A palette of materials, finishes, and surfaces for indoor excellence. (Courtesy Treefrog)Sottsass GreyTreefrogTreefrog has revamped its entire collection, adding 11 new FSC-certified prefinished woods, including seven new Designer Veneers. Designed by the late Ettore Sottsass, Sottsass Grey was recently reintroduced in more muted wood tones by Treefrogs Italian supplier.(Courtesy PK-30 System)PK30 Sliding Stacking SystemPK-30 SystemShown here in the Hafele New York showroom by Perkins&Wills New York studio. The PK30 12-foot-tall sliding stacking system requires no floor track for installation. The systems panels are made of wood, glass, and metal. (Courtesy Allsteel)12 Value Ladder PullAllsteelHardware for Allsteels Aspect and Beyond Walls has been updated to include a new 12 Value Ladder Pull that is visually consistent with other new ladder pulls.(Courtesy 3A Composites)Monarc Interior Composite Wall Panels3A CompositeThis new range of composite wall panels for contract interiors is available in 19 options across three collections inspired by raw materials, natural stone, and wood. Monarc is made from two sheets of .012 aluminum bonded to a fire-retardant mineral core in a continuous extrusion process, creating a rigid and durable aluminum-composite panel.(Courtesy 3form)Dreamscape Collection3formFor its first designer collection, 3form partnered with New Yorkbased design firm Ringo Studio to create a surfacing palette that includes seven combinations of materials, colors, patterns, and finishes. (Courtesy Molo)Petal Pink SoftwallMoloAt this years ICFF in New York City, Molo premiered its new limited-edition Petal Pink custom color for its freestanding textile Softwall partition system.

The Farnsworth Homestead is located on Elm Street in Downtown Rockland, Maine, and is an excellent example of a mid-19th century residence in the Greek Revival style. The home was built in 1850 for Rockland businessman William Alden Farnsworth, who gained his income from lime-rock quarries and the Rockland Water Company. Mr. Farnsworth was a leading businessman who helped establish Rockland as the number four port in the United States, largely exporting lime for masonry construction all down the east coast. After William died in 1873, the property was inherited by his heirs, the last of which, Lucy Farnsworth, lived here until her own death in 1935. The 96-year-old Lucy Farnsworth died in the home and in her will, bequeathed the family property and ample funds to establish the Farnsworth Art Museum, and included preservation of the family homestead as a mid-19th century house museum, which it remains to this day. The Greek Revival style house with its flushboard siding and bold pilasters, was recently restored by the museum, along with the carriage house which stands to its east.

Published December 17, 2024 10:00am EST close Holiday shopping fraud expected to increase due to AI The busy holiday shopping season is just around the corner and most of us will be targeted by an AI scam. The holiday season is the best time of the year. Many of us spend quality time with our families, enjoy delicious food and even go on vacations. For many, its also a time to indulge in shopping. And why not? This is when you find the best deals on your favorite products, whether its a new electronic gadget or a household essential.However, the holiday season also comes with an increased risk of mobile fraud while shopping online. Scammers often target online shoppers in more ways than you might imagine. Fortunately, with some awareness and precautions, you can protect yourself. Below, Ill discuss the rise in mobile shopping scams and how you can stay safe. A woman shopping on her smartphone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)The rise in mobile fraudAccording toAppdome's latest U.S. Consumer Survey, 60.6% of Americans say fraud is their biggest concern. More than 40% of global consumers reported that they or someone close to them had been directly affected by mobile fraud, malware or a cyberattack. With mobile apps now being the main way people interact with brands, skepticism among users is growing. In fact, 24% of consumers believe developers dont care about app security, a massive jump of 258% since 2021.Social engineering has become a major worry, as people are becoming more aware of the many ways mobile fraud can happen. This includes things like location spoofing, scams that manipulate users and account takeovers. Almost half of the survey respondents this year said they or someone they know personally had dealt with fraud, scams or similar issues.Such scams also affect your online shopping experience. I spoke with Tom Tovar, CEO of Appdome, regarding what consumers need to know when they are shopping on their mobile devices this holiday season."Consumers should be aware of phishing, smishing and vishing scams, which exploit fake emails, deceptive SMS messages and fraudulent phone calls to steal sensitive information. More sophisticated threats include FaceID bypass attacks, such as those carried out by the GoldPickaxe malware, which uses AI-enhanced techniques to bypass biometric authentication,"Tovar said."Other significant risks include banking trojans, which infiltrate apps to steal login credentials or financial data, and accessibility malware, which exploits device accessibility features to take control of mobile interactions. The rise of these sophisticated threats highlights the need for robust in-app security." A woman shopping on her smartphone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)4 steps to take to protect yourself while shopping on your phoneShopping scams are becoming harder to detect, but its easy to stay ahead of them. Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself while shopping on your phone.1) Shop on a safe mobile appThis might seem obvious, but sticking to trusted apps can help keep you safe while shopping. By trusted apps, I mean platforms like Amazon, eBay and Walmart."With the growing sophistication of mobile threats, its becoming increasingly challenging for consumers to identify risks independently. Threats like phishing, accessibility malware and banking trojans are designed to mimic legitimate functions, making them nearly impossible to detect at a glance. Instead of relying solely on spotting issues, consumers should look for apps that clearly communicate their commitment to security through visible privacy policies, transparent security practices and updates addressing new threats. Choosing apps from trusted sources and reading user reviews can also provide reassurance,"Tovar said.2) Watch out for phishing, smishing and vishing scamsWhen shopping on your phone, be cautious ofphishing, smishing andvishing scams, as they are common tactics used to steal your personal and financial information. Phishing involves fake emails that look like they are from trusted retailers, tricking you into sharing sensitive details like passwords or payment information. Smishing is a similar tactic but delivered through text messages, often containing links to fake websites or malicious downloads.Vishing, on the other hand, involves scammers making phone calls pretending to be customer service representatives from well-known brands, attempting to gain access to your private information. Always verify the authenticity of emails, texts or calls before clicking links or sharing details to ensure a safe shopping experience.The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.3) Be cautious about the permissions you grant to appsWhen shopping online on your phone, it's important to be careful about the permissions you give to apps. A lot of apps may ask for access to things like your camera, contacts or location, even if it's not necessary for the shopping experience. Always think twice before granting these permissions."These permissions are often abused by malware to collect sensitive data or perform unauthorized actions. Before granting permissions, consider whether they align with the apps purpose. Developers can mitigate these risks by incorporating protections from Appdomes anti-fraud offering, which protects against the many abuse methods used by malicious actors to abuse mobile app permissions," Tovar said. A woman shopping on her smartphone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)4) Protect your financial informationProtecting financial information is crucial, especially when shopping online. It's important to use secure websites, indicated by "https" in the URL, and avoid saving payment details in apps or on websites unless they are trustworthy.While consumers should stay vigilant by using trusted apps, downloading only from official app stores and monitoring for suspicious activity theres only so much they can do, Tovar said."The sophistication of modern threats often makes it impossible for users to identify or prevent all risks on their own," he said. "Consumers have a better chance of keeping their personal information secure by choosing brands that prioritize security and back it up with tangible actions, such as automating robust protections and delivering proactive, built-in security measures."Kurts key takeawayThe holiday season is a prime time for shopping and, unfortunately, for scams. As mobile shopping continues to grow, threats like AI-driven scams and advanced malware are expected to increase. However, you can keep yourself safe by staying informed about potential threats, choosing apps with robust security measures and practicing good mobile hygiene. It's also the responsibility of app developers to ensure users dont fall prey to scammers.Do you think app developers are doing enough to keep people safe from scams? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Published December 17, 2024 6:00am EST close 'CyberGuy': Using VPNs without messing up your banking apps Tech expert Kurt Knutsson says a VPN enhances online banking security by encrypting data and protecting privacy. Using a virtual private network (VPN) can significantly enhance your online security, especially when accessing sensitive information like banking apps. However, it can also lead to complications, such as being blocked from accessing your bank's services.Melissa from Dallas wrote to us asking, "How can I use a VPN without getting locked out of my banking app? It's very frustrating, and I worry about my security when I have to turn off the VPN. Are there any specific tips to ensure I stay both secure and connected?"Melissa, we totally understand how that can be aggravating.We'll guide you through the steps to use VPNs effectively while ensuring your banking activities remain secure and accessible. A woman logging onto her VPN on her laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)What is a VPN?A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and reroutes it through a server in a different location than your own. VPNs make it appear that you are connecting to the internet from whichever location the server is hosted in rather than your actual location.When you first connect to a network using a VPN, your device will establish a secure connection with the VPN server and your device's IP address will appear as the VPN server, meaning that only your internet service provider will see that you're connecting to a VPN server. Normally, when you connect to a website, the website or any online services you visit can see your device's technical information, including location-sensitive data such as IP addresses. A VPN on a laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Understanding VPNs and their benefitsA VPN creates a secure tunnel between your device and the internet, encrypting your data to protect it from prying eyes. The three key benefits of using a VPN for online banking include:1) Enhanced security: Encrypts your connection, making it difficult for hackers to intercept sensitive information.2) Privacy protection: Masks your IP address, helping you maintain anonymity while browsing.3) Access to geo-restricted content: Allows you to access banking services when traveling abroad. Illustration of how you can use a VPN worldwide (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Steps to use a VPN safely with banking apps1) Choose the right VPNSelect a reputable VPN service that prioritizes security and privacy. Look for features such as:Military-grade encryption (256-bit AES)No-logs policy to ensure your activities are not tracked.Kill-switch functionality to prevent data leaks if the VPN connection drops.Servers in your home country to avoid triggering alerts from your bank2) Install the VPN softwareDownload and install the VPN application on your device. Most VPN services offer user-friendly interfaces compatible with various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.3) Connect to a serverBefore accessing your banking app:Launch the VPN application.Connect to a server located in your home country. This helps prevent your bank from flagging your access as suspicious.4) Log into your banking appOnce connected:Open your banking app or website.Log in as you normally would. If you encounter issues, consider clearing browser cookies or switching servers within the VPN.5) Monitor for any issuesIf you experience difficulties logging in:Disable the VPN temporarily and try accessing the app again.Change the VPN city/location to match the city where you live or are currently located.When traveling, be sure to change the VPN to the city where you live to avoid issues.Contact customer support for both your bank and the VPN provider if problems persist. A woman logging onto her VPN on her tablet (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)What to do when your VPN gets blocked by your bankNow, some websites, especially banking sites, might get a little suspicious when they see you're using a VPN. They might even block you out. So, what do you do if your bank's website won't let you in with your VPN on? Don't panic. Here are a few quick fixes:Try contacting your bank's customer support. They might have a solution or be able to white-list your VPN, which basically means allowing your connection to bypass security blocks.Change theVPN city/location to match the city where you live or are currently located.If all else fails, you can always temporarily disable your VPN when accessing your banking app. Just remember to turn it back on when you're done.Now, you might be wondering, "Is it safe to turn off my VPN for banking?" Well, as long as you're on a secure, private network (notpublic Wi-Fi), you should be OK. Just make sure to enable it again as soon as you're done. Remember, while VPNs can sometimes be a bit of a hassle, the privacy and security they provide are totally worth it.Choosing the right VPN for banking security and safety tipsSecuring your financial information with reliable VPN services and following these practical safety tips are important.1) Choose a reliable VPN:Select a reputable VPN service with strong encryption protocols..2) Always use VPN on public Wi-Fi:Never access financial accounts on public networks without activating your VPN first.3) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security to your accounts byenabling 2FA.4) Use strong, unique passwords:Create complex passwords for each of your accounts and consider using a password manager. Consider using apassword manager to generate and store complex passwords.5) Regularly monitor your accounts: Check your retirement accounts frequently for any suspicious activity.6) Keep software updated: Ensure your devices and apps are alwaysup to date with the latest security patches.7) Be wary of phishing attempts: Don't click on suspicious links or provide personal information in response to unsolicited emails. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.Pro tip:Use split tunneling:This feature allows you to route only specific traffic through the VPN while keeping other traffic on a regular connection. It can be beneficial for banking apps while allowing general browsing without interference.Kurt's key takeawaysUsing a VPN can significantly enhance your online banking security by encrypting sensitive data and providing privacy protection. However, it's essential to choose a reliable service and connect appropriately to avoid access issues with banking apps. By following the outlined steps and tips, you can enjoy the benefits of a VPN without compromising your ability to manage your finances securely. Always stay vigilant about potential security threats and maintain good online habits for optimal safety while banking online.Are there any misconceptions about VPNs and online banking that youd like clarified?Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Moreover, ITAMs emphasis on transparency and accountability resonates strongly with the public sectors commitment to stewardship. By adopting practices that eliminate waste while safeguarding IT services, government departments can set a powerful example of how efficiency and effectiveness can go hand in hand. This should be ingrained in the culture, from a single request for a piece of hardware to negotiating a multi-year contract.The role of collaborationSuccess will also depend on collaboration. Departments should collaborate to share best practices, pool resources, and negotiate better deals with suppliers. Engaging with forums like the ITAM Forum can provide invaluable insights and support, helping departments maximise the impact of their ITAM initiatives.The UK governments efficiency drive offers an opportunity to rethink how IT resources are managed and deployed. By embracing ITAM and complementary strategies, departments can deliver significant savings while maintaining and enhancing public service quality. This compelling vision for the future requires leadership, commitment, and a clear focus on value. As departments rise to meet this challenge, the ITAM community stands ready to support them every step of the way.Read more ITAM stories8 top enterprise asset management software products: Neglecting enterprise asset management can lead to higher equipment costs and delayed operations. Learn more about EAM software and which is best for your company.8 top inventory management software products: Inventory management software can help companies manage their supply chain in a turbulent world, but using the right product is crucial. Learn more about which software to choose.

Sergey Nivens - FotoliaNewsOfcom publishes Illegal Harms Codes of PracticeThe codes of practice and guidance from Ofcom outline the steps online services providers can take to protect their users from illegal harmsBySebastian Klovig Skelton,Data & ethics editorPublished: 17 Dec 2024 13:06 Online harms regulator Ofcom has published its first code of practice for tackling illegal harms under the Online Safety Act (OSA), giving businesses three months to prepare before enforcement begins in March 2025.Published 16 December 2024, Ofcoms Illegal Harms Codes and guidance outlines the steps providers should take to address illegal harms on their services.This includes nominating a senior executive to be accountable for OSA compliance, properly funding and staffing content moderation teams, improved algorithmic testing to limit the spread of illegal content, and removing accounts that are either run by or are on behalf of terrorist organisations.Covering more than 100,000 online services, the OSA applies to search engines and firms that publish user-created content, and contains 130 priority offences covering a variety of content types including child sexual abuse, terrorism and fraud that firms will need to proactively tackle through their content moderation systems.With the publication of the codes, providers now have deadline of 16 March 2025 to fulfil their legal duty to assess the risk of illegal harms taking place on their services, after which they will be immediately expected to implement the safety measures set out in the codes,or use other effective measures to their protect users.Ofcom has said it is ready to take enforcement action if providers do not act promptly to address the risks on their services.Under the OSA, failure to comply with its measures including a failure to complete the risk assessment process within the three month timeframe could see firms fined up to 10% of their global revenue or 18m (whichever is greater).For too long, sites and apps have been unregulated, unaccountable and unwilling to prioritise peoples safety over profits. That changes from today, said Ofcom chief executive Melanie Dawes.The safety spotlight is now firmly on tech firms and its time for them to act. Well be watching the industry closely to ensure firms match up to the strict safety standards set for them under our first codes and guidance, with further requirements to follow swiftly in the first half of next year.Technology secretary Peter Kyle who set out his draftStatement of Strategic Priorities(SSP) to the regulator in November 2024 described the codes as a material step change in online safety that mean platforms will have to proactively taken down a host of illegal content.This government is determined to build a safer online world, where people can access its immense benefits and opportunities without being exposed to a lawless environment of harmful content, he said.If platforms fail to step up the regulator has my backing to use its full powers, including issuing fines and asking the courts to block access to sites. These laws mark a fundamental re-set in societys expectations of technology companies. I expect them to deliver and will be watching closely to make sure they do.While theSSP is set to be finalised in early 2025, the current version contains five focus areas, including safety by design, transparency and accountability, agile regulation, inclusivity and resilience, and innovation in online safety technologies.Under the OSA, Ofcomwill have to report back to the secretary of state on what actions it has taken against these priorities to ensure the laws are delivering safer spaces online, which will then be used to inform next steps.Ofcom said it will be holding a further consultation in spring 2025 to expand the codes, which will include looking at proposals on banning accounts that share child sexual abuse material, crisis response protocols for emergency events such as the August 2024 riots in England, and the use of hash matching to prevent the sharing of non-consensual intimate imagery and terrorist content.Under Clause 122 of the OSA, Ofcom has the power to require messaging service providers to develop and deploy software that scans phones for illegal material. Known as client-side scanning, this method compares hash values of encrypted messages against a database of hash values of illegal content stored on a users device.Encrypted communication providers havesaidOfcoms power to require blanket surveillance in private messaging apps in this fashion would catastrophically reduce safety and privacy for everyone.Responding to the publication of the codes, Mark Jones, partner at law firm Payne Hicks Beach, said the fact that there will have been 14 months between the OSA receiving Royal Assent in October 2023 and the codes coming into force in March 2025 shows there has been no urgency in tackling illegal harms.Lets be clear this is, to a degree, self-regulation. Providers decide for themselves how to meet the legal duties and what is proportionate for them, he said. Ofcom does, however, have enforcement powers such as fines of up to 18m or 10% of global turnover or even blocking sites in the most serious of cases. But will we see these powers being used swiftly, or at all? Critics say the Codes of Practice do not go far enough and that a gradualist approach is being taken to illegal harms.Xuyang Zhu, partner at global law firm Taylor Wessing, added that while there are further codes of practice set to be published, companies now have strict timelines to adhere to and can no longer delay taking action on implementing safety measures.Companies need to act now if they want to avoid failing compliance and facing potentially significant fines, she said. For many services, it will take substantial time and effort to do the risk assessment, going through the system and data to identify risks as well as putting in compliance measures to mitigate the identified harms. It wont be an easy task and, to ensure that companies can make it by the deadline, they need to start now.Ofcom previously published its draft online child safety codes for tech firms in April 2024. Under the codes, Ofcom expects any internet services that children can access (including social media networks and search engines) to carry out robust age checks, to configure their algorithms to filter out the most harmful content from these childrens feeds, and implement content moderation processes that ensure swift action is taken against this content.The draft codes also includemeasures to ensure tech firms compliance, including by having a named senior person accountable for compliance with the childrens safety duties, an annual senior-body review of all risk management activities relating to childrens safety, and an employee code of conduct that sets standards for employees around protecting children.Read more about online safetySchools go smartphone-free to address online harms: Schools are implementing smartphone-free policies in an attempt to curb students exposure to online harms, but teachers and parents are worried the Online Safety Act will only partially address concerns.Ofcoms online safety preparedness efforts hobbled by government: Despite Ofcoms progress so far, UK government changes to the scope and timetable of the Online Safety Bill are hobbling the ability of the regulator to successfully prepare for the new regime.Online Safety Bill screening measures amount to prior restraint: The Open Rights Group is calling on Parliament to reform the Online Safety Bill, on the basis that its content-screening measures would amount to prior restraint on freedom of expression.In The Current Issue:What do the home secretarys policing reforms mean for the future of the Police Digital Service?What are the security risks of bring your own AI?Download Current IssueMicrosoft Copilot: A Year of Learning Write side up - by Freeform DynamicsPrint Industry Trends, 2025 Quocirca InsightsView All Blogs

The EcoFlow Rapid is a nostalgic-looking magnetic power bank with Qi2 wireless charging, a kickstand, and compatibility with iPhone and Android devices.

Discover why Google calls Gemini Code Assist a paradigm shift in coding, with AI-driven integrations that bring tools like GitLab and Synk directly into your development environment.

Cars stand parked ready for export in Wilhelmshaven port on July 16, 2022 in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. ... [+] The German economy is facing challenges stemming from global supply chain shortages as well as Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. (Photo by David Hecker/Getty Images)Getty ImagesHere's one reason why GM may have ditched Cruise robotaxis: carmakers will earn more than half of their revenue from software and digital services by 2035.That's according to a report from IBM, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, AWS, and Red Hat, which surveyed 1,200 industry executives to predict what's next for cars. In short: electric, software designed and some, but not full, autonomy.Three-quarters of respondents predicted that vehicles will be "software defined" and powered by AI.A software-defined vehicle (SDV) is when everything about the car is controlled by software, not just the entertainment or navigation, but how the car works, its features, and even how it drives and that includes driverless technologies, with two-thirds of industry execs believing customers will expect autonomous features of some sort by 2035. Potentially, SDVs can be upgraded via their software, sort of like when Apple releases an iOS update that adds tools to an iPhone."They foresee an extensive transformation where software and AI are applied not just to in-car experiences but to the very core of the vehicle its controls, its functions, and its interactions with the driver and the world around it," the report said.MORE FOR YOUDriverless dollars nowAnd car execs expect to make 51% of their revenue across such digital services and car software by 2035, up from 15% today. The shift to a subscription model could boost margins in the industry and that means higher costs for customers.Indeed, IBM predicted that autonomous driving features will help generate $269 in monthly recurring revenue by 2035.Some of that will come from "over the air" (OTA) upgrades, with car owners able to upgrade features in order to extend the life of the vehicle or take advantage of new services. The survey showed that six in ten execs believe customers will want this function by 2035.Not driverless, but some autonomyNo wonder carmakers are stepping away from robotaxis GM pulled funding for autonomous taxi firm Cruise, in favour of investing in autonomy for private vehicles.A Cruise, which is a driverless robot taxi, is seen during operation in San Francisco, California, ... [+] USA on July 24, 2023.Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesThe report noted that 18% of carmakers plan to invest to develop in-house capabilities for developing vehicle technology systems, including automation.Of course, being able to extract extra cash from car owners doesn't mean there's no money to be made in robotaxis after all, Waymo just expanded to Tokyo, its first foreign market. But the reports findings do point to an easier, faster route to paying for driverless development by adding autonomy to cars for a fee, just as Telsa has long done.Indeed, Tesla charges $99 for what it calls supervised full-self driving, though that requires an eligible vehicle. In the US, Ford charges $49.99 a month for BlueCruise, its version of level-2 driverless autonomy, but again only on eligible vehicles; there's also an option for a one-off payment of $2,495.Slow road to driverless and SDVsWhile the report predicts two-thirds of car drivers will expect some autonomous features by 2035, they believe those features will stay limited to level two and level three levels of autonomy where the driver must maintain attention and be ready to take back the wheel. The execs predicted fewer than a quarter of the market will have more advanced features by then.A Waymo autonomous self-driving Jaguar taxi is stopped at a light while driving along a street on ... [+] March 14, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Beginning today, Waymo One is offering robotaxi services in a 63-square mile area of greater Los Angeles including Santa Monica, Venice and downtown with over 50,000 people on the wait list. Waymo is owned by Alphabet, Googles parent company. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)Getty Images"Even if the technical challenges for high-level autonomous driving are cleared, regulatory issues and societal acceptance take more time and effort," the report quoted Kenichi Takagi, Vice President, Connected Systems R&D, Denso International America, as saying.Autonomy and SDVs both face challenges. One is security after all, a hacked car is a scary thought indeed while another is skills, as carmakers need staff with strong software talents alongside knowledge in vehicle development. The biggest challenge, according to the study, was complexity, with a need for standard interfaces between technology layers to allow in-car systems to safely share information."Automakers are increasingly moving to highly centralized, powerful high-performance compute (HPC), or domain control, units that can separate hardware and make software more manageable and easier to update," the report noted. "But this shift is exposing issues, with 79% of executives citing the technical complexity of separating the hardware and software layers as a moderate or significant SDV challenge. In fact, 47% say it is their number-one challenge."And that means that SDVs may have a hard road ahead to arrive in force by 2035, regardless of what execs say today.

Villi Iltchev raised $160 million for his debut seed fund, Category Ventures.Villi IltchevBulgaria-born Villi Iltchev built an unlikely career as an early investor in now-public GitLab generating $900 million in profits from one deal among other unicorns like Remote. Now with Category Ventures, hes hoping to do it again this time for himself.After years working on the Autopilot driver assistance software at Elon Musks Tesla, entrepreneur Ian Glow wasnt impressed by the investors circling his simulations startup, Zeromatter. Then he met with Villi Iltchev, a managing director at Two Sigma Ventures.Iltchev didnt need him to explain why computer simulations were valuable for any industry using sensors to train for safety exceptions, Glow said. And Iltchev didnt presume to tell Glow how to run his business, despite Zeromatter being not much more than a pitch deck at the time.Villi understood my life arc as it related to my business, said Glow, who decided to work with Iltchev over several name-brand firms. He knew that Id reported to Elon for a while, and I didnt want a boss in a VC.A Bulgarian immigrant who came to the U.S. alone as a teenager and scrapped his way through schools far from Stanford and the Ivy League, Iltchev took an uphill journey to the ranks of top VCs. He paid his dues in executive roles at companies including LifeLock, Salesforce and Box before becoming a full-time venture investor. Even then, he opted to take partner roles at smaller firms August Capital and Two Sigma over flashier brands. At age 48, hes not a hotshot new arrival. Where others post thought leadership bait on social media hoping to go viral, he shares pictures of his lost collection of old (mostly bootleg) tape cassettes.Soft-spoken but with a hyper-competitive personality, Iltchev has quietly built a venture track record that stands up to more pedigreed peers. When GitLab went public in 2021, his lead check in the $20 million Series B of the developer software maker in 2016 returned August Capitals entire $450 million fund more than twice over, generating hundreds of millions in profits from just one deal. (GitLab now trades at a market capitalization just under $10 billion.) In 2020 at Two Sigma, Iltchev led an $11 million seed round in Remote that valued the distributed work software maker at about $30 million, according to startup data tracker PitchBook; within two years, Remote raised $300 million in fresh funding at a valuation exceeding $3 billion.Now, Iltchev is looking to do it again this time as the boss at a new firm, Category Ventures. He has raised $160 million for Categorys first fund, which plans to write checks of $1.5 million to $5 million to pre-seed and seed-stage startups on his longtime turf of enterprise software. Focuses will include applications, infrastructure and developer tools, as well as artificial intelligence.Iltchev raised the fund alone, making it one of the larger first-time solo funds to debut in recent years. He does plan to add more partners in upcoming months, with a goal of building a lasting venture brand for the next several decades.I cant control my judgment always being right, and I cant control the outcomes, Iltchev told Forbes. What I can control is what I bring to the table in terms of my ability to help and do the hard work.In Bulgaria, Iltchevs father was a physicist with a PhD and his mother a civil engineer when its communist regime toppled in 1990, plunging both their careers into turmoil. He was 15 when they moved to nearby Greece, where his father took up construction work and his mother became a maid. Eager to improve his prospects, Iltchev applied to a number of boarding schools in the U.S. and the U.K., hoping to receive a scholarship, even if it meant leaving his family behind.When a small school in Georgia obliged, Iltchev jumped at the opportunity, quickly improving his English and parlaying his talent as a youth champion at tennis back in Bulgaria into another scholarship to a small Christian college in South Carolina. From there, he worked his way up the ladder: a graduate accounting degree from Clemson University led to a job at PwC; an MBA from the University of Virginia secured a ticket to San Francisco via a banking job at Merrill Lynch. Next, it was the tech industry itself, through a string of corporate development and strategy roles starting at HP in 2008, then Salesforce, LifeLock and Box, a startup he met and helped back through Salesforce Ventures, the tech giants venture capital arm.Iltchev was an executive at Box when it went public in January 2015.Associated PressAfter Boxs 2015 initial public offering, Iltchev considered launching his own small private equity firm, but settled upon venture investing as a young partner at a 20-year-old firm, August Capital. There, he backed GitLab and helped bring in SendBird and MaintainX, both of which later reached billion-dollar valuations. Then, in late 2018, August imploded. Tempted to launch his own fund, Iltchev met with potential backers but ultimately balked. Instead, he joined Two Sigma Ventures, the venture arm of the multi-billion-dollar trading firm Two Sigma.As Two Sigmas billionaire founders began a messy public feud earlier this year (in August, they announced they would both step down as co-CEOs), Iltchev was growing restless. A market opportunity existed in venture, he believed, for a relatively bigger but still early-stage-only firm to take more ownership of seed rounds. An outfit like that could win head-to-head against multi-billion-dollar multi-stage firms he believed couldnt offer the same focus and hustle.Investors in venture funds, including funds-of-funds and institutions like the University of Chicago, were quick to agree. There are some excellent enterprise investors in the Bay Area, but they tend to sit in different kinds of vehicles, said Beezer Clarkson, who leads investing in venture funds for Sapphire Partners. Accolade Partners managing partner Atul Rustgi said Iltchevs track record was one of the best weve seen out there among first-time funds. His background is very important, too, said Rustgi. Working his ass off to come here and work his way up, thats motivation that is hard to quantify.Word of Iltchevs fundraising plans were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.Founders who worked with Iltchev said they werent surprised to see him launch Category. At startup Candu, cofounder and CEO Jonathan Anderson said Iltchev had made about 200 introductions for the product experience software startup since pre-empting its seed round, ten times more than other investors on the cap table. Hes exactly as he presents, Anderson said.When Iltchev does tell founders to rethink their strategies as he did at Candu about its pricing model, and more recently at Zeromatter, where CEO Glow resisted setting up even a simple corporate website that has since proven a major source of job applications hes often right, they added.A year ago, when one of Remotes cofounders was looking for a new place to live in San Francisco, Iltchev helped find him a nearby home, said CEO Job van der Voort. Theyre still happily next-door neighbors. Thats a pretty good data point that Villis a pleasant person to work with, said van der Voort. And apparently, he makes good pizza.For Iltchev, Category Ventures now represents the chance to build something for himself to outlast him finally, the face of the operation after a career as the self-described immigrant kid who had nobody, stumbling through.If I didnt do this, Id regret it. Its such an opportunity, Iltchev said. If I fall on my face, Ill be fine, and I want my kids to see it. And if Im successful, I want my kids to see that, too.