AI-curated news for your industry

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on December 22 that it rescinded a Biden-era enforcement order against AI writing tool provider Rytr LLC, citing that the allegations did not meet the requirements of the FTC Act and that the order imposed an undue burden on AI innovation. This move echoes the White House's AI action plan released in July 2025.

The OECD and the US Treasury announced an agreement on Monday, with 147 countries agreeing to adopt a 'parallel system' that provides a safe harbor for American multinationals against the Pillar Two global minimum tax rules. US Treasury Secretary Bessent said the agreement recognizes US tax sovereignty and protects incentives such as research and development tax credits. The agreement also simplifies compliance burdens but has drawn criticism from anti-tax-avoidance organizations.

The New Jersey Senate unanimously passed the CPA pathway bill (S-4493) on December 18, allowing candidates to meet educational requirements with either a bachelor's degree or 150 credits. The bill had previously passed the Assembly 78-0 and awaits the governor's signature. This move adds New Jersey to at least 24 states offering alternative pathways, giving most CPA candidates more options.

In 2024, a UnitedHealth executive was fatally shot outside a New York hotel, prompting companies to reassess executive security strategies. Jordan Arnold, co-founder of security consulting firm Jetty Partners, stated that the incident marked a turning point for executive security, with companies moving from a reactive bodyguard model to proactive, intelligence-driven protection. This article is an exclusive interview between CFO Dive and Arnold, exploring key considerations for corporate security planning in 2026, including cost-effectiveness, risk assessment, travel and meeting security, and privacy balance in online brand building.

Match Group Chief Financial Officer Steve Bailey recently revealed that the company is shifting away from its previous lenient attitude of 'almost unlimited budgets' for AI projects. Starting in 2026, all substantial AI expenditures will be required to include a clear business case demonstrating cost savings or efficiency improvements. This move aims to address ongoing concerns from the board and investors regarding returns on AI investments.

Nine major accounting industry organizations jointly wrote to the U.S. Department of Education, opposing the exclusion of accounting graduate programs from "professional" degrees, to avoid affecting student loan caps.

With financing conditions stabilizing, the M&A market enters a new landscape in 2026. Geopolitical and trade policy complexity is rising, but private equity holds over $2.5 trillion in dry powder, with deal volume reaching $3.1 trillion in the first 10 months of 2025. Divestitures grew by 31%, and AI adoption rose to 30%, yet only a few companies apply it across the full process. This article proposes five execution strategies to help dealmakers navigate the complex environment, accelerate AI integration, and achieve value reinvention.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently wrote to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), requesting that it recommend suspending or withdrawing the income tax disclosure rules (ASU 2023-09) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in 2023. The Chamber believes existing disclosures are sufficient, the new rules impose a heavy burden, and questions their political motivation. The rules took effect at the end of 2025, and companies will first fully apply them in their initial annual reports filed in early 2026.

The University of Michigan's consumer confidence index for December edged up to 52.9, but consumers' concerns about inflation and the job market persist. One-year inflation expectations fell to 4.2%, the lowest in 11 months. The unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, a four-year high. Federal Reserve officials indicated they are in no rush to further adjust monetary policy.

Beyond Meat fired its corporate controller and chief accounting officer, Yi (Jevy) Luo, on Thursday, with his last working day being Thursday and employment continuing until December 23. CFO Lubi Kutua is temporarily assuming the chief accounting officer duties without additional compensation. Previously, on November 12, the company disclosed to the SEC that its internal controls were insufficient due to a material weakness in accounting for non-recurring and complex transactions.