The RBI has revised its full year growth estimate upwards to 7.3%. (AI image)

By DK SrivastavaThe first and second quarter 2025-26 real GDP growth rates at 7.8% and 8.2% respectively provide a post-Covid robust growth performance. The full year growth is expected to be more than 7%. The RBI has revised its full year growth estimate upwards to 7.3%. Considering the post-Covid period while leaving out 2021-22 that was characterized by strong base effects, real GDP growth during 2022-23 to 2024-25 averaged 7.8%. This is more than double the global growth during 2022 to 2024 at 3.5%, indicating that India has exhibited a high and stable growth performance and the strongest post-Covid economic recovery among major economies. For the first half of 2026-27, the RBI assesses a growth of 6.8%. The full year growth is likely to be in the range of 6.5-6.8%. The IMF’s medium term growth projection for India is also 6.5% over the period 2027-28 to 2030-31. Thus, India’s growth story is likely to remain intact in spite of global supply chain and tariff uncertainties. CPI inflation in India has remained benign during 2025-26. The RBI has assessed a CPI inflation of 2% for this fiscal which is the lower bound of the Monetary Policy Committee’s inflation tolerance range. With inflation remaining contained, the RBI has been able to reduce the repo rate by 100 basis points in 2025-26 from 6.25% to 5.25% in three installments of 25, 50 and 25 basis points introduced in April, June and December 2025 policy reviews. Along with RBI’s growth-oriented policy, one can look forward to a complementary growth push through the union budget for 2026-27. The GoI has ensured a frontloading of its capital expenditure in the first seven months of 2025-26 with a growth of 32.4% as against a budgeted growth of 10.1% over the 2024-25 revised estimates. In the first half of 2025-26, a robust growth in private final consumption expenditure (PFCE) at 7.5% has been recorded. For this, lower inflation and interest rates, and higher household disposable income resulting from PIT rationalization have played a significant role. The expectation is that the growth momentum for PFCE would be further supported by the extensive rate reductions under GST 2.0.The November 2025 GST data however show a reduction of Rs 11,993 crore in gross collections and of Rs 10,931 crore in net collections as compared to November 2024. This revenue reducing effect of GST reforms is likely to continue in the remaining months of the fiscal year. According to CGA data, growth in GoI’s GST revenues considering the sum of CGST, UTGST and IGST for the first seven months was only 2.6%. Juxtaposing this with a nominal GDP growth of 8.8% for the first half of 2025-26, the implied GST buoyancy for the GoI is only 0.3 as against a budgeted buoyancy of 1.1 over the revised estimate (RE) of 2024-25. GoI’s gross tax revenue (GTR) showed a growth of 4% during April-October 2025-26 as against a budgeted annual growth of 10.8% over the 2024-25 RE. Although five months in the fiscal year remain, there is an expectation of a shortfall in the GTR collections as compared to the budgeted magnitude. If an impact on fiscal deficit is to be avoided, a corresponding reduction in the budgeted revenue expenditures of the GoI would be called for. There would be some support to revenues due to higher than budgeted receipts on account of RBI dividends and revenues that are likely to be raised under the newly introduced excise duties on tobacco and tobacco products and health and national security cess on manufacturers of pan masala and any other sin goods that may be specified by the central government. At any rate, the fiscal consolidation path should be adhered to. Further, the momentum of capital expenditure growth needs to be maintained for the balance of this fiscal year. The momentum with respect to these two fiscal trends needs to be continued into the next fiscal year in order to sustain the growth momentum. Overall, in 2025-26, the domestic economy with adequate support from monetary and fiscal policies has effectively neutralized any adverse impact of global uncertainties. These factors would continue to remain effective in 2026-27. DK Srivastava is Chief Policy Advisor at EY India. Views expressed are personal.

NEW DELHI: The government is set to launch SWAMIH-2 Fund, a Rs 15,000-crore initiative aimed at helping nearly 100,000 middle-class homebuyers complete their stalled housing projects. This follows the success of SWAMIH-1, which has already completed 55,000 dwelling units. The government has allocated Rs 1,500 crore as seed capital in Budget 2025-26 for this purpose.The new fund will work somewhat like its predecessor, providing last-mile funding for stuck residential projects , but are commercially viable. It will help homebuyers who continue paying EMIs but haven’t received their apartments due to stalled construction.SWAMIH was first introduced in November 2019 as a stress fund. It operates as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) managed by SBI Ventures, with the economic affairs secretary as the fund’s sponsor. The fund specifically targets affordable and mid-income housing projects that are RERA-registered.The current SWAMIH Fund-1 has raised Rs 15,530 crore and aims to complete another 30,000 homes in the next 3-4 years. It employs 30 investment professionals who average 15 years of industry experience.What makes SWAMIH unique is its role as a last-resort lender. It considers projects from various developers, including first-timers, established builders with troubled projects, those with poor track records, and even projects involved in litigation.The need for such funding came to light after a study by PropEquity in 2019 cited by PTI. As many as 1,500 projects comprising 458,000 housing units were stuck or distressed and needed Rs 55,000 crore to complete the construction.The government is currently finalizing the details of SWAMIH-2. Once the nod is given, the body will start its operation to bring succor to stranded homebuyers and revive stalled housing projects across the country.

NEW DELHI: Quick commerce unicorn Zepto is set to pre-file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with market regulator Sebi on Friday through a confidential route, as it targets a stock market listing sometime next year, according to sources.The move positions Zepto to become one of the youngest startups to list on Indian stock exchanges.If the listing goes through, Zepto will join its rivals Zomato and Swiggy, both of which are already listed on the exchanges.“Zepto is set to pre-file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with Sebi on December 26,” people familiar with the developments told PTI.Eternal, which owns Zomato and quick commerce platform Blinkit, was listed in 2021, while Swiggy, which operates Instamart, made its stock market debut in November 2024.The confidential pre-filing allows the company to engage with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for initial feedback on its draft document without it being publicly disclosed. This route has been increasingly favoured by companies seeking more flexibility in their IPO preparations and responding to market conditions before a public filing.Queries sent to Zepto elicited no response.Valued at USD 7 billion, the company has raised a total of USD 1.8 billion, or about Rs 16,000 crore, from marquee investors since its inception.In October 2025, the company raised USD 450 million (about Rs 3,757.5 crore) in a funding round led by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) at a valuation of USD 7 billion.Zepto achieved unicorn status in August 2023, after raising USD 200 million in its Series E funding round, which valued the startup at USD 1.4 billion.Founded by Stanford University dropouts Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto rapidly scaled its 10-minute grocery delivery model across major Indian cities.As of September 2025, the company had more than 900 dark stores, burned Rs 1,000-1,100 crore in cash and garnered gross sales of USD 3 billion, or about Rs 26,000 crore.

And just like that, 2025 is nearing its end, giving us a moment to look back at how the year unfolded at the box office. Cinema has always been a gamble, but one truth continues to hold firm, strong content eventually finds its audience. While the big-ticket films arrive with expectations of ringing the cash registers, every year also throws up a few surprises in the form of sleeper hits. 2025 was no exception. Here’s a look at the biggest hits of the year and what trade experts have to say about the trends, learnings and the road ahead.

Summing up the year

‘Thodi Khushi thoda gham,’ is what we say every year lately and this year seems no different. “Well, it’s been a mixed bag, actually. There have been films that became hits and there have also been failures. But the good part is that content has been driving the audiences to theatres. Stardom can work for a day or two, but after that, it’s the content that people talk about. If you look at films from ‘Chhaava’ to now Dhurandhar, of course stardom is there, no denying that, but the content is speaking louder than words,” explains trade expert Taran Adarsh.

He further added, “A good example is ‘Saiyaara’, which starred newcomers and worked purely on the strength of its content and music. There was ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’, there was ‘Raid 2’ this year, and ‘Dhurandhar’, of course. Films like ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’ and ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ have also done well.” Trade expert Girish Wankhede echoes a similar sentiment and adds, “Overall, 2025 has been an average year for Bollywood. Whereas we usually see 15–18 bonafide superhits annually, this year produced fewer big winners. Still, a handful of films like ‘Chhaava’, ‘Saiyaara’ and ‘Dhurandhar’ and ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ — have delivered enormous box-office returns. ‘Dhurandhar’ in particular, shows no sign of slowing down, posting strong numbers even in midnight shows; it looks set to become the fastest film to join the Rs 1,000 crore club and could potentially go as high as Rs 1,500 crore. Those blockbuster performances are a welcome respite in an otherwise muted year for Hindi cinema.”

The K-shape model

Producer and Film Business expert, Girish Johar explains it at length by giving it a name. He calls it the ‘K-shape model’. Further elaborating on it, he adds, “The big hits have become bigger. Medium hits are no longer visible, and the number of washouts is also increasing. So, as I say, I believe we are seeing a K-shaped model. If a film does well and is appreciated by the public, it shoots up from Friday evening onwards or from day one of its release, and then amplifies further over Saturday and Sunday. But if a big film releases on day one and is not liked by the audience, earlier we used to say that three days would see it through, but that’s no longer happening.” He adds, “Hope you can imagine that. So, it’s a K-shaped model, as I call it. Having said that, yes, quite a few films we all know, ‘Chhaava’, ‘Dhurandhar’, and others like ‘Saiyaara’, ‘Mahavtar Narsimha’, and also ‘Tere Ishq Mein’. These are not the only ones, obviously, but they are the standout performers of the year. They have done fantastic numbers and, more importantly, have been liked by the audience. While the year still has few more days to end, overall, I can say there’s a growth of 10-12 percent this year overall at the box office as compared to 2024.”

Biggest hit in terms of ROI (Return On Investment)

While in terms of numbers, ‘Dhurandhar’ looks like the biggest grossing movie of the year and it is still running in theatres so it will continue to bring in numbers even in the next year. However, it terms of the return on investment, one can say that films like ‘Mahavtar Narsimha’, ‘Saiyaara’ and ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’ stole the show and surpassed expectations. Johar adds, “In terms of ROI, ‘Mahavtar Narsimha’ is the biggest hit. It was an animated film with no big stars or even voice over from any big star. The profit it earned was ten folds of its making.” Wankhede points out, “The biggest surprise of the year was undoubtedly ‘Mahavatar Narasimha’, a devotional animated film originally made in Kannada. Produced on a modest budget of around Rs 40 crore and released across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, it went on to earn approximately Rs 327 crore, an exceptional return for an animation with mythological themes. Another unexpected hit was ‘Ek Deewane ki Deewaniyat’, starring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa; made for roughly Rs 25 crore, it proved a sleeper success. ‘Saiyaara’ resonated strongly with GenZ, emerging as one of the season’s major blockbusters, produced for around Rs 45 crore. And, of course, ‘Dhurandhar’ surprised many with its runaway success, made on a budget of about Rs 250 crore, it has crossed the ₹1,000 crore mark worldwide, solidifying its position as the year’s dominant tentpole.”

Is there a trend? Is romance back as a genre?

This year, with ‘Saiyaara’, ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ and ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’, it seemed like romance is back and how. Taran Adarsh says, “I was happy to see that romance is back. And if you notice all these three films are love stories, but the music played an integral part in their impact, more than just the genre.” However, Johar doesn’t feel we should consider this as a trend for romantic movies. “I don’t think audiences are favouring any particular genre; they are favouring good content. What has happened post-COVID, with the OTT onslaught and everything else, is that traditional stardom has diminished a little. But the same actor, backed by a good concept and strong content, multiplies their appeal manyfold. So, for me, the content and the concept have now become the real stars.”

Key learnings to take from 2025

One of the things which need to be learnt is to cater to the masses and not just the multiplex audience. Taran Adarsh opines, “I think we should not neglect our Tier 2 and Tier 3 centres. Filmmakers have been neglecting them for a long time. They’ve been making metro-centric films, which is not right. What happens to the Tier 2 and Tier 3 centres then? They stop coming to theatres. That’s the reason why, earlier in the 70s and 80s, and I’ve seen this with my own eyes, is that every film used to get an opening. Every film would take a start and then either run or collapse.”

Johar adds that one of the things to take notice of this year is that eventually, it’s not stardom which works but the emotion behind a film. He says, “Emotion is the content. If you look at animation, the quality is at a good level because we are exposed to global animation like Disney and others. But it was the emotion that connected with audiences in case of ‘Mahavtar Narsimha’. They went into theatres, taking their slippers and shoes off outside and all that. It’s the emotion that truly connects with people.” He further explained, “Just to elaborate on this further that it’s no longer about stars, Ranveer Singh did ‘Jayeshbhai Jordaar’, which was not appreciated. But the same Ranveer Singh has done ‘Dhurandhar’, which is backed by the right making, the right concept, and everything else. People have connected with the film, and it is probably becoming the biggest Hindi film of all time.” “I can say that the last star whom people wanted to watch purely for stardom is hands down, Salman Khan, because even his weaker films open to Rs 100 crore. I probably feel Ranbir Kapoor also has that potential, but he operates in a slightly different space. To me, the trend this year or learning this year is that, actor-driven stardom has come down a little, while concept and genre-driven films are now creating stars and superstars.”

Expectations from 2026

All the trade experts have their eye on 2026 and unanimously are looking forward to some big movies lined up – from ‘Ramayana’ to ‘Love And War’ and of course, ‘Dhurandhar 2’. Girish Johar says, “2026 is again going to be one of the biggest years for Indian cinema, both in terms of box office and overall scale. Mammoth releases are being planned. Obviously, we have Hollywood content Nolan films, ‘Avengers’, and many other big releases. We also have Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘King’, a couple of releases by Akshay Kumar, ‘Dhurandhar 2’, and the biggest of them all, ‘Ramayana’.” He adds, “Ramayana will probably be one of the biggest films of all time, if done right. From whatever little I know, they’re planning to dub it into numerous languages using lip-sync technology. So, if audiences watch the film in Spanish, the lip-sync and audio will both be in Spanish. That’s what they’re planning. We don’t know how much of this will actually unfold, we’re too far ahead to say—but if done right and if expectations are met, it’s going to be a massive film. There are several other films as well.”Wankhede says, “The biggest film of 2026 is widely expected to be Dhurandhar Part 2, which is slated for an Eid release and has already started building the kind of pre-release buzz usually reserved for mega-franchises like Pushpa 2. Industry chatter suggests it could post one of the biggest openings of the year and become the top box-office generator, establishing itself as the season’s standout success.” He lists out the releases of 2025 further saying, “Several other high-profile releases are generating strong anticipation. Border 2, arriving in January with Sunny Deol attached, looks set to energize the patriotic crowd. Shah Rukh Khan’s much-awaited project King, his first major outing after a quiet 2025, is also being touted as a potential blockbuster. Alpha, a proposed female-led spy-universe film featuring Alia Bhatt, has been postponed but remains one of the most talked-about titles. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War, reportedly starring Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt, is another prestige project on the radar. Priyadarshan’s Bhoot Bangla with Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and Tabu’s Drishyam 3, and the ambitious Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, round out a slate that promises a busy and commercially exciting 2026 for Indian cinema.”Adarsh concludes, “I’m a born optimist, and I’m very confident about 2026. There are several big films lined up, but there could be smaller surprises as well. We should not underestimate any film.”

NEW DELHI: Railways on Thursday announced a “rationalisation” of fares for passengers, effective for tickets booked on or after December 26. It aims to balance passenger affordability with the sustainability of railway operations.According to the Ministry of Railways press release, there will be no fare increase for suburban services and season tickets, covering both suburban and non-suburban routes. Additionally, Second Class Ordinary journeys up to 215 km will see no increase, ensuring that short-distance travellers and daily commuters remain unaffected.For Ordinary Non-AC (Non-Suburban) services, fares have been revised in a graded manner. In Second Class Ordinary, fares will rise by Rs 5 for distances between 216 km and 750 km, Rs 10 for 751–1,250 km, Rs 15 for 1,251–1,750 km, and Rs 20 for 1,751–2,250 km. Sleeper Class Ordinary and First Class Ordinary fares will increase uniformly at 1 paise per kilometre for non-suburban journeys.In Mail/Express trains, the fare increase has been limited to 2 paise per kilometre across both Non-AC and AC classes, including Sleeper, First Class, AC Chair Car, AC 3-Tier/3E, AC 2-Tier, and AC First Class. The Railways said this translates into a modest increase—for example, about Rs 10 extra for a 500 km non-AC Mail/Express journey.The revised basic fares will also apply to premium and special services such as Tejas Rajdhani, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Tejas, Mahamana, Gatimaan, Antyodaya, Garib Rath, Jan Shatabdi, Yuva Express, Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, and Ordinary non-suburban services (excluding AC MEMU/DEMU, where applicable), as well as Anubhuti and AC Vistadome coaches.The ministry added a clarification that there is no change in “reservation fees, superfast surcharges, or other ancillary charges”. GST applicability and fare rounding rules also remain unchanged.Tickets booked before December 26 will not attract the revised fares, even if the journey is scheduled after the effective date. However, tickets issued by TTEs or booking staff on or after December 26 will be charged at the revised rates. Fare charts will not show any fare difference for pre-revised tickets.The updated fare list will be displayed at stations from December 26, and necessary changes will be implemented across ticketing systems, including PRS and UTS. The Ministry said zonal railways have been instructed to ensure wide publicity and proper implementation following concurrence from the Finance Directorate.

Hybrid learning ends as Delhi schools reopen for 6 to 9 and 11 following GRAP 4 revocation. (Representative Image)

Delhi schools have ended hybrid learning and returned to normal physical classes for students of Classes 6 to 9 and 11. The move follows the lifting of GRAP 4 restrictions after a clear improvement in air quality levels across the national capital.If you are a student or parent, this means regular classroom learning is back. You no longer need to switch between online and offline classes every day.The Directorate of Education issued a circular directing all government, government-aided and recognised private schools under DOE, NDMC, MCD and the Delhi Cantonment Board to conduct physical classes. The order applies with immediate effect and covers thousands of students across Delhi.

Decision taken after air quality improvesThe decision came after the Commission for Air Quality Management revoked actions under GRAP 4. In its order, the commission noted that Delhi’s air quality had shown “significant improvement” due to favourable weather conditions. The AQI was recorded in the poor category, allowing authorities to ease emergency measures.R.K. Agarwal, Director (Technical) and Member Convenor of the Sub-Committee on GRAP, said in a statement issued by the commission that actions under GRAP 4 were revoked with immediate effect. He added that measures under GRAP stages 1, 2 and 3 would remain in force to prevent further deterioration.What changes for studentsAccording to the DOE circular, normal physical classes will now be held for Classes 6 to 9 and 11. Classes for students up to Class 5 will continue in hybrid mode, meaning both physical and online learning where feasible. Classes 10 and 12 will remain fully offline, as they were earlier.Dr Rita Sharma, Additional Director of Education (School), said in a circular issued by the DOE that all heads of schools must ensure immediate compliance. She directed schools to inform parents and guardians without delay and ensure smooth implementation of the instructions.Schools asked to ensure smooth complianceDistrict and zonal education officers have also been asked to monitor the situation closely. The DOE has instructed them to ensure that schools follow the directions properly and without disruption.The Commission for Air Quality Management stated that it would keep a close watch on air quality trends. It said the situation would be reviewed regularly, especially during winter, when conditions can change quickly.Authorities have also urged citizens to continue following the citizen charter under GRAP stages 1 to 3. The aim is to make sure that air quality levels do not slip back into the severe category while schools function normally again.Read the official notice here

Beijing on Thursday rejected a Pentagon report that accused China of using easing border tensions with India to weaken US-India ties, calling the claims false and aimed at creating discord.“The Pentagon’s report distorts China’s defence policy, sows discord between China and other countries, and aims at finding a pretext for the US to maintain its military supremacy,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a media briefing in Beijing, firmly opposing the report.

Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang also rejected the findings, including references to growing defence and space cooperation between China and Pakistan and suggestions about a possible military base. Zhang called the report biased and said that it exaggerated the so-called “Chinese military threat” and misled the international community. He further urged the US to stop spreading false narratives and provoking confrontation.

China on ties with India

Responding to sections of the report that discussed India-China relations, Lin said Beijing viewed its ties with New Delhi from a long-term and strategic perspective.“We stand ready to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, promote cooperation, and properly handle differences with India, and advance a sound and stable bilateral relationship,” he said.On references to the Line of Actual Control, Lin said the boundary issue was a matter between China and India, and that the current border situation was stable.“The boundary question is a matter between China and India, and the current border situation between the two countries is generally stable with smooth communication channels.”

What Pentagon said

In its annual report to Congress titled ‘Military and security developments involving the People’s Republic of China 2025, the US department of war said China may seek to use easing tensions along the Line of Actual Control to stabilise relations with India and prevent closer US-India ties.The report referred to a meeting between Chinese president Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in October 2024. The report also said China has expanded the definition of its “core interests” to include Taiwan and sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, the Senkaku Islands, and Arunachal Pradesh.It further highlighted cooperation between China and Pakistan in areas such as defence and space, adding that Beijing has “likely also considered” setting up a military base in Pakistan.

Turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to help you stand out during the job process, but got rejected in the first round? Or are you a hiring manager who relied on AI to frisk through applications to select the best candidate, but ended up with not what you quite envisioned?The answer lies in the approach itself. Relying on artificial intelliegnce for job application might be doing you more harm than good.The growing use of artificial intelligence in recruitment is reshaping how Americans search for work, just as the country’s labour market shows signs of slowing. From automated interviews to AI-written cover letters, technology is now a part of almost every stage of the hiring process. But is it working? In 2025, more than half of organisations surveyed by the Society for Human Resource Management reported using AI tools to recruit workers. At the same time, almost one-third of ChatGPT users turned to the OpenAI chatbot for help with job applications. Yet recent research indicates that candidates who rely on AI during the application process are actually less likely to be hired, even as employers struggle to cope with a flood of applications. “The ability (for companies) to select the best worker today may be worse due to AI,” Anais Galdin, a researcher at Dartmouth told CNN Business. Galdin and Jesse Silbert of Princeton University examined tens of thousands of cover letters submitted on Freelancer.com, a job listing platform and found that after the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, cover letters became longer and more polished. However, employers placed less importance on them, making it harder to distinguish strong candidates from the wider pool. As a result, hiring rates dropped, and so did average starting wages, CNN reported. “If we do nothing to make information flow better between workers and firms, then we might have an outcome that looks something like this,” Silbert said, referring to the study’s findings.

A negative cycle

As application volumes rise, companies are increasingly automating interviews as well.According to a survey by recruitment software firm Greenhouse conducted in October, 54% of US job seekers said they had taken part in an AI-led interview. While virtual interviews became common during the pandemic in 2020, many employers now use AI systems to conduct interviews, without necessarily removing subjectivity from hiring decisions. “Algorithms can copy and even magnify human biases,” said Djurre Holtrop, a researcher who studies the use of asynchronous video interviews, algorithms and large language models in hiring.“Every developer needs to be wary of that,” CNN cited the expert. Daniel Chait, chief executive of Greenhouse, said the growing use of AI by both applicants and employers has created a negative cycle. “Both sides are saying, ‘This is impossible, it’s not working, it’s getting worse,’” Chait told CNN.

What’s next?

Despite these concerns, adoption of the technology continues with one estimate projecting that the market for recruitment technology will grow to $3.1 billion by the end of this year. At the same time, resistance is mounting from lawmakers, labour groups and workers worried about discrimination. Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO labour union, described AI-driven hiring as “unacceptable”. “AI systems rob workers of opportunities they’re qualified for based on criteria as arbitrary as names, zip codes, or even how often they smile,” Shuler said in a statement to CNN. Several US states, including California, Colorado and Illinois, are introducing new laws and regulations aimed at setting standards for the use of AI in hiring. However, a recent executive order signed by US President Donald Trump raised questions about the future of state-level oversight. Samuel Mitchell, a Chicago-based employment lawyer, said the order does not “preempt” state law but adds to the “ongoing uncertainty” around regulation. He added that existing anti-discrimination laws still apply, even when companies use AI systems, and legal challenges are already emerging. In a case supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, a deaf woman is suing HireVue, an AI-powered recruitment company, alleging that an automated interview failed to meet legal accessibility standards. HireVue denied the claim, telling CNN that its technology reduces bias through a “foundation of validated behavioral science”. Even with these challenges, more and more AI is getting hiring access. New tools have made resume screening more sophisticated, potentially helping some candidates who may have been overlooked. But for those who value personal interaction, the shift has been unsettling. Jared Looper, an IT project manager in Salt Lake City, Utah, who previously worked as a recruiter, recently underwent an AI-led interview during his job search. He described the experience as “cold”, and said he initially hung up when contacted by the automated system. Looper said he worries about job seekers who have yet to adapt to a hiring environment where appealing to algorithms has become essential. “Some great people are going to be left behind.”