Siliconned

How the tech industry solves fake problems, hoards idle workers, and makes doomed bets with other people's money

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Pub Date Sep 02 2024 | Archive Date Oct 01 2024

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Description

A start-up wastes a billion dollars making videos nobody wants to watch. A city rushes to build landing pads for flightless air taxi prototypes. Tech giants hire thousands of techies for fake projects to stop them working for rivals.

The tech industry has a tendency to go crazy. In Siliconned, industry insider Emmanuel Maggiori decodes tech’s hysteria and explains why we all pay the price for it.

You’ll discover:

  • How tech investment became a blind hunt for pipe dreams, unicorns, and explosive growth;
  • How shady incentives reward tech investors for burning cash;
  • How governments and central banks pour fuel on the fire;
  • How tech companies squander talent, and how well-intentioned fads like Agile and Lean help cover it up.

From low interest rates to gigantic bubbles, Siliconned turns the tech industry upside down and suggests how to fix it.

Emmanuel Maggiori, PhD, is a software engineer, writer, and speaker. He’s the author of the best-selling book Smart Until It’s Dumb: Why artificial intelligence keeps making epic mistakes (and why the AI bubble will burst).

A start-up wastes a billion dollars making videos nobody wants to watch. A city rushes to build landing pads for flightless air taxi prototypes. Tech giants hire thousands of techies for fake...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781838337261
PRICE $2.99 (USD)
PAGES 230

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Featured Reviews

Title: Siliconned by Emmanuel Maggiori - A Must-Read for Fans of Scandalous Business Ventures

In Siliconned by Emmanuel Maggiori, I found a riveting and eye-opening read that delves into the depths of the tech and business world. As a fan of books like Bad Blood by John Carreyrou and Glossy by Marisa Meltzer, I was delighted to discover that Siliconned not only lived up to my expectations but exceeded them.

What sets Siliconned apart is its exploration of the true meanings behind the tech and business buzzwords that we often hear but may not fully understand. Maggiori's insightful analysis reveals how these words can be used as facades to mask the deceit and deception that can run rampant in the business world. This book serves as an introductory guide to why scams in the business world are able to happen, shedding light on the inherent flaws in the venture capitalist system that make it akin to a Ponzi scheme.

For fans of shows like Dragons Den or Shark Tank, Siliconned offers an accessible and engaging explanation of what truly goes on behind the scenes of business deals and proposals. Maggiori's writing style is engaging and informative, making complex concepts easy to grasp for readers of all backgrounds.

In conclusion, Siliconned is a must-read for anyone interested in scandalous business ventures and the inner workings of the tech industry. It is a compelling and thought-provoking book that will leave you questioning the realities of the business world and the true motives behind every deal. I highly recommend Siliconned to fans of investigative business journalism and those looking for a deeper understanding of the complexities of the modern business landscape.

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Straightforward thoughts of a software engineer about how tech industry operates today. It is a truth, although a bit sad. There are several discussions within the book. One has a focus on tech’s tendency to become a little too enthusiastic. I'm many cases investors bet huge money on outlandish start-ups that need a miracle to succeed or solve a problem with a nice to have solution or a problem never thought of. Today many start-ups try to grow fast by using other people’s money, so they’re unprofitable for years and not sustainable in the long run compared to slow growth bootstrapped companies. There is a discussion with deep thoughts of VCs and governmental bodies who provide to startups free money either managed for others by VCs or inn the form of grants from tax payers by government. And, finally, some words about people in tech and how they operate with ideas how how to improve the world of startups.

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