Latest news with #O'Driscoll
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CEOs know AI will shrink their teams — they're just too afraid to say it, say 2 software investors
Behind closed doors, CEOs are saying what they won't admit publicly: AI means smaller teams. In public, they stick to the safe script — "we're hiring" — to soften the blow, one investor said. From Klarna to Duolingo, companies that touted bold AI plans have quickly walked them back after backlash. AI is a tool to boost productivity, not to take anyone's job, according to the script many CEOs have been using. Behind closed doors, it's a very different conversation, said two software investors on an episode of the "Twenty Minute VC" podcast published Thursday. "Public companies are trying to prepare their teams for it, but the backlash was too strong," said Jason Lemkin, an investor in software startups. Instead, CEOs fall back on the safer line: "In fact, we're hiring." "That seems to take the edge off," Lemkin said. "But I think they're just walking back the fact that everybody knows they don't need 30% to 40% of the team they have today. Everybody says this," he added. "It's too hard for people to hear. There's only so much honesty you can get from a CEO," he said. Rory O'Driscoll, a longtime general partner at Scale Venture Partners, said CEOs can't talk about job loss because employees will "lose their shit." He said what ends up getting shared publicly is a "very bland statement" full of "standard corporate speak for how you talk about AI." "No one is going to get fired. You're just going to do more interesting things," O'Driscoll said. "That's the current state of the lie." From Klarna to Duolingo, several companies have tested the waters with bold AI declarations — only to backtrack. Klarna' CEO, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, said in December that AI "can already do all of the jobs" humans do, and that the company has stopped hiring for over a year. But earlier this month, he walked it back, saying his pursuit of AI-driven job cuts may have gone too far. Duolingo's CEO, Luis von Ahn, also faced criticism after posting a memo on LinkedIn last month describing plans to make the company "AI-first." He later said on LinkedIn that he does not see AI replacing what his employees do and that Duolingo is "continuing to hire at the same speed as before." Lemkin and O'Driscoll did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Lemkin said mass layoffs could hit in the next two years as companies come to terms with a new reality. He added that he expects overall headcount to "stay flat." There will be "efficiencies" and also "jobs that would have existed in the absence of this product that won't exist now," said O'Driscoll. "So there will be tension." O'Driscoll said he sees a gradual shift — more of a "steady grind" of 2% to 3% less hiring each year. Tech companies, in particular, will see "significantly reduced hiring", he added. Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, said on Thursday that AI could soon eliminate 50% of entry-level office jobs. AI companies and the government need to stop "sugarcoating" the risks of mass job elimination in fields including technology, finance, law, and consulting, Amodei said. Read the original article on Business Insider 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
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
CEOs know AI will shrink their teams — they're just too afraid to say it, say 2 software investors
Behind closed doors, it's a very different conversation, said two software investors on an episode of the "Twenty Minute VC" podcast published Thursday. "Public companies are trying to prepare their teams for it, but the backlash was too strong," said Jason Lemkin, an investor in software startups. Instead, CEOs fall back on the safer line: "In fact, we're hiring." "That seems to take the edge off," Lemkin said. "But I think they're just walking back the fact that everybody knows they don't need 30% to 40% of the team they have today. Everybody says this," he added. "It's too hard for people to hear. There's only so much honesty you can get from a CEO," he said. Rory O'Driscoll, a longtime general partner at Scale Venture Partners, said CEOs can't talk about job loss because employees will "lose their shit." He said what ends up getting shared publicly is a "very bland statement" full of "standard corporate speak for how you talk about AI." "No one is going to get fired. You're just going to do more interesting things," O'Driscoll said. "That's the current state of the lie." From Klarna to Duolingo, several companies have tested the waters with bold AI declarations — only to backtrack. Klarna' CEO, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, said in December that AI "can already do all of the jobs" humans do, and that the company has stopped hiring for over a year. But earlier this month, he walked it back, saying his pursuit of AI-driven job cuts may have gone too far. Duolingo's CEO, Luis von Ahn, also faced criticism after posting a memo on LinkedIn last month describing plans to make the company "AI-first." He later said on LinkedIn that he does not see AI replacing what his employees do and that Duolingo is "continuing to hire at the same speed as before." Lemkin and O'Driscoll did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Layoffs are happening Lemkin said mass layoffs could hit in the next two years as companies come to terms with a new reality. He added that he expects overall headcount to "stay flat." There will be "efficiencies" and also "jobs that would have existed in the absence of this product that won't exist now," said O'Driscoll. "So there will be tension." O'Driscoll said he sees a gradual shift — more of a "steady grind" of 2% to 3% less hiring each year.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Leinster players should ignore BOD advice and absorb lessons from European final
Brian O'Driscoll's advice to Leinster's players is to give today's Champions Cup final a wide berth."If I was a Leinster player I wouldn't be watching this weekend, no way," O'Driscoll told Off The Ball. "Looking back I certainly wasn't watching the days that Munster were in the final. No way."It was disconnect and find out the result at the end when they were going well and we were struggling. "It's not one of your big adversaries - OK, it's Northampton, they beat you - but I don't think you're cheering them on or cheering Bordeaux on, you're just sad for yourself that you have to wait another year to try to do it all again."So it's a personal thing, I certainly wouldn't go looking at a final that I could be playing in, I'd be out on the golf course."But maybe those Leinster players should ignore that advice on this occasion. Maybe they should plonk themselves down in front of the TV and watch - even if it's through their hands and gritted course the province were favourites to lift the trophy for the fifth time in Cardiff today and, for the seventh year in succession, their European campaign ended in heartbreak at the hands of was the first time since 2019's quarter-final defeat to Saracens that Leinster went out at such an early stage and all of that will feed into the pain that will return today. But this time the pain can be of benefit and fuel the province's drive for the URC title victory they so badly need after three years without any silverware. What they want now is, as top seeds, to reach the final and to lift the trophy at Croke Park on June the URC quarter-final against Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium only a week away, Leinster need to find closure from their Champions Cup last eight horror-show. They looked edgy and hesitant in their unconvincing win over reigning URC champs Glasgow last weekend - a team they could face again in the semi-finals in a fortnight's time - and looked like they were still carrying a hangover from their shock loss to Northampton. Watching European club rugby's biggest day out take place without them for the first time since 2021 could provide the motivation to draw a line under it and move on to GAA HQ in just a few weeks' time. The Saints came to the Aviva with a plan to neutralise Leinster's blitz defence. It worked spectacularly for the Premiership side, who succeeded in rocking the hosts as Tommy Freeman helped himself to a hat-trick of tries. Ultimately they took down the best side (on paper) that was left in the competition. Munster's players could feel similarly about giving this one a miss after Bordeaux saw the Reds off at the quarter-final stage before beating Cup holders Toulouse in the Ian Costello's charges are coming at next week's play-offs from a different angle after getting the two wins they needed to secure Champions Cup rugby again next term and a last eight tie in South Africa next Saturday. Bordeaux will see the Saints coming and that underdogs attitude that they brought to Dublin won't work as effectively in Cardiff this afternoon, but it should be an intriguing battle of two teams who love to attack. The free-scoring French outfit have an Irishman - Noel McNamara - as their attack coach and he is working with exceptional talent such as wingers Damian Penaud and new sensation Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the 2025 Six Nations player of the for fans tuning in from Ireland, however, former Leinster and Munster star Joey Carbery is not in Bordeaux's matchday 23, with Rohan Janse van Rensburg getting the nod on the bench new signing Juarno Augustus misses out for the Saints through injury as Phil Dowson's side look to their young England out-half Finn Smith and Lions bolter Henry Pollock, who wreaked havoc at Lansdowne Road at the start of the month, for inspiration in what is their first final appearance since their 2011 loss to Leinster - also, notably, at the Principality Stadium.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Sevens players victims of potential IRFU money worries says Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll has speculated that the IRFU has cut the Men's Sevens squad because of potential financial issues "down the line". The Leinster and Ireland great says that he has "total sympathy" for the plight of the players who were informed last week that the programme has been shut down. They were subsequently told that they will be paid until the end of the year but the IRFU has been criticised by current and former Sevens stars and their families for this action. "Almost immediately they got onto the HSBC series and they have had an awful lot of success," O'Driscoll told Off The Ball. "OK, they didn't manage to win one of the events but they've been in finals, they've been third in the World Cup a few years ago in Cape Town, they've been incredibly consistent. "So I have total sympathy for their situation, how all of these players now all of a sudden look as though they're going to be out of a gig." Former IRFU performance director David Nucifora, who founded the Sevens programme, has described the decision as "total nonsense". O'Driscoll, however, adds that there's two sides to every story and he insists that Irish rugby chiefs - including Nucifora's successor, David Humphreys -must have a good reason for their decision. "I would imagine that the powers that be within the IRFU haven't taken this decision lightly," said O'Driscoll. "My sense is that there's potential trouble looming down the line from a financial point of view and all this comes down to is securing financial stability over the course of the next five to 10 years. "It's been very well documented about Wales, I think Scotland are not far away from being in a similar predicament or are certainly on the road there. "Even a union like Ireland, who everyone thought was bulletproof, when you see an €18 and a half million loss last year, the implications of a World Cup year when you don't host those November Test matches having such a significant impact on the balance sheet, there's something not right. "We're seeing clubs in the UK folding, we know that three of the four provinces are really struggling from a funding point of view, commercially not successful at the moment, they just haven't really recovered post-Covid. "So I think the decision is a financial one and I feel for David Humphreys where he has come into the role and now he's barely got his feet under the desk and he has to deliver this sort of news. "And it's not just because I know Humphs and know what sort of a guy he is. This is a bigger picture piece and it doesn't mean that everyone shouldn't feel worthy of feeling hard done by. "The Union, the players, the public, because it's not a good news story or news day for anyone. I think many of us thought Sevens was going to be the route into the global market, it became an Olympic sport, an opportunity to achieve a medal of some sort - it's such a carrot to these players. "But ultimately Sevens in Ireland is about being a feeder into 15, which runs the game and is the financial payer and the capital appreciator of rugby and you can't get away from that. "I'd be interested to ask all the players who play Sevens, I bet you all of them would say Sevens isn't the final marker or where they want to reach. I bet you all of them see it as a segue into the 15s game. "So it's very disappointing from their perspective because of the unbelievable work that they have put in, almost over-achieving based on the quality of global teams, but it's got to be a bigger picture piece around what is coming down the line. You can't get away from that and it's just trying to future proof the security of rugby in general in Ireland."
Dublin Live
22-05-2025
- Dublin Live
'Mr Flashy' Glen Ward handed 18-month suspended sentence for bicycle saddle melee
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The leader of the 'Gucci Gang' Glen Ward - who was jailed over the possession of an AR-15 rifle - has been given an 18 month suspended prison sentence for violent disorder and possessing a bicycle saddle during a melee in daylight against a gang of males. Ward's brother Eric O'Driscoll (23) was given a 12 months suspended sentence for the same incident and given a six month sentence for reckless endangerment and dangerous driving on a motorbike in a separate incident. Glen - who has also been named in the High Court as 'Mr Flashy' - and his brother Eric, both of Deanstown Green, in Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and production of articles at Cardiffsbridge Road in Finglas on August 9, 2022. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard neither brothers were the instigators of the violent disorder incident which occurred when O'Driscoll was returning from nearby Dunnes Stores after shopping for his mother. A group of males exchanged words with O'Driscoll and they followed him to his house. Detective Garda Dwayne O'Brien said the incident of violent disorder occurred with 'two gangs against each other in daylight.' Gardai responded to a call that a large group of males had gathered at Cardiffsbridge Road but when gardai arrived the males were dispersing and no incident was taking place. CCTV from nearby Dunnes Stores was gathered showing the violent disorder incident as well as CCTV footage from the home of Ward and O'Driscoll, which showed them returning to their house armed with the bicycle saddles afterwards. Sean Prendeville, defence counsel for Ward - who has been referred to as 'Mr Flashy' and the leader of the 'Gucci Gang' during a recent High Court case - said the prosecuting garda accepted the incident wasn't started by Ward or O'Driscoll. He said Ward, who has 22 previous convictions, 'apologises to the community and he is happy to stress that.' 'He is 32, the middle of six children and has a long term partner and a nine year old daughter. He worked as a mechanic and hopes to get back to that. He is in the gym daily in prison and is keeping his head down. On the day he behaved hastily,' said Mr Prendivelle. Keith Spencer, defence counsel for O'Driscoll, who has 9 previous convictions, said the 23-year old 'did not go out that day looking for trouble.' 'He was leaving Dunnes Stores and four males approached him and words were exchanged and they followed him to his house,' said Mr Spencer. 'His involvement was holding a bicycle saddle that was thrown at him and it goes back and forth between the group of males. 'He was minding his own business, shopping for his mother and he picked up the saddle that was thrown in his direction. He is not aware if it made contact with anyone,' said Mr Spencer. O'Driscoll was also given a six month prison sentence for endangerment and dangerous driving on a separate occasion on November 17, 2022 when he drove a motorbike at high speeds, weaving in and out of traffic and mounting a footpath putting pedestrians in danger. The court heard that incident arose because he was 'very emotional' at the passing of his friend Patrick Caslin which Det Gda O'Brien said 'there was an unusual incident that led to Mr Caslin's death.' Friends of Mr Caslin were gathered for a memorial that day and O'Driscoll was driving a black Honda motorbike which took gardai on a high speed chase through Finglas for around 15 minutes. The Garda Air Support Unit as well as the Armed Support Unit were also involved. The incident ended when O'Driscoll went into the rear of a house and jumped a garden wall and hid in a shed. Gardai, assisted by the ASU, entered the garden and arrested O'Driscoll at gunpoint. Det Gda O'Brien agreed with defence counsel Mr Spencer that O'Driscoll was co-operative upon arrest. Mr Spencer said O'Driscoll, who lost his father at 16, also left school following his Junior Certificate and worked for a time in insulation. 'He was a good footballer who togged out for Finglas FC but didn't pursue it,' said Mr Spencer. He said O'Driscoll finds 'the prison environment difficult' and is now sharing a cell in Portlaoise prison with his brother Glen Ward. 'He apologises for his offending and wishes to pursue an apprenticeship as an electrician. He was very emotional on the day as he lost his close friend and accepts he was extremely reckless,' said Mr Spencer. In sentencing the brothers to suspended sentences for the violent disorder incident, Judge Alva Duffy said 'It was a terrifying incident for anyone present.' And in sentencing O'Driscoll to six months in prison for endangerment and dangerous driving, Judge Duffy said 'It was a very serious incident and on the upper end of the scale,' and banned him from driving for ten years. Both brothers were jailed in the Special Criminal Court last month for possession of a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle which was fired from the back door of a Finglas home during a house party. They both pleaded guilty to that offence and Ward was sentenced to five and a half years while O'Driscoll was sentenced to five years. During that sentencing hearing, Ms Justice Melanie Greally said the firearm Ward used was powerful and capable of causing serious injury or death. She noted that gardai found the weapon alongside a "sizable cache" of ammunition. Video footage retrieved from a phone showed Ward, having already fired the gun, encouraging his younger brother Eric O'Driscoll to take and discharge the firearm, she added. Gardai discovered the rifle alongside a military submachine gun during a search of a house in Finglas in February 2022. Ward was named in the High Court as the leader of the Kinahan-affiliated 'Gucci Gang,' during the €1.7m CAB case against Kinahan Organised Crime Gang's top lieutenant Ross Browning in 2022. Investigators established Ward's links to Browning as a 'known associate' as well as a number of other associates including Fat Freddie Thompson, who is serving life for the Hutch/Kinahan feud murder of Dathai Douglas. In an affidavit opened during the CAB case against Browning, a top detective gave details of the Kinahan Organised Crime Gang describing it as a 'transnational organisation whose activities are not just murders, money laundering and controlled drugs but also involved in the importation of firearms into Ireland, the UK and Europe with a €1 billion worldwide network.' Glen Ward was then named in an affidavit by another senior detective as 'an active member of the Kinahan Organised Crime Gang who directs the 'Gucci Gang' from an address on Ratoath Road in Finglas. 'That gang got this name due to their penchant for designer clothes and jewellery,' the sworn affidavit stated. Details were given before the High Court of that property on Ratoath Road as 'having bullet proof windows, a fortified door and pit bulls in the front garden to protect against garda searches of the property.' The property underwent a number of attacks, the affidavit continued, with Ward being seen in the company of certain individuals including Caolan Smyth, a gunman for the Kinahan organised crime group. Smyth, 33, from Donore, Co Meath is serving 20 years in prison for shooting rival Hutch gang member James 'Mago' Gately five times on May 10, 2017. The sworn affidavit by the senior detective also stated that it is the detective's belief that Mr Ward 'is engaged in the distribution of controlled drugs' in Dublin and wider regions. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
