IBM and Intel have recently reported their earnings, revealing significant challenges despite some positive figures. IBM exceeded earnings expectations with a revenue of $14.54 billion, but its net income fell sharply due to the U.S. government's cost-cutting measures, resulting in a loss of $100 million from canceled contracts. Meanwhile, Intel reported a net loss of $8 million, with stagnant revenues and a warning of potential layoffs as the company struggles to adapt to a competitive semicond...
Apr 25, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1619
Maryland has introduced a new 3% sales tax on data and information technology services, set to take effect on July 1, 2025. This legislation expands the definition of taxable services to include essential IT offerings such as cloud storage, IT consulting, and cybersecurity. Experts warn that this tax could lead to increased costs for businesses, potentially discouraging innovation and prompting some to relocate to states with lower tax burdens. The implications of this tax extend beyond Maryland...
Apr 24, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1618
Zendesk has made a significant shift in its pricing model by moving away from traditional seat licenses to an outcome-based pricing structure. This change, articulated by CEO Tom Eggemeier, means that customers will only pay when an AI agent successfully resolves a business problem. This approach aligns with a broader industry trend towards consumption-based pricing, where costs are directly linked to the value delivered rather than the number of licenses or usage. As organizations increasingly ...
Apr 23, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1616
Ransomware attacks targeting small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have reached alarming levels, with a recent UK government survey revealing that 1% of organizations reported such incidents, affecting approximately 19,000 entities. This marks a significant increase from the previous year, highlighting a troubling trend where nation-state actors are increasingly focusing on SMBs due to their often inadequate cybersecurity measures. The survey also indicates a decline in board-level cybersecur...
Apr 22, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1615
Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are increasingly turning to third-party service providers to enhance their capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI) and hybrid cloud solutions. A recent Forrester report, commissioned by Crayon, indicates that 31% of surveyed leaders from Australia, New Zealand, India, and Southeast Asia plan to combine in-house teams with external providers to improve their AI capabilities within the next year. The report highlights a significant interest in AI, with ...
Apr 21, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1614
Jason Willis Lee, a specialized medical translator, discusses the impact of AI on the translation industry, particularly in the medical field. With a background in medicine and extensive experience in translating clinical trials, medical reports, and academic research, he has witnessed firsthand the disruption caused by AI technologies. While machine translation tools like Google Translate and DeepL have improved significantly, they still struggle with nuances and specialized terminology, which ...
Apr 20, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1592
The podcast features a discussion on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), law, and ethics, with insights from attorney Brad Gross and AI governance expert Juliette Powell. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into the services provided by managed service providers (MSPs) and technology companies, the risks associated with compliance and unintended bias are growing. The conversation explores how businesses can navigate legal pitfalls while developing responsible and transparent AI s...
Apr 19, 2025•39 min•Ep. 1611
A federal judge has ruled that Google acted illegally to maintain a monopoly in online advertising technology, which could lead to significant changes within the company. The ruling, made by Judge Leone Branchima of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, found that Google unlawfully built dominance in the ad tech market, impacting tools used by publishers and the software facilitating advertising transactions. This decision is part of a broader regulatory effort to rein in...
Apr 18, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1613
The U.S. government has renewed funding for the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) Program, a critical database for tracking cybersecurity flaws, just hours before its funding was set to expire. Established 25 years ago, the CVE program assigns unique identifiers to security vulnerabilities, facilitating consistent communication across the cybersecurity landscape. The renewal of funding comes amid concerns that without it, new vulnerabilities could go untracked, posing risks to national ...
Apr 17, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1612
Peter Kujawa from Service Leadership discusses the findings of the 2025 Annual IT Solution Provider Compensation Report, focusing on the trends in wage inflation and employee retention within the managed service provider (MSP) sector. The report reveals that wage inflation peaked in 2022 but has since improved, largely due to the cooling off of the remote work trend and significant layoffs in the tech industry. This shift has led to a more stable job market, particularly in the U.S. and Australi...
Apr 17, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1608
AI-powered code generation tools are raising significant security concerns within the software supply chain. Recent research indicates that a notable percentage of package suggestions from both commercial and open-source models are non-existent, a phenomenon referred to as "hallucination." This issue allows malicious actors to exploit these fictitious package names by uploading harmful software to package registries, a tactic known as slop-squatting. Experts emphasize the importance of manual ve...
Apr 15, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1609
The podcast discusses the significant impact of recent tariff policies on the technology sector and small businesses in the U.S. Consumer sentiment has sharply declined, with a notable 11% drop reported in April, driven by fears of rising inflation and economic uncertainty. The Trump administration's decision to exempt certain electronics from new tariffs has not alleviated concerns, as many CIOs are pausing IT projects due to budget disruptions. This uncertainty is expected to trickle down to m...
Apr 14, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1607
David Lincoln from Rosendin discusses the development of an innovative autonomous robot designed for solar panel installations. The robot, which features a robotic arm mounted on a track-mounted chassis, was conceived to address the labor-intensive and physically demanding nature of installing heavy photovoltaic (PV) modules. The idea originated after Lincoln observed robotic arms in a PV module manufacturing facility, leading to a collaboration with an R&D team to create a prototype that co...
Apr 13, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1589
The latest market turbulence has raised concerns about the impact of tariffs on business deals and the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to serve as a lifeline for companies striving to do more with less. With tariffs on Chinese goods recently increased to 125% and a 90-day pause on other tariffs, the uncertainty in the market is palpable. Industry experts Jay McCall and Karl Palachuk discuss the implications of these changes, emphasizing the need for IT solution providers to adapt thei...
Apr 12, 2025•39 min•Ep. 1605
Microsoft is rolling out a preview of its new feature called Recall, which captures screenshots of user activity on CoPilot Plus PCs. This feature, initially intended for launch alongside CoPilot Plus PCs, faced delays due to security concerns. Users must opt-in to save snapshots with Recall and can pause the feature at any time. This development raises important questions about data ownership and how organizations should approach the use of scraped data, especially as automated bots increasingl...
Apr 11, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1606
Tariff whiplash has led to a significant surge in hardware shipments, particularly in the PC market, as manufacturers rush to deliver products ahead of impending tariffs. In the first quarter of 2025, PC shipments in the United States increased by 9.4%, with notable growth in both notebook and desktop shipments. Companies like Lenovo and HP have ramped up their shipments to the U.S. in anticipation of cost hikes, while a recent Canalys poll indicates that many small and mid-sized business custom...
Apr 10, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1604
Experts in artificial intelligence (AI) express optimism about its potential, yet public sentiment reveals a significant trust gap, with many feeling anxious and lacking control over AI's role in their lives. A recent survey indicates that while 79% of Generation Z engages with AI tools, only 27% are hopeful about their benefits. This disconnect is further emphasized by Shopify's new hiring policy, which requires employees to justify why they cannot use AI for their tasks before seeking addition...
Apr 09, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1603
Kaseya's 2025 Global MSP Benchmark Report reveals that cybersecurity has emerged as a crucial revenue driver for managed service providers (MSPs), with 67% of respondents identifying it as one of their fastest-growing revenue categories. The report highlights that 76% of MSPs recognize their clients' primary concern is security, emphasizing the need for integrating cybersecurity into service offerings. Additionally, operational efficiency is paramount, with 95% of MSPs acknowledging the necessit...
Apr 08, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1602
Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have ignited a trade war, leading to significant economic repercussions for small businesses and the tech sector. The new tariffs, described as potentially the largest since World War I, have raised concerns about a looming recession, with estimates suggesting a 60% risk of economic downturn this year. The stock market reacted negatively, losing approximately $6 trillion in just two days following the announcement. Business leaders, including Restorati...
Apr 07, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1601
Hiren Hasmukh, CEO of Teqtivity, discusses the evolution of his company from its origins as TeQube, a smart locker solution, to a comprehensive IT asset management (ITAM) provider. The initial focus was on helping engineers access devices for app development without the hassle of traditional IT processes. As the company grew, it pivoted towards software solutions that enable organizations to manage their entire IT fleet, including laptops, desktops, and mobile devices, while ensuring compliance ...
Apr 06, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1585
A recent study reveals a strong demand for AI and advanced solutions among businesses, yet a significant gap exists in satisfaction with the return on investment (ROI). With 95% of surveyed clients planning to invest in technologies like AI and IoT, 86% feel pressured to demonstrate results, while 64% admit their investments have not met expectations. This discrepancy presents a unique opportunity for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and solution providers who possess the skills and knowledge to...
Apr 05, 2025•36 min•Ep. 1598
A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto, University of Oklahoma, the Census Bureau, and the National Bureau of Economic Research at Stanford reveals a significant productivity pattern known as the J-curve in American manufacturing following AI adoption. The study indicates that companies often experience short-term productivity losses before realizing long-term gains. Initial use of industrial AI leads to increased work-in-progress inventory and investment in robot...
Apr 04, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1600
OpenAI has successfully raised $40 billion in what is believed to be the largest private technology funding round ever, boosting its valuation to $300 billion. This funding round was predominantly led by the Japanese investment firm SoftBank, which has now surpassed Microsoft as OpenAI's largest investor. Despite the impressive growth in revenue and user base, OpenAI continues to face challenges in achieving profitability, as it invests heavily in infrastructure and user acquisition. The company...
Apr 03, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1599
Michael Duffy, President Donald Trump's nominee for Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, has committed to reviewing the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 if confirmed. This revamped program, effective since December, mandates that defense contractors handling controlled, unclassified information comply with specific cybersecurity standards to qualify for Department of Defense contracts. Concerns have been raised about the burden these regulati...
Apr 02, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1597
Cybersecurity startups are experiencing a significant revenue surge as threats associated with artificial intelligence continue to multiply. Companies like ChainGuard have reported a remarkable seven-fold increase in annualized revenue, reaching approximately $40 million, while Island anticipates its revenue will hit $160 million by the end of the year. The rise in cyber attacks, particularly a 138% increase in phishing sites since the launch of ChatGPT, has created a greater demand for cybersec...
Apr 01, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1596
The economy is currently facing a challenging combination of slowing growth and rising inflation, which is impacting managed service providers (MSPs) and IT services firms. The Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index has shown a significant increase, indicating heightened inflation, while consumer spending is weakening. This economic squeeze is forcing businesses to reassess their budgets, leading to a potential increase in demand for MSPs that can offer cost-effective solutions and effici...
Mar 31, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1594
Sahil Agarwal, co-founder and CEO of Enkrypt.ai, discusses the critical importance of security and compliance in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) models. His company focuses on helping enterprises adopt generative AI while managing the associated risks. Agarwal explains that the mission of Enkrypt.ai has evolved from developing encryption algorithms to creating comprehensive solutions that provide ongoing management and monitoring of AI applications. This shift aims to ensure that busin...
Mar 30, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1574
AI is rapidly emerging as a significant revenue driver for managed service providers (MSPs), with a notable increase in expectations for AI-related revenue. According to recent data, 53% of MSPs anticipate substantial AI revenue this year, a significant rise from 32% the previous year. This shift is attributed to a growing understanding of AI's potential, particularly following the rise of generative AI technologies like ChatGPT. While some companies are genuinely building capabilities, others m...
Mar 29, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1591
CoreWeave has successfully launched its initial public offering (IPO), pricing shares at $40 and raising $1.5 billion, marking the largest tech offering in the U.S. since 2021. Despite initially targeting a higher share price, the final valuation of approximately $19 billion reflects a significant reduction in investor sentiment towards AI infrastructure. This IPO indicates a cautious optimism in the market, as CoreWeave capitalizes on the ongoing demand for GPU resources essential for AI develo...
Mar 28, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1593
Jeff Borello, CEO and co-founder of Andromeda Technology Solutions, shares insights into the managed services landscape, particularly focusing on the needs of manufacturing clients in the Midwest. With over 30 years of experience, Borello discusses the evolution of his company from a break-fix model to a pure managed services provider, emphasizing the importance of project delivery and cloud migration. He highlights the company's commitment to providing flat-rate monthly services while maintaini...
Mar 27, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1587
