News archive.
Earlier AI news and analysis, kept for reference. Current coverage lives in News & Analysis.
NBCUniversal Launches Rock Studios to Centralize Brand Partnership Deals
NBCUniversal created Rock Studios, a unified creative offering designed to simplify how brands partner across its entertainment portfolio. Here's what the consolidation means for advertisers and creators.
Robotics startups raised $18.8B in 2026—already beat full year 2025
Robotics funding hit a record $18.8 billion in the first half of 2026, per Crunchbase, outpacing all of 2025 and the previous peak year 2021. Embodied AI startups drove the surge.
Per-Seat SaaS Is Dying. Vertical AI Agents Will Replace It
Generic software-as-a-service pricing breaks down when AI agents do the work. Investors are betting on vertical specialists with proprietary data instead—and a much larger market.
Bigger buying committees shrink L&D personalization
As learning departments add stakeholders to purchasing decisions, customized training often gets cut first. Here's how to preserve it.
Kaiser Permanente's integrated model keeps health costs predictable
Kaiser Permanente combines coverage and care delivery in one system. HR leaders are watching how this structure affects cost stability and employee health outcomes.
Walmart loses $23M verdict in retaliation case after firing worker
A jury found Walmart liable for firing an employee who reported a supervisor's failure to handle sexual harassment complaints. The case signals employment law risk for companies that punish workers for raising safety concerns.
HR chiefs cut GLP-1 coverage as mental health benefits shrink
SHRM survey shows employers pulling back on weight-loss drug funding while expanding pet and menopause benefits. What's driving the shift in corporate health priorities.
Meta CTO: AI reshuffles and layoffs have crushed morale to 20-year low
Andrew Bosworth told Meta staff morale rivals the Cambridge Analytica crisis, citing poor communication around the Applied AI division restructure. Leadership acknowledges mistakes and rules out further mass cuts this year.
Your AI training subscription won't change how employees work
Companies are rolling out expensive platform subscriptions but seeing no behavior change. One learning leader saw enrollments drop 90% after launch. Here's what actually works.
German workers thriving in life, checked out at work. $164B cost
Gallup's 2026 workplace data shows 49% of German employees rate their lives well, but only 11% feel engaged at work. Manager disengagement is the bottleneck—and the fix applies across Europe.
48% of large employers raising employee healthcare costs in 2027
Nearly half of US employers with 500+ workers plan to increase deductibles and co-pays next year. Mercer survey reveals how companies are shifting costs while adding caregiving and financial wellness benefits.
California gives employers 180 days to prepare for stricter AI layoff rules
Gov. Newsom's executive order sets a deadline for new WARN Act recommendations covering AI-driven job cuts. HR leaders should audit AI hiring practices now.