BT CEO eyes deeper job cuts as AI becomes more powerful, FT reports
June 15 (Reuters) - BT Group (BT.L), opens new tab Chief Executive Allison Kirkby said advances in artificial intelligence could deepen significant job cuts under way at the British telecoms company, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
Kirkby told the newspaper that BT's plans to cull more than 40,000 jobs and strip out 3 billion pounds ($4 billion) of costs by the end of the decade "did not reflect the full potential of AI".
"Depending on what we learn from AI . . . there may be an opportunity for BT to be even smaller by the end of the decade," the FT quoted her as saying.
Britain's biggest broadband and mobile provider had said in 2023 it would cut as many as 55,000 jobs, including contractors, by 2030, with then-CEO Philip Jansen saying the company would rely on a much smaller workforce and significantly reduced cost base by the end of the 2020s.
Kirkby, who took over from Jansen a year ago, has also opened the door to a possible future spin-off of Openreach, the company's network infrastructure business, the FT said.
She said she did not feel the value of Openreach was reflected in the company's share price and if that persisted, BT "would absolutely have to look at options".
BT said last month that strong demand for fibre broadband and more than 900 million pounds of cost savings had helped shore up its full-year earnings and boost cash flow.
Resilience at Openreach offset declines in revenue and profits in its business and consumer units, where legacy voice services continued to wane and handset sales fell.
($1 = 0.7372 pounds)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Car
28 minutes ago
- Auto Car
BREAKING: Renault Group boss Luca de Meo steps down
Close Luca de Meo has stepped down from his role as the CEO of Renault Group after five years in the role. The Italian joined the French company from Seat-Cupra five years ago, and his Renaulution business plan, involving the revival of the Renault 5 as an EV, an influx of new SUVs and the transformation of Alpine into an electric performance brand, has been view as pivotal in reviving the firm's fortunes. Breaking news. Full story to follow
Glasgow Times
41 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Canada agrees to ratify Britain's accession to major trans-Pacific trade pact
Ottawa will seek to introduce legislation to its parliament this autumn to formally approve Britain's entry to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The UK joined the bloc in 2024, but Canada is yet to ratify its accession – meaning Britain still faces pre-CPTPP trade barriers in exporting to the country. Following a bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on Sunday, Downing Street said: 'Prime Minister Carney confirmed that Canada would ratify the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), seeking to introduce legislation to their parliament in the autumn. 'This will bring huge benefits to UK businesses by lowering tariffs when buying from and selling to Canada. 'They also agreed to set up a joint taskforce to turbocharge progress on other areas of mutual benefit, including technology and artificial intelligence – in support of shared growth and our national security. 'The taskforce will also look to make progress on the wider UK-Canada Free Trade Agreement.'
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
The beauty recycling scheme that'll bag you a tenner – and how to get 50% cashback on new products too
WE'RE all looking for ways to save a bit of extra cash these days, especially with the cost of living on the rise. But what if you could earn rewards while doing your bit for the planet? 2 That's exactly what Boots is offering with their Recycle at Boots scheme - a simple and rewarding way to handle those tricky beauty and healthcare empties that can't go in your regular recycling bin. While some bathroom items, like aerosols, glass jars, and full-sized shampoo bottles, can often be recycled at home, many products made from mixed or non-recyclable materials end up in landfill. That's where Boots comes in, giving shoppers an easy solution to recycle items that kerbside collections can't manage. Customers just need to download the Recycle at Boots app, scan their empties, and within 24 hours, the app will confirm whether the items are eligible for recycling or rewards. From toothpaste tubes to lotion pumps and travel-sized cosmetics, Boots makes dealing with hard-to-recycle bits effortless - and shoppers can earn rewards while they're at it. Shoppers are loving the initiative and taking advantage of the rewards. One TikTok user, who goes by the name ' Hyperfocus_rewards ', shared her experience in a video captioned: 'It's basically 50% back on your £10 spend.' She revealed that she had 27 items approved for the recycling scheme, meaning she could exchange them for points. The scheme works by giving customers £5 worth of points on their Advantage card when they recycle five qualifying items and spend £10 in store. The TikToker explained that her basket full of recycling goods will earn her £25 worth of points - making it not just eco-friendly but wallet-friendly too. First look inside revamped Scots Boots store with Fenty and Kylie Cosmetics stands - hundreds of customers can get freebies The Recycle at Boots scheme accepts products such as toothpaste tubes, lotion pumps, and small cosmetics like mascaras or travel minis. This programme is making recycling effortless while rewarding shoppers for their eco-friendly efforts. 2 How to boost your Tesco Clubcard points The Sun's consumer editor Lynsey Barber explains how you can earn extra points on top of your grocery shop. I'm never without my Clubcard when popping in to Tesco. Not only do I earn points every time I shop, but it also means i get the lowest prices which the supermarket offers to members of its loyalty scheme. But there are plenty of other ways to maximise my points beyond just shopping in-store or online. Here are some way to supercharge your Clubcard balance and get the most out of your rewards. Happy saving! Ovo Energy Points offer: 2,500 free Clubcard points Requirements: Must be an Ovo customer paying by Direct Debit with a smart meter How to claim: Link your Ovo and Tesco Clubcard accounts Value: £25 in Tesco vouchers, or up to £50 with Clubcard Reward Partners Esso Stations with Tesco Express Points offer: 1 point for every £3 spent on fuel How to claim: Present your Clubcard at the till when paying Vauxhall Cars Points offer: 50,000 Clubcard points with a new car purchase Requirements: Buy a new car from an Authorized Vauxhall New Car Retailer and provide your Clubcard number Value: £500 in Tesco stores, or up to £1,000 with partners Note: Points exceed the standard 30,000 limit per collection period, so they'll appear in your next Clubcard statement Halfords Motoring Club Premium Points offer: 500 Clubcard points Cost: £49/year or £4.99/month for membership Additional benefits: Free MOT, 10-point car checks, 5% off motoring products, and a £10 welcome voucher Inkjet Recycling Points offer: Up to 125 points per recycled cartridge How to claim: Use recycling envelopes available in-store or within Tesco ink cartridge packs Evri Parcel Sending Points offer: 1 point for every £1 spent How to claim: Enter your Clubcard number during the checkout process on Evri Tesco Products and Services Forecourts: 1 point for every 2 litres of fuel Marketplace: 1 point for every £1 spent on partner products Mobile: 1 point for every £1 spent with Tesco Mobile Bank Credit Cards: 1 point for every £4 spent using a Tesco Credit Card
