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Ideal state for every company is to have minimum input costs with maximum output costs. Labor always gets cut out of the loop because it’s one of the most expensive input costs.

> This seems unlikely

This is already happening. Fewer people are getting hired. Companies are quietly (sometimes not, like Block) letting people go. At a personal level all the leaders in my company are sounding the “catch up or you’ll be left behind” alarm. People are going to be let go at an accelerated pace in the future (1-3 years).


I don’t think that addresses my point. I understand a lot of companies are firing under the guise of AI, but it’s unclear to me whether AI is actually driving this - especially when the article we are both responding to says:

> We find no systematic increase in unemployment for highly exposed workers since late 2022


Good thing they don’t make cars anymore.

> home PC market while it lasts

Tinfoil hat thought: Microsoft only focuses on B2B and not consumer market, because they make it so that consumers can only rent from Microsoft and other businesses, not actually own anything. That way, Microsoft can keep jacking up prices as they see fit.


If Microsoft wanted to be monopolistic, and it wouldn't be the first time, then why are they abandoning their strongest exclusives (Windows, Office) and instead enter a more competitive market, where Google, Amazon, etc... are well established and with no sign of letting go.

> why are they abandoning their strongest exclusives (Windows, Office)

They're abandoning the consumer versions of these, not the enterprise versions. The consumer versions are the competitive market, where they're competing against iPads and such. They're not abandoning Windows for businesses, Office for businesses, where there is still no established business end-user OS/office suite alternative.


Given Office 365 and day-one Game Pass release of all first-party titles, I don't think you need a tinfoil hat to imagine this.

I suspect lingering antitrust concerns are one of the few things standing in the way of locking consumer Windows updates behind a paywall, possibly alongside a "free with ads" version.


I’m going to take a wild guess that the answer is no

And was the in person time more valuable than not having those people you met in your team moving forward?

I will say, to his credit, he has tried to make it clear the cuts weren't about money but do to tech and organizational shifts. https://x.com/jack/status/2027129697092731343?s=20

He phrases it as due to redundant overhead for cashapp and square, plus a move to smaller, flatter teams as a result of AI. Not saying he's going to be right just that they're profitable and I believe this isn't a money thing.


> I believe this isn't a money thing.

What are you even talking about? Why does ANY business get rid of people? For funsies? X_X


> Why does ANY business get rid of people?

Some people are negative value even if their salary was $0.


Sure. Hard to imagine 40% of your company is that.

If 40% of your company has ever been negative value than the problem starts at the top.

Maybe it’s just me, but I think being able to retain more employees is more valuable than flying the entire company for an in person event.

One could argue a smaller number of employees that are more motivated and feel connected to their coworkersis better than a more employees that are all isolated and "meh".

Nothing inspires people to feel motivated and connected more than layoffs.

You have fewer people you worked with, a constant threat of unemployment and more work? Sign me up for that boss

/s


Egg paratha is a common Indian dish. The dough can be made with flour and water, but is traditionally made with flour and milk.

https://www.thedeliciouscrescent.com/omelette-stuffed-parath...


Roti Telur is basically Egg Paratha. Indian migrants brought Paratha to Malaysia and Singapore, and it underwent some "localization" to suit the local palate, including being drenched in palm oil as it is cooked on the flat griddle. Sure fire way to clog your arteries, if eaten on a daily basis.

The palm oil makes the difference. Not exactly drenched, but just enough for the crispy Mallard reaction.

It's a little simpler than the given recipe too. Just a regular paratha, crack an egg directly onto it, then cook on a griddle.


> Also, when an AI fucks up in a way only a human can fix, the human must be available

Actually its more “when an AI fucks up in a way AI that you need a human to take the blame, the human must be available”


Netflix is going to buy them both for the same price in about 5 years. Paramount is a highly leveraged company. They are not going to come out of this very expensive acquisition unscathed.

> Paramount is a highly leveraged company. They are not going to come out of this very expensive acquisition unscathed.

Is this before or after Ellison et co gut the news side of the organization to create another Fox New / RT? We've already seen what happened with 60 Minutes and CBS News:

* https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/29/bari-weiss-c...

* https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/01/26/inside-bari-we...


Ellison is more pragmatic than his current activities make it appear. He's playing to the right wing now because Trump was in office, but during the last administration he played heavily to the left.

When push comes to shove, he'll follow the money. If Republicans lose the midterms, CBS will start shifting back to the middle to regain the millions of viewers it lost to NBC and ABC since Weiss took over and Weiss will probably be looking for a new job.


I’ve listened to Bari for years in her podcast and she’s indistinguishable from every liberal I was around in the 80s and 90s.

Choosing not to jump aboard all the insane modern woke politics doesn’t make you some scary right winger.

She could only help a legacy news outfit in my opinion.


How many people are going to watch a right wing CNN? We saw the CBS viewership for the new partisan news plummet.

At the end of the day, you have to draw attention to make money.


Is it rumor or true that Saudis or some middle eastern financiers are part of the Paramount bid?

Maybe you're thinking of tiktok?

"After Hostile Takeover Fail, Ellison's Paramount Skydance Sues WBD Netflix" https://hackernews.hn/item?id=46642776

"Jared Kushner is part of Paramount's hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery" https://www.axios.com/2025/12/08/jared-kushner-paramount-war... .. https://hackernews.hn/item?id=46195124 :

> Affinity Partners, the private equity firm led by Jared Kushner, is part of Paramount's hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery, according to a regulatory filing

> Affinity Partners was not mentioned in Paramount's press release on Monday morning about its $108 billion bid, nor were participating sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

https://hackernews.hn/item?id=46196242 :

> "Letter to DOJ on Kushner - FARA (Wyden - Raskin) final.pdf" (October 2024) https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/demo... :

> Recent public reports and a Senate investigation have uncovered significant evidence that Mr. Kushner acted as an unregistered foreign agent of [SA]

>> Kushner - who was never credentialed by State Department, an ambassador, or registered as a foreign agent in the US or in any other country - has now, in 2025, helped sell Electronic Arts to SA and is trying to help sell Warner Brothers Discovery to SA, a foreign territory which does not support Freedom of Speech.

"Kushner's Affinity Partners exits Paramount bid for Warner Bros. Discovery" (2025-12) https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/16/kushner-affinity-paramount-w...

https://hackernews.hn/item?id=46196370 :

>> Trump wanted Ellison to purchase TikTok (from the owners in China that weren't offering to sell it) so that US data would remain in the US.

>> By comparison, why did Trump/Kushner help sell EA (NFL Madden, NBA Live, PGA Tour,) to foreign interests, and why is Trump/Kushner trying to help sell WBD to foreign interests?


WBD includes franchises like Batman, Superman, CNN, HBO, and Chuck (TV Series).

Why did Kushner and Affinity Partners try to sell these American companies to foreign interests?


I’m sure this administration has some plan to fund this. They want to turn our airwaves in far right propaganda machines, they’ll find a $100 billion somewhere.

As long as they get to keep a media alt-right afloat in politics, it doesn't matter their value.

I'm hope not, and that they'll instead spin out WB, for it to be gobbled up again. Anything done three times is tradition, and breaking it just wouldn't do.

The Ellisons have zero liquidity issues. Theyll sell off parts to cut costs but no chance they sell the stuff they actually want

I would not bet against RedBird and Ellisons.

One must.

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