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☆ Dropbox CEO says employees appreciate remote work more than cushy office perks: 'they value flexibility a lot more than snacks'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewDropbox cofounder and CEO Drew Houston said he views his employees like customers, and that means giving them what they want — which isn't in-person work. Many companies are pushing employees to return to office in a hybrid structure, including giants like Google, Apple, and Amazon. Transitioning to virtual first meant getting rid of the "super vibrant in-person culture" Dropbox had before, the CEO said. But Houston said people voted "voted with their feet that they value flexibility a lot more than snacks in the office." AdvertisementThe CEO said one of the problems with hybrid work is it puts employees on a leash to tied to the nearby office space.

Persons: —, Drew Houston, Houston, Dropbox, Aaron Wojack, would've Organizations: Service, Business, Apple, Dropbox, Michelin, Google, Chicago Locations: San Francisco, Boston, LA, Houston

☆ Meta says Broadcom CEO Hock Tan is joining board of directors
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Meta said Wednesday that Broadcom CEO president Hock Tan and philanthropist and former Enron executive John Arnold are joining the company's board of directors. Tan has been leading the semiconductor giant since 2006, giving him extensive international experience working in computing infrastructure technology. "As we focus on building AGI, having directors with deep expertise in silicon and energy infrastructure will help us execute our long term vision," Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement. The technical backgrounds of the incomers contrast with former Meta operating chief Sheryl Sandberg, who recently said she would step down from the company's board. Tan and Arnold join a board that includes former PayPal Executive Vice President Peggy Alford, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, Dropbox CEO Drew Houston, former U.S. deputy secretary of the treasury Robert M. Kimmitt and DoorDash CEO Tony Xu.

Persons: Meta, Hock Tan, John Arnold, Tan, Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, Sandberg, Zuckerberg, Arnold, Peggy Alford, Marc Andreessen, Drew Houston, Robert M, Tony Xu, Meta's Ray Organizations: Broadcom, Enron, Meta, Google, Arnold Ventures, Grid United Locations: Houston, U.S

☆ Sheryl Sandberg says she's leaving Meta's board
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Former Meta operating chief Sheryl Sandberg is leaving the company's board of directors. "With a heart filled with gratitude and a mind filled with memories, I let the Meta board know that I will not stand for reelection this May," Sandberg wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Sandberg, 54, joined Facebook in 2008 as Mark Zuckerberg's top deputy after spending about seven years at Google. Since leaving Meta, Sandberg has dedicated much of her time on her LeanIn.org nonprofit, which focuses on empowering women tin the workplace, and related projects. "Thank you Sheryl for the extraordinary contributions you have made to our company and community over the years," Zuckerberg wrote.

Persons: Sheryl Sandberg, Sandberg, Mark Zuckerberg's, Javier Olivan, We've, Sandberg's, Zuckerberg, Sheryl, Adam Bosworth, Peggy Alford, Marc Andreessen, Drew Houston, Nancy Killefer, Robert M, Tony Xu, Tracey T, Travis, Estée Lauder, Here's, Javi Olivan, Justin Osofsky, Nicola Mendelsohn, Mark Organizations: Meta, Facebook, Google, CNBC, McKinsey & Company, Estée Locations: U.S

☆ How to stop Dropbox from sharing your personal files with OpenAI
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-13 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

If you've used any of Dropbox 's artificial intelligence tools, some of your documents and files may have been shared with OpenAI. Dropbox AI customer documents pass through and are stored on OpenAI's servers for up to 30 days. "Third-party AI services are only used when customers actively engage with Dropbox AI features which themselves are clearly labeled," he wrote, pointing to a screenshot. Dropbox's third-party AI data sharing only applies to users who want Dropbox's AI features, which is available through many of Dropbox's paid plans, or through its Early Access program. But, even if you've opted out, any files shared with another person who is using Dropbox AI could still be sent to OpenAI servers.

Persons: Drew Houston, you've, Google's Bard, Anthropic's Claude, Zoom, Dropbox's, Dropbox Organizations: CNBC PRO Locations: San Francisco, There's, Dropbox

☆ Dropbox plans to pay $79 million to shrink its huge SF office, after CEO says the RTO push will fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Dropbox will pay $79 million to give up 165,000 square feet of office space at its San Francisco HQ. The company switched to remote working during the pandemic and workers now follow a '90/10' routine. CEO Drew Houston has backed remote working, and said the return-to-office push is doomed to fail. AdvertisementAdvertisementDropbox is spending $79 million to give up a quarter of its San Francisco headquarters, as it continues to bet that remote working is here to stay. Dropbox's move to cut back on its physical office space is a fresh blow to San Francisco, which is going through a commercial real estate crisis .

Persons: Dropbox, Drew Houston, —, Fortune, Houston, Jones Lang LaSalle Organizations: San Francisco HQ, Service, San, SEC, CNBC, Jones Locations: San Francisco, Mission Bay

☆ Dropbox handing over 25% of San Francisco HQ back to landlord as commercial real estate softens
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Dropbox said Friday that it's agreed to return over one quarter of its San Francisco headquarters to the landlord as the commercial real estate market continues to soften following the Covid pandemic. In a filing, Dropbox said it agreed to surrender to its landlord 165,244 square feet of space and pay $79 million in termination fees. Under the amendment to its lease agreement, Dropbox will offload the space over time through the first quarter of 2025. In addition, Dropbox took a $175.2 million impairment on the office last year "as a result of adverse changes" in the market. Dropbox had tried working with its landlord to sublease space at the headquarters, but the real estate market deteriorated, finance chief Tim Regan, told analysts on a February earnings call.

Persons: Dropbox, it's, we've, Drew Houston, Dropbox's, Uber, Tim Regan Organizations: San Francisco, Vir Biotechnology, CNBC, Private, KKR, Kilroy Realty Corp, San Francisco Chronicle, Microsoft Locations: Mission, Dropbox

☆ Dropbox CEO Drew Houston: Subscribers are using AI-powered tools to solve new problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailDropbox CEO Drew Houston: Subscribers are using AI-powered tools to solve new problemsCNBC's Deirdre Bosa sits down with Dropbox CEO Drew Houston to discuss how their paying subscribers are utilizing their AI tools, whether their AI tools have allowed them to broaden their reach in enterprise space, and more.

Persons: Drew Houston, Deirdre Bosa

☆ Return-to-office appears to be winning, with the proportion of people working from home dropping to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic began
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The proportion of Americans working from home is at its lowest level since the pandemic started. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe proportion of Americans working from home has fallen to the lowest level since the pandemic started, according to Census Bureau data. Bloomberg reported that the proportion of Americans working from home peaked in March 2021. The fall in the proportion of Americans working from home comes amid a continued return-to-office drive as COVID-19 rates fall and employers debate the productivity of working from home. AdvertisementAdvertisementA recent report from Goldman Sachs showed that research studies have divergent conclusions on the effects of remote work on productivity.

Persons: —, Goldman Sachs, Drew Houston, Fortune, Houston, Insider's Rebecca Knight Organizations: Service, Survey, Bloomberg, Trust

☆ The CEO of Dropbox has a 90/10 rule for remote work
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Dropbox CEO Drew Houston told Fortune his company uses a 90/10 rule for remote work. This means 90% of the year is spent on remote work, and the remaining 10% is dedicated to employee off-site events. AdvertisementAdvertisementDrew Houston, the CEO of file storage company Dropbox, is continuing to tout a predominantly remote work culture, even as business leaders increasingly call for their workers to return to the office. Dropbox uses a 90/10 rule, with 90% of the year spent on remote work and the remaining 10% spent on a handful of employee off-sites, the company's CEO told Fortune in an interview published Sunday. The company first announced it was becoming a "virtual first" company in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, making remote work the default for workers.

Persons: Drew Houston, Fortune, —, Houston, Mark Zuckerberg, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Jamie Dimon, hasn't Organizations: Houston, Service, Dropbox, Forbes, JPMorgan Locations: San Francisco, Houston

☆ AI startup Speak raises $16 million in latest funding led by Lachy Groom
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken, June 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 31 (Reuters) - Speak, an artificial intelligence (AI)-backed English language learning platform, said on Thursday that it has raised $16 million in fresh funding led by venture capitalist Lachy Groom. Lachy Groom's Fund had participated in Speak's previous funding round in which it raised $20 million. OpenAI Startup Fund is investing $100 million in AI firms and is looking for early-stage startups in sectors including healthcare, climate change and education, according to its website. Reporting by Anirudh Saligrama in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita BhattacharjeeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Groom, Drew Houston, Arash Ferdowsi, Lachy, Anirudh, Nivedita Organizations: REUTERS, Fund, Reuters, Google, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, Japan, Taiwan, Germany, France, Brazil, Mexico, Bengaluru

☆ AI is already linked to layoffs in the industry that created it
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Some 212,294 workers in the tech industry have been laid off in 2023 alone, according to data tracked by Layoffs.fyi, already surpassing the 164,709 recorded in 2022. But in the shadow of those mass layoffs, the tech industry has also been gripped by an AI fervor and invested heavily in AI talent and tech. Roger Lee, a startup founder who has been tracking tech industry layoffs via his website Layoffs.fyi, also runs Comprehensive.io, which examines job listings and compensation data across some 3,000 tech companies. Those looking to thrive in the tech industry and beyond may need to brush up on their AI skills. It’s not that everyone needs to become AI specialists, Wang added, but rather that workers should know how to use AI tools to become more efficient at whatever they’re doing.

Persons: Arvind Krishna, Barrons, Krishna, Dropbox, ”, Drew Houston, “, Dan Wang, ” Wang, Mark Zuckerberg, Roger Lee, Lee, Wang, It’s, That’s Organizations: CNN, Bloomberg, Columbia Business School, Layoffs.fyi, Microsoft, Machine Locations: OpenAI, Silicon Valley

☆ Dropbox CEO on A.I. tool launch, A.I. competition and staying in San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailDropbox CEO on A.I. tool launch, A.I. competition and staying in San FranciscoCNBC's Deirdre Bosa joins 'Power Lunch' with Dropbox CEO Drew Houston to discuss the company launching new AI tools.

Persons: San Francisco CNBC's Deirdre Bosa, Drew Houston Organizations: Dropbox Locations: San Francisco

☆ Big Tech jobs are on the line after Google, IBM, and Dropbox say they're leaning into AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A number of corporations across tech, media, and finance have made major staff cuts this year. At the same, many companies are pivoting to invest more in AI — some even citing it as a reason for cutting jobs. Here are how some major companies are pivoting — and axing jobs — as part of an AI push. At the same time, the focus on AI could mean some jobs are wiped out entirely. It's hard to ignore that AI tools have already become proficient at several professional tasks that once fell under the domain of humans like writing emails, analyzing data, and even coding.

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with Dropbox CEO Drew Houston on earnings and new AI tools
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with Dropbox CEO Drew Houston on earnings and new AI toolsCNBC's Deirdre Bosa sits down with Dropbox co-founder and CEO Drew Houston to discuss the company's earnings, recent layoffs and incorporating artificial intelligence into the company's platform.

☆ Dropbox's CEO on implementing A.I. as a collaboration tool for human workstreams
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailDropbox's CEO on implementing A.I. as a collaboration tool for human workstreamsCNBC's Deirdre Bosa and Dropbox Co-Founder and CEO Drew Houston join 'The Exchange' to discuss integrating A.I., A.I. and human collaboration, and improving efficiency with new technologies.

☆ CEOs are getting closer to finally saying it — AI will wipe out more jobs than they can count
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Tech workers are finding out what it's like to be replaced by AI. It's the boldest statement yet from tech firms turning to AI to help them get efficient. Tech workers are about to find out. Here are five tech firms that have acted first with a big bet on AI. AmazonAmazon has been among the most bruised tech firms since the downturn of 2022 was kickstarted.

☆ Dropbox to Cut 16% of Workforce
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Dean Seal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Illustration: Ali LarkinDropbox Inc. will cut 500 jobs, about 16% of its workforce, amid slowing growth and an industrywide push toward artificial intelligence. Chief Executive Drew Houston said in a letter to staff that while Dropbox remains profitable, headwinds from a downturn in the economy have put pressure on the business and made some of its investments unsustainable.

☆ Dropbox to Lay Off 16% of Workforce
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Dean Seal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Dropbox CEO Drew Houston speaks onstage during the Dropbox Work In Progress Conference at Pier 48 on September 25, 2019 in San FranciscoDropbox on Thursday announced plans to cut 500 employees, or about 16% of its workforce, according to a blog post on the company's website. Dropbox CEO Drew Houston said in the blog post that the company has been reckoning with slowing growth, in part due to a maturation of its business, but also as a result of economic headwinds that are pressuring its customers. This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

☆ Dropbox to cut workforce by 16%, hire new talent for AI-powered products
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 27 (Reuters) - Cloud storage provider Dropbox Inc (DBX.O) said on Thursday it would reduce its global workforce by 16% to cut costs amid slowing cloud growth, and instead hire new talent to build its AI offerings. San Francisco, California-based Dropbox is the latest tech company to tap AI as Big Tech players from Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) to Facebook-parent Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) battle for a slice of the fast-growing market with new products and offerings. At the end of 2022, the company had 3,118 full-time employees, of which 2,583 were located in the United States. "We've been bringing in great talent in these areas over the last couple years and we'll need even more," Houston said in a memo to staff. Houston is also on the board of Meta Platforms, which said on Wednesday AI was helping it boost traffic to Facebook and Instagram and earn more in ad sales.

☆ Dropbox helped end the physical thumb drive era, but the cloud is getting crowded
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Barbara Collins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In this weekly series, CNBC takes a look at companies that made the inaugural Disruptor 50 list, 10 years later. The result was Dropbox, a company that has now made a name for itself as one of the leading organization and collaboration tools worldwide. Today, Dropbox reports having more than 700 million registered users in more than 180 countries and regions globally. In its most recent quarter, Dropbox reported $591 million in revenue with a net profit of $83.2 million. Over 17.5 million users pay for its services, and the company has said more than 90% of its revenue results from individual consumers buying subscriptions.

☆ Silver Linings Playbook: How Dropbox leaned into the Pandemic Curve
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSilver Linings Playbook: How Dropbox leaned into the Pandemic CurveAs Dropbox approaches the two-year anniversary of its decision to become a "virtual first" company, we'll talk with founder and CEO Drew Houston about the company's bold move into the future of work, what it's meant for his employees and customers, the tough decisions he's had to make, and where he sees work, technology, and return to office models going next as he looks ahead to the future.

☆ Dropbox CEO Drew Houston: Why companies pushing a return to 2019 office life are wrong
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailDropbox CEO Drew Houston: Why companies pushing a return to 2019 office life are wrongDropbox went virtual-first during the pandemic and it is not going back, CEO Drew Houston said at the recent CNBC Work Summit. Employees overwhelmingly prefer work flexibility and the company is benefitting more than it ever imagined from this shift, he says.

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