News

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.

Web publishing platform WordPress unveiled its new AI development tool, Telex, at the recent WordCamp US 2025 conference in Portland. CEO Matt Mullenweg described Telex as a “V0 or Lovable, but specifically for WordPress,” referencing popular “vibe coding” services for building software using AI interfaces.

Telex allows users to create Gutenberg blocks for their WordPress websites, with the tool currently labeled as “experimental” and available on its own domain. Despite early testers encountering some issues, Mullenweg remains optimistic about the potential for AI to enhance the WordPress mission of democratizing publishing. Additionally, he highlighted other AI experiments within the company and addressed ongoing legal disputes with hosting provider WP Engine.

British AI music creator Oliver McCann, also known as imoliver, has made headlines with his innovative approach to music production. Unlike traditional musicians, McCann relies on AI to generate his songs, spanning various genres from indie-pop to electro-soul to country-rap. Despite lacking any musical talent, McCann’s tracks have garnered millions of streams and even caught the attention of independent record label Hallwood Media, marking a significant milestone in the music industry.

Euro zone factory activity expanded for the first time since mid-2022, showing signs of recovery despite the impact of U.S. tariffs. However, Asian manufacturing sectors, including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, saw shrinkage, indicating the challenges faced in navigating higher trade barriers. The Chinese economy also showed mixed signals, with one survey indicating unexpected growth while another official readout reported continued shrinkage.

The number of Europe’s largest listed firms facing investor opposition over their executive pay plans increased by nearly a quarter this year, with a noticeable surge in revolts at meetings in Spain, according to data from corporate governance consultants Georgeson. Among major companies in nine of Europe’s biggest stock markets, over 37% received more than 10% opposition to their future remuneration plans, representing a 23% increase in the number of firms facing pushback. Blue-chip names such as Britain’s InterContinental Hotels Group and Italian bank UniCredit were among those challenged, with less than 70% of investors backing their plans.