Core Insights - Riyadh Air has been unveiled as the world's first AI-native airline, designed from the ground up without legacy systems, aiming to transform guest and employee experiences in aviation [1][4][9] - The collaboration with IBM Consulting has integrated AI into the airline's operations, leveraging a broad partner ecosystem to create a seamless technology strategy [2][4][9] Company Overview - Riyadh Air is a full-service airline owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, launched in March 2023, with plans to connect over 100 destinations globally by 2030 [10] - The airline is focused on sustainability and safety, featuring advanced aircraft with state-of-the-art cabin interiors and digital in-flight entertainment systems [10] AI Integration and Operational Efficiency - The airline's operations are built on a completely blank digital slate, allowing for the creation of new revenue opportunities and reinvestment in innovation [6][8] - AI capabilities are embedded into workflows to enhance employee engagement and improve the travel experience for guests [5][7] Employee and Customer Experience - Riyadh Air will introduce a personalized digital workplace powered by AI agents, simplifying HR workflows and enhancing employee self-service capabilities as the workforce is expected to double in the next 12 months [7] - AI-powered mobile applications will facilitate a connected journey for employees and guests, enabling tailored services and proactive support [7][8] Future Aspirations - The airline aims to redefine aviation standards and set a new benchmark for modern enterprises, with a vision to serve millions of travelers by 2030 [4][9]

SINGAPORE, Dec. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the appointment of Jason Leow as a Senior Managing Director within the firm’s Strategic Communications segment. Mr. Leow, who is based in Singapore, brings more than 25 years of experience in financial communications, C-suite advisory and stakeholder engagement across Asia, Europe and the United States. In his role at FTI Consulting, he will work closely with the Asia Leadership Team and the firm’s global Senior Ma ...

Core Insights - The event "Global AI Innovation Summit" at Xpeng Technology Park highlighted the importance of AI-driven innovation in future mobility and smart living, emphasizing the need for companies to achieve differentiation through category innovation in the AI era [1][3]. Industry Overview - The AI sector is experiencing a dichotomy, with IDC forecasting the global AI application market to exceed $500 billion by 2025, while China's mobile AI application market user growth is projected at 101% [3]. - As of April 2025, over 4,500 AI-related companies exist in China, indicating intense competition in the sector [3]. Company Strategy - Xpeng has redefined its strategic positioning from a traditional car manufacturer to a "global AI driving technology company," focusing on AI capabilities as core features rather than optional add-ons [8][10]. - The launch of the new P7+ model is positioned as the "world's first AI car," featuring comprehensive AI driving capabilities without additional costs, showcasing a unique business model [8][10]. Market Performance - Xpeng achieved significant milestones, including the production of its one-millionth vehicle at the 2025 Guangzhou Auto Show, marking it as the first pure electric new force company to reach this scale [10]. - From January to November 2025, Xpeng delivered 391,937 vehicles, reflecting a 156% year-on-year increase and surpassing its annual targets [10]. Innovation and Challenges - The discussion among entrepreneurs at the summit focused on converting technological advantages into sustainable business success, with emphasis on category innovation as a means to build competitive barriers [11]. - The principles of AI category innovation include optimizing existing categories, identifying new problems to create new categories, and focusing on category design rather than merely launching new products [11]. Future Outlook - As AI technology integrates into various industries, identifying the next growth category will be crucial for companies' futures, with Xpeng's strategic collaboration with Ries Consulting serving as a potential model for other Chinese enterprises in the AI era [14].

Core Insights - Accenture and OpenAI have announced a collaboration aimed at integrating agentic AI systems into business operations to drive innovation and growth [1] - The partnership will leverage ChatGPT Enterprise to enhance consulting, operations, and delivery work, positioning Accenture as a key player in AI transformation for enterprises [1] Collaboration Details - Accenture will provide professionals with ChatGPT Enterprise, enabling faster workflows and generating economic value for clients [1] - An AI program will be launched that combines OpenAI's enterprise products with Accenture's industry expertise, offering implementation playbooks and security insights [1] - The program targets industries such as financial services, healthcare, public sector, and retail, focusing on transforming legacy processes into AI-powered workflows [1] Implementation and Impact - The collaboration will focus on AI-first solutions for critical corporate functions including customer service, supply chain, finance, and HR [1] - Accenture will utilize OpenAI AgentKit to design, test, and deploy custom AI agents that automate workflows and enhance decision-making [1] - The partnership aims to create a large group of upskilled professionals through OpenAI Certifications, enhancing AI capabilities within Accenture [1] Strategic Vision - The collaboration is designed to help OpenAI scale its business and bring AI technologies to organizations [1] - By embedding OpenAI technologies into its operations, Accenture aims to redefine how companies manage intelligent business functions at scale [1] - This partnership positions Accenture as the preferred AI partner for enterprises, focusing on both front- and back-office functions [1]

Core Insights - FTI Consulting has appointed four senior hires to enhance its Transformation practices in London, focusing on operational performance and transformation capabilities for Private Equity and Financial Services clients [1][2] Group 1: New Appointments - Jan Timmermann, Malvinder Singh, Rakhi Williams, and Irina Bakanova have joined FTI Consulting, with Timmermann and Singh as Senior Managing Directors and Bakanova as a Managing Director [1][2] - Timmermann brings over 25 years of experience and has led more than 80 private equity assignments, specializing in operational and carve-out due diligence [2][3] - Singh has extensive experience in technology and operational transformation projects for private equity firms, focusing on post-deal value creation [4][5] - Williams has led transformation programs for private equity and listed companies, focusing on value creation and operational performance [6][7] - Bakanova has expertise in strategy and digital transformation within financial institutions, previously serving as Head of Strategy at Zing, a fintech of HSBC [7] Group 2: Strategic Focus and Goals - The new hires will enhance FTI Consulting's capabilities in financial, operational, carve-out, and technology due diligence, positioning the firm to better support clients throughout the investment cycle [2] - Timmermann will lead the expansion of integrated operational due diligence solutions and post-deal value creation services for private equity clients [3] - Singh aims to help clients leverage advanced digital technologies to improve operational performance [5] - Williams will focus on expanding transformation and value creation solutions for private equity portfolio companies in the consumer and TMT sectors [6] - Bakanova's role will involve driving strategy and innovation within financial institutions [7] Group 3: Company Overview - FTI Consulting is a leading global expert firm specializing in crisis and transformation, with over 8,100 employees in 32 countries as of September 30, 2025 [8] - The company generated $3.70 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2024 [8]

Core Insights - FTI Consulting has appointed four senior hires to enhance its Transformation practices in London, focusing on operational performance and transformation capabilities for Private Equity and Financial Services clients [1][2] Group 1: Appointments and Expertise - Jan Timmermann, Malvinder Singh, Rakhi Williams, and Irina Bakanova have joined FTI Consulting, bringing complementary expertise in deal execution, transformation, and value creation [2] - Mr. Timmermann has over 25 years of experience and has led more than 80 private equity assignments, specializing in operational and carve-out due diligence [2][3] - Mr. Singh has extensive experience in technology and operational transformation projects for private equity firms, focusing on post-deal value creation [4][5] - Ms. Williams has led transformation programs for private equity and listed companies, focusing on value creation and operational performance [6] - Ms. Bakanova has expertise in strategy, innovation, and digital transformation within financial institutions, previously serving as Head of Strategy at Zing, a fintech of HSBC [7] Group 2: Company Growth and Strategy - FTI Consulting aims to enhance its capabilities in financial, operational, carve-out, and technology due diligence to better support clients throughout the investment cycle [2] - The firm generated $3.70 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2024, indicating strong financial performance [8] - FTI Consulting employs over 8,100 staff across 32 countries, showcasing its global reach and operational scale [8]

Core Insights - Accenture and OpenAI have formed a partnership to integrate agentic AI systems into enterprise operations, deploying ChatGPT Enterprise to tens of thousands of Accenture staff [1][4] - The collaboration includes a flagship AI program that combines OpenAI's enterprise products with Accenture's industry expertise, focusing on embedding AI tools into client workflows [2] Group 1: Partnership Details - The partnership aims to assist organizations in transitioning from legacy processes to AI-powered workflows across various sectors, including financial services, healthcare, public sector, and retail [3] - Joint solutions will target core business areas such as customer service, supply chain, finance, and human resources [3] Group 2: Implementation and Training - Accenture plans to utilize ChatGPT Enterprise for internal staff training and to support both internal projects and client delivery [5] - The company is expanding its commitment to OpenAI Certifications to enhance the number of employees skilled in OpenAI technologies [5] Group 3: Strategic Goals - The initiative aims to shift traditional operational models towards intelligence-driven systems at scale, enhancing enterprise reinvention and business outcomes for clients [6] - Accenture's CEO emphasized the importance of combining OpenAI's technologies with Accenture's industry expertise to accelerate AI transformation in large enterprises [6]

Well, post Thanksgiving, markets are back in riskoff mode this morning. Equities seemingly stuck between possible Federal Reserve doubbishness and the risk aversion signals being sent by the crypto markets. Joining me now, Steve Sausnik, Interactive Brokers chief strategist.Steve, it's great to see you. Thanks for being with us. Hope you had a great holiday.Um, let's talk about the sort of push and pull in the markets here because, you know, we're getting these signals that maybe Kevin Hasset's going to be ...

Core Insights - Accenture is partnering with OpenAI to provide ChatGPT Enterprise to tens of thousands of its IT professionals, aiming to leverage the increasing demand for AI services [1] Company Summary - The partnership with OpenAI signifies Accenture's strategic move to enhance its AI capabilities and service offerings [1] - By equipping its workforce with advanced AI tools, Accenture is positioning itself to better meet client needs in a rapidly evolving technological landscape [1] Industry Summary - The collaboration highlights the growing trend of integrating AI solutions within consulting firms to improve efficiency and service delivery [1] - The demand for AI services is on the rise, prompting companies like Accenture to invest in advanced technologies to maintain competitive advantage [1]

Core Insights - The 2025 holiday season is expected to be divided into two distinct segments, influenced by varying consumer spending behaviors based on income levels [1] Group 1: Consumer Spending Trends - Higher-income individuals are likely to have a decent holiday season, with average salaries rising between 4.5% and 6.7% depending on job stability [2] - The top 10% of earners account for 50% of consumer spending, while the remaining 90% are expected to spend less due to high credit card debt and economic uncertainty [5][6] - Retail sales growth is projected at 4% for the holiday season, but much of this increase will be due to inflation rather than volume, leading to relatively flat real spending [7] Group 2: Economic Indicators - Deloitte forecasts holiday retail sales growth between 2.9% and 3.4%, significantly lower than last year's 4.2% and the 10-year average of 5.2% [8] - The economic landscape is characterized by high inflation, tariffs, and uncertainty, impacting consumer confidence and spending [8][9] Group 3: Impact on Small Businesses - Small businesses, which rely heavily on holiday sales for revenue, may face challenges unless they cater to affluent demographics or are located in wealthier areas [10][11] - The disparity in consumer behavior suggests that while some businesses may thrive, others will struggle due to reduced spending from lower-income consumers [9][11]