Microsoft is making a welcome change to Skype, removing ads in Skype channels, along with adding a number of additional improvements.
Skype was once the king of online messaging, before losing popularity to a host of newer competitors that offered better security, including WhatsApp, iMessage, Signal, and Telegram. What’s more, those services generally offer a far superior experience, including an ad-free one.
It appears Microsoft is at least addressing that last issue, according to a post on its community forums.
We’re excited to announce that Skype is now ad-free! Our latest update removes all ads from Skype channels and the entire Skype platform, ensuring a smoother, decluttered and more enjoyable user experience.
Ad-Free Channels: Enjoy uninterrupted browsing and communication in all your favorite Skype channels.
Seamless Conversations: Focus on your chats without any ad distractions, making your Skype experience cleaner and more user-friendly.
User-Centric Design: We’ve prioritized your feedback to create a more streamlined and pleasant environment across all platforms.
Thank you for your continued support as we strive to make Skype the best communication tool for everyone. Enjoy an ad-free experience and keep the conversations flowing!
In addition to getting rid of ads, Microsoft has improved the interface, streamlined access to the AI image creator, optimized menu items, improved navigation, and made sign-ins easier with OneAuth integration.
The hits keep coming for Intel, with the company planning to let thousands of employees go in a new round of layoffs that could happen this week.
Intel is trying to turn around its fortunes under CEO Pat Gelsinger. Unfortunately, the company has hit multiple speed bumps along the way, including multiple rounds of layoffs. Intel had at least two rounds of layoffs in 2023, impacting its Cloud, GPU, and data center divisions.
According to Bloomberg, sources have confirmed that the company is preparing for another round of layoffs, one that may be substantially larger than some of the the previous ones. The company is reportedly hoping the layoffs will help it continue to fund its turnaround and offset its market share losses.
The outlet’s sources asked not to be identified, but did confirm the layoffs could be announced as early as this week.
Microsoft had reported another strong quarterly result, thanks to cloud computing, and has authorized a one-time cash award for employees.
According to the company, its revenue was $64.7 billion, an increase of 15% over the year-ago quarter. Net income came in at $22 billion, also an increase of 15% from the year-ago quarter. Earnings per share were $2.95, an increase of 10%.
“Our strong performance this fiscal year speaks both to our innovation and to the trust customers continue to place in Microsoft,” said Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft. “As a platform company, we are focused on meeting the mission-critical needs of our customers across our at-scale platforms today, while also ensuring we lead the AI era.”
“We closed out our fiscal year with a solid quarter, highlighted by record bookings and Microsoft Cloud quarterly revenue of $36.8 billion, up 21% (up 22% in constant currency) year-over-year,” said Amy Hood, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Microsoft.
According to GeekWire, Microsoft told employees it plans to give a one-time cash award in addition to their annual bonus. The cash bonus is slated to be anywhere from 10% to 25% of their annual bonus.
“The senior leadership team and I want to recognize the tremendous work and impact of our people who delivered a terrific year of solid execution and world-class innovation,” wrote Chief People Officer Kathleen Hogan in a company memo.
“All Microsoft employees in levels 67 and below, including hourly and equivalents, who receive FY24 rewards will be eligible to receive a special one-time only cash award in addition to their annual rewards,” Hogan added. “This special one-time cash award will scale based on the employee’s FY24 impact.”
Hogan said the cash award is a reflection of the role employees have played in the company’s stellar quarter.
“We recognize our FY24 success is a direct result of the incredible focus, creativity, and collaboration of our people and our collective efforts as One Microsoft,” Hogan wrote. “We are grateful for your dedication to our mission so that together we can continue to empower everyone around the world.”
GeekWire says Microsoft has intentionally structured the award to give more to newer employees who have less seniority, as well as less stock options.
“For example, employees in higher levels such as 67 would receive a cash award equivalent to approximately 10% of their annual bonus, whereas employees level 61 and below would receive a cash award equivalent to approximately 25% of their annual bonus,” Hogan wrote. “As the SLT considered this award, our goal was to ensure that everyone eligible receives a meaningful amount at all levels, and thus the differences in percentage of bonus based on level.”
It’s good to see companies valuing the role employees play in their success, and Microsoft is to be commended for taking the step it has.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has ruled that Amazon is ultimately responsible for defective third-party products sold via its platform.
Amazon’s role in handling recalls and defective products has been a bit of a gray area, given that many of the products sold via its online platform are sold by third parties. The Commission received a complaint in 2021, alleging that Amazon was distributing products that posed a “substantial product hazard” under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).
During the CPSC’s investigation, Amazon did not deny the risk posed by the products, but argued to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) that it was technically not a distributor, as defined by the CPSA, since the products were sold by third parties. Therefore, the company argued that it was not responsible for any recalls or mitigation efforts.
The CPSC ruled against the company, saying the company did qualify as a distributor.
The ALJ rejected Amazon’s argument, holding that Amazon acted as a distributor in this matter. The Commission affirmed that holding in today’s decision.
Amazon also claimed that sending messages to initial purchasers about “potential” safety issues and providing initial purchasers with Amazon.com credits – rather than refunds incentivizing product return or destruction – were sufficient to remedy the product hazards. The Commission, as well as the ALJ, disagreed, finding Amazon’s actions inadequate to protect the public.
Amazon must now develop and submit proposed plans to notify purchasers and the public about the product hazards, and to provide refunds or replacements for these products. Notice to the public is important so that people who may have received one of the products as a gift or purchased it second-hand can learn about the hazards. The Commission will consider these plans and then issue a second order on notification and remedies.
This puts Amazon on the same playing field as Walmart, Target, and other US retailers who must serve notice and facilitate recalls of defective products as a part of their role in distributing them.
Tesla is recalling 1.8 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles as a result of a “latch switch deformation” which can lead to “unintended hood opening events.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a faulty latch switch led to a number of incidents, with the bulk of them in China. The faulty switch preventing customers “from being notified of an open hood state,” leading to the “unintended hood opening events.”
Tesla first began investigating in March 2024, expanding its investigation to Europe and North America in June. While there were incidents in Europe and North America, the rates were lower compared to China, although Tesla is not sure why.
The NHTSA says Tesla is voluntarily recalling vehicles “out of an abundance of caution.”
Description of Remedy Program:
Beginning on June 18, 2024, at no cost to customers, affected vehicles received an over-the-air software remedy with firmware release 2024.20.3. Firmware release 2024.20.3 or a later firmware release detects the open hood and provides a customer-facing user interface notification of the hood open state.
How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component:
The remedy component incorporates the software remedy described above whereas the recalled component does not incorporate the software remedy described above.
Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production:
Beginning on July 15, 2024, Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in production received a software release (2024.20.100) that incorporates the software remedy described above.
Meta has settled with the state of Texas for a record $1.4 billion over the company’s unauthorized collection of biometric data.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Meta in March 2022, accusing the company of illegally collecting users’ biometric data. AG Paxton said the company was collecting users collecting the data without obtaining user consent, a violation of the state’s Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
In a press release Tuesday, Paxton’s office said Meta had agreed to the “largest settlement ever obtained from an action brought by a single state.”
This settlement is the largest ever obtained from an action brought by a single State. Further, this is the largest privacy settlement an Attorney General has ever obtained, dwarfing the $390 million settlement a group of 40 states obtained in late 2022 from Google. This is the first lawsuit brought and first settlement obtained under Texas’s “Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier” Act and serves as a warning to any companies engaged in practices that violate Texans’ privacy rights.
The lawsuit focused on Meta’s Tag Suggestions feature, that allowed users to tag others in photographs.
Unbeknownst to most Texans, for more than a decade Meta ran facial recognition software on virtually every face contained in the photographs uploaded to Facebook, capturing records of the facial geometry of the people depicted. Meta did this despite knowing that CUBI forbids companies from capturing biometric identifiers of Texans, including records of face geometry, unless the business first informs the person and receives their consent to capture the biometric identifier.
“After vigorously pursuing justice for our citizens whose privacy rights were violated by Meta’s use of facial recognition software, I’m proud to announce that we have reached the largest settlement ever obtained from an action brought by a single State,” said Attorney General Paxton. “This historic settlement demonstrates our commitment to standing up to the world’s biggest technology companies and holding them accountable for breaking the law and violating Texans’ privacy rights. Any abuse of Texans’ sensitive data will be met with the full force of the law.”
Microsoft is dealing with a significant outage impacting both its Microsoft 365 and Azure services Tuesday morning.
Microsoft acknowledged the issue early Tuesday morning in an X post:
We're currently investigating access issues and degraded performance with multiple Microsoft 365 services and features. More information can be found under MO842351 in the admin center.
— Microsoft 365 Status (@MSFT365Status) July 30, 2024
Shortly after, Azure Support acknowledged that Azure Services is also experiencing issues:
Thank you for your patience. We are currently investigating an issue impacting Azure Services. Our teams are actively working to resolve this as early as possible. Meanwhile, you can keep updated on our Status page here: https://t.co/9H8NMXJzw2 . ^AD https://t.co/EYpi1mpPwk
Interestingly, Microsoft originally said more information could be found at status.cloud.microsoft before realizing the status page is also affected and unavailable.
Microsoft has had a rough couple of weeks, thanks to the CrowdStrike debacle. This latest outage is not likely to win the company any accolades.
Good news for Poton VPN users, with the company announcing it has passed its third consecutive no logs audit by an independent party.
The top VPN options in the world guarantee a no-logs policy, meaning they do not log user activity. As founder Andy Yen points out, the company’s no-logs claim was tested in 2019. The company was ordered by Swiss authorities to turn over logs to help identify a user. The company could not comply because there were no logs to turn over.
Despite that endorsement, the company has had security firm Securitum perform regular audits on the company’s software, including Proton VPN, to make sure an accidental misconfiguration couldn’t leak user data.
According to Yen, the most recent audit “uncovered no significant security issues,” and he says the company’s security is aided by Proton apps’ code being open source and benefiting from the company’s bug bounty program.
“During the audit, it was confirmed that the Proton VPN product complies with the No-Log policy and offers the highest standards of security and privacy,” reads the Securitum report. “No traces of user logs were detected, and user privacy is protected through both technical and organizational measures. All changes and additional features are developed based on the fundamental principle of maximizing user security and privacy”.
The full report can be read here. In the meantime, however, Securitum’s report confirms that Proton VPN is one of the top VPNs.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order aimed at addressing “dangerous encampments” that pose a risk to the homeless, as well as surrounding areas.
California has received its fair share of criticism over its homeless crisis, with numbers rising dramatically over the last several years, in no small part as a result of runaway housing costs within the state.
The state’s issues with homelessness and drug abuse have been factors in several high-profile companies leaving, or threatening to leave. Google recently announced it will not renew its lease for its largest office space in San Francisco, and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff threatened that 2023’s Dreamforce could be the last one in San Francisco if it was “impacted by the current situation with homelessness and drug use.”
Governor Newsom appears to be taking action, with his executive order first acknowledging the scope of the problem.
California is experiencing a homelessness crisis decades in the making, with over 180,000 people estimated to have experienced homelessness on any given night in 2023, including 123,000 people who experienced unsheltered homelessness, living in tents, trailers, and vehicles across the state.
The executive order goes on to highlight the efforts that have been made to address the problem.
Since the beginning of my Administration, the State has made unprecedented investments to address the homelessness crisis head on, investing more than $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments, including $4.85 billion in flexible funding to local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness through Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grants, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and supports to people living in encampments, and $3.3 billion to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness through Homekey.
Governor Newsom addressed the dangers that some encampments pose, both to the homeless, as well as as businesses and neighborhoods.
It is imperative to act with urgency to address dangerous encampments, which subject unsheltered individuals living in them to extreme weather, fires, predatory and criminal activity, and widespread substance use, harming their health, safety, and well-being, and which also threaten the safety and viability of nearby businesses and neighborhoods and undermine the cleanliness and usability of parks, water supplies, and other public resources.
The Governor’s order constitutes four specific points.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1) Agencies and departments subject to my authority shall adopt policies, generally consistent with California Department of Transportation’s Maintenance Policy Directive 1001-R1, to address encampments on state property, including through partnerships with other state and local agencies, and shall prioritize efforts to address encampments consistent with such policy. Such policies shall include the following:
a. Whenever feasible, site assessment in advance of removal operations to determine whether an encampment poses an imminent threat to life, health, safety or infrastructure such that exigent circumstances require immediate removal of the encampment.
b. Where exigent circumstances exist, as much advance notice to vacate as reasonable under the circumstances.
c. Where no exigent circumstances exist, posting of a notice to vacate at the site at least 48 hours prior to initiating removal.
d. Contacting of service providers to request outreach services for persons experiencing homelessness at the encampment.
e. Collection, labeling, and storage for at least 60 days of personal property collected at the removal site that is not a health or safety hazard.
2) All departments and agencies not under my authority are requested to adopt policies consistent with the guidelines in Paragraph 1.
3) Local governments are encouraged to adopt policies consistent with this Order and to use all available resources and infrastructure, including resources provided by the State’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs where appropriate and available, to take action with the urgency this crisis demands to humanely remove encampments from public spaces, prioritizing those encampments that most threaten the life, health, and safety of those in and around them.
4) The California Interagency Council on Homelessness shall develop guidance and provide technical assistance consistent with this Order for local governments to follow in implementing their local homelessness programs.
Governor Newsom credited a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that eliminated restrictions on local governments’ authority to address encampments, giving jurisdictions the ability to “tailor their enforcement practices to reflect policy-driven approaches to addressing homelessness.”
Only time will tell if the executive order will result in change. As long as California’s housing market remains exorbitantly expensive, it’s hard to imagine the state’s homeless crisis will seen any meaningful improvement.
Federal Judge Nina Morrison, of the Eastern District of New York, has ruled the Fourth Amendment applies at the border, ending warrantless searches of phones and devices.
The US government and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has long maintained that the Fourth Amendment doesn’t apply at the border. As a result, agents will detain individuals without probable cause or a warrant, demanding they hand over their electronic devices and passwords, often copying the entire contents of the devices before returning them.
In a case brought by Kurbonali Sultanov, Judge Morrison called out the government’s position that cell phones should be searchable without a warrant, saying it was a “remarkable” claim (documents courtesy of Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University).
The government takes the remarkable position here that cell phones should not be treated any differently for Fourth Amendment purposes than any other property a traveler carries across a border. Opp’n Br. It urges this Court to deem such searches “routine” and to hold that no individualized suspicion whatsoever is needed for border officials to search a traveler’s cell phone upon entry into the United States….In essence, the government argues that no practical limits should be placed on cell phone searches at the border whatsoever, as long as they fall into what agents categorize as a “manual” search (i.e., one unaided by extrinsic technology but limited only by the border agents’ time and interest in examining the phone’s contents).
And the government’s position fails to account for both the substantial privacy intrusions at issue here, as well as the Supreme Court’s Fourth Amendment jurisprudence concerning other advanced technologies that carry with them the potential to reveal vast amounts of the owner’s personal data.
Legal Precedent
Judge Morrison emphasized data is available through a forcible search of one’s phone, and the intimate details of a person’s life such a search would reveal.
Until technology that can “translate people’s brain activity — like the unspoken thoughts swirling through our minds — into actual speech” meaningfully advances,8 reviewing the information in a person’s cell phone is the best approximation government officials have for mindreading. A person’s search history can reveal the questions that keep him up at night, including questions he might be too ashamed to ask his spouse or doctor. Data on a person’s cell phone may reflect information about her that is so private, she would not disclose it to her therapist or closest friend. It is not just that cell phones often contain intimate information available in microscopic detail — the number of steps the phone’s user took that day and where she took them, the results of recent blood work in the application where her doctor uploads all her medical records, or the calendar reminder for a meeting with her local Alcoholics Anonymous chapter or prayer group. It i s that the details, taken together, can provide a kaleidoscopic view of the user’s whole life.
Judge Morrison compares the situation to previous rulings that applied the Fourth Amendment to cell phone location data.
In Carpenter v. United States, 585 U.S. 296, 311–12 (2018), the Court concluded that cell-site location data, even though it is collected by (and thus not kept private from) third party cell phone companies, requires Fourth Amendment protection for precisely this reason….It reasoned that cell-site location data “provides an all-encompassing record of the holder’s whereabouts. As with GPS information, the time-stamped data provides an intimate window into a person’s life, revealing not only his particular movements, but through them his ‘familial, political, professional, religious, and sexual associations.’”
Judge Morrison then makes the point that, if protections apply to location data, they should apply even more to data on one’s phone.
The logic of Carpenter applies with even greater force to the information contained on cell phones, which includes not only the historic and specific location information captured by cell-site data, but droves of other sensitive information that is “detailed, encyclopedic, and effortlessly compiled.” Id. at 297. If the cell-site location records at issue in Carpenter hold “the privacies of life,” id.at 305 (citation omitted), then surely the heightened privacy interests associated with the far greater trove of information in a traveler’s cell phone data strike at the very heart of the Fourth Amendment.
The case also shown a spotlight on issues involving journalists, in which many have seemingly been targeted by border agents, especially after writing pieces about sensitive political topics.
The amici brief filed by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press makes a persuasive case that warrantless searches of cell phones not only constitute an unjustified governmental intrusion into travelers’ private expressions of religion, personal associations, and journalistic endeavors — they also risk chilling the exercise of those rights. Specifically, amici assert that border searches of electronic devices burden freedom of the press by chilling reporter-source communications. Amici Br. 12. They argue that “[j]ournalists are particularly vulnerable to the chilling effects of electronic device searches, both because confidential or vulnerable sources may refuse to speak with reporters for fear that anything they say may end up in the government’s hands, and because such searches can be used to retaliate against or deter reporting critical of the government.”
Judge Morrison said there is evidence to support the believe that incidents with journalists were not random, nor were they the work of overzealous agents, but likely a “targeted effort to surveil journalists.”
Amici’s concerns are not hypothetical but instead are based on the recent experience of numerous journalists who were flagged for secondary inspection and were required to surrender their electronic devices for warrantless searches and, in some cases, downloading of the devices’ contact lists and contents based on these journalists’ ongoing coverage of politically sensitive issues, like migration through the U.S.-Mexico border.12 After formal complaints were filed regarding a series of such incidents in 2019, it was revealed that they may not have been the isolated acts of individual border agents who suspected that a particular traveler’s device contained contraband but instead part of a targeted effort to surveil journalists in particular: a non-public CBP database that contained the names of journalists covering migration issues and which pushed “alerts” to flag those journalists for secondary screening when they returned from international travel.13 And even without the specter of a larger, insidious effort targeting journalists at the border, there remains a considerable and undue risk that — without the safeguards of a judicial warrant — journalists’ sources in and outside the United States will be fearful of relaying information about matters of public concern to them. If journalists cannot reasonably assure their sources that border officials will not have broad discretion to access and download their contacts, notes, electronic messages, and recordings, the risk of chilling fundamental press activities is unduly high.
Conclusion
In her final conclusion, Judge Morrison ruled that probable cause and a warrant must be the bar that is met for the government to be given access to such an intimate look into the life of individuals.
The right to dissent is the “fixed star in our constitutional constellation.” W.Va. State Bd. of Educ. v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624, 642 (1943). Courts must be vigilant in protecting that right, whether in the context of barring compelled speech, see id., or — as here — guarding against government intrusion into the private, expressive activities of those who may hold disfavored viewpoints. Where the government seeks access to private devices that hold such a vast array of expressive content, only the standard conceived by the Founders and codified in the Fourth Amendment — probable cause and the approval of a neutral magistrate — can bear the weight of that obligation.
Judge Morrison’s ruling is a welcome one for journalists and non-journalists alike, shutting down what many believed to be a blatant example of unconstitutional government overreach.
In the wake of the ruling, users’ private data should be far more secure at the US border than it has been in decades.
Apple Intelligence will reportedly be delayed, missing the iOS 18 release, and will be included in iOS 18.1 instead.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple Intelligence will not launch when it was expected. Instead, the feature will be delivered via an iOS 18.1 software update later in 2025, likely by October.
Apple Intelligence is poised to be one of the biggest upgrades to iOS in years, leveraging generative AI to improve Siri and unlock a host of new abilities. In its WWDC presentation, Apple demonstrated numerous examples of how generative AI could be used in day-to-day life, something other companies have struggled to do.
Despite the promise of Apple Intelligence, Apple fans will apparently have to wait a bit longer to make use of it.
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) says the industry need “to take the opportunity to look at the situation and see how things could have gone differently” as it pertains to CrowdStrike.
CrowdStrike pushed an updated to its cybersecurity update that crippled millions of Windows PCs around the world, bringing multiple industries to their knees. Because CrowdStrike’s software runs at the kernel level, it was nearly impossible to resolve the issue without physical access to the affected machines.
The FSF says the industry needs to learn from the incident, citing a number of issues that led to the outage, including automatic updates:
Let’s be clear: in principle, there is nothing ethically wrong with automatic updates so long as the user has made an informed choice to receive them. For instance, it’s perfectly understandable that a public library might not want to pore over kernel changelogs; they simply want to receive the update and move on with their work. At the same time, software bugs happen. Free software developers know this better than anyone. The Linux(-libre) kernel does not have some mystic immunity to them. What our community does have is a social structure that, most likely, would have rectified the situation swiftly.
In a cunning PR spin, it appears that Microsoft has started blaming the incident on third-party firms’ access to kernel source and documentation. Translated out of Redmond-ese, the point they are trying to make amounts to “if only we’d been allowed to be more secretive, this wouldn’t have happened!” Anyone with so much as a basic understanding of software development can see that this argument doesn’t hold water, just as anyone with a basic understanding of rhetoric can appreciate the irony that the same company that develops Copilot is whinging about the need to keep code secret from others. At this very minute, Copilot is ingesting free software on Microsoft’s proprietary platform, GitHub, with little respect for each program’s license.
In our own coverage of CrowdStrike, we pointed out our belief that the situation is slightly more nuanced than the above quote would make it seem. While open-source software does have a good track record with security—thanks to the source being easily inspected and audited—Microsoft being forced to open up kernel access is not an apples to apples comparison.
Windows is closed-source software. Similarly, much of CrowdStrike’s software is closed-source as well. As a result, CrowdStrike’s access to the Windows kernel is combining the worst options, namely marrying two closed-source platforms. Because both platforms are closed-source, they don’t benefit from the same open nature as true open-source software, and lack the transparency and ability to inspect and audit the code.
Nonetheless, the FSF is right that something needs to change:
We also need to see that calling for a diversity of providers of nonfree software that are mere front ends for “cloud” software doesn’t solve the problem. Correcting it fully requires switching to free software that runs on the user’s own computer.
The Free Software Foundation is often accused of being utopian, but we are well aware that moving airlines, libraries, and every other institution affected by the CrowdStrike outage to free software is a tremendous undertaking. Given free software’s distinct ethical advantage, not to mention the embarrassing damage control underway from both Microsoft and CrowdStrike, we think the move is a necessary one. The more public an institution, the more vitally it needs to be running free software.
The California Supreme Court delivered a major win to Uber, Lyft, and other companies by upholding Proposition 22, the gig economy bill.
Proposition 22 passed in late November, allowing gig economy companies to classify their workers as contractors rather than employees. The bills passage allowed Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and others to continue operating within the state, something that was in danger if the companies were forced to classify their workers as employees.
According to The New York Times, California’s Supreme Court has upheld Proposition 22. The measure allows for something of a hybrid approach, classifying workers as contractors while still requiring the companies to offer limited benefits, such as accident insurance and health insurance stipends.
Uber applauded the decision, saying it is widely supported by the company’s drivers:
Prop 22 is Working
From the moment it became law, Prop 22 has been working for the millions of drivers and couriers that earn on platforms like ours. Uber alone has delivered more than $1 billion in direct benefits to date. Simply put, Prop 22 is making a real difference in people’s lives, which is why it is overwhelmingly supported by drivers and couriers from every corner of the state.
Uber also said the decision is evidence of a changing worker landscape, one that is less binary than in the past:
Driving Forward
Prop 22 is a testament to what can be done when we listen to drivers and couriers. With growing frequency, policymakers are shifting away from outdated discussions, based on a binary choice between employment with benefits, or independence with none. Instead, an increasing number of policymakers worldwide—from New York State and Massachusetts, to Australia and Brazil—are actively engaging with drivers and couriers to develop innovative models that preserve their independence while also requiring important new benefits and protections. We stand ready to ensure that progress continues.
The decision will no doubt pave the way for gig companies to prevail in other states that have considered reclassifying gig workers.
The US Senate has unanimously passed a bill aimed at helping and protecting victims of nonconsensual deepfake porn, providing a 10-year statute of limitations.
Deepfake porn has been a growing problem, especially with the rise of AI. The technology has made deepfakes so convincing that it can be almost impossible to tell if a deepfake is real or not. As a result, victims often deal with emotional damage and humiliation, not to mention damage to the victim’s reputation if the deepfake is widely circulated without people realizing it’s fake.
According to Engadget, the US Senate aims to tackle the problem with the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act (DEFIANCE Act). The bill would give victims 10 years to sue for damages.
The DEFIANCE Act would give victims the ability to sue not only those who create nonconsensual deepfake porn, but also those who distribute and possess such material. Initial damages could be up to $150,000, with that figure going up to $250,000 if the incident also includes stalking, harassment, or attempted sexual assault.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the passage of the bill in his remarks in his floor remarks:
As we know, AI plays a bigger role in our lives than ever before, and while it has many benefits, it’s also easier than ever to create sexually explicit deep fakes without a person’s consent. It is a horrible attack on someone’s privacy and dignity to have these fake images of them circulating online without recourse.
And this isn’t just some fringe issue that happens to only a few people—it’s a widespread problem. These types of malicious and hurtful pictures can destroy lives. Nobody is immune, not even celebrities like Taylor Swift or Megan Thee Stallion. It’s a grotesque practice and victims of these deep fakes deserve justice. And this is one of the examples of the AI guardrails I often talk about. AI is a remarkable technology that can spur incredible innovation, but we must pass guardrails to prevent its worst abuses from causing people grave harm.
By passing this bill, we are telling victims of explicit nonconsensual deepfakes that we hear them and we are taking action.
The House will likely vote on a sister bill. If it passes the house, it will go to President Biden to be signed into law.
Apple is testing a web-based version of Apple Maps, potentially giving Google and MapQuest competition on an all-new front.
Apple has been improving Maps for years, building it into a legitimate rival to Google Maps. Conspicuously absent, however, was a web-based option. The company is now rectifying that, offering a beta of an all-new web-based version of Apple Maps.
Unfortunately, as of right now, access is extremely limited. Mac and iPad, as well as Windows, are the only platforms supported, with Linux and Android both blocked. Similarly, Safari, Edge, and Chrome are the only web browsers supported, with Firefox and Brave unsupported.
Hopefully, by the time Apple releases the final product it will support all platforms and all major web browsers.
Microsoft announced it is including AI-powered generative features into its Bing search, giving a small number of users preview access.
Microsoft has been increasingly incorporating AI features across its platforms and services. While Microsoft began integrating AI early on, thanks to its deal with OpenAI, the company is taking its generative search to an all-new level.
After introducing LLM-powered chat answers on Bing in February of last year, we’ve been hard at work on the ongoing revolution of search. Bing continues to be trusted by hundreds of millions of users to find information, get answers to questions, and explore their curiosity. Today, we’re excited to share an early view of our new generative search experience which is currently shipping to a small percentage of user queries.
The company says its new search features are designed to provide more useful information, context, and sources for the user to conduct further research:
For example, if a user searches “What is a spaghetti western?” Bing shows an AI-generated experience that dives into the film subgenre, including its history and origins, top examples and more. The information is easy to read and understand, with links and sources that show where it came from or let the user dive deeper. The regular search results continue to be prominently displayed on the page like always.
This new experience combines the foundation of Bing’s search results with the power of large and small language models (LLMs and SLMs). It understands the search query, reviews millions of sources of information, dynamically matches content, and generates search results in a new AI-generated layout to fulfill the intent of the user’s query more effectively.
Interestingly, Microsoft addresses one of the biggest concerns many have about AI-powered search, saying the data shows websites are still receiving the same number of clicks:
We’ve refined our methods to optimize accuracy in Bing, applying those insights as we continue to evolve our use of LLMs in search. We are continuing to look closely at how generative search impacts traffic to publishers. Early data indicates that this experience maintains the number of clicks to websites and supports a healthy web ecosystem. The generative search experience is designed with this in mind, including retaining traditional search results and increasing the number of clickable links, like the references in the results.
OpenAI announced Thursday that it is launching a preview of its own search engine, SearchGPT. Google has been increasingly integrating AI into its search as well. With Bing’s new generative AI search, the search market is being redefined across the spectrum.
Over the past couple of decades, we’ve seen a total digital revolution, with websites, apps, and other forms of technological interaction replacing traditional human contact in many contexts. However, an increasingly large portion of the population is seeking to detach from digital experiences and have more human, physical, tactile experiences.
Why is this the case and how will this trend develop in the future?
Separation From the Digital World
There are many viable ways to separate yourself from digital experiences, and people everywhere are experimenting to find the right strategies for their needs.
· Outdoor experiences. First, people are trying to spend more time outside. Technically, there’s nothing stopping you from looking at your phone even while you’re outside, but whether you’re hiking in the woods or just enjoying your own backyard, you’ll be far more likely to engage with your surroundings. For example, people are increasingly building (and enjoying) outdoor kitchens – even in their own backyards. It’s an opportunity to cook in a totally new environment, breathe fresh air, and soak up the sunshine – all of which are far superior to scrolling on social media. People are also increasingly hiking, camping, and pursuing other outdoor activities.
· Tactile experiences. Many people are also turning to tactile experiences, rather than digital ones. There’s still a strong cohort of people who prefer reading physical books to digital ones, and increasingly large communities are coalescing around physical board games, rather than video games.
· Digital limits (and detoxing). Even people who don’t want more outdoor or tactile experiences are finding ways to limit their digital experiences. They’re actively withdrawing from social media and uninstalling distracting apps. In some cases, they’re even setting time limits for themselves so they stay aware of how much time they’re actually spending staring at screens.
Why Are We Withdrawing From the Digital World?
What is it about the digital world that is so off-putting to so many?
· Eye strain.Computer vision syndrome can affect you if you spend too much time staring at digital screens without the proper precautions. Even if you regularly take breaks and tweak the brightness settings on your favorite devices, you could end up with a headache at the end of the day if you spend too much time looking at screens.
· Derealization. The internet is not a real place, even though it feels like one at times. Spending too much time online, even if you’re directly interacting with other people, can cause derealization and a feeling of separation from the natural world. At the very least, it can cause distortions in how you perceive things, from the political state of the world to interactions with your own family members.
· Misinformation. Things you read online aren’t necessarily true. This was the case with mainstream media long before the smartphone age, but in many ways, the prevalence of misinformation has gotten worse. Many people are growing tired of hearing biased bickering between aggressive manipulators on every side of every issue.
· Unsatisfying socialization. Socialization is best experienced in person, and there are several reasons why. Human beings evolved to pick up body language, tone of voice, and other subtle indicators of thoughts and feelings that simply aren’t present in online interactions. Additionally, physical locations and physical spaces play a role in how we interact with others; these aren’t present in digital environments.
On top of that, we’re experiencing more digital interactions than ever before.
· Work. Increasingly, people are working with digital screens. Many people work remotely, staring at a computer for eight hours or more every day, and even those that don’t spend most of their time staring at screens anyway.
· News and social media. Like it or not, the best way to consume news is still reading it online from reliable sources. If you want to stay informed and connected, social media and news websites must occupy at least some portion of your time.
· Digitization of all media. Everything is becoming digitized. For example, some new books being released are exclusively digital and some cohorts almost exclusively interact through social media, rather than talking on the phone or meeting in person.
Where Do We Go From Here?
So where do we go from here as a society?
It’s difficult to say for sure because there are so many competing pressures. Even though there are significant drawbacks, online connections and novel technologies still have innate advantages and tremendous potential to change our lives for the better, so it’s likely that digital experiences will become even more important in the future. At the same time, even the most optimistic tech enthusiasts will be forced to confront the limitations of mostly online human life.
What’s most important is that you can decide the balance for yourself, in your own life, regardless of what’s happening around you.
The US is preparing to restrict Chinese automotive software, as well as “key driver components,” amid growing concerns about China’s data collection.
According to Reuters, the Commerce Department is planning to unveil new rules in August. The rules will cover critical components and software from China, as well as other countries that are deemed adversaries.
“We’re looking at a few components and some software – not the whole car – but it would be some of the key driver components of the vehicle that manage the software and manage the data around that car that would have to be made in an allied country,” Alan Estevez, export controls chief, said in mid-July at a Colorado forum.
Estevez went on to describe the threat malicious vehicle software could pose.
“A car is a very scary thing. Your car knows a lot about you. Your car probably gets a software update, whether it’s an electric vehicle or an autonomous combustion engine vehicle,” he added.
“A modern car has a lot of software in it. It’s taking lots of pictures. It has a drive system. It’s connected to your phone. It knows who you call. It knows where you go. It knows a lot about you.”
There has been growing concern about China’s access to vehicle data that Beijing could use for espionage. For example, the House recently passed a bill that would ban the sale of drones from Chinese company DJI. Lawmakers voiced concern that drones flying in US airspace could be used to gather sensitive information about critical infrastructure.
As Estevez pointed out, vehicle software poses an even greater threat because of the access it has to the occupants’ personal data. Phone calls, text messages, driving destinations, and much more could potentially be collected and used.
If the US does move forward with a ban on Chinese automotive software, it’s a safe bet such a move will escalate the ongoing tension between the two countries.
The Fedora Project has voted to approve opt-in telemetry for Fedora 42 Workstation, following a contentious process.
Fedora’s maintainers originally proposed including opt-out telemetry in Fedora 40 Workstation, a proposition that drew widespread criticism and condemnation since it would be enabled by default. While the proposal emphasized that all telemetry would be anatomized, critics remained unconvinced. As a general rule, Linux users tend to value their privacy much more than Windows or Mac users, making opt-out telemetry a non-starter.
The maintainers took the criticism to heart and revamped the proposal, this time around opt-in telemetry, meaning users have to explicitly enable it. The revised proposal passed with a 6-0 vote.
The goal of this change proposal is to provide the Fedora community with accurate, representative data about the real world use of Fedora Workstation. By doing this, we believe that we can accelerate the development of Fedora Workstation, and ensure that it improves in line with our users’ needs and requirements.
Protecting user privacy is of utmost importance for this initiative. To this end, the service will only collect generic, standardized data, and will never collect anything that is personally identifying. It will also, of course, be fully open source. On the server side, the data will be stored in a way that prevents user identification.
Another important aspect of the initiative is that it will be run in a transparent manner, and will be governed as part of the Fedora project. Although this change is proposed by Red Hat, a new SIG will be responsible for the service and will be open to community participation. It will publish analyses of the data which has been collected, provide documentation about how the service operates, share samples of the database data, and respond to requests from the community.
Finally, we intend to ensure that metrics reporting is fully under the control of end users. Metrics collection will default to off, and will only be enabled through a clear on/off prompt in initial setup. Users will be able to view the data that has been collected locally, and will be able to remove the client software from their systems, should they choose to do so.
It’s good to see the Fedora maintainers listen to the community and change course. A number of open source projects—including KDE—use opt-in telemetry, demonstrating its viability as an option for privacy-conscious user bases.
GM’s autonomous driving company, Cruise, is shifting gears and buildings its future around the Chevy Bolt, instead of the company’s own Origin EV.
Cruise has had a difficult year, suspending operations following a high-profile incident in which one of its taxis ran over a pedestrian that had already been hit by another driver. The company has experienced layoffs, executive turnover, and temporarily paused operations to address its issues.
In GM’s latest quarterly earnings, CEO Mary Barra revealed that Cruise plans to simplify its operations by moving forward with the Chevy Bolt.
As you know, Cruise has returned to the road in Houston, Phoenix and Dallas and we recently made several significant leadership appointments, including hiring Marc Whitten as CEO. Marc has decades of experience on the frontlines of technology transformations.
The Cruise team will also simplify their path to scale by focusing their next autonomous vehicle on the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt, instead of the Origin. This addresses the regulatory uncertainty we faced with the Origin because of its unique design. In addition, per-unit costs will be much lower, which will help Cruise optimize its resources.
As I hope you can see from our results, our new products, the progress at Cruise and our higher guidance, we are making the most of every opportunity.
Interestingly, while the Origin was designed as a true driverless vehicle—with no traditional driver controls—the Bolt is a more traditional vehicle. Unless GM and Cruise intend to heavily modify the next-gen Bolt, this would seem to indicate that Cruise is abandoning its plans to focus on autonomous vehicles that lack steering wheels, pedals, and other traditional controls.
In today’s dynamic business landscape, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) role has expanded far beyond traditional financial oversight. Companies are increasingly turning to their CFOs not just for financial stewardship but for strategic vision and innovative thinking. The question “What does it take to become a great CFO?” is a common one posed to Larry Chester, President of CFO Simplified. Whether you are an aspiring CFO or a business owner looking to hire one, understanding the key qualities that ensure success in this crucial role is paramount.
Larry Chester emphasizes that while a foundational knowledge of finance is a given, it is only the starting point. Today’s CFO must embody a blend of operational insight, technological prowess, and creative problem-solving. This multi-faceted approach is essential in driving the company’s growth and navigating the complexities of the modern financial environment. “A great CFO needs to be more than just a numbers person,” Chester asserts. “They must be able to understand and influence every aspect of the business.”
The evolving role of the CFO reflects broader shifts in the business world. Rapid technological advancements, increased market competition, and the need for innovative solutions have transformed the CFO’s responsibilities. They are now expected to be at the forefront of corporate strategy, working closely with CEOs and other executives to shape the company’s future. This strategic partnership requires a deep understanding of the business’s financial and operational aspects.
Moreover, a successful CFO must be a visionary leader capable of anticipating and responding to market changes. This includes being proactive in risk management, capital investment, and driving initiatives that align with the company’s long-term goals. “The modern CFO is a business leader first and a financial expert second,” Chester explains. This shift necessitates continuous learning and adaptability to stay ahead of emerging trends and challenges.
In conclusion, becoming a great CFO requires a blend of skills beyond financial acumen. Understanding operations, leveraging technology, and fostering creativity are essential qualities that distinguish exceptional CFOs. By embracing these attributes, CFOs can drive their companies toward sustained success and innovation in an ever-changing business environment.
A CFO Must Be a Skilled Financial Executive
In the complex world of corporate finance, the foundational requirement for any Chief Financial Officer is an in-depth understanding of finance. This encompasses far more than just a grasp of accounting principles; it involves a comprehensive knowledge of how money flows within a company and interacts with external entities like banks and investors. A skilled financial executive must be adept at financial planning, risk management, and investment strategies to ensure the company’s long-term stability and growth.
Understanding Financial Systems
At its core, the role of a CFO is to maintain the financial health of the organization. This means having a robust understanding of financial systems and processes. From managing cash flow to navigating the intricacies of financial markets, a CFO must be capable of making decisions that safeguard the company’s financial future. Larry Chester of CFO Simplified notes, “A great CFO needs to know how to leverage financial data to make informed decisions that align with the company’s strategic goals.”
Building Strong Financial Relationships
Beyond internal financial management, a CFO must cultivate strong relationships with banks, investors, and other financial stakeholders. These relationships are crucial for securing loans, attracting investment, and managing financial crises. A CFO’s ability to negotiate favorable terms and maintain investor confidence can significantly impact the company’s financial resilience and growth potential. Chester emphasizes, “Building and maintaining these relationships requires not only financial expertise but also a high degree of credibility and trustworthiness.”
Navigating Financial Regulations
In addition to managing internal and external financial interactions, a skilled CFO must stay abreast of the ever-evolving landscape of financial regulations. Compliance with local, national, and international financial regulations is critical to avoid legal pitfalls and maintain the company’s reputation. This requires continuous education and adaptability to new laws and standards. Chester explains, “Regulatory knowledge and compliance are non-negotiable aspects of the CFO role. A great CFO ensures that the company adheres to all financial regulations, thereby mitigating risks and protecting the organization’s integrity.”
Strategic Financial Leadership
Ultimately, a skilled financial executive is not just a guardian of the company’s finances but a strategic leader who drives the organization towards its financial goals. This involves strategic planning, forecasting, and aligning financial resources with the company’s objectives. A CFO must be able to translate financial data into actionable insights that guide the company’s direction and facilitate sustainable growth. Chester concludes, “The best CFOs are those who can balance financial stewardship with strategic innovation, ensuring the company’s financial practices support and drive its overall mission.”
Understanding Operations: Beyond the Balance Sheet
A Chief Financial Officer’s role extends far beyond the traditional confines of finance and accounting. To drive meaningful change and improve profitability, a CFO must deeply understand the company’s operations. This knowledge allows them to identify inefficiencies, optimize processes, and ensure that financial strategies align with operational realities.
Aligning Financial Strategy with Operations
The true value of a CFO is revealed when financial expertise intersects with operational insight. For instance, a printing company struggling with profitability might have not just financial issues but operational ones as well. Larry Chester of CFO Simplified recalls a scenario where analyzing the profitability of individual products and production runs provided critical insights. “By diving into the details of the company’s production processes, we were able to identify which products were underperforming and why,” says Chester. This holistic approach enabled the company to make informed decisions about which products to focus on and which to phase out, directly impacting the bottom line.
Operational Efficiency and Profitability
Understanding operations means looking at every aspect of how the company produces goods or delivers services. This involves more than just numbers on a spreadsheet; it’s about understanding the workflow, the resources required, and the potential bottlenecks. “You can’t improve what you don’t understand,” Chester emphasizes. “A CFO must be able to evaluate the efficiency of operations and work with other departments to implement improvements.” This could mean investing in new technology, re-engineering processes, or reallocating resources to ensure that every part of the operation is contributing to overall profitability.
The Role of Data in Operational Decisions
Data plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between finance and operations. A CFO needs to leverage data analytics to gain insights into operational performance and identify areas for improvement. “Data-driven decision-making is key,” Chester explains. “By analyzing data from production, sales, and customer feedback, a CFO can pinpoint inefficiencies and opportunities for cost savings.” This analytical approach enhances operational efficiency and supports strategic planning and forecasting.
Collaborating with Operational Leaders
A successful CFO must also collaborate closely with operational leaders to align financial and operational strategies. This partnership is essential for developing realistic budgets, setting achievable goals, and ensuring financial plans support operational needs. Chester notes, “Effective communication and collaboration with operational teams are vital. A CFO must be able to translate financial insights into operational actions and vice versa.” This collaborative approach fosters a unified vision for the company’s success, ensuring financial decisions are grounded in operational realities.
Technological Acumen: Embracing Innovation
In the rapidly evolving business landscape, a CFO’s technological proficiency is no longer optional but essential. Harnessing technological advancements can significantly enhance a company’s financial operations, streamline processes, and provide a competitive edge. A great CFO must be familiar with the latest financial software and understand how technology can be leveraged to drive business growth.
Leveraging Data Analytics
One of the most critical aspects of technological acumen is leveraging data analytics. Modern CFOs use sophisticated analytics tools to gather insights from vast data. This capability enables them to make informed decisions based on real-time information. “Understanding how to interpret and utilize data is crucial,” says Larry Chester of CFO Simplified. “It’s not just about having the tools; it’s about knowing how to apply them to improve business outcomes.” Data analytics can reveal patterns and trends that might not be apparent from traditional financial reports, providing a deeper understanding of the business and its market.
Integrating Technology with Financial Strategy
Integrating technology into financial strategy involves more than just adopting new software. It requires a comprehensive approach to how technology can support and enhance every aspect of financial management. For example, automation tools can streamline routine tasks such as invoicing, payroll, and expense management, freeing up the CFO and their team to focus on strategic initiatives. Chester emphasizes, “The goal is to use technology to make financial processes more efficient and accurate, which supports better decision-making.” By embracing technology, CFOs can improve accuracy, reduce costs, and increase productivity.
Cybersecurity and Risk Management
With the increasing reliance on technology, cybersecurity has become a paramount concern. A CFO must protect the company’s financial data from cyber threats. This involves implementing robust cybersecurity measures and staying informed about the latest threats and solutions. “Protecting financial data is critical to maintaining trust and integrity,” Chester notes. “A CFO must work closely with IT to develop and enforce security protocols.” This proactive approach to cybersecurity helps safeguard the company’s assets and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements.
Driving Innovation Through Technology
Beyond improving existing processes, technology enables CFOs to drive innovation within their organizations. This can include exploring new business models, entering new markets, or developing new products and services. “Technology opens up a world of possibilities for innovation,” says Chester. “A forward-thinking CFO will look for ways to leverage technology to create new opportunities for growth.” By staying abreast of technological trends and understanding their potential impact, CFOs can position their companies at the forefront of their industries.
Continuous Learning and Adaptation
The technological landscape constantly changes, requiring CFOs to engage in continuous learning and adaptation. This means staying updated on the latest advancements and being willing to invest in new technologies that can benefit the organization. “Continuous learning is essential for staying competitive,” Chester explains. “A CFO must be committed to ongoing education and be adaptable to change.” This mindset ensures that the CFO and their organization remain agile and responsive to technological advancements, maintaining a competitive edge in an ever-evolving market.
Creativity: Finding Innovative Solutions
Creativity in a CFO might seem counterintuitive given the traditional view of finance as a numbers-driven domain. However, creativity is an essential trait for a CFO aiming to navigate the complexities of modern business environments. Creative thinking enables a CFO to devise innovative solutions to financial challenges, drive strategic growth, and differentiate their company from the competition.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities
A creative CFO sees beyond the immediate financial figures and looks at the broader picture, identifying opportunities where others might see obstacles. For instance, a creative CFO might explore alternative financing options during economic downturns or develop new revenue streams. “It’s about being resourceful and finding ways to turn challenges into opportunities,” says Larry Chester of CFO Simplified. “A CFO must think outside the box to ensure the company’s financial stability and growth.” This proactive approach can help a company survive and thrive during difficult times.
Innovative Financial Strategies
Developing innovative financial strategies is a hallmark of a creative CFO. This could involve restructuring debt, optimizing tax strategies, or finding new ways to improve cash flow. For example, a CFO might implement dynamic pricing models to maximize revenue or use financial engineering to unlock capital for investment. “Innovation in financial strategy is crucial,” Chester notes. “It allows companies to remain competitive and agile in a rapidly changing market.” These strategies can provide significant advantages and enable the company to capitalize on emerging trends and opportunities.
Collaborative Problem Solving
Creativity also involves collaboration and leveraging the organization’s collective intelligence. A creative CFO engages with other departments to understand their challenges and collaborates on solutions that benefit the entire company. “Collaboration fosters creativity,” Chester emphasizes. By working with different teams, a CFO can gain new perspectives and develop more effective solutions.” This collaborative approach ensures that financial strategies are aligned with the company’s overall goals and fosters a culture of innovation.
Embracing Change and Risk
A creative CFO is willing to embrace change and take calculated risks. This means being open to new ideas, experimenting with different approaches, and learning from failures. “Innovation requires a willingness to take risks,” Chester explains. “A CFO must be comfortable with uncertainty and ready to pivot when necessary.” This mindset allows a CFO to lead their company through transformative changes and seize new opportunities as they arise.
Creative Negotiations and Relationships
Negotiation is another area where creativity is invaluable. Whether dealing with suppliers, creditors, or investors, a creative CFO can develop win-win solutions that benefit all parties involved. This might involve crafting flexible payment terms, finding mutually beneficial partnerships, or leveraging financial instruments in novel ways. “Negotiation is an art,” Chester says. “A creative CFO can find solutions that others might overlook, strengthening relationships and improving the company’s financial position.” This ability to negotiate effectively is crucial for maintaining healthy financial relationships and ensuring the company’s long-term success.
Cultivating a Creative Culture
Finally, a creative CFO fosters a culture of innovation within the finance team and the broader organization. This involves encouraging team members to think creatively, experiment with new ideas, and continuously seek improvement. “Creativity should be part of the company’s DNA,” Chester asserts. “By fostering an environment where innovation is encouraged, a CFO can drive continuous improvement and keep the company ahead of the curve.” This culture of creativity ensures that the company remains dynamic and adaptable in an ever-changing business landscape.
Overview: The Path to Becoming a Great CFO
Becoming a great CFO is a multifaceted journey requiring financial expertise, operational understanding, technological savvy, and creativity. It’s not enough to simply manage the books; a CFO must be a strategic partner who helps shape the company’s future. This role demands continuous learning, adaptability, and a proactive approach to overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities.
The Evolution of the CFO Role
The role of the CFO has evolved significantly over the years. Traditionally seen as the company’s chief accountant, today’s CFO is expected to be a key strategic advisor. They need to provide insights that drive business decisions and foster a culture of innovation and efficiency. “The CFO role is no longer just about crunching numbers,” says Larry Chester of CFO Simplified. “It’s about understanding every facet of the business and using that knowledge to drive growth and profitability.” This evolution reflects the broader changes in the business landscape, where agility and strategic thinking are more important than ever.
Balancing Technical Skills with Strategic Vision
While technical financial skills remain foundational, a great CFO must balance these with strategic vision. This involves understanding the broader business environment, anticipating market trends, and guiding the company through both growth phases and downturns. “It’s a balancing act,” Chester explains. “You need to be detail-oriented with financials, but also have a broad vision for where the company is headed.” This dual focus ensures that the CFO can make informed decisions that align with the company’s long-term goals.
The Importance of Continuous Learning
Continuous learning is crucial for a CFO to stay relevant in today’s fast-paced business world. This means staying updated on the latest financial regulations, technological advancements, and industry trends. “The business world is constantly evolving,” Chester emphasizes. “A great CFO never stops learning and always seeks to improve their skills and knowledge.” By prioritizing continuous learning, a CFO can adapt to new challenges and drive the company forward.
Building Strong Relationships
A great CFO also understands the importance of building strong relationships within and outside the organization. This includes fostering collaboration with other departments, engaging with stakeholders, and negotiating with suppliers and creditors. “Strong relationships are key to success,” Chester notes. “They enable a CFO to gain support for initiatives, navigate challenges, and create value for the company.” These relationships help ensure the CFO can effectively implement strategies and achieve the company’s objectives.
Embracing Change and Innovation
Finally, embracing change and innovation is essential for a CFO to lead effectively. This means being open to new ideas, leveraging technology to drive efficiency, and continuously seeking ways to improve processes. “Change is the only constant in business,” Chester asserts. “A great CFO embraces this reality and uses it as an opportunity to innovate and enhance the company’s performance.” By fostering a culture of innovation, a CFO can help the company stay competitive and achieve sustainable growth.
In conclusion, the path to becoming a great CFO is paved with diverse skills and qualities. It’s a journey that requires financial acumen, operational insight, technological understanding, and creative problem-solving. By mastering these areas and continuously striving for excellence, a CFO can be pivotal in steering their company toward success.
Google’s AI deal with Reddit is having another benefit, giving the dominant search engine a major advantage in surfacing current results from the social media platform.
Google signed a deal with Reddit for $60 million per year to use the social media platform’s content for AI training. According to 404 Media, the deal appears to have another benefit for Google, making it potentially the only search engine able to access recent Reddit content.
WPN has confirmed 404’s findings. Conducting a search of Reddit by using the “site: reddit.com” option in non-Google search engines only returns results that are weeks old.
Interestingly, the one possible exception is Brave Search. Known for its web browser, Brave Search is a privacy-oriented search engine that uses its own index, unlike DuckDuckGo’s reliance on Bing.
In our test results, Brave is still surfacing results that are just a day or two old, not the weeks and months-old posts that Bing and DuckDuckGo are surfacing.
It’s unclear if Brave will continue to surface recent and relevant results from Reddit, or if its index will become as out-of-date as the other non-Google engines.
Either way, one thing is clear: Google is gaining tremendous value for its $60 million.
Switzerland has taken a bold step, mandating that all government software be open source, and that government agencies disclose the source code it develops.
European countries have become increasingly wary of reliance on Big Tech. Europe has much stricter privacy laws than the US, a point of ongoing concern for governments and organizations as they work to keep citizens’ data within the bloc. German Schleswig-Holstein recently migrated 30,000 computers from Microsoft products to Linux and LibreOffice.
Switzerland is now following suit, mandating that government agencies use open source software and disclose the source code of any applications they develop so the source code can be freely used by others.
Swiss publication datenrecht.ch outlines the two key provisions:
The use of Open Source Software – to the extent possible, the federal government should disclose the source code of software that it develops or has developed for free reuse,
The gradual public provision of data obtained or generated for the fulfillment of statutory tasks (Open Government Data),
If more jurisdictions continue to make the switch to open source software, it could help accelerate Linux adoption outside of the server and enterprise.
Personal finance management can be complex, particularly regarding tax preparation. Tax laws, credits, and deductions might need to be simplified for even the most organized person to understand. Integrating tax calculators with personal finance software is one way to make things easier. This way, users may get accurate, real-time insights into their financial situation and tax responsibilities. Improving accuracy, streamlining financial planning, and enhancing efficiency can save time and money in the long run.
For instance, residents of the state can greatly reduce the complexity of their tax management process by utilizing a New York tax calculator integrated with personal finance software. This application ensures that users’ financial plans and tax computations are correct and in compliance with state laws by accounting for New York’s unique tax rates, deductions, and credits.
Benefits of Integration
Enhanced Accuracy
The increased precision that comes with combining tax calculators with personal financial software is one of the main advantages. Personal financial software frequently includes features for tracking income, expenses, and investments. The program can automatically apply applicable tax laws and rates to these financial transactions by integrating a tax calculator. This decreases the possibility of human error while manually entering data into different tax calculating software.
Real-Time Tax Insights
Integrating a tax calculator with personal financial software provides real-time tax insights. The calculator can instantly update the user’s tax due or refund status based on the financial transactions logged in the software. As opposed to waiting until tax season to learn about their tax status, consumers may make more informed financial decisions throughout the year with this real-time input.
Features to Look for in Integrated Solutions
User-Friendly Interface
Any integrated system must have an easy-to-use interface. The personal financial software and tax calculator should be user-friendly and intuitive. Features like step-by-step instructions, informative visualizations, and automatic data entry can improve the user experience. Financial summaries and tax information have to be accessible to users without requiring a great deal of technical expertise or training.
Customization and Flexibility
Essential characteristics of integrated tax calculators and personal finance software include customization and adaptability. Since users’ financial circumstances vary, the software should support customized settings. This involves adjusting tax rates, credits, and deductions to unique situations. Users can create reports that are particular to their needs using flexible reporting options, whether for personal use or to share with a tax professional.
Security and Privacy
A tax calculator’s security and privacy should be carefully considered before combining it with personal finance software. Users must believe that their private tax and financial data is secure. Seek out software programs with strong encryption, safe data storage, and adherence to pertinent privacy laws. Regular security upgrades and multi-factor authentication are two features that can improve user data safety.
YNAB (You Need A Budget)
YNAB is a financial management and budgeting program integrated with tax computation software. Although YNAB lacks an integrated tax calculator, it can be integrated with external tax software to offer an all-inclusive financial management solution. Because of this flexibility, customers may take advantage of YNAB’s extensive budgeting features while selecting the tax tools that best suit their needs.
Summing it Up
One effective technique to improve financial management is to integrate tax calculators with personal finance software. The advantages of improved precision, instantaneous tax insights, and simplified financial planning render this integration a compelling choice for individuals who aim to maximize their financial resources. The integration of these tools will advance in sophistication as technology develops, making the complexity of managing taxes and personal finances increasingly more accessible to understand.
Maybe you’re interested in saving some money. Maybe you just like your current model of phone and don’t want to upgrade. Maybe you’re eager to get the latest model and want to take excellent care of it. In any case, you’re interested in making your phone last longer.
Fortunately, there are some easy strategies that can help you do it.
Common Reasons Phones “Die”
Phones don’t last forever, but if we want to maximize how long they last, we need to first understand why they “die” or become no longer useful.
These are the usual culprits:
· Physical damage. Most of us have had the experience of dropping a phone, then picking it up and resuming normal use. But unfortunately, all it takes is one bad point of physical damage to completely compromise your phone’s functioning capacity. Dropping your phone into water, causing forceful damage to the phone, and in some cases, even cracking the screen can prevent the phone from being functionally useful. Thankfully, you can protect most phones with the right phone case – more on that later.
· Battery issues. Some phones die simply because their batteries no longer hold an adequate charge. We rely on our phones for their portability, giving us access to communication and various technological features no matter where we go. Once the battery is no longer able to hold many hours of a charge, the phone no longer works as a mobile device.
· General slowdown. Sometimes, phones become in need of replacement when they experience a general slowdown. They’re no longer as responsive as they once were, and certain apps no longer work as we’d like. This is often because operating systems and software evolve to keep pace with the latest hardware, so it’s only a matter of time before old hardware can no longer keep up. However, this may also be attributable to hardware mismanagement.
· Lack of support/compatibility. Phones eventually reach the end of their life permanently when they experience such a lack of support and so many compatibility issues that they’re no longer worth using. For most users, a manufacturer terminating support is the end of the road.
Use the Right Case
One of the best strategies to make your phone last longer is to use the right case. A good case can protect your phone from almost any kind of physical damage, though admittedly, no case is perfect.
· Fit. Make sure you’re using a phone case that’s approved for your specific phone model. You need a case that fits snugly around your phone, while still providing ample flexibility.
· Materials. It’s also important to consider the materials used. Soft materials are flexible and capable of absorbing impact, while harder materials provide even more durability. Most people benefit from using a combination of both.
· Port coverage. Ports gather dust and debris, eventually compromising their effectiveness. Ideally, you’ll have a case that can protect them.
· Screen protection. You should also have something in place to protect your screen. If your case doesn’t come with one, invest in a separate screen protector.
Handle Your Phone Responsibly
No matter how good your case is, it’s still a good idea to handle your phone responsibly. Driving over your phone with a car, throwing it recklessly, or submerging it into water can cause irreversible damage, even if you have a nice phone case in place.
Upgrade/Replace Your Battery
No matter how well you take care of it, your phone battery is going to start losing capacity within 2 or 3 years. Once you start noticing a discrepancy in your battery life, consider upgrading or replacing the battery. This is usually inexpensive, and it might even be something you can do on your own, but it can add years of life to your existing phone model.
Install Updates Regularly
Turn on automatic updates and make sure your phone and all its apps are updated regularly. Updates are made for several reasons, such as adding new features, improving efficiency, boosting security, and ensuring compatibility. It’s one of the best ways to make sure your phone continues functioning throughout the end of its natural life.
Get Rid of Whatever You Don’t Need
Be sure to regularly offload any apps, photos, and other media you no longer need. Maintaining a leaner phone can help it run faster and more smoothly; plus, the fewer apps and items you have to deal with, the fewer potential issues you’ll face.
Use Low Power Mode
Even if your battery is quite high, consider using low power mode. When in low power mode, your phone uses far fewer resources and operates much more efficiently. It’s not especially detrimental to most tasks, but it can greatly extend your battery life and cause less wear and tear to the phone itself.
Periodically Clean
Cleaning out phone ports is easier than you might think, and it’s something you should do regularly. Taking just a few minutes to clean out your ports can ensure they maintain clean, consistent contacts, ultimately prolonging their lifespan.
As you can see, even a handful of simple strategies are enough to boost the functional, useful life of your phone. As long as you’re willing to make a few investments and maintain your phone as necessary, you can probably get many additional years out of each model you buy.
The Federal Trade Commission has ordered eight companies to provide information on what it is calling “surveillance pricing.”
Surveillance pricing refers to third-party companies collecting consumer information—including browser history, credit history, location, demographics, and more—to build profiles that allow them to target consumers and charge higher profiles.
“Firms that harvest Americans’ personal data can put people’s privacy at risk. Now firms could be exploiting this vast trove of personal information to charge people higher prices,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “Americans deserve to know whether businesses are using detailed consumer data to deploy surveillance pricing, and the FTC’s inquiry will shed light on this shadowy ecosystem of pricing middlemen.”
The eight companies the FTC has demanded information from include Mastercard, Revionics, Bloomreach, JPMorgan Chase, Task Software, PROS, Accenture, and McKinsey & Co.
The FTC wants information on the following areas:
Types of products and services being offered: The types of surveillance pricing products and services that each company has produced, developed, or licensed to a third party, as well as details about the technical implementation and current and intended uses of this technology;
Data collection and inputs: Information on the data sources used for each product or service, including the data collection methods for each data source, the platforms and methods that were used to collect such data, and whether that data is collected by other parties (such as other companies or other third parties);
Customer and sales information: Information about whom the products and services were offered to and what those customers planned to do with those products or services; and
Impacts on consumers and prices: Information on the potential impact of these products and services on surveilled consumers including the prices they pay.
The US lacks comprehensive privacy laws, unlike the EU, opening the door for companies to engage in predatory practices, including surveillance pricing. The Commission voted 5-0 to order the eight companies to turn over the information.
Hopefully, the FTC’s inquiry leads to better protections for consumer privacy.
