What caught my eye this week

TOP NEWS ??

U.S. Companies Cut Diversity Efforts as Challenges Mount: at least six major U.S. companies modified their DEI policies last year.

Meta and Amazon are axing their diversity programmes, joining firms across corporate America that are rolling back hiring and training initiatives criticised by conservatives, citing legal and political risks. The move comes just days after Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said it was ending a fact-checking programme criticised by President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans.

In a memo to staff about its decision, which affects, hiring, supplier and training efforts, Meta cited a "shifting legal and policy landscape". Walmart and McDonalds are among the other companies to have made similar decisions regarding diversity efforts since Trump won re-election.

Source: BBC News & The Verge & Inc.

Does Europe need to be more like the US?

As Europe’s economic progress stagnates and global competition in tech intensifies, the debate over whether it should emulate the US has gained momentum. While the US is lauded for its deep investment pools, risk-friendly culture, and billion-dollar tech giants, Europe prides itself on its cultural diversity, technical talent, and strong social safety nets. However, a growing concern is Europe’s lag in tech investment—an annual shortfall of €750 billion compared to what’s needed—and its fragmented markets, which hinder scaling and innovation. Policymakers are pushing for greater unity, improved access to late-stage capital, and stronger support for high-risk ventures. Though some argue that Europe doesn’t need to replicate Silicon Valley, building on its industrial strengths and creating an independent digital economy could be key. What’s needed now is decisive action to foster a more cohesive, investor-friendly ecosystem capable of nurturing the next generation of tech giants.

Source: Sifted

The Most Exciting Tech for Your Business at CES 2025

CES 2025 showcased an exciting mix of practical tech innovations and fun gadgets that could enhance both business productivity and workplace comfort. Lenovo’s AI-powered laptops, featuring built-in assistants using Meta’s Llama 3.0, promise smarter workflows for professionals, while Swippitt’s rapid phone charging system offers a game-changing solution for keeping devices powered on the go. On the comfort side, Razer’s Project Arielle concept chair, with built-in heating and cooling, could revolutionize office seating. Delta’s AI-driven travel concierge aims to simplify business travel by offering real-time flight rebooking and navigation. Smart glasses with built-in displays also made waves, offering hands-free notifications and AI features to boost efficiency. For a bit of workplace fun, Richtech Robotics’ ADAM, an AI-powered robot bartender, could become a hit for office happy hours. CES once again proved its status as the launchpad for next-gen tools designed to make work smoother, smarter, and more enjoyable.

Source: Inc. & TechCrunch

OTHER NEWS IN BRIEF ??

How Elon Musk’s xAI is quietly taking over X: xAI’s takeover of the platform once known as Twitter is so unmistakable that even its branding has crept into X’s most visible real estate, with “xAI Grok” now commanding prominent placement.

Why Brazilian farmers are doubling down on productivity: Brazilian farmers place on productivity: between 1980 and 2023, Brazil became a global benchmark in agricultural productivity

Earth breaches 1.5 °C climate limit for the first time: what does it mean? The threshold has been exceeded for only one year so far, but humanity is nearing the end of what many thought was a ‘safe zone’ as climate change worsens

LA inferno could inflict a $150 billion economic wound, with a grueling 10-year recovery ahead: Higher material and labor costs as well as increased demand for contractors could slow the process, expert says

This video company is positioning itself for a world without TikTok: Captions is making a play for CapCut’s users.

Forecast: 13 Companies That Could Go Public In 2025 If The IPO Market Gains Steam: many large private companies still have stockpiles of capital but eventually every venture-backed startup needs to exit, whether it be through an acquisition or in a public-market debut

From No-Code To Auto Payments, Critical Infrastructure Shifts Will Drive Enterprise AI In 2025: Drawing from current deployment patterns three critical infrastructure shifts are reshaping enterprise AI deployment.

1?? Video to watch??

The Next Frontier: Sam Altman on the Future of A.I. and Society

Sam Altman discusses his corporate strategy at OpenAI, the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, and the ethical dilemmas it presents, in an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin at the 2024 New York Times DealBook Summit.

Youtube

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1?? Podcast to listen???

Strategies for Managing Talent Amid Uncertainty and Competition

In the last half century, relationships between employers and their employees have evolved away from being rooted in long-term loyalty to a new paradigm of short-term alliances driven by uncertainty and competition.

https://hbr.org/podcast/2025/01/strategies-for-managing-talent-amid-uncertainty-and-competition

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1?? Tool to try ??

Thanks.io: aI Automated Hand-Written Direct Mail

Thanks.io was designed to enabled everyone from the smallest mom & pop to the largest marketing department to leverage direct mail in their marketing stack.

https://www.thanks.io/

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1?? Book to read ??

The Wolf Is at the Door: How to Survive and Thrive in an Ai-driven World

How will artificial intelligence (AI), reshape work, commerce, relationships, and reality? As AI shatters barriers and ascends to CEO positions, rewriting the rules of our world, it renders millions who were previously considered impervious, vulnerable to its effects.

https://amzn.eu/d/gXgWpHZ