So the ten year old coder is Samaria Metha. At 10, she is the inventor and CEO of CoderBunnyz. This is a game that teaches kids how to code. You draw and move bunnies from one place to another, chasing carrots up to their dream destination. Metha says this teaches basic to advance coding skills like: sequencing, functions, queue, and many others. She also explains she came up with the idea when she was 7.
Then, her and her parents peddled her patent around the world, and the game grew. But now, CoderBunnyz sold over 6,000 copies and made $200,000 in the last year alone. Metha also has a second game out. It’s CoderMindz. This game teaches kids about AI tech. Metha already has the attention of tech’s big boys. Because recently, she went to Facebook and Intel headquarters to show off her games. Then she went to Google headquarters. Here, CEO Stacy Sullivan offered her a job, but, “…you’ll have your own business by then”. Even former First Lady Michelle Obama congratulated Metha.
Recently, Metha went on CNBC to talk about her product and her passion to inspire future generations. And she hopes this starts a revolution, not just in IT service and computer repair, but for the next generation in general. Because she stated that in 10 years, we all will depend on coding. And her generation, the iGeneration/Gen Z (those born after 1999) will be the first to grow up with this. So it’s best to learn this critical skill now, before they have to go into their real world. And Samaria Metha is providing a fun and simple way to do that. Where will this new revolution lead?
So Alibaba, China’s online shopping giant, and their answer to Amazon, is in the news again. And it’s for the wrong reasons again. This is Alibaba on US’s watch list. But what’s the real reason?
The government claims they’re doing this because Alibaba sales and trades too many pirate goods. Those are knock-off goods that look real, but are faker than fake. For example, imagine getting a Gucci handbag for $20, or a copy of Avengers: The End Game only a week after it’s theater debut. In fact, one agency calls them ‘notorious’ for dealing in counterfeit goods. Furthermore, they say Alibaba doesn’t have the will and/or procedures to stop this kind of trading.
But if Alibaba feels alone, they shouldn’t. Because much of China’s business world is under scrutiny for piracy. In fact, that nation alone counts for over half of pirated goods trying to get into the US. Sometimes they make it. Other times the gov’t intercepts them at borders and customs. They report these sorts of list every year. The agencies insists this list has nothing to do with the current trade war going on between China and the US. However, let’s dig a little deeper.
So China and the US are fighting for title of the world’s biggest economy. Also, allegations on both sides are everywhere, even in the IT service game. I’m talking about everything from stealing trade secrets to exploiting technology information. In computer repair, we cringe when we have to tell a client, “The part has to come from China.”. How do you think that makes us feel? And you know Amazon and Alibaba are fighting over consumers. So I wonder could Amazon have something to do with this. Could the current trade war have something to do with this? They say it doesn’t, but are you going to believe everything you hear? So this is Alibaba on US’s watch list. But what’s the real reason?
So Elon Musk predicted this would happen. But for Tesla employees and shareholders, it doesn’t make it any easier. Tesla starts 2019 in red. Deep in the red.
So to be frank, Tesla lost $702 million in Q1 2019. That breaks down to $4.10 a share. Yes, Musk and other Tesla leaders braced for a loss this quarter. However, nobody saw this big of a profit loss coming. They blame poor sales and deliveries of their latest tech-friendly cars. These cars include the Model 3’s, Model S’s, and X SUV’S. In fact, they only sold 63,000 eletric vehicles overall. That’s a more than 30% drop from Q4 2018.
Also, Musk himself sites delivery problems for their turbulent start to this year. In fact, the first quarter seemed so hopeless that they focused shipping to the second quarter. They even delayed some shipping. But they do expect the second quarter to be better, but they don’t see themselves breaking even. They don’t expect that to happen until Q3 2019. Let’s face it. The Q2 profits can’t get much worse. If you’re thinking of investing in Tesla stocks, then think hard about that. Because as of today, they hover at $255 a share. That sounds like a lot. But compare that to $376 a share back on Dec. 14, 2018.
However, this won’t deter Musk from other products. This includes custom built computer chips and robotaxi’s. And of course, there’s that whole sending people to Mars and The Moon project. Now I see how some are hitting the panic button on their IT support hero Elon Musk. But I’m not. Because everybody has setbacks. No matter how good they are or how successful they are. Also, keep in mind the e-car is still a relatively new concept. Yes, it’s a hot new concept, but new nonetheless. Tesla starts 2019 in red. Do you think they will stay there, and if so, then how long?
So a New York City teenager files lawsuit against Apple. At the heart of this fight is Apple’s facial recognition. The young man is sewing for $1 billion.
So the young man’s name is Ousmane Bah, and he is 18. His lawsuit says Apple’s facial recognition made him a target of false accusations. The suit also says that last year, a Boston court summoned him on theft charges. The summons claimed he stole over $1,200 worth of Apple products. But wait…there’s more. Because it goes on to allege Bah stole products in New Jersey and Delaware. Obviously, Bah vehemently denies these claims.
In fact, Bah said he was at senior prom when one of the thefts took place (think of all the witnesses that can vouch for him). However, Bah explains that he lost his ID. Then, the real culprits pretended to be him, using facial recognition tech. Bah thinks that Apple’s software security blindly accepted the culprit’s fraud. Therefore, the facial IT support thought it was Bah’s face, and not the real suspect’s. That’s how they falsely accused Bah of theft. The college freshman’s lawsuit said this ordeal deeply affected him. Furthermore, these accusations caused him a lot of stress and hardship. So far, no word from Apple about this.
First and foremost, I am not here to take sides. These are all allegations, so far. I don’t know who is right or wrong. But there is a lesson we can learn here. As bad as this sounds, no piece of IT service is 110% secure. Anything can happen. So just because we spend lots of money of extra security doesn’t always mean we’re going to be 100% safe. Look at this New York City teenager and his lawsuit. Yes, we should take all the safety and security measures we can. But we should also be aware that anything can happen at anytime, regardless. Who do you think will win this lawsuit?
So more people are working remotely and/or at home than ever before. We can thank IT support for that. But this means many companies change the way they conduct jobs interviews. Then, in some cases, they let artificial intelligence do the job for them. AI conducts job interviews: This includes reading faces.
So there are startup IT service companies like HireVue and AllyO and VCV.AI. are changing that. If you ask these companies, they say the more traditional ways of interviewing just aren’t working. So one company uses machine learning to look for source patterns in applications. Then, they can draw out more successful potential candidates.
Others will use AI to screen faces, voices, and even body language. However, others will use robo-voice interviews, and examine the interviewers’ voice recognition and video recording. They’ll use AI to study somebody’s nerves and other behaviors. They can even use AI to make sure somebody is a good cultural fit. These companies brag AI hiring will save them time and energy. Because one says the AI way will save them 20 hours of work a week. Yes, some companies are switching to the AI way. I’m talking big name companies, like L’Oreal makeup, Mars candy/food company, and Citibank bank giant.
Here is another reason AI conducts job interviews. There was a time when the interview was a test to see if you could do the work. Now, it’s a test to see if you can fit in. I guess they believe that robots can do a better job determining that than humans. However, this AI job interviewing can be a good thing. Because stats say many bosses are less likely to give a job, or even interview, to somebody with an ethnic sounding name than to someone with an Anglo-Saxon sounding name. Unfortunately, this still goes on in 2019 America! So if AI can be more fair and cut down on the discrimination, then I say let the AI do the interviewing. What do you think of AI conducting job interviews?
