47% of workers expect layoffs. We saw the Amazon layoffs this morning. It's not whether they should happen, it's how companies should do them.One of the overwhelming results of the investor survey was efficiency and and reductions like that only get you so far. It has to be about growth. I think company leaders would say, well, growth through AI can come from lots of different ways.Investing in my workforce, attracting the best talent, growing the top line, retaining my consumers. If we're having this conve ...

Core Insights - AI is fundamentally reshaping the global economy, impacting both consumers and companies, as stated by Bill McDermott, CEO of ServiceNow [1][2] - The current AI spending boom is significant, with trillions being invested in AI infrastructure, although many digital transformation projects are failing to deliver returns [10] Company Developments - ServiceNow is experiencing a surge in demand for its AI-powered offerings, leading to a strong third-quarter performance with subscription revenue of $3.3 billion, a 22% year-over-year increase [15] - The company has raised its full-year guidance for subscription revenue, operating margin, and free cash flow, reflecting confidence in its AI capabilities [15][16] - ServiceNow is actively hiring in areas such as sales, technology architecture, and engineering to support its AI initiatives and is also focusing on re-skilling existing employees [4][5] Market Trends - The rise of generative AI poses a potential threat to the software industry, with concerns that companies may develop their own software instead of purchasing from vendors like ServiceNow [11] - Despite these concerns, McDermott asserts that ServiceNow's long-established platform cannot be easily replicated by customers [12][14] Product Innovations - ServiceNow's AI products, including Now Assist and Workflow Data Fabric, have shown strong uptake among both new and existing customers, with 103 deals exceeding $1 million in net new annual contract value [16] - The company is also investing in AI innovations and partnerships, enhancing its integration of AI into enterprise workflows [17]

Core Insights - Paramount has initiated layoffs affecting around 1,000 employees, with expectations of further cuts, ultimately reducing the workforce by 10% as part of a strategy for long-term growth [2][3] - The layoffs are part of a broader cost-cutting initiative following Skydance's $8.4 billion merger with Paramount, which aims to reduce costs by approximately $2 billion [4] - Paramount is also pursuing a potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which would significantly expand its media portfolio [7][8] Company Actions - The new CEO David Ellison has indicated that the layoffs address redundancies and roles misaligned with the company's evolving priorities [3] - CBS News, a subsidiary of Paramount, is expected to cut around 100 employees, a decision made prior to the appointment of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief [3] - Despite workforce reductions, Paramount has committed to a $7.7 billion deal to become the UFC's streaming partner, which is a significant investment in content rights [8] Industry Context - Paramount's layoffs are part of a larger trend in the industry, with other major companies like Amazon, UPS, Target, and General Motors also announcing significant job cuts [5] - The competitive landscape is intensifying as Paramount seeks to enhance its market position through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, while also managing operational costs [7][9] - Regulatory considerations may impact the potential merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, but the political connections of Skydance's leadership could influence the outcome [9]

Welcome back. Amazon says it will be eliminating thousands of corporate jobs as it looks to further invest in AI. Our Mackenzie Sagalos has more on the areas of the business that'll be most affected.Morning, Mac. >> Hey, good morning, Carl. So, this is the latest chapter in Amazon's multi-year efficiency drive, which is largely focused on hollowing out layers of middle management.Now, the company is cutting 14,000 white collar jobs or about 4% of its corporate workforce with layoffs hitting teams across the ...

Market Overview - The US stock rally continues as investors await earnings reports from major tech companies, which will provide insights into the artificial intelligence sector [1] - The Federal Reserve's FOMC meeting is underway, with a rate decision expected soon, and attention on Chair Powell's comments regarding future monetary policy [2][3] Corporate Job Cuts - Amazon plans to cut approximately 14,000 jobs across various departments, including logistics and cloud computing, as part of a strategy to become a leaner organization [2][7] - Reports suggest that Amazon's layoffs could eventually affect up to 30,000 jobs, with CEO Andy Jassy indicating a workforce reduction due to increased AI utilization [3][6] - UPS also announced plans to reduce its workforce by about 34,000 positions, citing a significant strategic shift aimed at delivering long-term shareholder value [11][12] Earnings Reports - PayPal raised its full-year earnings guidance and announced a partnership with OpenAI to integrate its digital wallet into ChatGPT, contributing to a 9% increase in its shares [4][16][18] - United Health exceeded third-quarter earnings expectations and raised its outlook for the year, indicating a recovery in its business [4][37] - Skyworks is acquiring Corvo in a $22 billion deal to create a major supplier of radio frequency chips, aiming to capitalize on recovering smartphone demand [38] AI Developments - OpenAI has completed its recapitalization, with Microsoft acquiring a 27% stake in the nonprofit entity valued at approximately $135 billion, and a commitment to purchase $250 billion worth of Azure services [31][33][34] - The partnership between PayPal and OpenAI is part of a broader trend of companies integrating AI into their business models, with Adobe also announcing new AI capabilities [17][18] Market Sentiment - The top 10 stocks in the S&P 500 are showing dominance reminiscent of the dot-com era, raising concerns about market concentration and potential pullbacks [41][22] - Analysts are observing signs of fatigue in tech stocks, with expectations for a possible short-term pullback as earnings reports approach [20][21]

Layoff Announcement - Amazon is reportedly planning massive layoffs, potentially cutting as many as 30,000 corporate jobs [1] - These cuts are reported to be the largest in the company's history [1] - The layoffs are expected to impact areas such as advertising, HR, and cloud services [2] AI and Cost Cutting - The company may be using AI for cost-cutting measures, aiming to optimize workforce and improve productivity [2] - CEO Andy Jasse stated the company would use any technology to cut costs [5] - Cost cutting includes cutting HR and advertising, potentially using technology and AI to improve efficiency [5] Previous Downsizing - Amazon had previously downsized by 27,000 employees in 2022 [4] - The current potential layoffs are even larger than the 2022 downsizing [4] Market Impact - The potential layoffs at Amazon, one of the world's largest companies, raise concerns about the broader economic outlook [2]