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AI Economy Shifts Jobs Toward Skilled Trades

A CNBC feature (published 2026-05-19) argues the AI-driven expansion of data centers, chip fabs and related infrastructure is reshaping U.S. labor demand: employers are increasingly hiring skilled blue-collar workers (electricians, fiber technicians, construction trades) even as entry-level white-collar hiring slows in AI-exposed fields. AT&T, which plans a major fiber and network investment, says it cannot find enough skilled frontline technicians and is spending heavily on recruiting and training. Research from Stanford and U.S. government analysts shows early-career hiring has lagged in occupations vulnerable to AI, while economists warn of potential long-term “scarring” for recent graduates. The piece profiles workers, industry hiring incentives, and broader risks and uncertainties about how sustained the trades hiring boom will be after buildouts complete.

AdTech Shifts: Nike Rebrands, Vegas Changes Tagline

Friday’s AdExchanger roundup covers branding changes, high-profile media moves, and AI-driven product developments. Nike plans to replace 'Just Do It' with 'Why Do It?' to better engage younger consumers, per Nike CMO Nicole Graham. Las Vegas retires its 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas' tagline in favor of 'Welcome to Fabulous,' revealed during Thursday Night Football. Paramount-related moves via David Ellison include licensing/distribution talks with UFC and Activision, a push to refashion CBS News as a conservative network, and a potential >$100M acquisition of Bari Weiss’s The Free Press via Substack. Atlassian is acquiring The Browser Company for $610M, with Dia’s built-in AI chatbot and Arc as the work browser, integrated across Jira, Confluence, Trello and Loom. The piece notes growing AI-browsing competition and several executive hires in adtech and tech media.