Amazon is restructuring its Wondery podcast studio, cutting 110 roles, as it shifts focus toward AI-enhanced audio production. The studio will integrate machine-learning tools for script generation, editing, and personalized listener recommendations. Impacted employees will be offered retraining to work on AI content-creation teams. Amazon says the changes will streamline production and improve content scalability across its audio ecosystem.

The Update: Audio production has changed dramatically over the past several years. Anyone in the audio field should consider their goals, audience behavior, and if AI should be part of the production.

Google agreed with Indiana Michigan Power and Tennessee Valley Authority to reduce electricity use at its AI data centers during peak grid demand. The demand-response program lets Google dial back AI workloads to prevent blackouts, earn incentives, and lower costs. The move addresses rising grid strain from energy-intensive AI applications and may postpone new power plant builds. Utilities reward participation with bill credits and payments.

The Update: AI infrastructure like data base construction, energy, and cooling needs are exploding right now. We will see a massive boom in jobs related here in the short term. Companies like Meta, Microsoft, Google, Nvidia and others are building huge data centers all over the US and the globe.

Palantir raised its full-year revenue forecast to $4.14–4.15 billion after Q2 results beat expectations, driven by sustained AI service demand from commercial and government clients. Shares rose 4% on the news. U.S. government sales jumped 53% to $426 million, and commercial revenue exceeded $1.3 billion. CFO David Glazer said hiring expenses will surge in Q3 as the company intensifies its AI talent recruitment.

The Update: Yet another company focused on AI skillsets. It’s becoming industry standard, much like “do you know how to use a computer”.

What’s interesting about Palantir is they are going into hiring mode. It appears they are focused on elite technical talent, with no care for college degrees.

Legacy European power stations are installing AI-driven control systems to optimize performance and emissions. Facilities in Germany, the U.K. and Poland will use machine learning for predictive maintenance, boosting uptime by 25% and cutting unplanned outages by 30%. AI systems analyze sensor data to adjust operations in real time, reducing fuel use and emissions. The upgrades require hundreds of AI engineers, data scientists, and field technicians across the region.

The Update: AI analysis and optimization is becoming industry standard. If you are in data analytics or operations optimization, it’s a crucial time to leverage AI.

Use AI as the tool to gather data and create assessments. Use your critical thinking to ensure accuracy. Make sure your clients and coworkers know you are on the cutting edge!

Evercore acquired Robey Warshaw for $196 million to lock in senior advisory talent ahead of a projected M&A rebound. The deal adds five high-profile partners and boosts Evercore’s EMEA banker count to over 400. Banks forecast mega-deal activity as U.S. tariffs ease and defense spending rises. Evercore’s move underscores the fierce battle for skilled dealmakers, many of whom now leverage AI-driven analytics for faster, deeper transaction insights.

The Update: This is yet another example of large companies spending tens of millions for top talent. What am I most interested in? What are the skill sets in these roles? In Evercore’s case it’s negotiators, dealmakers. For these types of deals it highlights the need for human to human connection. This is an important skill set that is not replaceable by AI.