November 29, 2023
AI Advancements and Leadership Shifts Drive Tech Changes
Tech companies are refining products and services as shifts in leadership persist. Following Sam Altman’s return to OpenAI, Microsoft is no longer forming a new AI research team—the company had hired Altman after his short-lived dismissal. Some marketing leaders are urging X CEO Linda Yaccarino to resign after recent controversies have derailed the company’s efforts to lure back advertisers.
Large tech firms are optimizing AI chatbots for commercial and consumer use. Amazon has unveiled a new chatbot for companies to leverage generative AI in the workplace—the company has accelerated its AI efforts to catch up with Microsoft and Google. Microsoft is rebranding its chatbot, renaming Bing Chat to Copilot, to better compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Remote Work Remains Popular Despite Growing Resistance
While remote work remains in demand across the country, some companies are pushing back. Amazon announced internally that workers not adhering to the company’s in-office mandate may not be eligible for promotion. The online retail giant has faced significant worker resistance to its return-to-office policies. New data show U.S. employees are spending an average of two days in the office each week.
Changing workplace norms are impacting expectations about paid time off. The rise of remote work could be contributing to increased pressure on employees to remain available on vacation. Fewer than 40% of workers feel they have employers who respect time off, according to a new survey by the American Psychological Association.
Digital and Media Companies Continue Cutbacks
Despite a stabilizing global economy, many digital and media companies are cutting back. In a year of record media-related job cuts, more are on the way. The Washington Post is looking to cut 240 newsroom positions—the newspaper has already accepted 120 voluntary buyouts. Vice Media Group, G/O Media, and CNBC have all recently laid off editorial staff.
The continued growth of AI is leading to additional layoffs across the tech sector. TikTok parent company ByteDance is downsizing its gaming division and laying off hundreds of employees. Telecommunications titan Qualcomm is shedding 1,000 jobs in California. The Bay Area has lost more than 30,000 tech-related jobs since 2022.
Sequence Summaries: Tech Changes, Remote Resistance, and Latest Layoffs
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