News of the Cyber World

[kyonides]

Electric Vehicles

Green New Flop: Ford Delays Production at Electric Vehicle Plant in Tennessee, Cancels All-Electric SUV

Ford Motor Company is delaying production of an all-electric pickup truck at its Electric Vehicle (EV) plant in Stanton, Tennessee, while canceling plans to produce an all-electric SUV.

On Wednesday, Ford executives announced they are pumping the brakes on EV investments.

“… Ford’s mix of annual capital expenditures dedicated to pure electric vehicles will decline to 30% from about 40%,” the Detroit News reports:

In 2027, Ford will launch two all-electric pickups: a medium-sized truck built on the platform designed by its California skunkworks teams and the next-generation F-Series truck at the new Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center. The company didn’t specify where the midsize pickup will be built. The launch of the full-size truck codenamed “Project T3” in the second half of 2027 is postponed by 18 months. [Emphasis added]

Additionally, Ford is canceling plans to launch a forthcoming three-row SUV as an EV. Instead, it will launch as a hybrid, though the automaker declined to specify when or where. It originally has been expected to launch at the company’s Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, but Ford instead opted to expand Super Duty truck production there. [Emphasis added]

While production of the all-electric truck planned for Ford’s Stanton plant will be delayed, the plant will start producing cells for an all-electric van toward the end of next year. The Stanton plant, known as BlueOval City, is currently under construction.

Ford is increasingly backing off a full EV strategy, as are other automakers.

Last December, a leaked planning memo from Ford executives revealed that the automaker would only produce about 1,600 F-150 Lightning trucks a week at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan. Ford had initially planned to produce about 3,200 F-150 Lightning trucks a week at the plant.

Fact Check: Biden Claims Credit for 500,000 EV Stations, but Only 8 Were Built

CLAIM: “Creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in clean energy for American workers, including the IBEW installing 500,000—500,000—charging stations all across America.”

VERDICT: MOSTLY FALSE. They built eight, as of May.
President Joe Biden claimed credit Monday night for building 500,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. The reality is that as of May 2024, two and-a-half years after the bill was passed, only eight of the charging stations had been built.

As Breitbart News recently noted:

[Vice President Kamala] Harris has a track record against which to measure her promise [of 3 million additional houses in four years], and it is the failure of the Biden-Harris administration to build the electric vehicle (EV) charging stations that it promised to build under the infrastructure bill of 2021. at a cost of $7.5 billion. The goal was 500,000; two-and-a-half years later, as of May 2024, only eight EV stations had been built.

In May, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was asked by CBS News’ Face the Nation to explain why only eight of the promised EV stations had been built:

Buttigieg promised that the remainder would be built by 2030. That could theoretically happen, though it is doubtful.

Regardless, Biden cannot claim credit for 500,000 EV charging stations. It is a promise his successor, whether Harris or former President Donald Trump, will have to fulfill.

Super Mustache (Maduro) VS Musk Cartoon

Venezuela: Nicolas Maduro’s ‘Super Mustache’ Fights ‘Satanic’ Elon Musk in Propaganda Cartoon

Venezuela’s socialist regime published the latest cringe-inducing episode of its superhero propaganda cartoon Súper Bigote (“Super Mustache”) this week, featuring the titular Nicolás Maduro alter ego fighting a “satanic” version of his new arch-nemesis, Elon Musk.

Maduro has invested years into turning himself into an American-style cartoon superhero through the production of the Súper Bigote cartoon, intended to compete with America’s “capitalist” superheroes such as Superman and Spider-Man. Maduro has previously accused Spider-Man of fueling Venezuela’s violent crime in the past.

“Super Mustache,” an idealized version of Maduro and a socialist bastardization of Superman, appears in the cartoon fighting and defeating the dictator’s real-life “enemies” such as members of the Venezuelan opposition, the “Inflation Monster,” and even a cartoonish rendition of former President Donald Trump named Mister Odio (“Mister Hate”).

Much like other superhero franchises, the Maduro regime has launched Super Mustache’s own line of toys, costumes and other apparel, school supplies, and a salsa theme song.

The latest episode of Maduro’s “heroic” persona begins with a satanic rendition of Elon Musk stating that he will “change the way the Venezuelan people think” using all of his “technological power and social media control.” The “Satanic” Musk continues his monologue by stating that he wants “Venezuela’s natural riches” and that he “does not believe in superheroes.”

“I’m coming for you, Super Mustache,” villain-Musk declares.

The episode continues by showing Maduro surrounded by adoring fans inside the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, claiming that he is “with God and our people.” Maduro, holding a crucifix and a Bible, then claims that he will prove to Musk that he is “David against Goliath.”

The dictator’s words make Musk’s head spin before a God-like figure sends him to Mars. The episode concludes with Maduro proclaiming that “God is with us [his regime]” and that “whoever messes with Venezuela shrivels up,” a mantra that Maduro has repeatedly espoused against anyone who dares to criticize him.

“Fascism will not enter Venezuela because the country has someone to defend it, and I’m its loyal protector,” Super Mustache declares.

The episode’s contents are the latest chapter in the ongoing feud between Maduro and Musk after the Tesla CEO accused Maduro in a Twitter post of commiting fraud in the July 28 sham presidential election.

Maduro responded to Musk’s accusations by ordering a ten-day ban on Twitter in Venezuela and accusing Musk of inciting “hate, civil war, and death” in the country. Access to Twitter remains restricted in Venezuela at press time after the ten day ban period ended on August 20, according to VE sin Filtro, an initiative that monitors the Maduro regime’s internet censorship and provides Venezuelans with information to bypass the online blocks.

Maduro has repeatedly accused Musk and other individuals, such as Argentine President Javier Milei, of being part of “satanic cults” in the United States. Musk and Milei are also, according to Maduro, part of an “international Zionism” plot to overthrow his socialist regime.

On Wednesday, Maduro accused Musk of financing a “coup” in Venezuela and of waiting to steal Venezuelan’s “sovereignty” with the intent to take away the country’s “direct, popular, radical, and socialist democracy.”

Google, Advertisers & Kids

They Want Your Kids: Google Sales Reps Helped Advertisers Target Minors Despite Ban

Google sales representatives have been accused of providing ad buyers with tips on how to target teenage users, despite the company’s policy prohibiting targeted advertising to users under the age of 18, according to a report from Adweek.

According to a recent report by Adweek, three ad buyers have claimed that Google sales representatives suggested targeting teens through the company’s “unknown” user category, which includes users whose age, gender, parental status, or household income is not known to Google. The buyers also shared written documents were reviewed by Adweek, supporting their claims.

Google’s official policy strictly prohibits ad targeting based on the age, gender, or interests of individuals under 18. However, this is not the first time the company has been accused of helping ad buyers target teens through the use of its unknown user category. The Financial Times recently reported on a similar situation.

As Breitbart News previously reported:

According to documents reviewed by the Financial Times and insider sources, Google worked with Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta on an advertising campaign that deliberately targeted a group of YouTube users labeled as “unknown” in its advertising system, which the company knew skewed towards under-18s. The project disregarded Google’s policies that prohibit personalizing and targeting ads to minors, including serving ads based on demographics and circumventing its own guidelines.

The collaboration between the two companies, who are typically fierce competitors as the world’s largest online advertising platforms, began late last year as Google sought to boost its advertising earnings and Meta scrambled to retain younger users’ attention against fast-growing rivals like TikTok. The project was developed by Spark Foundry, a U.S. subsidiary of French advertising giant Publicis, and was piloted in Canada between February and April this year before being trialed in the U.S. in May.

In response to the allegations, Google spokesperson Jacel Booth stated, “We strictly prohibit ads being personalized to people under 18—full stop. Our policies are reinforced with technical protections, which continue to work properly.” Booth also mentioned that Google would take “additional action with sales representatives to reinforce that they must not help agencies or advertisers attempt to circumvent our policies.”

The reported behavior could potentially raise concerns under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which prohibits platforms from collecting personal information on children under 13 without parental consent. An updated version of the law, which has passed the Senate and awaits a House vote, would ban targeted advertising to individuals under 17.

California, Google & Facebook

Masters of the Universe: California Lawmakers Kill Bill that Would Force Google & Facebook to Pay News Orgs

California lawmakers have announced a deal that will kill a bill that would have forced tech giants like Google and Facebook to pay news organizations for their content. In exchange, the Silicon Valley Masters of the Universe will commit $250 million to fund newsrooms and an “AI accelerator.”

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the California Journalism Preservation Act, which aimed to impose fees on large digital platforms based on a percentage of their ad revenue, has been set aside in favor of a new partnership to support California newsrooms. Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, revealed that the nearly $250 million investment of public and private funds will be used to fund newsrooms and an artificial intelligence accelerator project over the next five years.

Under the deal, the majority of the funds will be allocated to newsrooms, with $100 million being spent in the first year to kick-start the efforts. The News Transformation Fund, as the money for California news publishers is being called, will be administered at the UC Berkeley School of Journalism — a sure sign it will focus on leftist and progressive news sources.

Governor Gavin Newsom (D) praised the deal, stating that it represents a major breakthrough in ensuring the survival of newsrooms and bolstering local journalism across California, without imposing new taxes on Californians. However, some journalists and unions have expressed concerns about the deal, citing a lack of regulation over tech companies and the inclusion of funding for artificial intelligence, which many consider a threat to human journalists.

Matt Pearce, the president of the Media Guild of the West, criticized the deal, stating that it allows Google to avoid regulation and may actually cause harm to journalists instead of helping them. He also noted that the deal creates a public-private partnership with Google that allows the company’s contributions to be tax-deductible, with Californians footing a larger share of the bill for supporting local news.

Despite the concerns raised by some journalists and unions, the California News Publishers Association CEO Chuck Champion and board chair Julie Makinen said they would make the most of this initiative. The San Francisco Chronicle, among other news organizations, supported the original bill but acknowledged that the deal was a step in the right direction, although it did not go far enough.

Some top Democrats within the Legislature also criticized the deal, highlighting an intraparty rift over the agreement. California Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-North Coast, expressed concerns that the deal lacks sufficient funding for newspapers and local media and doesn’t fully address the inequities facing the industry.

The tech companies targeted by the original bill, including Google and Facebook, have aggressively attacked the legislation for more than a year. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, even threatened to pull news from its platforms if the bill passed. In April, Google News removed links to California news websites in response to the bill, a move that was called an “abuse of power” by Senator McGuire.

Despite the controversy surrounding the deal, supporters of the original bill maintain that social media companies benefit financially from content produced by journalists posted on their sites, which help them attract and retain visitors. The platforms, however, are not paying the journalists who produce the content, effectively starving news organizations of advertising revenue generated by their own work.

Welcome Your Mayor Mr. AI

Wacky Wyoming: Cheyenne Mayoral Candidate Calls Himself ‘Meat Avatar’ of AI System He Wants to Run City

Voters in Cheyenne, Wyoming, faced an unusual choice in Tuesday’s mayoral election — a candidate who describes himself as the “meat avatar” of an AI system he wanted to be put in charge of the city. Candidate Victor Miller conceded the race on Tuesday night as humans will remain in charge — for now.

The Guardian reports that Victor Miller, a mayoral candidate in Wyoming’s capital city, pledged to use a customized ChatGPT bot named Vic (Virtual Integrated Citizen) to assist in governing Cheyenne if he was elected. Miller, who calls himself the “meat avatar” of VIC, claims the AI bot would be capable of processing vast amounts of data and making unbiased decisions to benefit the city.

Voters did not agree with his vision of the city, leading him to concede the race on Tuesday night.

The unusual campaign has sparked debate about the role of artificial intelligence in government and raised legal questions about who or what can actually hold elected office. Miller has described his proposed approach as a “hybrid” model, with the AI bot providing data-driven insights and solutions while Miller would serve as the official mayor to ensure actions are legally executed.

“It’s about blending AI’s capabilities with human judgment to effectively lead Cheyenne,” Miller stated in an interview. He has promised that Vic would handle “100% of the decision-making completely on its own” if voters back his candidacy.

However, the campaign has faced pushback from state officials. Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray launched an investigation earlier this summer into whether an AI bot could legally appear on the ballot. Gray argued that only registered human voters can run for office under state law.

“Wyoming law is clear than an AI bot cannot run for office,” Gray wrote in a letter to Cheyenne’s city clerk. City officials disagreed, countering that Miller himself is still the actual candidate even if receiving direction from an AI assistant.

The dispute was ultimately resolved when Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee announced in July that Miller could continue his campaign, but only his name and not the AI bot’s would appear on the official ballot. Lee cited both legal issues and potential voter confusion in the decision.

Miller’s eccentric campaign approach has drawn national attention as one of the first attempts to incorporate AI directly into political leadership. He has positioned it as embracing future technologies, telling voters “there’s a new intelligence in town” and that it’s “time to get drunk on intelligence.”

Critics have raised concerns about the wisdom and practicality of allowing an AI system to guide government decisions. Questions remain about accountability, transparency, and how to ensure human values and empathy factor into policymaking.

Supporters argue that AI could potentially make government more efficient and data-driven. Miller claims the bot would be free of political affiliations and focused solely on developing practical solutions to benefit the community.

Disney's Controversy

Disney Drops Bid to Have Allergy-Death Lawsuit Tossed Because Plaintiff Signed Up for Disney+

Disney is no longer asking a Florida court to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit on the grounds that the victim’s family had signed up for its streaming service Disney+.

The company filed a notice in Orange County court on Tuesday to withdraw the motion, which had drawn swift backlash when it became public.

Josh D’Amaro, chairperson of Disney’s theme park division, said in a statement emailed earlier to The Associated Press that the entertainment giant will waive its arbitration rights and allow the suit, brought by the husband of a New York doctor who suffered a fatal allergic reaction after eating at a restaurant in Disney Springs, to proceed in court.

“At Disney, we strive to put humanity above all other considerations,” he said in the Monday night statement. “With such unique circumstances as the ones in this case, we believe this situation warrants a sensitive approach to expedite a resolution for the family who have experienced such a painful loss.”

Disney had previously argued that Jeffrey Piccolo could not sue the company because he agreed to settle any lawsuits against the company out of court when he signed up for a one-month trial subscription to Disney+ back in 2019.

Brian Denney, Piccolo’s Florida-based lawyer, said Tuesday that his client will continue to “pursue justice on behalf of his beloved wife” and hopes that their ordeal has helped raised awareness of the challenges people with food allergies face.

He also noted that others seeking to take Disney to court risk facing a similar legal challenge as the arbitration provision remains in many of the company’s terms and conditions.

“The right to a jury trial as set forth in the Seventh Amendment is a bedrock of our judicial system and should be protected and preserved,” Denney wrote in an email. “Attempts by corporations like Disney to avoid jury trials should be looked at with skepticism.”

AliExpress, Shein & Temu Products Could be Toxic

South Korea Finds Toxic Substances in Shein and Temu Products

South Korean officials announced on Wednesday that they discovered high concentrations of toxic substances in women’s accessories that Chinese e-commerce giants Shein, AliExpress, and Temu sell.

South Korea has been subjecting products from the fast-growing Chinese online retailers to closer scrutiny due to allegations of dodgy business practices, shoddy workmanship, and poor quality control.

The South Korean Fair Trade Commission (FTC) launched a major investigation of Temu and its South Korean subsidiary, Whaleco Korea LLC, in April. The investigative action was based on growing complaints about Temu’s product quality and marketing tactics.

The investigation grew to include weekly inspections of products from the Chinese e-commerce superstores, including products aimed at children. The latest round of inspections included 144 products from Temu, Shein, and AliExpress. Items from all three companies failed to meet South Korean quality standards.

Inspectors in Seoul found that shoes from Shein contained high levels of phthalates, a suite of “plasticizer” chemicals designed to make plastic more flexible.

In high concentrations, phthalates can damage human reproductive functions, with effects ranging from low sperm count to infertility and premature birth. One such chemical has been classified as a human carcinogen by the International Cancer Institute.

South Korean inspectors said some of Shein’s shoes contained up to 229 times the legal limit on phthalates. Some Shein caps contained high levels of formaldehyde, and some of the company’s nail polish had more than 3.6 times the legal limit on dioxane, a potential human carcinogen that can be harmful to the liver.

Sandals from Temu were found to contain more than 11 times the maximum legal limit of lead in their insoles.

In July, South Korean inspectors found high levels of phthalates in children’s shoes, leather bags, and belts from Shein, plus high concentrations of lead in children’s watches and jewelry from both Shein and AliExpress. Almost half of the items from the three Chinese companies in the July round of testing were found to contain toxic chemicals.

In May, the Seoul Metropolitan Government found harmful substances in children’s leather items from Shein, including shoes. Industry analysts noted similar findings in Shein products that the United States, Europe, and Canada tested.

A tech industry publication called the Information discovered more contaminated products in August, including padded bumpers on cribs that the U.S. government banned in 2021 due to being a suffocation risk for babies, dangerous drawstrings on hoodies intended for very young children, and products for human babies that Shein evidently repurposed and marketed as pet toys.

A Temu spokesperson said on Wednesday that the company responded quickly to the warnings that the Seoul city government published by removing the affected products from its global marketplace and “enhancing our systems and guidance to merchants to ensure they comply with safety standards and local regulations.”

Russia: Dating Websites Used by Ukraine to Gather Intel

Russia Claims Ukraine Using Dating Websites to Gather Intel in Border Region

The Internal Affairs Ministry of Russia on Tuesday warned residents in the western border regions of Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk – which have sustained an ongoing Ukrainian invasion since August 6 –  not to use online dating sites out of concern that Ukraine is using them for intelligence-gathering.

“The use of online dating services is strongly discouraged. The enemy is actively using them to gather information,” the Russian government warned, according to a translation of a report on the Russian state media outlet Interfax by the Moscow Times.

In addition to dating sites, the government warned locals to shut off CCTV and security cameras.

“The enemy is identifying IP address ranges in our territories, remotely accessing unprotected security cameras, monitoring everything from private yards to strategic roads and highways,” the Interior Ministry reportedly warned through a spokesperson. “Unless necessary, it is better not to use security cameras.”

“It is important to monitor and moderate chats and to quickly delete the accounts of people captured by the enemy or those whose phones have been compromised,” the announcement continued, referring to soldiers captured by incoming Ukrainian forces.

The Russian government declared a state of emergency in Kursk, the most affected region, on August 9 after Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Russia and began capturing territory. As of Tuesday, the Ukrainian state media network Ukrinform claimed, citing military authorities, that Kyiv was in control of 486 square miles of territory in Kursk and fighting on a frontline stretching across nearly 650 miles. Russian officials have not significantly disputed Ukraine’s progress in undisputed Russian territory but have accused Ukrainian forces of human rights abuses against civilians in those areas.

According to Kursk acting governor Alexei Smirnov, his region is planning to evacuate 180,000 people as a result of the Ukrainian incursion, and of those, 121,000 have been displaced since August 13. In the same meeting during which Smirnov announced the mass evacuation, his counterpart in Belgorod said authorities were planning to evacuate as many as 11,000 people.

The Ukrainian government has insisted that – contrary to the Russian government, whose “special operation” in Ukraine was accompanied by the “annexation” of four occupied Ukrainian territories – Kyiv does not intend to capture Kursk or convert any uncontested Russian territory into Ukrainian land. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky explained in a national address this weekend that his military is “creating a buffer zone on the aggressor’s territory,” specifically Kursk, to make it more difficult for Russia to transfer soldiers to the front lines within Ukraine.

While the Ukrainian incursion into Russia came as a surprise this month, Zelensky appeared to hint that he was closely monitoring the border region in January, when he signed a decree delcaring Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk, among other territories, “historically” Ukrainian.

The Russian government warning on the potential of dating sites being used as intelligence collection tools is a response to over two years of reporting revealing that Ukrainians and supporters of their cause, men and women alike, are using accounts on dating websites to converse with Russians. Some target any Russians in the country, hoping to convey news that Russian strongman Vladimir Putin censors in other media. Others build communication with Russian soldiers hoping for some useful intelligence. Still other users have scammed Russians out of potentially thousands of dollars, some redirected into the Ukrainian war effort.

Tech Tycoon Found Dead

Body of British Tech Tycoon Mike Lynch Among Those Recovered from Sicily Yacht Wreck, Officials Say

The Italian coast guard said Thursday the body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch is among those recovered off the coast of Sicily from the wreckage of a superyacht whose builders had called unsinkable.

One woman remains missing. She has not been identified, but Hannah Lynch, Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, is reportedly unaccounted for. The family had been celebrating his recent acquittal on fraud charges with the people who defended him at trial in the United States.

Five others were recovered by rescue crews following Monday’s tragedy.

The Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged yacht, went down in a storm early Monday as it was moored about a kilometer (half a mile) offshore. Civil protection officials said they believe the ship was struck by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout, and sank quickly.

Termini Imerese Public Prosecutor’s Office investigators were collecting evidence for a criminal investigation, which they opened immediately after the tragedy despite no formal suspects having been publicly identified.

The chief executive of The Italian Sea Group, which owns the Bayesian’s manufacturer, said superyachts like these are “the safest in the most absolute sense.”

“First of all, because they have very little surface compared to a yacht facing into the wind,” CEO Giovanni Costantino told Sky News on Wednesday. “Second, with the structure, the drift keel, they become unsinkable bodies.”

Investigators are now looking at why the Bayesian, built in 2008 by Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed. Fifteen of the 22 people aboard survived by escaping in a lifeboat, including a mother who reported holding her 1-year-old baby over the waves to save her. They were rescued by the sailboat Sir Robert Baden Powell.

The sailboat’s captain, Karsten Borner, said his craft sustained minimal damage – the frame of a sun awning broke – even with winds that he estimated had reached 12 on the Beaufort wind scale, which is the highest hurricane-strength force on the scale.

He said he had remained anchored with his engines running to try to maintain the ship´s position as the forecast storm rolled in.

“Another possibility is to heave anchor before the storm and to run downwind at open sea,” Borner said in a text message. But he said that might not have been possible for the Bayesian, given its 75-meter (246-foot) tall mast.

“If there was a stability problem, caused by the extremely tall mast, it would not have been better at open sea,” he said.

Burn, Battery! Burn!

Green Inferno: Tesla Big Rig Battery Blaze Shuts Down California Highway for 12 Hours

A Tesla semi-truck’s battery pack caught fire on California’s Interstate 80 near Emigrant Gap in the Sierra Nevada mountains this week, prompting a hazardous materials response and causing a full closure of the freeway for more than half a day. California firefighters resorted to airdropping fire retardant on the Tesla truck, a technique normally reserved for forest fires.

CBS News reports that a electric semi-truck built by Elon Musk’s Tesla crashed and caught fire on Interstate 80 in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, leading to a prolonged closure of the major freeway. The incident, which occurred around 3:00 a.m., required a hazardous materials response due to potentially toxic fumes emanating from the burning batteries of the electric big rig.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Jason Lyman explained the complexity of the situation, stating, “The battery itself, you can’t just spray water on it to put it out. It takes either some sort of dry chemical or a very huge amount of water, I’ve heard as much as 40,000 gallons.” As a result, first responders had to keep people at least half a mile away from the scene to ensure their safety. As Breitbart News has previously reported, the major danger of an electric vehicle battery fire is the phenomena of “thermal runaway” in which batteries can overheat and explode many hours after the fire has been put out.

The crash occurred when the Tesla semi-truck veered off the roadway and collided with trees. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident. However, the fire proved challenging to extinguish, with the batteries continuing to burn for hours after the initial crash.

To combat the flames, Cal Fire crews resorted to using aircraft to drop fire retardant on the semi, a tactic typically employed during wildfire fights. This unconventional approach was necessary to keep the fire under control while minimizing the risk to first responders.

The incident caused significant disruption to traffic along I-80, a crucial route connecting Northern California to Nevada. Initially, CHP expected the roadway to reopen by 8:00 a.m. Monday. However, the freeway remained fully closed through the late afternoon, with westbound lanes reopening around 4:30 p.m. and eastbound lanes remaining shut until late in the evening.

Tech Considering Laying Off More Workers

Kamalanomics Hits Silicon Valley: Tech Titans Slash Jobs amid Economic Uncertainty

Silicon Valley is experiencing another round of significant job cuts as major companies announce layoffs in response to economic pressures and shifting industry priorities.

NBC Bay Area reports that the tech industry, long considered a bastion of job security and growth, is facing a new wave of uncertainty as several major companies announce substantial layoffs. This trend is raising concerns about the overall health of the sector and its ability to maintain its workforce in the face of economic challenges.

Intel, one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers, recently announced plans to cut 15,000 jobs, sending shockwaves through the industry. This move comes as the company struggles to regain its competitive edge in the chip market and streamline its operations. Similarly, networking giant Cisco revealed its intention to lay off 5,000 employees, citing the need to reallocate resources towards emerging technologies and growth areas.

The impact of these layoffs extends beyond the tech giants. GoPro, known for its action cameras, announced a 15 percent reduction in its workforce, highlighting the challenges faced by companies in more specialized tech niches. These cuts reflect broader economic concerns, including high interest rates that are slowing company investments and fears of an impending economic slowdown — symptoms of the Kamalanomics policies plaguing the entire economy.

However, not all areas of the tech industry are experiencing contraction. San Francisco-based Rapid Robotics suggests that the current situation is not necessarily a slump but rather a shift in the types of skills and roles that tech companies are seeking. Jonathan Chu, director of engineering at Rapid Robotics, points out that new jobs are being created in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, with demand for roles that support and drive AI technology development.

This sentiment is echoed by Russell Hancock, CEO of Joint Venture Silicon Valley, who highlighted the need for AI experts stating: “If you can do those things, this is the town for you. You can name your price and ka-ching, ka-ching. If you can’t do those things, it’s getting harder to be employed, even in the tech sector.”