Sarah O'Connor
@sarahoconnorft.ft.com
FT columnist, writing about work, technology & economics.
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
I was on hiring teams in 2012/13 where we would routinely go from applications closing to making offers within 3 weeks, sometimes 2! Because our team prioritised an efficient process.
These days, as an employee, anything faster than 3 months is basically unheard of.
These days, as an employee, anything faster than 3 months is basically unheard of.
November 14, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I was on hiring teams in 2012/13 where we would routinely go from applications closing to making offers within 3 weeks, sometimes 2! Because our team prioritised an efficient process.
These days, as an employee, anything faster than 3 months is basically unheard of.
These days, as an employee, anything faster than 3 months is basically unheard of.
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
A friend of mine job hunting this year eventually concluded that the only way to get a job in her sector now is to get friends/contacts to vouch for you specifically. Any open advertised job is basically so overwhelmed by assisted applicants it's impossible to stand out
November 14, 2025 at 11:22 AM
A friend of mine job hunting this year eventually concluded that the only way to get a job in her sector now is to get friends/contacts to vouch for you specifically. Any open advertised job is basically so overwhelmed by assisted applicants it's impossible to stand out
Another one for you, @dlknowles.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Another one for you, @dlknowles.bsky.social
Is AI making job recruitment less meritocratic? We're getting some v interesting research studies on this question now, and the news is... not good. @jburnmurdoch.ft.com & I dive in, in the latest edition of our newsletter The AI Shift www.ft.com/content/e5b7...
November 14, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Is AI making job recruitment less meritocratic? We're getting some v interesting research studies on this question now, and the news is... not good. @jburnmurdoch.ft.com & I dive in, in the latest edition of our newsletter The AI Shift www.ft.com/content/e5b7...
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
Via @sarahoconnorft.ft.com Am seeing similar in so many other settings. Eg planning applications:
-> Firms now offering 'AI' solutions to opponents of big developments. So expect similar to emerge for those in favour, and even more for 'assessing' docs targeted at under-resourced #Localgov.
-> Firms now offering 'AI' solutions to opponents of big developments. So expect similar to emerge for those in favour, and even more for 'assessing' docs targeted at under-resourced #Localgov.
From the always interesting AI Shift newsletter by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com:
AI is maximising job applications and word counts, in vicious circle of doom kind of ways
AI is maximising job applications and word counts, in vicious circle of doom kind of ways
November 13, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Via @sarahoconnorft.ft.com Am seeing similar in so many other settings. Eg planning applications:
-> Firms now offering 'AI' solutions to opponents of big developments. So expect similar to emerge for those in favour, and even more for 'assessing' docs targeted at under-resourced #Localgov.
-> Firms now offering 'AI' solutions to opponents of big developments. So expect similar to emerge for those in favour, and even more for 'assessing' docs targeted at under-resourced #Localgov.
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
Depressing @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com newsletter today - general use of AI in crafting job applications now makes it impossible to identify the best candidates. So a probable return to "it's not what you know, it's who you know" recruitment? Top work everyone!
November 13, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Depressing @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com newsletter today - general use of AI in crafting job applications now makes it impossible to identify the best candidates. So a probable return to "it's not what you know, it's who you know" recruitment? Top work everyone!
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
From the always interesting AI Shift newsletter by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com:
AI is maximising job applications and word counts, in vicious circle of doom kind of ways
AI is maximising job applications and word counts, in vicious circle of doom kind of ways
November 13, 2025 at 7:55 PM
From the always interesting AI Shift newsletter by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com:
AI is maximising job applications and word counts, in vicious circle of doom kind of ways
AI is maximising job applications and word counts, in vicious circle of doom kind of ways
"If a country as rich as Norway can’t afford to stick to principles, who can?" Great edition of the Free Lunch newsletter today by @martinsandbu.ft.com on Norway suspending its $2.1 trillion oil fund's ethics rules. www.ft.com/content/f6b3...
How Norway jeopardised its integrity overnight
Oslo abruptly changed the ethics rules for the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund
www.ft.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:13 AM
"If a country as rich as Norway can’t afford to stick to principles, who can?" Great edition of the Free Lunch newsletter today by @martinsandbu.ft.com on Norway suspending its $2.1 trillion oil fund's ethics rules. www.ft.com/content/f6b3...
2nd edition of our The AI Shift newsletter is out. The question today: could AI be making us LESS productive? @jburnmurdoch.ft.com www.ft.com/content/2480... At the individual level, it's clear we're not reliable witnesses on this Q. At an organisational level, it gets even more interesting...
October 30, 2025 at 1:11 PM
2nd edition of our The AI Shift newsletter is out. The question today: could AI be making us LESS productive? @jburnmurdoch.ft.com www.ft.com/content/2480... At the individual level, it's clear we're not reliable witnesses on this Q. At an organisational level, it gets even more interesting...
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
Somebody at HMRC needs to be canned for this idiotic ‘fraud-detection’ idea. And I fear future use of AI in welfare cases might well produce this kind of story regularly (as they have in Nevada for example).
UK woman who booked Oslo flight but did not fly loses child benefit ‘because she emigrated’
Exclusive: HMRC told Lisa Morris-Almond there was no record of her return to UK, but she did not take the trip
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Somebody at HMRC needs to be canned for this idiotic ‘fraud-detection’ idea. And I fear future use of AI in welfare cases might well produce this kind of story regularly (as they have in Nevada for example).
In news that will surprise no-one... www.404media.co/metas-ray-ba...
Meta's Ray-Ban Glasses Users Film and Harass Massage Parlor Workers
“The shameless use of covert recording technology at massage parlours to gain likes, attention, and online notoriety is both disgusting and dangerous.”
www.404media.co
October 29, 2025 at 3:21 PM
In news that will surprise no-one... www.404media.co/metas-ray-ba...
Does this description come from 2025, or 2006? Unnerving piece by @brookeamasters.ft.com www.ft.com/content/fddb...
October 29, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Does this description come from 2025, or 2006? Unnerving piece by @brookeamasters.ft.com www.ft.com/content/fddb...
Beautiful paragraph juxtaposition! www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/t...
October 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Beautiful paragraph juxtaposition! www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/t...
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
'It’s worth raising an eyebrow when companies announcing lay-offs link them in vague terms to becoming “AI ready”, but without any corroborating detail. Let’s face it, it sounds a lot more dynamic than just saying the business isn’t doing very well.' 👏 @sarahoconnorft.ft.com
The AI Shift: where are all the job losses?
A macroeconomic change isn’t clear yet but payroll data shows some types of work are already being displaced
www.ft.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:07 AM
'It’s worth raising an eyebrow when companies announcing lay-offs link them in vague terms to becoming “AI ready”, but without any corroborating detail. Let’s face it, it sounds a lot more dynamic than just saying the business isn’t doing very well.' 👏 @sarahoconnorft.ft.com
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
New: a $60 mod to Meta's Ray-Ban glasses disables the privacy LED light. This is supposed to light when people are filming with the glasses. We bought the mod, verified it works. Now you can never be sure whether someone wearing Meta Ray-Bans is filming you or not
www.404media.co/how-to-disab...
www.404media.co/how-to-disab...
A $60 Mod to Meta’s Ray-Bans Disables Its Privacy-Protecting Recording Light
Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses usually include an LED that lights up when the user is recording other people. One hobbyist is charging a small fee to disable that light, and has a growing list of customers ar...
www.404media.co
October 23, 2025 at 1:01 PM
New: a $60 mod to Meta's Ray-Ban glasses disables the privacy LED light. This is supposed to light when people are filming with the glasses. We bought the mod, verified it works. Now you can never be sure whether someone wearing Meta Ray-Bans is filming you or not
www.404media.co/how-to-disab...
www.404media.co/how-to-disab...
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
Read the headlines and you’ll see wildly different conclusions about whether AI is taking jobs or not. @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com break down what the data actually shows in their new newsletter The AI Shift. It's free to read here: on.ft.com/4niHdxo
October 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Read the headlines and you’ll see wildly different conclusions about whether AI is taking jobs or not. @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com break down what the data actually shows in their new newsletter The AI Shift. It's free to read here: on.ft.com/4niHdxo
Exciting day: one of my fave colleagues @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and I are teaming up on a weekly newsletter to track what's really happening with AI & the labour market. No hype, just spreadsheets & shoe-leather. You can sign up here to get the first edition at lunchtime today! ft.com/AIshift
Login
ft.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Exciting day: one of my fave colleagues @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and I are teaming up on a weekly newsletter to track what's really happening with AI & the labour market. No hype, just spreadsheets & shoe-leather. You can sign up here to get the first edition at lunchtime today! ft.com/AIshift
This is going to be v v good
You might be living with lead poisoning and not know it: the toxin is often invisible to the eye, but wreaks havoc on our bodies once we're exposed.
@laurahughesft.bsky.social uncovers a lead poisoning epidemic in Toxic Legacy, a new season of our Untold podcast: on.ft.com/3WU8YS8
@laurahughesft.bsky.social uncovers a lead poisoning epidemic in Toxic Legacy, a new season of our Untold podcast: on.ft.com/3WU8YS8
October 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
This is going to be v v good
Have Your Say!
Why can’t I buy a small smartphone? on.ft.com/4nzyCqB
Are phones too big? Tell us what you think in today's #FTEdit poll 👉 on.ft.com/47n8eKt
Are phones too big? Tell us what you think in today's #FTEdit poll 👉 on.ft.com/47n8eKt
October 21, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Have Your Say!
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
Why can’t I buy a small smartphone? on.ft.com/4nzyCqB
Are phones too big? Tell us what you think in today's #FTEdit poll 👉 on.ft.com/47n8eKt
Are phones too big? Tell us what you think in today's #FTEdit poll 👉 on.ft.com/47n8eKt
October 21, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Why can’t I buy a small smartphone? on.ft.com/4nzyCqB
Are phones too big? Tell us what you think in today's #FTEdit poll 👉 on.ft.com/47n8eKt
Are phones too big? Tell us what you think in today's #FTEdit poll 👉 on.ft.com/47n8eKt
Bring back small phones! This is my iphone 13 mini. It is a perfectly-sized phone. But it's going to die - in a few years, Apple will stop supporting it w/updates. Yet there are now NO new smartphones to buy on the market that fit the human hand. www.ft.com/content/6332...
October 21, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Bring back small phones! This is my iphone 13 mini. It is a perfectly-sized phone. But it's going to die - in a few years, Apple will stop supporting it w/updates. Yet there are now NO new smartphones to buy on the market that fit the human hand. www.ft.com/content/6332...
This piece is so funny and also so good
October 16, 2025 at 2:29 PM
This piece is so funny and also so good
This is such a good corrective by @chrisgiles.ft.com to the "working-age welfare spending is exploding/out-of-control" narrative that more & more people seem to see as an incontrovertible fact www.ft.com/content/ee67...
October 16, 2025 at 2:14 PM
This is such a good corrective by @chrisgiles.ft.com to the "working-age welfare spending is exploding/out-of-control" narrative that more & more people seem to see as an incontrovertible fact www.ft.com/content/ee67...
In which @sheilahayman.bsky.social enjoyably skewers Geoff Hinton's suggestion that we should engineer AI to be like a "mother" to us. sheila-hayman.medium.com/mummy-knows-...
Mummy Knows Best
Recently, the FT took Geoff Hinton to lunch, giving the event an entire page on September 5th. In it, he reveals that he’s had an epiphany…
sheila-hayman.medium.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:27 PM
In which @sheilahayman.bsky.social enjoyably skewers Geoff Hinton's suggestion that we should engineer AI to be like a "mother" to us. sheila-hayman.medium.com/mummy-knows-...
In which @stephenkb.bsky.social absolutely nails the way the Tories are performing a "never-ending lobotomy" on themselves by requiring everyone to believe (or at least pretend) Brexit was a good idea. www.ft.com/content/a65f...
October 14, 2025 at 2:08 PM
In which @stephenkb.bsky.social absolutely nails the way the Tories are performing a "never-ending lobotomy" on themselves by requiring everyone to believe (or at least pretend) Brexit was a good idea. www.ft.com/content/a65f...