Beyond Layoff

A recent CBS article grabbed attention with its clickbait title: " AI can already do the work of 12% of America's workforce, MIT researchers find. " While eye-catching, this framing oversimplifies a groundbreaking study from MIT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Their Iceberg Index reveals that current AI tools can technically handle tasks worth about 11.7% of U.S. wages—roughly $1.2 trillion—across the $9.4 trillion labor market. ​ What the Iceberg Index Reveals Imagine the U.S. workforce as an iceberg: the visible "tip" is AI's disruption in tech jobs, like software coding, where adoption is already underway. This Surface Index covers just 2.2% of wages ($211 billion) and clusters in coastal states such as Washington (4.2%) and California (3.0%). Below the surface lies the real story—a fivefold larger hidden mass in everyday cognitive work: administrative paperwork, financial analysis, and professional services. These tasks span all 50 states, with surpr...

For over 16 years, Malaysian mother M. Indira Gandhi has endured a relentless and painful struggle to reunite with her youngest daughter, Prasana Diksa. In 2009, Prasana was taken from her by her ex-husband after he converted to Islam. What began as a custody dispute has spiralled into one of Malaysia’s most distressing human rights crises.  March for Justice: A Symbolic Plea This intense battle reignited nationwide attention after Indira’s symbolic 1.8 km march to Bukit Aman, home to Malaysia’s federal police headquarters. Clutching her missing daughter’s old teddy bear, Indira sought to hand it to the Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Ismail—who notably did not appear to receive her. More than 200 supporters dressed in black accompanied her, bearing signs that cried out: “Return my child” and “Stop these 16 years of pain.” Indira pushed Prasana’s old stroller, surrounded by her older children Tevi, 27, and Karan, 26, turning the march into a poignant family plea for justice....