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Gizmodo
5 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
The Real Reason You Haven't Been Replaced by AI Yet
It's the ticking time bomb in the global economy, and every CEO knows it: AI is already powerful enough to replace millions of jobs. So why haven't the mass layoffs begun? The answer has little to do with technology and everything to do with fear. Corporate leaders are quietly waiting to see who will be the first to pull the trigger. My discussions about Generative AI reveal a stark generational divide. Most people under 35 are convinced that AI is a reality, not a gimmick, and that the displacement of human workers is an urgent, present-day issue. For many over 35, the assessment is more cautious; they believe the replacement will happen, but not for another five or ten years. The problem is that the second group is several steps behind. The AI revolution isn't being held back because the technology isn't ready. It's being held back for political reasons. CEOs are nervously looking at each other, waiting for someone else to make the first move and announce that they are eliminating a significant number of jobs because AI can do the work faster and cheaper. They are tiptoeing around what they already know. And they are telegraphing their intentions subliminally. Take Palantir's CEO, Alex Karp. During an interview with CNBC in August, he said: 'We're planning to grow our revenue … while decreasing our number of people.' Karp then continued: 'This is a crazy, efficient revolution. The goal is to get 10x revenue and have 3,600 people. We have now 4,100.' The subtext is clear: Palantir already considers 500 of its employees to be a surplus that AI could replace. It could increase its revenue by 10x while reducing its workforce by almost 12.2%. Look at Amazon. The company has more than one million robots (Hercules, Pegasus, and Proteus, its fully autonomous robot) in its facilities and believes that AI will help increase its robot mobility by 10%. The number of its robots is nearly equivalent to the 1.546 million people (full-time and part-time) that the company employs globally. CEO Andy Jassy has already warned his workforce of what's to come. 'We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today, and more people doing other types of jobs,' Jassy told employees in a memo last June. 'It's hard to know exactly where this nets out over time, but in the next few years, we expect that this will reduce our total corporate workforce.' CEOs are waiting for political cover that isn't coming. None of them want to become the poster child for the revolution that killed human jobs in America. They don't want to become the target of politicians, knowing that on this issue, the attacks will come from both the populist left and the populist right. The problem is that politicians are just as unprepared as the over-35s. They seem to believe this is a problem for the next administration, a challenge for a few years down the road. They are wrong. The problem is here now. The questions are urgent: what will the displaced workers do? What safety nets need to be built? What happens to the healthcare of millions who are still a long way from retirement? These are questions politicians have not yet addressed, likely because they don't have the answers. So, for now, the CEOs are buying them time. Instead of mass firings, a quieter trend has emerged: hiring freezes. Increasingly, managers are being forced to justify why a human is needed for a role that an AI could potentially perform. This is already devastating the job market for young people. According to Handshake, a career platform for Gen Z employees, job listings for entry-level corporate roles have declined 15% over the past year. And for those who still think the great displacement is far away, the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported a few days ago that AI is already one of the top five factors contributing to job losses this year. Companies have announced over 806,000 private-sector job cuts since January, the highest number for that period since 2020. The tech industry is leading the charge. The machine is in motion. It's not that AI can't replace us, especially in knowledge jobs. It's that your boss doesn't yet have the courage to tell you they're firing you for a robot. They don't want to be the villain. They're waiting for one of their peers to be crucified before they enter the stage. But for how long?
Gizmodo
5 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
Looking for a Cheap VPN? This One's Down to $1.99/Month, But Not for Long
It's not every day that you can save hundreds on a VPN service. When it's cheap and excellent, like Surfshark, the excitement is even greater. Surfshark has never been expensive, but these discounts are otherworldly. If you act today, you can save up to $450 on the chosen biennial plan. Unsure if it's the right choice? You can clarify that in our Surfshark VPN review. Now, let's discuss discounts, shall we? Save Up to $450 on Surfshark Now The VPN offers flexible, multi-tiered plans. You have Starter, One, and One+ plans, all divided into 24, 12, and a month-long length. However, the VPN's most significant discounts are on the longest, 24-month plans, which look like this: The initial monthly price is $15.45, $17.95, and $20.65, respectively, so you can see how much you're actually saving. For example, the Surfshark One+ plan saves you $450 and provides 27 months of VPN protection. If you'd rather spend less, the One plan is amazing, especially with its inclusion of antivirus and other innovative security features. While the Starter plan is the least expensive, it lacks the advanced features of these two. The good news is, all plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee. It doesn't matter which length you choose; even annual and monthly plans are suitable. This lets you try Surfshark risk-free and get a refund if you're unsatisfied. Quick warning: this scenario likely won't happen! A cheap piece of tech may be underwhelming, but a cheap VPN is rarely a bad bargain. Surfshark confirms our words and expands upon them by adding a few essential features, such as unlimited concurrent connections. This allows you to use the VPN on as many devices as you want, and even share the subscription with friends and family. The most popular, Surfshark One plan, also includes antivirus, which works on all devices and includes scheduled scanning for added convenience. The VPN's Search function is a bespoke incognito browser, for example. Meanwhile, you have an Alternative ID, which makes a new fake identity that you can use online. The One+ plan, which saves you $450, includes Incogni, which removes your data from data brokers and agencies. This all-encompassing plan delights privacy geeks who want to leave no traces of their digital footprint. Surfshark's offer is one of the most popular right now. We can see why. However, we can also see why it'll end soon. It's too good to be true, and while it is, Surfshark will file for bankruptcy if we all steal it at this price. Seize the opportunity while it's there. Explore Surfshark Discounts
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Prediction: Stablecoins Are About to Soar. Here's Why.
Key Points The removal of regulatory roadblocks means stablecoins are poised for growth. Several companies and cryptos are well positioned to benefit from higher stablecoin transaction volumes. There are still risks associated with stablecoins and it isn't yet clear how they will evolve. 10 stocks we like better than Circle Internet Group › The stablecoin market has grown dramatically in recent years. According to data compiled by Visa, stablecoin supply increased from about $12 billion in 2020 to $220 billion in 2025. Some insiders think that's only the start, with Galaxy Digital Holdings predicting stablecoin supply will exceed $400 billion this year. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent thinks it could reach $2 trillion by 2028. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies that are pegged to real-world assets such as the U.S. dollar. They offer users the benefits of the blockchain -- such as speedy, low-cost transactions -- without the volatility of other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH). Let's look at why stablecoins are set to soar, what might hold them back, and how investors can take advantage of this emerging trend. Why stablecoins are about to soar Stablecoins have been gaining traction for several years. Various companies, including cryptocurrency exchanges, payment processors, and banks, have made big strides in integrating stablecoins into their operations. Two promising stablecoin use cases are international money transfers and payments. The World Bank says the average cost of remittances is about 6.4% of the transfer amount right now. Coinbase estimates that stablecoins could cut this to between 0.5% and 3%. But the reason stablecoins could take off now is that lawmakers have given them a launchpad. In June, the U.S. government passed the Genius Act, legislation that gives a clear framework for stablecoins. It contains guidelines for stablecoin issuers about reserve requirements, audits, and anti-money laundering practices. It paves the way for both banks and non-banks to issue stablecoins. Not only does the new legislation remove roadblocks that had made companies hesitant about pursuing this emerging technology, but it also goes a long way toward building consumer confidence. Investors lost billions of dollars after the collapse of the TerraUSD stablecoin in 2022. Now, people want to be sure that stablecoins will retain their value and that issuers have enough reserves to support their tokens. How investors can ride the stablecoin wave Right now, stablecoins only account for 1% of global money flows, according to consulting firm McKinsey. Recent regulatory changes could well unlock further growth, but to do so, there will also need to be further technical development and a shift in consumer habits. It isn't yet clear how the market will evolve. For example, we may see big companies issuing their own stablecoins or existing players dominating the stablecoin spectrum. Here are two approaches investors might take: 1. Invest in listed companies that may profit from a stablecoin explosion Many of the businesses in the crypto industry remain privately held, which somewhat limits the stablecoin plays available to investors. However, there are opportunities in crypto exchanges, stablecoin issuers, and payment infrastructure. These include: Circle (NYSE: CRCL): Circle, which issues the popular stablecoin USD Coin (CRYPTO: USDC), went public in June with a dramatic initial public offering (IPO). Its share price initially rose by 700%. It has fallen since then, and some see it as still overvalued. Coinbase: The first crypto exchange listed in the U.S. joined the S&P 500 earlier this year. However, its stock fell recently on the back of disappointing Q2 earnings and mounting concerns that competitors will take market share. Robinhood (NASDAQ: HOOD): The pioneer of low-cost investing has also been at the forefront of making digital assets more accessible. In terms of stablecoins, Robinhood is part of the consortium that is behind the Global Dollar (CRYPTO: USDG). PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL): The payment giant launched its own stablecoin, PayPal USD (CRYPTO: PYUSD), in 2023. It says that the dollar-pegged coin will be "pivotal" in growing global commerce. It also plans to pay rewards to PayPal USD holders, even though the Genius Act explicitly prohibits issuers from paying interest. Bear in mind that some think speculation around cryptocurrency and stablecoin growth has already pushed the prices of several of these companies to unsustainable highs. Go beyond short-term trends and research the long-term outlook before investing. 2. Invest in the cryptocurrency ecosystems where stablecoins are being built Stablecoins run on smart-contract blockchains, which can host self-executing pieces of code and act as ecosystems for other projects. If stablecoins take off, that could mean an increase in transactions for programmable blockchains like Ethereum, Tron (CRYPTO: TRX), and Solana (CRYPTO: SOL). That would mean more transaction fees, more assets on those networks, and -- ultimately -- a more secure future. Leading the pack right now is Ethereum. CoinGecko research shows that almost 50% of stablecoins are built on Ethereum. And a Galaxy report reveals that 50 non-crypto companies, including Louis Vuitton, Adidas, and Deutsche Bank, are using Ethereum to build products. It says the total value of stablecoins on Ethereum has increased by 70% during the past year. There is one caveat: Some companies may build their own blockchains rather than rely on existing networks. That could give them more control and potentially be a more profitable way to enter the stablecoin sector, but it would mean today's cryptocurrencies don't benefit as much from stablecoin development. It is still early days for stablecoins The recent legislative changes come after years of stablecoin development work, meaning some projects may be able to storm ahead now that the regulatory road is clear. A soaring stablecoin market could transform our financial infrastructure, but there are still significant risks worth understanding. For example, there are security, consumer protections, and privacy concerns that have yet to fully play out. Plus, while the Genius Act reduces the danger that a stablecoin will lose its peg or collapse completely, it is not impossible. It's important to ensure crypto investments make up only a small part of a diversified portfolio. Nonetheless, mainstream adoption of stablecoins may be the biggest real-world use of crypto so far. If even a small percentage of that usage takes place on existing blockchains, that could be another major step toward mainstream adoption. Should you buy stock in Circle Internet Group right now? Before you buy stock in Circle Internet Group, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Circle Internet Group wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $653,427!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,119,863!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,060% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 4, 2025 Emma Newbery has positions in Ethereum and Solana. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, PayPal, Solana, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Coinbase Global and recommends the following options: long January 2027 $42.50 calls on PayPal and short September 2025 $77.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Prediction: Stablecoins Are About to Soar. Here's Why. was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
