounting Today

PwC International has appointed Neil Parekh and Mads Nipper as external directors to its Global Governance Board, strengthening oversight of the firm’s global network. Their appointments increase the number of external board members to three, alongside Jaya Vaidhyanathan, as PwC continues to enhance its governance structure.

 

Bloomberg Tax

Reuters reports that the war in the Gulf is hitting companies worldwide, but it's hitting even harder in Europe where energy prices are already higher than other regions, according to a dozen executives across Germany, France, Denmark and Switzerland. Referencing the fallout from the Ukraine war, Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swiss bank Swissquote, said: "Europe is on the chopping block for this and clearly does not have the margin to take a second energy hit in such a ⁠short period of time . . . Germany and the U.K. look like the most vulnerable to the energy shock."

 

Reuters

Nintendo has reduced planned quarterly production of its Switch 2 console to 4m units from 6m, citing weaker-than-expected demand - particularly in the U.S. - following the holiday season. The slowdown, which has driven a share price drop of up to 6.3%, reflects concerns over software momentum and intensifying competition, although the company still expects to meet annual sales forecasts of around 19m–20m units.

 

Bloomberg

A study by Cornell University has found that employees who are impressed by corporate jargon may struggle with effective decision-making. “There's a lot of useful things about the way people in a certain company speak to each other. But it becomes problematic when that turns into nonsense that's used for misleading purposes,” Shane Littrell, a postdoctoral researcher and cognitive psychologist at Cornell University who authored the study, said. “It's the people that can't tell the difference that seem to have the most problems.” The research indicates that those susceptible to corporate jargon often display lower analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. The study highlights the need for awareness of how corporate jargon can mislead even highly educated professionals.

 

The Guardian