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OpenAI is making waves in the tech industry with the announcement of its new AI-powered hiring platform, the OpenAI Jobs Platform. This service aims to connect businesses with employees by using AI to match companies with the perfect talent. Led by CEO of Applications Fidji Simo, OpenAI is expanding its offerings beyond its core consumer product, ChatGPT, and diving into new markets with initiatives like the OpenAI Academy and OpenAI Certifications.

U.S. oil and gas producer ConocoPhillips is set to reduce its workforce by 20-25% as part of a restructuring plan announced by CEO Ryan Lance. The company’s shares have dropped 4.2% to $94.91, reflecting the challenges faced by the third largest U.S. oil producer in the current economic climate.

Rising costs, particularly a $2 increase per barrel, have left ConocoPhillips lagging behind its competitors and necessitated the workforce reduction. The company aims to make most of the job cuts before the end of the year, affecting between 2,600 and 3,250 employees. ConocoPhillips’ net income has also seen a decrease, prompting the need for cost reduction and margin enhancement measures.

Holiday shoppers are gearing up to spend less this upcoming season, with a survey by PwC showing a 5% drop in planned holiday spending compared to the year before. The biggest decline in spending comes from Generation Z, who plan to spend an average of 23% less than last year.

This shift in spending habits reflects Gen Z’s focus on value and cost transparency, as they prioritize experiences over material possessions. Retailers are tasked with understanding and adapting to the changing preferences of this generation, who are quick to adopt and abandon trends. As uncertainties around price sensitivity and higher tariffs loom, shoppers are paying closer attention to prices and looking for the best deals to stretch their budgets.

Alphabet’s Waymo unit announced this week that it will begin test drives of its robotaxis in Denver and Seattle, with human drivers behind the wheel. The company plans to first drive manually before fully validating its technology and operations for autonomous services in the future.

This comes as Waymo looks to expand its driverless, ride-hailing service across the U.S. after already launching in cities such as Austin, Atlanta, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.

The company will have safety drivers manning the steering and braking behind the test vehicles in Denver and Seattle, with a fleet including fully electric Jaguar iPace and Geely Zeekr AVs. Additionally, Waymo is also running similar tests in New York, its latest market entry.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff recently announced that the company has reduced its customer support roles by 4,000, thanks to the implementation of artificial intelligence. The company has shifted towards utilizing AI in its operations, leading to a decrease in the number of support cases and the need for as many support engineer roles.

Manhattan office leasing saw a significant increase in August, surpassing the 10-year monthly average and on track to exceed 40 million square feet for the first time since 2019. The demand for office space has been driven by a return to in-person work, low unemployment rates, and the resurgence of key industries like tech. Notable leases by companies such as Amazon, as well as new construction projects like One Vanderbilt, have contributed to the tightening availability rate of newer office spaces in Manhattan.

Kraft Heinz has announced plans to split into two companies, reversing the $46 billion merger that created one of the largest food companies in the world. The first company will focus on shelf-stable meals, including brands like Heinz, Philadelphia, and Kraft mac and cheese, while the second company will house North American staples such as Oscar Mayer and Kraft singles. This decision comes as Kraft Heinz aims to allocate resources more effectively and drive long-term shareholder value by unlocking the potential of each brand.