Ubuntu 24.04 Stomps Windows 11 In Benchmarks

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Ubuntu 24.04 Stomps Windows 11 In Benchmarks

Ubuntu 24.04 is boasting some impressive performance improvements, with the upcoming OS stomping Windows 11 in benchmarks.

Canonical is closing in on the release of the latest Ubuntu LTS, with Ubuntu 24.04 in Release Candidate stage. Despite not being officially released yet, the new version appears to be a speed demon.

Phoronix tested Ubuntu 24.04 against 23.10 and Windows 11 in 101 benchmarks. The test was conducted on a Framework laptop, with “the 8-core / 16-thread AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS Zen 4 SoC with Radeon RX 7700S graphics, a 512GB SN810 NVMe SSD, MediaTek MT7922 WiFi, and a 2560 x 1600 display.”

Out of 101 benchmarks carried out on all three operating systems with the Framework 16 laptop, Ubuntu 24.04 was the fastest in 67% of those tests, the prior Ubuntu 23.10 led in 22% (typically with slim margins to 24.04), and then Microsoft Windows 11 was the front-runner just 10% of the time…

Windows 11 is already wildly unpopular, with Microsoft struggling to convince Windows 10 users to upgrade. The fact that its performance is so bad is not going to help the company make its case.

Ubuntu 24.04 Stomps Windows 11 In Benchmarks
Matt Milano

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Frontier Communications Hit by Cyberattack

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Frontier Communications Hit by Cyberattack

ISP Frontier Communications is the latest victim of a cyberattack and has been forced to shut down some systems in response.

According to an SEC filing, Frontier became aware of the breach on April 14, 2024. The company says bad actors gained access to portions of the company’s IT systems. In response, Frontier shut down parts of its systems to contain the breach.

Frontier says that shutting down its systems has caused disruptions to its operations. While it is still investigating the breach, the company does believe personally identifiable information was accessed.

Below is the company’s statement to the SEC:

On April 14, 2024, Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. (the “Company”) detected that a third party had gained unauthorized access to portions of its information technology environment. Upon detection, the Company initiated its previously established cyber incident response protocols and took measures to contain the incident. As part of this process, the containment measures, which included shutting down certain of the Company’s systems, resulted in an operational disruption that could be considered material. Based on the Company’s investigation, it has determined that the third party was likely a cybercrime group, which gained access to, among other information, personally identifiable information.

As of the date of this filing, the Company believes it has contained the incident and has restored its core information technology environment and is in the process of restoring normal business operations.

The Company continues to investigate the incident, has engaged cybersecurity experts, and has notified law enforcement authorities. The Company does not believe the incident is reasonably likely to materially impact the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Users whose data was accessed will no doubt be contacted in the near future.

Frontier Communications Hit by Cyberattack
Matt Milano

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CEOs Fear AI Will Replace Them

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CEOs Fear AI Will Replace Them

It seems low-level jobs aren’t the only ones on the AI chopping block, with a large percentage of CEOs concerned AI may replace them.

One of the most controversial issues with AI is the impact it is expected to have on workers, with many concerned it will take over a slew of jobs. Until now, those concerns largely revolved around low and mid-level jobs, especially repetitive ones. IBM CEO Arvind Krishna infamously said he expected to see 30% of the company’s back-office jobs replaced by AI.

According to a report by AND Digital, CEOs are now joining the list workers afraid of losing their jobs. The report found that “43% of CEOs believe AI could replace the job of the CEO.” Interestingly, in some ways AI is already replacing them, since “45% of CEOs admitted to making major business decisions based on data and information obtained using ChatGPT.”

There may be a correlation between CEOs’ technical abilities and concerns about AI, with a surprising majority of CEOs describing themselves as “analogue.”

Shockingly, 64% of the CEOs we polled feel they are an analogue CEO in a digital age, creating profound challenges in leading their organisations into the next phase of growth. — Paramjit Uppal, AND Digital Founder

AND Digital’s findings offer an interesting look into the world of CEOs. The full report can be found here.

CEOs Fear AI Will Replace Them
Matt Milano

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TSMC to Charge More For Chips Made In the US

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TSMC to Charge More For Chips Made In the US

TSMC will reportedly charge more for chips made at its Arizona plant, as well as any locations outside of Taiwan.

TSMC is investing billions to build a plant in Arizona capable of manufacturing its advanced chips. The company has received funding from the US CHIPS Act, part of the efforts by the US to become semiconductor independent. Just because chips are made in Arizona, however, doesn’t mean the company will charge the same.

“If a customer requests to be in a certain geographical area, the customer needs to share the incremental cost,” TSMC CEO CC Wei said on an earnings call, according to Engadget. “In today’s fragmented globalization environment, cost will be higher for everyone, including TSMC, our customers and our competitors.”

The news is not entirely surprising. TSMC has spent decades building the necessary infrastructure in Taiwan to support its chip manufacturing. In the meantime, the US spent those same decades outsourcing its own manufacturing needs overseas. As a result, the US doesn’t have the same infrastructure in place, which will understandably add to the cost of making chips in-country.

Whether that will remain the case, or gradually improve over time, remains to be seen. With TSMC, Intel, and Samsung all building foundries in the US, the necessary infrastructure may one day rival Taiwan.

TSMC to Charge More For Chips Made In the US
Matt Milano

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LinkedIn Adds Value-Based Job Search

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LinkedIn Adds Value-Based Job Search

LinkedIn is adding a novel feature to its job search capabilities, giving users the ability to search for jobs with companies that align with their values.

The past few years have shown a spotlight on the importance of working for a company that has compatible values. Recent layoffs, remote work, and hybrid work are just a few of the factors that have led to some rude awakening for many, illustrating how different their values are from the companies they work for.

LinkedIn wants to help address this, making it easier for employees and companies to find matches based on shared values.

“We’re rolling out a new job search filter so you can easily search for open roles based on an organization’s commitment to values such as work-life balance, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), career growth and learning, social impact and environmental sustainability,” writes Rohan Rajiv, Product Lead on Jobseeker, Employer Brand, Skills. “To begin, simply go to the LinkedIn Jobs tab to start a job search, then click on ‘All filters’ where you’ll see a dedicated ‘Commitments’ section and select specific values types to narrow down your search.”

As Rajiv goes on to write, matching candidates with companies that share their values can have a profound impact on the quality of work.

Not surprisingly, organizations that emphasize their values are better suited to attract interested candidates and also motivate their employees, especially when it comes to younger generations inspired by purpose-driven work: 85% of Gen Z professionals in the U.S. who work for a company with shared values say they frequently go above and beyond in their job. And on LinkedIn, we’ve seen a more than 154% increase in entry-level jobs globally including values-related terms from 2020-2022.

LinkedIn’s new feature is an innovative solution that should benefit companies and workers alike.

LinkedIn Adds Value-Based Job Search
Matt Milano

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Google Employees Fired After In-Office Protests Against Israel Contract

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Google Employees Fired After In-Office Protests Against Israel Contract

In a bold move underscoring the importance of workplace order and productivity, Google has terminated 28 employees involved in a disruptive sit-in protesting the company’s business dealings with Israel. This decisive action comes amidst Israel’s ongoing military efforts to protect its citizens from the terrorist actions of Hamas. The terminated employees, by staging their protest in key office spaces, including the office of the head of Google Cloud on the West Coast and New York City offices, not only defaced Google’s property but also significantly hindered their colleagues’ ability to work.

This incident highlights the critical need for maintaining a professional environment where political activism does not jeopardize business operations. The employees’ failure to recognize that their First Amendment rights do not extend to private property, especially in a manner that disrupts business activities, warranted Google’s stern response. By prioritizing the workspace’s sanctity and employees’ safety, Google has sent a clear message that while employee voices are valued, they must not infringe upon the collective right to a safe and productive work environment.

The response to the sit-in reflects a growing recognition among corporations that actions have consequences, particularly when they infringe upon the rights and safety of others within the workplace. The incident also brings to light the broader societal issue of increasing tensions and how these are mirrored within companies. As Google takes a stand against such disruptive activities, it sets a precedent for other companies grappling with similar challenges, affirming the importance of upholding workplace integrity and the well-being of all employees over individual political agendas.

This event is a crucial reminder of the delicate balance companies must strike between respecting employee rights to expression and ensuring that such expressions do not become disruptive or harmful. Google’s actions represent a firm but necessary step towards maintaining this balance, reaffirming that while debate and dialogue are encouraged, they must not come at the expense of the broader workplace community and its operations.

Google Employees Fired After In-Office Protests Against Israel Contract
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Biden Administration Wants to Triple Tariffs On Chinese Steel

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Biden Administration Wants to Triple Tariffs On Chinese Steel

Amid concerns about the U.S. steel industry, including a proposed sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel, the Biden administration wants to triple tariffs on Chinese steel.

Jared Bernstein, Chairman of President Biden’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), joined CNBC Television to discuss Biden’s plans. Speaking of President Biden, Bernstein said:

“He’s recognized the importance of investing in American manufacturing, and he’s followed through on that as no modern president has before him,” Bernstein said. “And American steel which, by the way, is among the cleanest, lowest-emission steel produced in the world, is key to our manufacturing agenda.

“It’s also the case that we have to protect those investments and the workers who make that steel, from unfair exports associated with China’s industrial over-capacity. That’s what’s behind what you just described, directing our trade representative to consider tripling the steel tariffs, on China specifically.”

When asked if increased tariffs could have an inflationary effect, Bernstein emphasized that this is a “targeted intervention” that should have little impact.

“In many ways, this is a targeted intervention that shouldn’t have much impact at all on inflation,” Bernstein added. “It’s the case that the amount of Chinese steel we import is actually quite small at this point. But given their investment in excess capacity, and particularly the high carbon emission inherent in their steel, this intervention is important in a preventive sense.”

Bernstein then went on warn of the danger of ignoring a country that exports excess production into the United States, essentially “hollowing out” U.S. manufacturing capability.

President Biden has voiced his opposition to U.S. Steel’s sale to Nippon despite the deal being approved by shareholders. Bernstein confirmed that Biden believes domestic steel manufacturing is the backbone of ‘the American economy, the bedrock of U.S. national security.’

Biden Administration Wants to Triple Tariffs On Chinese Steel
Matt Milano

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