LinkedIn is using AI to streamline the job hunting process, aiming to alleviate the task of job searching for its users. The professional networking giant announced a suite of AI-driven features designed to match job seekers with opportunities more efficiently, ensuring that both employers and potential employees find the best fit with minimal effort. “We’ve been building with AI since 2007. We use it heavily for connecting people… for defense and how we keep trust in the ecosystem. It’s one of our most powerful tools,” its head of product, Tomer Cohen, said in an interview.
What is new?
Central to LinkedIn’s new offerings is an AI-powered recommendation engine that analyses user profiles, past job searches, and application history to suggest relevant job openings. The tool not only personalizes job recommendations but also learns from user interactions to refine its suggestions over time. LinkedIn’s goal is to significantly reduce the time and effort required for job seekers to find suitable roles, increasing the chances of matching them with positions that align closely with their skills and career aspirations.
LinkedIn is also rolling out AI tools designed to assist users in crafting more effective resumes and cover letters. These tools provide real-time feedback, highlighting key areas for improvement and suggesting changes to better align documents with job descriptions. By leveraging natural language processing, LinkedIn aims to help job seekers present their qualifications in the best possible light, ultimately increasing their chances of securing interviews.
To further support job seekers, LinkedIn is introducing AI-enhanced skill assessments and training modules. These features allow users to identify gaps in their skill sets and access personalized learning resources to address these deficiencies. The AI system recommends specific courses and certifications that can improve a user’s profile, making them more attractive to potential employers.
In addition to its AI-driven tools, LinkedIn is expanding the availability of Recruiter 2024, a comprehensive recruitment platform that leverages AI to help companies find and engage top talent more effectively. The platform will now include more tools for marketers, enabling them to reach and connect with their target audiences more efficiently. LinkedIn is also introducing enhanced premium company pages for small businesses, providing them with advanced features to showcase their brand and attract potential employees.
Why does it matter?
That move highlights the transformative potential of AI in professional networking. While job markets are becoming more competitive and fast-paced, LinkedIn’s embrace of AI technology represents a significant step in making the job hunting process more efficient and effective for both job seekers and employers:
Efficiency and personalization: AI-driven features can drastically reduce the time and effort required for job seekers to find relevant positions, leading to a more personalized and efficient job search experience.
Competitive edge: By assisting users in creating more compelling resumes and cover letters, LinkedIn’s AI tools can give job seekers a competitive edge in the increasingly crowded job market.
Skills development: The focus on personalized skill assessments and training can help job seekers stay relevant in their fields, addressing the skills gap that many industries face today.
Employer benefits: For employers, these AI-driven tools can lead to better job matches, reducing turnover and ensuring that new hires are well-suited for their roles.
Particle, a news-reader startup developed by former Twitter engineers, is partnering with publishers to navigate the evolving landscape of news consumption in the AI era. By leveraging AI technology, Particle aims to provide news summaries from various publishers through its app, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of current events from multiple perspectives. That approach seeks to address concerns within the publishing industry about potential revenue loss due to AI-driven news summaries.
Now, Particle has teamed up with Reuters to explore new business models in a significant move. The startup has subscribed to Reuters newswire to enhance its news delivery capabilities. Additionally, Particle secured $10.9 million in Series A funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with investments from media giant Axel Springer. These partnerships and investments underscore Particle’s commitment to collaborating with publishers to address their needs and goals in the rapidly evolving media landscape.
Particle’s co-founder, Sara Beykpour, emphasises the startup’s focus on delivering value to news consumers beyond AI summaries. With a mission to help readers cut through the noise and understand the news faster, Particle offers a personalised news experience while ensuring exposure to diverse viewpoints. By presenting news stories holistically and integrating perspectives from multiple outlets, Particle aims to combat information overload and mitigate media bias.
Why does it matter?
Despite its innovative approach, Particle has yet to finalise its business model. The startup actively engages with publishers to develop a sustainable model that benefits readers and publishers. Possibilities include revenue sharing, advertising, and more, with input from industry stakeholders shaping the future direction of Particle’s business strategy.
Brazil’s government has enlisted OpenAI’s services to streamline the assessment of thousands of lawsuits using AI, aiming to mitigate costly court losses that have burdened the federal budget. Through Microsoft’s Azure cloud-computing platform, OpenAI’s AI technology, including ChatGPT, will identify lawsuits requiring prompt government action and analyse trends and potential focus areas for the solicitor general’s office (AGU).
The AGU revealed that Microsoft would facilitate the AI services from OpenAI, though the exact cost of Brazil’s procurement remains undisclosed. The initiative responds to the escalating financial strain caused by court-ordered debt payments, which are anticipated to reach 70.7 billion reais ($13.2 billion) next year, excluding smaller claims. The surge from 37.3 billion reais in 2015, equivalent to about 1% of GDP, surpasses government expenditures on unemployment insurance and wage bonuses for low-income earners by 15%.
While the AGU has not clarified the reasons behind Brazil’s mounting court expenses, it assures that the AI project will not supplant human efforts but enhance efficiency and precision, all under human supervision. This move aligns with broader governmental efforts, including releasing 25 million reais in supplementary credits for AGU in March to implement strategic IT projects and bolster operational capacities.
Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, reportedly plans to lay off around 100 employees from several teams in its cloud unit. The affected roles include those in sales, operations, engineering, consulting, and ‘go to market’ strategy. The information citing internal correspondence as the source was provided in the report.
A spokesperson for Google stated that the company is constantly evolving its business to align with customer priorities and to capitalise on significant opportunities. They emphasised Google’s commitment to investing in critical areas that are necessary for long-term success.
Why does it matter?
These layoffs are part of the company’s ongoing efforts to cut costs. In April, Google implemented unspecified staff reductions across various teams. The management move was followed by hundreds of layoffs in January, reflecting a broader trend of job cuts in the tech and media industry due to economic uncertainty.
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, announced that it will discontinue its Workplace app, a platform geared towards work-related communications. The social media platform made this decision as it shifted its focus towards developing AI and metaverse technologies. The Workplace app will be phased out for customers starting in June 2026, although Meta will continue to utilise it internally as a messaging board until August 2025, according to a statement from the company.
A spokesperson for Meta stated that they are discontinuing Workplace to focus on building AI and metaverse technologies that they believe will fundamentally reshape the way they work. Over the next two years, Workplace customers will have the option to transition to Zoom’s Workvivo product, which Meta has designated as its preferred migration partner. Workplace was initially launched in 2016 to cater to businesses, offering features such as multi-company groups and shared spaces to facilitate collaboration among employees from different organizations.
Why does it matter?
The discontinuation of Workplace aligns with Meta’s strategic emphasis on advancing AI and metaverse technologies, which it views as integral to the future of digital communication. The strategic change of business direction has raised concerns about escalating costs that could potentially impact the company’s growth trajectory. Despite the discontinuation of Workplace, Meta has assured customers that billing and payment arrangements will remain unchanged until August of this year. Currently, Workplace offers a core plan priced at $4 per user per month, with additional add-ons available starting from $2 per user per month, with monthly bills calculated based on the number of billable users unless a fixed plan is in place.
In an interview given to Digital Watch Observatory, André Xuereb, Ambassador for Digital Affairs at the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta, provided insights into the world of quantum computing and its implications for diplomacy. Quantum computing, as described by Xuereb, harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to tackle complex problems by exploiting the simultaneous states of quantum bits or qubits, offering unprecedented computational power.
Xuereb emphasised the transformative potential of quantum computing, particularly in areas like drug discovery and cryptography. With its ability to handle intricate molecular structures efficiently, quantum computers could revolutionise drug design and accelerate the development of new medicines. Additionally, the inherent properties of quantum computing pose challenges to traditional encryption methods, potentially compromising data security.
Addressing the emergence of quantum diplomacy, Xuereb underscored the need for international collaboration and governance frameworks to navigate the complexities of quantum technologies. Initiatives like the Open Quantum Institute in Geneva, a global platform for quantum research and development, aim to facilitate equitable access to quantum resources, bridging the gap between countries with varying technological capabilities. Meanwhile, major tech players such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and others, with their substantial investments in quantum technologies, are not only driving technological advancements but also shaping the diplomatic landscape by influencing policy discussions and international cooperation in this field.
Looking ahead, Xuereb advised future quantum diplomats to prioritise discussions around the implications of quantum technologies on global security and communication. With the advent of general-purpose quantum computers, the risk of cyber threats, such as the ability to break current encryption methods, and the need for secure communication channels become paramount diplomatic concerns. However, Xuereb emphasised the importance of striking a balance between leveraging quantum advancements for societal benefits and mitigating potential risks associated with their misuse, such as the potential for quantum computers to crack current encryption methods, leading to widespread data breaches and security vulnerabilities.
AI is poised to drastically reshape the global labour market, according to International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. She likened its impact to a ‘tsunami’, projecting that 60% of jobs in advanced economies and 40% worldwide will be affected within the next two years. Georgieva emphasised the urgency of preparing individuals and businesses for this imminent transformation, speaking at an event organised by the Swiss Institute of International Studies in Zurich.
While AI adoption promises significant gains in productivity, Georgieva warned against potential downsides, including the proliferation of misinformation and the exacerbation of societal inequality. She highlighted the recent vulnerabilities of the world economy, citing shocks like the 2020 global pandemic and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Despite these challenges, she noted a resilience in the global economy, with no imminent signs of a widespread recession.
Addressing concerns about inflation, Swiss National Bank Chairman Thomas Jordan emphasised progress in Switzerland’s inflation management. With inflation reaching 1.4% in April, remaining within the SNB’s target range for the 11th consecutive month, Jordan expressed optimism about maintaining price stability in the coming years. However, he acknowledged lingering uncertainties surrounding future economic trends.
Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella has announced an investment of $1.7 billion over the next four years in expanding cloud services and AI infrastructure in Indonesia. The plan includes building data centres, with Jakarta being Nadella’s first stop on a trip across Southeast Asian countries to promote Microsoft’s generative AI technology. Later this week, he will visit Malaysia and Thailand within this initiative.
Nadella highlighted that the investment aims to bring cutting-edge AI infrastructure to Indonesia, positioning Microsoft to lead in meeting the region’s AI infrastructure needs. During his visit, Nadella met with outgoing president Joko Widodo and cabinet ministers to discuss joint AI research and talent development. Communications Minister Budi Arie Setiadi revealed that Widodo proposed Microsoft to establish its data centres on the island of Bali or in the new capital city of Nusantara, currently under construction in Borneo’s jungle.
In addition to infrastructure development, Microsoft plans to train 2.5 million people in Southeast Asia in AI by 2025, with 840,000 individuals targeted in Indonesia alone. The feat underscores Microsoft’s global strategy to support AI development, as seen in previous investments such as $2.9 billion in cloud and AI infrastructure in Japan and $1.5 billion in AI firm G42 based in UAE.
Why does it matter?
Nadella’s visit to Jakarta follows Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook’s recent meeting with President Widodo, during which Cook expressed interest in exploring the possibility of establishing a manufacturing facility in Indonesia. With its large and tech-savvy population, Indonesia is a fruitful market for tech-related investments. Microsoft’s proactive approach aligns with its recent financial success, partly driven by integrating AI across its cloud services, as demonstrated by its beating of Wall Street estimates for third-quarter revenue and profit.
San Francisco’s tech leaders are rallying against a proposed California law, AB 2751, that would enforce a ‘right to disconnect’ after work hours, fearing it could hinder startups. The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney, aims to limit employer contact outside agreed-upon working hours, exempting emergencies and scheduling reasons.
Critics like Y Combinator’s Garry Tan argue for the value of late-night work and decry overregulation. Flo Crivello of the AI startup Lindy warns against replicating European policies, stating that successful startups usually have a relentless work ethic.
However, Haney argued that the new policy is crucial for worker well-being and aligns with global standards. He also said that enforcement is supposed to be flexible to avoid penalising companies unfairly. The bill will be deliberated on in the legislature in the coming weeks.
Why does it matter?
California could become the first state in the US to establish a ‘right to disconnect’ law, mirroring similar legislation in 13 countries, including Australia, France, Belgium, and Portugal. The California Chamber of Commerce opposes the proposed legislation, stating it would enforce rigid working schedules and restrict communication between employers and employees, noting that California already has stringent labour laws, including overtime pay and breaks provisions. While workers from certain industries, notably healthcare, endorse the initiative due to soaring burnout rates among employees, there appears to be a consensus within the tech sector that the bill would significantly disrupt a fundamental aspect of company operations: their work culture.
In the 350th session taking place in March, the agenda includes a High-level Section on ‘the challenges and opportunities of digitalization, including artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic management, for the world of work’. Academic, industry, and intergovernmental body experts are invited to shed light on digitalization’s impacts on labour, e-government in support of labour and social protection, and the role of ILO in enhancing the benefits of digitalization.
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