The future of work is changing rapidly. Future focus reduces noise with three trends each week, making it the most important for HR and business leaders. When everything else is in the flux, stay focused in the future.
AI has added $160 billion to “true GDP” since 2022, says Goldman Sachs. There's only one problem: it's not official (luck))
What I Know: A Goldman Sachs study found that artificial intelligence infrastructure spending has increased by $160 billion since 2022 in True GDP, an inflation-adjusted measure of the economy's total product. Most of the AI-driven economic growth is invisible under standard measures, despite a $400 billion spike in corporate investment in the US.
Place to concentrate: The benefits from AI are often difficult to measure. For HR, the same challenge applies. It is difficult to assess both AI systems and investments in high-end employees with AI skills, and proven ROI. Staying up to date with the most effective evidence-based approaches will enable leaders to make smarter decisions about their next talent and HR technology investments.
Why is the long-term increase in unemployed people a problem?Inc.))
What I Know: As of August 2025, more than 1.9 million US workers have been unemployed for more than 27 weeks, twice the number in early 2023. Long-term unemployed workers currently account for a quarter of all job seekers, usually only seen during periods of economic disruption.
Place to concentrate: Continuous long-term unemployment has signaled a stagnant labor market, fewer new positions and increased employment hesitation. HR leaders should stand up to bias against candidates with employment gaps, create comprehensive infrastructure for undeveloped talent, and be willing to invest in strong candidates who may lack some of the AI or technical skills currently in demand.
The startup working to revive Dodobid raises $120 million.Bloomberg))
What I Know: Colossal Biosciences raised $120 million in new funding, totaling $555 million, with a valuation of $10.3 billion. The company hopes to revive extinct dodo birds within five to seven years, following a recent breakthrough in avian cell science.
Place to concentrate: Colossal's promotion towards deponsional poses new ESG risks for employers. If science can “undo” ecological losses, regulators and committees could grow comfortably with greater environmental trade-offs. With Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) and millennials (born between 1981 and 1996), increasingly weighing the sustainability of employment choices, the “science will fix it” stance could erode efforts to attract talent from these groups. HR leaders need clear messaging and engagement strategies that align value with action to maintain trust as a definition of “responsible growth.”
