* Goldman Sachs plans AI-driven productivity gains, memo reveals * Firm expects net increase in headcount despite job cuts * AI initiative focuses on sales, client onboarding, and critical processes * Annual staffing cuts moved to second quarter, targeting 3%-5% reduction (Adds Bloomberg's reporting in paragraph 5, earnings background in paragraph 6) Oct 14 (Reuters) – Goldman Sachs has informed employees of potential job cuts and a hiring slowdown through the end of the year, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters, as the Wall Street giant aims to use artificial intelligence to enhance productivity. Calling the initiative "OneGS 3.0", the memo said some of the priorities for its AI initiative are sales and client on-boarding process, as well as other critical areas such as lending processes, regulatory reporting, and vendor management. "The rapidly accelerating advancements in AI can unlock significant productivity gains for us, and we are confident we can re-invest those gains to continue delivering world-class solutions for our clients," said the memo, signed by CEO David Solomon, President John Waldron and CFO Denis Coleman. A spokesman for the firm said the company still expects to finish the year with a net increase in overall headcount. Bloomberg reported the memo on the job cuts earlier. Goldman Sachs beat Wall Street expectations for third-quarter profit on Tuesday, as its investment bankers earned higher advisory fees and rallying markets boosted revenue from managing client assets. The Wall Street giant made major leadership changes this year, introducing co-heads across its major divisions and adding six new members to its management committee. The firm also created a new financing division. The company also pulled forward annual staffing cuts to the second quarter this year from September. The exercise typically targets a headcount reduction of 3% to 5% based on performance. (Reporting by Ateev Bhandari in Bengaluru and Saeed Azhar in New York; Editing by Leroy Leo and Nick Zieminski)
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