eBay, citing a slowing economy, has become the latest online retailer to reduce its workforce, laying off 1,000 workers, about 9% of its full-time employees. Amazon, Google, and TikTok also have cut jobs recently after staffing up during the pandemic to accommodate a surge in online shopping and activities.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology say it will be quite some time before machine vision systems replace a large number of workers, although there will be "an initial push," says project director Neil Thompson. For now, hiring people is more cost-efficient than purchasing machine vision AI, installing it and redesigning jobs to accommodate it, researchers found, but Harvard Business School professor Joseph Fuller says generative AI is a different story and is already replacing people, such as computer programmers.

Employers should bring back some of their pandemic-era policies as COVID-19 and flu cases go up, say benefits professionals, who suggest companies tell employees to stay home if they are sick, consider having them wear masks at the office, eliminate unnecessary travel, and encourage people to get vaccinated. "I would certainly encourage employers to be proactive about communication with employees about COVID facts -- things like telling them the new strain is likely to cause symptoms more quickly -- three days rather than five to seven days after exposure," says Kim Buckey, vice president of client services at Optavise.

Idaho's LAUNCH workforce development program has been inundated with applicants seeking $8,000 to train for a high-demand career. Lawmakers approved $75 million for the program, which could fund up to 10,000 scholarships, but 12,600 had either started an application or applied by Dec. 28 of last year, and the deadline isn't until April 15.

There's a new way to measure a workforce called "adaptability quotient," and companies scoring highest will fare the best with AI, says Mary Alice Vuicic, chief people officer at Thomson Reuters. Vuicic predicts AI will "lead to the redefinition of roles and organizations and the fostering of new job categories."