First Pass

26 stories from 15 sources

AI ambition met sharper demands for control and accountability

Day’s Recap

Supporting Articles

OpenAI recruited former Apple design leader Jony Ive to pursue new AI-native devices meant to differentiate it from rival AI labs. That hardware ambition now faces mounting obstacles, including legal conflict with Apple and broader strategic and governance pressure on OpenAI.

3:01 AMFortune

Amazon cut jobs in its AGI unit, which houses teams spanning foundation models, custom silicon and quantum computing. The unit recently shipped its Nova model family as part of Amazon’s broader GenAI push.

3:50 PMCNBC

ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott argues the company becomes more central as enterprises deploy autonomous AI agents across workflows. He points to governance features, including a kill switch, as a differentiator to control agents that act unpredictably.

6:56 PMCNBC

Macquarie has appointed Greg Ward, currently its banking head, to succeed Shemara Wikramanayake as chief executive. The move signals continuity in leadership drawn from the firm’s core dealmaking and banking franchise.

8:11 PMFinancial Times

Vale shareholders elected Manuel Lino Silva de Sousa Oliveira as chairman, ending weeks of board-level instability. The turmoil followed a push by a major investor to reshape the miner's leadership.

9:46 AMBloomberg Markets

A federal jury found Nike violated federal and state laws by discriminating against a former employee on the basis of sex. The verdict includes a $7.5 million award.

5:47 PMWWD

Other Developments

A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.

NewJeans signaled a return after a months-long dispute with Ador, the Hybe subsidiary that manages the group. The group’s attempt to sever ties with the label was blocked by a court, keeping the contractual structure intact.

9:21 PMThe New York Times

A former Google recruiter says one candidate question consistently separates strong applicants from the rest. She frames it as a signal of how candidates think about impact and fit rather than generic interest.

4:25 PMCNBC

Moncler reported first-half revenue and profitability growth as new CEO Leo Rongone addressed analysts for the first time. The company also reshaped governance, adding Sidney Toledano to the board after Alexandre Arnault and Geoffroy van Raemdonck exited.

4:18 PMWWD

SERHANT. hired Nick Janovsky as luxury sales director for Tampa Bay, pointing to his track record of more than $250 million in sales volume across 340-plus deals. The role is aimed at expanding the firm’s luxury footprint in the region.

3:09 PMHousing Wire

Chanel appointed Hélène de Tissot, a veteran executive from the spirits industry, as chief financial officer, succeeding Philippe Blondiaux. The hire brings an outsider profile into a role central to cost discipline, investment pacing, and long-term capital planning.

2:45 PMWWD

After canceling a $9.9 million McKinsey consulting contract, Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Anthony Shorris, a veteran McKinsey partner tied to that work, to lead the city's top economic development agency. Lina Khan was also named to leadership at the Economic Development Corporation.

12:15 PMThe City

Make it yours

Build Your First Pass.

Pick your topics, set your cadence, and receive your personalized First Pass in your inbox. It’s that simple!