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1. The dirty fight of "return to office"
I've written before that if you can't lead teams remotely, that's your problem, not your team's. Of course, getting some face-to-face time is useful and valuable, but mandating a set number of days per week isn't actually that useful. What's interesting is that the evidence suggests there's no basis to the idea of increased productivity in the office. So what is causing the race to bring people in?
2. The AI data centre boom must be stopped
The amount of energy required by AI is absolutely eye watering, and it's fuelling (sic) what might turn into an energy crisis.
3. The story of Mitchell Cole
I hadn't heard of Mitchell Cole before, but I'm glad I read this. Cole was a 27-year-old footballer who was forced to quit the game owing to a heart condition, and died while having a kickabout with his mates.
4. Betteridge's Law strikes again
5. Apple confirms no more web apps for naughty Europeans
Last week I mentioned I wasn't going to assume malice by Apple breaking web apps on iOS in a new beta. This week, they have confirmed that's precisely what it is. When Apple says it can't "securely" provide both web app support and alternate rendering engines, it's using the meaning of "securely" which refers to securing their income streams, not actual computer security. Pathetic stuff from Cupertino.
6. The iMessage Halo Effect
I think John Siracusa is exactly right: it's the iPhone which gives iMessage its cachet, not the other way around. It's not too late for the company to develop iMessage for other platforms.
7. AI companies lose value after Microsoft and Google quarterly earnings
Losing $190bn in stock market value seems a little careless to me. But the point really is that we are right at the start of learning to use LLMs in creative ways. Replacing cheap copywriters is not where the real action is, but currently that's all everyone is fixating on.
8. Citizen Musk
We all know that Elon is an idiot, but this article shows just how much he's been drawn into a universe of misinformation (or, as we used to call them, "lies"). I'm not sure if he's stupid or venal, or both. Probably both.
9. How the government captured the BBC
Alan Rusbridger pointing out how the BBC editorial standards committee now has just member who is both uninvolved in daily decision-making and has a background in news, and that's Robbie Gibb, who also happens to be Theresa May's former director of communications. The BBC isn't alone in this (Reach plc has no one on its board with any newspaper/online journalism experience), but it's remarkable how much the Tories have worked to subvert the public service bodies of this country.
10. Amazon to customers: have a worse service, and we're putting up the price
Amazon has been doing enshittification since before it was fashionable, but this is definitely their boldest move yet.
