Looking for a way to reinvigorate your tech career? Or perhaps you’re trying to think of ways to insulate your skills against the ever-encroaching capabilities of Generative AI.

Whatever your motivation, a pivot to cybersecurity could be the answer.

According to analysis conducted by Mordor Intelligence, the U.S. cybersecurity market size is expected to grow from $85.79 billion in 2024 to $126.57 billion by 2029, an increase of 8.09% CAGR.

3 high-paying jobs to apply for now

• Cyber Engineer, Blackstone Technology Group, Chantilly
• Senior Cyber Engineer, SAIC, North Charleston
• Cyber Security Lead, The Save Mart Companies, Modesto

In fact, recent data compiled by the IMF has found that the risk of extreme financial losses from cybersecurity are on the rise and have quadrupled since 2017 to $2.5 billion (over the past 20 years, $12 billion has been lost to cybercrime).

Although financial institutions are attempting to insulate themselves and their customers from increasingly sophisticated ransomware attacks, the reality is that the field of cybersecurity is suffering from a talent shortage, despite many organizations across various industries adopting a proactive and strategic approach.

The silver lining? Opportunities abound for those who want to work in the sector.

“Embarking on a career in cybersecurity involves cultivating a strong foundation in computer science and essential technical skills,” says Aileen Allkins, CEO of TeKnowledge, a digital transformation consultancy that offers managed services, digital skilling solutions and cybersecurity strategies.

Source: Unsplash

Allkins also advises that a robust educational background paired with a focus on developing key competencies such as analytical problem-solving and effective communication is critical.

“These skills enable professionals to identify vulnerabilities and articulate security strategies clearly. In the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity, ongoing learning and practical experience are highly valued by organizations.

“The ability to adapt to rapid technological changes and lead security strategies is highly sought after in both government and enterprise sectors.”

Security analyst roles are a good place to start however Allkins shares that for those with leadership aspirations, advancing towards senior positions like security consultant, manager or chief information security officer (CISO) should be considered.

Ready to make the leap? Whether you’re at the start of your tech career or have decades of experience under your belt, the Tech HQ Job Board is the perfect place to focus your search as it features thousands of roles all across the U.S.

Thinking about your next career move? Head to the Tech HQ Job Board today to discover thousands of open roles

The post Want a high paying tech job? Pivot to a career in cybersecurity appeared first on TechHQ.

Whether you work in software development or as a product manager, tech workers of all descriptions have suffered the same fate in recent years: mass layoffs and the looming fear that more are on the way.

In 2022 and 2023, 165,269 and 263,180 tech workers respectively were laid off from just over 2,000 companies.

This year isn’t faring that much better with 74,591 tech workers and counting experiencing job losses from 257 companies so far.

The important thing to point out is that while layoffs aren’t ideal, they aren’t the end of the world, nor are they any reflection on your ability, work ethic or the value you bring to the workplace.

However, it’s also important to note that it’s always a good idea to be as prepared as possible if layoffs are looming so below we’re outlining some of the most common warning signs you should be aware of.

Budgets are being slashed

From hiring freezes to salary and bonus freezes, if you become aware that your company is scaling back on spend, it could be a sign that they are trying to reduce costs and layoffs are on the way.

Your manager may not want to discuss the reasons behind this with you, but asking for a performance review is a good way to decipher where the company’s finances stand in relation to remunerating its employees. Bottom line: if you’ve smashed your targets and hit your KPIs yet there’s no money on the table, your time at that company could be limited.

New projects are being postponed

If a project you’ve been working on suddenly gets canned, it could be because the company is looking for ways to reduce spend, particularly if the project isn’t guaranteed to generate revenue straight away.

Source: Shutterstock

While changes to business objectives can also impact on the lifecycle of a project, if great ideas that could generate revenue in relatively quick terms are being overlooked, it could be a sign that bigger problems are on the horizon.

Vacancies aren’t being filled

Forget ghosting in a dating context. Ghost job postings are one of the most recent scourges on the job hunting scene and happen when companies want to appear as if they are in growth but have actually implemented hiring freezes to cut costs.

Another way to spot a ghost job listing is if vacancies across the company when people leave aren’t being filled as this can also hint that restructuring is on the way.

Whether you’re worried about being laid off or are weighing up your career options, the good news is that thousands of tech companies across the board are hiring at pace. Below we’re detailing three that are actively recruiting but you can find many more on the Tech HQ Job Board.

Software Developer – AI Trainer (Contract), DataAnnotation, Salt Lake City

Are you looking for a flexible role that will allow you to work remotely and choose your own hours? DataAnnotation is hiring a Software Developer to train AI chatbots to code.

For this role you will need to be proficient in at least one programming language and able to solve coding problems (think LeetCode, HackerRank, etc).

For each coding problem, you must be able to explain how your solution solves the problem. Projects are paid hourly, with bonuses for high-quality and high-volume work.

If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, get further details here.

DevOps / Cloud Engineer, KBR, Springfield, VA

KBR is seeking a DevOps/Cloud Engineer to support government customers in the Washington metropolitan area by providing software development and technical expertise to support and enable customer goals.

As such, you will work closely with the scientists and engineers to identify manual and analytic tasks for automation, the scientists and engineers to identify manual and analytic tasks for automation including code and script generation, code testing, support to code security accreditation, and documenting.

Interested? Apply here.

Software Engineer Lead, PNC Financial Services Group, Strongsville

PNC offers a wide range of financial services and is currently recruiting a Software Engineer Lead to create and lead the technical design and development of software solutions. Working within the team technology group you will be based in Pittsburgh, PA, Cleveland, OH, Birmingham, AL or Dallas, TX and provide technical support and guidance to colleagues.

You will also review coding, testing, and documentation of software and apply modern principles, methodologies and tools to advance business initiatives and capabilities.

You can find more information about this position here.

Thinking about your next career move? Head to the Tech HQ Job Board today to discover thousands of open roles

The post These are the signs to tell you if a layoff is on the cards at your company appeared first on TechHQ.

Four years ago, remote working was a necessity for all roles that could feasibly be done from home.

As the majority of employees had worked in-office, this meant they also lived within a commutable distance from the office, and usually resided in the same state.

However, following this forced period of WFH, and amid reports of high-productivity and discussions around redefining the future of working, many of these remote workers moved out of cities and states, and into more affordable towns and rural areas.

Others did not relocate, but remained happy working from home, and now four years later they continue to resist return-to-office (RTO) mandates.

However, those seeking new remote roles are currently hitting a location block; roles may be remote but they are only remote within a particular state, or states.

While RTO mandates make employees wary, these state-specific offers are usually not because that employer has plans to pivot to in-office or hybrid working. There are a number of influences on this decision.

Legal landscape

Everything from employment laws to regulations change state to state. And if an employer has employees in a particular place, they have a responsibility to adhere to those laws, and must stay abreast of ever-changing protections and benefits there, such as sick leave and flexible scheduling.

Source: Shutterstock

Think of the risk and people power required to adhere to the laws of multiple different jurisdictions. This is why many employers only hire within a small set of states, even if the roles are performed remotely.

Pay transparency laws also vary state to state. Some don’t have them at all, while in others transparency is only applicable to employers with over 50 employees.

Remote working pay transparency makes things all the more complicated. Again, it varies by location. California is one of the most strict states on employers: if a single employee works in the state, salaries must be disclosed for remote jobs. Some employers avoid pay transparency by not hiring in states where it is mandatory.

Tax implications

Tied closely with law is tax. Again, regulations vary widely depending on where you reside.

Generally speaking, employers have to withhold income tax in the state or states where employees are employed, no matter where the business is based.

But some neighboring states have reciprocal agreements, and other states require employees to withhold income in both states: where the company is and where the employee works.

Other states don’t withhold any income tax at all, or have different considerations for remote employees. It’s a total minefield, but one that is narrowed if an employer only hires in specific states.

The onus is on remote workers to understand the tax implications of remote working in the state they live in, so they can make informed financial decisions, and avoid unexpected tax liabilities.

Business licenses

For every state a company operates in, they require a business license.

This can be costly, when you factor in the paperwork and fees, plus they must provide a registered agent and an address.

Even with just one employee in a state, a company could be liable to pay a number of taxes there. As brilliant as you are, you might be too costly a hire.

For all these reasons, you’ll need to read the fine print if you want to work remotely at any given company.

Seeking a new role? On the Tech HQ Job Board you can search ‘Remote, USA’ instead of choosing a city, and that’ll take you to remote tech roles on offer, like these three.

Senior Software Engineer – AI/ML, DigitalOcean, Remote

DigitalOcean is looking for a Senior Software Engineer – AI/ML to build features and improvements end-to-end to make accelerated compute simple and accessible for everyone. You’ll be part of the Paperspace team, responsible for creating tools so that developers can easily create and deploy models for AI experiences. You’ll work primarily in Typescript, React, GraphQL, TRPC, and Go, will build UI components, libraries, tools, and services that power the Paperspace platform, and maintain and develop the GraphQL/TRPC API. Apply here.

Senior Engineer- SAP S4 HANA, Builders FirstSource, Remote

Builders FirstSource is America’s largest supplier of building materials, value-added components and building services to the professional market. It is embarking on a multi-year business transformation to outperform its  competition and enable industry transformation. As Senior Engineer, you will be the internal BFS technology lead and will oversee the technology and innovation efforts to harmonize our operations on SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university as well as four or more years’ relevant work experience in SAP S/4 Hana Development is required. See full details here.

Senior iOS Engineer, Fable, Remote

Fable is a mission-driven start-up based in Silicon Valley, founded in 2019. It is now looking for an experienced Mobile Engineer with a deep understanding of the iOS platform to build the world’s best mobile platform for social reading. You will work closely with design and product to create the next generation social platform centered around stories and mental wellness, take technical ownership of major product areas and new features, and review code and identify possible problems and areas for improvement in a thoughtful manner. To be considered, expert-level knowledge of developing and maintaining mobile applications on iOS is required as is a deep understanding and appreciation of software engineering fundamentals. Find out more here.

Visit the Tech HQ Job Board today to see a whole host of job opportunities, refreshed continuously

The post Want to work remotely? Be mindful of the state you live in appeared first on TechHQ.

• Hugging Face vulnerabilities revealed.
• Supply chain attacks can get into Hugging Face safetensors.
• That means the whole Hugging Face community could be under threat.

READ NEXT

AI improves with the right additional tools

Recent research has found that the new Hugging Face Safetensors conversion services are vulnerable to supply chain attacks, with hackers able to hijack AI models submitted by users. Reported by The Hacker News, cybersecurity researchers from HiddenLayer discovered that it is “possible to send malicious pull requests with attacker-controlled data from the Hugging Face service to any repository on the platform.” The researchers also found that it was possible to “hijack any models that are submitted through the conversion service.”

For those who don’t know, Hugging Face is a collaboration platform used by software developers to host and work together on an infinite number of datasets, machine learning models, and applications, all of which are pre-trained. Users can build, implement, and train these to their choosing.

Vulnerabilities in Hugging Face

Safetensors, a format designed by Hugging Face, store tensors, prioritizing security. Users can also convert PyTorch models to Safetensor through a pull request if desired. Safetensors is in contrast to “pickles,” another format, which may have been exploited by malicious actors to deploy tools such as Mythic and Cobalt Strikes, and run unauthorized code.

The recent revelation of possible vulnerabilities comes as a shock to many of Hugging Face’s 1.2 million registered users. It became evident through the research that malicious pull requests could be accomplished via a hijacked model. Since the service should convert this model, it enables harmful actors to pose as the conversion bot and request modifications to any repository on the platform.

It’s also possible for hackers to extract tokens associated with SFConvertbot. This is a bot made to generate a pull request. These tokens can be extracted, sending out a dangerous pull request to any repository on the Hugging Face site. From here, a threat actor could manipulate the model, even implanting neural backdoors.

According to researchers, “an attacker could run any arbitrary code any time someone attempted to convert their model.” Essentially, a model could be hijacked upon conversion without the user even knowing it.

An attack could result in the theft of a user’s Hugging Face token if they try to convert their personal repository. Hackers may also be able to access datasets and internal models, resulting in malicious interference.

The complexities of these vulnerabilities don’t stop there. An adversary could exploit the ability for any users to submit a conversion request for a public repository, resulting in a possible modification or hijacking of a widely utilized model. That poses a substantial risk to the overall supply chain. Researchers summed this up by saying, “the conversion service has proven to be vulnerable and has had the potential to cause a widespread supply chain attack via the Hugging Face official service.”

Attackers could get access to a container that runs the service, and choose to compromise any models that have been converted by it.

Hugging Face – traditionally, bad things happen afterwards…

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How to run your own AI

The implications go beyond singular repositories. The overall trustworthiness and reliability of the Hugging Face service and its community is under threat.

Co-founder and CEO of Hidden Layer, Chris “Tito” Sestito, emphasized the effects this vulnerability could have on a wider scale, saying, “This vulnerability extends beyond any single company hosting a model. The compromise of the conversion service has the potential to rapidly affect the millions of users who rely on these models to kick-start their AI projects, creating a full supply chain issue. Users of the Hugging Face platform place trust not only in the models hosted there but also in the reputable companies behind them, such as Google and Microsoft, making them all the more susceptible to this type of attack.”

LeftoverLocals

Hidden Layer’s exposure to certain vulnerabilities comes just one month after Trail of Bits revealed a vulnerability known as LeftoverLocals (CVE-2023-4969, Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score – 6.5). This particular security flaw enables the retrieval of data from general-purpose graphics processing units (GPGPUs), manufactured by Apple, AMD, Qualcomm, and Imagination. The CVSS score of 6.5 indicates that this vulnerability was on a moderate level of severity, putting sensitive data at risk.

Trail of Bits’ memory leak stemmed from a failure to isolate process memory. Therefore, a local attacker could gain access and read memory from various processes. This includes the interactive sessions of other users within a Large Language Model (LLM).

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The Hugging Face vulnerabilities, as well as those at Trail of Bits, only emphasizes the need for AI technologies to have stricter security protocols in place. Currently, the adoption of AI is growing at such a rate that sufficient security measures cannot keep up. HiddenLayer is one company that is creating solutions for such shortcomings, with its AISec platform offering a range of products designed to protect ML models against malicious code injections and attacks.

Nevertheless, the revelation of Hugging Face’s Safetensors conversion tool issues gives us a stark reminder of the challenges faced by AI and machine learning sectors. Supply chain attacks could put the integrity of AI models at risk, as well as the ecosystems that rely on such technologies. Right now, investigations are continuing into the vulnerability, with the machine learning community on high alert, and more vigilant than ever before.

The post Hugging Face Safetensors vulnerable to supply chain attacks appeared first on TechHQ.

• Could Shein be shifting to London?
• What could a London listing deliver for Shein?
• And what obstacles standin the way of Shein finding a new home on the London Stock Exchange?

Shein, a world leading fast-fashion brand, could be making plans to relocate its initial public offering (IPO) to London from New York. But scrutiny over its supply chain and links to China could make this a challenging move.

Founded in Nanjing, China in 2008, Shein is now headquartered in Singapore, though it continues to list in the US. The company officially became the world’s largest fashion retailer in 2022, with a valuation of $80 to $90 billion being sought in late 2023 ($10 billion less than its value in 2022, a reduction mainly down to a sector-wide decline in venture funding).

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Will Shein leap and go for an IPO in the US?

Shein of London?

Shein is known for its vast range of affordable, trendy clothing, accessories, and other fashion items, primarily working via its online platform. With its extensive selection of products and a high turnover, the e-commerce company is able to keep up with the rapid nature of altering fashion trends. Its low prices and continuous, constant introduction of new staples has gained a substantial following, particularly among younger consumers.

IPO change of location

Currently, Shein’s IPO is based in New York, but reports suggest it is in early talks to switch to London. This relocation is reportedly influenced by the suspicion that the US Securities and Exchange Commission is unlikely to grant approval for Shein’s IPO. Other possible IPO locations allegedly being discussed include Singapore and Hong Kong.

The US remains the retailer’s preferred location, but it is still working on its application to list in the country. If Shein decides to switch to another country, it will have to file a new listing application overseas with Chinese regulators.

A listing in London could present a much-needed boost to the IPO market after a torturous period over the last year. Valued at $90 billion, Shein could potentially raise $9 billion if 10% of its shares go public, just slightly behind the $9.1 billion IPO Porsche enjoyed in 2021.

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The US government has its eyes on Shein and Temu now, and here’s why

Given the challenging IPO market conditions and the comparatively lower fundraising in the UK through IPOs in 2023 (approximately $1 billion, the lowest in decades), a potential London listing could introduce renewed capital and attention to the beleaguered market, attracting investor interest and helping revitalize the IPO landscape.

This move goes against the current trend of firms upping sticks and moving from the UK to pastures new in the wake of Britain’s severing of ties with continental European markets. For instance, TUI AG shareholders voted to delist from the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and move its trading to Germany. Arm Holdings Plc moved its IPO to New York from London in 2023, deepening the UK’s struggle to stop the mass business exodus. The UK government tried to intervene by lobbying for a domestic listing, but its attempts failed.

Experts believe that Shein’s discussions to list on the LSE is a short-term compromise. It’s about choosing certainty over valuation and liquidity in the immediate term. While this move could be a substantial one, especially in the realm of IPO, it’s unlikely other Chinese firms will follow suit and list in the UK, as the London market is much smaller compared to other major financial hubs, like the US and China.

Shein faces challenges

Why would Shein benefit from the LSE?

In 2023, Shein filed, albeit confidentially, to go public, but it faces various challenges to do so in the US. There is scrutiny and certain concerns surrounding Shein’s supply chain, with US lawmakers lobbying to delay the company’s public offering until it is proven that there is no forced labor in its supply chain.

Shein has faced allegations that it uses forced labor to help produce its $5 t-shirts and $10 sweaters, but the retail giant has repeatedly denied such reports, stating that it does not manufacture in Xinjiang, a region where allegations of human rights violations have been raised. Government officials and advocates have accused China of using Muslim minority groups and Uyghurs to work under poor conditions, but Beijing has (naturally) denied any abuses.

The main regulatory hurdle faced by Shein will be convincing regulators and governments that its supply chain is clean. Congresswoman and Democratic Representative Jennifer Wexton said that Shein must “prove to American consumers that its products are not sourced from forced labor.” In 2023, Wexton also led a bipartisan call for the SEC to stop Shein’s IPO, until it can verify no forced labor is used in its supply chain.

There have also been calls for the SEC to audit Shein by another group of Republican attorneys general from 16 US states.

A spokesperson for Shein said the company has a “zero-tolerance policy for forced labor” and was “eager to engage and continue to be transparent with all stakeholders, including Representative Wexton and her staff.”

READ NEXT

Shein vs Temu: an ecommerce explainer

Intellectual Property (IP) issues, as well as the forced labor allegations, will undoubtedly make it difficult for Shein to achieve its public status, even if the company provides additional disclosures about its operations. Tie in the growing US-China trade tension and worries of Shein’s possible connections to the Chinese Communist Party, and the company faces more questions about how much control Chinese regulators have over it.

Shein’s potential move to the LSE from New York is ultimately a response to geopolitical tensions and regulatory scrutiny in the US. By listing in London, Shein may benefit from a perceived tax loophole, as well as geopolitical shifts.

With Jeremy Hunt, the British Chancellor, reportedly encouraging this move by having discussions with Donald Tang, Shein’s chairman, we could see the relocation this year, though Shein has some serious questions to answer before this becomes a viable prospect.

The post London calling: Shein could be moving its IPO across the pond but faces challenges appeared first on TechHQ.

• The Chinese economy has until recently been growing exponentially.
• Bullish behavior from the US has had a negative effect on the Chinese economy.
• It will probably take a lot more to upset the country’s growth long-term.

It’s no secret that China’s recent economic performance is a far cry from its persistent high growth patterns over the last three decades. In those thirty or so years, China’s economy transformed into an upper-middle-income status from one that was low-income. Just a quick glance at market exchange rates shows a GDP of $18.3 trillion in 2022. This was 73% of the United States’ GDP, with China’s per capita income now approximately $13,000. This equates to around 17% of the United States’ per capita income. When we consider China’s was less than two percent of the US’ 34 years ago, the country’s economic growth has been remarkable.

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Silicon secrets: is China defying the Nvidia chip ban?

What goes up tends to come back down, though, and economists have long forecasted an economic collapse for China due to various fragilities. For instance, the country’s growth has been powered by investments in physical capital, particularly real estate. This, in turn, has been financed by a banking system that lacks certain efficiencies. Now, it seems those forecasters were correct, as China struggles with rising debt levels, crashing stocks, weaker consumer confidence, a diminishing labor force, and an unraveling property market.

Despite the country’s economic struggles, China still sits at the top of the pile in terms of being the world’s leading manufacturing force, according to Eurizon strategists. Compared to its rivals, China’s manufacturing capacity is far greater. Coupled with the fact that export prices have risen by 30% and 31% in Mexico and Vietnam respectively over the last three years, two of China’s most prominent competitors, it seems China will continue to reign supreme as the world’s most dominant manufacturer.

China’s labor force far outweighs the combined economies of the US, Japan, Canada, the EU, India, Korea, Vietnam, and Mexico, estimated to be around 212 million. This backs up a point made by Eurizon strategists, Stephen Jen and Joana Freire. “We believe the fact that export prices have risen more rapidly than general inflation – a remarkable fact in a period of a strengthening dollar – indicates stresses and pressures on the manufacturing capacity in these countries, including shortages of appropriate workers, infrastructure, and transport.”

Yes, other countries may start to gradually shift away from China in global manufacturing, but it is unlikely smaller nations will have the power and abilities to adapt to rapid changes to be on par with China’s dominance. Jen and Freire agree that there is little evidence of deglobalization, stating, “no other country has the manufacturing capacity to supplant China.” Even countries that are exporting more to the US in place of China, such as Mexico, are importing more than ever from – you guessed it – China.

Economic growth prospects

Predicting China’s growth is a challenging task, with only a crystal ball offering any glimpse of accuracy right now. Nevertheless, productivity may be the engine to power future economic success. Although the country has faced struggles, and continues to do so, its total factor productivity (growth not attributed to increased inputs) has averaged a respectable 3% growth over the last few decades.

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Biden weighs blocking China’s access to US cloud tech, fearing AI advancement

However, productivity growth has dropped to about one percent a year over the last decade. If this trend continues, China may face further economic challenges. This is why China must improve its productivity growth, as relying solely on increased inputs, like capital and labor, may not be sufficient for long-term economic success.

The Chinese government has recognized the need for improvements in productivity, moving away from low-skill manufacturing. The government’s answer is a “dual circulation” growth policy, one that enhances worldwide finance and trade, relying more on domestic demand, homegrown innovations, and being technologically self-sufficient.

This policy faces some difficulties though, as China can only upgrade its industries by relying on foreign technology. The issues lie in geopolitical and economic conflicts with the West and the US. Therefore, access to such technologies and export markets may become strained and limited. Add to this the government’s clampdown on private companies in areas like education, health, and technology, and it’s clear that entrepreneurship in the country is also facing tight constraints and negative impacts.

Sectors, including electric vehicles, green energy, technology platforms, and electronics continue to be bright beacons of hope in a tumultuous Chinese economy, with slight recoveries after substantial drops in July and August 2023.

The Chinese economy – surging or stalling?

We mustn’t forget that China remains the world’s second-largest economy, still a center for manufacturing and supply chains, global exports, and home to some of the biggest brands, like TikTok, Tencent, and Alibaba. So, maybe all this worry is a bit far-fetched?

Not if we look at Japan.

The Japanese example

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Just a sleeping giant? Japan ready to reclaim semiconductor superstardom

30 years ago, Japan was leading the way with technological innovations and leadership. But, even with this, the country faced significant economic turmoil, mass debt, and institutional weaknesses; all of which undermined the country’s prosperity and growth. Being a technological powerhouse did not prevent Japan from facing difficult decades; there is little reason why the same should not apply to China.

To help stabilize the country’s economy, 2024 is expected to bring tax cuts and fee reductions for businesses, with additional support for the struggling housing market.

Right now, there do not seem to be any stringent measures planned to improve consumer demand or boost household incomes. Instead, the government is working to strengthen public opinion and economic propaganda. The goal? To promote a more positive view of the Chinese economy, even if it is beleaguered.

The key interest area of focus is between China and the United States. In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Joe Biden, with both hoping to stabilize their external diplomatic relationship. Xi also met with EU Commission officials in an attempt to maintain a close relationship for access to technology and trade. This doesn’t rule out an upcoming trade war between China and the EU, though; instead, it’s Xi trying to smooth out his country’s economy.

China’s industrial policy is centered around access to foreign technology, the widespread use of large-scale industrial funds, and state subsidies. Previously, this has led to an oversupply of production capacity, particularly in sectors like renewables and steel. This is now evident in China’s battery and electric vehicle production.

The auto industry in China has been operating at less than 60 percent of its total production capacity. In addition, approximately 12% of its current production of 27 million units have been exported, with the production of electric vehicles notably increasing. Excess capacity in sensitive areas, like renewables and steel, can lead to economic inefficiencies and trade tensions are ever present. But having access to foreign technology could be a key solution to accelerating China’s innovations and technological advancements, potentially positioning China as a continuing leader in various sectors and technologies.

When compared to the US, the EU has significantly lower tariff rates, offering more opportunities for Chinese exports of vehicles. However, an anti-subsidy investigation has been initiated by the EU, which may lead to tariffs and restrictions on Chinese electric car imports. With the U.S. also taking measures to boost the manufacturing capabilities in renewables, electric vehicles, and semiconductors, China may have to face some tough stances, particularly in trade policies, as 2024 progresses; even more so if Trump gets reelected.

For now, China remains the world’s largest exporter, boasting an estimated global market share of 15%. This marks an all-time high when the Chinese economy is facing one of its lowest points in recent history.

The post Chinese economy likely to remain strong long-term? appeared first on TechHQ.

While you might think the recent spate of tech layoffs should automatically equate to tech companies having their pick of top talent, the opposite is true.

According to job site Indeed, the demand for tech workers is outstripping supply and tech companies need to look beyond salaries, on-site snacks and snazzy meeting rooms to lure tech talent.

One way Indeed is attempting to bridge this gap is through its specialized Tech Network of more than 50 technology-specific sites. Designed to help employers hire for competitive and hard-to-fill roles, it aims to tap into passive talent who may not be actively looking for a new role, along with active job seekers.

But bringing job seekers to job ads isn’t enough. Tech workers are looking for employers that are willing to go the extra mile when it comes to workplace benefits including flexible working, onsite and offsite support and work practices that help to minimize work stress, rather than add to it.

Source: Shutterstock

In a separate survey conducted by Indeed, tech job seekers admitted that wellbeing is a top priority, and 39% shared that lack of work-life balance was the top reason why they may leave their current role. This was followed by job stress (38%), a job with better benefits (38%), better pay (37%), wanting a fully remote position (37%), and moving to a different location (35%).

Flexibility is also starting to look different: while the concept of a side hustle is nothing new, an increasing amount of tech workers are now working multiple part-time roles or taking on freelance work outside of their full time gig, which is why employer flexibility holds even more sway.

Inclusive workplaces win

And when you look at the data surrounding performance in the workplace, fostering a more inclusive, accommodating environment makes sense—a study conducted by the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre in the UK found that companies with better levels of workplace wellbeing were also more profitable, had a better return on assets and higher valuations.

Ultimately, if your current role isn’t working for you on many levels you have options, and if you’re considering looking for something new, the TechHQ Job Board is the ideal place to focus your search. It features thousands of roles in tech companies actively hiring, including the three below.

AI Content Writer, DataAnnotation, Miami

Are you a professional writer or copy editor with proficiency in AI? DataAnnotation is seeking an AI Content Writer to work in either a part- or full-time capacity. The main elements of this job include having conversations with chatbots in order to measure their progress, as well as writing novel conversations in order to teach them what to say. You will also be required to fact-check AI responses and compare the performance of different AI models. You’ll be able to choose what projects you want to work on and work to your own schedule. Interested? Apply here.

DevSecOps Engineer, Kubernetes (Top Secret) – 1003, Reinventing Geospatial, Inc. (RGi), Herndon

As a DevSecOps Engineer with RGi you will work as part of an Agile Operational team to translate real-world needs into technical specifications, making you an integral part of delivering customer focused engineering solutions. You will design and maintain multiple DevOps pipelines that are deployed into the larger system infrastructure. Deployment will be across multiple networks into hybrid architectures with a true big-data footprint (over 10 petabytes). In addition, the DevSecOps Engineer will be responsible for the operations of the Operating System in both virtual and physical environments. Applicants will also require active top secret clearance and be willing to undergo a CI Polygraph test. See the full job description here.

Product Lead, Core Platform, 23andMe, Sunnyvale

23andMe is looking for a Product Lead on the Core Platform team to be responsible for delivering an engaging direct-to-customer offering rooted in genetics and other health data. You will play a key role in rallying cross-functional partners and exploring ways to empower our customers with tools to take a deeper look into their genetics and manage their health. As such, you will shape the information architecture of the products across web and mobile. This role will drive iteration of the user interface, how things are organized, and how users interact with all of our products. You will also drive a pipeline of product features and enhancements, constantly refining priorities to ensure alignment with company goals and overall product vision. Find out more here.

Accelerate your tech job search today via the TechHQ Job Board

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• EV charging stations becoming increasingly unreliable or broken.
• Electrify America’s EV charging stations are designed for user convenience.
• Could Electrify’s prototype be the future of EV charging stations?

Owning an electric vehicle is a clear 21^st century choice when it comes to lightening your carbon footprint – but it goes hand in hand with finding out-of-commission charging stations or broken chargers. You’re in desperate need of charging your car and you see a third-party charging station coming up, but lo and behold, it’s out of service.

This is unfortunately a pretty common occurrence across the US right now, leading many of these third-party charging companies, like Electrify America, to regularly change and update their charging stations.

Repairing EV charging stations

In response to these issues, the US government is investing $100 million to repair the nation’s broken EV charger network. Coupled with Tesla’s superior NACS (North American Charging Standard) connectors, we could be witnessing a new, reliable dawn of EV charging.

In fact, the future of EV charging may look a lot like Electrify America’s new charging station at 928 Harrison Street in the SoMa (South of Market) neighborhood of San Francisco. Instead of engaging in a competition centered around reliability, companies may now focus on the overall customer experience.

Right now, the majority of charging stations are located within or close to shopping malls or restaurants, for convenience. That means people can get on with daily chores or have a shopping spree while their car charges. But Electrify America has opened a station, dubbed “the nicest in America,” where customers can relax in comfort and wait for their vehicles to charge.

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The new flagship indoor location looks more like a VIP airport lounge than an EV charging station, boasting two lounge areas featuring food and drink vending options, restrooms with baby changing facilities, complimentary fast wi-fi, and 20 fast 350kW chargers. It is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, with security and monitoring services, promising safety for vehicles and customers at all times.

The Electrify America vision

President and CEO of Electrify America, Robert Barrosa, released a statement explaining how the company’s history had led up to this moment.

“Our expertise in building over 250 stations in California and more than 900 in North America uniquely positions us to bring high-quality charging infrastructure directly into communities where people live and work and support EV adoption across the state.” Mr. Barrosa went on to describe the lounges as “nice, sleek, and comfortable,” comparing them to “Priority Pass” airport lounges.

This luxurious opening follows a design concept from Electrify America in 2022, known as “The charging station of the future, today.” The concept’s aim was to create comfortable spaces for customers to relax in, enhancing the EV driver experience, with distinct community-centric design strategies put in place.

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While Electrify America has opened outdoor flagship charging stations in Santa Clara and Baker, California, this latest site is the first to reflect its 2022 strategy. One main difference is that the San Francisco station sports 20 chargers, compared to the 10 in the earlier opened sites; seemingly a direct response to the nation’s growing demand for EV chargers.

Tesla still has the largest network of charging stations across the US, with 2,128 Superchargers locations as of January 2024. Most of those, though, are outdoors, and not in the most desirable locations. For instance, many are found next to gas stations, with nothing much for drivers to do while waiting for their car to charge (unless you love spending time in gas stations, of course!)

The shape of EV charging stations to come?

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This latest charging station from Electrify America is a welcome move. The company, a subsidiary of Ford, has also announced plans to add NACS capacity to Ford, as well as other automakers. Some sources believe Electrify America has plans to switch from the Combined Charging System (CSS) entirely. The new facility may be a sign of things to come, not only for Electrify America, but for the EV charging industry as a whole.

Electrify America may proceed to convert existing charging facilities into something more upscale, like its San Francisco site. After all, Mr. Barrrosa says the company is “committed to making EVs accessible to all, particularly in dense urban areas like San Francisco.”

With the growing demand for EV chargers, customers may soon be able to experience charging stations like Electrify America’s across the country. Hopefully, they’ll be as reliable as they are stylish.

The post Electrify America’s luxurious EV charging station is turning heads – but does it live up to its impressive appearance? appeared first on TechHQ.

• Blink security cameras are currently available at extremely low prices, given their reputation.
• But Amazon cameras and video doorbells have a history of serious privacy concerns.
• Can Blink security cameras be hacked?

Amazon’s range of Blink home security cameras are at their all-time lowest prices, attracting new customers to these popular devices. These cameras are renowned for being cheaper than most of their competitors, but these latest price cuts take their affordability to a whole new level.

With competition on the home security camera market stronger than ever before, these price reductions seem to be a ploy to attract new customers. You could be forgiven for thinking the cameras must be low quality given their low prices, but Blink security cameras are renowned for being reliable wireless security devices with excellent battery life.

There must be a catch…right? Well, according to some reports, there are growing concerns regarding the privacy of these (and other) cloud connected devices.

Blink security cameras also come in the form of video doorbells, featuring HD video, motion detection, night vision, two-way audio, and local storage. There is also the option to subscribe to a cloud service storage if required. There is a downloadable Blink Home Monitor app, so homeowners can keep track of everything when they’re away. And, being Amazon, it’s no surprise that the cameras are compatible with Alexa. As Amazon says, “Blink and you’re home,” though we’re not sure what this slogan has to do with home security. According to some, a more appropriate slogan would be, “Blink and your data may be hijacked.”

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Security vulnerabilities reported by some Blink users

There have been some reports of security issues with Blink cameras, but most have been swiftly dealt with by firmware updates by security researchers.

These vulnerabilities, though, have raised concerns, with some worrying their information and video footage could be hijacked. Then again, this is a concern with most security cameras, particularly those connected to the cloud.

When we look into Amazon’s history of security cameras, it seems the concern is warranted. Ring, another brand of security camera acquired by Amazon in 2018, has experienced a wide range of security and privacy problems over the last few years. And it’s not just the owner’s privacy at stake.

In 2021, Mr. Jon Woodard of the UK was told he had to pay his neighbor £100,000 after a court decided his Ring doorbell broke data laws and caused harassment. His neighbor felt she was under “continuous visual surveillance,” leading to the substantial claim. The lesson here is to never point your security camera at your neighbor’s bedroom.

Amazon has also had to pay out large settlements in Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settlements over Ring and Alexa privacy violations. Totaling $30 million, Amazon had to pay $5.8 million to settle with the FTC over Ring privacy violations and $25 million for Alexa privacy vulnerabilities.

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The FTC alleged that Ring gave third-party contractors access to customer videos, compromising customer private information. It was also alleged that fundamental security measures were not implemented by Ring to protect a user’s information from online threats, such as “brute force” attacks. One Ring employee is said to have watched thousands of videos of over 81 female users, who were identified through cameras designated for use in private or intimate settings.

Amazon acquired Blink almost a year before Ring, and, although Blink says is “is not in the business of selling [its] customers’ personal information to others,” it does collect data on users (it’s run by Amazon, after all).

The main question is this – can Blink cameras be hacked? Theoretically, yes – because these devices are wireless, they come with the risk of being hacked, as they can be accessed through the internet. The good news, though, is that there have been no official reports of this happening – yet.

Blink security cameras – are they more secure than Ring was?

The fact that Blink cameras have a local storage option means users don’t have to store videos on the cloud, providing better privacy than many other cloud-based security systems.

Further protection comes in the form of encryption. As Blink cameras typically stream footage using a wi-fi connection, Blink uses WPA2 wi-fi channels for encrypted streaming of videos, in the hope to prevent hacking through wireless devices. Information is further protected with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), too.

As we mentioned, though, Blink security devices can still be hacked. A leading cybersecurity firm, Tenable Inc, experimented with the Blink ST2 model, finding several vulnerabilities and unsafe pathways within the wireless camera.

Such flaws could give a hacker access to the camera – and the live audio feed. Not only that, but Tenable Inc discovered hackers may also be able to hack other smart gadgets through a Blink camera. Out of the seven privacy issues, two were critical, including command injection flaws CVE-2019-3984 existing in Blink’s cloud communication endpoints, and CVE-2019-3989, existing in the device’s helper scripts. Amazon has responded to these privacy vulnerabilities, rectifying the severe security flaws.

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How a Blink security camera can be hacked

There have been no official reports of Blink cameras being hacked through the internet, but, like any loT device, they can be hacked either remotely or locally.

Blink cameras – too good to be true?

When hacked locally, the hacker gains access to the wireless network the camera utilizes, getting access to the local network. Sometimes, they will use a jammer to block the real network or use security breaches before using a fake network to get access to the camera. Fortunately, a hacker typically needs to be within close range, so this type of hacking is rare.

Remote hacking is the most common type with devices like Blink security cameras. A hacker will use a method known as “credential stuffing,” and scan for login details via data breaches or security gaps. From here, the hacker can view the camera password and username, spying on a camera without the owner’s knowledge. They may even change the camera’s settings, locking the owner out.

Blink cameras remain one of the most popular security devices out there, and Amazon’s recent price reductions may be a move to attract new customers, and move on from worries and threats of hacking.

The post Amazon’s Blink security cameras at their lowest prices – but how safe are they? appeared first on TechHQ.

• AI evolves according to users’ preferences.
• Safeguarding tools gain traction.
• Watermarking and deep-fake spotting.

Although it’s far too early to start talking about the maturity of AI, what’s becoming apparent is that the providers of AI services are evolving tools very quickly to ensure that the technology is more personalized yet more controllable. Users, too, are demanding new features, and companies are stepping up to provide them. What unites both progressions in facility for users and AI vendors is that out-of-the-box large models need more features than satisfied early adopters.

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As users bed the new technology into their workflows and companies providing AI respond to user and public feedback, the services and the people who use them are changing.

Hugging Face, the go-to choice for all things AI, has released a series of free tools for both creators and consumers of AI. Alarm caused by advanced deep fakes of audio and video is answered by the organization’s CNN Deepfake Image Detection, designed to examine media’s metadata to check whether the emanating source was human or algorithmic.

While a move in the right direction, metadata attached to media files can easily be removed or spoofed by anyone with a few basic tools. Playful or malicious intent is not circumvented but will deter the less canny producers of AI-generated content from passing off their productions as the real deal.

Creator protection from AI

From the same source, visual or audio content creators can embed digital ‘watermarks’ into their work. The method will add identifying data in the media itself, making its removal nontrivial. Creators of original content that don’t use AI at the point of creation have had a range of similar methods for some years, but the facility from the Hugging Face toolkit will allow some measure of reassurance.

Of course, proving originality and, if applicable, copyright is quite a distance from a creator successfully taking action on infringement of their declared moral rights. In the digital domain, relative anonymity and the pervasive power of large technology companies make legal recompense difficult to exact from transgressors.

The raw abilities of large models are of most use with a degree of gatekeeping or postprocessing. Users of AIs can spend a good deal of time learning their chosen ML tool’s specific vagaries, tuning their queries, and ensuring that the otherwise dumb AI produces the required results. At the other end of the human-AI interaction, later models extend their usefulness by postprocessing before presenting their output. Detection and prevention of so-called hallucinations, for example, were among the first features added to large, public AIs as they moved further out into the public domain from early betas.

Making AI more usable to the everyday Joe is important for providers who wish to assuage the effects of their investments in the technology and models’ high running costs.

“tools” by hollyladd is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Giving a ‘bot a ‘memory’ is the latest feature added to ChatGPT4, something that increases the quality of the user’s experience, rather than having to reset the AI’s desired output type and response style between sessions; an irritation for many.

In the latest iteration of ChatGPT4, bots will now remember (after being told once) that, for instance, responses to queries about subject A should be expert, while those about subject B should be more simplistic. An experienced horticulturalist should, therefore, get in-depth answers to queries about bedding plants, for example, but more basic responses on the financial aspects of running a business.

Preference data

Like queries from identifiable individuals to a ‘traditional’ search engine, personalization comes at the price of data privacy. On the one hand, operators of large machine learning facilities will be able to give users a more seamless experience, one that’s attuned to their tastes and query history. On the other, data about preferences, usage metrics, and areas of interest of the individual will provide a richer dataset on the user, which can be exposed to anyone with the dollars to spend.

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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

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In the middle of the AI hype cycle, it’s difficult to identify the trends in use that will define the future of the technology – part of the reason why semi-hysterical reactions to large models are still considered plausible enough to print. But one such trend at this point does seem to be software adjuncts that attune input and output to and from the models at the point of use.

Like all technological constructs, users will ultimately determine how the tech progresses. Companies offering AI (and most new technology) rarely set trends. It’s incumbent on us all to dictate our preferences for the way AI services evolve.

The post AI improves with the right additional tools appeared first on TechHQ.