With Harris economic plan, US family, child-care crisis is in election

With Harris economic plan, US family, child-care crisis is in election

When Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a former teacher, as her running mate, experts noted he could bring a revitalized policy focus on child care and early childhood. As governor, Walz expanded state child tax credits and built a paid family leave program. Walz also distributed funds to boost early child-care professional wages … Read more

New privacy battle is underway as tech gadgets capture our brain waves

New privacy battle is underway as tech gadgets capture our brain waves

Nomadsoul1 | Istock | Getty Images The question “What is a thought?” is no longer strictly a philosophical one. Like anything else measurable, our thoughts are subject to increasingly technical answers, with data captured by tracking brainwaves. That breakthrough also means the data is commodifiable, and captured brain data is already being bought and sold … Read more

Yes, AI burnout is already happening at work

Yes, AI burnout is already happening at work

Companies are talking up a storm about artificial intelligence and generative AI implementations, and many are moving ahead with deployments. But there might be a danger of employee burnout from moving too fast into AI, and businesses need to guard against this even as they enthusiastically jump into using the technology. One concern is resource … Read more

Hollywood icons of the past are coming back in AI voice cloning deals

Hollywood icons of the past are coming back in AI voice cloning deals

Stars from Hollywood’s golden age are being reborn through celebrity estate AI voice cloning deals, a sign of how some of the “Wild West” concerns about unauthorized AI impersonation are being addressed by new business models. ElevenLabs, an audio technology startup funded by venture capital firms including Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia has penned multiple deals … Read more

Defense tech start-up Anduril Industries raises $1.5 billion

Defense tech start-up Anduril Industries raises .5 billion

An 1:2 scale model of the Anduril Fury, a multi-mission group 5 autonomous air vehicle (AAV), at Anduril’s headquarters in Costa Mesa, California, US, on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.  Kyle Grillot | Bloomberg | Getty Images Defense start-up Anduril Industries announced Wednesday that it raised $1.5 billion in funding for its Series F round, valuing the … Read more

New funding values email security firm Abnormal at more than $5 billion

New funding values email security firm Abnormal at more than  billion

Abnormal Security co-founders Sanjay Jeyakumar and Evan Reiser Abnormal Security Cybersecurity company Abnormal Security said Tuesday it has raised $250 million in a Series D funding round that values the firm at $5.1 billion. Abnormal’s latest funding round is being led by Wellington Management and includes existing investors Greylock Partners, Menlo Ventures, Insight Partners, as … Read more

Renewable energy growth leads FBI to warn hackers will hit new power

Renewable energy growth leads FBI to warn hackers will hit new power

An aerial view of homes in a housing development on September 08, 2023 in Santa Clarita, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty Images As renewable energy generation expands across the U.S., the federal government is becoming more concerned about vulnerabilities in new systems being a target for cyberattacks.  The FBI recently warned … Read more

Why you should avoid use of one-time passwords sent by text

Why you should avoid use of one-time passwords sent by text

One of the most convenient methods for mobile phone users to log into apps — and one many companies rely on to grant access — is the one-time password, or OTP, often shared by text. But there’s a growing consensus among cybersecurity professionals that OTPs, like traditional passwords, should be eliminated, even though the experts … Read more

America’s demand for skilled electricians is entering a boom

America’s demand for skilled electricians is entering a boom

High capacity electrical transmission lines in rural Nebraska, USA. Ryan McGinnis | Moment | Getty Images The demand for electricity to power homes, factories, office buildings, data centers, EVs, utilities and other parts of daily life keeps growing, while the supply of electricians needed to connect and control electricity keeps going down. That labor market … Read more

Personal cybersecurity concierge is new perk, and need, among wealthy

Personal cybersecurity concierge is new perk, and need, among wealthy

Matthias Kulka | The Image Bank | Getty Images Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting wealthy individuals, making cybersecurity concierges a new must-have for the rich and their families, including executives. While companies are spending heavily on cybersecurity, personal and home devices are generally less protected, making them easier to crack. And despite their sizeable assets and … Read more