Table of Contents

• AI News

• Senior Living News

• Wage / Salary Comps

• Job Listings

AI NEWS

Sweden Unveils AI Music License to Pay Songwriters – Sweden’s music rights society STIM has launched a groundbreaking license allowing AI companies to train on copyrighted songs – as long as they pay the creators. The move comes amid rising complaints from artists that generative AI models have been learning from music without permission. With this new licensing framework, AI developers can legally use a vast catalog of songs to train AI music systems, and songwriters/composers will receive royalties in return. Swedish officials say it’s a “blueprint” for balancing innovation and fair compensation. It arrives as studies warn AI could cut musicians’ income significantly by the late 2020s. By embracing “Agreements over lawsuits,” Sweden hopes to set an example where human creativity is protected even as AI in music grows.

Cloud Firm’s $17.4B AI Deal Sends Stock Soaring – Nebius, a cloud infrastructure company, just inked a massive $17.4 billion deal to supply AI computing power to Microsoft – and investors are cheering. The partnership commits Nebius to provide high-performance data center capacity over five years to support Microsoft’s expanding AI services. If Microsoft’s demand grows, the contract could swell to $19.4B, underscoring how urgently big tech needs more server horsepower for AI. News of the deal sent Nebius’s stock up over 40% in one day. Analysts say the long-term revenue visibility positions Nebius to win other big clients in the AI race. Rival CoreWeave, another AI cloud provider, saw its shares jump in sympathy. The deal is one of the largest ever in the AI infrastructure space and highlights the surging demand for AI “compute” as companies scale up models like never before.

Volkswagen Bets €1B on AI to Drive Efficiency – European auto giant Volkswagen announced it will invest up to €1 billion (about $1.2B) in artificial intelligence by 2030, integrating AI across its business. The company plans to deploy AI in everything from vehicle design and manufacturing to supply chain management. Volkswagen expects these AI applications to unlock as much as €4 billion in cost savings by 2035 through improved productivity and smarter decision-making. The investment, revealed at a major auto show in Munich, is part of VW’s strategy to modernize and compete globally – especially as Chinese EV makers leverage advanced tech. Areas of focus include AI-assisted car software development, factory automation, and high-performance computing infrastructure. Executives said “AI will accelerate our processes” and help deliver innovations faster, including the development of safer self-driving features. This bold commitment shows even traditional industries like automaking see AI as key to future success.

Eli Lilly Launches AI Platform to Speed Up Drug Discovery – Pharmaceutical leader Eli Lilly is rolling out a new AI-driven platform called “TuneLab” to help discover drugs faster. The system provides smaller biotech companies access to Lilly’s powerful machine learning models, which have been trained on decades of the company’s research data (data valued at over $1 billion). By sharing these AI tools, Lilly aims to level the playing field – letting startups use sophisticated algorithms to identify promising drug candidates and predict safety issues, tasks that typically take years. TuneLab’s models can analyze vast chemical and biological data to suggest how certain molecules might behave as medicines. Two partners, Circle Pharma and Insitro, are already on board: Circle will use the AI to develop cancer treatments, while Insitro will help build new predictive models for the platform. The move reflects a broader trend in pharma, where companies are embracing AI to “fail faster” – quickly ruling out poor drug prospects – and zero in on winners, potentially saving time, money, and lives by bringing new therapies to market sooner.

European AI Champion Mistral Gets $1.5B Boost – In a major win for Europe’s tech ambitions, Dutch chip company ASML is investing €1.3 billion (about $1.5B) for an 11% stake in French AI startup Mistral AI. The deal, part of a €1.7B funding round, makes ASML the largest shareholder of Mistral and values the young company at nearly €12B. Mistral AI has been touted as Europe’s answer to the American AI giants – developing large language models and generative AI tools. ASML’s backing not only provides cash but also symbolizes a strategic pairing of European strengths: ASML is a world leader in advanced semiconductor equipment, and Mistral brings cutting-edge AI research. European leaders have voiced support, seeing this alliance as a “game-changer for Europe” that could foster homegrown AI innovations and reduce reliance on U.S. and Chinese tech. Mistral plans to integrate its AI models into ASML’s products and services, and the funding will fuel hiring and research as it strives to compete with the likes of OpenAI and Google in the fast-moving AI arena.

AI Bots Making Social Media Feel ‘Fake,’ Altman Warns – OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has sparked discussion by saying that social media “feels very fake now” due to the flood of AI-generated content and bots. In recent posts, Altman noted he can barely tell if many tweets or online comments were written by a human or an AI. He attributes this change to the rapid rise of bots using advanced AI (ironically including OpenAI’s own ChatGPT) to post automatically, imitate human style, or even astroturf opinions. The result is a diminished sense of authenticity on platforms like X (Twitter) and Reddit. Users have echoed the sentiment, sharing that they too have grown skeptical of whether they’re interacting with real people online. Altman – whose company’s tools contributed to this phenomenon – said one upside is that “real people have picked up some of the quirks of AI writing” in response, which can also make it tricky to distinguish genuine posts. The comments highlight a new challenge in the digital world: as AI content becomes ubiquitous, maintaining trust and transparency on social networks is getting harder.

SENIOR LIVING NEWS

Ventas to Acquire Six NY Senior Communities in $600M Deal – In a major real estate move, healthcare REIT Ventas, Inc. is reportedly buying a portfolio of six senior living communities on Long Island, New York, for over $600 million. The seller is a joint venture led by Harrison Street and a local developer, which built the high-end properties (operating under the Bristal Assisted Living brand). The acquisition expands Chicago-based Ventas’s senior housing holdings in a key market and underscores investors’ confidence in the sector’s post-pandemic recovery. The six communities are upscale assisted living and memory care residences that have been nearly fully occupied. Once the deal closes, Ventas – already one of the nation’s largest senior living owners – will integrate these sites into its portfolio and likely retain existing management. Industry observers note this hefty purchase demonstrates strong demand for quality senior housing assets, and Ventas is positioning for long-term demographic tailwinds as America’s elderly population grows. The deal is expected to finalize by early next year pending regulatory approvals.

LCS and Vi to Merge, Creating Senior Living Powerhouse – Two leading senior living companies, Life Care Services (LCS) and Vi, have agreed to a strategic merger that will unite their operations. Des Moines-based LCS is the nation’s second-largest senior living operator, known for managing over 140 communities, and Chicago-based Vi runs 10 luxury retirement communities (formerly part of Hyatt). Under the merger (targeted to close in 2026 after approvals), LCS will add Vi’s upscale continuing care retirement communities to its portfolio. Both brands will continue in the near term, but ultimately the combined entity will serve tens of thousands of residents across the country. Executives say bringing Vi under the LCS umbrella will blend Vi’s hospitality-driven approach with LCS’s scale and resources. The merger reflects ongoing consolidation in the senior housing industry, as large players join forces to expand services and geographic reach. Residents and staff are not expected to see immediate changes, and corporate teams are beginning integration planning. This merger would create one of the largest senior living operators in the U.S., well-positioned to invest in new communities and innovations in care.

Gallaher Companies Launches New Operating Company – California developer Gallaher Companies is bringing management of its senior communities in-house by launching a new operating arm called Gallaher Signature Living (GSL). The family-run firm, which has built dozens of senior living properties over decades, appointed industry veteran Page Ensor as CEO of the new venture. Ensor is a former Brookdale Senior Living executive who oversaw 70 communities across 20 states, and she’ll now lead Gallaher’s push into directly managing its luxury communities in California. The move comes as Gallaher is developing seven new senior campuses (including projects in Petaluma and Healdsburg) to meet a critical shortage of senior housing in the state. By creating GSL, Gallaher will align its operations and development under one roof, aiming for seamless quality and service. Ensor said her vision is to “elevate daily life” for residents through high-end amenities and empowered staff. With California’s over-65 population set to surge in coming years, Gallaher’s expansion and internal management model signal confidence in the market. The company has a legacy in senior living, having co-founded Aegis Living and Oakmont earlier, and now is writing its next chapter as an owner-operator.

Heritage Communities Expands in Arizona – Omaha-based Heritage Communities has acquired a senior living community in Glendale, Arizona as part of its growth strategy. The company purchased MorningStar at Arrowhead and has rebranded it Orchard Pointe at Glendale, aligning with Heritage’s Orchard Pointe brand in the Southwest. The 85-unit community offers assisted living and memory care, and becomes Heritage’s fourth location in the West Valley area of Phoenix. Along with the change in ownership, Heritage is introducing its signature programming at the site – including Montessori-based cognitive therapies for memory care residents and new AI-enabled fall detection technology in residents’ rooms to enhance safety. Heritage Communities President Nate Underwood said this acquisition is a “meaningful step” in the company’s plan to expand its footprint. It now operates 20 communities across Nebraska, Iowa, Arizona, and Texas. The Glendale community’s staff and 80+ residents have been welcomed into the Heritage family. This deal not only grows Heritage’s presence in a high-demand Sun Belt market but also demonstrates the company’s commitment to investing in care innovations (like fall-detecting devices) to improve resident outcomes.

AlerisLife Exits Senior Living, Transitions All Communities – AlerisLife, formerly known as Five Star Senior Living, is winding down its residential senior living business in a dramatic industry shift. The company has been transferring management or ownership of its remaining 100+ communities to other operators throughout 2023 and 2024, and that transition is now nearing completion. AlerisLife once ranked among the largest senior living providers, but faced financial struggles and occupancy declines. Earlier this year, it announced plans to exit the senior housing sector entirely and focus on its rehabilitation and wellness services. Over the past few months, regional operators and REIT partners have stepped in to assume control of AlerisLife’s assisted living and memory care properties. For example, operators like StoryPoint, Priority Life Care, and others have taken over clusters of communities in various states. By mid-2025, AlerisLife will no longer directly manage any senior living residences – a remarkable turnaround for a firm that just a few years ago ran over 200 communities. Industry experts note this reflects how challenging the competitive and cost pressures in senior living can be. Residents and families have been informed of new management at each community, and regulators have been overseeing license changes to ensure a smooth handover and continuity of care for seniors during the transition.

MissionCare & Uber Partner to Support Caregivers – An innovative collaboration in the caregiving world aims to boost front-line worker retention. MissionCare Collective, a company focused on direct care workforce solutions, has teamed up with Uber for Business to provide transportation and meal assistance to caregivers in senior living and home care. Through MissionCare’s platform (called CoachUp Care), senior care employers can now offer their staff Uber ride vouchers and Uber Eats meal credits as rewards or emergency support. The idea is to help caregivers overcome practical challenges – like unreliable transportation or food insecurity – that often cause missed shifts or burnout. According to a 2025 Direct Care Workforce report, over half of U.S. direct care workers rely on public assistance and many lack access to a car or healthy meals. By giving a simple perk like a paid Uber trip to work or a delivered dinner, providers hope to remove barriers that can lead a caregiver to quit. Early results are promising: pilot programs saw a 15% increase in 90-day retention for caregivers using the CoachUp Care perks. The partnership will also gather data on how these supports impact turnover and care outcomes. MissionCare’s CEO Brandi Kurtyka said retention isn’t just a staffing issue but “a quality metric” – when caregivers stay longer, residents get more consistent, compassionate care. The Uber voucher feature is rolling out to senior care organizations nationwide this fall.

National Assisted Living Week Celebrates ‘Ageless Adventures’ – This week (Sept. 7–13) marks National Assisted Living Week 2025, and communities across the country are celebrating with the theme “Ageless Adventures.” The annual observance, established by AHCA/NCAL, honors seniors and assisted living staff by encouraging adventure and discovery regardless of age. Assisted living communities in the Kansas City area and beyond have organized special events in the spirit of the theme: some are hosting travel-themed parties, others have arranged outings like local museum tours, nature walks, or even hot-air balloon rides for residents! The idea is to show that older adults can continue to enjoy new experiences and lifelong learning. At one Kansas community, residents shared stories of past adventures and created bucket lists of activities they still want to try. Staff have decorated facilities with maps, safari and cruise motifs, and throwback photos of resident adventures. Many locations are also using the week to invite local youth and families in for intergenerational events – proving that adventure truly spans all ages. National Assisted Living Week not only provides fun but also draws positive attention to the caring work done in these communities every day. It’s a reminder that seniors in assisted living can live vibrant, engaging lives with the support of dedicated caregivers.