In today’s Digest: Business Insider cuts 21% of its workforce amid shift to AI and live events, Discord trials ‘Orbs’ to incentivise ad engagement, and Apple faces fresh DMA penalties as EU sets a compliance deadline.

Business Insider cuts 21% of workforce amid shift to AI and live events 

Business Insider will lay off 21% of its workforce as part of a broader restructuring strategy aimed at prioritising artificial intelligence and expanding its live events division. The publisher confirmed the move in an internal memo shared on Thursday (23rd May), marking its third significant round of redundancies in as many years.

CEO Barbara Peng stated the cuts would affect all divisions of the business, with the company pulling back from editorial areas that no longer deliver meaningful audience engagement. “We are reducing the size of our organisation, a move that will impact about 21% of our colleagues and touch every department,” Peng wrote.

However, The Insider Union criticised the decision, framing it as a shift away from journalism in favour of commercial priorities. The union described the cuts as “another example of Axel Springer’s brazen pivot away from journalism toward greed.”

Discord trials ‘Orbs’ to incentivise ad engagement

Discord has launched a beta test for a new in-app currency, “Discord Orbs”, designed to reward users for engaging with advertiser-driven content. As part of its promotional Quests programme, the platform enables users to earn Orbs by watching sponsored videos or streaming specific games to friends.

The digital tokens can be redeemed for standard items in the Discord Shop, as well as exclusive perks such as limited time badges and three day access to the platform’s premium service, Discord Nitro. Currently, the Orbs programme is available to a limited group of users globally, with wider rollout expected based on feedback from the beta phase.

Apple faces fresh DMA penalties as EU sets compliance deadline

Apple has less than 30 days to overhaul its App Store practices after the European Commission published the full findings of its ruling against the tech giant for breaching the Digital Markets Act. The EC fined Apple €500m (£426m) in March for violating anti-steering provisions, with regulators now threatening further penalties if non-compliance continues.

Under the DMA, Apple must allow app developers to inform users about and direct them to alternative purchasing options outside the App Store, without imposing additional fees.

In its ruling, the Commission also warned Apple against introducing replacement policies that achieve the same restrictive outcome.