David Lidsky's Blog, page 192

March Madness: Disrupter bets $1 million that AI bracket will beat pro gambler

Alan Levy wants AI to bring an advantage to the average Joe: either the weekly football bettor who doesn’t have access to reams of data or the March Madness bracket filler who goes by feel or team mascot.

Perhaps the surest sign that artificial intelligence really is taking over the world will come the day it wins your favorite March Madness bracket pool.

These Social Security offices are expected to close in 2025 due to DOGE cuts

Here’s a state-by-state breakdown of the 26 Social Security offices listed as expected to close this year, along with the termination date for each lease.

Dozens of Social Security Administration offices across the country are slated to close this year due to actions taken by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency as part of the Trump administration’s unprecedented effort to shrink the size of government.

DOGE official appointed to leadership role at USAID after helping dismantle the agency

Jeremy Lewin is a DOGE official who has worked with Musk’s government-cutting efforts at USAID and other federal agencies.

A senior official at Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is taking a leadership role at the U.S. Agency for International Development, giving DOGE direct authority over an agency that it has worked to dismantle, according to an email obtained by The Associated Press.

Greenpeace loses massive lawsuit; must pay hundreds of millions of dollars to pipeline company

In an explosive verdict, Greenpeace was found liable for defamation and other claims in conjunction with protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

A North Dakota jury on Wednesday found Greenpeace liable for defamation and other claims brought by a pipeline company in connection with protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline.

Boeing CFO concerned over tariffs’ impact on parts

Tariffs will not likely dampen demand for jetliners, Boeing CFO Brian West said.

Boeing Chief Financial Officer Brian West said on Wednesday the company is concerned about President Donald Trump’s tariffs potentially constraining the availability of parts from its suppliers, although he said the U.S. planemaker has enough inventory for now.

Fed holds interest rates steady, forseeing less growth and higher inflation ahead

Fed policymakers said risks had increased, with a near unanimous sentiment in saying the outlook for the year was muddled.

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday, as expected, but U.S. central bank policymakers indicated they still anticipate reducing borrowing costs by half a percentage point by the end of this year in the context of slowing economic growth and, eventually, a downturn in inflation.

EU Big Tech crackdown: Commission calls out Google and Apple for antitrust violations

The European Commission has accused Alphabet of favoring its own services in Google Search and flagged Apple for limiting digital interoperability.

Following continuous trade tensions between the European Union and the United States, the European Commission moved forward with the enforcement of its digital antitrust rules on Alphabet’s Google and Apple.

The shopping revolution no one’s talking about—yet

You may not have heard of this simple tool, but it’s changing the way you shop.

In an era where trust is currency and sustainability is a non-negotiable, shoppers are demanding more than just green labels and vague promises. They want proof.

Why the climate tech industry needs outsiders

At this point, it’s not about innovation, it’s about operational know-how.

The climate tech sector is at a crossroads. We have the tools we need to fight climate change, but the real challenge is scaling and deploying them. This is where “climate-curious” outsiders play a crucial role.

Why HR’s future looks like marketing’s past

When it comes to tech and showing business value, today’s CHROs should check with yesterday’s CMOs.

Think back to the shifting tech landscape of 2015. “Uptown Funk” was blaring on digital music outlets, Snapchat filters were laid over every selfie, and hoverboards were all the rage. At the same time, marketing teams were facing an uphill battle to prove ROI as new digital marketing opportunities, like the rise of video content marketing and the shift towards mobile, led to changing tactics, and budgets came under more scrutiny.