DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ It's become harder for middle-class workers to give their kids a better life. Unions could help turn that around, a new Treasury report finds.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The report found that union workers make more than their nonunion peers and have more benefits. AdvertisementAdvertisement"The decline in intergenerational mobility may be the single trend that best encapsulates the pervasive sense of the deterioration in the middle class," the Treasury report found. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Treasury report found that union workers make 10% to 15% more than nonunionized colleagues. That's one economic factor that could give union workers — who are more likely to be considered middle class — a boost. "For generations, union workers have fought for and won higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions for millions of American workers," Vice President Kamala Harris said.

Persons: Biden, Treasury Department —, Janet Yellen, Yellen, —, Kamala Harris Organizations: Treasury, Service, Treasury Department, Pew Research Center, Labor Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ California is considering offering unemployment to workers on strike as the Hollywood writers walkout approaches its 4th month
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

California is considering a bill that would give striking workers access to unemployment benefits. AdvertisementAdvertisementLegislators are now considering a bill that would make any striking workers in the state eligible for unemployment benefits if their action lasts more than two weeks. AdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to the bill, striking workers would be eligible for payments of up to $450 per week. New York now offers striking workers up to $504 a week, while New Jersey offers up to $830 a week. New Jersey expanded its law in April, decreasing the waiting period for striking workers before benefits kick in from 30 to 14 days.

Persons: Steven Greenhouse, Kate Bronfenbrenner, —, Bronfenbrenner, Robert Moutrie, Moutrie Organizations: Labor, SAG, Service, Guild of America, Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations Labor, New York Times, Century Foundation, New, Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, California Chamber of Commerce Locations: California, Wall, Silicon, New York, New Jersey, , Connecticut, Massachusetts, COVID

☆ At Asian Weddings, Cash Is King
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Hahna Yoon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When I received a wedding invitation from my friends Jiyeon Kim and Olof Norlander this year, I knew exactly where I would pick up their wedding present: the bank. The two had already married in Uppsala, Sweden, where they live, but Ms. Kim’s father wanted the newlyweds to have a second ceremony in Changwon, South Korea, where he had spent years attending the weddings of his friends’ and colleagues’ children. As is tradition, he gave the marrying couples envelopes of cash known in Korean as chug-ui-geum, or congratulatory money. Having a wedding in South Korea would allow him not only to share the joyous occasion with his family and friends, but also to offset the costs of the event with reciprocated cash gifts from attendees. “We can’t deny that the surplus in money was one of the good outcomes of the wedding,” said Ms. Kim, 32, who held her second ceremony in May.

Persons: Jiyeon Kim, Olof Norlander, Kim’s, ’, ”, Kim Locations: Uppsala, Sweden, Changwon, South Korea

☆ Zoom says it won't use your calls to train AI 'without your consent' after its terms of service sparked backlash and prompted people to talk about ditching the service
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Sarah Jackson | Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Zoom angered users after its terms of service suggested it could use calls to train AI. Zoom also says it won't use the content of calls to train its AI models "without your consent." On August 6, the tech news blog Stack Diary pointed out the section of Zoom's terms of service. But as Stack Diary points out, the clarification may not fully protect your calls, based on the specific language in Zoom's terms of service. The clarifications in Zoom's terms of service come as members of the public have expressed outrage over their data being used to train AI.

Persons: Gabriella Coleman, Brianna Wu, Smita Hashim, Aparna Bawa, Sean Hogle, — includingSuzanne Collins, Margaret Atwood, — Organizations: Harvard, Hacker, Hacker News

☆ I'm an engineer on one of the most innovative teams at Ken Griffin's Citadel. Here are 7 lessons that have been critical to my rise at the $59 billion hedge fund.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Bianca Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Kristofer Baxter leads a team of about 20 UI engineers at Citadel, a $59 billion hedge fund. Now I work at Citadel, leading user interface (UI) on the Citadel X team. But it's really important to be quick. We work really closely with front-office partners and investment professionals so we know what to build. The really important thing there is that you can't be afraid of scale, or even failure.

Persons: Kristofer Baxter, Bianca Chan, Ken Griffin, I've, iterating Organizations: Citadel, Citadel X, Netflix, LinkedIn, Google Locations: Miami

☆ Instagram's new app, Threads, launched early. Creators explain how it stacks up against Twitter, their favorite features, and what's missing.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Instagram's new app, Threads, launched Wednesday, a day earlier than expected. Many creators and celebrities gained early access to the new text-based app this week. Insider spoke with five sources who were granted early access to Threads, including one who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The new Instagram Threads app was briefly accessible from desktop on Wednesday. Screengrab/Threads; Insider/Sydney BradleyAt Meta this week, staffers were busy recruiting influencers and celebrities to join the app via early access.

Persons: —, Lauren Godwin, Godwin, Avori Henderson, Lonnie Marts, Elon Musk, Roberto Nickson, Nickson, Sydney Bradley, Meta, Connor Franta, Gary Vaynerchuk —, Gary Vee —, Henderson, Adam Mosseri, Mosseri, Bluesky, We're, it's Organizations: Twitter, Meta, Sydney, ActivityPub Locations: influencers

☆ Reddit CEO says app founders who are shutting down in protest over API charges made millions: 'These aren't like side projects or charities'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Will Gendron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman told The Verge that popular third-party app developers have made millions. They've made millions," Huffman said. In an interview with The Verge, Steve Huffman, Reddit's CEO, has doubled down on the policy change, which could cost popular third-party apps millions. Additionally, he emphasized that apps like Apollo and RIF, another popular third-party app that gives users access to Reddit, aren't "side projects or charities." Apollo's Selig did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment regarding the "millions" Huffman claims he has made.

Persons: Steve Huffman, They've, Huffman, Christian Selig, Apollo's Selig, Selig, Andrew Shu Organizations: Morning, Reddit's, Ars Technica, Apollo Locations: Reddit

☆ US weekly jobless claims fall; labor market still tight
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary Weekly jobless claims drop 22,000 to 242,000Continuing claims decrease 8,000 to 1.799 millionWASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobs benefits fell more than expected last week, with applications in Massachusetts decreasing sharply, suggesting the labor market remains tight. The steep decline in weekly unemployment claims reported by the Labor Department on Thursday reversed the surge in the prior week, which had boosted them to the highest level since Oct. 30, 2021. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 242,000 for the week ended May 13. The labor market is being closely watched for signs of stress from the Federal Reserve's fastest interest rate hiking campaign since the 1980s. Though it has shown some signs of cooling, the labor market has remained tight, with 1.6 job openings for every unemployed person in March, well above the 1.0-1.2 range that is consistent with a jobs market that is not generating too much inflation.

☆ I'm a UI engineer at Citadel who's worked at Netflix and Google. Here are 7 important lessons that have been critical to my rise at Ken Griffin's $57 billion hedge fund.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Bianca Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Kristofer Baxter leads a team of about 20 UI engineers at Citadel, a $57 billion hedge fund. I started my career at a golf tee-time reservation company, then worked in roles at Netlflix, LinkedIn, and Google. But it's really important to be quick. We work really closely with front-office partners and investment professionals so we know what to build. The really important thing there is that you can't be afraid of scale, or even failure.

☆ George Santos was accused of unemployment fraud. The House may vote this week on an unemployment fraud bill that he co-sponsored.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. George Santos is being accused of stealing COVID-19 unemployment aid, among other charges. In March, he co-sponsored a bill that incentivizes states to recoup money lost through unemployment fraud. The indictment contains 13 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds. Two months before his indictment, Santos co-sponsored a bill, along with 34 Republican lawmakers, that incentivizes states to recoup money lost through COVID-19 unemployment fraud. Spokespersons for Santos and Rep. Jason Smith, the lead sponsor of the bill, did not respond to a request for comment.

☆ Meet Citadel X: The team of engineers at Ken Griffin's $57 billion hedge fund giving it a competitive edge by streamlining and designing its tools
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Bianca Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Citadel X is a team of about 20 engineers that leads user-interface design on the fund's tech tools. Citadel X leader Kristofer Baxter walked Insider through the future of UI at Citadel. Citadel X works with various engineering and investment teams across the company with a goal of making sure the hedge fund's high-powered tools are easy to use. Some Citadel X engineers are now embedded onto desk teams to learn the ins and outs of the business and build new tech for them. Ross McKay, a front-end software developer within Citadel's equities business, put his team's 30 applications into the Citadel X platform.

☆ Wall Street's most important workers you've never thought of
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

And on Wall Street, where the volume of information continues to rise, application design and user interface is taking center stage. User interface and user experience have long been underappreciated in finance, which is ironic considering the public nature of the work. Read more about Citadel X, the $57 billion hedge fund's user experience and interface team. If you're still trying to understand the collapse of yet another regional bank, we've got you covered. The German bank is building out its investment bank as it eyes a potential return of M&A, the Financial Times reports.

☆ An entrepreneur who has used Shopify since it was in beta shares how he built an app to solve the biggest problem he faced on the platform while scaling to $1 million in sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Thomas Bertrand built a Shopify app after years of selling on the e-commerce platform. He launched his Shopify store, Bento&co, where he sells bento boxes and related accessories, in 2008. But he also created an app on Shopify's App Store that was directly inspired by his years as a merchant. Shopify's app store is home to more than 7,000 apps to help merchants with tasks like store design, product sourcing, SEO, marketing, and shipping. Shopify's merchants made $46.2 billion in sales on the platform in the third quarter of 2022 alone.

☆ How a job seeker trained ChatGPT to write 20 cover letters: 'The more I use it, the better it actually gets'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AI chatbot ChatGPT has the potential to shake up the world of work. One job seeker, Yary Rivera, told Insider that she's used ChatGPT to write 20 cover letters for jobs. That advantage came when she saw another LinkedIn post about using the chatbot to write cover letters. How Rivera trained ChatGPT to write the best cover letters possibleAt first, the cover letters ChatGPT was spitting out weren't quite right. People in her field are already leaning away from cover letters, and overworked recruiters might catch on that the cover letters coming in on top of portfolios and resumes are written by AI anyway.

One of the really interesting questions here – this will be fascinating – the core of linear TV is sports rights. When you look at the size and scope of the linear TV business, it's huge. Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty ImagesByron Allen, Entertainment Studios founder and CEO: I think linear TV will exist for a very, very long time. Simmons: I believe Apple, out of nowhere, will start making their own awesome televisions that have Apple TV embedded in them. We are witnessing early stages of this dynamic with deals like "NFL Sunday Ticket" on YouTube and the MLS deal with Apple TV.

☆ The 7 most in-demand tech skills for freelancers—many pay more than $125 an hour
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"The skills gap is still sharp, it's still a significant gap," says Vicki Salemi, career expert at Monster. "Employers are struggling to find labor in this tight labor market" that can fill various tech needs. CMS developmentA content management system, CMS, is a software that helps its users manage their various content, from creating it to publishing it. CMS developers charge as much as $105 per hour. They ensure the software works correctly in various scenarios and note any bugs or issues along the way.

☆ The biggest risks in procrastinating on iPhone, Android software updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Kaitlin Balasaygun | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

watch nowNot all software updates offer an array of new features, but when they do it can feel like you are getting a new phone without added cost. Yet, many users still do whatever they can to put off the 30 minutes that a software update can take. Discomfort often stems from the perception that software updates will require users to relearn how to use certain features on their device and threatens their current habits. When 30 days have passed, the system then prompts the user to install the system update. When a major security update comes out, everyone should act relatively fast.

☆ Meta exec warns philanthropy and worker perks can 'create drag' on a company. 'You must be willing to focus and prioritize.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth said he misses the days when the company was more focused. In a blog post, he called out the firm's philanthropy and worker perks as areas that could "create drag." Bosworth and a spokesperson for Meta did not respond to a request for comment regarding the company's charitable donations. The tech chief said this "pernicious problem" has even higher stakes than the shift toward charitable donations. Meta has more than halved its value since the company changed its name and Zuckerberg announced the company was pivoting to focus on the metaverse.

☆ U.S. unemployment system still plagued by delays 3 years after pandemic-era downturn
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty ImagesThese days the U.S. unemployment system is somewhat of an anomaly. At the pandemic-era nadir, just 52% got a "timely" first payment of unemployment insurance, for example. Unemployment claims spiked as businesses closed amid stay-at-home orders to contain the virus' spread. States get funding based on their administrative workload, like the volume of claims states are paying. That's especially true for one CARES Act program, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

☆ If you're a gig worker, your boss might be using a technicality to underpay you
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Many workers are classified by employers as independent contractors, rather than employees. The Biden administration has proposed a rule making it easier for gig workers to be counted as employees. NELP finds that 10% to 30% of employers — and potentially more — misclassify workers as independent contractors, "which indicates that several million workers nationally may be misclassified." Truck drivers misclassified as independent contractors may lose between $11,076 and $18,053, according to EPI's estimates. The Biden administration is taking aim at misclassification, hoping to crack down on it and offer an easier pathway for independent contractors to be considered employees.

That was up from 10% in January 2022, but the pessimists were far outnumbered, with 71% of tech workers feeling positive. Many people spent Covid-19 lockdowns developing their digital skills, and plenty wound up switching from other sectors, like retail or education, into tech roles elsewhere. Professional and business services roles, which include engineering and “computer services,” were down 6,000 last month from November. Even so, employers’ broad appetite for tech skills could put something of a floor under wages — and prop up the appeal of tech roles in general — even as the economy slows. Experienced tech workers, rather than those new to the field, largely drove those pay gains, the jobs platform Hired found in research published in September.

☆ TikTok is quietly testing a podcast feature that allows users to listen to audio in the background
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

TikTok is testing a new "Podcasts" feature that allows users to listen to audio in the background. TikTok is testing a new "Podcasts" feature that allows users to continue to listen to a video's audio even while the app is in the background. Ordinarily, moving away from a TikTok video pauses it outright. One in three respondents said YouTube was their preferred podcast app, followed by Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Spotify has since borrowed tactics from TikTok, including testing a TikTok-like feed for discovering audio on its app.

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery salaries revealed: Pay data shows how much the company recently offered for jobs at HBO and more, despite waves of layoffs and cuts
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

Insider analyzed new pay data from the entertainment companies, now merged as Warner Bros. Recent salaries ranged from $55 an hour to $300,000 a year for jobs at HBO and other units. The salaries ranged from $55 per hour to $300,000 per year, with a median annual salary of $143,000 to $170,000. For example, Discovery offered an ad sales account manager between $131,458 and $149,000 per year, according to the data. Associate Manager, Brand Marketing/Publishing: $92,518 to $130,011WarnerMedia DirectData Architect: $162,400 to $200,150 median; ranging from $159,800 to $205,000WarnerMedia Services

Organizations: & $, & $, & $

☆ Amazon's new 65-inch Fire TV is better and currently costs less than last year's model
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Sofia Pitt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In this article AMZN Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTAmazon's Fire TV Omni QLED Series 4K UHD smart TV. AmazonI've been testing Amazon 's new 65-inch Fire TV Omni QLED Series 4K UHD smart TV. Amazon's Fire TV Omni QLED Series 4K UHD smart TV with widget display. Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series 4K UHD. Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series 4K UHD Prime UI.

☆ I made $244,000 last year as a freelancer using a platform for finding tech gigs — here's how
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Perri Ormont Blumberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

On average, an A.Team mission is a 12-month engagement. I usually take on one full-time mission that requires 35 to 40 hours per week and a couple smaller missions that require five to 10 hours per week. So I took a hybrid approach and freelanced for a few years on top of my full-time job at Landyachtz. That's my biggest piece of advice to anyone trying to make their side hustle their full-time job: Create a safety net, then take the leap. This is eroding trust employees once had in the full-time work model.

Search resuls for: "ui"

25 mentions found