The Persistence of Paper: Why Everyone Still Needs to Print

Printing on paper: the 21st century's equivalent of carrying a pocket watch.

1. In a world that's supposed to be going paperless, printers are still kicking like a caffeine addict's heart rate. People need to print and they need to print now.
2. The printer industry is like a new-age politician, adapting to meet the people's demands. They're finding ways to reduce ink costs and create eco-friendly practices. Let's hope they're better at it than politicians are at solving real problems.
3. Despite the need to print, owning a printer is like having a needy pet. It takes up space, it's high maintenance, and it's always begging for ink. But, when you need it, you really need it. So, don't get rid of that printer just yet, you never know when it's going to save your butt.

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The Great Reshuffling: Remote Work's Impact on Population Migration, Local Economies, and Business Growth

It comes as no surprise to me, people, when given a choice, choose to live out of the city and work from their kitchen and or basement.

I would not be surprised to see company-owned coffee shops/meeting places pop up all over the fruited plain, closer to their remote employees.  Instead of workers coming to the office three days a week, the company comes to them, 7-5, seven days a week.  Discounts for employees, quiet rooms, and meeting places with the latest remote technology.  

Coming to a Village near you.

Live Free or Die vs. United in Diversity: The US Leads the Way in the New Way of Work

Live Free or Die vs. United in Diversity: Which One Makes It Easier to Sneak in a Mid-Day Nap?

Summary:

1. US offices are at 40-60% of pre-pandemic levels, varying by city and month, while European and Middle Eastern offices have a return-to-office rate of 70-90%, and Asia's rates range from 80-110%.
2. Living arrangements, commutes, and the labor market contribute to the difference in return-to-office habits.
3. The divergence in return-to-office habits has a direct impact on how quickly US metro areas rebound from the pandemic's economic shock.

Opinion:

The US leads the world in everything - debate me on that.  We continue to do so, regardless of how much self-loathing we put on ourselves.

The Real Science on Masks: They Make No Difference

Breaking news: masks found to be as effective as wearing a unicorn costume

Summary:

1. The most rigorous and extensive review of scientific literature, conducted by the Cochrane review, concludes that neither surgical masks nor N95 masks have been shown to make a difference in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
2. Masks may keep out some pathogens but their inner surface can also trap concentrations of pathogens that are then breathed back into the lungs, offsetting any theoretical benefits.
3. Public health officials continue to recommend or mandate masks without proper evidence of their effectiveness or any cost-benefit analysis, and masks can cause social, psychological, and medical problems.

The most rigorous and extensive review of scientific literature, conducted by the Cochrane review, concludes that neither surgical masks nor N95 masks have been shown to make a difference in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Whatever theoretical benefits there might be, in clinical trials the benefits have turned out to be either illusory or offset by negative factors. 

Oxford’s Tom Jefferson, the lead author of the Cochrane review, summed up the real science on masks: 'There is just no evidence that they make any difference. Full stop.'

Replacing Humans with ChatGPT is Happening Right Now

“Overall, most business leaders are impressed by ChatGPT’s work,” ResumeBuilder.com wrote in a news release. “Fifty-five percent say the quality of work produced by ChatGPT is ‘excellent,’ while 34% say it’s ‘very good.'”

- Fortune, February 2023.

“Accountants, factory workers, truckers, paralegals, and radiologists — just to name a few — will be confronted by a disruption akin to that faced by farmers during the Industrial Revolution,”

- Kai-Fu Lee, AI expert, and CEO of Sinovation Ventures, 2018.

A recent article in Fortune talks about the elimination of jobs due to artificial intelligence.

Not in ten years or even ten minutes - it is already happing.  The article starts out, "In the 10 or so days since its grand entrance, ChatGPT has been everywhere:..."

10 Days.

The article goes on to say, "Business leaders already using ChatGPT told ResumeBuilders.com say their companies already use ChatGPT for a variety of reasons, including 66% for writing code, 58% for copywriting and content creation, 57% for customer support, and 52% for meeting summaries and other documents."

Executive Summary:

Breaking: WSJ Exclusive. Covid was leaked in China

Just 24 months or so ago, this would have been banned on Twitter, and FB and been tagged with those annoying "Learn More About Covid-19..." snippets.

The media, and the liberal mass,  lambasted anyone who suggested this possibility calling those who talked about it "racists".  

Today, the Wall Street Journal report supports all those folks who asked the question.

"Where did this come from?"

New York City's Push to Become a Tech Hub

New York City is known for many things, from being the financial capital of the world to have some of the best museums and restaurants. However, in recent years, the city has been making a name for itself as a tech hub. In this blog, we'll explore the reasons why New York City is increasingly becoming a center of gravity for the technology industry and how it is well-positioned for the future.

Nvidia Soars on Wall Street's AI Battleground, Despite Mixed Quarterly Results

Nvidia has emerged as a winner on Wall Street's AI battleground, with its stock price soaring by 42% since the start of the year, the best performance on the PHLX Semiconductor Index. While analysts were estimating a 21% year-over-year slide in Nvidia's revenue for the January-ended quarter, the hype over the popularity of AI chat tool ChatGPT and the AI war brewing between Google and Microsoft overwhelmed concerns about the chipmaker's business in the short term. In fact, the rollout of AI chatbot-based search is expected to result in even more capital spending being directed towards Nvidia's way.

Google Accused of Destroying Evidence Related to Antitrust Lawsuit

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1. Google is facing allegations of destroying evidence necessary for an antitrust lawsuit by using an auto-delete feature on its employee chat system.
2. The US Department of Justice has asked a federal judge to take action against Google for its past practice of setting employee chats to auto-delete, despite the company has assured the court that it would preserve all necessary records.
3. The accusations highlight the importance of preserving all necessary records during litigation and the potential consequences of failing to do so. Companies that prioritize transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance are likely to be better positioned to succeed in the rapidly evolving digital age.

Google is facing accusations of destroying evidence that could have been crucial to an ongoing antitrust lawsuit. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has alleged that Google used an auto-delete feature on its employee chat system, leading to the destruction of written records. 

Three Cool ChatGPT addons That I've Looked At...

Discover the power of ChatGPT's free Chrome extensions to streamline your daily tasks and maximize productivity.

The rise of artificial intelligence has brought about a lot of fear, uncertainty, and doubt about the future of work. But ChatGPT, one of the leading AI language models, is not here to replace us. In fact, it can help us become more productive by automating tedious and time-consuming tasks.

Here are three free ChatGPT Chrome extensions that can save you time and make you more productive:

Google's Desk-Sharing Policy: Practicality vs. Employee Well-being

1. Google announces desk-sharing policy to improve office space efficiency and save costs
2. Desk-sharing could lead to reduced privacy, limited storage, and noise distractions for employees
3. The company plans to address employee concerns and maintain a comfortable work environment through overflow drop-in space and effective communication

The Rise of Generative AI: A Potential Tens of Billions of Dollars in Revenue Opportunity

Summary:

• Generative AI is the latest hot thing in tech, promising a lucrative new revenue stream for semiconductor makers.
• The technology has reached an inflection point, triggering a sense of urgency among enterprises around the world to develop and deploy AI strategies.
• Companies such as Nvidia, Intel, and AMD are investing heavily in generative AI, with analysts estimating tens of billions of dollars in net annual sales if widely adopted.

The tech world is abuzz with talk about the latest hot thing in artificial intelligence (AI): text-generation tools that require massive computing power to run. These tools, also known as generative AI, have the potential to generate real-sounding responses with minimal prompting, and they're attracting billions of dollars in investments from companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia.

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Introducing Charlie: The AI-Powered Virtual Agent Revolutionizing the Home-Repair Insurance Business

Meet Charlie, the virtual assistant who's changing the game for sales agents and customers alike.

"She can answer 11,400 calls a day, route them to the appropriate departments, process claims, and schedule repair appointments. She can even whisper in agents' ears whether a customer is eligible for certain coverage plans and type on agents' screens why the customer is calling."

If you've ever worked in sales, you know that delivering world-class customer service is like creating a masterpiece. It requires careful planning, attention to detail, and the ability to anticipate what will trigger your customers' interest and trust. For Johnathan Bragg, one of the top-performing sales agents at HomeServe USA, selling home-repair insurance is no different.

"I don't just say stuff and read scripts," said Bragg. "I listen to everybody, whoever you are, and I retain what it is that makes that person interested. I can get just about anybody to buy anything."

IDC's Recommendations for Improving Software Development on a Limited Budget

As an IT leader, are you struggling to make significant changes in your organization's software development lifecycle with limited budgets? According to IDC, there are several ways to improve the software development process with small investments that can create enough leverage to make real changes happen. 

Here are three key takeaways from IDC's recommendations:

Adapting to the New Era of Remote Work: The Role of Technology in Making It Possible

“What we discovered in designing this workplace of the future is that we need a workplace that has choices for all these work styles,” says Scott Strzinek, NI Corp.’s senior director of global facilities. 

The company had employees test the changes, designed by Gensler, in a portion of its building before going ahead with a renovation of 450,000 square feet, to be completed in 2024. NI Corp., which has 70 offices in 25 countries, plans to roll out the designs to other locations over the next few years." - WSJ

Back in the day, remote work was a pipe dream for many companies. It was challenging to implement and manage, and not all employees had the necessary technology or equipment to work from home. But over the years, technology has made remote work more accessible and convenient for businesses of all sizes.

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Ninestar Makes Chips Used in Counterfiet Cartridges And It's Your Fault

We inside the industry have known this for decades:  China does not believe in IP.  

China believes once an idea is out in the world, it is anyone's to use and profit from.  China believes that the only way they can compete on the world stage is to steal other people's work - which is bad enough.  What makes this more egregious is they market it as their own.

China cannot innovate.

There, I said it.  You know this.  You know what I say is true.  For me, it is and has been, crystal clear.  Take a look at the Chinese fighter jets - they look like ours. Check out the Red Chinese aircraft carriers.  They look like Great Britain's.

Why has nobody called these communists out?  For a good reason: Money

Our small niche in the Universe is impacted by China.

It doesn't matter if you're an HP fanboy, or believe HP's latest dealer agreements 'steal my data and my accounts'; it doesn't even matter if, like me, you don't hold the 'reman and third party toner heads' in the highest regard.  Dumpster Diving went corporate.  

Hazahhh!

But here's my dilemma:  How different is taking one company's patent, manufacturing identical chips, and falsely marketing those chips 'original' and selling them different from running an author's content through AI with the prompt, "Rewrite this in the style of me."

https://www.action-intell.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AI-Report-Testing-Finds-Ninestar-Source-for-Chips-on-Counterfeits.pdf

My inner struggles aside, I do not like the fact that these chips report themselves as "HP Original" when they are not.  I do not like the fact that it took a rather involved study to bring these details to light.  True, I am torn as to know HP paid for the project, but after careful review of said study, 19 pages on the primary and another 22 from a supporting study, it is apparent the funding source is irrelevant.

Bottom line, as of today, 

1. Ninestar made fake chips that could be programmed to report as "genuine hp".
2. Marketed by Ninestar or its subsidiaries, these chips were installed on counterfeit toner cartridges and sold as HP toner.
3. The chips were programmed to falsely report 'genuine' and US consumers purchased the cartridges in good faith.

The following is a ChatGPT-assisted summary of the report can be found here.

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Amazon employees face possible pay cuts due to company's falling share prices

If you work for Amazon, you might be feeling a little anxious about your paycheck. According to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, corporate staff at the online giant could see their pay packets sink by anywhere between 15% and 50% below compensation targets. 

This drop comes after CEO Andy Jassy issued a rallying cry to his remaining workforce following the January announcement of 18,000 layoffs. 

Why? 

Because Amazon's share prices have slumped by around 35% in the past year. 

The Return to the Office: Is it Really the Solution to the Productivity Problem?

The return to the office could be the real reason for the slump in productivity. This is not just an opinion, but a fact that is supported by data. After a brief increase in office occupancy to over 50% in January, it plummeted to 45.6% by February and then only slightly recovered to 48.6%. Despite this, many business leaders are still insisting on their employees returning to the office to prevent what they call "quiet quitting."

Optimal engagement occurs when employees spend 60% to 80% of their time working off-site, as reported by Gallup

Article Summary: 

• The return to the office may be the reason for the drop in productivity and increase in "quiet quitting".
• Forcing employees to come to the office under the threat of discipline leads to disengagement, fear, and distrust, exacerbating the problem.
• A flexible team-led approach that emphasizes collaboration, training, and employee well-being is the best approach for the future of work.

Amazon CEO Announces Plan to Return to the Office Despite Employee Satisfaction with Remote Work

In this article, we discuss Amazon CEO Andy Jassy's announcement that the company plans to return to the office for the majority of its employees at least three days per week from May 1, 2023. 

Despite the fact that 77% of employees report greater productivity while working off-site, Jassy believes that being in the office together most of the time allows for better collaboration, more effective invention, and easier learning. 

However, there is no presented or existing data to support any of the documented reasons for a return to the office, and a new study from the University of Birmingham found that the majority of managers see benefits in working from home, including increased productivity, motivation, and concentration. 

The article questions the value of chance encounters and serendipity in the workplace and suggests that cultivating strong relationships, developing new skills, and actively seeking out opportunities to grow and learn are more effective strategies for success.

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The Impact of Remote Work on Commercial Real Estate And You

Why is this important to you:

• The shift to remote work is leading to a decline in demand for traditional office space and an increase in vacancies.
• This trend means that businesses will reevaluate their office space requirements and look for ways to reduce real estate costs.
• There will be an increased demand for technologies that enable remote work, which helps office technology salespeople tailor solutions to meet the changing needs of your customers.

This indicates a fundamental shift in the way businesses use office space. With more employees working from home, the demand for traditional office space is declining, leading to a significant increase in vacancies.

As a result, there may be an increased demand for technologies that enable remote work, such as video conferencing tools, collaboration software, and cloud-based storage solutions. 

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Three Ideas for #PersonalBranding on #LinkedIn and Beyond

Personal branding has become increasingly important in today's digital age. In this article, we will explore three ideas to help you develop your personal brand on LinkedIn and beyond.

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Videogame Industry Struggles to Maintain Growth Amid Declining Consumer Spending

In response to a decline in spending, companies are canceling games and implementing cost-cutting measures.

• Videogame publishers are canceling games and cutting costs amid a slowdown in spending by players, reversing some of the growth made during the pandemic.
• The decline in consumer spending on mobile games, the biggest and fastest-growing segment of the industry, was significant, at 12% last quarter compared with a year earlier.
• Established blockbusters like Call of Duty and FIFA are receiving more funding than new properties and niche titles, and tech-industry heavyweights that made bets in video gaming are pulling back on the sector.

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AI Becomes Silicon Valley’s Next Buzzy Bandwagon as Crypto Boom Fizzles

"Part of what’s going on with the talent migration to AI is that layoffs and a refocusing on efficiency at big tech companies are liberating more senior engineers and executives to strike out on their own—aided by generous severance packages..."

As the field of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow and evolve, more and more entrepreneurs are seeking to capitalize on this cutting-edge technology by starting their own companies. Small AI firms have gained attention as a way for entrepreneurs to bring innovative ideas to the market and for investors to support promising new startups. In this article, we will explore the rise of AI startups and the investment opportunities they present for venture capitalists and angel investors.

• Small AI firms have gained attention as a way for entrepreneurs to bring innovative ideas to the market and for investors to support promising new startups.
• Small companies in the AI industry can be more nimble and focused, able to pursue specific niches or develop innovative new products and services.
• Investing in small AI firms presents unique opportunities for venture capitalists and angel investors to participate in the growth and evolution of the field, while potentially receiving high returns.

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Inside Meta's Innovative Solution to Tackle Noisy Office Environments

The point was completely missed and timing was oblivious.

Given the current economic downturn, shifting employee priorities, and the emergence of new remote work tools, the appeal of returning to a physical office, even one as quiet as "The Cube," is downright ugly. 

It's ironic that the new invention is called "The Cube." 

It's possible to give Meta the benefit of the doubt and suggest that it's merely bad timing, but the reality is that the company is out of touch with the current situation. In fact, it seems like a rather obtuse move.

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Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, is developing a new solution to address the challenge of noisy office spaces. The company is rolling out a noise-canceling cubicle called "The Cube," which is designed to absorb sound from multiple directions and provide workers with uninterrupted, heads-down work. The Cube is similar to soundproof, echo-free anechoic chambers and offers a cocoon-like environment for employees.

Meta's Meta-Verified Subscription: A Hail Mary Pass to Keep a Dying Idea Alive

As someone who has been involved with technology since 1988, I have witnessed many technology revolutions, and I can confidently say that this move by Meta is the last gasp of a dying idea and company.

This is nuts and as oblivious as the night sky.  Meta is following the likes of MySpace and WordPerfect - we are witnessing the slow development of Facebook's Kodak Moment.

From Hybrid to Happy: Why Some Leaders Are Afraid to Embrace the Future of Work

If you're a CEO or a leader, you might be missing out on the future of work. Adam Grant, a professor of organizational psychology, thinks that too many leaders are afraid to change and experiment. They might stick with what they know, and not consider other options.

Grant says that every opinion you hold at work is a hypothesis waiting to be tested. Every decision you make is an experiment waiting to be run. Too many leaders just implement decisions without testing them. They might be afraid to try new things, even if it could lead to happier and more productive workplaces. For example, back in 2018, Grant proposed a remote-Friday experiment to some CEOs. But they all balked at the idea, worried that it might be hard to put it back in the bag once it was out.

What about the future of work? 

The Xerox 914 Ad - Not my Words.

Ads that didn't age well...not my words, so don't get mad at me.

###

I can't type I don't take dictation

I won't sharpen a pencil

I can't file 

my boss calls me indispensable 

Miss Jones 

Just a minute

Will you make a copy of this 

Naturally 

I push the button on the Xerox 914 

I make perfect copies of whatever my boss needs

by just turning the knob and pushing a button

Streamlining Your Office: An Introduction to Managed Print Services (MPS)

As technology continues to advance, many businesses are finding themselves overwhelmed by outdated and inefficient office equipment. From copiers and fax machines to laser printers, these devices consume valuable space and resources but offer limited value in return.

Enter Managed Print Services (MPS), a solution that helps businesses optimize their printing processes, reduce costs, and streamline their workflows. With MPS, companies can simplify their office equipment, improve their printing security, and increase their productivity.

So how does MPS work, and why is it a valuable investment for your business? Let's take a closer look.

What is Managed Print Services (MPS)?

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