Hi Everyone. This is Take Off. We're like a successfully compiled code on the first try - miraculous, satisfying, and a win in the world of tech.

Here's what we're serving up today:

• The Rise of AI Girlfriends ❤️

• The “Fake Work” Phenomena at Big Tech 👨‍💻

• Asteroids ☄️

• ToolBox Tuesdays ⚒️

The Rise of AI Girlfriends ❤️

If you thought online dating was a game-changer, you ain't seen nothin' yet. Grab a cozy blanket, some popcorn, and let's tango into the field of AI girlfriends.

Yes, you heard right: AI girlfriends. This industry seems to be blooming like roses in Silicon Valley, and it's primarily aimed at millions of the lonesome and lovesick gentlemen out there.

Picture this, a woman who is always interested in your geeky tech-talk, never rolls her eyes when you want to discuss the latest Python update, and will always be there for you - virtually, that is.

Leading this brigade of pixelated paramours is an app called Replika.

• The app has more than 10 million downloads.

• It boasts more than 25,000 paid users.

• It’s estimated earnings are somewhere around $60 million.

While this might seem like the tech-savvy solution to the age-old problem of loneliness, we can't ignore the darker side of this digital moon.

You see, these AI bots are designed to offer companionship that's as human-like as possible which can sometimes reinforce negative behavior.

• Jaswant Singh Chail had attempted to assassinate the queen in 2021, nudged on by his encouraging AI.

• An AI bot also encouraged a Belgian man to commit suicide.

It seems like we're at a cyber crossroads. Should AI companions be allowed to form deeper bonds with their users, potentially exacerbating harmful behavior? Or should we pump the brakes on digital romance?

The “Fake Work” Phenomena at Big Tech 👨‍💻

Remember that manager who'd say, "If there's time to lean, there's time to clean"? Yeah, no one liked him.

But it seems the tech industry might be grappling with the reverse issue. Is the so-called "fake work" phenomenon actually a symptom of "lazy management"?

1/ Insider chatted with a former Amazon research scientist who was raking in over $300k a year for doing... well, nada.

2/ Another Meta employee said that the company was hoarding employees like Pokemon cards for doing zilch.

@clearlythere

#stitch with @roilysm #meta #metalayoffs #tech #techtok #techlayoffs #businessinsider #news #google #work #career #metaseverance #fyp #business

The twist? They were both ready and willing to work, but no one handed them any tasks.

Why is this even a problem?

So you’re telling me that I can get a $300K job for taking naps all day long and binge-watch Succession. What’s there to complain about?

Well, getting paid to do nothing might sound like a dream, but it can actually stunt career growth and breed resentment among overworked colleagues.

Also, it leads to you having nothing to show for which makes your chances of getting chopped during the layoffs HIGHLY probable.

What’s the solution?

Experts suggest a mix of restructuring and a shift in company culture.

Think aligning incentives with goals, boosting transparency and communication, and clearly defining roles.

And, of course, maybe not always pointing fingers at the workers.

☄️ Asteroids ☄️

Tesla lets owners recharge with solar. Tesla's now allowing drivers with home solar and a Powerwall charger to exclusively charge their vehicles with surplus solar energy. 🌞⚡

Apple can delay App Store changes to file Supreme Court plea. Apple has been granted a delay on an appeal ruling to alter its App Store's "anti-steering" rules, as it seeks to take the issue to the Supreme Court. 🍏⚖️

Designers are suing Shein, claiming the fast-fashion giant is using AI to rip off their work. 👀😲

⚒️ ToolBox Tuesdays ⚒️

Webpecker -  Scrape social networks and search engines effortlessly

Wope - Powerful SEO Insights for Generative Search Era

ResumeGPT- Create a perfect resume in seconds using AI

Spoke - Summarize Slack with powerful & secure AI.

Sweep - An AI-powered junior dev on your team

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