A Cinematic Homage to BlackBerry: Reflecting on a Communication Revolution

The way we communicate has undergone a dramatic transformation in the past few decades. Today, most people type with their thumbs as if it has always been the norm. But not so long ago, a revolutionary device changed the game: the BlackBerry. As we forge ahead into the next era of communication, it's worth taking a moment to remember the device that paved the way. A new movie based on the book "Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry" by Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff is set to hit theaters soon, promising an insightful look at the history of this pivotal device.

The upcoming movie is an adaptation of "Losing the Signal," which was published in 2015. The book offers a comprehensive look at the history of BlackBerry, from its humble beginnings as Research In Motion (RIM) in 1984, founded by Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin, to its meteoric rise and eventual decline.

Who is The Future of Life Institute (FLI)?

Write a profile and dossier on FLI

Organization: Future of Life Institute (FLI)

Profile:

The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is a non-profit research organization founded in 2014 by Max Tegmark, Anthony Aguirre, and Viktoriya Krakovna. It operates in the research and artificial intelligence sectors, with its primary focus on AI safety, responsible technology development, and global catastrophic risk reduction.

FLI's mission is to ensure that emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, are developed and used in a manner that benefits humanity. The organization aims to address the potential risks and opportunities associated with these technologies by promoting research, facilitating collaboration, and raising awareness among policymakers, researchers, and the public.

Americans Pull Back From Values That Once Defined U.S., WSJ-NORC Poll Finds

Embracing change and shedding old skin: America's journey towards a brighter future.

Three-point executive summary:

1. American values, including patriotism, religious faith, hard work, and having children, are receding in importance to Americans, as per the Wall Street Journal-NORC poll.
2. The country is divided by political parties over social trends such as racial diversity in businesses and the use of gender-neutral pronouns.
3. Only money was cited as very important by 43% of respondents in the new survey, up from 31% in 1998.

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Greg's Opinion:

 

As one of the few people who voted for Ronnie Raygun, it the results of the survey are not surprising.  

The self-loathing of a nation has been eroding foundational values since the 60s.

And that's okay.

There will be a tomorrow and America will be there, leading to way.  For all the angst, all the fabricated and false shame, we are the nation that leads - we lead in tech, we lead in societies, we lead in business and we lead in change and we are always growing.

Unfortunately, constant growth equates to continuous growing pains.

GPT summary of WSJ article, "Americans Pull Back From Values That Once Defined U.S., WSJ-NORC Poll Finds: Patriotism, religion, and hard work hold less importance"

US Businesses Call for Employees to Return to the Office as Remote Work Becomes Rare

GPT Summary of WSJ article, "Work-From-Home Era Ends for Millions of Americans":

The majority of US businesses are calling for their employees to return to the office, as remote work becomes increasingly rare a few years after the pandemic caused millions of Americans to work from home. 

According to a Labor Department report, 72.5% of business establishments said their employees worked on-site rarely or not at all last year, up from 60.1% in 2021. 

A survey by recruitment firm Robert Half found that 92% of managers prefer their teams to work on-site. Several large firms, including Walt Disney Co., Starbucks Corp., and Meta Platforms Inc., have said they expect employees to report to work in person more often. The shift comes as recession fears prompt an increased emphasis on worker productivity.

Five key points to note from the article:

The Impact of China-Taiwan Turbulence on the Office Technology Industry

In the March 22, 2023 edition of the Wall Street Journal(paywall), Simone Gao expresses his opinion on the latest moves in China like the newly enacted Law on Reservists which delays the retirement age for reserve officers to 60 from 55.

The region will play a key role in the next technological wave and has relevance for Office Technology providers because of the number of FABs in Taiwan.  A FAB (or fabrication plant) is a facility where integrated circuits (ICs) or microchips are manufactured. 

FABs require a high level of precision and cleanliness, as even tiny contamination can affect the quality and functionality of the chips produced. FABs are typically very expensive to build and maintain and are a crucial component of the semiconductor supply chain.

We've used the opinion piece to generate the following.

Enjoy.

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Guarding Global Tech: Navigating the Taiwan Strait Tensions for Office Technology's Future

Executive Summary:

Another indicator of the beginning of the end of SalesForce.

Three-point executive summary:

1. The closure of The Future Forum by Slack is a short-sighted move that ignores the positive impact of remote work on productivity, trust, and employee turnover.
2. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff's push for workers to return to the office is out of touch with the current trend towards remote work and flexible work arrangements.
3. The future of work is being shaped by Artificial Intelligence, and companies like Salesforce will need to adapt or risk becoming irrelevant.

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For about 4 months, I've been following and consuming content from The Future Forum.  The site was chock full of good data and reports around the 'work from anywhere' movement, something I've been a part of and an evangelist of, since 2009.

It WAS supported by Slack/SalesForce back when the thought of remote workers was temporary.

Marc Benioff recently inflicted large layoffs and brought down a back-to-the-office mandate to Salesforce and today is one of the few voices imploring anyone that work is best done in an office, under management's thumb, and in front of a computer screen illuminated by his software.

Benioff is closing Future Forum:

Toshiba 2023: The Beginning

Toshiba’s $15 billion sale to a group led by private equity firm Japan Industrial Partners.

One shoe of many has dropped.

An article in Japan Times outlines a few internal challenges yet to be addressed.  One alarming statement is, "The most worrying factor is if the new CEO does not get to actually make decisions.”

Of all the hurdles any organization must overcome when making a comeback, it is the ability for leadership to lead; to make decisions, any decisions.

Under Thursday’s agreement — originally expected last fall — the JIP-led consortium aims to buy Toshiba at ¥4,620 a share and take one of Japan’s most well-known brands private through a tender offer to begin around late July. If successful, the deal could close a troubled chapter in the firm’s 147-year history, after a series of scandals and missteps set it on the path to a sale. The questions now are whether activist investors will accept the terms — and whether the firm can restore its former glories.

The question comes down to how this will impact the US Office Technology providers and the many customers.

You know the pattern.  PE takes a conglomerate private then slices and dices the component parts off in hopes of turning a profit. That's what will happen here.

Three Points:

1. Toshiba's Leadership Changes: The article mentions the recent departure of Toshiba's CEO and several board members, which has added uncertainty to the company's direction and future.
2. Business Transformation Plan: Toshiba has announced a comprehensive plan to split the company into three standalone entities focused on infrastructure services, devices and storage, and industrial products. This restructuring aims to streamline operations, improve agility, and enable each division to better address its respective market needs.
3. Addressing Geopolitical Risks: The article highlights the challenges Toshiba faces due to geopolitical tensions, such as the Taiwan Strait issue, and the ongoing global chip shortage. These challenges underscore the need for Toshiba to diversify its supply chains, explore alternative sources for critical components, and expand its global footprint in order to mitigate risks and ensure future growth.

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