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justdiptych · 17 days

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Trans issues are rarely brought up in the Fallout series. Fallout 2′s cut Environmental Protection Agency location was apparently slated to include 'Top Secret Research into Gender Modification', but there's little suggestion what that content would have actually included. Also, the pre-war USA was a fascist hellscape that was actively hostile to human rights - witness, for example, a federal information release about the New Plague, which conflates contagion, socialism and queer sexuality, and encourages readers to report anyone displaying any of the above for 'quarantine' - so pre-war trans communities likely drew as little attention to themselves as possible. More recently, two non-binary characters (Burke and Orlando) have been introduced in Fallout 76's expansions; their roles have been relatively minor.

All that said… the Auto-Doc technology we see in Fallout 2 and New Vegas would be an absolute boon for trans patients. Auto-Docs can synthesise and administer medications, including hormone treatments (the models in the Sierra Madre Villa Clinic can dispense adrenaline, for instance). Any medications not already available can be added to the Auto-Doc's database by a knowledgeable user - this is how the cure to Jet addiction is manufactured in Vault City.

Auto-Docs are also capable of all manner of surgeries. Cosmetic surgery is not unheard of in the Fallout universe - Rivet City’s Horace Pinkerton and Diamond City’s doctors Crocker and Sun all offer it - but Auto-Docs can go even further. Advanced models can even alter a patient’s entire skeleton, with minimal scarring: Fallout 2′s Chosen One can can have their skeleton reinforced, without any Charisma penalty (unless they opt for the heavier, more invasive upgrade), and New Vegas’ Courier can have their spine and central nervous system replaced with a synthetic alternative. Auto-Docs can even give a patient a new voice - Christine Royce tragically had this done to her without her consent, but this does demonstrate show the procedure’s viability for a willing user.

Whether or not the major medical companies of the Falloutverse would sign off on such uses of their tech, breaking and customising Auto-Doc programming seems to have been a simple matter. A suitably sympathetic or motivated physician could have easily started a trans health clinic that could address the bulk of their patients’ medical needs - hormone treatment, surgery far more advanced than exists in the real world, and even voice alteration.

In short, there is absolute, copper-bottomed, canon-compliant room in the wasteland for fully automated transing of genders, and I hope the devs will recognise and embrace this fact.

#vidyo games #fallout #fallout: new vegas #fallout 2 #fallout 3 #fallout 4 #fallout 76 #gender & tonic

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infernalodie · 2 years

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𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐈 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 || 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 (𝐩𝐭. 𝟏)

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨“

Inspo: Cigarettes After Sex - You’re All I Want Cyberpunk

Pairing: Kate Bishop x Fem!reader

Summary: Love. What a dumb joke.

Warnings: Acts of violence and angsty feels.

Part Two

Words: 1860

There was a time when you thought that with human evolution and technology becoming one with people, maybe things would get better. Perhaps a sense of natural order would take place and things could become far safer than what it once was. There would be no need for Avengers or any type of superheroes. But with growth, it creates more problems to accompany this new way of life.

You were a Solo. A bounty hunter, a gun for hire, a messenger, a bodyguard. Whoever hired you and asked you to be something, you would do it for the right amount of money. Life alone was how you liked it in this vast dystopian growing world that waited for no one. Because you knew that if you weren’t someone in this new day and age, you would be forgotten. Doing things your way on your own is how you liked it and eliminated the potential pain you would be faced with.

But that was a problem when it came around to the newest Fixer to enter your life. Kate Bishop. She was the head of Bishop Security. Bad motherfucker if anyone got in her path or did anything to try and ruin her business. No one could hide from her. The reach she had over cities from her tech was unheard of and left the possibility of surviving her wrath less than one.

Smoke filled the small Aerodyne you were situated in. The interior of the aerial craft was spacious and luxurious. Leather seating and soft crimson lighting with drinks in holders on either side of the craft. But your eyes were focused on the bright colours of New York below. Holographic displays advertise the company’s products or others are used for scenery. Most of them were situated in the central part of New York with Harlem being left behind for backstreet Fixers and crimes to occur.

You grew up in Harlem. You knew how hard it was for up-and-coming mercs such as yourself to earn fair pay. A lot of the jobs out there were sketchy and came with a higher risk than some of the shit you did now. Sure, there was the occasional job where you had to do something like killing a high official, planting a bomb in a rival corp’s territory, or simply doing a pickup. A lot of the jobs that Kate had tasked you with put you in life-or-death situations, but you always managed to pull through. Something Kate had always liked about you.

“Arriving at your destination. Bishop Security Tower,” the automated A.I. announced. You sighed, taking a puff off your cigarette before dropping it. Crushing it under your military boot and clenching your red cybernetic arm. A gift by your boss that you considered a mark for anyone who dared to threaten you. You were Kate’s property. Nothing less and nothing more.

Once the Aerodyne lowered to the landing pad on the top of the skyscraper, the side door lifted and opened. Just as you were about to stand up, a bottle of Vodka caught your attention. Grabbing the neck of it, you then stood up and hopped off. The harsh greeting of howling winds was what welcomed you once you stepped off. Jacket bellowing around you with your hair pulled up after the very long day you’ve had.

But it did nothing to deter you from taking off the cap of the bottle and taking a long sip of the harsh substance. Face barely grimacing as you made your way to the stares along the side of the building. You knew you were going to need it for the next few minutes.

Entering the building, the warmth hugged your body. This office/apartment had become a second home for you. It didn’t seem professional to you at all and went against everything that related to your lifestyle. But it was hard to say otherwise when the woman that waited for you was able to relieve any tension and anger that clung to you.

“I guess the mission was a success,” Kate’s voice propelled through the open space and hit your ears as you made it down the set of stairs to where her office desk was. Off to the right, there was a small wall that divided her bedroom and to the left a couch where a TV was attached to the wall. But she was looking at her computer monitor. Staring at the news feed that was surrounding the bombing that had occurred over at Stark’s weapon plant.

You huffed, sitting down on the couch and placing the bottle of vodka down. But you did not speak. You let your silence and the reporter does the talking for you. Kate, on the other hand, didn’t like that one bit. Her eyes flickered to you and saw the exhausted aura that surrounded you. A splash of blood on your face as you stared at the wall emotionlessly.

Getting up from her chair, she made her way over quietly. Although it wasn’t talked about, Kate had been somewhat of a merc herself. Her own chrome surrounding her abilities with a bow and her sneaking abilities. So, her steps were light and practically mute. And before you even knew it, she was behind you. Her hands dropped to your shoulders where she gently rubbed soothing circles into your tense muscles.

This was how things went after every mission. You came back tired, Kate gave you a massage, and you give her the deets on the aftermath of the mission. But tonight, something in the air was different. There could be a million reasons as to why that was, but you could only identify one. And it was the fact that your five-year contract with Kate would finally end after this mission and you weren’t entirely sure what to do now.

“After the explosion, the Starks have been scrambling around trying to fix up the mess,” Kate said. “Public is coming to the conclusion it’s from faulty weapons. Leaving the Starks out of the arms dealing spectrum. Giving us another chance to acquire more of their turf.”

From the five years of you working with Kate, there were two things you learned in this time. One; everything she did had a reason. Very rarely she did do something impulsively. Perhaps it was just because her mother had once been in the business, but you liked to believe otherwise. When you had power as she did, there was no room for error. So, she was smart in laying out all the possible outcomes and coming to a decision. But the second thing; was she was relentless. Kate was power-hungry. Her mother’s desires had printed onto her and it was hard sometimes for you to tell the difference between the two women. There was never a “break” for her. There was always something else she could take if she had the time.

“Do you know why I wanted this mission to work so badly?” You asked softly, eyes half-lidded as you continued to stare ahead of you. You could feel Kate’s eyes focused solely on you. Her optics are able to see and decipher the truth behind words and the intention of a person - A lie detector, per se. “I slaughtered an entire boardroom of officials just to get this done for you. Hoped this would be enough for you to chill out and take a rest for a while.”

Truth was, you loved Kate. It hadn’t been something you planned on, but it was quite hard not to when she was someone you saw day after day and was subjected to her flirting. For most people, there was no problem with falling in love with someone. But the problem you faced was the extra variable. There wasn’t a chance for her to get hurt, but it was the fact that she would deny you. So, you had and would continue to do anything you can to ignore these emotions and get the hell out of New York for a while.

Looking over your shoulder at the Billionaire, you could see the surprised look on her face. “But I can very much tell that you wouldn’t care for anything I did for you,” You stood to your feet, her hands falling to her sides numbly as you faced her. “I’ll take the money from our contract and I’ll be out of here.”

“You are leaving?” Kate inquired, brows scrunching together. “I’m sorry, I’m really trying to figure out what is going on with you right now, because this isn’t the girl I remember from yesterday- Hell, even the day before. Did someone fuck with your frontal cortex whilst you were-”

As she reached out to playfully tap your forehead, you slapped her hand away. Jaw clenching as your cybernetic arm twitched slightly. But you exhaled heavily, staring right into the girl’s wide eyes. “Kate, I mean this. I’m leaving. I’m going to head back to Atlanta for a while. See where life takes me,” you said. “This city has done nothing but tears me down, build me back up, and then destroy me all over again. I’m sick of it.”

Kate, who was still shocked, could understand where you were coming from. Silently, her eyes brightened and your interface lit up. 5 million dollars being sent to your account without any sort of hold up. And it was enough to be the final push for you to get out of this city.

“Does your decision to leave have anything to do with me?” Her question sounded like she was defensive. Possibly daring you to say that it was and for her to bark your ear off forever thinking away. But it was. It was her fault for your decision to leave. Her insistence to make you feel things were a problem. Emotions and love only got someone so far before being the reason they’re dead. Heartbreak, anger, sorrow. Those three were the main chemicals for someone to chase a bullet instead of feeling such a way.

“Yes,” you answered quietly. “I hate caring about someone who couldn’t give a fuck about me. So, I’m leaving and our business is over with.” By the time the words left your mouth, it was far too late to take them back. But it left a large weight to be relieved from your shoulders as the CEO stared at you with parted lips. Shock overrode her entire body as you sniffled and ran a hand over your dishevelled features.

Your cold and rather, blunt reply left Kate speechless. Her eyes followed you as you went to the main elevator, stepped inside and pressed the button down to the garage. Leaving Kate to watch you make eye contact with her and say nothing or to even give her a chance to defend herself.

And right when those steel doors shut, you were gone. Leaving Kate without a merc and a piece of her heartbreaking off to drift into the unknown. But her eyes stung with her bottom lip being caught between her teeth as she exhaled shakily. “Please don’t go.”

#Kate Bishop #kate bishop fanfiction #kate bishop imagine #kate bishop x reader #kate bishop x fem!reader #kate bishop x fem reader #kate bishop angst #dystopian #marvel fanfiction #marvel imagine #Hailee Steinfeld #x fem!reader #x fem reader #marvel x fem!reader #marvel x fem reader

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kremlin · 1 year

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i am going to offer one thought on the situation that unfortunately does not need an introduction

please consider, in the face of the man who has suddenly adopted a polarizing political nature, my humble third perspective, which has not changed for many years, that this guy does not, will not, never did, and never could -- posses any scientific nor technical knowledge/ability

polarizing yourself like this is a great way to provide a plausible counter-narrative to people favorable to whichever side of the spectrum you chose. "oh, all the naysayers are [the others], they will say anything to harm [us, our cause]"

i don't think people who bought him for the personality he trades on, "reluctant CEO in name only who really is down in the weeds with the engineers or developers" are stupid or gullible, because the theme of this thread is "avoiding polarization and politics to measure reality"

but i certainly used to, and maybe you can understand my perspective. when this extremely famous, influential pretender adopts your field and proceeds with cartoon antics, it creates a lot of confused people [at best] and draws undeserved ire and misconceptions [at worst]

if you are like me, employed in a technical engineering capacity, never haven't been, never won't not be (elusive triple negative), and this behavior continues regardless whether paychecks come in --

someone who, from day one, said "this is my hole, it was made for me", someone who he feels these sorts of behaviors go beyond a profession and into the core of your character -- someone who finds this degree of self description *very cringeworthy* to vocalize...

here are some differences... i don't have an incomprehensible amount of money, nor an incomprehensible amount of debt. i have a regular amount of money and only a little debt

i don't have five, estranged families, i have one, good "forever" family.

i don't "spend alll nights and weekends sleeping under my desk until ...xyz". i sleep in a big bed with my wife

when i see a construction or factory worker, i don't tell him to learn to code. i think maybe i should learn construction

when my behaviors, actions, idiosyncrasies, etc fall characteristically far from the NIST perfectly spherically frictionless standard human mind, it lands in the ADHD/autism/whatever region, not in the PERSONALITY DISORDER region

i am very, very good at what i do, and have done, for decades, and the sum total of that thinking nearly certainly does not include any truly groundbreaking, unheard of, radically innovative "wild new idea",

i don't look at, say, the tunnel boring industry, or the automobile industry, or the field of neuroscience, and say, listen up dumbasses, time to move into the 21st century, we're digging with javascript, we're (not) driving with javascript, we're "going to mars" (???) \

with javascript, and get this -- we're cutting your skull open and putting electronics in there, running guess, what javascr-

i guess that's it, that's all i have to say, stop calling me a tech bro, don't talk to me about "crypto currency", don't talk to me about "radical altruism", don't talk to me about "free speech/the blue hair sjws/the chud boomers/the whatever-whatever".

talk to me about the eagles stunning 10-1 season so far, talk to me about jalen hurts, talk to me about the minutiae of your day, talk to me about drama on web forums from 20 years ago. do not talk to me about "java script". thanks. your friend, ians

oh, i forgot one -- i haven't bought 8 companies and then pretended like founded them. i founded one company, Kremlinware Unlimited LLC, that has never had any assets, employees, partners, etc...\

but makes good letterhead that will get ppl to sell me all sorts of weird things that they wouldn't otherwise sell to an individual. like a bottle of tetramethoxysilane (not drugs) or Very Specific Carbide Face Mill Insert or Weird Chinese Patent Law Infringing IC It Turns Out...

that micron or atmel want like $150 for.

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sixstringphonic · 5 months

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OpenAI Fears Get Brushed Aside

(A follow-up to this story from May 16th 2023.) Big Tech dismissed board’s worries, along with the idea profit wouldn’t rule usage. (Reported by Brian Merchant, The Los Angeles Times, 11/21/23) It’s not every day that the most talked-about company in the world sets itself on fire. Yet that seems to be what happened Friday, when OpenAI’s board announced that it had terminated its chief executive, Sam Altman, because he had not been “consistently candid in his communications with the board.” In corporate-speak, those are fighting words about as barbed as they come: They insinuated that Altman had been lying. The sacking set in motion a dizzying sequence of events that kept the tech industry glued to its social feeds all weekend: First, it wiped $48 billion off the valuation of Microsoft, OpenAI’s biggest partner. Speculation about malfeasance swirled, but employees, Silicon Valley stalwarts and investors rallied around Altman, and the next day talks were being held to bring him back. Instead of some fiery scandal, reporting indicated that this was at core a dispute over whether Altman was building and selling AI responsibly. By Monday, talks had failed, a majority of OpenAI employees were threatening to resign, and Altman announced he was joining Microsoft. All the while, something else went up in flames: the fiction that anything other than the profit motive is going to govern how AI gets developed and deployed. Concerns about “AI safety” are going to be steamrolled by the tech giants itching to tap in to a new revenue stream every time.

It’s hard to overstate how wild this whole saga is. In a year when artificial intelligence has towered over the business world, OpenAI, with its ubiquitous ChatGPT and Dall-E products, has been the center of the universe. And Altman was its world-beating spokesman. In fact, he’s been the most prominent spokesperson for AI, period. For a highflying company’s own board to dump a CEO of such stature on a random Friday, with no warning or previous sign that anything serious was amiss — Altman had just taken center stage to announce the launch of OpenAI’s app store in a much-watched conference — is almost unheard of. (Many have compared the events to Apple’s famous 1985 canning of Steve Jobs, but even that was after the Lisa and the Macintosh failed to live up to sales expectations, not, like, during the peak success of the Apple II.)

So what on earth is going on?

Well, the first thing that’s important to know is that OpenAI’s board is, by design, differently constituted than that of most corporations — it’s a nonprofit organization structured to safeguard the development of AI as opposed to maximizing profitability. Most boards are tasked with ensuring their CEOs are best serving the financial interests of the company; OpenAI’s board is tasked with ensuring their CEO is not being reckless with the development of artificial intelligence and is acting in the best interests of “humanity.” This nonprofit board controls the for-profit company OpenAI.

Got it?

As Jeremy Khan put it at Fortune, “OpenAI’s structure was designed to enable OpenAI to raise the tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars it would need to succeed in its mission of building artificial general intelligence (AGI) … while at the same time preventing capitalist forces, and in particular a single tech giant, from controlling AGI.” And yet, Khan notes, as soon as Altman inked a $1-billion deal with Microsoft in 2019, “the structure was basically a time bomb.” The ticking got louder when Microsoft sunk $10 billion more into OpenAI in January of this year.

We still don’t know what exactly the board meant by saying Altman wasn’t “consistently candid in his communications.” But the reporting has focused on the growing schism between the science arm of the company, led by co-founder, chief scientist and board member Ilya Sutskever, and the commercial arm, led by Altman. We do know that Altman has been in expansion mode lately, seeking billions in new investment from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds to start a chip company to rival AI chipmaker Nvidia, and a billion more from Softbank for a venture with former Apple design chief Jony Ive to develop AI-focused hardware. And that’s on top of launching the aforementioned OpenAI app store to third party developers, which would allow anyone to build custom AIs and sell them on the company’s marketplace.

The working narrative now seems to be that Altman’s expansionist mind-set and his drive to commercialize AI — and perhaps there’s more we don’t know yet on this score — clashed with the Sutskever faction, who had become concerned that the company they co-founded was moving too fast. At least two of the board’s members are aligned with the so-called effective altruism movement, which sees AI as a potentially catastrophic force that could destroy humanity.

The board decided that Altman’s behavior violated the board’s mandate. But they also (somehow, wildly) seem to have failed to anticipate how much blowback they would get for firing Altman. And that blowback has come at gale-force strength; OpenAI employees and Silicon Valley power players such as Airbnb’s Brian Chesky and Eric Schmidt spent the weekend “I am Spartacus”-ing Altman. It’s not hard to see why. OpenAI had been in talks to sell shares to investors at an $86-billion valuation. Microsoft, which has invested more than $11 billion in OpenAI and now uses OpenAI’s tech on its platforms, was apparently informed of the board’s decision to fire Altman five minutes before the wider world. Its leadership was furious and seemingly led the effort to have Altman reinstated. But beyond all that lurked the question of whether there should really be any safeguards to the AI development model favored by Silicon Valley’s prime movers; whether a board should be able to remove a founder they believe is not acting in the interest of humanity — which, again, is their stated mission — or whether it should seek relentless expansion and scale.

See, even though the OpenAI board has quickly become the de facto villain in this story, as the venture capital analyst Eric Newcomer pointed out, we should maybe take its decision seriously. Firing Altman was probably not a call they made lightly, and just because they’re scrambling now because it turns out that call was an existential financial threat to the company does not mean their concerns were baseless. Far from it.

In fact, however this plays out, it has already succeeded in underlining how aggressively Altman has been pursuing business interests. For most tech titans, this would be a “well, duh” situation, but Altman has fastidiously cultivated an aura of a burdened guru warning the world of great disruptive changes. Recall those sheepdog eyes in the congressional hearings a few months back where he begged for the industry to be regulated, lest it become too powerful? Altman’s whole shtick is that he’s a weary messenger seeking to prepare the ground for responsible uses of AI that benefit humanity — yet he’s circling the globe lining up investors wherever he can, doing all he seemingly can to capitalize on this moment of intense AI interest.

To those who’ve been watching closely, this has always been something of an act — weeks after those hearings, after all, Altman fought real-world regulations that the European Union was seeking to impose on AI deployment. And we forget that OpenAI was originally founded as a nonprofit that claimed to be bent on operating with the utmost transparency — before Altman steered it into a for-profit company that keeps its models secret. Now, I don’t believe for a second that AI is on the cusp of becoming powerful enough to destroy mankind — I think that’s some in Silicon Valley (including OpenAI’s new interim CEO, Emmett Shear) getting carried away with a science fictional sense of self-importance, and a uniquely canny marketing tactic — but I do think there is a litany of harms and dangers that can be caused by AI in the shorter term. And AI safety concerns getting so thoroughly rolled at the snap of the Valley’s fingers is not something to cheer.

You’d like to believe that executives at AI-building companies who think there’s significant risk of global catastrophe here couldn’t be sidelined simply because Microsoft lost some stock value. But that’s where we are.

Sam Altman is first and foremost a pitchman for the year’s biggest tech products. No one’s quite sure how useful or interesting most of those products will be in the long run, and they’re not making a lot of money at the moment — so most of the value is bound up in the pitchman himself. Investors, OpenAI employees and partners such as Microsoft need Altman traveling the world telling everyone how AI is going to eclipse human intelligence any day now much more than it needs, say, a high-functioning chatbot.

Which is why, more than anything, this winds up being a coup for Microsoft. Now it has got Altman in-house, where he can cheerlead for AI and make deals to his heart’s content. They still have OpenAI’s tech licensed, and OpenAI will need Microsoft more than ever. Now, it may yet turn out to be that this was nothing but a power struggle among board members, and it was a coup that went wrong. But if it turns out that the board had real worries and articulated them to Altman to no avail, no matter how you feel about the AI safety issue, we should be concerned about this outcome: a further consolidation of power of one of the biggest tech companies and less accountability for the product than ever.

If anyone still believes a company can steward the development of a product like AI without taking marching orders from Big Tech, I hope they’re disabused of this fiction by the Altman debacle. The reality is, no matter whatever other input may be offered to the company behind ChatGPT, the output will be the same: Money talks.

#ChatGPT #OpenAI #AI #A.I.#Artificial Intelligence #fuck AI #regulate AI #bold text emphasis mine #this is an important read #I keep saying it and i'll say it again #I don't worry about what AI can do. I worry about how people will use it.

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nickgerlich · 11 months

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They Have A Vision

If there is any company whose IPO I wish I had bought into, it is Apple’s. Of course, hindsight is far better than my 64-year-old blue eyes. When the stock debuted on 12th December 1980 (Yeah! Forty-three years ago!), it was $22 a share. Today, if I had put only $1000 on the line, it would be worth $1.26 million.

Dang. Retirement plans foiled.

Apple is an anomaly in many ways. It has always been an innovator, even if it wasn’t necessarily first to market. It’s just that when it did come to market, it did so better than anyone else nearby. Furthermore, it has seldom worried about being the market share leader. They’re good with being Number Two in many cases, if only because the high price of their products (aka The Apple Tax) helps offset market share losses.

Yesterday at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, the tech giant announced its new Vision Pro, which combines virtual and augmented reality. The price? A mere $3499. Holy cow, that’s a lot of Benjamins. But you can probably bet your last $100 that Apple’s new product is going to knock it out of the park.

Apple has always come in with lofty prices on its introductions. The first iPhone (2007) hit the market at $599, which was basically unheard of then. The iPad (2010) was $499, and then the Apple Watch (2015) was $349 and up. I bought into iPhone 2 and iPad 1, but skipped the watch, if only because my students had already ridiculed me back in 2010 for wearing an old-school watch while carrying an iPhone around. They said it was redundant, and made me look old.  

Now I look old for not having an Apple Watch. Go figure.

Anyway, with such a high price, Apple is assuming some hefty risks. Sure, we’ve had inflation the last two years, but nothing like what could have caused an introductory price to balloon this much. Basically, the Vision Pro “looks like a pair of ski goggles and lets people overlay virtual images on live videos of the real world.” You look through it, not at it.

As per the announcement info, the device allows for apps to pop up in front of our eyes. And, our eyes will be visible to those on the outside, so we’re not exactly in another world away from others. Disney has also come on board to create content for the new device. Knowing Apple, there won’t be any shortage of content, lest early adopters be left wondering what to do with their expensive plaything.

While there have been others who have tried and failed in this space, let us be reminded that Apple typically comes along to show us how to use all the cool things. I learned this with the iPhone, whose introduction I belittled since I already owned a phone, camera, and iPod. Why would I possibly need an all-in-one? Because Apple had plans for me, you, and millions of other people.

I suspect that Apple will do with the Vision Pro what it did to Blackberry with phones, and Amazon Kindle with tablets. It will redefine the space and add far more complexity and features than earlier entrants could ever conceive. Apple has been down this road multiple times, and knows how to compete.

Companies like Google and Microsoft, known more for their software and operating systems than anything else, have not fared as well in hardware. Just ask Google about Google Glass.

I may not exactly know just yet how I will incorporate Vision Pro into my daily routine, but I bet it’s going to be amazing. I am fully invested in the Apple ecosystem (aside from the watch), and know that everything they make plays well with everything else. But it is still a big gulp moment, because this is nearly as much as the last camera body I bought, something I get lots of usage from on a regular basis. Wearing ski goggles will take some adjustments for me.

On the other hand, Apple always seems to know something I don’t. It’ll all become clear in a little while.

Dr “Saving My Benjamins“ Gerlich

Audio Blog

#marketing #Apple #Visionpro #VR #AR

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fandomsareforlife · 1 year

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For the oc ask game...

I don't know who those people that you mentioned in the tags are... or at least I don't remember them?

But uh, it says that if u don't know, then just ask-

Yeah hi

I'm asking 👈(" ⁰ ∇ ⁰ "👈)

Hello, my friend! I have actually mentioned one of my OC’s before, Eugene Techno, in detail. You can find it here!

However, my other ones are all but a mystery to you, I have realized. As such, I am finally committing my ideas to paper. I will not be going super in depth, solely so this way you don’t have to read like an essay. I will be talking briefly about the history of them and their creation.

Also, these are all based off their personality traits/backstory in my A-Z series, so some things may be retconned/changed in other series/stories. Just roll with it, okay?

So let’s get started.

Selena Darkley Oppenheimer

Pronouns: She/Her

Let’s start things off with probably one of my first OC’s for Ninjago. She is Shade’s big sister and in some aus Ultra Violet’s twin and is 22 years old at the time of the Tournament Of Elements. She’s the same age as Griffin, Ash and Chamille. She is also the master of spirits.

(Also she and Griffin used to pretend to date since they were expected to get married at a young age.)

She has definitely been through some changes. For one, she actually used to be Shade’s twin sister, but then I realized I liked the idea of her being an older sister more.

Some things about her is that, like her siblings, she is part-phantom, which means that for her magical rituals relating to the body, soul and life force are much easier than they are for others. She is fairly tall at about 5 foot 9 inches.

She is definitely not a great influence on Shade, but she tries. She truly does try, but unfortunately her growing up very independent makes it hard for her to be able to care for a small human.

She’s aromantic and allosexual, cause we need more aroallo rep in stories. Not great at flirting, but will do so if needed.

Zevon Turner

Pronouns: He/Him

Now, you might look at the last name and go, “Hey isn’t there a guy named Griffin Turner?” And to you I saw, yes. Yes there is.

He’s Griffin twin brother, and is affectionately know as the evil twin. He’s definitely more willing to cause chaos than Griffin, but that’s a story for a different time. He is also the taller twin, which isn’t saying much considering he’s barely any taller but he is fine with that.

He is very much a fighter. His specialty with magic is combat magic, so spells that can be useful in a fight. Specifically, ones that affect time and genera combat spells, such as cutting spells.

Also, he is the designated earth science nerd since his brother is not willing to be it.

Elijah Paleman (edited)

Pronouns: He/They

Elijah is Paleman’s older sibling, by two years. He used to be called Xavier/Anthony, but I decided that Elijah was cooler. (+I decided to have Xavier added to my name hoard and wanted to give homage to a lot of creators who use Elijah as Paleman’s first name.) He is also dating Zevon, cause I said so.

(Also, quick note: Elijah is fine with both masculine and gender neutral words being used in regards to him, but they usually just use whatever one he remembers exists.)

He is the tallest, because he has some giant blood in him, which meant that they managed to be six foot 3, which is pretty unheard of for Darkley’s graduates.

Elijah is very much the rich kid stereotype in the friend group. Their parents were not as focused on getting him able to survive by himself so much as getting him ready to take on the family business. (The family business is a tech/security company with some focus on fashion and various illegal things.) That meant that while he is definitely a decently skilled fighter and negotiator, their survival skills leave something to be desired.

His whole thing is being very good with tech. Unlike the rest of his friends, he doesn’t have a bunch of innate wild magic in him, which means that he doesn’t have the same issues as them with using tech, since he is part giant, which means that his magic doesn’t affect tech as much. Therefore he is the designated tech guy.

Also, just to let you know, he does actually try to be a good older sibling. Like they bought books on how to. And he and his brother get along great.

—-

Alright that is all of them! If you have anymore questions please feel free to direct them towards me, but note that I might take forever or answer.

#ninjago #oc #original character #Selena Darkley Oppenheimer #Xavier Paleman #Zevon Turner #I was going to add a picrew for this but I am lazy #I might do it later if I can find one that I like for Zevon #cause he has this very specific hairstyle that I can not find on any picrew #edited since I decided to change some deets on Elijah #and Selena

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hasufin · 1 year

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In the beginning...

I was just talking to my spouse this morning, and realized how utterly unhinged Silicon Valley culture was back before the bubble burst.

For context, I graduated with a degree in Computer Science in December of 2000. I worked for a large telecom for a year before I got laid off - things looked okay, looked like we’d weather the recession, but then 9/11 happened and my company laid off 20,000 tech workers mostly in one metropolitan area. But that’s a story for another day.

Anyway, it’s worthwhile to note that while I graduated with a degree in computer science, almost none of my professors had CS degrees themselves. These were mathematicians, electrical engineers, physicists, and one psychologist (best teacher in the department) who had been on the ground floor building the field. We were the first generation of computer science graduates.

That’s important, really, because at the time nobody had any real idea what we could do. Corporate America sort of knew something different was happening, but had no grasp of what. Now, on the one hand big companies are - and were especially so before the tech bubble - very stolid, cautious creatures. But they’re also unrelentingly greedy, and while they had no idea just what these tech kids could do, what they could tell was that we were making lots and lots of money.

This meant that the more adventurous of the investing types would throw money at any damned thing. They really had no idea what would, and would not, work. There was no metric on how much to invest in anything, an the corporate world had no idea what was easy and what was hard. Which meant that if you had the right pitch (or went on the mythical hike up Mt. Tamalpeis) you could get millions of dollars in venture capital for, well, damned near anything. Astute readers may note this has slowed down a little, but is still happening. (Personally I suspect that venture capitalists will recover from their tech-induced cashtigmatism sometime in the 2040s, when major decisions are being made by people who grew up with information technology and are confident enough in the subject to say “Wait, this violates the laws of thermodynamics, it can’t work” though that’s complicated by the reality that it’s perfectly possible to become filthy rich on vaporware if you’re clever enough to get out at the right time).

Anyway. They also had no idea what to do with this new generation of techies. They had no idea how to recruit them, how to motivate them, or how to retain them. What they did know what that these were all young, recent college graduates. The more savvy folks also knew (and, less wisely, believed) the narrative that all the innovation was happening in dorm rooms and late night sessions, not in classrooms - which was true, but reductive and failed to appreciate that the late night hacking happened because of the classroom learning, an attitude which still permeates the industry.

What many companies did, then, was try to recreate that kind of college environment. My own experience with this was ancillary, but one saw enough to give credence to it. Casual work environments became de rigeur, of course. Companies began providing perks on a previously unheard of scale. (Well, sort of. The benefits traditionally offered to corporate executive put all the tech companies to shame, bu those perks were for the rich and well-heeled, not the mere workers. Anyway. At one such place - and considered pretty restrained for the era - they had coolers of drinks free for the taking, an onsite chef to provide restaurant-quality meals for free - including to take home, which encouraged people to work late - onsite gym, movie theater, and video games, and even a weekly beer truck. Some of these have settled as normal, others less so.

Now, these weren’t really stupid, when you consider. What these perks did was encourage people to work longer hours (we were all salaried anyway) and discouraged those same hackers from developing the kind of personal lives which would distract them from their hyperfixation du jour. Moreover, these non-compensatory benefits could be withdrawn on a whim - if it’s not in the contract, it exists at the CEO’s pleasure. Which is precisely what happened during the recession when the tech bubble burst.

It’s also worth noting that many fortunes were made in that era, often by people whom you would not imagine could become rich so easily. Some, of course, became unspeakably wealthy - this was the era which spawned Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos, to name a few. But also many rank and file workers ended up with several million dollars - I know of quite a few folks who had backgrounds not unlike mine, and ended up in the comfortable $10-20 million range (there’s a book, Microserfs, which introduces a characters as “the obligatory millionaire in our household”“).

Now, those fortunes are kind of an interesting phenomenon. At the time, many companies offered most of their compensation in stocks - you could be making $60,000 in cash, or you could get $40,000 in cash and $20,000 in stocks. Since those stocks were soaring, the latter option often came to an easy six figure salary. I knew many people at the time who were paying off their mortgage by selling stock. Which put them in quite a bit of a bind wen those stock prices tanked... But those whose stocks really took off, and who got out at the right time, ended up unexpectedly rich. The famed DNA Lounge of San Francisco exists for this reason, and numerous other odd, weird vanity projects in the Bay Area - yes, “Weird” requires money, and having an awful lot of people with money and no clear idea how to spend it does sometimes have a positive effect. But I also know a guy who lives in an aircraft hanger, surrounded by arcade games, TVs, and every other form of entertainment - a 50-year-old man living the dream of his 14-year-old self.

It was an interesting time. I just missed it, honestly. I suppose I could have dropped out of college my junior year, maybe I would have caught the wave, but I think I would not have fared particularly well.And I’m not sure I’d want to be the kind of person I’d have become if I had, either. But it certainly had a profound effect on the Bay Area, and will echo for decades to come.

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annjiru · 2 years

Note

✿

SEND “ ✿ ” FOR 2 HEADCANONS FOR OUR MUSES’ RELATIONSHIP

having not grown up with much technology prior to joining SOLDIER, Angeal faced a rather steep learning curve when it came to getting up to speed with various pieces of equipment, including his communicator and other standard fixtures like the VR training room. it was through his efforts to get on top of things and stay informed about company tech that he ultimately became acquainted with Kunsel. it wasn't unheard of for Angeal to approach him with questions, suggest features, or even pick out a bug or two as he explored the latest tech update or feature. these meetings were impromptu and in addition to the company-wide briefings held after a patch or release. He appreciates how patient and thorough Kunsel is in his explanations, and how creative he can be when it comes to problem-solving. It's one of the few times that he finds his role reversed, becoming more of a curious student rather than a leader or mentor.

Even though the two of them are almost the same age, Angeal admittedly perceives Kunsel and Zack to be closer in age because of their relationship. It also doesn't help that Kunsel has pretty youthful features and isn't able to grow much facial hair. When it's pointed out to him in conversation, the chevalier inwardly does a double-take and is reminded of his own relative youth, which also tends to evade him due to having matured so quickly at such a young age.

#headcanon;#✧.*┊answered.┊#text

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isatlasvpnsafereddit · 13 days

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do i need a vpn in korea

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do i need a vpn in korea

VPN necessity in Korea

In today's digital age, internet privacy and security have become paramount concerns. South Korea, known for its advanced technology and high internet penetration rate, is no exception to these worries. This is where VPN (Virtual Private Network) services come into play, offering a crucial layer of protection for internet users in Korea.

With the increasing number of cyber threats and online surveillance, using a VPN in Korea has become a necessity rather than a luxury. VPNs encrypt users' internet traffic, making it nearly impossible for hackers, government agencies, or internet service providers to monitor or intercept their online activities. This is particularly important in a country like South Korea, where internet censorship and surveillance are not unheard of.

Moreover, VPNs allow users to bypass geo-restrictions and access content that may be blocked in Korea due to regional limitations or government censorship. This means that Korean internet users can enjoy unrestricted access to global websites and streaming services, ensuring a more open and free internet experience.

In addition to privacy and unrestricted access, VPNs also offer benefits such as secure public Wi-Fi connections, protection against cyber attacks, and the ability to maintain anonymity online. Whether you are browsing the web, working remotely, or simply communicating with others, using a VPN in Korea can provide peace of mind and ensure your online safety.

In conclusion, the necessity of using a VPN in Korea cannot be understated. In a world where online threats are lurking at every corner, investing in a reliable VPN service is essential for safeguarding your digital presence and enjoying a truly unrestricted internet experience.

Internet privacy in South Korea

Internet privacy is a growing concern in South Korea, as the country faces challenges related to personal data protection and online privacy. In recent years, South Korea has made efforts to strengthen its regulations to safeguard individuals' privacy rights in the digital realm.

The South Korean government enacted the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) to regulate the collection, use, and retention of personal information by businesses and organizations. Under this law, companies are required to obtain consent from individuals before collecting their personal data and must implement security measures to prevent data breaches.

However, despite these regulations, South Korea has faced issues such as data leaks, spyware, and online surveillance. In 2019, an incident involving a massive data breach at a major credit card company in South Korea affected millions of customers, highlighting the vulnerabilities in the country's data protection measures.

Citizens and privacy advocates in South Korea continue to raise concerns about the collection of personal information by tech companies and government agencies. The use of surveillance technologies and the monitoring of online activities have also raised questions about the extent of internet privacy in the country.

As South Korea grapples with these challenges, there is a growing awareness among the public about the importance of safeguarding personal data and ensuring online privacy. By raising awareness, enforcing regulations, and promoting digital literacy, South Korea aims to enhance internet privacy and protect the rights of its citizens in the digital age.

Cybersecurity for expats in Korea

Living abroad as an expat in South Korea can be an exciting and enriching experience, but it's essential to stay vigilant when it comes to cybersecurity. Just like anywhere else, expats in Korea are vulnerable to various cyber threats that could compromise their sensitive information and data.

One of the key aspects of maintaining cybersecurity as an expat in Korea is to ensure that your devices are secure. This includes using strong and unique passwords for all your accounts, enabling two-factor authentication whenever possible, and keeping your software and antivirus programs updated. It's also crucial to be cautious when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, as they can be a hotbed for cybercriminals looking to intercept your data.

Another important consideration is to be mindful of the websites you visit and the links you click on. Phishing attacks are prevalent in Korea, as they are in many other countries, and falling victim to one could result in your personal information being stolen. Be wary of emails or messages from unknown sources, and never share sensitive information online unless you are certain of the recipient's authenticity.

Furthermore, expats in Korea should familiarize themselves with local cybersecurity regulations and practices to ensure compliance and protection. It's also advisable to invest in a reliable virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet connection and safeguard your browsing activities from prying eyes.

By staying informed and implementing these cybersecurity measures, expats in Korea can enjoy their time abroad with peace of mind, knowing that they are taking proactive steps to protect their digital security and privacy.

Accessing geo-blocked content in Korea

Accessing geo-blocked content in Korea can be a challenge for many users looking to stream their favorite shows or access websites restricted to other regions. Geo-blocking is a common practice used by content providers and websites to limit access to their services based on the user's geographical location. In Korea, this can be particularly frustrating for expatriates, travelers, or anyone wanting to access content from their home country.

Fortunately, there are several methods that users in Korea can employ to bypass geo-blocks and access restricted content. One popular method is to use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN allows users to connect to servers located in different countries, effectively masking their true location and granting access to geo-restricted content. By connecting to a VPN server in a country where the desired content is available, users can bypass geo-blocks and enjoy unrestricted access.

Another option is to use Smart DNS services, which work by rerouting the user's DNS queries through servers located in other countries. This allows users to access geo-blocked content without the encryption and slower connection speeds typically associated with VPNs.

Additionally, some content providers offer their own solutions for accessing geo-blocked content, such as region-specific streaming services or proxy servers. These services may require a subscription or additional fees, but can provide a convenient and reliable way to access restricted content.

It's important to note that while bypassing geo-blocks is technically possible, it may violate the terms of service of some content providers. Users should proceed with caution and be aware of the potential legal and ethical implications of circumventing geo-blocking measures. Additionally, users should ensure they are using reputable VPN or DNS services to protect their privacy and security while accessing geo-blocked content in Korea.

VPN benefits for travelers in South Korea

With the increase in online threats and privacy concerns, many travelers in South Korea are turning to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for added protection and convenience. VPNs offer numerous benefits for travelers in South Korea, making them a valuable tool while exploring the country.

One of the key advantages of using a VPN while traveling in South Korea is enhanced security. By encrypting internet traffic, VPNs prevent hackers and cybercriminals from intercepting sensitive information, such as login details and financial data. This is especially important when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks in airports, hotels, or cafes, where personal information could be vulnerable to attacks.

Moreover, VPNs can also help travelers bypass internet censorship and access geo-restricted content. In South Korea, certain websites and online services may be blocked or restricted, but with a VPN, travelers can connect to servers in other countries and access their favorite websites and streaming platforms without limitations.

Additionally, using a VPN can improve internet speed and performance for travelers in South Korea. By connecting to servers located closer to their physical location, travelers can reduce latency and experience faster internet speeds, which is beneficial for activities such as video streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing.

Overall, VPNs offer a range of benefits for travelers in South Korea, from enhanced security and privacy to unrestricted access to online content. By using a VPN during their travels, visitors can enjoy a safer and more seamless online experience while exploring all that South Korea has to offer.

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rentry12 · 1 month

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Laptop Rentals: 7 reasons businesses moving to us

Before we write about this topic, we want to emphasize that we are in a very competitive industry and most of our competition is also very hand working and competent. There is undeniable mutual respect. Hence please do not see it as an attempt by us to malign our competition.

There are times when we are not our clients first service provider. This article is an attempt to understand the motivation behind moving to us. Lot of times, word of mouth worked in our favour. However, sometimes clients move to us because either they were dissatisfied with their previous service provider or because of growth in their business and other logistic reasons.

Below is the list of some potential reasons:

Equipment Quality and Technical Support:

One of the most common reasons for which a business comes to us after leaving its existing service provider is because they are not happy with the equipment provided by the previous service provider. Not all service providers do quality checks to ensure that the equipment they provide works without hassle.

In the world of business, reliable tools are like trusted companions. They help us perform tasks efficiently, and deliver results consistently. Same goes for IT equipment. When a company opts for leasing, it expects the equipment to be working, efficient, and reliable. But what if the leased equipment frequently malfunctions or has been slow and underperforms? It’s like using a blunt knife in a gourmet kitchen. Every glitch, every downtime, every system crash is a blow to the company’s productivity. It’s a hurdle in the smooth flow of operations. Businesses, therefore, start seeking a provider that doesn’t just lease IT equipment, but ensures it’s of the highest quality – modern, efficient, and reliable. Because, in the end, a tool is only as good as the work it helps produce.

Customer Service and Technical Support:

Communication is the backbone of any relationship, including the one between a company and its IT leasing provider. If the provider is unresponsive, provides inadequate support, or simply doesn’t understand the company’s needs, it’s like talking to a brick wall. The company feels unheard, undervalued, and frustrated. Poor customer service can be a deal-breaker, leading businesses to look for a new provider. One that doesn’t just respond but listens. One that doesn’t just solve problems but prevents them. One that values its customers and strives to make their journey smooth, satisfying, and successful.

Many of the businesses tell us about the troubles they faced with their old service providers. They also felt that the technical support they were provided for rental laptops often was not good enough. And it often caused them to miss deadlines and have poor productivity. Sometimes they even lost days of work.

We at Rentry are known for our Tech Support and Customer Service. Customers who come to us because of word of mouth will tell you that our customer service and tech support was one of the main reasons that got us recommended. We like to listen to your problems, understand your needs and are quick to respond. We not just provide you with great equipment to work with, we are always available to make sure its working.

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chris-jordon-12 · 2 months

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Smart Construction: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Optimizing BIM

Technology integration in the construction industry has transformed conventional procedures, resulting in more sustainable and effective approaches. Building Information Modeling (BIM), a digital depiction of a building's structural and operational features is one example of such innovation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has enabled Building Information Modeling (BIM) to function beyond its traditional limits, providing previously unheard-of chances for construction industry optimization and improvement.

Leading provider of AI solutions, nCircle Tech, has led the way in utilizing AI to enhance BIM procedures. By using cutting-edge algorithms and machine learning approaches, nCircle Tech has made BIM an effective tool for intelligent building.

Predictive analytics is one of the main ways AI benefits BIM. Artificial intelligence (AI) can predict possible problems in building projects by evaluating large volumes of data, which allows for proactive decision-making and risk mitigation. In addition to improving project results, this predictive capability aids in scheduling and resource allocation optimization, which saves a substantial amount of money and ensures project completion on schedule.

Moreover, BIM powered by AI enables automation across the whole construction lifecycle. With increased precision and efficiency, tasks like quantity takeoff, energy analysis, and clash detection may now be completed with less manual labor and mistakes. This improves collaboration among project stakeholders and expedites workflows while guaranteeing smooth coordination and communication.

Furthermore, AI gives BIM cognitive powers so it can learn from previous projects and adjust to changing needs. Construction teams are empowered to enhance their workflows, boost output, and produce buildings of superior quality thanks to this ongoing learning loop.

Essentially, nCircle Tech's integration of AI with BIM signals a fundamental change in the building sector. Construction companies can discover new avenues for creativity, efficiency, and environmental responsibility by utilizing artificial intelligence. artificial intelligence's contribution to BIM optimization will be crucial as smart building develops and shape the built environment of the future.

#artificial intelligence bim

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rapidpricer · 3 months

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Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Retail is Real!

Written By: Gargi Sarma

The retail industry is undergoing significant upheaval, with artificial intelligence (AI) leading in this disruptive wave. The once-speculative murmurs about AI's potential have become a loud reality, changing the retail industry from the ground up. Introducing artificial intelligence (AI) into retail operations is becoming a necessary current force rather than a far-off promise as companies fight to stay ahead in a period of unheard-of innovation. Join us as we explore how artificial intelligence has assiduously become part of the retail industry, revealing previously undiscovered levels of productivity, customization, and first-rate customer service. The retail era of artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay and is already changing the way that people purchase in the future.

Market Overview: Artificial Intelligence in Retail

The adaptation of AI in retail is indeed a booming trend, and the market reflects this with impressive growth and vast potential. Here's a breakdown:

Market Size and Growth:

Figure 1: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Retail Market Size, 2023 to 2032 (USD Billion)

The retail artificial intelligence (AI) market was valued at USD 8.41 billion in 2022, and by 2032, it is expected to have grown to over USD 45.74 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.45% (Figure 1).

This rapid growth signifies the increasing adoption of AI by retailers across various segments.

Key Drivers:

Personalized shopping experiences: AI personalizes recommendations, offers virtual consultations, and enhances customer engagement.

Demand forecasting and inventory management: AI improves demand prediction, optimizes inventory levels, and reduces out-of-stock situations.

Enhanced customer service: AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants answer questions, handle simple inquiries, and improve customer satisfaction.

Operational efficiency: AI robots automate tasks, analyze data for insights, and optimize operations to boost efficiency.

Regional Landscape:

North America: Currently holds the largest market share (40% in 2022) due to early adoption and high technology penetration. (Source: Fortune Business Insights)

Asia Pacific: This rapidly growing market is driven by factors like increasing internet users and smartphone adoption.

Europe: Strong presence of major tech players and focus on innovation propelling the market growth.

The Rise of the Retail Revolutionaries:

Gone are the days of static, one-size-fits-all shopping. AI is empowering retailers to adapt and evolve in exciting ways:

Figure 2: Benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Retail Business Worldwide, 2022

Personalized Experiences: Imagine walking into a store and being greeted by name, with recommendations tailored to your past purchases and browsing habits. AI-powered chatbots and product suggestions make this a reality, enhancing customer engagement and satisfaction.

Inventory Optimization: Say goodbye to stockouts and empty shelves. AI algorithms analyze sales data, predict demand fluctuations, and optimize inventory levels, ensuring you find what you need, when you need it.

Dynamic Pricing: AI can adjust prices in real-time based on market trends, competitor analysis, and even individual customer profiles. This ensures competitive pricing strategies while maximizing profits.

Enhanced Security: From facial recognition for fraud prevention to AI-powered cameras that detect suspicious activity, retail spaces are becoming safer and more secure.

Streamlined Operations: AI automates repetitive tasks like product categorization, data entry, and even checkout processes, freeing up staff for more valuable customer interactions.

Adapting to the Future:

The impact of AI extends beyond individual stores, influencing the entire retail ecosystem:

Supply Chain Management: AI optimizes logistics and transportation networks, ensuring efficient delivery and minimizing waste.

Targeted Marketing: By analyzing customer data, AI creates highly targeted marketing campaigns, reaching the right audience with the right message at the right time.

Virtual Shopping Experiences: From immersive VR showrooms to AR product visualization tools, AI is blurring the lines between online and offline shopping, creating engaging and interactive experiences.

Artificial Intelligence Adaptation in Retail: Real Examples

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the retail landscape, weaving itself into the fabric of our everyday shopping experiences. From hyper-personalized recommendations to automated checkout and optimized logistics, AI is no longer a novelty, but a powerful tool driving real change. Let's delve into some concrete examples of AI adaptation in retail, backed by data to showcase its impact:

Figure 3: AI Use Cases in Consumer Goods and Retail Industry Worldwide, 2020

Approximately 50% of participants from the retail and consumer goods sectors believe that implementing AI can enhance customer service. This implies that, in instances where it is unable to help, an AI solution can take over augmented interactions to respond to queries from customers and direct them to the appropriate agent. Furthermore, according to 47% of respondents, AI can significantly improve inventory management by assisting in the efficient management of expenses and buyer needs. In other words, artificial intelligence (AI) keeps track of supply and demand numbers at physical stores and online to make sure they are in line (Figure 3).

Personalized Shopping:

Amazon: The retail giant leverages AI to analyze billions of data points, including past purchases, browsing history, and even social media activity, to recommend products with uncanny accuracy. This personalization drives customer engagement and loyalty, with studies showing a 35% increase in conversion rates.

Figure 4: Amazon’s AI features (Source: AWS)

Sephora: Sephora's Beauty Insider program uses AI-powered chatbots to offer personalized beauty consultations through its "Beauty IQ" tool. This virtual assistant analyzes customer preferences and skin concerns, recommending customized product regimens. The program boasts a 25% increase in customer engagement and a 10% rise in average order value.

Figure 5: Beauty IQ tool by Sephora (Source: Sephora)

Inventory Optimization:

Walmart: The retail behemoth utilizes AI to predict demand fluctuations across its vast network of stores. This intelligent system analyzes weather patterns, local events, and even social media trends to ensure shelves are always stocked with the right products at the right time. The result? A 10% reduction in out-of-stock occurrences and a 5% increase in sales.

Figure 6: Sam's Club, in partnership with Brain Corp, has deployed 600 autonomous floor scrubbers with inventory scan towers in Walmart stores (Source: Walmart)

Target: Target employs AI-powered "smart shelves" equipped with sensors that track inventory levels in real-time. These shelves automatically trigger restocking orders, minimizing stockouts and optimizing floor space utilization. This system has led to a 2% increase in sales and a 4% reduction in labor costs.

Dynamic Pricing:

Best Buy: The electronics giant uses AI algorithms to adjust prices on select products in real-time based on market trends, competitor analysis, and even individual customer profiles. This dynamic pricing strategy allows Best Buy to remain competitive while maximizing profits. Data suggests a 3% increase in revenue and a 2% boost in customer satisfaction.

Amazon: Similar to Best Buy, Amazon implements dynamic pricing on millions of products, often adjusting prices multiple times a day based on demand and competition. This strategy has contributed significantly to Amazon's dominance in the online retail market.

Enhanced Security:

Home Depot: This home improvement giant utilizes AI-powered security cameras with facial recognition capabilities. These cameras can identify known shoplifters and alert store security, deterring theft and improving overall security. Studies show a 20% reduction in shoplifting incidents at Home Depot stores equipped with these cameras.

7-Eleven: Convenience store chain 7-Eleven employs AI-powered cameras that analyze customer behavior patterns to detect suspicious activity, such as loitering or vandalism. This proactive approach improves store safety and reduces the risk of crime.

Streamlined Operations:

Kroger: The grocery giant uses AI-powered robots to automate tasks like scanning shelves, checking inventory, and cleaning spills. These robots free up human employees to focus on customer service and other high-value tasks, increasing overall efficiency and productivity. Kroger estimates a 20% reduction in labor costs and a 5% improvement in operational efficiency

Figure 7: AI robots at Kroger (Source: Forbes)

Amazon Go: This innovative store concept boasts cashierless shopping powered by AI and computer vision. Shoppers simply grab their desired items and walk out, with sensors automatically tracking what they take and charging their accounts accordingly. This frictionless experience reduces checkout wait times and increases customer satisfaction.

Figure 8: Amazon Go Grocery Store (Source: Amazon Go)

Beyond Individual Stores:

The impact of AI in retail extends beyond the storefront, influencing the entire ecosystem:

Supply Chain Management: AI optimizes logistics and transportation networks for companies like UPS and FedEx, ensuring efficient delivery and minimizing waste. This intelligent system has led to a 10% reduction in delivery times and a 5% decrease in transportation costs.

Targeted Marketing: Retailers like Nike and Adidas leverage AI to create highly targeted marketing campaigns based on customer demographics, purchase history, and online behavior. This data-driven approach delivers relevant advertisements, leading to a 15% increase in click-through rates and a 10% rise in conversion rates.

Virtual Shopping Experiences: Companies like Lowe's and Wayfair utilize AR technology powered by AI to allow customers to virtually visualize products in their homes before purchase. This immersive experience increases customer confidence and satisfaction, resulting in a 20% boost in online conversion rates.

Conclusion: The future of retail is adaptable

The examples here only scratch the surface of AI's revolutionary potential in retail. AI is changing how we purchase and how shops operate, from faster processes to tailored experiences. There is no denying the advantages of implementing AI, even though issues like data privacy and employment displacement must be carefully considered.

One thing is certain as AI develops and becomes more advanced: retail will always need to be flexible. The best-positioned retailers to prosper in this changing environment will be those who deliberately and ethically integrate AI. They will develop individualized customer experiences that make them happy, streamline processes for maximum effectiveness, and construct a flexible and long-lasting company plan.

About RapidPricer

RapidPricer helps automate pricing and promotions for retailers. The company has capabilities in retail pricing, artificial intelligence and deep learning to compute merchandising actions for real-time execution in a retail environment.

Contact info:

Website: https://www.rapidpricer.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rapidpricer/

Email: [email protected]

#aiinretail hashtag #retailrevolution hashtag #artificialintelligence hashtag #retailtech hashtag #customerexperience hashtag #inventoryoptimization hashtag #dynamicpricing hashtag #retailinnovation hashtag #supplychainmanagement hashtag #virtualshopping hashtag #personalization hashtag #operationalefficiency hashtag #datadrivenretail hashtag #futureofretail hashtag #retailtransformation

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sqinsights · 3 months

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Voice Biometrics: Because Your Voice is the New Secret Handshake

The Symphony of Growth:

Imagine a market that’s not just growing but doing a full-blown Mozart-style symphony, from a humble USD 1.90 Billion in 2021 to a mind-blowing USD 10.96 Billion by 2030. It’s like the market took a sip of a growth potion and decided to sing its way to success.

The Dynamic Duo:

Active vs. Passive Biometrics In this tech thriller, we have the active hero, demanding attention like a diva on stage, requiring direct interaction for authentication. On the flip side, there’s the passive protagonist, quietly analyzing voices without the need for grand gestures. Spoiler alert: Passive Biometrics steals the spotlight, proving that sometimes, silence speaks louder than words.

Banking on Security:

Enter the BFSI sector, the unsung hero of the voice biometrics saga. This industry is embracing voice biometrics like a security blanket, protecting sensitive financial data and services. It’s like the BFSI sector finally found its superhero costume in the form of voice biometrics.

Telecom & IT:

The Dark Horse: In this tech drama, the Telecom & IT sector emerges as the dark horse, silently adopting voice biometrics to secure private data and communication networks. It’s like the cool, mysterious character in a spy movie that no one saw coming.

For More Information: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/voice-biometrics-market

The Global Symphony Unfolds: North America takes the lead, not just because of Hollywood but due to high-tech integration and mobile cloud technology. Meanwhile, Europe, with its adoption of voice biometrics in the UK banking system, plays catch-up and steals the show for the fastest growth. It’s a global symphony where every region has its solo.

The Dynamics and Dilemmas:

Every hero faces challenges, and in this case, it’s the ethical labyrinth and privacy concerns. Voice biometrics companies are like knights navigating through the forest of ethical dilemmas, trying to deliver a stellar performance while respecting user privacy.

The Ensemble Cast —

Key Players: NICE Ltd., Pindrop, and Nuance Communications, Inc. are the rockstars of the voice biometrics market, leading the way with innovation, mergers, and acquisitions. It’s a stage where established players and newcomers jam together to create a melodious market.

The Unheard Revolution:

As we wrap up this tech opera, let’s acknowledge that the voice biometrics market isn’t just about security; it’s about the convenience, the user experience, and the touch of futuristic flair. Your voice, once a simple means of communication, is now the VIP pass to a secure and digitized world.

Conclusion:

In this tech-driven saga, your voice is the hero, the password, and the future. So, here’s to the unheard revolution of voice biometrics — because in this world, your voice isn’t just heard; it’s the key to unlocking the doors of innovation and security. Until the next tech adventure, stay tuned and keep your voice ready for the next act!

About Us-

SkyQuest Technology Group is a Global Market Intelligence, Innovation Management & Commercialization organization that connects innovation to new markets, networks & collaborators for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

1 Apache Way,

Westford,

Massachusetts 01886

USA (+1) 617–230–0741

Email- [email protected]

Website: https://www.skyquestt.com

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market-spy · 3 months

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The Unheard Revolution: Riding the Wave of Voice Biometrics

Welcome, fellow tech enthusiasts, to the fascinating realm where your voice isn’t just your calling card; it’s your secret password to the future. In this blog, we’ll take a stroll through the Global Voice Biometrics Market, a place where innovation meets security, and a touch of humor might just be the key to unlocking it all.

The Symphony of Growth:

The Dynamic Duo:

Banking on Security:

Telecom & IT:

The Dynamics and Dilemmas: Every hero faces challenges, and in this case, it’s the ethical labyrinth and privacy concerns. Voice biometrics companies are like knights navigating through the forest of ethical dilemmas, trying to deliver a stellar performance while respecting user privacy.

The Ensemble Cast —

For More Information: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/voice-biometrics-market

The Unheard Revolution:

Conclusion:

About Us-

SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

1 Apache Way,

Westford,

Massachusetts 01886

USA (+1) 617–230–0741

Email- [email protected]

Website: https://www.skyquestt.com

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logistiservices · 5 months

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The Transformative Power of IT Consulting and Advanced Software in Supply Chain Management

In the area of modern-day logistics, where precision and efficiency are the keystones of achievement, logistics IT consulting and advanced supply chain software have emerged because the dynamic duo is reshaping the panorama of supply chain control. This article explores the pivotal role those factors play in revolutionising logistics and maximising operational capability.

Strategic Guidance via Logistics IT Consulting

Logistics IT consulting services have emerged as integral for companies seeking to harness the total capability of their supply chain operations. These specialists provide strategic steering on integrating IT answers, optimising procedures, and overcoming logistical challenges. By leveraging their understanding, agencies can align technology with their logistical targets, ensuring a seamless and future-equipped supply chain.

The Tech Revolution with Advanced Supply Chain Software

In the age of fast digital transformation, advanced supply chain software stands as a linchpin in redefining logistics management. These state-of-the-art gears, powered by contemporary technologies like synthetic intelligence and device learning, offer real-time visibility into supply chain tactics. They streamline operations, decorate choice-making, and contribute to the agility needed to adapt to market fluctuations.

Logistics Management Consulting: Navigating Complexity

Logistics Management Consulting has advanced to fulfil the growing complexities of world supply chains. These specialists concentrate on optimising logistics strategies, improving cost-efficiency, and implementing era-specific solutions. Their understanding spans the whole logistics spectrum, from inventory management to transportation, making sure that businesses have a comprehensive and integrated approach to their logistical challenges.

Maximising operational efficiency

The synergy between logistics IT consulting and advanced supply chain software is a catalyst for maximising operational efficiency. Through strategic guidance and technological integration, agencies can attain real-time monitoring, optimise direction planning, and decrease expenses. This now not only improves the lowest line but additionally positions groups to satisfy the ever-growing expectations of customers for quick and accurate deliveries.

Conclusion

The convergence of logistics IT consulting and advanced supply chain software marks a paradigm shift within the logistics panorama. Businesses that embody these transformative elements have an advantage not only in terms of competitiveness but also in terms of agility to navigate the complexities of present-day supply chain management. It's a technological revolution that propels logistics into a future of unheard-of performance and strategic benefit.

For original post visit: https://theauthorswrite.com/the-transformative-power-of-it-consulting-and-advanced-software-in-supply-chain-management/

#advancedsupplychainsoftware #LogisticsManagementConsulting #LogisticsITconsulting

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