(This column originally appeared in Forbes)
Here are five things in tech that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
1 — Google rolls out passkeys to (eventually) kill passwords.
This week Google announced its launch of the passkey — a security tool they believe will eventually replace passwords permanently. Passkeys are cryptographic authenticators that can be linked with fingerprints and PINs providing an advanced and nearly hack-proof method of security. Google explains. Other tech giants like Microsoft are headed in the same direction. Google has made passkeys available to its account holders with the option to keep using passwords. (Source: Gizmodo)
Why this is important for your business:
Say goodbye to the password — and good riddance. The future is in biometrics — fingerprints, eye and face scans, even voice recognition. Google, Microsoft and other big tech companies are pushing their users in this direction so it’s inevitable. Will this be completely safe and protect us from hackers? Of course not. But it’s safer alternative to the password.
2 — Recruit Me launches matchmaking service to connect employers with job applicants.
Recruit Me — the app that connects job seekers with employers — is scrapping the traditional protocols of job hunting. Following the model used with online dating — job seekers can tailor their profiles based on the type of work they’re targeting. Employers have the advantage of bypassing introductory questions and have direct access to the core values of a potential candidate based nine questions answered by both parties. (Source: Yahoo Finance)
Why this is important for your business:
It’s like a Tinder for workers! Swipe right for yes and left for no. Does Recruit me offer the secret sauce for recruiting or not? Give it a try and let me know.
3 — Wendy’s will start using an AI chatbot to take drive-through orders.
Starting in June customers can place their orders to a chatbot at the drive-thru. Wendy’s announced. The first go-round with AI will be tested at one of their locations in Ohio. As reported by the Wall Street Journal — Wendy’s Chief Executive Todd Penegor — stated that the chatbot will be “indistinguishable from an employee” but only after a vigorous amount of training. Menu items can be ordered by using a myriad of phrases and it’s been reported that Google has been working with Wendy’s to develop a language model that includes drive-thru slang. (Source: Mashable)
Why this is important for your business:
Robots and software replacing people. That’s what big companies are doing right now and it won’t be long before the technology becomes affordable to purchase and implement for small businesses too.
4 — WordPress bug threatens 2 million websites.
WordPress — the widely used content management system — warned users of a bug discovered in its Advanced Custom Fields plugin. Affecting WordPress versions 3.7 to 5.7 — the vulnerability could allow an attacker to gain full control of a site by exploiting a flaw in the CMS’s authentication mechanism. (Source: Cybernews)
Why this is important for your business:
To address the issue WordPress released a patch on May 6, 2021. However, since the vulnerability has been present in WordPress for over 8 years, there is a possibility that millions of websites may have already been compromised. Investigate this with your webmaster.
5 — Business Choice 2023: The best video conferencing services for work.
Features Editor Eric Griffith reported on the results for best for best video conferencing software as ranked by readers of PCMag. GoTo Meeting came out on top for best video and sound quality. Right behind was Google Meet (best non-paid service) and Zoom. (Source: PCMag)
Why this is important for your business:
A surprising winner! If you’ve been using Google Meet, Zoom or Microsoft Teams perhaps it’s also re-visiting GoTo Meeting, considering that its quality is considered to be better.
