Staying current on what’s happening with AI is tough. I’d listen to podcasts, read articles and Substack blogs, scan LinkedIn for posts to try to stay informed. Over the last month, I started a workflow to pull together a few key themes and critical news for This Week in AI that I prompt and research to pull together my point of view.
Over the past week (March 15–22), a number of AI stories point to something more structural than incremental product updates. No hype here!
1. Hiring is shifting—but not in a straightforward way
- Reuters reports that companies are cutting roles while increasing investment in AI, particularly where automation can replace repeatable work.
- Business Insider highlights firms like Klarna and IBM reducing headcount tied to AI-driven efficiencies, with some citing productivity gains of 20–40% in certain functions.
- At the same time, OpenAI plans to grow to ~8,000 employees by 2026, focused on technical and enterprise roles.
- The Wall Street Journal notes that entry-level roles are declining in areas where AI can handle drafting, analysis, and coordination.
2. Design tools are being tested by AI-native alternatives
- Bloomberg reported that Figma’s stock fell following investor concern that generative AI tools could reduce reliance on traditional design platforms.
- At the same time, The Verge covered Google’s exploration of AI-driven design tools, Stitch, that generate interfaces from prompts. TechCrunch also points to a growing number of tools generating full UI flows from requirements.
3. Policy is quietly shaping how AI will influence information
- Reuters and CNBC report continued movement toward national AI policy frameworks addressing copyright, data usage, and regulatory control.
- These decisions determine what data models can be trained on—and what outputs are allowed.
- This connects to concerns raised by the Center for Humane Technology around how information systems shape perception at scale.
4. Education systems are adapting—but without a clear end state
- The New York Times reports that school districts are already reversing AI bans and shifting toward structured classroom use.
- The Wall Street Journal notes that a majority of students are using AI for assignments, and EdSurge highlights how teachers are adjusting—moving toward in-class work, oral exams, and AI-assisted assignments.
- As Rebecca Winthrop of the Center for Universal Education has pointed out, the challenge isn’t stopping AI use—it’s redefining what learning means. Check out her on Tristan Harris’ podcast, Your Undivided Attention.
Curious how others are thinking about this—where does this feel most real in your world right now?