#consumer electronics business

[businessmemes]

Ring not included but it is necessary to the operation of SLUGGER

[expopeak]

Canton Fair – China Import & Export Fair Phase 1 2024: Your Gateway to Global Trade Opportunities https://expopeak.com/event/canton-fair-china-import-export-fair-phase-1-2024-your-gateway-to-global-trade-opportunities/

[nmsc-market-pulse]

Top 8 Growth Drivers of the Electronic Cigarette Market

Introduction:

The electronic cigarette market, also known as the e-cigarette market, has seen significant growth in recent years driven by various factors. This article delves into the key growth drivers shaping the electronic cigarette industry and its future prospects.

According to Next Move Strategy Consulting, the global Electronic Cigarette Market is predicted to reach USD 59 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 12.6% from 2024-2030.

Download FREE Sample : https://www.nextmsc.com/electronic-cigarette-market/request-sample 

1. Shift Towards Harm Reduction Alternatives

One of the primary growth drivers for the electronic cigarette market is the global shift towards harm reduction alternatives. E-cigarettes are perceived by many as a safer alternative to traditional tobacco smoking due to their reduced exposure to harmful chemicals and lower health risks. This has led to increased adoption among smokers looking to quit or reduce their tobacco consumption.

2. Rising Health Consciousness

Increasing awareness about the adverse health effects of smoking tobacco has spurred a rise in health consciousness among consumers. E-cigarettes are viewed as a potentially less harmful option, attracting health-conscious individuals who are seeking alternatives to conventional smoking. This shift in consumer behavior has contributed significantly to the market growth of electronic cigarettes.

3. Technological Advancements in Vaping Devices

Technological advancements in vaping devices have played a crucial role in driving the growth of the electronic cigarette market. Innovations such as temperature control, variable wattage, and customizable features have enhanced user experience and satisfaction. These advancements have also led to the development of sleeker, more efficient devices that appeal to a broader audience.

Inquire before buying: https://www.nextmsc.com/electronic-cigarette-market/inquire-before-buying 

4. Expansion of Distribution Channels

The electronic cigarette market has benefited from the expansion of distribution channels, both online and offline. E-cigarettes are widely available through vape shops, convenience stores, online retailers, and dedicated vape websites. This accessibility has made it easier for consumers to purchase vaping products, thereby boosting market penetration and sales.

5. Flavor Variety and Customization Options

The availability of a wide range of flavors and customization options has been another significant driver of growth in the electronic cigarette market. Vapers can choose from a plethora of e-liquid flavors, including fruit, dessert, menthol, and tobacco blends. This variety appeals to different consumer preferences and enhances the overall vaping experience, driving market demand.

6. Regulatory Support for Harm Reduction Products

In some regions, regulatory support for harm reduction products like electronic cigarettes has fostered market growth. Policies that distinguish between traditional tobacco products and reduced-risk alternatives have provided a favorable environment for the sale and promotion of e-cigarettes. Regulatory frameworks that prioritize harm reduction continue to influence market dynamics positively.

7. Increasing Disposable Income and Spending Capacity

The rise in disposable income and spending capacity among consumers has contributed to the growth of the electronic cigarette market. Vaping devices and accessories are considered discretionary purchases, and as disposable incomes increase, consumers are more willing to invest in higher-quality and premium vaping products. This economic factor has expanded the market's revenue potential.

8. Shifting Cultural and Social Acceptance

Changing cultural perceptions and increasing social acceptance of vaping have also fueled market growth. E-cigarettes are increasingly viewed as a socially acceptable alternative to smoking in many settings, including public spaces and workplaces. This shift in societal norms has encouraged more individuals to try vaping, contributing to the market's expansion.

9. Smoking Bans and Restrictions

The implementation of smoking bans and restrictions in public places has incentivized smokers to seek alternative options like electronic cigarettes. E-cigarettes offer a means for individuals to satisfy nicotine cravings without the social and legal constraints associated with traditional smoking, thereby driving market growth.

10. Convenience and Portability

The convenience and portability of electronic cigarettes have contributed significantly to market expansion. Vaping devices are compact, easy to carry, and can be used discreetly in various settings. This convenience appeals to users looking for a flexible and portable smoking alternative, further boosting adoption rates.

11. Marketing and Advertising Strategies

Effective marketing and advertising strategies by e-cigarette manufacturers have played a pivotal role in increasing consumer awareness and driving demand. Strategic campaigns highlighting the benefits of vaping over smoking, such as reduced odor, no ash, and potential harm reduction, have resonated with target audiences and influenced purchasing decisions.

12. Health Professional Endorsements

Endorsements and support from health professionals, including doctors and public health organizations, have bolstered credibility and consumer confidence in electronic cigarettes as a harm reduction tool. Positive recommendations from healthcare professionals have encouraged smokers to consider switching to vaping, driving market growth.

13. Technological Integration with IoT and Smart Devices

The integration of electronic cigarettes with IoT (Internet of Things) and smart devices has opened up new avenues for market growth. Smart vaping devices can be connected to mobile apps for features such as device customization, usage tracking, and health monitoring. This integration enhances user experience and attracts tech-savvy consumers seeking innovative smoking alternatives.

14. Research and Development Investments

Continued investments in research and development (R&D) by e-cigarette manufacturers have led to advancements in product safety, efficacy, and performance. Innovations in battery technology, e-liquid formulations, and vaping device design contribute to product differentiation and competitive advantage in the market. R&D investments drive continuous improvement and stimulate consumer interest in new vaping technologies.

Conclusion

The electronic cigarette market continues to evolve rapidly, driven by these key growth drivers that span consumer behavior, technological innovation, regulatory environments, and economic factors. As the demand for harm reduction alternatives grows and technological advancements continue, the market is poised for further expansion in the coming years.

Understanding these drivers is crucial for stakeholders looking to navigate and capitalize on the opportunities within the dynamic electronic cigarette industry.

[jcmarchi]

EU probes Microsoft-OpenAI and Google-Samsung AI deals

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/eu-probes-microsoft-openai-and-google-samsung-ai-deals/

EU probes Microsoft-OpenAI and Google-Samsung AI deals

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The European Union has intensified its antitrust scrutiny on AI deals, starting with high-profile collaborations between Microsoft-OpenAI and Google-Samsung.

Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission’s executive vice president for competition policy, warned that AI is “developing at breakneck speed” and revealed that multiple preliminary investigations are underway into various AI-related market practices. Her concerns about potential anti-competitive practices stem from major tech companies’ manoeuvres in the AI sector since the advent of ChatGPT.

The commission’s move highlights the bloc’s growing concern over tech giants’ potential monopolistic power in the rapidly evolving AI sector. The scrutiny focuses on recent deals and collaborations involving Microsoft and Google in AI. These initiatives, often involving strategic partnerships and acquisitions, have drawn regulatory attention due to their potential to undermine competition and innovation. 

Vestager emphasised that the commission has several preliminary antitrust investigations underway concerning various practices within AI-related markets, although specific details were not disclosed.

Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI

Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar partnership with OpenAI represents one of the most significant collaborations in the AI industry. This partnership, initiated in 2019 and expanded in subsequent years, involves Microsoft investing heavily in OpenAI, providing cloud computing resources through its Azure platform, and integrating OpenAI’s advanced models into Microsoft’s products and services. 

The collaboration aims to accelerate AI research and development, with notable advancements such as the GPT-3 language model and the more recent ChatGPT. However, this alliance has raised concerns about market dominance and potential barriers to entry for smaller AI firms. Vestager said in a speech that the European Commission started reviewing the deal last year to see whether it broke EU merger rules but dropped it after concluding Microsoft hadn’t gained control of OpenAI. 

“Microsoft has invested $13 billion in OpenAI over the years. But we have to make sure that partnerships like this do not become a disguise for one partner getting a controlling influence over the other,” she said while signalling that the commission would take another tack to examine the deal and the industry more broadly. It’s using the bloc’s antitrust rules, which target abusive behaviour by companies with a dominant market position.

After reviewing responses from major AI companies requested in March this year, the EU Commission is requesting specific information about the Microsoft-OpenAI agreement. Vestager said they aim to determine if exclusivity clauses could potentially harm competition in the AI market. The EU wants “to understand whether certain exclusivity clauses could hurt competitors,” she said.

Also in question: Google and Samsung’s partnership

Google’s AI-related arrangement with Samsung also draws significant attention. The partnership leverages Samsung’s hardware capabilities with Google’s AI prowess to develop innovative consumer electronics and mobile technologies. This includes integrating Google’s AI algorithms into Samsung devices and enhancing features like voice recognition, camera functionality, and personalized user experiences. 

While this collaboration promises to bring advanced AI-driven functionalities to a broad consumer base, it also raises questions about competitive fairness, particularly regarding access to critical technologies and market influence. Vestager said EU regulators have sent information requests “to better understand the effects of Google’s arrangement with Samsung” to pre-install Gemini Nano,  the smallest version of Google’s Gemini AI foundation model,  on some devices from the South Korean tech company. 

What’s next?

With tech giants like Microsoft and Google, also prominent players in the global AI landscape, actively expanding their AI capabilities through acquisitions and partnerships, regulators are growing more curious about market dominance and its implications for fair competition. This would have inevitably prompted regulatory intervention from the EU sooner or later.

In response to the EU’s actions, Microsoft and Google have reaffirmed their commitment to comply with regulatory requirements while continuing to innovate responsibly in AI technologies. They emphasise the potential benefits of their AI initiatives, including advancements in healthcare, sustainability, and other critical sectors.

Yet, the outcome of the EU’s antitrust scrutiny could have significant implications for how major tech companies operate in Europe’s AI market. It may lead to regulatory measures to foster a more level playing field and ensure that smaller competitors have fair opportunities to compete and innovate.

(Photo by Guillaume Périgois)

See also: Coalition of news publishers sue Microsoft and OpenAI

Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.

Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

Tags: ai, artificial intelligence, europe, european commission, Google, microsoft, openai, Samsung

[pjakes]

Business/Tech Trends at CES 2024 (and CES Origins)

CES 2024, the largest consumer electronics show in the world, recently showcased many innovations and products that could benefit businesses in various sectors. Here are some of the latest business trends that emerged from the event: – Generative AI: Artificial intelligence that can generate natural language, images, code, and more was a big theme at CES 2024. Many laptops, apps, and devices…

[warraichh]

Apple $3,499 Vision Pro headset now available to order ahead of Feb. 2 release

Apple’s Vision Pro headset is on display at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, June 5, 2023. Loren Elliott | Reuters Preorders for Apple‘s $3,499 Vision Pro headset began Thursday morning ahead of its U.S. release on Feb. 2. The Vision Pro is Apple’s first new product category since it released the Apple Watch in 2015. Wall…

[alienskart]

Protect your industry from the threat of electrical overload

Switchgears are designed to defend equipment connected to a power supply from the threat of electrical overload. What is switchgear? Switchgear is a broad term that describes a wide variety of switching devices that all fulfill a common need: controlling, protecting, and isolating power systems. Electrical switchgear regulates, protects, and isolates a power system with a variety of controls housed in a metal enclosure. Protect your industry from heavy electrical threat with best quality switchgear products provided by Alienskart in affordable price. Fullfill all your industrial and household electrical need with Alienksart, one of the largest shopping portal in India with a huge variety of equipment in different price range and customization accroding to industrialist requirement.

[faultfalha]

Nvidia has announced the availability of DGX Cloud on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. DGX Cloud is a fast, easy and secure way to deploy deep learning and AI applications. It is the first fully integrated, end-to-end AI platform that provides everything you need to train and deploy your applications.

[neyatimes]

Pinduoduo: One of China's most popular apps has the ability to spy on its users, say experts

CNN  —  It is one of China’s most popular shopping apps, selling clothing, groceries and just about everything else under the sun to more than 750 million users a month. But according to cybersecurity researchers, it can also bypass users’ cell phone security to monitor activities on other apps, check notifications, read private messages and change settings. And once installed, it’s tough to…

[anewsbuddy]

Everyone wants a foldable phone, but most of us can't afford one yet | CNN Business

CNN  —  Chris Pantons is what you’d call a Google Pixel super fan. The Knoxville, Tennessee native loves the software, the camera, the virtual assistant, all of it. He even credits the phone’s car crash detection tool with saving his life a few years ago when he was in an accident. “I’ve owned practically every Pixel device,” said Pantons, 33, who has posted hundreds of YouTube videos about…

[theusarticles]

Intel co-founder Gordon Moore, author of 'Moore's Law' that helped drive computer revolution, dies at 94 | CNN Business

Intel co-founder Gordon Moore, a pioneer in the semiconductor industry whose “Moore’s Law” predicted a steady rise in computing power for decades, died Friday at the age of 94, the company announced. Intel (INTC) and Moore’s family philanthropic foundation said he died surrounded by family at his home in Hawaii. Co-launching Intel in 1968, Moore was the rolled-up-sleeves engineer within a…

[reportwire]

Tesla, Apple, Ciena, and More Stock Market Movers

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers visit http://www.djreprints.com. https://www.barrons.com/articles/stock-market-movers-6acba64b Updated March 6, 2023 5:37 am ET / Original March 6, 2023 5:07 am ET Order Reprints Print Article Stock futures traded mostly flat Monday as Wall…

[expopeak]

Canton Fair – China Import & Export Fair Phase 1 2024: Your Gateway to Global Trade Opportunities

[corollaservant]

Night in the Net // Shigaraki x f! reader (18+)

Synopsis: You find yourself stranded in one hell of a sexist environment: the small town's internet café. Shigaraki's on the night shift. (3.6k)

Warnings: sex with Shiggy basically, mild degradation and misogyny from our fav incel, dom!Shiggy with a twist (no quirk obviously), use of “dollface” (i like it)

A/N: No dark themes here, peace n luv. Also.. yeah he is always linked to some gaming/electronic business ik!! but I like the trope/hc/almost canon.

You'd never imagine this was how your night would end.

Why are you there again? Right, your friends wanted to go to that after party, as if the club wasn't enough. What was supposed to be a night out ended up with you in the local internet café (the only after hours spot) while your friends decided to go to a house party with loud techno music, which definitely wasn’t your vibe. You and your friends lived close and would often call a taxi on your way home, money wasn’t enough for you to ride solo today though—you prayed in times like these that you at least had a job; you wouldn’t have to rely on anyone then. 

You knew pretty much everyone there, it’s not like the town had more than ten thousand residents and considering the age group and schools you’d all gone to, the internet café only had a few unknown members. On today’s shift was none other than Tomura of course, that guy was taking up as many shifts as his body would allow him to, apparently there was this rumor a family member was in crucial condition and they were in need. Tomura Shigaraki was one of these people you had branded as incel. Though hardworking (he kept a house of his own, cleaning and doing all chores by himself while providing for whomever he had), you still considered the guy as one. Now—you know the term is heavy, matter of fact, quite offending and serious as an allegation but it’s not like there weren’t rumors. Rumors he’d bash women and call them prostitutes, try to sleep with girls and trash them to his friends a day later, hating them for anything they did and claiming true love didn’t exist nowadays because “all women are sluts, who need money and validation.” Plus, he worked at the local internet café (should be enough reason), engaging in heated conversations with his friends and fellow streamers. God, one look in their chats and you'd get as violent as possible— (not much, you'd discovered it the hard way). Thus, it was no surprise that when you enter the place, you hear whispers and scoffs.

‘’The hell are you doing here?’’ A voice was heard from within, the café had the computer screens up front, a bar and a couch with TV in the back. Tomura was occupied in the designated bar the place had (you often wondered what kind of needs these people had—all they ever consumed was energy drinks and pre-packaged meals, takeouts were for reasons of competitive market prohibited).

‘’Just dropping by for a couple of hours, will leave soon.’’ You sigh as you take a seat on the couch, not bothering to talk to anyone, it wasn’t like they cared anyway. Loud noise and laughter can be heard all around, a couple of guys swearing and some younger boys excitedly standing above their screens. The store had a 16+ policy, but of course, no one ever checked so kids could practically stare unattended. Tomura also encouraged younger boys to play, such a piece of shit, you think, getting them to learn young. 

‘’Oh my fucking God, a slut just joined!’’ You hear some guy swear, presumably because a girl joined their online server. These guys were so disgusting, you cringe, it was no wonder they were celibate without wanting it. You stand up, you need to kill some time and you're feeling bored, you think about starting a fight with Tomura, how else could you have a little bit of fun?

You weren’t ever necessarily afraid of the guy, even though you had to admit, he looked intimidating. Quite tall with a pale complexion, ashy, dull hair and scars across his face; no one actually knew much about him and whether he was troubled, it’s not like he ever showed to work beaten up or high and usually kept a low profile. The only frightening thing this man had was his smile, it terrified you sometimes as it looked downright evil. 

‘’Getting them to learn young, huh?’’ You ask him, he’s washing up some cups from the previous round of gross gaming guys, who have now left.

‘’What?’’ He responds, not bothering to look up. 

‘’How to not get women, I mean.’’ You sigh as he huffs in annoyance.

‘’You should be grateful I let a female in my store in the first place.’’ He retorts, but doesn’t seem very angry, just ironic. Usual.

My store (you decide to skip over 'female') sounds funny but you choose not to comment on it. 

‘’So how long until you guys close?’’ You don't bother with the vocabulary—it’s routine at this point. It also never ends well and you had a great night so far, why ruin it now?

‘’Two hours.’’ 

‘’Mind if I sit on the couch? I’ll be quiet I promise’’ You ask—technically beg, as you see no other options.

‘’Ugh.. yeah I mind. There’s some guys wanting to use it, I have a group for GTA on the PS5.’’

‘’Seriously? People still play that?’’ You whine but force yourself to continue.

 ‘’Can I sit with you then?’’ It takes strength—but you say it regardless. You came to terms with the fact he was your last resort minutes ago.

‘’Sure. But you need to make yourself useful. Here, take this.’’ He hands you a wet sponge, ‘’Wash these up... carefully, while I go clean the floors.’’ He orders, as if you’re part of the staff (and new on the job apparently.)

‘’Do you actually want me to wash freaking dishes? I just came here to chill, I don’t even bother anyone!’’ You start feeling annoyed with the chores, you aren’t 16 and he isn’t your mom.

‘’You can always leave.’’ The running tap stops and he turns to you, practically shoving the wet gloves on your chest. 

‘’Or...you can stop being a brat and be of use during your stay, I have two hours left.’’ He smiles, that same smile that makes your skin crawl and blood boil as he moves away.

‘’Fuck! My dress, you asshole!’’ A wet patch now covers the too short dress as you glance at the time on your phone. 

Two hours. Two hours until your friends leave and he closes up anyway.

-

Tomura was at least true to his words. Within two insufferable hours of having to listen to appalling conversations between men (hardly to be considered as such), plate washing and the toilet being constantly occupied, the last customers get up to leave. 

You dry your hands and plop down the couch exhausted.

‘’Finally.’’ You exhale checking your phone, your friends hadn’t given you any life signs in the meantime, so you decide to patiently wait, they’d message eventually. Tomura is done sweeping the nasty floors from crumbs and dried Monster remnants, which he still has to mop (for the fourth time, you note and you've only been there some hours). You notice how restless he seems—the guy has been running the whole night after ignorant customers, who had not once shown basic respect for the order of the place yet never complained. Truly a shame he has such a misogynistic mindset, you think. He could get women, if he wanted to. 

It’s around 6:30 AM, when he presses a button to close the store's roll-up shutters halfway. Small light outside makes its way in but the place is still relatively dark, as he places the mop near the wall and takes a seat next to you.

‘’Fuuck, I’m so tired.’’ He sighs, making sure to spread his legs on the couch as much as he can, not caring (of course) about you also sitting on it. 

You always branded Tomura as an incel, that you knew about. But despite that, you now can’t help but feel for him, not knowing much about him at the same time. Sure, he technically isn’t the nicest guy but a look around would show you that he tries enough for a job kicking his ass. You find yourself sympathizing with a man, whose ideals you hate and try to brush these thoughts off.

‘’And why the fuck am I an incel anyway?’’ He asks, his head rests on the couch and his eyes are closed, he is scrunching severely—almost threatening to fall down. And he manspreads. A lot.

‘’W-well– I..’’ You never thought he’d caught on to that, stammering to stand your ground as you continue. ‘’Well, there have been rumors about you.’’ You say, but it doesn’t come off as confident as you’d hoped for. You also realize, it sounds kind of stupid.

‘’Reaaally? And you made sure to believe them, right?’’ His tone’s laced with irony but the way he talks like he whispers in a raspy voice doesn't annoy you anymore. It makes you more... uncomfortable? On the edge? Excited?...what?

‘’It’s not like you don’t claim it yourself.’’ You retort, finally finding some courage. You notice him looking at you as you awkwardly shuffle in your seat.

‘’All I’ve ever said was that I think women are good for nothing. And I still believe that, but I wouldn’t waste more of my time on that.’’ The statement makes you roll your eyes.

‘’How can you generalize a whole group of people, who are literally in no way inferior to you, you can’t tell me you’ve tried—’’ 

‘’Listen dollface, unless you want to change my mind there’s no reason to fuss that much, my opinion won’t change.’’

Unless you want to change my mind?

‘’I-I don’t.’’ You stammer, because the answer and pet name (dollface??) takes you by surprise and he laughs.

‘’Relax, you branded me an incel.’’ He jokes, ‘’don’t want the rape allegations on me too.’’ 

The more he talks, the more your mind races and you curse yourself. He seems..funny? He has a mole under his lips—fuck, it looks cute...He also looks good so (stupid as it is, yes!) you silently want his attention. Why can’t he just look you in the eyes more?

This is so wrong. He must've noticed your lost gaze as he speaks up.

‘’Wanna watch a movie?’’ He proposes and you nod, anything is better than the silence hanging in the air. Silence you caused. For thinking... things about him. 

Of course Tomura ends up choosing the most depressing film anyone can possibly watch in an internet café at 6 AM, Fallen Angels, and the dramatic cuts make it hard for you to concentrate. He at a certain point leans closer to you but you justify it, how else would he be able to see?

During this one scene, the woman pleasured herself with her legs closed, rubbing together and that’s when you feel a soft hand touch on your thigh. The dress you wore rode up, because your legs rested on the table ahead so it gave him the space he needed. The movement made you tingle and your core involuntarily contracted. The smooth fingers teasingly trailed up and down your leg, from your knees to your inner thighs. You didn’t want to look at him—he was too close and the scene seemed endless. But…he went on about it as if nothing was happening. 

Without saying a word, he carried on. A pad of his finger tip dangerously close to your now heated entrance, the images flashing before your eyes lewd, his hand tempting and threatening to reach your already soaked cunt—all this while the two of you hadn’t even shared a kiss. But he doesn't stop, looking ahead and acting like everything’s fine, until he touches your lower lips and you hiss, his finger traces the wet spot over your underwear while you try to move and speak up. 

‘’W–what are y—’’

‘’Shh..’’ is all he says. 

You want to tell him no. But no to what? You like the feeling of his two fingers against your folds. His palm moves your panties to the side and he stuffs them inside—they dampen from the fluids. How is he that quick? You can’t form a response but you’re about to ask him why—

‘’All that and I haven’t even kissed you.’’ He murmurs, gaze still fixated on the television ahead as you moan, when he slowly pumps them within your walls. Fuck, are you turned on by this?

‘’P-please..’’ You whisper, turning to look at him and for the first time, his eyes are removed from the stupid TV, a sly smile on his features as he tears away his hand.

‘’What is it? Want the incel to kiss you? Maybe even fuck you to prove a point?’’ He says and you frown.

‘’I—no, I have to go.’’ You get up, fixing (lowering) your dress—you have nowhere to go but you’ll figure it out eventually. You think staying longer only plays into his cruel intentions and whilst you can’t deny the pleasure he could give you, your pride’s in the way.

‘’You’re not going anywhere.’’ A wet hand clasps around your wrist and brings you on his lap, as he grins; you seem confused at the sensation. You are hiding the TV screen but he couldn't care less, he never paid attention to the movie.

‘’Feel the stain you left, too?’’ He says as he brings your face closer with the sticky palm grabbing you by the hair. You softly moan, noticing the small mole up close and feeling a bulge poke where your bodies meet. You sway your hips in a silent effort to have him initiate a kiss, you feel desperate and curse yourself again internally. He can only smile.

(You were so clueless, walking around in that slutty dress earlier—making him hard like that, did you even know it?)

He’s quick to kiss you, eager for more already, as mouths clash, teeth collide, the need you both have exceeds proper manners. You sloppily grind against him, the friction from a long outline beneath you makes it hard to think.

‘’I’m guessing, you’re really fucking the incel then.’’ He half smirks as he grabs you and repositions you to sit on his now fully hard cock that throbs in his pants; he lifts your dress above your ass and guides your hips sluggishly back and forth—he’s tormenting you and he enjoys it to the fullest.

‘’T-tomura..p-please.’’ You whine, the urge to have him inside you makes you blabber.

‘’Please what?’’ He slides a hand behind your waist, lowering it to find your slit from behind, his fingers pet your cunt and you moan. Loudly. He is tugging at your panties, the fabric annoys him and he wants full access and the words. The words to prove his point.

‘’P–please...fuck me already!’’ You breathe out and he groans to the sound of your voice. 

The ironic remark he prepared evaporates as he quickly pushes you back, just enough to not fall off his lap and quickly unzips his pants, thanking god for not wearing a belt. 

His pants and underwear are sloppily moved down his knees, as his cock jumps with a pop on his lower abdomen, stiff with a weeping tip. Pretty veins throb around it as your eyes widen.

Shit, he’s big, can you take him?

‘’I’d ask for a nice blowjob, dollface, but wouldn’t want the feminists after me.’’ He says as he brings you close, kissing you yet again, a string of spit runs down your jaw, as your hands roam his tangled, uncombed hair. 

He positions you on his cock, one hand snakes around your waist while the other one clings to the back of your scalp and you’re swiftly lifted by the head and pushed down on him, as you let out a scream.

‘’Shut the fuck up.’’ He hisses, quickly looking around, the sensation from almost his whole length makes you tremble, he feels too full, too painful...too good.

‘’Shit, c’mon now you got this.’’ He encourages as you hesitantly move up and down his cock, gripping his shoulders and looking at him; he seems more concentrated on the sensation than your body, staring at you while you wrap around his length.

‘’Fuck...dollface, this too much for ya?’’ He tries not to grunt and you give your best not to cry, each moment that goes by turning the initial pain to pleasure—your cunt adjusts slowly and bit by bit to his girth. 

‘’T-tomura... y-yes..it’s too much!’’ You whine, sweat forms in your forehead as his hand finds your swollen clit and circles it while your nails dig deeper in his shirt.

‘’You can take it.’’ He says, he feels you squeezing him in, you bounce with dedication on his legs, making the couch squeak as if on some sex tape—you want to bring yourself even closer. So nasty, aren't you? Acting righteous, only to fuck yourself on his cock like a desperate whore.

‘’I-ugh-p-please..’’ You try to speak but he secures his hand around your torso and sinks (lower than before) down the couch. Two strong hands force you to stay still in the air while he drills himself into you at a steady pace, kind of sloppily too. Both of you moan, the position gives equal pleasure, your clit bumps on his groin and his cock reaches your g-spot with ease.

‘’S–Shit, you’re squeezing way too much, haven’t you been fucked like this before?’’ He sounds annoyed but the stammer in his voice betrays him.

Not like this, you want to say but can’t really speak the words. Your weight falls entirely on him, he doesn’t mind one bit—he loves it actually, this skin on skin contact as he guides you on his cock, it feels surreal. He hits soft and spongy spots inside while you slowly fall apart. 

‘’T-Tomura right there..I ugh—I'm close!’’ The sensation overwhelms you, his eyes are still fixated on your face, yeah I can tell, he thinks. He gets off on your desperation, mouth parted all for him? Your eyes threaten to spill by the way he tears apart your cunt and morals bit by bit.. it’s–

‘’Tomura, aren't you closing yet?’’ Someone asks from outside, interrupting the moment. The shutters only reveal a pair of shoes. 

‘’Yeah, I’m on it.’’ Shigaraki stops composed, cockwarming you in a funny way, while a hand, his hand covers your mouth. Your eyes widen as slick trickles down his thighs in silence.

‘’Alright, see you then.’’ The man leaves and he cusses him out. (''Cunt.'')

‘’We’re not done.’’ He turns his attention back to you and seizes your face, bringing your mouth closer.

‘’Open up.’’ He orders and you do, clenching around him in anticipation.

He spits in it and closes the gap with his index finger. 

‘’Swallow or I won’t continue.’’ You quickly gulp down.

‘’So obedient all of a sudden, aren't you?’’ Sarcasm evident as he gives your ass a solid hit, before starting to get back on his pace, only more rough this time, he longs for your release on him. You’re moving up and down his length, trying to grab anything accessible really, his hair, the back of the couch, under his shirt and you feel your orgasm resurface stronger; the delay highlighted all of your senses.

‘’T-Tomura—’’ You shudder, as his cock hits your g-spot expertly–fuck, this guy wasn't some incel–and your swollen clit has to brush one last time past his groin before you feel an overwhelming orgasm take over. You clamp down his length and moan embarrassingly (Fuck Tomura! I–I'm...too good!) This time he lets you, he needs to hear this.

‘’Fuuck—agh, look at you dollface.’’ He hums, a feminist creaming herself on my cock, he wants to add but it’s too many words and you just came so he wastes no time. He brings your neck close to his mouth and bites on it, teeth sink into your flesh and hands force you all the way down. His cum spills inside and he groans, trying to stifle his moans by biting down the sensitive skin even harder. 

And fuck if that isn’t hot.

He keeps you on him, arms fasten around your waist with cum dripping onto his lowered pants but neither of you bother to care; ragged breaths and the sounds of the film still playing are audible as more light enters through the rolled shutters.

God must’ve been on your side that day because a message appears on your screen moments after you both wordlessly got up and cleaned yourselves in the bathroom. Tomura would have to clean again, you think, as the message on your phone signals your time to leave.

You turn to look at him, he has removed his shirt and small nail scratches decorate his pale back and you..smile. What the hell? Was this..? Oh no—You try to find an appropriate goodbye.

See you soon? Thanks for the mind blowing dick? You aren’t the incel I thought you were? Everything seems embarrassing at present time. 

‘’I-I’ll be seeing you soon.’’ You opt for that, stupid as it is, you still look at him in anticipation. He turns to you, hands on the mop cleaning near the couch and nods. 

Great, you think, that was a disaster. You defeatedly walk (actually stoop to get past the almost closed door) feeling like a hooker after a client, miserable and kind of used. This is always the worst part. 

You feel an arm touch your shoulder, you’ve only taken a few steps in the daylight.

‘’Take this in case you revoke your incel statement.’’

Tomura hands you a piece of paper and quickly disappears behind the store’s shadows.

[jcmarchi]

Redirecting Humans with Machines

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/redirecting-humans-with-machines/

Redirecting Humans with Machines

The early 1800s heralded the Industrial Revolution in the US, a transformative era driven by technological progress. The introduction of new machinery and manufacturing techniques reshaped the economic terrain, enhancing production efficiency while diminishing the need for manual labor in certain domains. Consequently, this shift resulted in job loss.

Today we are seeing a similar scenario, with advancements in automation holding the promise of revolutionizing the workforce in ways that enhance productivity. However, alongside these technological strides, the familiar concern over job displacement is resurfacing among workers. While short-term job displacement may occur in the period of transition, ultimately, these advancements will not fully replace humans but redefine their roles in the workforce.

Finding Meaningful Work

 The COVID-19 pandemic caused one of the most severe job crises to unfold, prompting nearly 23 million US-based employees to lose their jobs. The Pew Research Center found that during this time, most seriously considered changing fields or occupations in a desire for more purpose-driven work. Today, that desire for purpose persists within 70% of individuals in the workplace, pressuring employers to address this demand or risk losing talent to organizations that do.

 This was highlighted last year when over 34 million Americans voluntarily resigned from their jobs, a movement some refer to as the Great Reshuffle. Companies are now contending with unprecedented challenges in securing a sufficient workforce. Meanwhile, Americans persist in seeking and discovering better opportunities that offer them a sense of purpose and good work-life balance

Service Industries are most likely to face this significant upheaval, as evidenced by the departure of 8.6 million workers from nursing, food service, office support, and production roles. AI can mitigate the impact of this upheaval through its integration or complete takeover of mundane tasks, transforming the previously unfavorable, and seemingly rejected positions into desirable work.

The Intersection of AI

While the evolution of jobs due to advancements in AI is readily apparent in fields such as STEM, creative endeavors, business, and law, this transformation also extends to healthcare, retail, and more, where the willingness to work is on the decline due to the amount of workplace stress or ‘lack of purpose’. By 2030, activities that account for up to 30% of hours currently worked across the US economy could be automated with AI.

Automation can take over mundane tasks, freeing humans from repetitive, stressful, and time-consuming duties. This shift enables workers to redirect their focus and leverage their interpersonal skills in more valued roles, fostering a more efficient business environment that is both human-guided and technology-enhanced.

Healthcare

In healthcare, AI-powered care coordination solutions utilize advanced algorithms to analyze various medical imaging data, including CT scans, EKGs, and echocardiograms. This technology provides medical professionals with real-time insights and automated assessments to expedite diagnoses, extending assistance to a broader population and mitigating the strain on healthcare workers, who are seeing significant staffing shortages (it’s estimated that 1.1 million nurses left the profession in 2023). These shortages necessitate nurses to work harder than ever. AI-powered care promises to alleviate their workload.

Although electronic medical records (EMRs) have become pervasive in healthcare, with 96% of general acute care hospitals and 88% of office-based clinics utilizing this tool, many are now integrating AI capabilities. These tools aid in evaluating patients’ risk for specific health conditions or broader population risks following major events such as disease outbreaks. In a critical field like healthcare, maintaining care standards amidst heavy workloads is paramount. Automation’s ability to assist professionals helps alleviate stress levels ensuring patients receive optimal care, all while enabling businesses to thrive.

Retail

In the traditional sense of customer service, smart shopping carts revolutionize the retail industry by optimizing grocers’ ability to deliver exceptional service. These intelligent shopping experiences on wheels exceed shoppers’ preferences for convenience, ease of use, and frictionless interactions; these user-friendly options enable them to navigate products and services efficiently. As automation and AI are expected to affect 6 million full-time retail employees by 2030, smart carts can transform workers’ roles, particularly cashiers, by redirecting their duties to more intellectually stimulating positions. This change allows them to spend more time with customers or do additional duties such as providing shelf replenishment. This adds incremental value to both the work and the retailer, improving operational efficiency.

Beyond smart carts, intelligent virtual assistants (IVAs) can provide personalized recommendations and solutions that match the customer’s needs and preferences, even for complex queries. These AI-driven assistants are available 24/7 to ensure that customers receive support on their schedule, building brand loyalty and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Communications

IVAs are also prevalent in auto-answering systems and call centers, streamlining tasks such as appointment and meeting scheduling for medical practices and other businesses. They also facilitate prescription fulfillment and manage order statuses in pharmacies and retail outlets. This functionality enables customers to efficiently fulfill their basic needs, even outside regular business hours, while alleviating the workload of receptionists or contact center agents. Recent research indicates that consumers express significant interest in various automated assistant use cases, prioritizing attributes like speed, convenience, and multitasking capabilities. Contact centers are notorious for their high-stress levels, so these IVAs allow human agents to focus on handling complex calls without feeling pressured, fostering greater rapport with customers and reducing stress.

Human Touch

For now, contrary to apprehensions about mass unemployment, embracing AI offers significant benefits for both companies and workers. Automation remains in a state of evolving maturity, relying on human expertise to unlock its full capabilities and potential.

There is a need for people to find workplace purpose and minimize stress. By reallocating tasks to automated technologies, humans can be liberated to focus on tasks that capitalize on their unique strengths. This fosters a relationship between human ingenuity and technological advancement. As roles evolve, clarity emerges, highlighting the need to harness human skills in tandem with automation, ultimately cultivating a more efficient and harmonious business landscape.

[shital1998]

Key Findings in the Global Bioplastics Market Study