Happy Monday!

Welcome to the 43 new hungry minds who have joined us since last Monday! 🤯If you aren’t subscribed, join smart, curious, and hungry folks by subscribing here.

In this week's issue:

• 🗞️ Microsoft successfully stores terabytes of data on a glass pane, Amazon plans robots in warehouses, and Youtube’s push for ads

• 🛠️ A detailed roadmap for coding interviews, getting better at prompt engineering for free, and how to not burnout as a software engineer

• 💡 Steal this business idea: DevBoost, create an online platform that offers curated free courses and certifications for developers.

This week is also special as we are featuring Maria Glazunova with an article she wrote for Hungry Minds!

A highly suggested read on how to embrace soft skills to thrive in the tech industry:

Maria a Business English coach, specializing in empowering tech professionals to skyrocket their careers through advanced English communication skills.

Reading time: 5 minutes

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Food for Thought

Sharpen your mindset

Mindset: This quote highlights the importance of being curious and taking action in order to make positive changes in our lives. It encourages us to constantly seek knowledge and not be afraid to step outside our comfort zone.

Example: One real business example of a company that showcased this quote is Tesla. By developing innovative electric vehicles and disrupting the traditional automotive industry, Tesla embraced curiosity and took action to bring about positive change in the way cars are powered and manufactured.

Action item: Today, take a small step outside your comfort zone. It could be as simple as trying a new hobby, reaching out to someone you admire for advice, or signing up for a course that interests you. Embrace curiosity and take action toward personal growth and positive change.

(Click here to share on Twitter)

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The Weekly Pulse

Tech, AI, and business news worth your time

🔍 Microsoft Project Silica Stores Terabytes of Data on Small Glass Pane (4 min)

Brief: Microsoft researchers have developed Project Silica, a groundbreaking concept that utilizes small glass discs to store massive amounts of data for thousands of years, revolutionizing the traditional magnetic storage methods and offering a sustainable and long-lasting solution with significant energy and cost benefits.

Takeaway: This innovative technology offers a paradigm shift in data storage, providing a highly durable and sustainable alternative to magnetic storage, which requires frequent recopying due to limited lifespan, resulting in increased energy consumption and operating costs. Microsoft's Project Silica could pave the way for future advancements in data storage, unlocking new possibilities for long-term archival and secure data preservation.

🚀 Amazon Expands Robotics Operations at Fulfillment Centers (2 min)

Brief: Amazon is implementing an updated inventory processing system called Sequoia, featuring robots that work alongside human workers, to enhance delivery fulfillment speed by 25% at its fulfillment centers. The system includes sorting machines, robotic arms, and autonomous mover bots, while also testing Agility Robotics' digit robot for better warehouse efficiency. Despite Amazon's assurances that these robots won't replace human workers, the potential scale-up of robotic use raises concerns for its 1 million warehouse employees.

Takeaway: Amazon's investment in expanded robotics operations demonstrates its commitment to streamlining delivery fulfillment and leveraging technology to increase efficiency. This move aligns with the broader market trend of integrating robots into industrial processes, paving the way for increased automation and potential implications for the future of human employment in warehouses and beyond.

🤖 Figure's Humanoid Robot Shows Impressive Walking Skills (2 min)

Brief: Figure, a robotics company, releases video footage of its humanoid robot prototype demonstrating smooth and agile walking, surpassing the performance of other competitors in the commercial market.

Takeaway: This achievement by Figure suggests the company's potential to disrupt the robotics industry, with a focus on developing humanoid robots capable of autonomously performing useful tasks. The integration of torque-controlled walking and advanced autonomous systems could pave the way for more efficient and versatile humanoid robots in various sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, and human-machine interaction.

🤖 Baidu Unveils Ernie Bot, Claims it Can Match OpenAI's GPT-4 (2 min)

Brief: Baidu introduces an updated version of its AI chatbot, Ernie Bot, boasting that it is on par with OpenAI's GPT-4, as the Chinese tech giant showcases its advancements in generative AI at the Baidu World 2023 conference in Beijing.

Takeaway: This announcement highlights Baidu's determination to compete with OpenAI in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI technology, as companies race to develop powerful generative AI models that can understand complex questions, generate images, and provide efficient data processing capabilities, opening up possibilities for innovative applications and commercial opportunities.

❗ YouTube Cracks Down on Adblock Users: Pay or Disable (2 min)

Brief: YouTube has implemented a new feature that displays a pop-up warning to adblock users, urging them to go ad-free with a YouTube Premium subscription or disable their adblockers, leading to a backlash from users concerned about privacy and scam-filled ads.

Takeaway: This move by YouTube reflects a growing trend among digital platforms to prioritize revenue generation through ad monetization, forcing users to choose between paying for an ad-free experience or compromising their privacy and security by disabling their adblockers, highlighting the ever-evolving battle between users seeking control over their online experience and platforms aiming to maximize profits.

📰 Google Tests News-Filled Homepage, Taking Inspiration from Bing and Yahoo (2 min)

Brief: Google is experimenting with a new homepage design that features a newsfeed of algorithmically selected articles, resembling the layout of Bing and Yahoo, in addition to "at a glance" cards for sports scores, stocks, and weather.

Takeaway: This move by Google reflects its continuous effort to evolve its homepage and stay competitive in the ever-changing digital landscape, potentially reshaping how users consume news and information while generating new revenue streams through increased user engagement and advertising opportunities.

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The Rabbit Hole

Tools, trends, and resources curated to get you ahead

TREND (interview roadmap) → A coding interview detailed roadmap tree on topics to train on

ARTICLE (prompt like a pro) → A 2-part tutorial on how to get started to prompt better (LLMs)

GITHUB REPO (free courses) → An open-source collection of free courses and certifications for devs

TREND (python on steroids) → Mojo, the hyped new programming language wanting to replace Python is now on Mac (Silicon)

REPORT (AI state) → The 2023 state of AI that analyses the most interesting developments in AI

ARTICLE (plz don’t burnout) → An interesting article aimed at showing how burnout can happen as a software engineer

BOOK (staff engineer) → Staff Engineer: Leadership beyond the management track

ARTICLE (don’t invent problems) → A funny and insightful take on over-complexification for software engineers

💡

What If?

The business idea you should steal

What? An online platform that offers a curated collection of free courses and certifications for developers.

How? Build a user-friendly web portal that aggregates high-quality free courses and certifications from various platforms and providers. Implement a recommendation system based on user preferences to suggest personalized learning paths and track progress.

Why? As the demand for continuous learning and upskilling in the tech industry continues to grow, providing a centralized platform for free educational resources can attract a large user base. By partnering with reputable course providers and leveraging the availability of free educational content, this startup can tap into the expanding market for online learning. The global online education market is projected to surpass USD 375 billion by 2026, highlighting the significant potential for a well-curated free course platform.

😁

Burp-A-Laugh

The most important meal of your day

That’s it for today! ☀️

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Thanks for spending part of your Monday morning with Hungry Minds.
See you in a week — Alex.