Latest news with #ConsumerTechnologyAssociation
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
CEO shares deceptively simple interview question he's asked for 15 years: 'Apple or Android?'
For job seekers, interviews can feel like a maze of unpredictable questions, but some CEOs have revealed the one simple question that can reveal more than it seems about every candidate. Indeed CEO Chris Hyams has revealed that he has asked the same question for over 15 years to as many as 3,000 candidates: 'Do you have an iPhone or an Android, and why?' The question might seem like a casual icebreaker, but Hyams claims it reveals everything he needs to know about the candidate's decision-making process. He said it starts a small discussion that reveals how individuals make choices, their personal preferences and their adaptability. Even after asking the same questions to almost every candidate, Hyams notes he always gets varied answers. He said most candidates who chose iPhone cited long-term brand loyalty, while others spoke of specific apps they use, revealing their interests. He also asked them what they wanted to change about their chosen platform to understand their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. However, CEOs' approach of using unconventional interview questions to assess potential hires is not unique to Hyams. Former TripAdvisor CEO Stephen Kaufer asks candidates to discuss a challenging project to see how they dealt with it using either teamwork or problem-solving skills. Similarly, Wisp CEO Monica Cepak asks candidates to describe the most complex problem they've solved at work, using their response to assess critical thinking and cross-functional collaboration. Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, prefers a more straightforward query: 'How soon can you start?" and reads between the lines. If a currently employed candidate says they can begin immediately, he sees it as a red flag for loyalty. Meanwhile, StockX CEO Scott Cutler throws in a brain teaser: 'How many degrees separate the minute and hour hands of a clock at 3:15?', not to test math skills, but to observe how candidates think under pressure. (Also read: Elon Musk was the lowest-paid S&P 500 CEO in 2024. Tesla gave him $0: Report)
Broadcast Pro
18-05-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
CTA and Cannes Market launch new CES Innovation Award
Announced during the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, the award category will recognise the intersection of creativity, tech and business. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), producer of the globally known CES tech show, has announced a partnership with the Marché du Film of the Cannes Film Festival to introduce a new CES Innovation Awards category for 2026, dedicated to film production and distribution technologies. Unveiled during a Cannes Next fireside chat at the festival, the new award—titled 'Filmmaking & Distribution, in partnership with Cannes Next'—will spotlight tools and technologies that enhance film creation, distribution and industry operations. The initiative was announced by CTA CEO and Vice Chair Gary Shapiro and Guillaume Esmiol, Executive Director of the Marché du Film. Shapiro discussed how AI-driven tools, immersive technologies, and hardware innovations are designed to enhance the creative process and streamline workflows in film and media production. 'This award showcases how creators in film can use tech to unlock new worlds,' said Shapiro. 'We're thrilled to partner with Cannes Next and recognise the community of innovators who are transforming the film industry as we know it.' The new award category will celebrate a broad range of technological advancements, from audio-visual equipment and production software to streaming services and cloud-based distribution platforms. It will also recognise groundbreaking developments in generative AI for screenwriting, video and voice, as well as virtual production, VFX and next-gen content delivery methods. Judges for this category will include members of the Cannes Next community, ensuring expert evaluation from within the industry. As with other CES Innovation Awards, the filmmaking and distribution category will be open to companies, startups, entrepreneurs and filmmakers whose innovations empower creative professionals across the film and media ecosystem. Submissions for CES 2026, including applications to judge the awards, will open in June. 'At the Marché du Film, we are committed to showcasing innovations that empower creatives, storytellers, and industry professionals, shaping the future of cinema,' added Esmiol. 'The global reputation of CES Innovation Awards makes it the perfect platform to showcase new technologies that enhance artistic expression and unlock new business opportunities for the film industry.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cannes Film Market, CES Join Forces for Film Innovation Award
The Cannes film market, the Marché du Film, is joining forces with the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), producer of tech trade show CES, for a new award to honor groundbreaking developments in the technology of filmmaking and distribution. The initiative is presented in partnership with Cannes Next, the innovation-focused program of the Marché. Titled Filmmaking & Distribution – in partnership with Cannes Next, the award will recognize companies, startups, entrepreneurs, and filmmakers whose technologies are reshaping how films are produced, financed, and distributed. Eligible innovations span a wide range of areas, including generative AI tools for screenwriting and voice synthesis, virtual production, post-production software and equipment, as well as next-generation streaming platforms. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Mission: Impossible' Director Christopher McQuarrie Was Ready to Quit the Business When He Met Tom Cruise Prada Foundation Furthers Commitment to Big Screen With Fund to Support Independent Film Hollywood Flashback: When Cannes First Fell in Love With Juliette Binoche The new category is intended to spotlight tools that support creative talent and industry professionals across the filmmaking value chain. It marks the first time the CES Innovation Awards will specifically honor advancements in cinema and distribution technology. 'At the Marché du Film, we are committed to showcasing innovations that empower creatives, storytellers, and industry professionals, shaping the future of cinema,' said Guillaume Esmiol, executive director of the Marché du Film. 'The global reputation of CES Innovation Awards makes it the perfect platform to showcase new technologies that enhance artistic expression and unlock new business opportunities for the film industry.' 'This award showcases how creators in film can use tech to unlock new worlds,' added Gary Shapiro, CEO of CTA and Vice Chair of CES. 'We're thrilled to partner with Cannes Next and recognize the community of innovators who are transforming the film industry as we know it.' An international jury, appointed by both the Marché du Film and the CTA, will select the winning entries. Submissions for CES 2026, including this new award, open in June. The CES, held annually in Las Vegas, is one of the largest and most influential tech events globally. The 2026 edition runs January 6-9. The Cannes film market runs through May 21. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
The Hill
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
US-China trade pact brings relief to tech sector
The tech industry is breathing a sigh of relief after the U.S. and China agreed to substantially lower tariffs, underscoring the prospect of de-escalation in a trade war that has been particularly challenging for the sector. The two countries appear to be walking back from a costly tit-for-tat exchange on tariffs, announcing a 90-day reduction in import taxes as they continue to negotiate a more lasting deal. The tech sector saw its stocks tumble earlier this year as massive tariffs threatened to strain supply chains and raise consumer prices. While it received some relief last month when President Trump exempted electronics from the import taxes, the industry's outlook is even more optimistic now as tensions ease. 'It's a relief valve for U.S. Big Tech,' Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives told The Hill. 'It takes the nightmare supply chain situation off the table.' The U.S. and China announced Monday that they had agreed to reduce tariff rates for 90 days amid negotiations. The U.S. will lower tariffs on Chinese goods from 145 percent to 30 percent, while China will reduce import taxes on American goods from 125 percent to 10 percent. The trade truce marks a sharp departure from months of escalation between Washington and Beijing. 'It's de-escalation from what could have been an incredibly damaging set of outcomes for both China and the United States if those tariffs stayed in place at those very high rates. So, in my view, cooler heads are prevailing,' said Ed Brzytwa, vice president of international trade at the Consumer Technology Association. While trade tensions were rising between the two countries in the first few months of President Trump's second term in office, they took a turn for the worse when Trump announced wide-ranging 'reciprocal' tariffs in early April. This included a 34 percent tariff against China, which, when coupled with an earlier 20 percent import tax, brought the total rate on Chinese goods to more than 50 percent. The two sides went tit for tat on tariff increases before settling at rates well above 100 percent. The hefty tariffs on Chinese imports spooked the tech industry, whose supply chains are heavily reliant on China. Trump also levied tariffs on India and Vietnam, where tech firms have increasingly relocated their manufacturing in recent years to diversify their supply chains and shield them from potential disruption. The president ultimately put most of his 'reciprocal' tariffs on hold amid widespread market panic. However, he left the China tariffs, along with a baseline 10 percent import tax, in place. Trump later exempted electronics from the tariffs, although the victory was short-lived for the tech industry, after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick signaled plans to implement sector-specific tariffs. The recent detente between the U.S. and China has many in and around the tech sector hopeful about the possibility of a larger trade deal and greater economic stability and certainty. 'Our hopes and prayers are that of course this a forerunner to a more negotiated deal,' David Warrick, executive vice president of Overhaul, a software-based supply chain solutions company, said. 'The hope from the tech sector perspective is that this is a really good starting point,' Warrick added. 'Now, how well can we negotiate to get us to a more balanced agreement?' The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) touted the recent development as 'meaningful progress toward reducing bilateral tensions and stabilizing the global economy.' 'Importantly, the significant temporary tariff pause from both parties will help bring certainty to business operations and economic markets,' ITI President and CEO Jason Oxman said in a statement. 'The tech industry welcomes the constructive and serious approach both governments have taken and urges leaders from both sides to leverage tech sector input and feedback as they continue negotiations,' he added. Following the announcement, Trump said he spoke to Apple CEO Tim Cook, who he said plans to open more plants in the U.S. Apple was particularly vulnerable to the tariffs, as the iPhone maker manufactures the vast majority of its products in China. Cook previously promised to invest more than $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, including through building a new facility in Texas. However, some experts are still voicing caution, emphasizing that the future of U.S.-China trade relations remains uncertain. 'The reduction in tariffs and apparent progress to a wider trade deal reduces the risk of further tariff escalation, but does not remove it completely,' Chris Rogers, head of supply chain research at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said in a statement to The Hill. Tariffs are still relatively high compared with previous rates, and the tech industry faces the prospect of additional sector-specific import taxes down the line. 'Let's just keep in mind that, yes those tariff rates are really high, but the tariff rates that are now going to be in effect as of tomorrow are also very high historically speaking,' Brzytwa said. 'This is still relatively complex and, depending on what the tariff is for any given product, it still might be high enough where a company decides that tariff payment isn't worth the cost of importing it,' he continued. 'The company might not be able to even sell the product in the United States.' 'We're not out of the woods yet there,' he added of the sector-specific tariffs. 'That is also a source of uncertainty and unpredictability for us. It's still difficult for our companies to plan around this.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
‘We don't have a choice': A business group decides to push back on Trump
A major American trade group flew company executives into Washington for its first weeklong trade campaign in an effort to stop President Donald Trump's tariff plan — a rare direct pushback against the White House that could come with political costs. The Consumer Technology Association, a lobby representing both global tech giants and smaller device manufacturers, declared its first 'fly-in week,' with a reception this week at its Washington headquarters, visits to Capitol Hill and meetings with administration officials. It also launched a six-figure ad blitz in the Washington press and at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Its campaign is an attempt to solve a problem facing many once-connected industry groups trying to navigate Trump's Washington: to get the attention of the White House without riling up a president known for lashing back at critics. It also needs to convince Republicans to break ranks with a president who seems committed to jacking up tariffs even if they cause economic harm. 'It's a bit of an experiment,' Ed Brzytwa, CTA's vice president of international trade, told POLITICO in an interview ahead of the event. 'We're trying to engage [with the administration] as best as we can.' CTA, which sponsors the largest tech convention in the country — the annual CES in Las Vegas — has been more overt than most in critiquing Trump's trade policies, with CEO Gary Shapiro publicly swiping at the president's tariffs when they were first announced in the Rose Garden in early April. Its member companies — which produce everything from smartphones to subwoofers — face a financial hit from Trump's planned tariffs on crucial electronics components like lithium batteries and LED lights. Tariffs on overseas components are expected to drive up costs for all companies in the industry, and are particularly acute for smaller companies operating on thin margins. 'We don't have a choice,' said Skip West of MAXSA innovations, a company that develops auto accessories, solar lighting and other electronics, when asked by POLITICO about fear of political blowback. The White House did not respond to POLITICO's questions about whether it planned to meet with CTA and what it was prepared to discuss. In Washington, the CTA will have to balance publicly pushing its members' concerns against the tariffs while remaining seemingly aligned with the president. At the highest level of the industry, CEOs like Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and Nvidia's Jensen Huang have enjoyed personal access to Trump. Zuckerberg reportedly lobbied Trump to avoid an antitrust trial, which is still continuing; Huang made a trip to Mar-a-Lago as Trump considered curbs on certain AI chips to China. Though large tech companies are also members of the CTA, most of its members are smaller and less cash-rich. The organization is using the visit to highlight small business owners as particularly vulnerable to tariffs. 'I think their approach is one that makes sense for their membership,' a member company source who POLITICO granted anonymity to speak candidly said. 'Where the tension rises for them is, I don't think any of their member companies, big or small, want to be the face of this tariff battle.' With small consumer tech businesses in the fight of their lives, CTA and its trade week cohort say their survival is something that transcends politics. 'This is not, for me, a political statement,' said Gary Yacoubian, president and CEO of SVS Sound, a CTA member company also participating in its trade week. Still, as they mount the effort, there's concern among industry insiders and observers that speaking up too loudly could put companies in the path of Trump's ire. Given how 'punitive and transactional' this particular president is, 'the risks are even higher now,' said Nu Wexler, a consultant and former communications staffer for top tech companies, including Google and then-Facebook. Brzytwa is leading the Washington delegation. He said Hill staffers they met with on Wednesday expressed 'a lot of sympathy' for how tariffs will impact smaller tech companies and startups. The industry group's members, most of which don't have direct lines to the White House, have 'deeply appreciated' CTA's no holds barred response, Brzytwa said, adding: 'It gets to the core function of an industry association, we exist for this purpose, to explain — very respectfully — what our concerns are and what the impacts are going to be on our industry.' Sign in to access your portfolio
