WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The Federal Reserve has announced five new task forces to review and improve how the U.S. central bank carries out its work. Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh introduced the initiative and named a group of outside advisers who will lead each panel. The list includes economists, technology investors, business leaders, and academics.
One of the most notable appointments is Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. She will help lead the task force focused on productivity and jobs. The announcement comes only days after Sharma revealed a major restructuring at Xbox that will eliminate about 3,200 jobs by the end of the company’s 2027 fiscal year.
The Federal Reserve said the Productivity and Jobs task force will study how new technologies, especially artificial intelligence, affect employment, business output, and economic growth. The panel will use its findings to help inform future Federal Reserve policy discussions.
Sharma will serve alongside Stanford University economics professor Charles I. Jones and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. Jones is currently on leave at AI company Anthropic. Meanwhile, Andreessen has invested heavily in artificial intelligence companies and remains one of the technology industry’s best-known investors.
Chairman Warsh said the Federal Reserve wants to strengthen its approach as the U.S. economy continues to evolve. He said the central bank remains committed to its goals of maintaining price stability and supporting maximum employment. At the same time, he said the task forces will examine whether the Fed can improve its methods, research tools, and policy approaches.
According to the Federal Reserve, each task force will focus on a different area of the institution’s work. Together, the groups will review existing practices and recommend ways to improve decision-making. The central bank also said it will post updates on the task forces’ progress from time to time.
Sharma’s appointment has drawn attention because of the timing. Just three days before the Federal Reserve’s announcement, she unveiled a broad restructuring plan for Xbox. The company said the changes aim to reshape its business and prepare for future growth. However, the plan also includes significant workforce reductions.
The restructuring will affect thousands of employees across Xbox. Reports also indicate that several game development teams expect the changes to disrupt ongoing projects. Some developers reportedly worry that the new structure could weaken some of Xbox’s best-known gaming franchises over time.
In addition, Sharma announced that Mojang and King, two of Xbox’s largest gaming businesses, will report directly to her under the new organization. As a result, she will oversee a wider range of operations while also taking on her new advisory role with the Federal Reserve.
Even so, the Federal Reserve described its task force members as experienced leaders from different fields who can provide valuable perspectives. The central bank said this mix of expertise will help it better understand how emerging technologies influence the economy.
Artificial intelligence has become a growing topic for policymakers, businesses, and researchers. Companies continue to invest in AI tools, while many workers and employers weigh both the opportunities and the challenges that the technology creates. Therefore, the Federal Reserve’s decision to establish a dedicated task force reflects the increasing importance of AI in economic planning.
The inclusion of technology executives also highlights the Federal Reserve’s effort to gather views from outside traditional government and academic circles. Supporters say industry leaders can offer practical insight into how businesses adopt new technologies. At the same time, critics often question whether corporate executives should play a larger role in shaping discussions about public policy.
