Tech Layoff Tsunami: Is the Industry Headed for a Bigger Shakeup?

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5 Key Takeaways

• Salesforce announces mass layoffs following similar cuts at Oracle
• Tech industry faces growing concerns over deeper job reductions
• Layoffs signal ongoing instability in major tech companies
• Employee uncertainty rises amid widespread workforce reductions
• Industry observers worry about broader economic impact of tech layoffs

Salesforce Announces Major Layoffs After Oracle—Is Tech Facing a Bigger Crisis?
If you’ve been following the news lately, you might have noticed a worrying trend in the tech world: big companies are letting go of thousands of employees. The latest to join this wave is Salesforce, a giant in cloud software, which has just announced mass layoffs. This comes right after Oracle, another major tech company, made similar cuts. Understandably, many people are now asking: Is this just the beginning of even deeper job losses in the tech industry?
What’s Happening at Salesforce and Oracle?
Salesforce, known for its customer relationship management (CRM) software, has decided to lay off a significant number of workers. While the company hasn’t shared the exact number, reports suggest that hundreds, possibly thousands, of jobs are being cut. Just days before, Oracle, a leader in database and cloud services, also announced layoffs affecting many of its employees.
These layoffs are not isolated incidents. Over the past year, several tech giants—including Meta (Facebook), Google, and Amazon—have trimmed their workforces. The reasons often cited include slowing growth, economic uncertainty, and the need to cut costs after hiring too aggressively during the pandemic boom.
Why Are Tech Companies Cutting Jobs?
During the pandemic, tech companies saw a huge surge in demand as people and businesses moved online. Many firms hired thousands of new employees to keep up. But now, as things return to normal and the economy faces challenges like inflation and higher interest rates, growth has slowed. Companies are finding themselves with more staff than they need, and are being forced to make tough decisions.
Salesforce and Oracle are both trying to streamline their operations and focus on their most profitable areas. By cutting jobs, they hope to save money and stay competitive in a changing market.
What Does This Mean for the Tech Industry?
The recent layoffs have sparked fears that more cuts could be coming, not just at big companies but also at smaller tech firms. For workers in the industry, this is an unsettling time. Many are worried about job security and what the future holds.
However, experts say that while the tech sector is facing challenges, it’s not all doom and gloom. Technology is still a vital part of our lives, and companies will continue to innovate. But for now, it’s clear that the industry is going through a period of adjustment.
If you work in tech or are thinking about a career in the field, it’s a good idea to stay informed and be prepared for changes. The landscape is shifting, and flexibility will be key in the months ahead.

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Gurgaon’s Metro Makeover: How the New Line Will Turbocharge Real Estate

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5 Key Takeaways

• Groundbreaking ceremony held for the 28.5km Millennium City Centre-Cyber City metro line in Gurgaon, expected to boost real estate growth.
• The new metro line will connect old and new Gurgaon with key commercial hubs and 27 stations, enhancing connectivity.
• Properties along the metro corridor, especially near Dwarka Expressway and Hero Honda Chowk, are likely to see increased capital values and rental yields.
• Demand for mid-income and premium housing, as well as Grade A office spaces, is projected to rise by 20–25% over the next 3-4 years.
• The project will feature app-based feeder services and dedicated parking, improving last-mile connectivity and reducing reliance on private vehicles.

How the New Gurgaon Metro Line Will Change the City’s Real Estate Game
Big news for Gurgaon residents and anyone thinking about moving or investing here! The city just broke ground on a brand-new metro line that’s set to make life easier and shake up the real estate market in a big way.
On Friday, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini kicked off construction for the Millennium City Centre-Cyber City metro line. This new route will stretch 28.5 kilometers, connecting Millennium City Centre to Cyber City, and will even extend to the Dwarka Expressway. With 27 stations planned, the metro will link old and new Gurgaon, passing through important commercial areas like Subhash Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk, and Udyog Vihar.
So, what does this mean for people living or working in Gurgaon? Experts say property values and rental prices along the metro corridor are likely to go up steadily. Metro connectivity has always been a game-changer for real estate in the NCR region, and this new line is expected to unlock huge potential in areas like Dwarka Expressway, Palam Vihar, and Old Gurgaon. It will also make Cyber City and Udyog Vihar even more attractive for businesses.
If you’re looking to buy a home, especially in mid-income or premium projects, now might be a good time to start your search. Developers are already seeing more interest in residential projects along the Dwarka Expressway and near Hero Honda Chowk. According to Pradeep Aggarwal, chairman of Signature Global, demand for homes in these areas could jump by 20–25% over the next three to four years.
The commercial real estate sector is also set to benefit. Vimal Nadar from Colliers India predicts that demand for top-quality office spaces will rise along Sohna Road, Southern Peripheral Road, Golf Course Extension Road, and the Dwarka Expressway. Rents in these key areas could go up by 5–10% every year, and investors are expected to show more interest in properties near the new metro stations.
The entire metro line is scheduled to be completed in four years. To make commuting even smoother, there will be app-based feeder services and dedicated parking at stations, making it easier for people to get to and from the metro. This should improve the overall quality of life in Gurgaon and help reduce the city’s reliance on private cars.
In short, the new metro line is set to make Gurgaon more connected, more liveable, and a hotter spot for real estate investment. If you’ve been thinking about buying property or starting a business here, now’s the time to pay attention!

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AI Isn’t Taking Your Job—It’s Just Draining the Boss’s Wallet

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5 Key Takeaways

• Most companies are failing to generate real value from AI, with fewer than 10% of projects making money.
• The main problem is not the AI tools themselves, but poor implementation and focus on flashy, ineffective applications.
• Startups are succeeding with AI by targeting specific problems, suggesting job seekers may find better opportunities in smaller, focused companies.
• The so-called 'AI bubble' means mass layoffs are unlikely soon; workers have time to adapt and develop relevant skills.
• Human skills—like problem-solving, process improvement, and practical AI application—remain essential and are highly valued by employers.

MIT Says AI Isn’t Taking Your Job—It’s Just Burning Your Boss’s Money
Are you worried that artificial intelligence (AI) is about to take your job? You’re not alone. But according to a new study from MIT, you might be worrying for nothing—at least for now. The real story? Most companies are spending tons of money on AI, but almost none of it is actually paying off.
AI Projects: Lots of Hype, Little Payoff
MIT’s report, “The GenAI Divide: State of AI in Business 2025,” looked at how companies are using AI. The results were surprising: less than 10% of AI projects actually make any real money, and only about 5% are creating millions in value. The rest? They’re just draining company budgets without making a difference.
This might sound like bad news for businesses, but for workers, it’s actually a relief. Companies are still struggling to figure out how to use AI in a way that really helps them. That means human skills—like problem-solving and creativity—are still at the heart of what makes a business successful.
Why Are Companies Struggling with AI?
The problem isn’t the AI technology itself. It’s how companies are using it. Many leaders are spending big on flashy AI tools for sales and marketing, hoping for quick wins. But these projects rarely deliver. The real value of AI comes from less glamorous areas, like automating paperwork, streamlining supply chains, or making back-office work more efficient.
The companies that are winning with AI aren’t using it to replace people—they’re using it to free up employees to do more valuable work. So, if you’re job hunting, focus on skills like spotting inefficiencies, understanding business processes, and knowing how to use AI to solve real problems.
Startups Are Doing It Better
Interestingly, small startups are having more success with AI than big corporations. Why? Because they pick one problem and use AI to solve it, instead of trying to do everything at once. If you want to learn and grow, these smaller, focused companies might be the best places to work.
What Does This Mean for Workers?
Don’t panic about AI taking your job tomorrow. Most companies are still figuring things out, and it will take years before AI is used effectively everywhere. That gives you time to learn new skills and adapt.
The best thing you can do? Show employers that you can use AI tools to make their business better—whether that’s saving time, cutting costs, or improving workflows. Don’t just say you know how to use ChatGPT; show how you can use it to solve real problems.
Bottom Line
AI isn’t replacing you anytime soon. But the people who learn how to use it well will have a big advantage. Treat AI as a tool, not a threat—and you’ll be ready for whatever comes next.

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Anytime, Anywhere Meditation with Anything

All Buddhist Stories

Short Stories from the video

1. The Pizza Story (The More You Push, The More It Comes)

A teacher told his students: “For thirty seconds, do not think of pizza.”
They tried, but the more they resisted, the more pizzas popped into their minds—cheese pizza, veggie pizza, every kind of pizza.
The teacher smiled and said: “This is how life works. When you push away your thoughts and emotions, they bounce back stronger. Acceptance is the key. Let the pizza come and go.”

Moral: Resisting thoughts only feeds them. Accept and let them pass.

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2. The Gym Walk

A man drives to the gym and wants to park right at the entrance. If he finds a faraway spot, he grumbles with every step: “Bad day, too far, unlucky me.”
Yet once inside, he climbs onto the treadmill, walking happily, step after step: “Good for my health! My money is well-spent!”
The walk outside and the walk inside were the same. Only his attitude changed.

Moral: Suffering or happiness is not in the walk—it is in the mind’s perspective.

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3. The Diamond in the Broken House

A poor man lived in a leaking, broken house. He struggled through cold winters and hot summers, never knowing that hidden in his home were 10 kilos of diamonds.
One day, a friend told him, “These stones you ignore are diamonds!” Slowly, the man realized the truth. He exchanged a single diamond for a beautiful house by the mountain, filled with food and warmth.
Yet whether he was in the broken house or the new one, the diamonds always belonged to him.

Moral: We all carry inner treasures—awareness, love, and wisdom. Recognition makes the difference.

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4. The Sky and the Clouds

A son complained of panic attacks. His father said:
“Your true nature is like the vast Himalayan sky. Panic is just a passing storm. The storm never harms the sky—it comes and goes, but the sky remains pure.”
The son realized he didn’t need to fight the storm. He only needed to stay connected with the sky.

Moral: Thoughts and emotions are clouds. Awareness is the unchanging sky.

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5. The Three Ways of Drinking Water

A teacher showed his students a glass of water and said:

• First way: grasp tightly—“I must drink this now!”

• Second way: reject it—“I hate water, maybe tomorrow.”

• Third way: relax, follow the flow, and simply drink.
  Everyone agreed the third way was best. The teacher said: “Yet often we live in the first or second way—too tight with craving, or too loose with aversion.”

Moral: Balance and awareness make life natural and joyful.

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Meditation Anytime, Anywhere: Discovering the Diamonds Within

Good morning. Today I want to share a simple yet profound truth: meditation can be practiced anytime, anywhere, with anything. It doesn’t require a cushion, a monastery, or even silence. All it requires is recognition—recognition of our inner potential and the qualities we already carry within us.

The Two Purposes of Meditation

Meditation, at its essence, has two main purposes:

1. To discover our innate potential.
   Beneath all our worries, fears, and limitations, there is something unshakable within each of us. It doesn’t matter who you are—everyone carries this same inner diamond.

2. To learn how to recognize it in everyday life.
   We don’t have to wait for perfect conditions to meditate. We can connect with this awareness anytime, anywhere, with anything. Even a sound, a thought, or an emotion can become the doorway.

When we connect with this, meditation becomes self-liberation. And the benefit doesn’t stop with us—peace inside naturally creates a positive influence outside, touching our family, friends, coworkers, and beyond.

The Three Inner Diamonds

Within each of us are three treasures, three qualities that never leave us:

1. Awareness

2. Love and Compassion

3. Wisdom

These are our inner diamonds. The problem isn’t that we don’t have them—it’s that we don’t recognize them. It’s like having ten kilos of diamonds in your house but mistaking them for stones. Once you recognize what they are, your entire life changes.

My Journey: From Panic to Practice

I didn’t come to meditation through peace, but through panic. Years ago, I suffered from severe panic attacks. At first, I thought they were heart attacks. But my teacher explained something life-changing:

• Fighting panic only makes it stronger.

• The real problem wasn’t the panic itself, but my fear of panic.

He gave me an example: “Don’t think of pizza.” Immediately, your mind fills with pizza! This is what happens with fear and aversion—the harder we push away, the stronger it comes back.

The secret, he said, was not to fight the panic, but to connect with the sky of awareness behind it. Storm clouds don’t change the nature of the sky; they come and go, but the sky remains vast and open. In the same way, thoughts, emotions, even panic are temporary clouds. Our awareness is the sky.

The Three Steps: View, Meditation, Application

Every authentic meditation practice rests on three foundations:

1. View – Recognizing the inner diamonds of awareness, love, and wisdom.

2. Meditation – Experiencing them directly, even for a few moments at a time.

3. Application – Bringing that recognition into daily life: at work, with family, while eating, walking, or even scrolling your phone.

If we only have one of these three, transformation is limited. Together, they can change our lives.

Awareness: Always Here

What is awareness? It is the simple knowing quality of the mind—the ability to see, hear, feel, taste, smell, and think. It’s always present, whether we notice it or not.

When you hear a sound and recognize it, that’s awareness. When you realize you’re distracted, that too is awareness. Awareness is like gravity: it doesn’t matter if you believe in it or not, it’s always there.

The practice is simply to recognize it, again and again.

Practical Meditation: Sound and Breath

Let’s try two simple practices:

• Sound meditation: Close your eyes and just listen. Air conditioning, footsteps, birds, coughing—whatever is there. When you notice you’ve drifted into thoughts, gently return to the sound.

• Breath meditation: Notice your natural breathing. Inhale, exhale. Don’t force or change it—just watch.

The essence isn’t to stop thoughts or create calm. The essence is awareness. Calm, peace, and joy are natural byproducts.

From Craving and Aversion to Freedom

In meditation, we learn three lifelong skills:

1. Being okay with not-okay.
   Transforming aversion into acceptance and compassion.

2. Returning again and again.
   Instead of being pulled away by craving, we come back to the present. This makes us the leader of our own mind.

3. Seeing reality as it is.
   This is wisdom—experiencing life directly, without distortion.

These three skills—compassion, awareness, wisdom—transform suffering at its roots.

Everyday Meditation

You don’t need hours. Start with just five minutes a day of formal meditation—no phone, no TV, just sit and breathe. Then, sprinkle informal practice throughout your day:

• Savor the smell and taste of your food.

• Notice your breath before sending an email.

• Listen to the sounds around you instead of getting lost in thought.

Meditation is not about escaping life—it’s about living it more fully, with awareness, compassion, and wisdom.

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✨ Remember: The diamonds are already within you. Awareness, love, and wisdom are always here. Meditation is simply the art of recognizing them, again and again—anytime, anywhere, with anything.

Motivate Without Nagging: 10 Easy Ways to Inspire Your Child to Study

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5 Key Takeaways

• Create a structured study routine to build discipline and reduce procrastination.
• Break study goals into small, manageable steps to make tasks feel achievable.
• Use positive reinforcement by celebrating effort and progress, not just results.
• Make learning enjoyable through games, quizzes, and connecting studies to real-life situations.
• Encourage regular breaks and provide a distraction-free study environment to boost focus and motivation.

10 Simple Ways to Motivate Your Child to Study (Without Nagging!)
As parents, we all want our children to do well in school, but getting them to sit down and study can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. The good news? You don’t have to nag or push too hard. With a few smart strategies, you can help your child develop a love for learning and the motivation to work hard. Here are 10 practical tips to get you started:
1. Create a Routine

Kids do best when they know what to expect. Set up a regular study time each day. This helps them build good habits and makes studying feel like a normal part of their day, not a chore.
2. Break Big Goals into Small Steps

Telling your child to “finish two chapters” can feel overwhelming. Instead, ask them to “read three pages today.” Small, manageable tasks are less scary and add up to big achievements over time.
3. Use Positive Reinforcement

Celebrate effort, not just results. A high-five, a kind word, or a short break after a study session can make your child feel proud and motivated to keep going.
4. Make Learning Fun

Turn tough subjects into games, quizzes, or challenges. For example, use flashcards, online quizzes, or even a quick competition to make learning more enjoyable.
5. Connect Studies to Real Life

Show your child how what they’re learning applies to the real world. Use math while shopping, talk about science while cooking, or discuss history during family outings. This makes learning feel relevant and interesting.
6. Be a Role Model

Let your child see you reading, learning, or trying new things. Kids often copy what they see, so your enthusiasm for learning can rub off on them.
7. Encourage Breaks and Movement

Short breaks with stretching or a quick walk can help your child recharge and focus better. It also prevents burnout and keeps their mind fresh.
8. Build a Study-Friendly Environment

Set up a quiet, well-lit space for studying, free from distractions like TV or loud noises. A comfortable environment helps kids concentrate.
9. Teach Time Management

Show your child how to use planners, checklists, or timers. When kids learn to manage their time, they feel more in control and less stressed.
10. Focus on Effort, Not Perfection

Remind your child that it’s okay to make mistakes. What matters is trying their best and making progress. This builds resilience and a positive attitude toward learning.
Takeaway:

Motivating your child isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about making learning meaningful, manageable, and fun. With these tips, you can help your child develop good study habits and a lifelong love for learning!

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Steve Jobs’ Final Email: A Humble Ode to the Power of Others

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5 Key Takeaways

• Steve Jobs wrote a deeply personal email to himself a year before his death, reflecting on his dependence on others.
• He acknowledged that he did not create the food he eats, the language he speaks, or the technology he uses.
• Jobs expressed gratitude for the invisible network of human effort—past and present—that sustains modern life.
• The email contrasts with the image of Jobs as a self-made genius, emphasizing his reliance on humanity.
• The message is now publicly available through the Steve Jobs Archive, preserving his legacy.

Steve Jobs’ Last Email to Himself: A Simple Reminder of How Much We Rely on Others
When we think of Steve Jobs, we picture the genius behind Apple, the man who changed the way we use technology. But just a year before he passed away, Jobs wrote a deeply personal email to himself that shows a very different side of him—one that’s humble and full of gratitude.
This email, which was never meant for the public, has now been shared by the Steve Jobs Archive, a project started by his wife Laurene Powell Jobs, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and designer Jony Ive to keep his legacy alive.
So, what did Jobs write to himself? On September 2, 2010, using his iPad, he reflected on how much of his life depended on the work and kindness of others. He admitted that he didn’t grow most of the food he ate, didn’t make his own clothes, and didn’t invent the language he spoke. Even the music that moved him, the technology he worked with, and the freedoms he enjoyed were all created by other people.
Here’s a part of what he wrote:

“I grow little of the food I eat, and of the little I do grow I did not breed or perfect the seeds. I do not make any of my own clothing. I speak a language I did not invent or refine. I did not discover the mathematics I use. I am protected by freedoms and laws I did not conceive of or legislate, and do not enforce or adjudicate. I am moved by music I did not create myself. When I needed medical attention, I was helpless to help myself survive. I did not invent the transistor, the microprocessor, object oriented programming, or most of the technology I work with.”

He ended the email with a powerful line:  

“I love and admire my species, living and dead, and am totally dependent on them for my life and well being.”

This message is a beautiful reminder that no matter how successful or independent we become, we all rely on the efforts of countless people—past and present. Jobs, often seen as a self-made innovator, recognized that his achievements were only possible because of the work of others.
In a world that often celebrates individual success, Steve Jobs’ last email is a humble meditation on gratitude. It encourages us to appreciate the invisible network of people who make our lives possible every day.

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Why Vani Quit Her Dream Government Job for Mental Peace

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5 Key Takeaways

• Vani Gupta, a 29-year-old PNB officer, quit her stable government job to prioritize her mental health over financial security.
• The demanding and thankless nature of her banking role left her mentally exhausted and unfulfilled, despite financial independence.
• Vani made the bold decision to resign without a backup plan, acknowledging that quitting is a privilege not everyone can afford.
• Her story resonated with many online, sparking both encouragement and practical questions about managing life after quitting.
• Vani managed her transition by relying on savings, minimal expenses, and no debt, inspiring others to consider mental well-being in career choices.

Why I Chose My Mental Health Over a Secure Government Job: Vani’s Story
In India, landing a government job is often seen as the ultimate dream. It promises stability, respect, and a steady paycheck. For 29-year-old Vani Gupta, becoming an officer at Punjab National Bank (PNB) was a huge achievement. She worked hard, cleared tough exams in 2022, completed her training, and was posted in Meerut as a Scale-I officer, handling loan-related work.
But behind the scenes, things weren’t as perfect as they seemed.
Recently, Vani went viral after sharing a heartfelt video on Instagram about her decision to quit her “sarkari naukri” (government job) without having another job lined up. She wrote, “Not all heroes wear capes… some just quit jobs. So I closed the chapter that was no longer serving me.”
Vani explained that while her job gave her financial independence and a better lifestyle, it also left her mentally exhausted and unfulfilled. The daily grind was so demanding that she started to lose her cheerful nature. “I used to be such a happy-go-lucky person, but in the past three years, I have become so grumpy and easily annoyed,” she shared.
She also pointed out that many people judge such decisions without understanding what it’s really like. “People are quick to judge without ever stepping into someone else’s shoes,” Vani said. She admitted that quitting a stable job is a privilege not everyone can afford, and she’s grateful she had the option. “In the past three years, I haven’t met anyone who is truly content in this job,” she added.
Vani’s bold move sparked a wave of reactions online. Some praised her courage, saying it takes real guts to leave a secure job for the sake of mental peace. Others joked about the trend of quitting jobs to become travel vloggers. Many shared their own struggles with stressful jobs, and some asked practical questions about how she’s managing her expenses now. Vani replied that she had savings, kept her expenses low, and avoided loans, so she doesn’t have any EMIs to worry about.
Her story resonated with many, especially those feeling stuck in high-pressure jobs. As one commenter put it, “It truly takes a lot of courage to make such a move. Kudos to you, and best of luck with your future endeavours.”
Vani’s journey is a reminder that sometimes, choosing your mental health over financial security is the bravest thing you can do.

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From Six-Figure Tech to the Classroom: Why I Chose Stability and Purpose Over Pay

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5 Key Takeaways

• After being laid off three times in two years, Sarah Henschel left her 12-year tech sales career for teaching.
• She chose education for its stability, job security, pensions, and health benefits, despite an initial pay cut.
• Sarah is pursuing a master’s in education and values the long-term financial growth and purpose teaching offers.
• Her prior experience in tutoring and teaching influenced her decision to switch careers.
• She believes teaching is a meaningful, future-proof profession that aligns with her personal and family goals.

Why I Left My High-Paying Tech Job for a More Stable, Meaningful Career
After spending over a decade in the fast-paced world of tech sales, Sarah Henschel from New York decided she’d had enough. In just two years, she was laid off three times. Each time, she dusted herself off and found another job, but the constant uncertainty started to wear her down. “The last layoff was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Sarah shared.
At 35, Sarah made a bold move: she left her $110,000-a-year tech job to become a teacher. For many, this might sound like a step backward, especially since teaching usually pays less at the start. But for Sarah, it was about finding stability and purpose.
Sarah’s journey into teaching wasn’t completely out of the blue. She had always enjoyed working with kids, having tutored SAT students in New York and even taught English in Spain after college. “I enjoyed tech, but I didn’t wake up excited to do it every day,” she admitted. Teaching, on the other hand, felt meaningful and offered her a chance to make a real difference.
One of the biggest reasons for her career switch was job security. Unlike tech, where layoffs are common and the future can feel shaky, teaching is a profession that will always be needed. Plus, New York’s public school system offers solid benefits: pensions, annual pay raises, and free health insurance. These perks are especially important to Sarah as she thinks about starting a family and planning for retirement.
Of course, switching careers meant taking a pay cut—at least for now. But Sarah isn’t worried. In New York, experienced teachers can earn up to $140,000 by the time they retire, with steady increases along the way. “I know I’ll make less money for a while, but in 10 years, I’ll be making the same, if not more,” she explained.
Sarah is currently studying for a master’s degree in education, a one-year program that will let her start teaching next fall. While she’ll miss some aspects of her old tech life, like the excitement of startups and certain perks, she’s looking forward to a career that offers both security and a sense of purpose.
After years of uncertainty, Sarah is finally choosing a path that feels right for her—one where she can build a future, help others, and have peace of mind.

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US HIRE Act Threatens Indian IT: Will a 25% Outsourcing Tax Change the Game?

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5 Key Takeaways

• The US Senate is considering the HIRE Act, which proposes a 25% tax on certain payments to foreign service providers, including Indian IT firms.
• If enacted, the bill would make Indian IT services exports to the US more expensive, impacting an industry worth $225 billion in 2024-25.
• The tax targets payments for services benefiting US consumers and applies only to the portion directed to the US market.
• Penalties for failing to pay the tax would increase sharply, and the tax would not be deductible from US taxpayers' income.
• Revenue from the tax would fund a new Domestic Workforce Fund for US workforce development and retraining programs.

Indian IT Companies on Edge as US Proposes New Outsourcing Tax
The Indian IT industry is facing a new challenge from across the globe. The United States is considering a new law, called the "HIRE Act" (Halting International Relocation of Employment Act), which could make it much more expensive for American companies to hire Indian tech workers and use Indian IT services.
What’s the HIRE Act All About?
The HIRE Act, recently introduced in the US Senate by Senator Bernie Moreno, proposes a hefty 25% tax on certain payments that US businesses make to foreign companies or workers for services that benefit American consumers. In simple terms, if a US company pays an Indian IT firm to handle its software, customer support, or other tech needs, that payment could be taxed an extra 25%.
Senator Moreno says the goal is to protect American jobs. He argues that too many good jobs have been sent overseas, leaving American graduates struggling to find work. “If companies want to hire foreign workers instead of Americans, my bill will hit them where it hurts: their pocketbooks,” he said.
Why Does This Matter to India?
The US is the biggest customer for India’s IT services, accounting for more than half of India’s software exports—worth about $225 billion in 2024-25. If the HIRE Act becomes law, Indian IT services could become much more expensive for US companies. This could mean fewer contracts for Indian firms, and possibly job losses or slower growth in India’s massive tech sector.
How Would the Tax Work?
The proposed tax would apply to any payment made by a US business to a foreign person or company for services that benefit US consumers. If the service benefits both US and non-US customers, only the US portion would be taxed. The bill also includes tough penalties for companies that don’t pay the tax—up to 50% of the unpaid amount per month, a huge jump from the current penalty.
Where Would the Money Go?
The money collected from this new tax would go into a special “Domestic Workforce Fund.” This fund would be used to help train and retrain American workers, support apprenticeship programs, and help communities hit hard by job losses.
When Could This Happen?
If the HIRE Act passes, the new tax would apply to payments made after December 31, 2025. Indian IT companies and the government are watching closely, as this could have a big impact on one of India’s most important industries.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops!

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China’s Trillion-Parameter Gambit

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The global AI race just hit another gear. In a single week, China unleashed not one but two trillion-parameter AI models, shaking up the leaderboard and putting pressure on American labs to respond.

Alibaba’s Qwen-3 Max: A Trillion-Parameter Preview

The biggest headline comes from Alibaba’s Qwen team, which unveiled Qwen-3 Max Preview — a model weighing in at over 1 trillion parameters.

For context, many have speculated that OpenAI’s GPT-4o and its successors sit in a similar range, but most labs lately have leaned toward smaller, more efficient models. Qwen going bigger bucks that trend.

Benchmarks show why: on tests like SuperGQA, LiveCodeBench V6, Arena Hard V2, and LiveBench 2024, Qwen-3 Max outperformed rivals including Claude Opus 4, Kimi K2, and DeepSeek v3.1.

That’s no small feat — these are some of the toughest models to beat right now.

Availability and Pricing

Qwen-3 Max is already live:

• Available via Qwen Chat (Alibaba’s ChatGPT competitor)

• Accessible through Alibaba Cloud’s API

• Integrated into OpenRouter and Anyscale Coder (Hugging Face’s coding tool), where it’s now the default model

But unlike some of Qwen’s earlier releases, this one isn’t open source. Access comes via Alibaba Cloud or its partners, with tiered pricing depending on context length:

• Up to 32k tokens: $0.86 per million input tokens, $3.44 per million output

• 32k–128k tokens: $1.43 input, $5.73 output

• Up to 252k tokens: $2.15 input, $8.60 output

Short prompts? Affordable. Heavy, high-context workloads? Pricey.

Context Window and Features

• Max context: 262,144 tokens

  • Input up to 258,048 tokens

  • Output up to 32,768 tokens (trade-off between input vs. output length)

• Context caching: keeps long conversations alive without reprocessing

• Use cases: complex reasoning, coding, JSON/data handling, and creative work

Early testers (including VentureBeat) report that it’s blazing fast — even quicker than ChatGPT in side-by-side trials — while avoiding common “big model” pitfalls like miscounting letters or botching arithmetic.

Moonshot AI: The Kimi Upgrade

While Qwen stole headlines, Moonshot AI, a Beijing startup valued at $3.3 billion, also made waves with an update to its Kimi series.

• The new release (internally dubbed Kimi K2-0905) doubles the context window from 128k to 256k tokens

• Focuses on improved coding skills and reduced hallucination

• Keeps its creative writing strengths that made the first Kimi popular

Moonshot’s first trillion-parameter model, Kimi K2, was open source and climbed the LM Arena leaderboard (tied for 8th overall, 4th in coding). The company remains committed to open-sourcing future models, unlike Alibaba’s more closed approach.

Founder Yang Jullin has been outspoken:

• Believes millions of tokens are needed for AI to truly solve hard problems

• Argues that scaling laws are alive and well, with efficiency gains driving faster progress than ever

• Revealed that K2 is already being used to train K3, their next-generation base model

What It Means for the AI Race

With Alibaba and Moonshot both flexing trillion-parameter models in the same week, it’s clear that China is serious about AI supremacy.

• Enterprises now have access to longer context windows and more powerful reasoning engines — but they’ll need to weigh costs and risks.

• Developers are already running into Qwen-3 Max inside tools like Anyscale Coder, often without realizing it.

• The open-source vs. closed-source divide between Qwen and Moonshot could shape the global AI ecosystem just as much as raw performance.

The bigger question: does this mark the start of China overtaking the US in AI?

For now, what’s certain is that the competition just got fiercer — and trillion-parameter models are no longer the exception, but the new benchmark.

Tags: Technology,Large Language Models,Artificial Intelligence,

Life, the Universe, and Everything - Easy Problem From HackerEarth

To See All Articles About Technology: Index of Lessons in Technology

All Tracks>Basic Programming> Input/Output> Basics of Input/Output> Problem
Difficulty: Easy

Try This Problem Here

Your program is to use the brute-force approach in order to find the Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything. More precisely... rewrite small numbers from input to output. Stop processing input after reading in the number 42. All numbers at input are integers of one or two digits. 

Sample Input

1
2
88
42
99

Sample Output

1
2
88

My Solution

NOT42 = True
while (NOT42):
    n = int(input())
    if n == 42:
        break
    else:
        print(n)

Life, the Universe, and Everything - Easy Problem From HackerEarth

Roy and Profile Picture - Easy Problem From HackerEarth

To See All Articles About Technology: Index of Lessons in Technology

Roy wants to change his profile picture on Facebook. Now Facebook has some restriction over the dimension of picture that we can upload.
Minimum dimension of the picture can be L x L, where L is the length of the side of square.

Now Roy has N photos of various dimensions.
Dimension of a photo is denoted as W x H
where W - width of the photo and H - Height of the photo

When any photo is uploaded following events may occur:

[1] If any of the width or height is less than L, user is prompted to upload another one. Print "UPLOAD ANOTHER" in this case.
[2] If width and height, both are large enough and
(a) if the photo is already square then it is accepted. Print "ACCEPTED" in this case.
(b) else user is prompted to crop it. Print "CROP IT" in this case.

(quotes are only for clarification)

Given L, N, W and H as input, print appropriate text as output.

Input:
First line contains L.
Second line contains N, number of photos.
Following N lines each contains two space separated integers W and H.

Output:
Print appropriate text for each photo in a new line.

Constraints:
1 <= L,W,H <= 10000
1 <= N <= 1000

Sample Input
180
3
640 480
120 300
180 180

Sample Output
CROP IT
UPLOAD ANOTHER
ACCEPTED

My Solution

L = int(input())
N = int(input())
WH = [list(map(int, input().split())) for _ in range(N)]

for i in WH:
    W = i[0]
    H = i[1]
    if W < L or H < L:
        print("UPLOAD ANOTHER")
    elif W >= L and H >= L and W == H:
        print("ACCEPTED")
    else:
        print("CROP IT")