Shredded: Twin1, Runlayer, Rippling, Gatik, Microsoft, Flip, Deel, & More

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what’s making headlines in the world of employment.

• 0:00Speaker 00

  Dude, it turns out that Winston Smart Recruiter's first AI hiring sidekick is taking all the grunt work out of recruiters' day. Things like candidate screening, scheduling, all the admin garbage no one actually wants to touch. Winston can do it all.

• 0:17Speaker 01

  Man, you know I'm a fan of using new tech that takes the boring repetitive crap out of a recruiter's day and allows them to have more time to connect with hiring managers and candidates.

• 0:29Speaker 00

  Yep, Winston is doing the heavy lifting while recruiters kick back and do the actual hiring stuff. You know, like talking to people.

• 0:37Speaker 01

  I really dig that Smart Recruiters is evolving out of the legacy ATS model and embracing cleaner processes using AI. With most ATS providers, it's like, hey, 2003 called and it wants its 30-minute application process back.

• 0:53Speaker 00

  No doubt. It sounds like Rebecca and the team are using Winston to push Smart Recruiters into the future while the ATS vendors are basically on an AOL dial-up modem with a dashboard.

• 1:05Speaker 01

  With Smart Recruiters, Winston does the grind and the recruiters get the glory.

• 1:11Speaker 00

  For more information on superhuman hiring with Winston, visit smartrecruiters.com. That's smartrecruiters.com.

• 1:19Speaker 01

  Start using Winston today, or I guess you can stick with...

• 1:25Speaker 02

  Now we return you to our regular scheduled program in progress.

• 1:29Speaker 03

  Hire your kids, lock the doors. You're listening to HR's most dangerous podcast. Chad Solash and Joel Cheeseman.

• 1:38Speaker 04

  Hi kids, it's Cole Cheeseman and I'm bringing you the shred for the fourth week of August 2026. The shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment.

• 1:52Speaker 04

  And now to the news, in no particular order. San Francisco-based Twin One AI emerged from stealth with $20 million in seed funding to build AI-powered digital twins for knowledge workers. The platform scales professional expertise securely through strict data governance. Capital will support product development and team expansion across the US and UK.

• 2:15Speaker 05

  Another one.

• 2:17Speaker 04

  New York-based Run Layer and San Francisco-based Rippling mutually dismissed their respective lawsuits without a financial settlement. The legal dispute began after Rippling evaluated Run Layer's MCP gateway and subsequently launched a competing product, highlighting the risk that prospective enterprise clients can rapidly become direct competitors in the AI market.

• 2:40Speaker 05

  Another one.

• 2:41Speaker 04

  Young workers increasingly chose smaller, purpose-driven employers over large corporations. Rather than prioritizing brand prestige or high salaries, they favor workplaces that align with their personal values, offer flexibility, and a work-life balance. Faster supportive leadership, and provide meaningful, ethic-driven work.

• 3:02Speaker 05

  Another one.

• 3:03Speaker 04

  Autonomous vehicle startup, Santa Clara-based Gatik, raised $200 million in a funding round. Following a major commercial deal with PepsiCo, Gatik plans to use the capital to hire staff and expand its middle-mile autonomous delivery operations.

• 3:21Speaker 05

  Another one.

• 3:23Speaker 04

  The US Department of Labor finalized rules rescinding Executive Order 11246 regulations, removing affirmative action mandates for women and minorities. The updates also eliminate the 7% disability utilization goal under Section 503, while maintaining statutory non-discrimination obligations and veteran employment requirements.

• 3:43Speaker 05

  Another one.

• 3:45Speaker 04

  A leaked internal spreadsheet showed roughly 350 Microsoft employees reported a median monthly AI spending of $300, peaking at $28,000. Usage varied widely across teams and did not correlate with bonuses, raises, or promotions. The self-reported figures represent a small fraction of the workforce.

• 4:05Speaker 05

  Another one.

• 4:07Speaker 04

  In a recent essay, Bill Gates proposed designating certain roles as "human reserved" to protect them from AI replacement. He also warned that governments remain unprepared for the technology's broad societal impacts, advocating for comprehensive domestic and international regulatory frameworks.

• 4:23Speaker 05

  Another one.

• 4:25Speaker 04

  German-based employee experience platform, FliP, raised $25 million in funding, backed by Notion Capital, HV Capital, and L Bank. The company plans to use the capital to expand its AI platform, custom application generator, and digital identity tools for frontline and deskless workers.

• 4:44Speaker 05

  Another one.

• 4:46Speaker 04

  State lawmakers and regulators are introducing measures to penalize employers and platforms for posting ghost jobs, openings without intent to hire. Proposed legislation in states like Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, along with investigations in Texas, aims to mandate hiring transparency and fine violators.

• 5:04Speaker 05

  Another one.

• 5:06Speaker 04

  The US economy grew at a 1.5% annual rate in the second quarter, slowed primarily by a surge in imports. However, underlying economic activity remained solid, with consumer spending rising 3.4% and business investment climbing 8.5% amid artificial intelligence investments.

• 5:25Speaker 05

  Another one.

• 5:27Speaker 04

  Arsenal and HR platform Deal launched a campaign titled "The World is Your Squad", featuring men's and women's players assembling in London. The initiative illustrates global workforce management through football, expanding on Deal's role as Arsenal's official HR partner and sleeve sponsor.

• 5:45Speaker 05

  Another one.

• 5:46Speaker 04

  Indeed's 2026 Best Cities for Work Index evaluated 228 US metro areas across six worker-centric pillars. Boston ranked first overall due to balanced performance, followed by Washington DC and Burlington, Vermont, reflecting strength in compensation, mobility, and job opportunity. Be sure to tune in to the weekly show for this and more news and commentary from the world of recruiting. Cheeseman, out.

• 6:18Speaker 06

  Adios, turd nuggets.