Menu
Topic 1: AI – Take One: Fighting Covid on mass transit
In Barcelona’s subway system, AI is helping regulate airflows to fight the spread of Covid. Of course, that has implications for other diseases and other mass transit. We discuss what this means for you.
Links:
https://www.erinbromage.com/post/flying-in-the-age-of-covid-19?postId=5ebbf881fa49b100172cdf76
Topic 2: AI – Take Two: Creating Fake Journalists to Write Fake Editorials
This is the kind of weirdness most of us weren’t expecting from Artificial Intelligence. Now, on top of fake picture, fake profiles, and even fake videos, we now have entirely made-up background stories and profiles, with all the details.
This affects many things, including, potentially, your client’s reputation management. And, of course, the possibilities for phishing and related attacks is almost unbelievable.
Links:
https://thispersondoesnotexist.com/
Topic 3: Life after the Pandemic . . . Social Media Responsibility
Once again, we look into the self regulation of social media. In the new again . . . Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and more.
🙂
Topic 1: Regulations are real in Louisiana.
Now moving to a city and state near you.
Also, check out the new page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3011459202301532 (MSP Regulation and Legislation).
Topic 2:Face-changing technology . . . with a nod to what this means for facial recognition.
And maybe a quick discussion of Pandora’s box. Can we keep the genie in the bottle?
Related Link: https://gizmodo.com/disneys-developed-movie-quality-face-swapping-technolog-1844202003
Topic 3: Life after the Pandemic . . . Revisit Social Media trying to figure out if (how much) they should limit content ?
Of course we have opinions!
Topic 1: Limit AI Research before it happens?
Wired reports that an AI algorithm that “predicts” criminality based on a facial recognition is drawing ire. Meanwhile, some AI experts are calling to stop this line of research altogether.
https://www.wired.com/story/algorithm-predicts-criminality-based-face-sparks-furor/
Topic 2: Apple buys an RMM
. . . Will this affect us? (and Dave notes his predictions along these lines).
Note also Amazon’s new use of the term “managed service ” with regard to their Honeycode project. Described online as a “managed service” you can buy.
See . . .
https://www.channele2e.com/investors/mergers-acquisitions/apple-buys-fleetsmith/
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005803/en/AWS-Announces-Amazon-Honeycode
Topic 3: Life after the Pandemic . . .
Will we actually get to attend anything in October?
We discuss probabilities . . . and have some differences of opinion.
🙂
Our sponsor today is PC Matic – Thank you! More info at https://pcmatic.com/msp
— — —
Topic 1: Coming boom for freelancers?
Part of the rhythm of the economy is that economic downturns result in new opportunities. This time, the question is, will this help independent IT consultants?
Note: When decision makers are looking for special skills, they would rather hire an outside source rather than train someone in-house – even if cost is not a factor.
Related Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elainepofeldt/2020/06/12/the-coming-boom-for-freelancers/
Topic 2: IT Glue released their 2020 Global MSP Benchmarks.
A few notes. Around half (51%) of MSPs saw monthly revenue decreases as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Additionally, more than a quarter (29%) of MSPs saw their accounts receivable increase, showing more clients could not meet contract deadlines to pay for services.
This survey did show a jump of prioritization of cybersecurity, from 27% of respondents in Feb to more than 50% in May.
Old priorities were wiped away, replaced not only by cyber security but with customer churn, price pressure, and a second lockdown.
Link: https://www.itglue.com/news/itg-global-msp-benchmark-2020/
Topic 3: Life After the Pandemic . . . Increases in “Agile.”
We look at the business of the IT channel in the post-quarantine world … specifically how channel partners need to adapt the way they plan and operate, and how they engage their vendor partners. Things look like they’re going to be a lot more Agile. If you’re not in project management, you’re still going to have to learn the terminology of PM very soon.
Related Link: https://blogs.sw.siemens.com/partners/old-business-planning-out-agile-approach-in/#comment-13 🙂
Special Note: This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Third Tier. For more information, visit www.ThirdTier.net.
Topic 1: IBM and Amazon get out of facial recognition
Major companies are backing away from developing and working with facial recognition technology. Issues include both the racial bias and the fact that they are working with police agencies.
And then there was another shoe that dropped on the facial recognition topic. https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/10/21287101/amazon-rekognition-facial-recognition-police-ban-one-year-ai-racial-bias
Other, older, related links:
https://www.wired.com/story/algorithms-recognize-masked-face/
Topic 2: Let’s Ban the term “New Normal”
Everything changes all the time. We discuss whether the term “new normal” is actually useful at all. Hint: In a tech-centric world, this term just isn’t very useful.
We welcome your comments and feedback.
Topic 3: Life after the pandemic — The 4-Day Work Week
This is a thread we’ve touched on in terms of the way people will work after the pandemic . . . but with more specific details and recommendations. Here’s a recent article from a Canadian writer. https://theconversation.com/the-day-is-dawning-on-a-four-day-work-week-139587 🙂
Topic 1: Facebook Shops
Will you (should you) set up a shop on Facebook? We give our perspective.
Related Link: https://stratechery.com/2020/platforms-in-an-aggregator-world/
Topic 2: Lobbying by and for the IT Community
Should we be lobbying on behalf of the IT Community? What does that look like?
We discuss some of the major issues and what we think the (near) future might look like. Who should speak for us?
Topic 3: How will we be affected by the current events and unrest, once the dust settles.
Again, just our opinion. But we feel that we need to say something.
Your feedback is always welcome!
🙂
We have a bit of a theme going through all three of today’s topics: Education.
Topic 1: Google Classrooms – too meager?
In case you haven’t seen it, here is “Google Classroom.”
https://edu.google.com/products/classroom/?modal_active=none
Google Classroom is super low tech. Is it too low tech? How much tech is needed in order to serve the education market? We discuss design, technology, and intended purposes.
Of course this discussion touches on the topic of access to high speed Internet. More and more, true Internet access is becoming a requirement for education.
Old link, but we all downloaded it before it became hard to find: https://www.subtraction.com/2020/05/19/google-classroom-and-how-spaces-value-people/
Our saved version: https://killingit.smallbizthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Google-Classroom-and-How-Spaces-Value-People-Subtraction.pdf
Topic 2: HP Refresh / HP LIFE / Google Chrome books / the growing Digital divide
HP has a great program to help get laptops (or desktop computers) into the hands of 1.5 billion students without computers. The HP Refresh software does a military wipe of the hard drive and then installs a Chrome operating system with a Zoom agent.
We discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with bringing this basic technology to all the folks across the U.S. and the world.
HP Refresh = https://www8.hp.com/us/en/solutions/education/refresh.html HP Life Global = https://www.life-global.org/
Topic 3: Life after Pandemic – Classrooms and Connectivity
We agree that the digital divide is real. And we think it might be getting wider.
Again, we examine opportunities in the emerging environment.
🙂
Recorded LIVE at the SMB Online Conference!
(Conference attendees can see and listen to all four topics in the Conference downloads area.)
Topic 1: Where do we stand on burrito delivery?
Update on our year-old bet: Will your pizza (or burrito) be delivered first by flying drone or driverless car/robot?
Well, that driverless car might have lots of fees attached (see New York Times).
And of course industry news is hard to separate from “pandemic” news right now, but workforce slowdowns will affect the pace of technology adoption.
Relevant links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/13/technology/driverless-cars.html
Topic 2: Emerging Technology and Digital Transformation
(Dave’s pet peeve)
Wherein we explore the state of all this change in our industry. Are we there yet?
Link:
Topic 3: Life After the Pandemic
How much will the IT consultant’s business go back to the old normal?
Roundtable discussion. Karl says our definition of the network will be changed forever.
🙂
Happy “Diamond” anniversary – 60 episodes!
Topic 1: Are we breaking artificial intelligence?
In this era of “pandemic,” our behaviors are different from normal. That can be confusing for AI. In fact, it points out some of the weaknesses of AI data gathering, and how the models can wander off in the wrong direction.
Topic 2: What happened with VR?
This newsletter articles from Axios asks the question: Did Virtual Reality miss its big opportunity in this era of changing technology?
https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-login-1dd8e53f-b755-4950-b905-7b5560393190.html
And we ask . . . If not this time, should we be ready for the next opportunity? Or will VR’s time to enter the mainstream never come?
Topic 3: Technology after the Pandemic – Spying on Employees.
Employers have used technology to keep track of employees for a long time. Now we’re taking that to new heights. What lessons will we learn from spying on employees during the new work-from-home movement?
Great quote: “… the new office life is likely to become a pulsating den of surveillance.”
https://www.zdnet.com/article/going-back-to-the-office-new-spying-tools-are-waiting-to-greet-you/
Please check out our new “Killing IT Reading List” – at https://killingit.smallbizthoughts.com.
Promo: Join us at the SMB Online Conference May 19-20. As a bonus, we’re doing a “Killing IT Live” session. Check it out at https://www.smbonlineconference.com.
Topic 1: The Next Evolution of Facial Recognition – good and bad
Makers of facial-recognition technology are trying to figure out how to adapt to a world in which people cover their faces to avoid spreading disease.
Scouring social media and other apps for facial recognition database. Is this legal? Ethical? Also – finding children who have been victims of crimes. Sounds good, but also has some drawbacks.
Links: How Well Can Algorithms Recognize Your Masked Face? https://www.wired.com/story/algorithms-recognize-masked-face/
Topic 2: The Facebook “Supreme Court”
Facebook announces a board beyond Mark Z. to determine what is acceptable on their platform. Self regulation takes a different spin when you get to appoint the board that governs you – in hopes that governments won’t.
https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-names-20-people-overrule-mark-zuckerberg/
An interesting take-away for the previous two topics: Government regulation and self-regulation are important factors. You need to engage in these discussion with your clients.
Topic 3: Technology after the Pandemic – The Small Business Sales process
What will change after we get to leave our houses? Some things won’t go back. In addition, many people are now comfortable doing a totally-online sales pitch. Others are eager to get back to the way things were.
We add our perspective.
. . . This episode brought to you by Bob’s Metal Bending Shop . . .
🙂
