What do the tech layoffs really tell us? (Ep. 533)
The home team convenes to talk about how tech layoffs are reshaping the industry, where to look for software engineering jobs beyond tech, the brain-computer interface that speeds up communication for people with paralysis, and Ben’s million-dollar game idea (free for the stealing).
Episode notes:
Naturally, tech layoffs are top-of-mind for many of us. Despite comparisons to the dot-com bubble, what we’re seeing right now is different. Here’s what the tech and media layoffs really tell us about the economy.
In praise of analog technology: why Millennials and Gen Z are springing for paper maps.
Make Time, a way of “rethinking the defaults of constant busyness and distraction so you can focus on what matters every day,” was developed in response to always-on Silicon Valley culture.
Wifi routers can now be used to detect the physical positions of humans and map their bodies in 3D. Terrifyingly dystopian or interestingly practical? Why not both?
In recent accessibility news, a brain-computer interface (BCI) that converts speech-related neural activity into text allows a person with paralysis due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to communicate at 62 words per minute, nearly 3.5 times faster than before. From the abstract: “These results show a feasible path forward for using intracortical speech BCIs to restore rapid communication to people with paralysis who can no longer speak.”
Shoutout to Lifeboat badge winner Holger for their answer to Sort an array containing numbers using a ‘for’ loop.
Tags: accessibility, BCI, layoffs, tech layoffs, the stack overflow podcast
3 Comments
The heading should be Ep. 533 (not 532).
I liked the fact that it’s still net positive hiring since 2020, didn’t know that.
But what do you say about the fact that making software is becoming more nad more easy, no code/low code and AI like Github-Copilot and ChatGPT helping to make code now, I think this wasn’t even mentioned!! Aslo the thing that Elon Musk fired Developers that were in his opinion “not really coding” was not mentioned… the most interesting things were not discussed in my opinion.
and btw, saying “Like” and “Right” 5 billion times isn’t really improving the quality of a conversation. Sorry, but it’s impossible to listen to (I’m not from the US).
I don’t read anything anymore about those layoffs. Right now, the companies that don’t do it won’t be able to do it anymore without the “market” thinking there’s a problem with the company. Since everyone is doing, then it’s “ok” to layoff.
I do have to point however… maybe you can call it karma: big tech got even bigger thanks to a lot of people going remote, however… while they should be pushing for everyone to go remote, it seems they are the first ones that want people back to office… and a lot of people are following… and then they get surprised they aren’t getting the growth rates they wanted.