Unfortunately, I am among the hundreds of journalists cut from @washingtonpost.com today. Grateful for my more than four and half years here and all the work I got to do. I’m currently exploring what may be next in my career. Reach out if you’d like to connect.

Given that this is many people's first day back from the holidays, it seemed like prime time to resurface my latest story. I spoke to several companies who said they're using the efficiency gains from AI to give time back to their employees. Read more: washingtonpost.com/business/202...

These companies say AI is key to their four-day workweeks

Some companies are giving workers back more time as artificial intelligence takes over more tasks.

washingtonpost.com

Big cuts from big tech companies just kept coming this year. While slashing jobs, companies like Google, Meta and Microsoft have been reporting record revenues and massive investments in AI infrastructure. So what gives? Read my latest to see what I found. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Why one of the nation’s most prosperous industries is shedding jobs

Tech companies such as Meta, Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet continue to trim workers despite soaring revenue and billions of investments into artificial intelligence.

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In case you missed it this weekend, I talked to analysts and economists about what we're seeing from the nation's largest employers Amazon and Walmart given their focus on AI and what we should expect from other companies as a result. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

The nation’s largest employers are putting their workers on notice

Amazon and Walmart are among firms warning employees of layoffs or disruption from AI as leaders across corporate America talk of increasing efficiency.

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Have you heard of '996' It's a grind culture that AI startups are now advertising in their job postings. I spoke to a bunch of startups to understand more about 996, what it looks like, and why they do it. Read more about it in my latest story. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Why these companies insist on a 72-hour work week

Start-ups are promoting hardcore cultures such as “996,” meaning working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week, as they race to compete in AI.

washingtonpost.com

While there are still a lot of questions about Trump's new H-1B visa policy, companies are already starting to weight potential alternatives to hiring high-skilled immigrants. My latest explores the options lawyers and advisors are outlining for their clients. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

How companies might avoid Trump’s new $100k visa

The new fee targeted at new H-1B visas could spur employers to seek other paths to acquiring high-skilled workers abroad.

washingtonpost.com

Pleased to talk with WaPo tech writer @danielleabril.bsky.social about the impact of the AI boom on the translation world. This International Translation Day, let’s take a moment to appreciate all that translation does to foster human connection. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

AI is taking on live translations. But jobs and meaning are getting lost.

New artificial intelligence-driven capabilities are expected to accelerate the shift from translation done by humans to machines.

washingtonpost.com

I recently connected with professional translators to get a sense of how AI is impacting their jobs. Not only are they concerned about AI, but machine translation has been impacting them for years. Read my latest to see what's happening as AI translation features continue to roll out.

AI is taking on live translations. But jobs and meaning are getting lost.

New artificial intelligence-driven capabilities are expected to accelerate the shift from translation done by humans to machines.

washingtonpost.com

ICYMI, earlier this week I teamed up with Washington Post labor reporter Lauren Gurley to look into what's going on with H-1Bs following President Trump's latest announcement to charge a $100,000 fee for the work visa. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Trump administration to get tough on companies that misuse the H-1B visa

The Labor Department said it would take the unusual step to open investigations into companies that abuse the H-1B visa program.

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I've been covering the shift from remote work to RTO mandates for 4 years now. This past week we saw three more major employers release new return-to-office policies. It appears the landscape on flexible work is still shifting. Read my latest here: www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Another wave of return-to-office crackdowns is coming

More companies are cracking down on flexibility and requiring more in-office work, with some threatening consequences for noncompliance.

washingtonpost.com

In the era of AI, labor unions are pushing back more than ever. After Trump rolled back the AI legislative strategy of his predecessor, the battle moved to the states. So activists are pushing AI laws and worker protections state-by-state. Read my latest. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Labor unions mobilize to challenge advance of algorithms in workplaces

Labor groups are trying to slow the advance of disruptive AI technology into workplaces, with the AFL-CIO and others trying to help state legislators pass AI laws.

washingtonpost.com

ICYMI yesterday: I spoke to several people who have decided to pursue new AI degrees as they prepare for the workforce of tomorrow. Universities and companies are offering education for AI-era jobs. Read more about what that looks like in my latest story. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

These workers don’t fear artificial intelligence. They’re getting degrees in it.

Working professionals and young people are investing in artificial intelligence courses, programs and degrees as the technology promises to transform jobs.

washingtonpost.com

Great @danielleabril.bsky.social article about unions, workers, and AI that features today's @poweratwork.bsky.social blogcast and a quote and background from me. Read: www.washingtonpost.com/business/202... (paywall). Blogcast will be released at 10am ET today on poweratwork.us.

Labor unions mobilize to challenge advance of algorithms in workplaces

Labor groups are trying to slow the advance of disruptive AI technology into workplaces, with the AFL-CIO and others trying to help state legislators pass AI laws.

washingtonpost.com

Techmeme@techmeme.com · last yr.

How the AI boom is reenergizing San Francisco, one of the slowest US cities to recover from the pandemic, with rising foot traffic and new commercial leases (Danielle Abril/Washington Post) Main Link | Techmeme Permalink

If you've been to S.F. recently, you might've noticed a little more buzz around town. That buzz has spurred investors to pour more capital into the region, intensified the battle for talent, and driven up rental costs. How the AI boom is playing out in S.F. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

AI intensifies battle for talent, housing and investments in San Francisco

The AI momentum isn’t stopping and it’s bringing workers, venture capital money and life back to San Francisco.

washingtonpost.com

Two years ago, I did a story on AI that could summarize and even attend meetings for you. Those features have become so popular that sometimes there's more AI in meetings than people! @lisabonos.bsky.social chronicled the latest trend (small assist from me). www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

No one likes meetings. They’re sending their AI note takers instead.

Artificial intelligence apps that record and summarize meetings can tempt workers into skipping calls, leaving humans who join in the company of silent bots.

washingtonpost.com

Jobseekers say they're experiencing something new in their job hunts: They're being screened by AI agents via phone call and video. Read my latest about AI virtual recruiters and what to expect. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

To get your next job, you may need to face an AI recruiter first

Virtual recruiters, or conversational AI agents, are making screening calls for some jobs, speeding up the hiring process and confusing some job candidates.

washingtonpost.com

ICYMI last week: More and more company executives are sounding warning bells about the future of AI at work. Amazon's head honcho was the latest to join the chorus of leaders saying AI is going to disrupt the way we work or maybe even replace us. Read more. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Bosses want you to know AI is coming for your job

CEOs and corporate leaders are warning AI will eliminate or disrupt people’s jobs, raising uncertainty and unemployment fears for workers.

washingtonpost.com

People are increasingly using ChatGPT and other chatbots to help them at work, especially for brainstorming. I talked to AI experts and software engineers to get tips on how to get the best results. Read my latest! www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

How to better brainstorm with ChatGPT in five steps

ChatGPT can be a useful brainstorming partner or impede the diversity of ideas depending on how you use the AI.

washingtonpost.com

We're all seeing signs of a slowing economy, but what happens when that collides with a boom in AI. For my latest story, I spoke with economists and experts who understand wide impact AI could have on jobs, and how companies have historically reacted. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Why companies may soon accelerate replacing jobs with AI

Tough economic conditions could be the catalyst for AI adoption in corporate America as more companies turn to automation, economists predict.

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Lately I've been watching a number of companies make internal AI-first directives and post about it publicly. So I explored what these trends tell us about the future of work. Read more here. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

No AI, no job. These companies are requiring workers to use the tech.

Employees are expected to use artificial intelligence at Shopify, Box and Duolingo as executives shift towards the future.

washingtonpost.com

My latest story analyzes the efficacy the emails Elon Musk is demanding from federal workers. In them, he asks workers to bullet five things they did each week or lose their jobs. I spoke with HR experts who mulled over the somewhat surprising strategy. Read more here.

Why HR experts say Musk’s ‘5 things’ emails won’t work

The Trump administration’s plan to continue asking employees for five weekly bullet points might do more to create confusion than efficiency, HR experts say.

washingtonpost.com

The gutting of a longstanding civil rights bulwark in the federal government has begun. In the 60s, civil rights reforms began with the federal government. Six decades later, so is their dismantling w/ @hannahnatanson.bsky.social and @danielleabril.bsky.social wapo.st/43aVQg1

Trump officials start gutting civil rights offices, as part of DOGE’s secret plan

Legal experts said that unwinding a civil rights-era bulwark designed to safeguard employees’ rights removes a crucial check on institutional power.

wapo.st

My latest story explores the latest data on the return-to-office. And the results show a clear trend: A record number of people are working from the office since the start of the pandemic. washingtonpost.com/business/202...

In-office work at highest level since 2020, as companies pull back on remote

With more mandates taking effect, a record number of people are working from the office since the beginning of the pandemic.

washingtonpost.com

So much talk about AI agents lately. But also ...

Geoffrey A. Fowler@geoffreyfowler.bsky.social · last yr.

Uh-oh AI: Operator, the new 'helper' agent from OpenAI, bought 12 eggs without my permission. And it paid $32 for them! I test a lot of new tech. This is the first time a rogue computer cost me real-world $$. Deats & some impressive Operator things in my @washingtonpost.com column: wapo.st/3CBSHuR

My latest story crosses the public and private sectors to explore the employer/employee power struggle as a whole. Not everyone is changing course from their more flexible, employee-friendly cultures, but some decidedly are. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Bosses are exerting their power. What Trump’s crackdown could mean for your job.

President Donald Trump’s crack down on federal employees adds strength to a new trend that’s harder on workers.

washingtonpost.com

@danielleabril.bsky.social's story on #remote first companies versus the "return to office" crowd starts with @bsky.app itself, with @pfrazee.com and @rose.bsky.team sharing how they've been able to scale hiring talented engineers and build practices that work for distributed teams!

Brian Elliott@elliottsf.com · 2y ago

"We’re able to achieve more." Airbnb's Iain Roberts gets it: firms focused on HOW work gets done, not WHERE, are reaping better results. More innovation, faster to market, productivity and more engaged employees. Thrilled to support Airbnb on their journey: www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

These companies innovate and collaborate without office mandates www.washingtonpost.com/business/202... via @danielleabril.bsky.social

These companies innovate and collaborate without office mandates

While some big companies are calling workers back to the office, others are embracing change to make hybrid and remote models work.

washingtonpost.com

My favorite quotes in @danielleabril.bsky.social's piece: Debbie Lovich: “There’s nothing that says ‘I don’t trust you’ like an RTO mandate — other than an RTO mandate tracking badge swipes.” Annie Dean: “It doesn’t make sense to me, in the age of AI, our focus is being spent on where people sit."

I spoke with @danielleabril.bsky.social of @washingtonpost.com about how job seekers are using social media to stand out in a tough market. The shift to openness reflects deeper struggles, with unemployment rising even as the labor market remains strong. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Desperate for jobs, people try new social media tactics to stand out

Job seekers are offering rewards for referrals, making mini marketing campaigns and becoming brutally honest on social media.

washingtonpost.com