Gaurav Chandna

Santana Row shopping center in San Jose has implemented a ticketless parking system that eliminates the need for drivers to take a ticket upon entry and pay at a pay station upon exit. Instead, drivers can simply scan a QR code (see photo) posted throughout the garage using their phones, enter their license plate number and credit card information on the website that pops up, and a camera will read their license plate and open the gate as they exit. While this system may seem convenient and efficient, I think there is a significant security concern! There is a risk that perpetrators could replace the posted QR code with their own, which would redirect drivers to a fake website where they would unknowingly enter their credit card information. This could lead to unauthorized charges and potential identity theft. It is crucial for the shopping center to address this security concern by taking appropriate measures to protect drivers' personal and financial information. They must ensure that the QR codes posted are authentic and that there are no vulnerabilities that could allow perpetrators to manipulate the system. As an alternative solution, pay stations could be installed for shoppers to use instead of relying on their own phones.

32

12 Comments

Ever wonder why some companies can ship software at lightning speeds while others seem stuck in the mud? 🚀⏳ . . . . . . . . . Daksh Gupta of Greptile collected real-world insights from engineers at many of the world's largest tech companies, unpacking the intricacies that either propel or impede the speed of shipping code. The big reveal? Older and larger companies tend to move more slowly because the costs of missteps become greater. In some cases, those costs are fairly non-negotiable (e.g. ensuring software for customers in production remains secure) while in other cases, the costs are more optional and cultural (e.g. wanting a lot of accurate estimates, forcing a manager's vs. maker's schedule, etc). #SoftwareEngineering #Tech #DevelopmentVelocity #Innovation #Productivity

1

In the early days of the internet, the W3C and few other organizations helped build the first Internet Standards so that the Web could foster it's own innovation & growth. Fast forward 30 years, I cannot believe we needed a law to get browsers and websites to agree on protecting your privacy by default... The internet should really be decentralized, and customer centrist by design. How did we ended up here?

11

I am excited to share the latest blog, co-authored by myself, Junhwi Kim and Vyas Sekar, detailing how we managed to successfully localized and improved LLM by combining Fine-Tuning and RAG. https://lnkd.in/gKDkgGPq

70

3 Comments

Lesson of the day at ODSC: yes, start with LLM but eventually you will need to train against the "monstrosity" of the great internet data with reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF). Great presentation Sanyam Bhutani in #ODSCEast #odsc!

18

2 Comments

It's fantastic when the team leverages platform goodness for our customers! I love how I'm able to follow along the IPL match even when I'm on the go! As with most things we do, we had to scale what came out of the box to make this work for our customer base. Read on for practical tips on how we got there.

200

2 Comments

Just finished recording a great podcast with Ankit Jain on his #HangerDX podcast. We chatted a lot about engineering metrics, their value, and how you should/shouldn't use them to drive change across your organization. It should be released soon, so make sure to check it out! #softwareengineeringinsights #engineeringmetrics #developerexperience

25

𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝟭𝟬𝘅 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝟭,𝟬𝟬𝟬𝘅 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹. Naval Ravikant (via Erik Jorgenson) sums it up perfectly: "𝘈 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘱, 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵, 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦." It’s a reminder that leverage matters more than brute force. The right idea, the right execution, and the right person can redefine what’s possible. Do you agree that inputs don’t match outputs in software? Have you ever met or worked with a “10x engineer”?

3

1 Comment

🔐Securonix's Ankit Deka Featured in the San Francisco Examiner San Francisco Examiner Discussing the Future of Gen AI in Cybersecurity🔐 Ankit Deka, our UX designer, recently shared his expertise on designing Gen AI-led security products. According to Ankit, embracing Gen AI in UX design is crucial to staying competitive and delivering cutting-edge user experiences. 📰 Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gFUZxFFp Ankit was part of our team that developed Securonix EON, our groundbreaking suite of AI-Reinforced capabilities, which was recognized by CRN as one of the 20 Coolest Cybersecurity Products at RSAC 2024.🙌🏽 🌟 Join Us in Shaping the Future 🌟 We're excited about the transformative potential of Gen AI and are pioneering its integration into our cybersecurity solutions, transforming how CyberOps detects and respond to threats. Learn more about Securonix EON: https://lnkd.in/gxSCrxZe #GenerativeAI #Cybersecurity #UXDesign #Innovation #GenAI #AIReinforced #SOC #CyberOps #SIEM #AI

2

2 Comments

Harness the power of AI to streamline your workflow, boost productivity, and drive better results. Get started with GenAI today and take your product management game to the next level! 💡 #Chisel #GenAI #ProductManagement #SaaS #Innovation

3

This article provides a helpful, straightforward explanation of the options for improving the output of LLMs for specific types of use cases - worth a read.

4

1 Comment

The job market in 2024 has been like navigating a storm—one that’s not following usual patterns. Despite a "good" economic environment (the stock market booming, companies making record profits) - hiring seems to be scarce, and the average job search is stretching to nearly 14 months. What’s causing this bizarre situation? 🌐 Legacy Things Crashing and Burning Legacy bits are finally reaching the end of their lifespans. Many companies have delayed upgrading for decades, but now have no choice (because things either have stopped working or upgrading {with "AI"} is the only way to prevent competition from crushing them). Higher interest rates mean money put into these necessary capital expenditures has to come at the expense of operational expansion. Instead of hiring new talent, companies are restructuring and laying off staff, further burdening already skeletal crews (all the while keeping job posts they aren't going to fill open). ⚔️ Too Many Seekers, Too Few Roles Too many job seekers are now fighting for too few non-ghost roles. Layoffs and restructuring have increased the number of qualified professionals hunting for jobs at the same time. With fewer companies expanding, the imbalance between job seekers and openings is at an all-time high, making competition fiercer than ever (even with 4x the number of job postings to job seekers). Not to mention the AI-Resume-ATS battles raging on in the recruiting world. 🧱 People Aren't Leaving Their Jobs People aren’t leaving their current roles as frequently as they did in the past. Job hopping has slowed significantly, whether due to economic uncertainty, job security, or fear of not finding another role (due to current job market conditions). This stagnation means fewer positions are opening up, bottlenecking the job market. 🌄 The Silver Lining: Relief Is Coming It’s not all doom and gloom—there’s a silver lining on the horizon. Once the Federal Reserve reduces interest rates, capital will be available for companies to start hiring again. The current strain on the bare-bone-marrow workforce has led to increased burnout. Without support, employees will start leaving (even if the market is bad), opening up more vacancies. Over the next few months, we can expect the number of open positions to increase as companies hire again (because they have money or to prevent more people leaving) or as people leave their jobs, creating more opportunities - which will then spur others to leave their roles accelerating this process. 🌟 The Light at the End of the Tunnel As the market rebalances itself again, the number of job applications per role should drop, finding that next position will become easier. The storm will pass, and the job market will begin to normalize. Until then, hang tight; this imbalance is hopefully a phase—one that will eventually clear, making way for brighter days ahead. #Jobpocalypse2024 #OpenToWork

2

7 Comments

🌟 Reflecting on a Memorable Experience 🌟 A while back, I had the unique opportunity to provide crucial advice to the CTO at a mid-sized software development company. They were seeking feedback on fostering collaboration between sub-businesses and sharing best practices across the organization. The differing leadership styles among their direct reports had been a barrier, and I knew addressing this issue would require careful navigation. Initially, I suggested a casual lunch meeting at a favorite Italian restaurant. However, the executive declined due to a garlic allergy and preferred to meet in their office. I was aware of the rumors about the executive's difficult demeanor and previous conflicts, including a significant issue with an employee displaying a crucifix in their cubicle. These factors added to my apprehension. During our meeting, I took a collaborative approach to present the issue. Instead of pointing fingers or placing blame, I highlighted the importance of aligning leadership styles to drive effective collaboration. I shared examples of successful cross-organizational initiatives from other companies, emphasizing how consistent leadership could foster a more cohesive and innovative environment. By focusing on shared goals and the potential benefits of unified leadership, I aimed to build consensus and encourage a collective effort towards improvement. The CTO listened intently and engaged in the discussion, asking insightful questions and offering their perspective. Our conversation gradually shifted from identifying the problem to brainstorming actionable solutions. This approach not only eased the tension but also paved the way for a productive dialogue on how to implement best practices across the organization. During our conversation, I noticed a blood donation poster prominently displayed in the CTO's office. Suddenly, everything clicked - the CTO was a Dracula. Understanding the gravity of the situation, I acted decisively, snapping a leg off of the wooden chair I had been seated on, and using a stapler to hammer it into the executive's heart, sending the demon back to the hell from which it came. The CTO let out a terrifying screech, and within moments, their body disintegrated into a pile of ashes. The room fell silent, and I knew I had done what was necessary to protect the company and its employees. This experience underscored the importance of cohesive leadership styles. Aligning leadership approaches is essential to fostering a collaborative and innovative environment, allowing teams to work together effectively towards shared goals. By ensuring consistency in leadership, we can drive positive outcomes even in the most unforeseen circumstances 💪🌟. #Leadership #Collaboration #Teamwork #Adaptability #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment

41

13 Comments

It's always exciting to read books by people you know. I can highly recommend Mike Maples, Jr,'s book, Pattern Breakers. Mike is a legend, having been on the Forbes Midas List since 2010. I was fortunate to get an early draft of sections of his book, which I will share here for all you entrepreneurs out there—but make sure to buy and read his book! Inflections and Insights Mando—here’s a document I hope is useful during the ideation phase of your startup (my favorite phase). I developed this while writing my book, based on observing my most successful founders pivot their ideas around the same core inflections and insights. Inflections: What major changes outside your startup will empower people in the future? Inflection Definition: An inflection introduces something new (technology, regulation, belief) that can radically change human capacities or behaviors. They disrupt the status quo and offer startups more ways to win by working in an uncertain future. Bigger inflections are better than smaller ones. They can empower people more significantly or in greater numbers, leading to radical changes in behavior. Insight Definition: An insight is a non-obvious truth about how inflections can radically change human capacities and behaviors. They offer new patterns that disrupt the status quo. Insight Guide: In the future, [a new thing, who it empowers, and how it empowers them]. This will be enabled by [named inflections]. This future is non-consensus because [status-quo barriers to this future happening]. But this insight is right because [our hypothesis about how these inflections will prove them wrong]. And the timing is right because [statement of ‘why now?’]. Thank you again, Mike Maples, Jr, for sharing these early insights and for your invaluable advice to entrepreneurs everywhere. I will never forget your advice on great entrepreneurs are "time travelers" Well, it turns out that most of the great startups come from a great insight and a great insight usually occurs when someone is living in the future and they notice something that’s missing.

19

1 Comment

Over the course of each month, I spend a few moments each day or so collecting interesting links, and then, at the end of the month, I bundle them (with the help of some nifty automation scripts) into an easily digestible reading list. Here's everything that I found interesting in May 2024 about the irresponsible use of machine intelligence: #qfm #quantumfaxmachine #blog #irresponsible #ai #genai https://lnkd.in/e2uE49up

10

Markdown to... command line app - wat? That's the topic for today's unsolicited face time. A single Pipedown pipeline can be used in numerous contexts thanks to the way it consistently accepts inputs and produces outputs. I waffled about my love of pipelines a while back: https://lnkd.in/gERrAsvA Though it's much handier to see in action! https://lnkd.in/giR-KVDT Let me know your thoughts 🚀

4