Drones Can Defeat Humans Using Artificial Intelligence

An artificial intelligence system has beaten tactical experts in air combat simulations.

This Teen's Lawyer-Bot Is Busting Thousands Of Parking Tickets

Joshua Browder says public service chat bots like his are far more useful than the flimsy brand-made bots now populating Facebook Messenger.

Visitor Management Options Enhance Front Door Security

Much has changed in visitor management procedures and policies since the days of entering a visitor's name in the log book and slapping on a sticky badge with a handwritten name on it. Often, visitors were not even asked for identification, and there was no way to track or confirm if or when they left the building.

CSAA Renews The Protection Bureau's Five Diamond Certification

The Protection Bureau announced the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) has renewed its Five Diamond Certification of the company's monitoring station. 

The Rideshare Uprising Around The World

The Rideshare Uprising Around The World

Two Startups Win Big At Silicon Dragon Pitch In NY And Go To Beijing Next

Two US startups, Panda Corner and Biocellection, won the Silicon Dragon pitch contest in NYC, and are soon going to Beijing to compete internationally.

Nick Bostrom On The Single Most Important Challenge That Humanity Has Ever Faced

There has been a lot written about the transformational power of artificial intelligence. If you are a regular reader of this column, you have gained the perspectives of eight of the leading thinkers on the topic. (See links to each below.) Nick Bostrom is perhaps the most influential thinker on safety concerns associated with the march toward artificial intelligence. He calls artificial intelligence “the single most important and daunting challenge that humanity has ever faced.”

Qolsys Wins the 2016 ESX TechVision Challenge

The Electronic Security Expo (ESX), the national trade event for electronic security and life safety professionals, announced Qolsys as the winner of ESX 2016 TechVision Challenge.

Saudi Arabia Is Changing Its Tone In The Oil Market

Saudi Arabia is talking the oil market up lately. That's a big change from a few months when it was talking the market down.  In fact, Saudi Arabia has been doing much more than talking the oil market up -- it has been hiking oil prices. It was back in February when

Cognitive Technology: What It Is And Why Marketers Should Care

At IBM's recent Amplify conference, there was a heavy focus around cognitive technologies, an emerging area that use data mining, pattern recognition and natural language processing to mimic the way the human brain works. To better understand what it is and why CMOs should care, I consulted with Harriet Green, General Manager, Watson Internet of Things, Commerce and Education, IBM.

Middle Market M&A: What Brexit Might Mean For US Buyers Of UK Companies

Pundits have commented about how Brexit might affect the universe. However, Brexit might present a generational opportunity to acquire UK-based businesses on very favorable terms.

Young Talent Feeding Silicon Dragon Startups Takes The Stage And Wows

Judging from the 19 entrepreneurs who pitched at the Silicon Dragon contest in NYC June 23, the world is in for some major shakeups in how traditional business is done. It's an impressive group of next-gen pros who are powering startups today and for tomorrow in the world's leading venture and tech markets - the US and China.

Why Data-Centricity Is Vital for Marketing Organizations

The marketing industry relies heavily on data returned from analytical reports following both direct and indirect approaches to marketing. Using data-centricity develops a customer-centric marketing strategy that can boost company revenues, increase brand reputation and increase industry dominance. It also creates a pathway for chief marketing officers (CMOs) to redirect their marketing strategies for the best interest of the brand's goals and broadened improvements to positive consumer reactions.

On This Date In Cyber Doom History: An Example of Getting It So Wrong For So Long

I recently returned from presenting at this year's International Conference on Cyber Conflict in Tallinn, Estonia. In his presentation to a “Lessons Learned” panel at that conference, Jason Healey of Columbia University argued, “For twenty five years of the seventy five since Pearl Harbour, we have been talking about a digital Pearl Harbour. It still hasn't happened, so we are probably missing the point.”

Select Security and Mace Security International Team Up to Provide Nationwide DIY Security

Select Security and Mace Security International announced a new partnership to sell self-installed security systems under the Mace brand starting in 2016.

Review: Artsy But Obvious, 'The Neon Demon' Is A Shallow Beauty

Amazon Studios has high hopes for The Neon Demon, but it may be too weird.

DIY Blockchain? NXT Announces Customizable Ardor Platform

The core development team behind advanced blockchain platform Nxt that builds on and extends the basic functionality of the first wave of pioneering crypto-currencies has announced “broadening access” to the blockchain space with a new 'child-chain' platform, Ardor. It will enable users to create their own blockchain technology with Ardor child chains based on technologies built on the Nxt 1.0 crypto currency and the blockchain.

Shoplifters and Dishonest Employees Has Increased in 9 of the Past 10 Years

More than 1.2 million shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended in 2015 by just 25 large retailers.

Coming Soon To Facebook Live: President Obama And Mark Zuckerberg

Barack Obama's appearance could validate Facebook as the live video source Mark Zuckerberg craves.

Louroe Electronics Showcases Live Gunshot Detection Demonstration

Louroe Electronics, a provider of audio monitoring, will host a live demonstration of its gunshot detection technology for school district officials, law enforcement agencies and other top institutions at the Colonial Shooting Academy in Richmond, Va., on June 23, 2016.

The Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act Takes On Anonymous U.S. Entities

The world's largest offshore jurisdiction, a/k/a the United States of America, has been under intense criticism for some years regarding the anonymity of business entities that are formed in some states, largely (but not exclusively) those formed in Delaware, Wyoming, and my adoptive home state of Nevada.

Do You Need To Be A Geek To Be A Tech Startup Founder?

Do you need to be a geek to be a tech startup founder? No, absolutely not. Let me put it out there, I don't code, I don't hack, but I do have vision and know what I want, and I do know how to hire the right people to make it happen. It's valuable to have a technical background, but it is not a requirement. And here is why.

How Will Iran Pay Boeing, In Dollars Or Euros?

 
Iran is getting ready to place an order with Boeing for 100 planes, as Iran opens up its markets to US aircrafts for first time in decades.
If approved by the US government, the deal will be a big deal for Boeing, as it tries to catch up with European rival Airbus, which has already landed similar deals with Iran.
Wall Street cheered the prospect, sending Boeing's shares higher, when the news broke last Tuesday.

Cybersecurity: We Need New Systems To Save The Banks

Online banking platforms are built on top of an infrastructure that is still heavily reliant on paper and human interaction, leaving it prone to loss, error and social engineering techniques.

Study Says Mobile Payments Need Biometrics

Mobile payment systems have been touted as the future of financial transactions, but current systems will need to add biometrics for adoption. 

Should The New Tech Triangle of China-Israel-US Include India Too?

The Tech Triangle of China-Israel-US that I wrote about last week didn't include India, and I heard about it.

How Is Data-Centricity Impacting The Marketing Organization? Part 1

Big data. Predictive analytics. Left-brained CMOs. With the sophisticated statistical techniques that now exist, enabling CMOs to generate superior insight out of data, expectations have ratcheted up. It started in the late 1990's and early 2000's with an expectation that CMOs would be more accountable for performance; today, the best marketing leaders view business management from a data-centric perspective. To better understand how a data-centric approach to business leadership is impacting the marketing organization, I turned to Jennifer Zeszut, the CEO of Beckon, an enterprise-class marketing intelligence platform. The following is part 1 of a two-part series.

Cybersecurity: We Need New Systems To Save The Banks - And The People Who Rely On Them

Online banking platforms are built on top of an infrastructure that is still heavily reliant on paper and human interaction, leaving it prone to loss, error and social engineering techniques.

You Need A Motivated Startup Team To Change The World

I was shocked to read an old Gallup study that indicates only 13 percent of employees worldwide are actively engaged at work, and more recent data shows only a small change in the right direction. In my own experience as a startup advisor and mentor, I find that entrepreneurs who can't attract and maintain a highly motivated team rarely even get off the ground.

Meet The Woman Powering The Fight Against Cybercrime

Tammy Moskites has a 'fire in her belly' for success.

The Return Of The Puppet Masters: Sid And Marty Krofft Talk Amazon, iTunes And More [Part 1 of 2]

There is probably no American child of the '70s who did not grow up with the creations of Sid and Marty Krofft in some way. The legendary brothers talk with us about keeping their product fresh after all this time.

Ways Entrepreneurs Can Stretch Their Capital

Here's a look at ways for entrepreneurs to get more from their capital.

When To Walk Away From Your Job: 5 Tips From Olympian Kaylin Richardson

Knowing when it's time to quit is crucial to long-term success. Are you holding onto your job and stunting your growth? Keep reading for 5 signs it's time to quit from a former Olympian.

Two Disneyland Attractions You Won't See In China And Why

Shanghai Disneyland opens today in China after so much anticipation that people lined up for as long as four hours during trial runs over the past month and you need tickets in advance to get in through Saturday. Walt Disney expects 50 million visitors a year. Chinese thrill seekers have seen The Lion King movie and might have a Mickey Mouse emblem on a shirt or handbag. So visitors to the $5.5 billion Shanghai Disneyland, the first such park in mainland China, will hope to replicate the experience of the tens of thousands who enter Disney's legendary cartoon-theme amusement parks in California and Florida every day. For the most part, they can, according to a comparison of attractions on each park's official website. You can take flights with Peter Pan and Dumbo the elephant in China as well as the United States, for example.

The Convergence Of Advertising & E-Commerce

The conversation around ad blocking continues to grow. In Mary Meeker's annual Internet Trends Report, one of the feature slides in the advertising section shared that some 220 million desktop browsers and 430 million mobile users are currently blocking ads.

The Death of Big Software - How Complexity/Cloud/Cost/Digital Transformation Killed the Code Giants

Who in their right mind would undertake a five-year ERP software implementation project? Five years is a corporate lifetime and those that approve the project are likely to be long gone by the time the project reports its first missed milestones.

Apple Pay Will Struggle To Get A Payout From Tough China Market

Apple is pushing its payment platform into Asia and Europe after launching it in China earlier. The Silicon Valley icon may need that broader market as it is expected to struggle in China, the obvious prime target country outside the United States. Despite its good name for software and hardware, a pair of local e-pay rivals has already established a tough grip on the giant market.

Electric Guard Dog Acquired by Snow Phipps Group

 

Snow Phipps Group LLC completed the acquisition of SDM 100 No. 22-ranked Electric Guard Dog from an affiliate of Ulysses Management LLC on June 10, 2016.

The NHL's Risky Gamble Of Expanding To Las Vegas

The NHL is reportedly expanding into Las Vegas. Here's why the move is risky business.

Why Billionaires Move Cash To Tech, And Why You Should Too

Do you want to know why billionaires have been investing in tech, and looking for the next Facebook, Uber or Dropbox? Simple reason is returns. Startups are the new type of investment that the world's elite have been focused on and netted returns far above anything in traditional markets. Although stocks and fixed income securities dominate the primary market, there is a spotlight on the secondary market which is gaining traction.

Report Lists Weather Fatalities by Event

Which type of weather event produces the greatest number of fatalities? 

ASIS International Releases Statement on Orlando Terror Attacks

On June 12, ASIS International released the following statement in the aftermath of the Orlando mass shooting in Orlando:

Retail Inventory Shrink Increased to $45.2 Billion in 2015

Retailers' inventory shrink averaged 1.38 percent of retail sales, or $45.2 billion in 2015, up by $1.2 billion from 2014.

Why A Merger Of FanDuel And DraftKings Would Not Survive Antitrust Review

(Disclosure: The author consults for a fantasy sports provider that is in current litigation against DraftKings)

7 Trends Changing How Companies Connect With Audiences

Whether you're writing, distributing, or sharing content, account for these seven trends when crafting your marketing strategy.

Silicon Dragon Launches Pitch Contests For China

Silicon Dragon launches pitch contest for founders to compete to scale up in China.

No Room For 'Precious Snowflakes' In The Entrepreneur Class

Increasingly people are so correct-politically or emotionally-that there seems to be a war on candor. As an entrepreneur and a marketer, this trend terrifies me. And it should scare you too.

New Virtual Accelerator Connects Fintech Startups With Banks

INV Accelerator is a new, virtual accelerator for fintech startups, that provides both technology assistance and connections --and potential investment--from leading banks.

13 Quirky Cartoons By Shannon Wheeler

13 Quirky Cartoons By Shannon Wheeler

The Entrepreneur Selling Girls Shoes While Also Teaching Tech

Selling shoes to young girls is one thing, but if you can also teach them how to use technology like computer-aided design and 3D printing in a fun way, it's win-win.

Synnex Strategic Partner Summit Shows Integrators how to Expand Services for Increased Profit

At the recent Synnex Strategic Partner Summit, held in May during the 2016 BMW Charity Pro-Am (which is presented by Synnex Corp.) in Greenville, S.C., integrators were treated to three days of championship golf, networking opportunities, entertainment - and of course a little business mixed in.

After #AirbnbWhileBlack, Two Startups With The Same Name Look To Capitalize

Noirbnb, whose site states that the service is looking to launch "all summer '16," is the younger of a pair of two businesses with strikingly similar names. Noirebnb, founded by Rohan Gilkes and Zakiyyah Myers, both 39, has more than 20,000 email subscribers and hopes to launch in by mid-August.

Will Telemedicine Change Healthcare Or Prove To Be Another Venture Fad?

Telemedicine is booming, but it's also controversial and disconnected from mainstream medicine. Is this an idea that seems hot and then stalls out, like GroupOn, or are we looking at a powerful force for change in healthcare?

The Origin and Future Of America's Hottest New App: musical.ly

If you want to reach teens and tweens in the U.S., keeping up with the latest app is imperative, and musical.ly is it. Growing at a phenomenal speed, musical.ly has become in less than two years one of the hottest mainstream social networks in the country. musical.ly user Baby Ariel grew her network to 9 million followers in one year, and user Jacob Sartorius released a single on musical.ly, which made it to number five on the U.S. charts. Other users are getting offered TV roles, and the network continues to grow with no sign of slowing.

Disrupting Charity: How Social Business Can Eradicate Starvation

There is an international consensus that malnutrition is the single greatest source of poverty, ill health, and underdevelopment in the world today. While progress has been made in treating starvation, a staggering one in every four children in developing countries still cannot access essential micronutrients needed for their growth and development. But one doctor is working to change this.

32M Twitter Passwords For Sale -- Here Are Two Easy Steps To Save Your Account From Hackers

With Mark Zuckerberg and Bon Iver seeing their Twitter accounts hacked, and a leak of 32 million passwords, it's time for a refresh of your online security.

Notre Dame Names First Female Police Chief

University of Notre Dame police chief Phillip A. Johnson has been promoted to senior director of campus safety and emergency management, and Keri Kei Shibata will succeed him as chief of Notre Dame Security Police.

FLIR Acquires ISD

FLIR Systems has acquired Innovative Security Designs (ISD), a provider of intelligent systems and IP technologies, in a deal that finalized June 3, 2016.

It's Clinton Versus Trump: A Comparison Of The Final Two Tax Plans

And then there were two. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will square off to decide the next President of the United States, in an election cycle certain to be defined by mutual admiration and respect.

Roger Goodell Is Not Dead, But The NFL's Twitter Account Needs A New Password!

In the latest embarrassment for the NFL, the league's official Twitter account was hacked and erroneously posted that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had died. One of the alleged hackers told media: "We got into a social media employee's email and found the account password there." Cartoon by Rob Tornoe.

Survey Finds Most IoT Products Have Inadequate Security

IOActive Inc., a provider of research-driven security services, released the findings of the IOActive Internet of Things (IoT) Security Survey, completed by senior security professionals earlier this year that revealed less than 10 percent of IoT products have adequate security.

Ruling Should Make Start-Ups Think Twice About Themed Businesses

Fighting a trade dress challenge can be difficult and time-consuming, not to mention expensive.

Her Boss Verbally Slapped Her -- Now She's Running Her Own Show

Why can't women use their energy to champion each other instead of destroying each other?

The NFL Twitter Hacker Could Face Criminal Charges

Hackers can face lengthy prison sentences under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

Which PR Coverage Produces The Highest Results? This New Poll May Surprise You

Today's vendors are devoting more energy to value-add content in the form of branded media, thought leadership and earned media.

Cybersecurity Startups Set For Surge

By Chris Metinko and Richard Tekneci

Google DeepMind Researchers Developing A.I. Kill Switch, Just In Case

Google DeepMind isn't taking any chances with A.I. rising up to destroy us all by working on a kill switch for all A.I.

7 SEO Mistakes Even SEO Professionals Make

Even seasoned SEO professionals can make mistakes, so watch out for these common ones in your own campaign regardless of how experienced you are.

From Hurricane Sandy To One Of Manhattan's Hottest Start-Ups: Life Lessons From Riviera Caterers

By the time Hurricane Sandy's eye had lurched northeast past Brooklyn on October 29th, 2012, the Coney Island building that housed Riviera Caterers, a fourth-generation catering business founded in 1895, was already filled with 12' of floodwater and debris. National Guard tanks pulled in 24 hours later and stayed for weeks.

Crush It With Crowdfunding: 7 Steps To Get Your Startup Fully Funded

Does your great idea need funding? Crowdfunding can make it a reality. Learn how to crush your campaign in 7 steps from a pro who recently raised $200k for his campaign in the last few weeks.

How Tasty Catering Is Serving Up A New Generation Of Entrepreneurs

Tasty Catering has won accolades for its food and its workplace culture. but its most impressive product may be the business owners it's grooming.

One Thing You Absolutely Need To Know Before Buying A Home

Hunting for the right house can be especially challenging for certain home buyers. Cartoon by Shannon Wheeler.

How A Serial Entrepreneur Designed A Wheel That Makes A Bike Electric And Raised $1M On Kickstarter

Talking with GeoOrbital's Michael Burtov about designing a wheel that turns a bike electric and raising more than $1 million for it on Kickstarter.

Vector Security Announces 2016 Loss Prevention Foundation Scholarship Winners

ector Security recently announced the winners of its 2016 Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) scholarships, which provide financial support to loss prevention professionals in the U.S. and Canada seeking to obtain Loss Prevention Qualified (LPQ) and Loss Prevention Certified (LPC) certifications.

Stealing Customers From Your Mega Rivals

Here are some strategies for snagging customers from your bitter rivals.

Poor Security Choices Come Back To Haunt Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg apparently had his Twitter and Pinterest accounts hacked over the weekend. It appears to be the result of a combination of poor security decisions-re-using an easy to guess or crack password across multiple sites or services. I reached out to a number of security experts to get some insight on how this happened and tips for how you can avoid falling victim to similar hacks.

What If A Business Owner Loses Cognitive Ability?

Cognitive impairment is insidious, and sometimes the family is slow to notice a business owner's mental decline. In many cases, the professional advisors are first pick up on the subtle clues.

From Tax Geek To World's Fastest Triathlete: A Q&A With Olympic Gold Medal Favorite Gwen Jorgensen

If you're not familiar with Gwen Jorgensen, you will be soon. The two-time reigning ITU World Triathlon Champion, Jorgensen promises to become a household name during this summer's Olympics, where she will be the heavy favorite to bring home the gold in Rio. Over the past two years, Jorgensen has arguably been the most dominant athlete in the world; at one point, she won a record 13 consecutive World Cup races, a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact that ITU races -- which are comprised of a 1.5 kilometer swim, 40 kilometer draft-legal bike, and 10 kilometer run -- are often decided by a sprint finish.

The Importance Of Aligning Your Company's Online And Offline Marketing Tactics

The real magic happens when online and offline tactics work together - not independently of each other or, worse, alone. Unfortunately, some marketers are still dropping the ball when it comes to aligning them.

Building a Secure Transportation Tendering and Tracking Application

Public cloud B2B solutions have special advantages when it comes to transportation execution and tracking. But the problem that almost all Internet sites and web enabled applications share is ensuring that the system can?t be hacked. It may be possible to use blockchain technology to build truly secure supply chain applications.

Stupid Touchpoints Are Worse Than No Touchpoints In Customer Experience And Customer Service

More isn?t always better in customer service and the customer experience. In fact, adding new touchpoints to your customer experience and your customer service can diminish the experience for your customers rather than improve it, if the new touchpoints are added thoughtlessly or are executed in a glitchy or tone deaf manner.

Why Celebrating Your Wins Can Make A Big Difference For Growing Companies

When you set the bar to show others, including your employees, that no achievement is too small to celebrate, you set in motion a wave of positive activity that is beneficial for everyone involved.

Research Says One in 10 IoT Devices Offer Adequate Security

A survey revealed that 47% of all respondents felt that less than 10% of all IoT products on the market are designed with adequate security.

Buy The Dip On Jobs Data

As we discussed earlier in the week, market participants are trained to be fixated on the monthly jobs data. That was evident in today's market reaction, as it always is. The payroll number-the number professional investors have been trained to trade-was weak this morning. The unemployment number, on the other hand, was at the best level since November 2007.

Newspaper Billionaires

Newspaper Billionaires

Where Have All The Hacktivists Gone?

New research shows that hacktivism is declining - with one notable exception. Why is Anonymous still so active when other groups have fallen by the wayside?

Honeywell Announces AlarmNet 360 Cloud-Based Management System

Honeywell announced AlarmNet 360, a new cloud-based management platform designed to help security dealers and central stations drive business growth, simplify account management and streamline installations.

Qlik Technologies Record $1B Loan Signals Direct Lending Growing Up

With today's record $1 billion loan to fund an acquisition of Qlik Technologies, BDCs are giving notice that direct lending is moving far beyond its middle market roots to challenge traditionally distributed debt financing.

MasterCard Launches New Software For On-Line Fraud Prevention

SMEs are seeing large increases in their online business but they often lack the controls they need to avoid fraud. MasterCard aims its Simplify Controls at acquirers who can they offer it to merchants.

8 Eurozone Banks With Turnaround CEOs

8 Eurozone Banks With Turnaround CEOs

Go Home! 4 New Ways To Improve Execution At Work

“I'm struggling to stay on top of my job. There doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done, and I fear it might cost me a promotion. I am not sure I can juggle a family and my career.” This was the lament I heard from a young executive worried about her future. I know many have had the same fears and struggles with execution. But there is hope. Research my colleague Joe Folkman and I shared on Harvard Business Review shows that you can significantly improve your ability to execute without working longer hours.

Computer Education Key To America's Safety & Security In Our Increasingly Connected Society

Several years ago former defense secretary Leon Panetta warned about the growing threat of cyber attacks. As we wade deeper and deeper into the increasingly Connected Society in which the Internet is a backbone of commerce and transactions as well as communications and streamed entertainment, the dark side is we are increasingly at risk. Some will tout privacy concerns, and while opinions on that will differ, the cold reality is the more information we put into the Cloud or on the Internet, the more someone is going to want it. What they choose to do with that information, including in some cases email address, birth dates, social security numbers, and potentially financial information depends on who is doing the attack and why.

Axis Acquires IP Intercom Company 2N

Axis Communications announced it has acquired 2N, which will operate as a subsidiary within the Axis group. 

The Second Act Of Horst Schulze Is Finally Taking Off

The legendary founder of Ritz-Carlton endured a rough start for his Capella Hotel Group, however, the future now seems bright.