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World’s purest silicon brings scientists one step closer to scaling up quantum computers

Ravi Acharya, a PhD researcher who performed experimental work in the project, explained: "The great advantage of silicon quantum computing is that the same techniques that are used to manufacture the electronic chips — currently within an everyday computer that consist of billions of transistors — can be used to create qubits for silicon-based quantum devices. The ability to create high quality Silicon qubits has in part been limited to…

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42% of employees would QUIT over political disagreements

Is it appropriate to restrict employees from expressing their political views at work? On the one hand, you want people to feel free to express themselves. But then, you don’t want those water cooler chats to turn into full-blown political showdowns. According to a Gartner survey, around four out of five employees admit to having political discussions at work, but almost half of them find themselves getting distracted on the…

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Global Russia as a Synonym for ‘Balance’

History shows that during times when Russia's vital interests are affected, its people are ready to maintain confrontation for as long as necessary. The confrontation with the West around Ukraine is such a situation. At the same time, unlike other major threats that our country has faced in past eras, the current crisis is not the largest. In the current conflict, Russia is pursuing its policy without an excessive overexertion…

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Baby born deaf can hear after breakthrough gene therapy

Opal Sandy from Oxfordshire is the first patient treated in a global gene therapy trial, which shows 'mind-blowing' results. She is the first British patient in the world and the youngest child to receive this type of treatment.Opal was born completely deaf because of a rare genetic condition, auditory neuropathy, caused by the disruption of nerve impulses travelling from the inner ear to the brain. Within four weeks of having…

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Call for safeguards to prevent unwanted ‘hauntings’ by AI chatbots of dead loved ones

Artificial intelligence that allows users to hold text and voice conversations with lost loved ones runs the risk of causing psychological harm and even digitally 'haunting' those left behind without design safety standards, according to University of Cambridge researchers. ‘Deadbots’ or ‘Griefbots’ are AI chatbots that simulate the language patterns and personality traits of the dead using the digital footprints they leave behind. Some companies are already offering these services, providing…

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Reframing the Competition

Imagine that two brands are running contests where participants stand to win nearly identical fitness watches. Both companies will award the watches to randomly chosen winners, amounting to 1 percent of all participants. Brand A has capped the number of entries at 1,000, while Brand B allows up to 10,000 entries. Which competition would you rather enter?Chances are you would pick Brand A’s competition. After all, you would be up…

  • Post category:INSEAD Knowledge
  • Reading time:7 mins read
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To defend against disruption, build a thriving workforce

Nonstop disruption. We have all lived through it the past several years: a global pandemic, geopolitical and economic instability, and the rise of new technologies such as generative AI (gen AI). This increasing pace of change, coupled with the anxiety of prolonged uncertainty, has created a situation in which companies can’t afford to keep doing business as usual. Indeed, workers have sent a clear message that they are disengaged to…

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The Hazards of Putting Ethics on Autopilot

Frontiers Research Highlight Research shows that employees who are steered by digital nudges may lose some ethical competency. That has implications for how we use the new generation of AI assistants. Julian Friedland, David B. Balkin, and Kristian Ove R. Myrseth May 08, 2024 Reading Time: 6 min  Topics Frontiers An MIT SMR initiative exploring how technology is reshaping the practice of management. More in this series Aad Goudappel/theispot.com The…

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Good Faith Defense Applies To Wage Statement Penalty Claims

Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Supreme Court concluded that the “good faith” defense applies to claims seeking to impose penalties under California Labor Code section 226. An employee must show that an employer’s failure to comply with section 226(a) was both knowing and intentional in order to establish an entitlement to penalties. Naranjo v. Spectrum Security Services. The Facts Gustavo Naranjo, filed a putative class action on behalf of Spectrum employees…

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5 ways to tackle the link between money worries and your mental health

It’s an unquestionable fact that stress is bad for your health. Did you know, though, that research from University College London has found that financial stress is the most detrimental to biological health – more than divorce or even a bereavement? In a recent study, Moneybox found that: Nearly half of people said they have financial regrets that made them feel stressed about their current financial situation 28% of people…

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‘Wraparound’ implants represent new approach to treating spinal cord injuries

A team of engineers, neuroscientists and surgeons from the University of Cambridge developed the devices and used them to record the nerve signals going back and forth between the brain and the spinal cord. Unlike current approaches, the Cambridge devices can record 360-degree information, giving a complete picture of spinal cord activity.Tests in live animal and human cadaver models showed the devices could also stimulate limb movement and bypass complete…

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Neuropsychiatry and sandwiches

Crammed elbow to elbow around a table in a tiny basement-level Clark Center conference room, a multidisciplinary cross-section of scientists, physicians, engineers and students convened to scarf sandwiches and compare notes. They were there that fateful Friday in 2019 because Karl Deisseroth, MD, PhD — one of Stanford Medicine’s most forward-thinking researcher-clinicians — had invited them. And lunch was on him. “We needed a lot of sandwiches in that jam-packed…

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Unleashing the power of midcap companies

Midsize companies don’t dominate the headlines and investor attention the way corporate behemoths do, but they are the economic engines of many countries and a vital part of the global business ecosystem. The world’s 50,000-plus midcap companies—which we define as organizations with $200 million to $2 billion in revenue—represent more than 40 percent of the global workforce and account for approximately one-third of most economies’ GDP. These companies play a…

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Longer market hours could hurt the average retail trader

Until recently, unless you worked on a trading floor, making your own stock deals wasn’t easy. “When I started 20 years ago, I used a dial-up connection and paid $17 per trade, which meant I thought long and hard before each one,” recalls Ed deHaan, a professor of accounting at Stanford Graduate School of Business. “Today, you can trade for free with the swipe of a finger before you’re even…

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A Matter of Trust – DOL Issues Final Amendment Broadly Expanding Definition of Investment Advice Fiduciary

Seyfarth Synopsis: On April 23, 2024, the Department of Labor released its latest attempt to amend its 1975 “fiduciary rule” and seven prohibited transaction class exemptions issued between 1975 and 2020 that investment advice fiduciaries have relied in connection with sales of common investment products like securities, mutual funds and annuities. These amendments have already been challenged in court, and it remains to be seen whether it will be “third…

  • Post category:Seyfarth Shaw LLP
  • Reading time:15 mins read
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3 ways Microsoft Azure AI Studio helps accelerate the AI development journey

The generative AI revolution is here, and businesses across the globe and across industries are adopting the technology into their work. However, the learning curve for your own AI applications can be steep, with 52% of organizations reporting that a lack of skilled workers is their biggest barrier to implement and scale AI.1 To reap the true value of generative AI, organizations need tools to simplify AI development, so they…

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Southern Circuit of Russia: Chances of Changing Optics

In its relations with the sovereign states of the “southern belt” of the former USSR, Russia considers itself like any European empire of the past, with the exception that its policy there has always been focused not on the exploitation of territories, but on their development. The most clear evidence of this is the dynamics of the population increase in Transcaucasia and Central Asia, as well as the financial situation…

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US: The FTC Cracks Down on Sensitive Personal Information Disclosures

The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) is taking bold actions to challenge business’s collection and monetization of consumers’ personal data—particularly sensitive personal data. This month, the FTC reached settlements with a data broker, X-Mode Social and its successor Outlogic LLC (“X-Mode”), and an alcohol addiction treatment firm, Monument Inc. (“Monument”), for, among other things, allegedly selling and/or sharing sensitive personal data to or with third-party advertising firms, without consent and contrary…

  • Post category:DLA Piper
  • Reading time:9 mins read
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The rapid evolution of payments in Latin America

In just two years, the debit card has replaced cash as the preferred payment method among Spanish-speaking Latin Americans, and mobile payments have quickly gained ground, too, particularly in countries such as Argentina and Peru.Those are some of the key findings from our two comprehensive payments surveys polling more than 15,000 people in Spanish-speaking Latin America in 2021 and 2023. Respondents to our 2023 survey overwhelmingly indicated that they prefer…

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How the Smartest CEOs Start

Find the right balance between listening and learning versus acting in this excerpt from The New CEO. Ty Wiggins May 07, 2024 Reading Time: 7 min  subscribe-icon Subscribe Share Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR The hardest part of a CEO transition is finding the right balance between listening and learning versus acting. How fast is too fast? How slow is too slow? Do you come in and take immediate action to make…

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The Corporate Transparency Act: Considerations for Special Purpose Entities in Commercial Real Estate Transactions

Special Purpose Entities in Commercial Real Estate Transactions Corporate structures in commercial real estate transactions can often be very complex and involve layers of entities. Special purpose entities that are bankruptcy remote (“SPEs”) are frequently used in commercial real estate loans to limit certain risks associated with a bankruptcy filing involving a borrower or its property. This applies to loans originated by CMBS (commercial mortgage-backed securities), agency (Fannie Mae and…

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Lessons in Business Innovation from Legendary Restaurant elBulli

Brian Kenny:What do tires and oat cuisine have in common? The answer was obvious to brothers André and Édouard Michelin. France in 1889 had just a few thousand cars on the road, barely enough to keep their fledgling tire company afloat. So they created a guidebook to show people all the fun day trips they could take in an automobile. The little red book with the humble beginnings would go…

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Post Termination Restrictions: General Statement or Solicitation of Clients?

The Financial Services industry is no stranger to post termination restrictions or restrictive covenants. They are commonly used in order to protect business interests particularly when dealing with client facing roles such as independent financial advisers (IFAs) or insurance brokers. A common restriction, and often one of the most valuable to most businesses will be the “non-solicitation of clients” provision. The purposes of such a restriction is to prevent the…

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Young Adults Reduced Drinking During and After Pandemic

A new study examined the drinking levels and patterns of young adults before, during and after the pandemic. The researchers found alcohol use and alcohol-related problems substantially decreased in heavy-drinking young adults during the pandemic, and these decreases were still evident as the pandemic began to wane. The results are available in the May 2 issue of the journal Nature Mental Health(opens in new window). Kasey Creswell “The pandemic gave…

  • Post category:Carnegie Mellon
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Investing in Wiz

As more workloads and data move to the cloud and generative AI takes over the enterprise, cybersecurity is more critical today than ever. And that’s because with every new paradigm shift—from the internet to cloud computing—the sheer magnitude of digital threats has exploded and threat vectors have become increasingly sophisticated. Some of the greatest software platforms in history have risen to the occasion in their respective markets to protect the…

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Hard Truths About the Meeting After the Meeting

Leaders must encourage respectful debate during meetings and use related strategies to avoid toxic post-meeting dynamics. Phillip G. Clampitt May 06, 2024 Reading Time: 13 min  Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images A leader attempting to quash the meeting after the meeting would be like a coach trying to stop fans from opining, snarking, or rejoicing after a big game. The hard truth: Win or lose, there will be post-meeting…

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Los Angeles County’s Predictable Scheduling Ordinance Will Take Effect on July 1, 2025

Quick Hits Retailers with at least 300 or more employees worldwide and that have employees in the County of Los Angeles will be required to provide their employees with predictable schedules. The county ordinance is similar to a City of Los Angeles ordinance that took effect in April 2023. The ordinance takes effect on July 1, 2025. Like the Los Angeles Fair Work Week Ordinance that took effect approximately one…

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At the Crossroads: Brazil in the Face of BRICS Expansion

During the South Africa Summit held in 2023, the BRICS countries agreed to invite Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to become new members in 2024. Although it was welcomed by the foreign offices of the member countries as a demonstration of the group's strengthening, when viewed from the Brazilian perspective the results were far from satisfying. Depending on how harsh the critic is, the…

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Directors in a VUCA World: Pitfalls and Upsides

In the tumultuous seas of the ever-evolving global economy, geopolitics and technology, board directors must become agile captains, navigating the relentless waves of change with strategic foresight and adaptability. This requires a clear view of the path ahead.At the recent INSEAD Directors Forum, Professor of Economics Pushan Dutt and Professor of Entrepreneurship Vibha Gaba identified and analysed both obstacles and opportunities boards face. Directors including Karen Fawcett, Yen Yen Tan and Chwee Foon Lim discussed…

  • Post category:INSEAD Knowledge
  • Reading time:12 mins read
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Why Territorial Managers Stifle Innovation — and What to Do About It

Topics Frontiers An MIT SMR initiative exploring how technology is reshaping the practice of management. More in this series Gary Waters/Ikon Images Dilip has been working hard on a game-changing idea for a new product. But when he excitedly approaches his boss to share it and get approval for further development and testing, his proposal is quickly rejected. Instead of offering constructive feedback on how to make the idea workable,…

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New capabilities to help with AI transformation

AI is transforming our world, unlocking new possibilities to enhance human abilities and to extend opportunities globally. At the same time, we are also facing an unprecedented threat landscape with the speed, scale, and sophistication of attacks increasing rapidly. To meet these challenges, we must ensure that AI is built, deployed, and used responsibly with safety and security at its core. And it is more important than ever to leverage…

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  • Reading time:10 mins read
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The Critical Minutes After a Virtual Meeting That Can Build Up or Tear Down Teams

Virtual meetings have become the standard for global and hybrid team communication, but what happens when the call ends? Participants who are in the same room keep talking—and the tone of those conversations can dramatically impact team dynamics over time, says new research.Think of the Zoom screen or the conference call as a theater, says Harvard Business School Professor Leslie Perlow, building on the foundational work of sociologist Erving Goffman.…

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Wealth planning for women

More women than ever are following their own careers and enjoying significant earning potential. So, when it comes to managing money, are things different for women who are high earners? George Howard, Chartered Financial Planner, looks at some of the key factors for women when it comes to financial planning and managing wealth. Some of the fundamentals of financial planning and managing wealth are the same – regardless of age,…

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CEOs Invest Less in Corporate Social Responsibility When Their Own Money Is At Stake

Should corporations invest in green production methods, offer employees generous health benefits, or allow employees time during the work week to volunteer? Whether and how for-profit companies should invest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and other forms of socially motivated spending is hotly debated. Some argue that companies have a responsibility to their broader society. Others insist that the sole focus of the corporation should be shareholder value. Kelly Shue,…

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New vaccine effective against coronaviruses that haven’t even emerged yet

This is a new approach to vaccine development called ‘proactive vaccinology’, where scientists build a vaccine before the disease-causing pathogen even emerges.The new vaccine works by training the body’s immune system to recognise specific regions of eight different coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and several that are currently circulating in bats and have potential to jump to humans and cause a pandemic. Key to its effectiveness is that the specific virus…

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Low for long? Reasons for the recent decline in productivity

6 May 2024By Óscar Arce and David SondermannSurprisingly strong employment growth in an environment of weak economic activity has recently led to declining labour productivity in the euro area. The ECB Blog discusses causes and prospects for a cyclical recovery in productivity growth. Over the first two decades of the currency union, labour productivity (output per worker) in the euro area has been weak, at least when compared to other…

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The Influence of Culture on India’s Foreign Policy

India’s culture plays a significant role in shaping its foreign policy. India employs soft power, such as music, dance, literature, yoga, and cuisine to promote its image abroad. Indian cinema has a massive global appeal. India’s doctrine of Ahimsa (non-violence) has influenced its foreign policy approach. India played a crucial role in the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War, advocating for peaceful coexistence, independence, and development among nations. Geopolitics in broad terms is…

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The hospital teacher

Kathy Ho tries to see every new teen on her list within 72 hours of their arrival. For some, it’s too soon, or they’re too sick. But for others, she is a beacon of normalcy. Ho teaches high school inside Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford (LPCH). “Sometimes I don’t like saying that I’m a teacher,” says Ho, MA ’94. “People get in their minds an idea of what teachers do,…

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CEO succession: Avoiding the unanticipated Domino Effect

A large financial services company promoted a key leader into the position of CEO. Two of their peers were also vying for the top job. Almost immediately, the other two executives left the company. This created an unexpected leadership vacuum that cascaded within their respective departments, where no one on either team was able to step up into the suddenly vacant leadership spots. The lack of “ready now” successors required…

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Minnesota Legislative Update 2024, Part III: Entering the Homestretch—Legislators’ Time to Make It or Break It

Quick Hits Minnesota lawmakers are attempting to secure enough votes ahead of this year’s legislative session deadline to place numerous bills on the governor’s desk, many of which, if enacted, will affect employers. Bills address drug testing, earned sick and safe time, pay transparency in job postings, wage deductions for credit card charges for tipped employees, restrictive employment covenants in service contracts, and employee misclassification. Senate Democrats have a one-vote…

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