Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says a HomePod with display now wont launch until the third quarter of next year. Hed initially expected it to be launched in the first half of 2024, then said it had been pushed back to the first half of 2025.The reason for the latest delay, he says, is that software development for the new device is taking longer than expected HomePod with displayRumors about Apple working on a HomePod with some kind of display date back to 2022. At that time, it was believed that the device would be a speaker with a magnetic docking plate for an iPad.Just over a year ago, we got sight of a prototype HomePod with an LCD screen, and our own sources confirmed that it was real.Photos of one of these prototypes have now surfaced on the web, and we can confirm that these photos are from a real prototype. The Apple prototype collector known asKosutami shared imagesof components from an unreleased HomePod this morning, and interestingly, theres a large touchscreen sensor at the top, with a much larger area than the current HomePod panel. Then Kosutami shared a photo of a prototype HomePod that has a fully functional LCD on top.Parker Ortolani created concept images consistent with this (left in the above photo). However, multiple reports have pointed to an all-in-one unit with its own 7-inch display, similar to the Amazon Echo Show seen top-right. Other reports have suggested something looking like an iMac G4, though Bloomberg has said that device may or may not include a speaker, suggesting it may be a distinct product. There has also been talk of a wall-mounted display.At this point, its unclear whether Apple is experimenting with different form factors for a single product, or is planning a range of smart home hardware.Delayed until late 2025Kuo now says that the launch of a HomePod with display has been delayed until Q3 2025, due to problems with software development.The mass production schedule for the display-equipped HomePod has been delayed multiple times. Initially forecasted for 2024 (as I predicted in 2023), it was postponed to 1Q25, and more recently, further delayed to after WWDC 2025/3Q25.The delay in production is mainly due to software development. The display-equipped HomePod is expected to feature an A18 processor, a 67 inch display, and support for the Apple Intelligence.Kuo suggests that the upcoming product is part of Apple repositioning the HomePod as less of a speaker and more as a smart home control center.9to5Macs TakeAt this point, its hard to be certain what Apple intends to launch, much less when the company will do so. Given this is the third date Kuo has suggested, its best to view this report simply as continued evidence that smart home hardware is a key focus for Apple.Concept image: Parker OrtolaniAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

ChatGPT, OpenAIs popular chatbot, is free to use despite having a paid version with more features. Currently, even the free version is ad-free, but this may change in the future as the company behind the platform aims to increase its profits.OpenAI considers putting ads on ChatGPTIn an interview with the Financial Times, OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar didnt rule out the possibility of showing ads to non-paying ChatGPT users in the future, although the company has many concerns about doing so. The executive sees ads as a way to increase profits, as the cost of keeping AI servers running is high.Although OpenAI is currently valued at more than $150 billion, the company is said to have burned $5 billion this year on AI training.Selling ad slots on ChatGPT would be a way to monetize the platform and keep it available to free users. Earlier this year, OpenAI hired multiple advertising talents from Meta and Google, corroborating the companys plans. However, Friar says that OpenAI needs to be thoughtful about when and where ads will be implemented. She also suggested that this wont happen in the near future.While the report says that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is warming up to the idea, Altman has said in the past that he doesnt like them [ads] in general and that he sees ads as a last resort.OpenAI currently charges $20 per month for ChatGPT Plus, a more advanced version of the chatbot that provides access to the latest language models, a higher message limit, and image generation. The company also has special subscription plans for teams and businesses.Earlier this year, Apple partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri (a feature coming soon with iOS 18.2). Although sources say Apple didnt pay for the deal, the company will promote the ChatGPT Plus subscription right from the iOS Settings app, which should boost subscriptions once the update is available to iPhone and iPad users.The iOS 18.2 update with ChatGPT integration will be released to the public later this month.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

They're being paid not to come to work.Paid LeaveDemand for Tesla's highly controversial Cybertruck appears to be waning.According to an internal memo obtained by Business Insider, workers at the company's Austin factory were told to take the next three days off, while still receiving eight hours of pay.It's a mysterious development, and it's still unclear why the workers were told to stay home.But the news hints at the possibility that as Tesla ramps up production of the vehicle, overall demand is starting to seriously slow down despite healthy sales numbers through the third quarter of this year, to be fair as the brutalist pickup's reputation as a lemon grows and the market runs out of true believers.Terrible InvestmentAccording to BI, some Cybertruck line workers had already been battling an erratic work schedule since late October. Some of them reported being sent home or told to clean up."When I started at Tesla you could expect to get overtime pay, now I feel lucky to get 40 hours," one worker told BI.While EV sales have soared overall, Tesla has sold fewer cars so far this year than last year, Electrek reports,in a notable decline.The Cybertruck in particular has proven divisive, having been recalled a total of six times so far this year due to a number of glaring technical problems and baffling design decisions.The vehicle has also become a lightning rod on the street in large part due to its close association with the carmaker's far-right CEO.The value of used Cybertrucks is also dropping quickly, indicating the sheen is really starting to wear off.In short, it's still unclear why Cybertruck line workers were sent home. But the timing is certainly suspect as the company's fourth quarter closes out.More on the Cybertruck: Cybertrucks Appear to Have a Bafflingly Stupid Problem When It SnowsShare This Article

"I have realized that I waste too much time on Character.AI."Generational GapThe youth are addicted to generative AI models but their parents have no idea what their kids actually use them for.As part of a new study set to be presented at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, a team of researchers interviewed seven teenagers and thirteen parents about their AI usage and perceptions of the tech, and also analyzed thousands of Reddit posts and comments from other teens.Their findings illustrate a stark disconnect between the two demographics. Overall, the parents seemed to be under the impression that their kids used AI chatbots mainly as a search engine or as a homework tool.In reality, the teenagers primarily said they used chatbots for therapeutic purposes or for emotional support. When having a virtual friend wasn't enough, some even turned to the technology to fulfill romantic and even sexual desires."It's a very heated topic, with a lot of teenagers talking about Character.AI and how they are using it," study lead author Yaman Yu at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign said in a statement.Bad InfluenceThe epicenter of youth-oriented AI is Character.AI, an online service that hosts custom-made chatbots. Many of them imitate popular fandom characters from video games and anime, while others are explicitly geared towards romance.The service has been criticized for the poor moderation of its often racy chatbots that are popularly used by minors. In more serious cases, some of that chatbots promoted pro-anorexia eating behaviors, attempted to groom underaged users, and even encouraged suicide.Three of the interviewed teens said they used Character.AI only ChatGPT was cited more often and the service was frequently brought up in Reddit discussions. Their prevailing concern about AI was addiction to these character-based chatbots. One teen worried that they wouldn't be able to cope with their suicidal thoughts without the help of Character.AI, while another sounded quite self-aware of their unhealthy dependency."I have realized that I waste too much time on Character.AI," the teenager expressed. "I would like to be able to converse with my peers at school."Out of the LoopYet the researchers found that parents didn't realize the extent of the personal and often intimate information that their kids share with AI chatbots.In fact, eight of the thirteen adults said that their only exposure to AI was through using ChatGPT, while none of them had used CharacterAI."AI technologies are evolving so quickly, and so are the ways people use them," said study coauthor Yang Wang at UIUC said in the statement. "There are some things we can learn from past domains, such as addiction and inappropriate behavior on social media and online gaming."And Wang's right: the emergence of AI among youths mirrors many of the concerns that reared their head with the dawn of the internet. To mitigate the risks that AI poses to minors, the researchers argue that the solutions shouldn't only be technical, like implementing stronger guard rails or parent controls. The onus also falls on the adults to proactively grasp what draws their kids to these chatbots and that's an understanding that will take time to build.Share This Article

Dec 04, 2024Ravie LakshmananEncryption / CybercrimeEuropol on Tuesday announced the takedown of an invite-only encrypted messaging service called MATRIX that's created by criminals for criminal purposes.The joint operation, conducted by French and Dutch authorities under the moniker Passionflower, comes in the aftermath of an investigation that was launched in 2021 after the messaging service was discovered on the phone of a criminal convicted for the murder of a Dutch journalist Peter R. de Vries.This allowed authorities to intercept messages being sent via the service for a period of three months, amassing a total of more than 2.3 million messages in 33 languages. The messages, Europol said, are associated with serious crimes such as international drug trafficking, arms trafficking, and money laundering. It's worth noting at this stage that MATRIX is different from the open-source, decentralized messaging app of the same name ("matrix[.]org"). Also known by other names such as Mactrix, Totalsec, X-quantum, and Q-safe, it had at least 8,000 user accounts globally, who paid anywhere between $1,360 and $1,700 in cryptocurrency for a Google Pixel phone and a six-month subscription to the service installed on it.According to Dutch police officials, the communication service offered a whole set of applications, such as the ability to make video calls, keep track of transactions, and browse the internet anonymously.The agency said the law enforcement action was supplemented by follow-up operations that were carried out by Italian, Lithuanian, and Spanish counterparts.Describing the infrastructure as "technically more complex" than Sky ECC and EncroChat, Europol said the service consisted of more than 40 servers in several countries, the most important of which were located in France and Germany.As part of the coordinated effort that commenced on December 3, 2024, one suspect in France and two others in Spain have been arrested, with 13 houses searched across the two countries and Lithuania. In addition, the main servers in France and Germany have been seized.The arrests include the alleged owner and manager of the service, a 52-year-old man of Lithuanian nationality, per the Politie. Furthermore, 145,000 ($152,000) in cash and 500,000 ($525,000) in cryptocurrency, as well as four vehicles and more than 970 mobile phones have been confiscated."The encrypted communication landscape has become more fragmented following the takedown of several services such as Sky ECC, EncroChat, Exclu, and Ghost," Europol said."Criminals, in response to the disruptions of their messaging services, have been turning to a variety of less-established or custom-built communication tools that offer varying degrees of security and anonymity. While the new fragmented landscape poses challenges for law enforcement, the takedown of established communication channels shows that authorities are on top of the latest technologies that criminals use."Germany Shuts Down Crimenetwork MarketplaceThe development comes as Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (aka Bundeskriminalamt or BKA) said it has taken down Crimenetwork, the largest German-speaking cybercrime platform for illegal goods and services, and arrested one of its 29-year-old administrators who goes by the alias Techmin.No less than 100,000 users and over 100 sellers are estimated to have registered on the Crimenetwork. A majority of the customers are based in German-speaking countries.The operators, who received commission payments in the range of 1-5% on each sale, also charged the sellers a monthly fee for advertising and sales licenses. Between 2018 and 2024, transactions on the illicit service amounted to 1,000 Bitcoin and over 20,000 Monero (more than $100 million combined)."'Crimenetwork' served as a marketplace for illegal goods and services, in particular for stolen data, drugs and forged documents," the BKA said. "The platform has existed since 2012 and has been one of the central trading platforms of the German-speaking underground economy for many years."South Korea Arrests 6 for Adding DDoS Feature to Satellite ReceiversThe takedowns also follow a separate law enforcement exercise in South Korea that has led to the arrest of six people associated with an unnamed satellite broadcasting receiver manufacturer for equipping the devices with capabilities to conduct distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.The malicious functionality, the National Police Agency said, was distributed at the request of a customer to 240,000 units either under the guise of firmware updates or preloaded at the time of product shipment.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Dec 04, 2024The Hacker NewsRisk Management / Zero TrustAre you using the cloud or thinking about transitioning? Undoubtedly, multi-cloud and hybrid environments offer numerous benefits for organizations. However, the cloud's flexibility, scalability, and efficiency come with significant risk an expanded attack surface. The decentralization that comes with utilizing multi-cloud environments can also lead to limited visibility into user activity and poor access management. Privileged accounts with access to your critical systems and sensitive data are among the most vulnerable elements in cloud setups. When mismanaged, these accounts open the doors to unauthorized access, potential malicious activity, and data breaches. That's why strong privileged access management (PAM) is indispensable.PAM plays an essential role in addressing the security challenges of complex infrastructures by enforcing strict access controls and managing the life cycle of privileged accounts. By employing PAM in hybrid and cloud environments, you're not just protecting your sensitive assets you're also meeting compliance requirements and enhancing your overall security posture.To secure your organization's hybrid or multi-cloud environment, consider implementing the following PAM best practices:1. Centralize access controlsCentralized access provisioning will remove the burden of constant maintenance and oversight from your admins' shoulders while keeping user accounts secure. This will guarantee the same level of access management consistency across all your IT infrastructure, ensuring no access point is overlooked and unprotected.When looking for your privileged access management solution, pay attention to those supporting your organization's platforms, operating systems, and cloud environments. Try to find a single solution that can help you manage access across every endpoint, server, and cloud workstation.2. Limit access to critical resourcesYou can reduce the large attack surface of complex hybrid and cloud infrastructures by applying the principle of least privilege (PoLP) across your IT environments. PoLP means providing users with access necessary to perform their duties, limiting the exposure of sensitive data to potential malicious activity and exposure. Regular user access reviews can support your PoLP implementation.You can take this principle a step further and implement a just-in-time (JIT) approach to access management. JIT PAM involves providing access on demand and for a limited time, which is enough to perform a specific task. This approach is specifically useful when providing temporary access to external users such as partners and third-party service providers.3. Implement role-based access controlRole-based access control (RBAC) involves granting access to assets based on the users' roles in your organization, aligning permissions with the principle of least privilege. In complex hybrid and multi-cloud setups, where resources are spread across many environments, RBAC simplifies access management by defining roles centrally and applying them consistently. In this access management model, each role has specific permissions, which helps minimize unnecessary access rights and prevents privilege misuse.To implement RBAC effectively, your organization should thoroughly analyze your employees' job duties and define clear roles with appropriate access permissions. Consider regularly reviewing and updating the established roles to reflect any changes in responsibilities and organizational structures.4. Adopt zero trust security principlesAdopting zero trust in hybrid and multi-cloud environments involves implementing a framework where no user, device, or application is inherently trusted, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the network perimeter. For example, implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) will help you verify if the users are who they claim to be, protecting privileged accounts even if their credentials get compromised.Zero trust also involves segmenting your resources. Segmentation is critical in environments where applications and resources are interconnected and shared, as it prevents lateral movement. With such an approach, even if one part of your network gets compromised, an attacker finds it difficult to reach other network segments. Segmentation also applies to privileged accounts, as you can isolate them from different parts of your system to reduce the impact of potential breaches.5. Increase visibility into user activityWhen you can't clearly see what's happening in your hybrid and cloud environments, you're susceptible to human error, privilege abuse, account compromise, and, eventually, data breaches. By implementing PAM solutions with user activity monitoring capabilities, you can gain visibility into your IT perimeter and detect threats early on.To enhance your monitoring processes, consider deploying software that alerts you about suspicious user activity and allows you to respond to threats. Integrating your PAM software with SIEM systems is also beneficial since it provides a centralized view of security events and privileged user activity.6. Secure privileged credentialsCredential theft cases are among the costliest cybersecurity incidents, averaging $679,621 per incident, according to the 2023 Cost of Insider Risks Global Report by the Ponemon Institute. As high-level accounts hold the keys to your most important assets, the damage from compromising their credentials can be massive. That's why protecting them is crucial for the security of all IT infrastructures, including hybrid and multi-cloud ones.To protect your privileged user credentials, develop password management policies outlining how to secure, store, and use passwords. To enforce these policies, consider implementing a password management solution that will allow you to safeguard passwords in a secure vault, provide single-use credentials, and automate password provisioning and rotation across all of your cloud environments. 7. Ensure cloud-native integrationConsider using PAM solutions that integrate seamlessly with cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, utilizing their built-in capabilities to manage privileged access more effectively.By leveraging privileged access management tools that integrate with cloud-native features such as IAM roles, API gateways, and secrets management, your organization can reduce complexity and enable automation.Secure complex IT environments with SytecaSyteca is a comprehensive cybersecurity platform featuring robust privileged access management and user activity management capabilities. Syteca PAM capabilities include account discovery, granular access provisioning, password management, two-factor authentication, privileged session recording, and more.Syteca is designed to secure complex on-premise, cloud, and hybrid IT infrastructures from internal risks, account compromise, and other human-related threats. The list of platforms Syteca supports includes cloud environments such as Amazon WorkSpaces and Microsoft Azure and virtualization platforms like VMware Horizon and Microsoft Hyper-V. Additionally, Syteca offers SaaS deployment for cost efficiency, automated maintenance, and streamlined scalability.Watch an online demonstration or test Syteca's capabilities in your IT infrastructure with a free 30-day trial!Found this article interesting? This article is a contributed piece from one of our valued partners. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

James M. Connolly, Contributing Editor and WriterDecember 4, 20249 Min ReadFederico Caputo via Alamy StockThere might be someone, somewhere -- possibly on some isolated South Pacific Island -- who hasn't wondered about the impact of artificial intelligence and other technologies on their job. For the rest of us, AIs invasion has the workforce pondering what it means to us, how it changes the nature of our work, the value of our paychecks, and even if we have a job going forward.All legitimate questions.Browsing through the past year or so of InformationWeek articles, we found a boatload of content focused on the role of AI and other tech today and in the future. In updating this Future of Work Quick Study, posted in mid-2023, we hope to provide you with insight into what IT leaders and their teams can expect from those technologies, and how they can build a modern workforce that enables their organizations and careers to flourish.One thing we can be sure of is that, for all the change we've seen in the past couple of years, still more change is on the horizon.The Hybrid: Work From Home and From WorkIts Different IT: Tech Support for Remote UsersHow does the IT teams approach change when it must provide technicalsupport for remote workforces?Onboarding Employees in the Age of RemoteRemote changed IT hiring fast, but onboarding employees didnt quite keep pace. Often, new employees like software engineers benefit from having someone sitting across from them. Heres insight from a company thats been there and done with advice on how to get it right.Are Return to Work Mandates Wise?Some businesses are mandating that some or all employees return to the office. While the motives are understandable, theres more to the story.Negotiating Remote Work Agreements as Listings ThinAs organizations angle to get workers back to a more regular in-office work schedule, IT professionals are still in a strong position to bargain for remote and hybrid agreements, given the robust IT jobs market.6 Lessons Learned from the Big Return to Office Debate of 2023Hint: Trust your people for hybrid work to fuel the business.6 Challenges and Opportunities for Hybrid and Remote IT TeamsRemote and hybrid work is here to stay. What does that mean for IT teams when employees want it, but managers may not like it?Manage By Walking Around in the Remote WorldThe concept manage by walking around encourages CIOs and other execs to get away from their desks to really see how projects are progressing. Does it work in a remote workplace? Heres some advice.AI: A New Ballgame for the WorkplaceBuilding an Augmented-Connected WorkforceAI and other advanced technologies are unleashing the augmented-connected workforce, enabling human-machine partnerships for new levels of business productivity.Nvidias Jensen Huang on Leadership, Tokenization, and GenAI Workforce ImpactThe GPU chipmaking giants CEO says its important for CIOs to get started with AI and called for a more positive outlook on the emerging techs impact on the workforce.CIOs Can Build a Resilient IT Workforce with AI and Unconventional TalentAs the IT talent crunch continues, chief information officers can embrace new strategies to combine traditional IT staff with nontraditional workers and AI to augment the workforce.AI: Friend or Foe?Adoption of AI continues, further fueled by generative AI. Like with all things tech, the hype needs to be tempered with a realistic expectation of results.Navigating the Impact of AI on TeamsLeaders should prioritize artificial intelligence literacy, empathy, and balance AI benefits with human insights to navigate the transformative impact of AI on teams effectively.How CEOs and IT Leaders Can Take the Wheel on Responsible AI AdoptionLeaders expect AI to reshape business, but readiness varies. Heres why it's crucial for CEOs, CIOs, and CTOs to develop responsible AI safety and innovation strategies now.What Is the Future of AI-Driven Employee Monitoring?Workplace monitoring isnt new, but AI is giving employers new powers to sift through employee data and analyze their work performance.How Companies Can Retain Employee Trust During the AI RevolutionRecent surveys indicate a trust gap among most employees, driven largely by job insecurity. Here are some ideas for enterprise leaders on how to growUtilizing Automation to Alleviate Alert Fatigue, Workforce Shortages, and MoreThis session explores strategies to address the growing volume of vulnerabilities and associated challenges of alert fatigue and resource shortages through safe automation.The IT Jobs AI Could Replace and the Ones It Could CreateTransformative power of AI has the potential to eliminate and create jobs in the IT field.Hire or Upskill? The Burning Question in an Age of Runaway AIGenerative AI speaks like a human but to make it work employees have to think like a machine. Where do you go to find that kind of talent?The People (and Machines) You Work WithQuick Study: Diversity, Equity, and InclusionAre we making progress in this sensitive, timely topic? Heres a snapshot of our own articles on why DEI matters, how companies are addressing it, educational initiatives, cutting through bias, and more.AI Robots Are Here. Are We Ready?Robots are getting smarter and more intuitive thanks to advances in artificial intelligence. Can people survive the competition?Eliminating Remote Work Will Ruin Techs Drive for DiversityWith some tech companies saying diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is unimportant, remote work should continue to be an option available at tech companies to increase DEI and help solve staffing challenges.A New Generation and the Future of Sustainable ComputingThe Gen Z generation has grown up with both powerful technology and a keen awareness of environmental impact. How will their perspectives as the new data scientists and stakeholders shape the future of sustainable computing?The Importance of Mentors in Tech and FinanceHeres why mentorship is instrumental in career growth, providing guidance and support for personal and professional development.Integration, Insight, and AI Will Define DEIs Next EraDiversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are more important than ever. With data, analytics, and intelligent tools, employers can create accountability around these critical goals.Empowering Women in a Gender-Biased Tech IndustryGender inequality is an existing issue exacerbated within the tech industry. Here are three areas to empower women today in the workplace.Quick Study: Diversity, Equity, and InclusionAre we making progress in this sensitive, timely topic? Heres a snapshot of our own articles on why DEI matters, how companies are addressing it, educational initiatives, cutting through racial and gender bias, and more.Cobots and AI: A Natural Match?Collaborative robots are getting smarter and more intuitive. What does this mean for their human colleagues?Less Talk, More Action: 3 Steps to Diversify the Cybersecurity WorkforceOrganizations have a lot to gain from team diversity, so now is the time to start employing more women, particularly in fields such as cybersecurity where there is a talent gap.Diversitys Crucial Role in AIYour board and your CEO have been clamoring for artificial intelligence, and now you have AI technology. But what if what your AI is telling you is wrong?Your Future JobSurvey: Work/Life Balance in IT Achieved Through Flexibility, PTOWhen creating policies, its important for business leaders to know its not just time-off and wellness programs that impact stress and work-life balance.9 Future of Work Concepts That Need More AttentionFuture of work concepts continue to evolve with circumstances and technological innovation. Here's a look at several.Technology Executive Arsenal: Must-Have Skills for LeadersCan today's technology leaders really handle the pressures of a fast-paced digital world? With these five skills, you can stay competitive and effectively tackle new challenges.5 Traits To Look for When Hiring Business and IT InnovatorsHiring resilient and forward-thinking employees is the cornerstone of innovation. If youre looking to hire a trailblazer, here are five traits to seek, as well as questions to ask.CISO Role Undergoes Evolution as Jobs Grow More ComplexThe complexity and sophistication of threats means CISOs must be more proactive in identifying and mitigating risks and making the business case for investment in security. The role isn't just about tech.Jumping the IT Talent Gap: Cyber, Cloud, and Software DevsBusinesses must first determine where their IT skill sets need bolstering, and then develop an upskilling strategy or focus on strategic new hires.Dispelling the Myth of Job Displacement: AI and TransformationWhile AI can automate certain tasks, it should be seen as a tool that complements human capabilities rather than replacing them entirely.Leading IT teams Through Changing PrioritiesThe constantly changing world of IT needs leaders who can pivot with major changes, for both business priorities and breakthrough technologies.Resolving the Crisis of Fractured OrganizationsOne of the key success factors for driving process improvement starts with cross-functional collaboration and alignment within an organization.Critical Thinking: The Overlooked IT Management SkillHave you given much thought to critical thinking? Its a talent that can make you a stronger, more effective leader.Why Your Current Job May Be Holding Back Your IT CareerAre you completely satisfied with your job? That could be a warning sign your career is stalled.Growing Your Own IT TalentThe IT marketplace is highly competitive and extremely expensive. Is it time to consider growing your own talent?Teach IT: Why Staff Learning Beats TrainingIT training provides the knowledge teams need to perform specific tasks. IT learning spurs progress and innovation. Its important to know the difference.Talent: Find It, Train It, Keep ItAn Ethical Approach to Employee PoachingTwo-way employee poaching between IT departments and vendors has been a fact of life for years. What are the ethics and best practices you should uphold?The AI Skills Gap and How to Address ItWorkers are struggling to integrate AI into their skill sets. Where are we falling short in helping them leverage AI to their own benefit and the benefit of their employers?Online Learning: Training an Advanced Manufacturing WorkforceThe USs advanced manufacturing sector depends on innovative approaches to education.How to Find a Qualified IT Intern Among CandidatesIT organizations offering intern programs often find themselves swamped with applicants. Here's how to find the most knowledgeable and prepared candidates.How to Build an Effective IT Mentoring ProgramIn a rapidly evolving IT world, mentoring is an efficient way to help team members keep pace with the latest tech and practices. Here's how to get started.Skills-Based Hiring in IT: How to Do it RightBy focusing directly on skills instead of more subjective criteria, IT leaders can build highly capable teams. Here's what you need to know to get started.Tech Pros Quitting Over Salary Stagnation, StressTo retain top tech talent, organizations must look beyond financial compensation to provide growth opportunities and wellbeing.Citizen Development Turns Software Novices into CreatorsAttention, citizens! You can now become software developers. Only minimal skills are necessary, thanks to low-code, no-code technology.Can Artificial Intelligence Ever Become an IT Team Leader?AIs ability to make predictions and offer recommendations is advancing rapidly. Will it eventually gain the ability to lead IT teams?Read more about:Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)About the AuthorJames M. ConnollyContributing Editor and WriterJim Connolly is a versatile and experienced freelance technology journalist who has reported on IT trends for more than three decades. He was previouslyeditorial director of InformationWeek and Network Computing, where heoversaw the day-to-day planning and editing on the sites. He has written about enterprise computing, data analytics, the PC revolution, the evolution of the Internet, networking, IT management, and the ongoing shift to cloud-based services and mobility. He has covered breaking industry news and has led teams focused on product reviews and technology trends. He has concentrated on serving the information needs of IT decision-makers in large organizations and has worked with those managers to help them learn from their peers and share their experiences in implementing leading-edge technologies through such publications as Computerworld. Jim also has helped to launch a technology-focused startup, as one of the founding editors at TechTarget, and has served as editor of an established news organization focused on technology startups at MassHighTech.See more from James M. ConnollyNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeReportsMore Reports

Leigh Gordon, Associate Vice President, Human Resources, HCLSoftwareDecember 4, 20244 Min ReadJosie Elias via Alamy StockGeneration Z is the driving force fundamentally redefining the world and our business landscape. Growing up amid a digitally defined, network-oriented environment that moves at unprecedented scale, scope, and speed -- Gen Zers, also called Zoomer or iGen-ers -- are the first generation shaped by digital technology.Born a few years after the World Wide Web debuted in 1993, this post-millennial digital native generation has grown up with the internet. As they seamlessly blend online and real worlds, Gen Zers, an integral part of business today, are heralding the shift from the digital age to the virtual age.While previous generations invented most of the technology Gen Zers have at their fingertips, their inherent AI fluency helps them radically redefine the future of work, play, and social life. Every facet of their life has been profoundly shaped by AI tools and solutions, leading to new methods of working and connecting with others. The speed and scale afforded by new technologies like GenAI is also reflected in the new attitudes to how they get work done. Unsurprisingly, GenAI tools are the preferred sidekick for tech-savvy Zoomers, with more than 50% using it at work to free up their time for strategic work.As we welcome the next wave of innovation and the youngest cohort of workers, its essential for Gen Z to channel the following skills to thrive in the AI-driven era:Related:Creativity: AI can process vast amounts of data and identify patterns, but it lacks the spark of human creativity. Thinking outside the box, generating novel ideas, and envisioning the future will be indispensable.Imagination: Imagination is the fuel that drives innovation. It allows for new possibilities, challenges the status quo, and develops solutions to complex problems.Problem-solving: While AI can assist in identifying problems and analyzing data, it is humans who possess the critical thinking skills, empathy, and judgment necessary to devise effective solutions.But as we guide Gen Z toward harnessing the power of AI, businesses should proactively adapt to the needs of Gen Z, recognizing their value as a tech-savvy generation that is shaping the future of work.Redefining the Workplace for ZoomersAccording to the World Economic Forum Gen Z will make up about 27% of the workforce by 2027 and 29% by 2030. By recognizing the unique skill set of Gen Zers, organizations can capitalize on their potential to create a more adaptable, innovative, and human-centric workplace.To build a collaborative ecosystem for the future workplace, organizations must consider the following:Related:Invest in continuous learning: The rapid AI development and proliferation of tools has also created unrealistic expectations about capability and proficiency, highlighting the importance of better training, continuous learning and more importantly governance of tools. Its important for organizations to foster a culture of lifelong learning to keep employees adaptable to evolving technologies and to offer training programs for effective governance to avoid misuse of tools and create a knowledge-sharing environment.Use AI as co-pilot in the workplace: Gen Z brings a new perspective, and they do not view AI as a threat or competitor but a valuable collaborator. They are accustomed to using AI assistants for data analysis, modifying product design, and gaining insights to enhance their work. This paradigm shift demands a focus on developing skills that complement AI, like creativity, critical thinking, and the ability to transform AI-generated data into practical strategies.Adopt tools that reflect the needs of digital age humans: Gen Z workers have more AI fluency than their more senior colleagues as evidenced by this recent study, which underscores the need to do away with outdated, legacy tools and platforms to promote real change. Now, organizations must adopt better systems and software that match the needs of this younger workforce wave.Related:Invest in digital tools and infrastructure to foster collaboration: Growing up in a hyper-connected world, this generation thrives both in the digital and physical realm. In an era of hybrid work, organizations must strive to provide phygital (physical + digital) environments to foster connections, spur productivity and boost culture. This also helps promote a sense of belonging.Future Is Bright for Gen Z and AIAs we navigate the rapidly evolving future of work, its clear that Gen Z is at the forefront of innovation. Their digital fluency, combined with their creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills, positions them as invaluable assets in the AI-driven era.By fostering a workplace that supports continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration, organizations can harness the full potential of Gen Z and create a more adaptable, innovative, and human-centric future, centered on a partnership -- not a tradeoff -- between humans and AI. If organizations understand and embrace this dynamic, theyll be poised to create a world where technology augments human capabilities, with Gen Z at the helm of this transformation, defining the future of work for generations to come.About the AuthorLeigh GordonAssociate Vice President, Human Resources, HCLSoftwareLeigh Gordon leads the people function and is responsible for all aspects of people strategy and operations on a global scale including global recruiting, talent management, talent development, diversity and inclusion, total rewards, organizational effectiveness, and program management. Leigh and her team engage and empower 8000+ global employees to achieve their true potential and drive business value for our customers and partners. She focuses on making HCL Software an exceptional place for employees to work and build a culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.Leigh has over 20+ years' experience working in global technology organizations, leading teams in Human resources and Sales operations. Prior to joining the company, she was the Global HR Leader and business partner for Customer Experience Solutions at Infor. Leigh earned her bachelors degree in business from West Chester University and her masters degree in human resource development from Villanova University. She is a member of CHIEF and holds her Professional Human Resources (PHR) certification from HRCI.See more from Leigh GordonNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeReportsMore Reports

Justin Kurzel wants to make a Mad Max prequel.The Assassins Creed director, 50, has always been curious as to what happened before the events of the original post-apocalyptic action film, and has now revealed he has considered approaching franchise creator George Miller, 79, about the possibility of him helming a prequel to the 1979 cult classic, which starred Mel Gibson as the titular character.Kurzel told Collider: Ill tell you what, maybe because it was such a big influence, but Ive always been curious about what happened before the first Mad Max - what was that world with the Nightrider, pre-Mad Max.Ive always been very curious about that and very tempted to talk to George about the possibility of a world that is pre-Mad Max one and what that is. Thats been one that Ive always been really curious about because it was such an influential film in my time. Its an amazing franchise, but Ive always been curious about those moments before that first one because its set up so richly. And its such a great time in Australia, too, that period.Warner Bros.Warner Bros.loading...READ MORE: The Most Ridiculous Parts of Action MoviesMad Max spawned two sequels, Mad Max 2 and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome in 1981 and 1985 respectively, though the series was then rested for 30 years until it was rebooted with 2015s Mad Max: Fury Road.The 2015 flick which saw Tom Hardy replace Gibson as the anti-hero recently received the spinoff Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth and takes place before the events of Fury Road.Reflecting on the franchise at the time of Furiosa's release, Miller said he never thought Mad Max to have stayed as popular as it is for over four decades.Asked if he expected the appeal of Mad Max to span generations, the director told IndieWires Filmmaker Toolkit podcast: "Never! It's best expressed in John Lennons notion that life is what happens when you're making other plans.Get our free mobile appThe Best Action Movie Posters in History

Scope:Develop high quality code for execution in cloud infrastructureWrite efficient code which manages a pipeline of tasks to be automatedSupport collecting, aggregating data generated by our contractsDeploy functional code that interacts with available contracts off chainWrite functional documentation, design flow diagrams, and support PR reviews.Collaborate within the backend team, and contribute to audit processesRequirements:Atleast 2 years of experience writing, testing and deploying in NodeJSDemonstrable experience in Solidity using web3.jsDemonstrable experience running Hardhat or other tools in test, production environmentsStrong understanding of how EVM chains work including gas usage, stakingAbility to work independently, and follow software development processesGood communication skills in writing/speaking in EnglishNice to have:3-5 years of software development experience including scripts in trading environmentsAbility to aggregate data feeds using GraphQL, on-chain sourcesGood understanding of web3.0 storage architectureGood understanding of trading bots, building regression modelsBenefits:Remote work with a highly talented backend team in a dynamic, fast-growth startupOpportunity to innovate on a new spacePartnerships will leading projects in Avalanche, so get to work on cutting edge of contract developmentAttractive compensation with upside potentialAbout VCREDVCRED is building automation for staking, yield farming and leveraging arbitrage bots. Compared to traditional AMMs, our projects enable liquidity providers to earn yields without worrying about impermanent loss.VCREDs investors include Avalanche, Blizzard Fund, CMS Holdings among others. What started as a winning prototype for a hackathon by the founder is now a rapidly expanding decentralized team of 8 with 4 Full Stack Developers. Our team brings in an exceptional experience from a wide variety of backgrounds in Machine Learning, Smart contracts, web development, marketing & design.We are launching soon on Avalanche and looking for an experienced backend developer to join our product focused team. This will be a 6+ month contract opportunity to support our launch, and deploy new features planned for our next phase as well.The contract will be extended to a larger duration based on your performance on the job.Hiring @ VCRED.io Related Jobs See more Full-Stack Programming jobs