So the stock market is at an all-time high. Also, unemployment is at an all-time low. Let’s pop the champagne, right? But not so fast, according to Facebook Co-Founder Chris Hughes. Facebook co-founder fights wealth inequality.
Furthermore, Hughes wrote the book Fair Shot: Rethinking Inequality and How We Earn. In it, he talks about reforming tax codes, but he mainly focuses a fair economy for all American workers. He says wealth inequality is worse than it was in the Great Depression era. Articles like this one back up his claims. But what does this have to do with computer technology and IT support? Hughes would tell you quite a bit.
Because he says mega tech companies, and technology in general, are helping keep working folks’ wages down. Also, add the threat of robots and AI tech taking jobs. So what to do? Hughes believes we should give a monthly tax credit of $500 a month to those making under $50,000 a year. That equals to $6,000 a year. In Hughes’ economy, that would be enough to generate spending and saving, growing the economy in both ways. He also challenges major tech companies, like Facebook, Amazon and Apple. He challenges mega tech companies to focus on workers, society and a better income, not just company profits.
Hughes mentioned the mass collection of data the big IT support companies get. But Hughes goes as far as saying these companies should create a wealth fund. Then, distribute that to the people according to the data they give, and the money it makes for the company. I like this idea better than the tax credit idea. I appreciate where Hughes is coming from, but this country is around $20 trillion in debt. And I doubt this Congress and US President is going to sign a law like that. I prefer the wealth fund idea, and any other way to fight wealth inequality. At least he’s addressing the issue, and I totally respect that. Don’t you wish more tech leaders fought wealth inequality?
Google leaders warn their employees to be nice, especially while using bulletin boards. Because in the past, some employees used these boards for rude, inappropriate and bullying conduct. However, new guidelines are out. It talks about what is appropriate behavior and what isn’t. Also, if they break these rules, they can fire suspension, demotion, or even termination. On the surface, it sounds like common sense. Basically, the new rules insists Google workers treat each other with dignity, equality and respect, no matter what their background.
But wait. Is Google trying to overcome it’s own scandal here? Back in 2013, a scathing report hinted that Google’s workplace was immature. Then came 2017. James Damore wrote on a bulletin board his thoughts on men being better suited to be engineers than woman. This caused so much national outrage that it cost Damore his job. However, some say Damore’s firing was political. Some say they targeted Damore because he is a conservative in an liberal environment. The debate goes on to this day.
I respect what Google is doing. Every human being deserves a safe and functioning work environment, whether it’s computer repair, IT support, or anything else. Yes, I support Google on this. On the surface, this sounds really good. But let’s dig a little deeper. The rules seem pretty straight forward, the stuff our parents taught us. But does it stop there? If I worked at Google, and openly supported a political figure nobody liked, would my job be in danger? Or if I supported an unpopular social or political issue, what would happen? That’s my concern. Google keeps employees in check. Is it about safety? Or is it about control?
So we know that all things IT service is changing. For example, five years ago, Uber comes out. But today, Uber and Lyft drivers make millions in tips.
Last year, the ride sharing app started an in-app tipping service. It paid off…in every sense of the word. They introduced the tipping program in May 2017. Since then, drivers saw a 30% increase in their bottom line. In fact, in August 2017 alone, Uber drivers made $50 million in tips. They’re not the only ones. Because their rival, Lyft, launched a tipping app service around the same time. They saw their drivers make over $500 million in tips since then. That’s nearly a 10% increase.
They even broke it down to cities and times. Uber says their most generous tippers are in Salt Lake City, Kansas City, New Orleans and Nashville. However, Lyft says their most generous tippers are in New York City, Atlanta, Dallas, and San Jose, CA. Not surprisingly, ride sharing customers get really generous close to weekend time. Drivers get the biggest tips between Thursday night and Saturday night. Keep in mind these stats are just in the USA. Yes, Uber is available now in most of the world. But Lyft is only available in the US and Canada.
One thing that surprises me. Boston isn’t on the most generous tippers’ list. People use it in this town often enough. I see them come and go in front of this computer service shop all the time. But I’m not surprised the people are more generous on the weekend. People have tendency to spend more money late week and weekend then during the week. Also, people are more generous when they’re in celebratory mode. This is a huge step for Uber and Lyft drivers. This isn’t good for cab companies, who are already hemorrhaging because of Uber and Lyft. Can they come back and compete with this?
So job search and career development website Glassdoor?came out with their most popular CEO’s. Apple and Google, two of the biggest IT service companies, are here. But it’s not good news for them.? Because Apple and Google CEO’s lose favor.
Apple CEO Tim Cook dropped a whopping 43 points in the ratings. That’s the lowest drop of any CEO since they started doing this list. Then you have Google CEO Sundai Pachai, who also dropped a lot in these polls. They did these ratings by anonymously asking employees what they think of their CEO. Pichai went from 17th to 45th place. But that’s good compared to Cook. Cook went from 53rd to 96th.
Do you really want to add salt to these wounds? Think about Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Think about all the scandal and controversy his company faced over the last couple of years.? However, his popularity points only dropped 6 places. Life just isn’t fair, is it? So why did Apple and Google CEO’s lose favor? Some insiders say Apple’s intense culture of secrecy creates a lot of stress and fear among their employees. Complaints of long hours and them calling you to work at anytime don’t help, either. But what about Google, and why their big drop in just a year? With Google, employees complained about company politics, favoritism, and an increasing corporate culture.
However, it’s not all bad news for Apple and Google. Because their approval ratings are still in the 90’s. The average CEO is 69%. In fact, most if not all IT support CEO’s are about average. That says something about our industry as a whole. Yes, our industry has turbulence. But as long as we’re on Earth, every industry will have some turbulence sometimes. No industry or line of work is going to be perfect. And even among consumers, I head more complains about Apple than about Google. So what do you think Sundar and Cook can do to improve these numbers?
So the smartwatch is to be the next big thing in tech and IT support. But I guess consumers had other ideas. Because the smartwatch sale is slipping. Will Google save the smartwatch industry?
They are trying. One reason smartphones are failing is because of short battery life. Google says they will combat this by strengthening Android P. That’s the operating systems behind Google/Android software. One tactic they will use is ‘App Standby Buckets’. It telly you which apps you use the least. Then, it shows you which apps uses up the most battery juice. Therefore, you can cut the useless apps that take up the most battery power. This doesn’t include alarms or emergency apps.
They also didn’t do include the alarm because of customer feedback. They say this prevents common sense usage. But more to the point, what if an emergency does happen, and your smartwatch OS blocked the emergency app? What then? Well, they’re applying the ‘app standby buckets’ tactic to all their smartwatches. This say is also more diplomatic between consumers and app makers. I say this because let’s say a customer cuts off a certain app. Now let’s say a million people cut off that app because it’s messing up their battery life. Now let’s say you’re the maker of the app that’s losing millions of customers. Wouldn’t you be a little upset at the smartwatch that’s allowing this to happen?
Smartwatches have their place. I see them on the streets often and around this Boston computer service shop often. But I guess for smartwatch makers, it’s not enough. However, battery life isn’t the smartwatch industry’s only problem. Qualcomm is dealing with chip issues, to the point where some are asking the company to leave the data center business. They have a new smartwatch chip they’re trying. Will it work though? Will Google save the smartwatch industry?
So some of you followed me for years. Then you know how cynical I am about the AI (artificial intelligence) boom. If you don’t then look at this TED talk. However, Google CEO Sundar Pichai insists his company can run AI with integrity. Ethical artificial intelligence: Is this even possible?
First of all, he promised Google AI benefits society. He says the benefits will outweigh the disadvantages. I wish he said how and gave further detail. Furthermore, he assured Google AI’s safety to and for the public. They boast about how their AI doesn’t break stuff. They also boast on their organizations that continue to research AI ethics.
We all have this image of robots running a muck and destroying the entire human race. Google says that won’t happen on their watch. Because Google’s AI will have human control and direction. And if the AI goes crazy, then a qualified human will correct the problem. Speaking of humans, Pichai insists all Google AI scientists have met the highest of Google standards. And you have to give Google credit for this one. They’re more transparent than other IT service companies. For example, they have AI research places on universities in the US and Canada. They even formed alliances with other IT support companies to ensure ethical artificial intelligence.
All of this sounds good on paper, especially coming from one of the most powerful tech leaders around today. But I’m still skeptical. Even today, we see AI take our jobs. We also see the disturbing trend of people marrying and having sexual relationships with robots. Pichai talked about AI benefits. But he never explained the benefits in detail. But most of us know the disadvantages. In fact, we already see it. They even want AI to solve our social, political, racial, cultural and generational divide. I will believe it when I see it. Ethical artificial intelligence: Is this even possible?
