The Apple HomePod could soon be joined by a smart home lock and doorbell with Face ID.

SetMe is a remote support solution for businesses of all sizes that allows IT teams to easily secure a connection to remote computers, allowing for ad-hoc or unattended support that was designed with years of experience in remote support software from the team behind FixMe.IT.

Generative AI technology has become Meta's priority, directly impacting the company's business and potentially paving the road to future revenue opportunities.

Of the 439,000 bitcoin that MicroStrategy owns, more than one-third have been purchased since Trump's election victory last month.

With smartphones and social apps taking over, the way we connect with each other has totally changed. Were always on and somehow still feeling alone. On top of that, with more of us working remotely or in hybrid setups, loneliness is hitting record highs. Theres no getting around it: real, face-to-face connection is essential for our well-being. Period. Maybe its time we take a page from the past and bring back more traditional ways of connecting to fight that feeling of isolation.All signs are pointing to 2025 as the year we head back into the office. Sure, leaving the comfort of your home and rejoining a shared workspace might feel like a hassle at first. But this shift comes with a silver lining. Its our chance to rediscover the everyday social buzz thats so important for our mental health and sense of belonging. Instead of dwelling on how annoying it might be to return to the office, why not focus on how it can actually make your day-to-day life richer and more connected?Why the office still mattersWe are communal creatures at heart, but in recent years, we have lost our access to and sense of community. Along the way, its been fairly easy to forget that our office environments once fulfilled a huge portion of our social lives. But what does it mean to be socialparticularly in an effective and intentional way? It comes down to the three categories of people we tend to interact with at work.The first is our support system, which is usually a group of less than five people in your life who want the best for you with no strings attached, and are available to you for various kinds of support when you need it. Next are the newbies, people who come into our lives, potentially driving some discomfort at first, but challenge us to communicate, grow, or be vulnerable, and may or may not evolve into different or more meaningful relationships. The last group are those with whom we have micro interactions,whether thats a doorman, the cashier at the supermarket, a guest speaker, or a contractor. These exchanges remind us we are a part of something bigger and help reinforceor challengeour belief system.These relationships and interactions are essential to our social health, and are often found when our lives push us out of the confines of our home. It just so happens that work is one of the most obvious and common modalities that can achieve that. Growth rarely happens in a comfort zone. So, while its easy to stay tucked away at home, over time, this can lead to a sense of stagnation and even loneliness.Being around others, even if it feels awkward or inconvenient at first, pushes us out of our bubble and enriches our perspective. Its in these moments of discomfortsharing a meeting room with someone you dont know well or attending a workplace social eventthat we develop resilience and new social skills. Plus, these experiences can make the comfort of home even sweeter when the workday is done.This doesnt mean we have to become best friends with everyone in our department, but sharing a laugh over coffee, collaborating face-to-face, or commiserating about shared challenges can be a surprisingly effective way to combat feelings of isolation. The beauty of these interactions is their simplicity. A casual chat in the break room or a shared lunch can inject a little dopamine into the day and remind us of the humanity behind the emails and Slack messagesand of the fact that we control our attitude and perspective.Making the office work for youMuch of the resistance to return-to-office mandates stems from a sense of obligation: I have to do this. But what if we reframed that mindset to: How do I want to make this work for me? This shift puts us back in the drivers seat. Instead of focusing on whats being asked of us, focus on how we can make the experience more enjoyable and beneficial. Schedule coffee meetups with coworkers, propose a team lunch, or even turn commuting time into a chance to listen to a favorite podcast or audiobook. Viewing the office as an opportunity rather than a chore can transform the entire experience.Lets put it into practice. How do we tangibly embrace work-related opportunities to improve our social wellness?First, start small. You dont need to overhaul your social habits overnight. Begin with small gestures, like saying hello to a coworker in the hallway or complimenting someone on a job well done. These small steps build confidence over time.Next, identify barriers. If the thought of being social at work causes anxiety, take a moment to identify whats holding you back. Is it fear of rejection? Uncertainty about how to start a conversation? Once youve pinpointed the issue, you can work to address it.Lastly, make it work for you. Tailor your interactions to what feels authentic. If large group settings feel overwhelming, focus on one-on-one connections. Set up a coffee date or invite a colleague to lunch. Think of workplace interactions as a chance to expand your personal and professional horizons. Each connection you make could lead to new opportunities or simply make your workday more enjoyable.The power of a Good MorningHeres the big takeaway that probably wont surprise anyonein-person social interaction is the cure to the loneliness epidemic still haunting so many. Workplaces, by nature, provide a readily available avenue to practice these behaviors and attitudes. With that in mind, its time to reframereturn-to-office mandates as opportunities, shifting from viewing them as a burden and instead seeing them as an invitation to connect with others and rediscover the value of in-person collaboration.Being in an office environment is a chance to open ourselves up to the benefits of traditional methods of building community, and to reclaim a sense of belonging in a world where weve become severely isolated from one another. While the idea may seem rudimentaryand maybe even unappealing at firstmaybe when it comes to our own well-being, taking it back to the basics gives us the best shot at happiness.

Hello and welcome to Modern CEO! Im Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures. Each week this newsletter explores inclusive approaches to leadership drawn from conversations with executives and entrepreneurs, and from the pages ofInc.andFast Company. If you received this newsletter from a friend, you cansign up to get it yourselfevery Monday morning.During his prolific acting career, Idris Elba has played a homicide detective, a drug lord, an all-seeing Marvel superhero, and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela. But the British actor, who also runs a production company and has cofounded a creative agency and a skincare line, appears particularly at ease playing a CEO in a new marketing campaign for ServiceNow, the cloud-based software company.A new commercial, debuting on Christmas Day, features Elba as a fictional chief executive walking through his company, highlighting all the different ways ServiceNows artificial intelligence (AI) technology is supporting employees in human resources, IT, and customer service. The campaign is the latest product to come out of a partnership Elba has forged with the tech company and CEO Bill McDermott, which also includes a commitment to work together to bring energy and clean water resources to Sherbro Island off the coast of Sierra Leone.From introduction to actionIn an interview with Modern CEO, Elba underscored that hes not merely a spokesperson for the product. When the [ServiceNow] team came to my offices, I said, I need to use the product, he recalls. I have a small workforce across various different verticals. And I needed to understand the product so that I can be a part of a genuine partnership. So, Im integrating it into IE7 and the Akuna Group, which are my parent companies, so that when Im in these commercials I have a much better sense of what Im saying and why Im saying it.[Photo: ServiceNow]The collaboration between Elba and ServiceNow reflects the changing nature of the relationship between celebrities and brands. Actors, athletes, and even influencers dont just endorse products, they are frequently customers and shareholders in the brands they representand they often seek support from those brands for their charitable endeavors. LeBron James was an early role model, investing in bicycle maker Cannondale in 2007 and securing donated bikes for an annual charity bikeathon. Travis Kelce is an investor in Kodiak and joined forces with the food company to donate meals to school children in Kansas City.Aligned in purposeElba and ServiceNows McDermott quickly bonded over Elbas work to develop Sherbro Island in West Africa as an eco-friendly, self-sustaining community. The Elba Hope Foundation has announced plans to build a wind farm on the island to provide electricity and collect data to support additional renewable energy projects. The project aligns with ServiceNows efforts to bring infrastructure to parts of Africa in the hope of stoking economic development. ServiceNow also has a partnership with GivePower, a sustainable energy nonprofit, which aims to provide clean water to up to 600,000 Kenyans for 20 years. Its like magic when were together, McDermott says of spending time with Elba. Were both purpose-driven people, and ServiceNow is a purpose-led company. Bill McDermott [Photo: ServiceNow]The new marketing campaign attempts to bring to life McDermotts push to turn ServiceNow into the control tower for AI transformation from its humble roots as an IT service management company. The ads featuring Elba highlight ServiceNows AI agents, which use generative AI to identify and automatically solve problems. ServiceNow, which integrates with major AI players such as Google and Microsoft, promises to help AI agents collaborate across departments.A life-changing golf gameMcDermott was a surprise pick to run ServiceNow in 2019 after a 17-year career at software giant SAP. (ServiceNows annual sales at the time were $3.5 billion, compared to SAPs 2019 annual revenue of about $27.5 billion.) McDermott recalls playing golf with ServiceNows then-CEO John Donahoe, who asked if hed ever leave SAP. Donahoe subsequently announced that he was becoming CEO of Nike, and ServiceNow named McDermott as Donahoes successor. (Donahoe retired from Nike in October after a rocky tenure at the sporting gear maker.)After he was approached for the ServiceNow job, McDermott put together a five-year plan for the company. He recently celebrated his five-year anniversary in the role. The plan I shared is the plan weve executed, he says. Analysts expect the company to report 2024 revenue of nearly $11 billion, and the companys market capitalization of about $220 billion makes it the second most valuable software-as-a-service company, behind Salesforce.McDermott says Elba, who has long been a fan favorite to play the next James Bond, is the ideal person to be the face of ServiceNows AI latest initiative. Its his presence and his persona, he says. Hes our secret agent man.Your brand as a personWho personifies your brand? What marketing campaigns have done a good job communicating another companys products as well as its values? Send your favorite spots to me at stephaniemehta@mansueto.com. Id love to feature your top picks in a future newsletter.Read more: beyond celebrity endorsementsMeet the L.A. investor advising LeBron James and Billie EilishHow Shaquille ONeal made himself bigger than everKim Kardashians Skims is an Inc. 5000 company

In 2024, the job market slowed. Tech layoffs continued: an estimated 100,000 jobs were lost according to Crunchbase News. While the unemployment remained low at 4.2% (for context, unemployment rates reached about 14% during the pandemic and about 10% during the Great Recession) hiring rates also remained low. Its taking an average of 24 weeks for unemployed people to find jobs, a 22% increase from the same time last year.Fast Company asked job search platform Indeed for a list of the top ten fastest growing jobs of 2024. Some of the jobs on the list might be a surprise: despite the hype around AI, the jobs that are still seeing massive growth are jobs that require a human touch.Above all, employers prize soft skills. Communication remains the single most requested skill, Jennifer Herrity, a career trend expert at job searching platform Indeed, noted. While technical abilities matter, employers are seeking candidates who can effectively communicate and collaborate. This has become especially paramount in the age of remote and flexible work. In a report by Indeed, analysts found that employers were more concerned about employees having basic computer skills than having AI chops. GenAI jobs only made up about 0.2% of all postings.Specialized expertise and human connectionHerity pointed out that the roles that saw the most growth in 2024 are jobs that combine specialized expertise with human connection, particularly jobs in healthcare. Were also noticing that traditional professions in the legal and healthcare industries are growing and evolving, but not being replaced by technology. Instead, theyre incorporating new tools while maintaining their core focus on human expertise, Herrity noted.While it may be tempting as a job seeker in a slow market to jump on the latest trends and reskill accordingly, Herrity warns that trends may look more dramatic from the outside than they really are. Sure, technology is evolving, but what makes people successful in their careersthe ability to problem solve, work well with others, and learn new thingsthats incredibly consistent, she wrote.Job seekers who looking to get back in the market are best served by focusing on their strengths and passions while also learning about new tools and approaches and figuring out a way to combine both. Herrity also points out employers are shifting towards valuing skills-first hiring rather than credentials or education. Employers increasingly value job seekers who can demonstrate both technical expertise and emotional intelligence, she said.Below is the list of the top ten jobs with the most growth in postings on Indeed from December 2023 to December 2024.Behavior AnalystDemand increased by 383%Median salary: $79,846Insurance BrokerDemand increased by 346%Median Salary: $94,948 ParalegalDemand increased by 298%Median salary: $125,000Regional Sales DirectorDemand increased by 241%Median salary: $133,396Gas EngineerDemand increased by 183%Median salary: $105,098Vascular SurgeonDemand increased by 163%Median salary: $300,000Mechanical Project ManagerDemand increased by 151%Median salary: $110,000Delivery SpecialistDemand increased by 142%Median salary: $71,058Real Estate AdvisorDemand increased by 140%Median salary: $127,885Allergy SpecialistDemand increased by 138%Median salary: $127,700

Here are the prettiest pieces of furniture we saw this year:Panter & Tourron's ANC stool, CNC-machined from an aluminum slab. Max Lamb's deceiving-looking 005 Lounge Chair for Vaarnii. Industrial designer David Raymond's aluminum Rounded Edges Chair. The Peace Outdoor Lounge Chair, Faye Toogood's brutal & sophisticated Finnish-British take on the Adirondack Chair. A series of stunning pieces by Australian furniture designer Brodie Neill. These pieces with wood and stone joinery by Maine-based furniture designer Ethan Stebbins. Austrian designer Laurids Galle's "Metropolis"-inspired resin furniture. German architect Gustav Dsing's Chair23D is an actually good-looking CNC-cut flatpack chair. Belgian designer Peter Donders' Wind Bench, which combines digital fabrication with hand shaping. South Korean sculptor/furniture designer Soo Joo's biophilic Dynamic Mirrors. Studio Toda's Cocoda Chair is Mid-Century-Modern-meets-Japan. This gorgeous walking stick/folding stool, by Danish designer/builder Anker Bak, is what he calls "everyday assistive furniture." Architect Deniz Aktay's handsome Fibonacci-inspired wall mirror. Icelandic industrial designer Hlynur Atlason's rotomolded Limbo Chair. Danish architect/furniture designer Leif Jrgensen's LJ Spider Chair is simple and complicated at the same time. And lastly, a design classic with a muddy history: Kaare Klint's Propellor Stool.

LEGO is universally loved by people of all ages and stages of life. It has become a tool for artistic creativity and expression, rather than a simple building toy. LEGO bricks are being used by LEGO builders all over the world to form lovely figures and intricate structures. In 2024, we saw a diverse range of exciting LEGO builds ranging from pop-culture inspired structures to fancy little houses. LEGO blocks truly serve as a platform for creativity and imaginative play.We have curated a collection of the top 10 LEGO designs of 2024. Each build showcases excellent design and meticulous craftsmanship, with amazing attention to detail. They are visually unique and interesting, while also representing the limitless potential of LEGO as a creative tool.1. LEGO Lockheed SR-71 BlackbirdThis LEGO rendition of the SR-71 Blackbird masterfully encapsulates the essence and elegance of the iconic aircraft. Crafted with precision, the model mirrors the SR-71s sleek, elongated silhouette, boasting a sharply defined nose and elegantly sweeping wings that capture its aerodynamic prowess.Not merely a static display, this model includes functional elements such as working flaps, retractable landing gear, and a meticulously detailed cockpit, each component thoughtfully designed to pay homage to the original aircrafts remarkable engineering. Accompanying the model is a supportive base, complete with a plaque that provides key specifications of the SR-71, adding an educational dimension to this fantastic piece.2. LEGO Bob Ross: Studio & Paintings KitLEGO-builder Bricknificent created the Bob Ross: Studio and Paintings kit, immortalizing the painter and art instructor Bob Ross. Bob Ross is known for his meditative paintings and videos that many people loved. The fan-made LEGO set contains Ross as a Minifigure inside his recording studio, and this is connected to an art gallery.The art gallery can be opened or shut, and it is integrated with Ross most iconic artworks. The whole set includes 1234 LEGO bricks, and it showcases a pretty unique and foldable form. You can display the entire set in one go, or as a closed-loop gallery that resembles the shape of a heart. As a nature lover who likes to draw and paint, Bob Ross is truly an inspiration. I admire his passion, reassuring voice, and limited selection of tools and colors. With this in mind, I created the ultimate Bob Ross experience in LEGO, said Bricknificent, the creator behind the LEGO Ideas Bob Ross kit.3. LEGO Downtown Abbey SetTo celebrate the 15th anniversary of the beloved historical drama series Downton Abbey, LEGO builder BRO3 has crafted a special LEGO set that captures the essence of the show. The LEGO Ideas Downton Abbey set is a testament to meticulous design, featuring the iconic Highclere Castle in stunning detail. This set brings to life the expansive Crawley family and the dedicated staff who form the heart of the series, including the butlers and castle caretakers.Every aspect of the build reflects incredible attention to detail, with multiple intricately designed rooms and a collection of at least 15 Minifigures, expanding to 16 when you include the Crawleys loyal dog, Pharaoh. The set also includes Lady Marys cherished bench, adding an extra touch of authenticity and nostalgia for fans of the series.4. LEGO Rolex SubmarinerThe worlds of LEGO and luxury timepieces converge in this remarkable creation: the LEGO Rolex Submariner. Designed as a sophisticated art model, this build appeals to those with a taste for elegance and refinement. The Submariners renowned super case is expertly transformed into LEGO form, resulting in a visually stunning piece that serves as an eye-catching decor item for any home office.This model is enhanced with a signed brevet crown, capturing the essence of the Submariners iconic design and highlighting its rich heritage of luxury. Additionally, it features a functional and fully operational rotating bezel, mirroring the original Submariner watchs utility and precision. This LEGO creation not only celebrates the craftsmanship of Rolex but also offers a unique and stylish way to appreciate the artistry of watchmaking.5. LEGO CataclawsNamed Cataclaws, this new icon by LEGO is here in time for the holidays. It is intended to be a CAT-alyst for play, and it was created from the minds of children, to gently remind the young and the old that there is no limit to how creatively we can use and play with LEGO bricks. The tuxedo wearing cat downs a red and white beanie that will encourage people to play around the holidays.The LEGO kitty was introduced in a short film. He goes on an adventure around the city, transforming boring scenarios into playful and fun ones. The video includes around 20 products and builds, and there are a couple of mini Cataclaws builds in the video as well if youre looking to play Spot the Cataclaws!6. LEGO Full HouseThe beloved sitcom Full House has finally been immortalized in an adorable LEGO set! Crafted by LEGO builder obiblock, this set is a is a fine specimen meticulous design, though the exact number of pieces remains a mystery. The level of detail is astonishing, from the plants adorning the kitchen window to the intricately designed front and back doors.he set recreates the living room, complete with its iconic couch, fireplace, and the staircase leading to the bedrooms. A door opens into the kitchen, which features a cozy coffee table, a kitchen island, and the familiar backdoor that Kimmy often uses for her entrances. The set also includes a delightful array of characters, featuring Danny and his three daughters, Uncle Joey, Uncle Jesse, and Aunt Becky.7. LEGO GodzillaCrafted by LEGO builder Matthew Esposito, this LEGO rendition of Godzilla marks the first of its kind, despite the release of over ten Godzilla films. This small-scale version captures the essence of the city-destroying reptile, drawing inspiration from the 2019 movie Godzilla: King of the Monsters.Although just a few inches tall, this LEGO Godzilla boasts a robust body and an impressive long tail. Remarkably, it can even emit blue flames in all directions, bringing to life the formidable power of the legendary creature. I was really blown away by the new look of the Godzilla in these newer movies. I was fascinated by how this new iteration of Godzilla was designed, and I thought that this new look would translate incredibly well into LEGO, said LEGO builder Matthew Esposito. This model would make a great LEGO set because I believe that, with the new movie coming soon into theaters and onto streaming services, I believe that many people would be hyped and excited to watch this new movie, as well as have their own buildable Godzilla at hand to play with.8. LEGO Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesLEGO builder Teljesnegyzet has brought the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to life with a captivating LEGO-based action figure set. This LEGO Ideas TMNT kit successfully depicts the four turtles in their iconic superhero attire. Each turtle is showcased with their signature colored bandanas and bands, along with their preferred weapons.The turtles sport belts with buckles featuring their initials, and they are meticulously color-matched to their original appearances, displaying four distinct shades of green. This set is a perfect tribute to the beloved heroes in a half shell. It is a complex build, and includes around 2522 bricks, so it isnt for the younger generation.9. LEGO Vintage Biliards TableCreated by LEGO builder Golden Eye, this tiny yet playable LEGO billiards set captures the brilliance and granduer of a full-scale billiards table in a miniature size. It is made with all the trims and fittings the pockets, a gutter, and a cue-stand. It is a super cute tabletop build that you can even interact with.It is a meticulously crafted and built tribute to classic pool tables. It merges both form and function to create something that LEGO lovers and billiards fans will love. It brings the nostalgia and amusement of vintage recreational games to us, while also presenting a fun and innovative challenge for LEGO builders and enthusiasts.10. LEGO Turing MachineThe Turing Machine is theoretically the predecessor to the computer that helped the Allied powers win World War II. A Turning Machine is basically any machine that can process algorithms, and a LEGO builder recently built the first operational Turing Machine completely from LEGO bricks! How cool is that?This fascinating LEGO build isnt just a sculptural or decorative model, it is a real device that can compute algorithms. And it does this deed without electricity! The model is tangible, and based on the idea that a machine can compute any algorithm as long as the right instructions are fed into it. It includes a physical tape, and a moveable head that reads, writes, and moves across the tape.The post Top 10 LEGO Builds of 2024 first appeared on Yanko Design.

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