Latest news with #PriyankaKulkarni
Axios
5 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Seattle tech braces for AI workforce shake-up
The high-paying, coding-heavy roles that once defined Seattle tech industry face fundamental disruption as the rules on who gets hired and how are rewritten. Why it matters: Industry leaders say the next 12-18 months could bring seismic workforce changes as AI reshapes job expectations and recruiting playbooks. Driving the news: Panelists who spoke July 29 at a Seattle Tech Week event warned that traditional job ladders — and the credentials that once almost guaranteed a shot at them — are losing relevance as companies chase versatile operators who can lead AI innovation. What they're saying:"Everyone is chasing the same talent: the kind of builder who doesn't just code but shapes the intelligence behind the product," said Casium CEO Priyanka Kulkarni. "We're seeing the rise of multi-skilled builders." Catch up quick: Amid heavy AI investment and warnings from execs that automation will shrink some roles, tech companies — including Microsoft, Amazon and Expedia — have laid off more than 22,000 workers this year, according to Tech Crunch. This follows the loss of 150,000 tech jobs across 549 companies globally in 2024, per which tracks tech industry and federal government layoffs. What's changing: Hiring is shifting from technical execution to critical thinking and tool fluency, said Derek Sessions, chief technology officer at Yoodli. Coding tests are out. Employers are ditching whiteboard problems and take-home assignments in favor of AI-enabled interviews. Tool judgment is also in. "I'm hiring someone to drive the tractor, not pull weeds," said Joe Heitzeberg, founder of AI Tinkerers. Yes, but: Leaning on AI too early in a career can backfire for people who may then struggle to explain their work, said JoNelle Sood of Tripod Networking, who pointed out that internships are crucial for entry-level engineers.
Geek Wire
18-06-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
‘Flight to security': Tech employers, foreign workers anxious amid ICE raids and immigration uncertainty
American flag. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser) U.S. immigration crackdowns aimed at undocumented workers in agriculture, construction and elsewhere are having ripple effects in the tech world, which employs thousands of foreign-born workers with highly sought-after computer science skills. Two Seattle startups providing immigration services say the climate is stoking fears and a sense of urgency. 'Anxiety has increased,' said Xiao Wang, co-founder and CEO of Boundless. 'The volume of questions, inquiries, and the amount of misinformation that goes on through social media is such that people are increasingly concerned about what is real, what is not real.' Priyanka Kulkarni, founder and CEO of Casium, also sees corporations that sponsor employees from abroad examining their options. A variety of temporary work visas and green cards are available for immigrants with special knowledge and abilities. That includes the H-1B visa that's often issued by lottery to qualified tech candidates, and the O-1 visa for globally exceptional talent. EB-1 'Einstein visas' are awarded to world-class professionals, professors and researchers, while EB-2 visas go to workers in areas of national importance or holding essential skills. 'Employers are getting really rational,' Kulkarni said. 'They're trying to separate signal from noise. They want to understand realistic options. We're developing multi-track strategies, so different visa categories for different talent profiles.' Amazon ranked No. 1 in the tech sector for H-1B visa approvals last year at 14,764, while Microsoft secured 4,725 of the visas. Boundless co-founder and CEO Xiao Wang. (Boundless Photo) Boundless and Casium have built technology to speed the application process for landing visas, assess the suitability of candidates, collect data on which applications are successful, and provide legal support. Wang and Kulkarni said people are being aggressive in managing their immigration status, hoping to stay ahead of a potentially shifting landscape. 'People are really trying to take control of their immigration journeys,' Kulkarni said. They're 'more proactively reaching out.' 'I call it a flight to security,' Wang said. People on temporary visas are seeking something more permanent, like a green card. Those whose status is work-related, are seeking options that aren't non-employer based. Demand for naturalization services are strong right now, he added, which is unusual. It's more common to see a lull in citizenship interest after a presidential election year. Some foreign workers aim to strengthen their profiles by holding leadership roles or publishing in academic journals, for example. Employers are ensuring their actions comply with regulations, such putting wages at the right level and aligning job duties with a visa's focus. 'As there is more increased scrutiny,' Kulkarni said, 'the ability to get clarity and the ability to get education on the options is going to become more important.' Priyanka Kulkarni, CEO and founder of Casium. (Casium Photo) While tech companies over the years have advocated for the use and expansion of visas allowing them to hire talented workers, they've been mum on ICE enforcement actions. When reached by GeekWire, Microsoft declined to comment on immigration issues, and Amazon has not responded to an inquiry. Given that the raids have focused on undocumented employees, it's no surprise to Wang that tech companies aren't speaking up. 'The immigrant community is not a monolith. There are different people with different backgrounds who come via different avenues and have different interactions with the government,' he said. 'It's a very rational decision for large tech companies wanting to keep their cohort of international employees — especially in engineering and high tech roles — out of the spotlight of this particular issue.' Even if the administration's current policies aren't directly disrupting the flow of tech workers from abroad, Wang said he's seeing a 'chilling effect' on new immigrants coming to the U.S. and companies recruiting foreign workers. By turning people away, 'there can be a real dampening effect on new job creators, new innovators, new entrepreneurs that will also cause the U.S. to lose its lead in science, technology and the global economy,' he said. 'It's against our own interest.'
Indian Express
06-06-2025
- Indian Express
TRAI is not calling: Scammers impersonating officials are fooling even the smartest
In a chilling case from Chandigarh, an elderly woman lost over Rs 2.5 crore to fraudsters who posed as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They accused her of links to criminal activity and claimed an FIR had been filed against her. The situation escalated when others – posing as CBI officers and even the Chief Justice of India – joined the call, and threatened that her number would be deactivated. Intimidated and confused, the woman ended up sharing her bank details, leading to massive losses. Chandigarh Police are investigating the case. TRAI is a body that regulates telecommunication services and conserves the interest of the aid providers and customers. Priyanka Kulkarni, manager, telecom, media and technology, growth advisory at Aranca, said, 'As telecom fraud evolves in India, TRAI impersonation scams have reached an 'industrial scale'. According to her, scammers combine advanced technology with psychological manipulation to deceive even the most vigilant consumers. 'These scams typically begin with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls from international or spoofed numbers (often starting with +65, +67, +670, +8, +85, or +977) leveraging India's low international call termination charges to flood users with convincing threats,' she said. Kulkarni shed light on how these scammers operate. They use Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems to deliver pre-recorded messages in Hindi or English, claiming to be TRAI officials and warning that the recipient's SIM card will be blocked or their number is linked to illegal activities like money laundering. 'Some calls even point to problems with (Know Your Customer) KYC verification or billing, demanding immediate resolution through sharing personal data,' she said. What makes these scams particularly convincing is their multi-layered approach, Kulkarni said. 'Scammers 'escalate' the situation and victims are transferred to 'officials' speaking in regional dialects to build trust, and are then shown fake government documents as proof. They're sometimes held in long video calls to prevent outside interference and pressured into making urgent payments or sharing data,' Kulkarni said. Shubham Singh, a cyber security expert, explained how the scam operates at multiple levels: 🎯Caller ID Spoofing: Fraudsters use technology to make it appear as if the call is coming from a government or TRAI-like number. 🎯Fake Warnings: Victims are told their SIM will be blocked due to illegal activity or non-verification. 🎯Fake Offers: Scammers offer benefits (like free upgrades or refunds) and ask for OTPs or personal data. 🎯Phishing Links: SMS containing malicious links that appear to be from official portals or apps. Fraudsters clone official websites, and victims are tricked into believing the sites are legitimate, leading them to share their credentials. 🎯Social Engineering: They manipulate victims emotionally, fear of losing mobile service to rush decisions. Priyanka said scammers target sensitive personal and financial data of the victims like Aadhaar numbers, PAN card numbers, bank account details, credit or debit card details, One-Time Passwords (OTPs), and other KYC (Know Your Customer) credentials. Financial theft: Scammers use stolen bank or card details to withdraw money directly or make unauthorised purchases in the victim's name. Identity theft: With access to Aadhaar, PAN, and bank information, fraudsters create fake identities to open accounts, apply for loans, or commit other crimes. SIM swapping: Using KYC data, scammers get a duplicate SIM issued to intercept OTPs and bypass two-factor authentication, gaining access to banking, email, and social media accounts. Continued extortion: Victims are blackmailed with fake legal threats like 'digital arrest' and are coerced into sending more money under pressure. Not every message that says it is from TRAI or your telecom provider is real and knowing the difference can save you from serious trouble. Start with the sender: Genuine messages always come from official, easily recognisable sender IDs, not from random mobile numbers or foreign codes. Watch the language: Scammers often try to create urgency and panic using phrases like 'your number will be disconnected today!' and fill messages with bad grammar or odd formatting. Real messages are clear, calm, and professional. Remember what real officials don't do: Neither TRAI nor your service provider will ever ask you for your Aadhaar, OTPs, or bank details over a call or text. If they do, it's a scam. Trust your instincts: If something feels off, too aggressive, too urgent, or just unusual, it probably is. Take a moment, verify before you act. Singh listed steps users should have in mind to stay safe from scams: 🎯Never share OTPs or banking details: No official will ever ask for your OTPs, PINs, or bank account info over a call. 🎯TRAI doesn't make personal calls: TRAI or telecom companies do not call users to verify numbers, ask for Aadhaar, or threaten disconnection. 🎯Don't click on strange links: If you get a suspicious link via SMS or WhatsApp, don't open it, it could lead to phishing or malware. 🎯Double-check from official sources: For any telecom-related notice or clarification, visit 🎯Use the TRAI DND app: Enable Do Not Disturb (DND) through the official app to reduce spam calls and messages. 🎯Install a caller ID app: Apps like Truecaller can help identify known scam numbers or shady callers before you answer. 🎯If you fall prey to such scams, report them via the Sanchar Saathi Portal. It is an official platform by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to help users detect and report telecom fraud. Visit: 🎯'Report a Cyber Fraud' to flag suspicious activity. 🎯'Report Suspected Mobile Connection' if someone else is using your identity. 🎯Check your mobile records: See how many SIM cards are issued in your name. 🎯Instantly request disconnection of any unauthorised numbers/ 'Regulatory vigilance alone isn't enough,' said Neehar Pathare, CEO of 63SATS Cybertech. He stressed the need for collaboration between regulators, service providers, cybersecurity experts, and users. 'We must authenticate sender IDs, adopt AI-driven fraud detection, and scale digital awareness,' he said. The Safe Side: As the world evolves, the digital landscape does too, bringing new opportunities—and new risks. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, exploiting vulnerabilities to their advantage. In our special feature series, we delve into the latest cybercrime trends and provide practical tips to help you stay informed, secure, and vigilant online.
