David Lidsky's Blog, page 60

Tech companies rarely reveal exactly how much water their data centers use, research shows

Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Digital Realty, and Equinix had significant variability in how much water their data centers used and how much specific information their reports actually provided.

As demand for artificial intelligence technology boosts construction and proposed construction of data centers around the world, those computers require not just electricity and land, but also a significant amount of water. Data centers use water directly, with cooling water pumped through pipes in and around the computer equipment. They also use water indirectly, through the water required to produce the electricity to power the facility. The amount of water used to produce electricity increases dramatically when the source is fossil fuels compared with solar or wind.

5 hacks for helping working parents reduce the mental load

Parenting is a full-time job on top of the rest of your life. Here are five proven strategies to lighten the load.

Work emails ping as they come in. A text reminder flashes: Empty bottles are needed for science class tomorrow. The dog’s out of food. A soccer tournament just got moved to next weekend. The babysitter needs to get booked for Saturday. For millions of working parents, this isn’t a chaotic moment—it’s just Monday.

Investing in early-in-career talent is vital to win the AI race

Three ways to build AI-first cultures rooted in continuous learning

As the AI era accelerates, some leaders have predicted a wipeout for entry-level white-collar jobs. I understand these concerns as unemployment rates rise for U.S. college graduates. But cutting early-in-career (EIC) talent isn’t a transformation strategy. It’s the start of a slow-motion collapse.

The future of manufacturing depends on empowering workers

Expanding human potential with AI is better for operators and for business.

There is a very real anxiety around automation, especially in America—where once-thriving communities have been gutted by waves of displacement, offshoring, and the unchecked application of technology.

We don’t need more work tools

We need AI that does the work.

When people envision the future of work, they picture cleaner dashboards, sleeker interfaces, and smarter notifications. But here’s what teams actually need: software that doesn’t just help them manage work, it executes the work.

Corporate philanthropy: This is our moment to innovate

Build stronger, more resilient communities by using your company’s core strengths.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the power of corporate philanthropy, especially at a company like Ford that has a 122-year history of supporting communities around the globe. We have stepped up to help during world wars, pandemics, and global disasters. 

Trump appoints Airbnb cofounder Joe Gebbia to new chief design officer role

Gebbia, who joined the Trump administration earlier this year, is poised to help lead the next phase of remodeling federal agencies.

U.S. President Donald Trump will appoint Airbnb cofounder Joe Gebbia to lead a team charged with remaking the government’s digital services, according to two officials familiar with the matter, as part of his goal to transform federal agencies in the name of efficiency.

Need to build hype? Borrow this tactic from Taylor Swift

It’s not that there’s a new Taylor Swift album—it’s how we found out about it.

This week, Taylor Swift teased the release of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, through a clip from today’s episode of New Heights, the podcast hosted by her boyfriend, NFL player Travis Kelce, and his brother, former NFL player Jason Kelce. When the clip went up, the internet erupted into a familiar frenzy—one that we’ve come to know all too well. 

Airlines have been upcharging everything from assigned seats to carry-on bags. Customers are finally pushing back

Fed-up passengers filed lawsuits this week claiming that Delta and United sold ‘windowless’ window seats for an extra fee.

For years, some of the biggest airline companies in the U.S. have been increasingly relying on ancillary fees—like advanced seat assignments and carry-on bag costs—to meet their bottom lines. Now, passengers are getting sick of it.

Apple TV+ just got more expensive—here’s how much you’ll pay

Starting Thursday, Apple is raising its streaming service price to $12.99 a month in the U.S. and other markets.

Apple announced Thursday that it’s hiking the price of a monthly subscription for its Apple TV+ streaming service by $3, to $12.99. This latest increase, the company’s third in three years, means subscribers will now pay nearly double the amount to stream popular TV shows like Severance or The Studio as they did as recently as October 2023.