NOVEMBER, 20258TOP STORIESTOP STORIESINDIA & NEW ZEALAND EYE STRONGER BILATERAL ECONOMIC TIESAI WILL SHRINKWORKWEEK TO 3.5 DAYS: JAMIE DIMON, JPMORGAN CEOThe India­New Zealand Business Forum, a joint initiative by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the High Commission of India in Wellington, highlighted the expansion of the bilateral economic relationship between the two countries.The event was a grand ensemble of senior government officials, influential industry leaders, and key business stakeholders from both the nations, keen on charting the course for collaboration and investment.A significant moment at the forum was the conversation by the fireside between India's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, and New Zealand's Minister of Trade, Todd McClay. The talk was a strong affirmation of the two countries' resolve to enhance trade and investment ties and underlined the significance of the FTA negotiations in opening up fresh avenues for growth.The dialogue highlighted the upbeat India­New Zealand relations with an extensive list of sectors including agribusiness, technology, education, renewable energy, and sustainable development, where the two sides saw immense collaboration potential.Besides, the forum served as a launchpad to narrate India's economic influence to the world and New Zealand's tech-driven sectors, thus paving the way for a more comprehensive and future-focused partnership.Leaders from both countries seeing the creation of a strong trade framework and the increase in business engagement as the drivers of the development of a vibrant and mutually beneficial economic relationship, concluded the event with a powerful message of optimism and collaboration. a half days a week in 20, 30, 40 years, and have wonderful lives."Dimon, who has turned JPMorgan into a major AI testbed, said nearly 2,000 employees are developing AI systems, while over 150,000 staff already use large language models. The bank has integrated hundreds of AI tools for fraud detection, legal reviews, reconciliations, and marketing optimisation--proof, he said, that automation can sustain output with fewer work hours.However, he cautioned that the AI transition won't be painless. "People should stop sticking their heads in the sand," Dimon warned, noting that artificial intelligence will "eliminate jobs." He urged governments and businesses to invest in retraining, income support, and redeployment to manage disruption.Dimon also highlighted that AI's infrastructure is capital- and power-intensive, requiring careful investment unlike the early internet boom. He advised investors to assess AI ventures "deal by deal" to avoid chasing risky trends.Despite potential job losses, Dimon said JPMorgan's headcount will stay stable or even grow, as AI creates new roles in data, analytics, and tech infrastructure. Calling Nvidia an "unbelievable company," he said the technology is real and will make firms "hugely productive." JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon believes artificial intelligence (AI) will transform the modern workplace, predicting that people could work just three and a half days a week "within our lifetime." Speaking at the America Business Forum in Miami on Thursday, Dimon said, "It's going to affect every application, every job, every customer interface. My guess is the developed world will be working three and
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