Kevin Blair, Mike Hulse and Ben Usher have formed tech firm Neurovirse

Three North West entrepreneurs have joined forces in a startup that aims to make it easier for neurodiverse people to find jobs with the world’s biggest businesses.

Kevin Blair, Mike Hulse and Ben Usher have formed tech firm Neurovirse to develop an AI-powered recruitment platform with the mission statement “from stigma to superpower”.

They say most job platforms and big company recruitment programmes aren’t suited to neurodiverse people, which means companies and recruiters are missing out on a potentially big pool of talent.

They launched the platform to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week – and say they want the business to grow to serve as many as a million candidates worldwide.

The founders have already enjoyed successful careers in the recruitment and tech sectors. Mike and Kevin have worked in senior roles for companies including Salesforce, IBM, Microsoft, Ricoh and Ericsson.

Ben, originally from Wirral, is a former child and teenage actor who appeared in adverts for Nerf guns during X Factor advert breaks. He moved into recruitment and has worked in senior recruitment roles for organisations including the University of Manchester, Manchester United and The Very Group.

Neurovirse will focus on helping connect candidates with “enterprise” companies – the global giants that each employ hundreds or thousands of people.

Ben said: “Our mission is ‘from stigma to superpower’ – so it’s to give these candidates access to jobs in these kind of enterprise environments.”

He added: “We want to help a million candidates plus, globally, and we want to give them access to enterprise job opportunities with some of the largest companies in the world.”

Neurodiversity is a term that can encompass neurological differences including autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Neurodiversity Celebration Week aims to ensure “neurological differences are recognised and respected as all other human variations”. The NCW website says: “Many challenges neurodivergent people face are more to do with the environment and systems they are placed in, often designed by a majority population.”

Explaining the challenges in recruitment, Ben said: “The way the recruitment process is set up in a lot of enterprise companies at the moment is, we believe, set up for neurotypical candidates. So when candidates are applying for jobs with some of the largest companies in the world, there’s a number of stages that they have to go through that we believe aren’t set up for neurodivergent people.

“Typically there will be five or six stage processes to these things where they’re expected to go to a 20 or 30-person assessment center in a room, then expected to go to a five or a six person panel interview and they’re given a task to take home.”

Instead, Neurovirse allows candidates to log on to the platform and take an assessment to come up with a “success profile. Neurovirse will then use AI to match those profiles with companies looking to recruit for particular roles, bypassing traditional recruitment steps.

Ben said the reaction from candidates so far to the platform had been “really positive”. The business was founded a year ago and is now fundraising so it can launch globally.

As well as appearing in those Nerf adverts, the young Ben also appeared in some episodes of Hollyoaks, Grange Hill and Waterloo Road.

He smiled: “I’ve been acting from five or six years old. I’ve had an agent from 13 years old, been on both stage and screen. I was the face of Nerf on ITV1 and ITV2 in the advert break of X Factor… you’ll probably see me on all the boxes and all the adverts.”

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OpenAI confirmed it will begin displaying advertisements to every user on the free and low-cost Go tiers of ChatGPT in the United States in the coming weeks, expanding a pilot program launched earlier this year to help offset massive computational costs and fuel broader access to its AI tools.

A company spokesperson told Reuters on March 21 that the rollout targets all eligible users in the U.S., following initial testing that began in February 2026. The move, first reported by The Information, comes after OpenAI integrated advertising technology from Criteo earlier this month to enhance ad buying and targeting capabilities.

Ads first appeared in limited tests starting February 9, 2026, for logged-in adult users on the Free and Go plans, as announced on OpenAI’s blog. Higher-tier subscriptions — including ChatGPT Plus ($20/month), Pro ($200/month), Business, Enterprise and Education — remain ad-free, preserving a premium, uninterrupted experience for paying customers.

The advertisements appear at the bottom of ChatGPT responses when relevant, labeled clearly as sponsored and separated from the core AI-generated answer. OpenAI emphasized that ads do not influence the content or quality of responses, conversations stay private from advertisers, and no user data is sold. Users can learn why an ad appeared, dismiss it and provide feedback. Protections exclude ads for users under 18 (based on self-reporting or predictions) and bar placements near sensitive topics like health, mental health or politics.

The expansion aligns with OpenAI’s January 16, 2026, announcement introducing the ChatGPT Go tier at $8 per month (available globally, including the U.S.) alongside plans to test ads on Free and Go to “expand affordable access” without heavy usage caps. Executives described the strategy as supporting long-term sustainability amid soaring expenses for training and running models like GPT-4o and successors.

Industry observers view the shift as a natural evolution for the AI leader, which has relied heavily on subscription revenue and massive investments from partners like Microsoft. With compute demands driving billions in annual costs, diversifying income through targeted, context-aware ads offers a path to profitability without fully gating advanced features behind paywalls.

Early feedback from the February test phase was mixed. Some users appreciated the non-intrusive placement and relevance — such as product suggestions tied to shopping or travel queries — while others expressed frustration over the introduction of commercial elements into what many saw as a “pure” AI conversation tool. Social media discussions on platforms like Reddit highlighted concerns about potential degradation of user experience, though OpenAI reiterated its commitment to prioritizing trust over revenue optimization.

The rollout also reflects broader trends in the generative AI sector. Competitors like Google (with Gemini) and Anthropic have experimented with monetization, while Perplexity AI has integrated sponsored results more aggressively. OpenAI’s approach — confining ads to lower tiers and excluding them from core responses — aims to balance accessibility with premium value.

Advertisers have shown strong interest. Reports indicate OpenAI pitched dozens of brands in late 2025 and early 2026, securing trial commitments and launching campaigns through partners like Criteo. Initial focus appears on e-commerce, travel and consumer products, leveraging conversational context for higher relevance than traditional search or social ads.

For U.S. users on Free or Go plans, ads are expected to appear gradually over the next few weeks as the expansion deploys. OpenAI has not detailed exact timing or volume but stressed iterative improvements based on user feedback during the test. Those preferring an ad-free experience can upgrade to Plus or higher, or — in some cases — opt for reduced free messages in exchange for no ads.

The decision underscores the financial realities facing frontier AI companies. OpenAI’s valuation has soared past $150 billion in recent funding rounds, but profitability remains elusive amid competition and infrastructure demands. Advertising revenue could provide a significant boost, especially as free-tier usage drives massive scale and data advantages for model improvement.

As the rollout unfolds, attention will turn to user retention, ad performance metrics and potential international expansion. For now, millions of American ChatGPT users face a new element in their daily AI interactions — one designed to keep the tool widely available while funding the next wave of innovation.

Bahrain International Airport (BAH) continues to suspend all flight operations today, March 22, 2026, due to the prolonged closure of Bahraini airspace ordered by the Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA), leaving travelers stranded and airlines rerouting services amid heightened regional security concerns.

The official Bahrain International Airport website states clearly: “Flight operations at Bahrain International Airport are suspended due to the Bahraini airspace closure, mandated by the Bahrain Civil Aviation Authority.” Identical notices appear on the arrivals and departures pages, confirming the temporary halt remains in effect “to ensure the highest level of safety for our passengers and employees.” As of the latest updates posted Sunday morning local time, no reopening timeline has been announced, with operations set to resume only once the CAA deems the airspace safe.

The suspension, which began in early March, stems from escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, including reported U.S.-Israel military actions against Iran and related threats that prompted precautionary airspace closures across several Gulf states. A Reuters analysis highlighted a separate incident involving a U.S. Patriot missile malfunction that allegedly struck a civilian area near Manama, injuring 10 people and raising further questions about regional air defense reliability. While not directly linked to the airport closure, the event underscores the volatile environment contributing to the decision.

Flight tracking platforms reflect the shutdown. FlightStats, Flightradar24 and Trip.com show no active arrivals or departures at BAH today, with many scheduled flights marked as canceled. Earlier in the day, some trackers listed hypothetical or pre-suspension entries, but real-time data confirms zero movements. Gulf Air, the national carrier, has extended special operations through March 22 via King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, allowing limited connectivity for routes like London Heathrow and Mumbai as a workaround.

Passengers face significant disruptions. Airlines advise checking directly for updates, as cancellations, diversions and rescheduling continue without a fixed end date. The King Fahd Causeway linking Bahrain to Saudi Arabia operates normally, providing a ground alternative for some regional travel. However, international flyers report challenges rebooking, with many stuck in nearby hubs or delaying trips.

Authorities emphasize the measure is precautionary. The CAA and airport operator Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) have reiterated that technical systems at the facility remain fully operational — the issue is external airspace restrictions, not infrastructure problems. Updates from social media accounts tied to local news outlets, including NewsofBahrain and airport-related pages, confirm the status as of March 22: “Flight operations continue to remain temporarily suspended as the closure of Bahraini airspace is still in effect.”

The closure has ripple effects across the Gulf aviation network. Neighboring airports in Dubai, Doha and Riyadh have seen increased traffic from rerouted flights, while carriers adjust schedules to minimize passenger impact. Gulf Air, in particular, has focused on repatriation and essential travel via Dammam since mid-March, with booking windows extended to accommodate affected passengers.

Travelers planning to use BAH should monitor official sources closely. The airport’s website (bahrainairport.bh) provides the most authoritative information, supplemented by airline apps and the CAA. No incidents at the airport itself have been reported, and ground facilities remain open for limited services like ticketing support or baggage handling where applicable.

The situation highlights vulnerabilities in Middle East air travel during periods of conflict. Past similar closures — often tied to missile threats or military exercises — have lasted days to weeks before gradual reopenings. For now, experts advise against non-essential travel through Bahrain until official notices confirm resumption.

As regional diplomacy and security assessments continue, Bahrain International Airport stands idle, a stark reminder of how quickly geopolitical events can ground an entire aviation hub. Passengers affected by the suspension are urged to contact airlines for rebooking options, refunds or alternative routing. Further updates are expected from the CAA and airport authorities as conditions evolve.

Last week, the BSE benchmark Sensex dipped 30.96 points, or 0.04 per cent, and the NSE Nifty slipped 36.6 points, or 0.15 per cent.

“Markets ended the week on a largely flat note with a negative bias, reflecting underlying caution among participants. The tone remained positive during the first three sessions; however, a sharp decline on Thursday erased the gains, followed by a volatile final session,” Ajit Mishra, SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said.

While HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Bajaj Finance and Hindustan Unilever were the laggards, Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel, State Bank of India, Infosys, and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) emerged as the winners.

The combined market valuation of the five firms eroded by Rs 1,02,771.87 crore.

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HDFC Bank’s valuation tumbled Rs 56,124.48 crore to Rs 12,01,267.28 crore.
The market valuation of Hindustan Unilever dropped Rs 18,009.62 crore to Rs 4,89,631.32 crore.Bajaj Finance lost Rs 15,338.42 crore to Rs 5,16,715.12 crore.

The market capitalisation (mcap) of TCS declined Rs 7,127.63 crore to Rs 8,64,940 crore and that of ICICI Bank edged lower by Rs 6,171.72 crore to Rs 8,91,673.06 crore.

However, the valuation Reliance Industries jumped Rs 45,942.75 crore to Rs 19,14,235.92 crore.

The mcap of Bharti Airtel surged Rs 24,462.03 crore to Rs 10,52,893.75 crore and that of State Bank of India climbed Rs 10,707.52 crore to Rs 9,76,968.57 crore.

The market valuation of LIC edged higher by Rs 2,624.88 crore to Rs 4,91,610.45 crore and Infosys added Rs 2,473.79 crore taking its mcap to Rs 5,08,789.37 crore.

Reliance Industries remained the most-valued firm, followed by HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, TCS, Bajaj Finance, Infosys, LIC and Hindustan Unilever Ltd.