Caitlin (CK) Kalinowski 🇺🇸

Radical Candor: "If you want to know how a company makes it all the way to market with such an out-of-touch, poorly performing product, the Times interviewed "23 current and former employees, advisers and investors," and their anecdotes shed a lot of light on how this can happen. The two founders apparently "preferred positivity over criticism, leading them to disregard warnings about the AI Pin’s poor battery life and power consumption. A senior software engineer was dismissed after raising questions about the product, they said, while others left out of frustration." After that software engineer was fired for questioning if the AI pin would be ready for launch, the report describes a staff meeting where the founders "said the employee had violated policy by talking negatively about Humane." It's hard to make a good product if you can't honestly talk about the negatives and positives for fear of retaliation. The outside world is not subject to the founders' preferences for "positivity," though. After apparently not being interested in honest employee feedback during development, once the product launched, Bongiorno called the team together and said the company would have to "lean into painful feedback" and called the reviews “a gift that we’ve been given.” The problem with this thinking is that, at this point, the product had launched and received the most attention it would ever get, and nearly all of that was negative. Maybe part of the issue is that the company didn't have a head of marketing until after launch, despite employees "repeatedly asking" for the role to be filled."

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If you're in Mountain View tomorrow and Wednesday, DM me. 📩 We've got some cool stuff to talk about: 🚀 Tough engineering challenges we're working on; 🌎 Future expansion in the US... and soon-to-be assembly lines for pre-production builds (think before you call Foxconn or else). 🛠️ ... Or if you just want to grab coffee ☕ and daydream about how the hardware innovation world is heating up (robots everywhere 🤖, connected ecosystems - #IoT, #Climatetech, #AgTech, #Health). Did I forget anything? 😊 Link to sign up, in the comments ⤵

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Take 5: https://lnkd.in/g6npi4wf Join us in Cupertino to explore the latest in Apple Intelligence and machine learning. We’ll show you how to use Siri and App Intents to enhance the way people interact with your apps, dive into advanced workflows for building intelligent features into your app using ML-powered APIs, and more. #appleintelligence #machinelearning

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The #IoTTechExpo was another reason to showcase my terrible photography and framing skills. And to meet old friends working on safe and scalable environments for connected products. Key takeaways: AI and ML were notable buzzwords. How does that actually safely lay over an existing tech stack (and hardware stack) remains to be demonstrated. How do you test, from a systems perspective, if a connected ecosystem actually works as intended? (Without necessarily having to cycle your devices for countless hours)? Everybody has a platform. This feels counterintuitive to me. How do we change that? And how do innovators come up with architecting an ecosystem that doesn’t become a burden or roadblock to deploying new devices or features later down the road? #IoT #TradeshowLife

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#CES2025 #ThanksDad | Tonight was a powerful reminder of why I love attending CES. Jensen Huang’s opening keynote outlining the vision for the future of Nvidia is nothing short of inspiring. Hearing him talk about the future of AI, with autonomous vehicles navigating our world, AI agents assisting us in every aspect of our lives, and robots working alongside humans, it truly feels like science fiction is becoming reality. This experience brought me right back to my first "geek week" at COMDEX computer show in Vegas in the 80s (yes, that's what we called CES back then), walking the floor with my dad, soaking it all in and getting my first computer, a white Commadore VIC-20. Who knew we'd be here today? This feels like a true tech inflection point, even bigger than Windows OS, .COM, or the iPhone launch. And speaking of pushing boundaries, I'm proud to be a part of Eric Cheung’s team at CyberPowerPC launching the new Syber GRVTY PC with the world's fastest consumer GPU, the new NVIDIA Blackwell GeForce RTX 5090 (with 66 billion times the performance of my first Commodore VIC 20 for about 10x the price). It's a perfect example of how this incredible technology is becoming a reality and accessible to all serious creators and gamers. Grateful for those early experiences, for my dad who fostered my love of tech, and for innovators like Jensen who continue to push the boundaries of what's possible. Excited for what's next. #CyberpowerPC #SyberGRVTY #Nvidia #GeForceRTX50 #CES #FutureofTech #AIagents #AutonomousVehicles #Robotics

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At Xperi Inc., we think a lot about how to make our technology inclusive. One key element of inclusive design? Creating familiar and intuitive interfaces. As technology produces more robust features, it’s imperative that navigation remains easy —both physically and mentally—for as many people as possible. Sometimes this means: - Integrating a common physical movement, like swiping. - Laying out a process that’s easy to follow, with each step naturally leading to the next, such as sequencing menus in obvious ways. - Creating technology that better understands consumers’ individual preferences so it can offer relevant content recommendations, thereby reducing content overload. - Activating powerful voice search to provide better access to those with visual or other physical impairments, as well as drivers who need to keep attention on the road. - Assembling a team with diverse perspectives to increase the likelihood of developing a truly inclusive interface. What does familiar and intuitive design mean to you?

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Arrived in Las Vegas tonight. The show officially kicks off in the morning, but pressers and precon already attracted thousands. I am excited to experience the next four days, but here is a snippet from my FITC Italian colleague VINCENZO LARDINELLI who caught today‘s action: A Rockstar Welcome for Jensen Huang at CES2025. An ocean of fans greeted Jensen Huang, CEO of #Nvidia, like a true rockstar at tonight’s keynote. His glittery, crocodile-style version of the iconic black leather jacket only added to the spectacle, and made it feel more like a concert than a product announcement. Nvidia continues to dominate: Huang showcased the company’s latest advancements, they are positioned as the unrivaled leader in hardware for AI giants. What really stole the show were the consumer product announcements, that could make cutting-edge performance accessible to all. 📹 Watch the keynote here: https://lnkd.in/dBn_9vwy #CES2025 #Nvidia #AI #Technology #Innovation

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Youngsters today are not the type to conceal their opinions, expressions, or emotions, and as a result, they do not end up hiding their talents and true potential. They are bold and ambitious individuals who establish their own rules and show the world how it's done. Our ecosystem of Galaxy devices simply empowers and propels them on their path to success. Watch how this boy challenges conventional wisdom when the world tells him, "You never listen." #GearUpForCampus #ShowThemHowItDone #Samsung #Students #Campus

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Is a smart watch or wearable coming to the Meta hardware product lineup? Meta is taking a big step forward in gesture recognition technology. They're tackling the challenge of reading body language without draining battery life. 💡🔋 A recently filed patent for “power-efficient processing of neuromuscular signals” to better track gestures. The key here is a smart two-detector system. First, a low-power detector identifies gestures using signals from a smartwatch. If it spots a gesture, the high-power detector then confirms it. This system helps reduce misreads and conserves battery life. Meta explains that processing these neuromuscular signals, especially for in-air hand gestures, usually requires a lot of power. By using a low-power detector first, they can save energy and only activate the high-power detector when necessary. This tech could be a game-changer for virtual, augmented, and mixed reality applications, making gesture controls more efficient and reliable. Exciting times ahead for #AR and #VR (and maybe more?) 🚀 #Meta #ProductDevelopment #TechInnovation

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Pixel 9 series is 🔥! 😍 Advanced cameras, lightning-fast performance, & AI that's actually helpful. 🙏 Big thanks to the team for making this happen! George Hwang Jon Prowse Stephanie Scott Patrick Hennessey Soniya Jobanputra Kim Jin #GooglePixel9 #GooglePixelPro #GooglePixel9ProXL #GooglePixel9ProFold #TeamPixel #MadeByGoogle #GoogleTensor

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Here’s a quick view of the anatomy of an #AIAgent from Ankur Kothari at #Imagine2024. Want to learn more? https://lnkd.in/gnc7vYZB

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10 Bits of Hardware Advice from Michael Lo: • It can probably be solved with magnets. But there's usually less expensive solutions. • Don’t look down on your vendors, especially overseas. It will pay off in the long run. • Nylon can expand and weaken when exposed to water. • Elaborate design is alluring, but good design is simple. • Calipers are considered a weapon by the TSA. Don’t fly with them. • The quality of your manager is one of, if not the most important factor in your success and growth. • Making a useful product requirements document is really hard. It should inform almost all design decisions. • Know your reliability test plan early in the process, so you can design the product to survive it. • Users will abuse your products in ways you could never dream of. • There's downsides to every product development approach - fast & messy vs. diligent & thorough. It’s always greener on the other side. One of my favorite conversations recently was with Michael Lo, founder of Ronin Product Development Labs and his new venture Catalyst Introductions. Read the full conversation below and if you want to trial Catalyst as part of Hardware FYI (a better way of meeting people with similar goals/interests), sign up here! https://lnkd.in/gzJrUHBC https://lnkd.in/g-3CQGag

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The CES Flu? That's when you attend the annual tech expo in Vegas that typically kicks off in the first week of the new year and come home sick, or get sick after coming home. I got to wondering, what exactly is the deal with that? I have a hypothesis and after doing a bit of research it appears to be solid... The show's timing is such that illnesses picked up during holiday gatherings have time to incubate and become contagious right when the show kicks off. This year, only six days separate New Year's Eve parties and the start of CES. So you might go to the show carrying a cold that has yet to manifest symptoms, or you might pick something up at the show. The timing lines up perfectly for getting sick by going. The CES Flu is a perpetuation of the notorious holiday illnesses that come from travel and family gatherings and New Years parties. None of this contagion would be the case if CES was instead held in the third week of January. Some points... 1. Holiday Season as a Precursor: The holiday season is notorious for widespread travel, crowded airports, packed family gatherings, and lots of close contact with people outside one’s usual circle. These are ideal conditions for the spread of colds, flu, and other viruses. 2. Incubation Period: Common viruses like influenza and the common cold typically have an incubation period of 1–7 days. Someone exposed during holiday gatherings could easily still be in the contagious phase during CES without even realizing they’re sick. 3. CES Environment: CES itself is a perfect storm for spreading illness: Enclosed Spaces: Conference halls, meeting rooms, crowded booths. International Attendance: Attendees come from all over the world, bringing regional variants of illnesses. 4. Physical Contact: Handshakes, shared devices, door handles, etc. Fatigue and Stress: Long hours, lack of sleep, poor hydration, and overall stress weaken the immune system. 5. Timing Proximity: CES kicks off just about 10–14 days after peak holiday travel in late December, lining up perfectly with the incubation and contagious periods of many illnesses. 6. “CES Flu” as a Misnomer: It’s entirely possible that the so-called “CES Flu” isn’t something uniquely caught at CES but rather an illness contracted during the holidays that manifests or is exacerbated by the taxing nature of the event.

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This is an interesting example of story telling through industrial design. It shows some design examples and discusses how each tell the same story differently. At a little longer than 15 minutes or so, it’s easy to take in over coffee.

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Retro tech! One step closer to bringing back translucent electronics. imho, society peaked when hardware housings were see-through grey/purple/green. This is a step in the right direction. The earth is healing. https://lnkd.in/gmJS2Mkx

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What's New to TheStreet... 💼💥Qualcomm Reportedly Approaches Intel for a Potential Takeover! 🛠️ In a bold move, Qualcomm has recently approached Intel about a possible takeover. This potential deal would be massive, especially as Intel faces challenges in the chip-making industry. Could this be a game-changer for both companies? ⚡️ What are your thoughts on this possible acquisition? Share your thoughts below!💬⬇️ 👉🏻Follow New To The Street for more! #qualcomm #intel #tech #takeover #chipindustry #businessupdate #innovation #businessnews #business #news #newtothestreet

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