I'm The Blog

The average company spends 3.28% of its revenue on technology, and that doesn’t include software or hardware renewals, according to a study conducted by Deloitte. Although your company’s tech equipment budget may be costly, you don’t have to spend hundreds on new devices each year to boost productivity.

Instead, you could make those you already have more efficient. First up is your PC. If it isn’t already running on Windows 10 Pro, you’re missing out on the latest productivity tools and innovative security measures. Through September 29, this operating system is on sale for $19.97 (reg. $199) for life.

Increased productivity for your PC

If you’ve noticed slower performance on your device, this operating system (OS) upgrade is designed to enhance your PC’s performance and efficiency. Thanks to its 64-bit computing architecture, business owners and their employees can multitask while crunching numbers on Excel, designing company graphics, and leading stakeholder meetings.

Windows 10 Pro is also designed to integrate seamlessly with Microsoft 365 (not included with your purchase). Companies using Microsoft 365 for access to Microsoft productivity apps will be able to edit Word documents, collaborate with colleagues on Teams, and more at any time.

Designed specifically for working professionals

As a solopreneur or working professional, you’ll benefit from the Pro side of Windows 10 (vs. Home, the free version).

Secure your PC’s hard drive with BitLocker device encryption, test software with Windows Sandbox, manage virtual machines with Hyper-V, and deploy specific policies for different devices, users, and groups with Group Policy management. This OS is designed to keep your data and devices protected from tampering and malware.

Entrepreneurs and their employees can also control their PC from any remote device with the Remote Desktop feature, allowing for access to their work files and colleagues wherever they are.

Boost your productivity and streamline your workflow with Windows 10 Pro, now on sale for $19.97 (reg. $199) through September 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

In December 2020, the Federal Trade Commission ordered the biggest social media and streaming companies in the world, including Twitch owner Amazon, Facebook (now Meta), YouTube, Reddit, WhatsApp, Twitter (now X), Snap, Discord and TikTok’s ByteDance, to share how they used their users’ personal information.

On Thursday, FTC staff released a 129-page report, which found that these companies all “harvest an enormous amount of Americans’ personal data and monetize it to the tune of billions of dollars a year,” stated FTC chair Lina M. Khan.

“While lucrative for the companies, these surveillance practices can endanger people’s privacy, threaten their freedoms, and expose them to a host of harms, from identify theft to stalking,” Khan said.

Related: The FTC Is Banning Businesses From Writing, Buying Their Own Reviews and Bot Followers

The report called out major social media companies for collecting vast swaths of personal data and using it in ways their users may not expect. The FTC found, for example, that “many” of these companies buy data from third-party brokers about where a user is located, how much they make per year, and what their interests are, to understand more about a user’s activity on the Internet outside of the social media platform.

This personal information becomes the basis of targeted ads, which most social media sites rely on for revenue. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other products and platforms, reported that 98% of its $39.07 billion revenue in its second quarter came from ads on Facebook and Instagram.

Related: Federal Judge Blocks FTC’s Noncompete Ban 2 Weeks Before It Would Have Taken Effect — Here’s Why

According to the FTC report, it’s difficult for users to understand how social media platforms collect their information and how much is used to tailor ads. Many may not even be aware of what’s happening behind the scenes.

Plus, even if users are tuned in and know that social media platforms are using their data, they still don’t have “any meaningful control over how personal information [is] used,” the FTC report shows.

Companies use personal information to fuel algorithms, data analytics, and AI that, in turn, shape content recommendations, search, advertising, and other crucial aspects of their business. The FTC recommended that companies be transparent about the data they collect, do more to protect privacy, and put users in charge of data.

The FTC further found that if a user wants to delete their data, some sites will de-identify the data they have on hand, but keep it on file instead of wiping it all. The platforms that did delete personal data upon request would select which parts to delete and fail to remove all of it, according to the report.

Related: The FTC Is Suing to Block a Mega-Merger That Would Unite Coach and Michael Kors

“Companies can and should do more to protect consumers’ privacy, and Congress should enact comprehensive federal privacy legislation that limits surveillance and grants consumers data rights,” the report stated.

Craig Newmark, the 71-year-old retired founder of Craigslist, has four focus areas for philanthropy: military families and vets, cybersecurity, journalism, and pigeon rescue.

On Wednesday, he pledged $100 million to support U.S. cybersecurity, bringing his total giving and pledges to $400 million since 2015.

^{Craig Newmark. Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images}

According to the Wall Street Journal, Newmark has already committed over 20% of the $100 million pledge to organizations and projects around cybersecurity. Common Sense Media, for example, received $2 million to support efforts like a cybersecurity awareness campaign for parents and teachers.

Related: Melinda French Gates Reveals Her Next Move After Leaving Gates Foundation: ‘Set Your Own Agenda or Someone Else Will Set It For You’

Newmark was worth $1.3 billion in 2020 and pledged to give away almost all his wealth to charitable causes in December 2022. He told the Journal that his giving was inspired by the Judaic concept of tikkun olam, Hebrew for “repairing the world.“

Newmark’s approach is to find the right people, give them the resources they need, “and then get outta their way,” according to his philanthropy’s website. He doesn’t give organizations who receive grants requirements to hit certain targets.

Newmark has yet to commit $88 million of his latest $100 million pledge. Applications are open through his foundation’s website where he personally vets the proposals.

Related: Warren Buffett Just Changed Up His Will and Locked Out the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Days after proposing to settle a data breach lawsuit for $30 million, 18-year-old genetic testing company 23andMe now faces another public hurdle: Seven independent directors of its board resigned on Tuesday through a pointed letter addressed to CEO Anne Wojcicki, who is now the only remaining member of the board.

The resigning directors, among whom were YouTube CEO Neal Mohan and Sequoia VC Roelof Botha, called out Wojcicki for not submitting a “fully financed, fully diligenced, actionable proposal” to take the company private over the past five months. They wrote that their strategic direction for 23andMe was different from Wojcicki’s.

“Because of that difference and because of your concentrated voting power, we believe that it is in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders that we resign from the Board rather than have a protracted and distracting difference of view with you as to the direction of the Company,” they stated.

Related: 23andMe DNA Technology Helps Family Find Kidnapped Daughter After 51 Years

Wojcicki, who co-founded the company in 2006, controls 49% of 23andMe votes. In July, she submitted a proposal to buy all the shares she didn’t already own at $0.40 per share and take the company private. A special committee created by the company rejected her proposal, stating that it wasn’t in the best interests of shareholders.

^{Anne Wojcicki. Credit: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images}

Wojcicki told employees in a memo on Tuesday that she was “surprised and disappointed” by the resignations and would immediately begin finding replacement directors. She stated that “taking 23andMe private will be the best opportunity for long-term success.”

23andMe, which was valued at $6 billion in 2021 shortly after going public, is now a penny stock worth 34 cents per share at the time of writing. The company has until November 4 to bring its stock price up to at least $1 per share or risk being delisted.

23andMe has faced a number of public setbacks, including a data breach in October that impacted nearly 7 million accounts and appeared to target people with Chinese or Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. Customers filed a class action lawsuit in January and 23andMe proposed a $30 million settlement earlier this month.

23andMe’s core product is a $99 ancestry kit that requires a customer to submit their spit in exchange for genetic insights. A $199 kit advertises health predisposition reports. The company is also developing drugs in-house and testing them.

Related: 23andMe Hackers Selling Stolen User Data, Including DNA Profiles of ‘Celebrities,’ on Dark Web

As the co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands, one of the world’s largest restaurant companies with a portfolio including franchises like KFC and Pizza Hut, David Novak drove tangible results.

In the 17 years he was CEO, from 1999 to 2016, Novak helped scale the company to eight times its original size, from a market capitalization of $4 billion to $32 billion. However, Novak credits the numbers to a more qualitative than quantitative aspect of leadership — creating the right work culture.

In a conversation with Masters of Scale host Jeff Berman that aired earlier this month, Novak explained how he steered Yum! Brands from the beginning.

“I made my number one priority to really create a powerful culture where everyone counts,” Novak said. “That became job number one for me as a CEO, because if I can create that right work environment, people will innovate and people will go further.”

Novak explained that early on, he tried to learn from companies that were winning or consistently delivered good results. He went out and visited companies including Walmart, Home Depot, and General Electric.

“We met with them,” Novak said. “Then we came back and we codified what’s really driving the success of these companies that allow them to get to great results year after year.”

Related: The Side Hustle She Started in a High School Locker Room Hit Multimillion-Dollar Revenue — and Taylor Swift Is a Fan: ‘Invest in Yourself’

Novak, who oversaw 1.5 million employees globally, began emphasizing recognition and encoding it into Yum!’s culture. In previous interviews, he talked about how he would use recognition to motivate employees. In one case, at KFC, Novak gave away rubber chickens and $100 as an award for a job well done.

Today, Yum!’s culture remains one of recognition and collaboration, per its public-facing culture page.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy made a case — and a mandate — for in-office work on Monday.

In a publicly available message, Jassy said that Amazon’s 1.5 million-plus employees must return to the office five days per week starting January 2. Amazon is also bringing back desk assignments to the offices that had that structure pre-pandemic.

Jassy positioned the move as a better way to work and a return to life before Covid.

“We’ve observed that it’s easier for our teammates to learn, model, practice, and strengthen our culture; collaborating, brainstorming, and inventing are simpler and more effective; teaching and learning from one another are more seamless; and, teams tend to be better connected to one another,” Jassy stated.

^{Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images}

Jassy also said that situations that require remote work like sickness, an emergency, or being on the road are still acceptable.

However, these examples of remote work are the exception to the new rule, not the norm.

Related: Here’s How Much Money U.S. Employees Will Sacrifice to Avoid Returning to the Office, According to a New Study

Amazon employees have been back in the office at least three days per week as of February 2023. A July report from Bamboo HR showed that one in four executives secretly hoped employees would quit over stricter return-to-office policies.

“Strengthening our culture remains a top priority for the s-team [senior leadership team] and me. And, I think about it all the time,” he wrote. “We want to operate like the world’s largest startup.”

Under the new policy, working from home two days per week is no more. The office culture is returning to how it was before the pandemic, to strengthen work culture and drive better results, Jassy explained.

Related: Dell Reportedly Told Remote Employees to Come Back to the Office or Forgo the Chance to Be Promoted

Amazon joins companies like Salesforce and Walmart that have implemented stricter return-to-work policies.

Average growth in information technology (IT) is much higher than that of other industries, and the median wage is reported to be more than double the standard, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says. If you’re looking for a new or more lucrative career path, it may be smart to consider becoming an IT professional.

While many roles may require a formal degree, roles like support specialists, administrators, and project managers don’t all necessarily demand a degree. Many professionals can earn CompTIA certifications by passing rigorous testing. You can study and prepare for those tests with this 15-course CompTIA training bundle, which is on sale for only $49.97 (reg. $585) for life.

These courses were developed by IDUNOVA, an official CompTIA partner with mor than 20 years spent providing IT education.While these courses can help you prepare for the CompTIA certification exams, it may be helpful to gain relevant experience or a formal degree to land certain positions.

Study CompTIA for a new, exciting career in IT

There’s plenty of variety in the IT industry, meaning there are nearly endless positions to consider if you’re joining this field. Learn to become a debugging expert like Grace Hopper or a cloud-based engineer to join companies like Google or Salesforce.

There are 15 certification prep courses in this bundle, so it might be challenging to figure out where to begin. If you have minimal or no prior IT experience, you might want to start with CompTIA Fundamentals+ and A+, industry standards that also build a foundation for more advanced training.

Other introductory-level courses and certification preparation that might help you land your dream job in IT are Fundamentals+ and Core 1 and Core 2. These could help you get a new job as a desk technician or entry-level cybersecurity position.

From there, you could delve into ethical hacking, a highly in-demand career for many companies. Check out courses like CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA PenTest+ to develop skills to penetrate systems and check their vulnerability.

Ready to work in IT? Grab lifetime access to this 15-course CompTIA training bundle for $49.99 (reg. $585). No coupon is needed to secure this deal.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Project management is a tough gig. A notable study from the Project Management Institute (PMI) consistently highlights that over 70% of projects globally either fail to meet their original goals or deadlines or go over budget. If you want to stay out of that group, Microsoft Project 2021 can help.

Managing a project requires clear visibility, accurate resource allocation, and efficient scheduling. With Microsoft Project 2021 Professional, you’ll have a complete set of tools to help you tackle projects of all sizes, ensuring that you stay on track from start to finish. And for just $19.97, this lifetime license is a cost-effective solution for businesses and entrepreneurs looking to streamline their project management.

It’s designed to help project managers and business owners work more efficiently. With features like automated scheduling, resource allocation, and built-in reports, you can reduce the time spent on manual tasks and focus on making informed decisions and driving your projects forward.

One of the key benefits of Microsoft Project 2021 is its ability to improve project visibility. By offering clear task tracking, resource management, and collaboration tools, you can easily monitor progress and keep your team aligned. This not only enhances communication but also ensures that everyone is on the same page, allowing you to deliver projects on time and within budget.

As your business grows, so do your projects. Microsoft Project 2021 supports that growth with its ability to handle increasingly complex projects, whether you’re managing a small team or overseeing multiple departments. The software’s flexibility and scalability make it an ideal solution for businesses that are expanding and need to keep up with higher project demands.

For just $19.97, you get lifetime access to one of the most powerful project management tools available—no recurring fees, just one upfront investment. By automating key tasks like scheduling and reporting, Microsoft Project 2021 helps you save valuable time.

Pick up a lifetime license to Microsoft Project 2021 Pro for just $19.97 (reg. $249) through September 29.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

United Airlines has announced its plans to offer travelers free in-flight WiFi. The service will be powered by Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet technology and is expected to commence next year.

United is aiming to install Starlink WiFi across more than 1,000 aircraft.

Related: Carnival Cruises Officially Installs Elon Musk’s Starlink Internet on 100% of its Ships

“Everything you can do on the ground, you’ll soon be able to do onboard a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the world,” United CEO Scott Kirby announced Friday.

For United MileagePlus members, WiFi is currently $8, and $10 for non-members, per the Washington Post.

“We’re excited to team up with United Airlines to transform the inflight experience,” said Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer at SpaceX, in a press release. “With Starlink onboard your United flight, you’ll have access to the world’s most advanced high-speed internet from gate to gate, and all the miles in between.”

Delta Air Lines offers complimentary in-flight WiFi on domestic legs for SkyMiles members and smaller carriers, such as Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue, also offer free WiFi.

Around one in five people on planes in the U.S. are connecting to in-flight WiFi, according to the Airline Passenger Experience Association.

A new study shows that AI jobs are concentrated in companies you’d least expect.

Computing solutions specialist Getac analyzed LinkedIn and Glassdoor job listings for companies with the most AI-related postings and looked for jobs like Senior Director of Analytics & AI, AI Technical Writer, AI Application Engineer, and AI Solution Sales Specialist.

Related: These Are the Top Tech Skills Employers Want the Most, According to a New Examination of 24,000 Job Listings

Microsoft topped the list, beating out Meta, which came in second.

The report found that, while the usual Big Tech AI players dominated the list, other companies made surprise appearances, too, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Mount Sinai Health System, and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Here are the companies that currently have the most AI-related job postings listed.

1. Microsoft

Number of postings: 1,335

2. Meta

Number of postings: 1,232

3. Deloitte

Number of postings: 461

Related: Worried About AI Stealing Your Job? A New Report Calls These 10 Careers ‘AI-Proof’

4. U.S. Department of the Treasury

Number of postings: 417

5. Huntington Ingalls Industries

Number of postings: 363

6. Mount Sinai Health System

Number of postings: 355

7. Georgia Institute of Technology

Number of postings: 338

8. Accenture

Number of postings: 293

9. PwC

Number of postings: 279

10. InterSources

Number of postings: 249