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If you’re only using AI to pump out blog posts or social media content, you’re thinking too small. The real game-changers? They’re building businesses that run on autopilot — using next-gen AI agents to automate sales, operations and marketing around the clock, with zero employees.
In this video, I’ll break down the four AI agents that can turn a simple side hustle into a 7-figure business.
Revenue-generating agent: Replace entire sales teams with AI that qualifies leads, books calls and handles follow-ups — it’s like having a top-tier sales rep that never takes a day off.
Executive assistant agent: Say goodbye to calendar chaos and inbox overwhelm. Use AI to handle scheduling, inbox management, travel planning and data entry — freeing up hours each week.
Workflow and SOP agent: Automate your SOPs and streamline onboarding with screen-recording AI that turns your processes into step-by-step guides — no more micromanaging.
Pulse agent for marketing: Analyze sales data, audit content and predict campaign performance before you hit launch — this is the tool that tripled my sales in just 14 days.
If you’re only using AI to pump out blog posts or social media content, you’re thinking too small. The real game-changers? They’re building businesses that run on autopilot — using next-gen AI agents to automate sales, operations and marketing around the clock, with zero employees.
In this video, I’ll break down the four AI agents that can turn a simple side hustle into a 7-figure business.
Revenue-generating agent: Replace entire sales teams with AI that qualifies leads, books calls and handles follow-ups — it’s like having a top-tier sales rep that never takes a day off.
Executive assistant agent: Say goodbye to calendar chaos and inbox overwhelm. Use AI to handle scheduling, inbox management, travel planning and data entry — freeing up hours each week.
Workflow and SOP agent: Automate your SOPs and streamline onboarding with screen-recording AI that turns your processes into step-by-step guides — no more micromanaging.
Pulse agent for marketing: Analyze sales data, audit content and predict campaign performance before you hit launch — this is the tool that tripled my sales in just 14 days.
China’s top leaders did not appear to fully grasp the power of artificial intelligence in July 2023, when one of us, Eric, and Henry Kissinger met them. Economic malaise hung in the air. But when the other of us, Selina, returned to China just 19 months later, the optimism was palpable.
Dinner conversations were dominated by DeepSeek and other A.I. chatbots. Electric cars whizzed by, while apps offered drone food delivery. Unitree humanoid robots danced and spun handkerchiefs onstage during the “Spring Festival Gala,” China’s most-watched TV program, making the company a household name overnight.
This is the country we’re dealing with. China is at parity or pulling ahead of the United States in a variety of technologies, notably at the A.I. frontier. And it has developed a real edge in how it disseminates, commercializes and manufactures tech. History has shown us that those who adopt and diffuse a technology the fastest wins.
So it’s no surprise that China has chosen to forcefully retaliate against America’s recent tariffs. To win the race for the future of technology, and in turn the war for global leadership, we must discard the belief that America is always ahead.
For a long time, China was slower to the game. In 2007, the year Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s first iPhone, the internet revolution had barely begun across the Pacific: Only about 10 percent of China’s population was online, while the tech giant Alibaba was still seven years away from listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
The A.I. race appeared to follow the old pattern. The debut of ChatGPT in San Francisco in November 2022 led to a slew of copycat chatbots in China, most of which were estimated to be years behind. Yet, as with smartphones and electric vehicles, Silicon Valley failed to anticipate that China would find a way to swiftly develop a cheap yet state-of-the-art competitor. Today’s Chinese models are very close behind U.S. versions. In fact, DeepSeek’s March update to its V3 large language model is, by some benchmarks, the best non-reasoning model.
The stakes of this contest are high. Leading American companies have largely been developing proprietary A.I. models and charging for access, in part because their models cost hundreds of millions of dollars to train. Chinese A.I. firms have expanded their influence by freely distributing their models for the public to use, download and modify, which makes them more accessible to researchers and developers around the world.
Apps for the Chinese online retailers Shein and Temu and the social media platforms RedNote and TikTok are already among the most downloaded globally. Combine this with the continuing popularity of China’s free open-source A.I. models, and it’s not hard to imagine teenagers worldwide hooked on Chinese apps and A.I. companions, with autonomous Chinese-made agents organizing our lives, and businesses with services and products powered by Chinese models.
In the internet revolution, Western dominance of the market helped America’s digital economy swell to $2.6 trillion by 2022. That’s bigger than Canada’s entire G.D.P. For the United States to reap the benefits of the coming A.I. revolution, which is expected to have a larger impact than advent of the internet, the world needs to choose America’s computing stack — algorithms, apps, hardware — not China’s.
In a dozen years, China has gone from a “copycat nation” to a juggernaut with world-class products that have at times leapfrogged those in the West. Xiaomi — once best known as a maker of iPhone knockoffs — delivered 135,000 electric cars last year, while Apple gave up on its effort to produce an E.V. after burning $10 billion over a decade. China is now racing to deploy robots at scale, outlining plans for mass production of humanoids; in 2023, the country installed more industrial robots than all other nations combined. Along the way, the country also cultivated an abundance of STEM talent, robust supply chains, incredible manufacturing heft and a domestic ecosystem so brutally competitive that the only way to survive is to never stop iterating.
This China-dominated future is already arriving — unless we get our act together.
We should learn from what China has done well. The United States needs to openly share more of its A.I. technologies and research, innovate even faster and double down on diffusing A.I. throughout the economy.
Despite recent cuts in research funding, the United States continues to have remarkable strengths in university and private-sector innovation. Meanwhile, China is still playing catch-up on semiconductors. Additionally, the country faces significant headwinds of its own including a real estate crisis, mounting debt and weak consumer spending. That said, we wouldn’t underestimate the Chinese government’s resolve in tolerating near-term economic pain in pursuit of technological supremacy.
The United States imposed export controls on cutting-edge chips in order to stifle China’s A.I. progress. The country’s recent breakthroughs, however, illustrate that such sanctions instead fueled efforts by Chinese entrepreneurs to keep training and commercializing A.I.
At lunch during Selina’s trip to China, when U.S. export controls were brought up, someone joked, “America should sanction our men’s soccer team too so they will do better.” So that they will do better. It’s a hard truth to swallow, but Chinese tech has become better despite constraints, as Chinese entrepreneurs have found creative ways to do more with less. So it should be no surprise that the online response in China to American tariffs has been nationalistic and surprisingly optimistic: The public is hunkering down for a battle and think time is on Beijing’s side.
We’re no longer in the era when China is far behind us. If China’s capacity to innovate endures, if its A.I. companies continue to embrace openness, and if China stays on track to take over 45 percent of all global manufacturing by 2030, then the next chapter of the A.I. race will be an all-out dogfight on every axis possible. America will need every advantage it has.
Eric Schmidt, a former chief executive and chairman of Google, is the chairman and chief executive of Relativity Space. Selina Xu leads China and A.I. research in the Office of Eric Schmidt.
The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com.
Finding the right talent in the tech industry can be a challenging task. Companies often turn to specialized headhunter agencies to locate the best candidates for key positions. These agencies have the expertise and networks necessary to find top-tier professionals suited for various tech roles.
Choosing the right headhunter agency can make a significant difference in the hiring process. By leveraging their industry knowledge and connections, these agencies help you save time and ensure that you get the best possible candidates. Whether you need talent for software development, IT infrastructure, or executive-level positions, there are agencies that specialize in meeting those specific needs.
1. Yeeply
Yeeply is known for its expertise in the tech industry. They help companies find specialized tech talent, making the hiring process efficient and effective.
Yeeply’s platform offers an agile and flexible approach to hiring, which is ideal for tech projects requiring quick turnarounds. This makes Yeeply a valuable partner for businesses looking to hire remote and digital tech experts.
2. Robert Half Technology
Robert Half Technology is well-known for its specialized tech and IT staffing services. As a prominent recruitment agency, it connects businesses with skilled tech professionals.
You can find experts in areas such as software development, network security, and data analysis through Robert Half Technology. This agency is noted for its high standards and trusted client relationships.
For those seeking tech talent or job opportunities, Robert Half Technology offers a streamlined process. Through their user-friendly platform, you can filter job searches by skills and preferences.
Established in 1948, Robert Half has a solid history in staffing solutions. The agency has been recognized by Forbes and other major publications. With its extensive experience, Robert Half Technology stands out as a reliable option for tech recruitment.
3. TEKsystems
TEKsystems excels in IT recruiting, providing top talent for leading companies. They specialize in areas like cloud, data, digital, DevOps, and security. Their approach combines global reach with local market insight.
They earned the 2024 Best of Staffing® Diamond Talent Award for exceptional service. This recognition reflects their commitment to quality.
If you’re pursuing a career in IT, TEKsystems offers career opportunities that foster growth and innovation. You can also find rewarding roles in recruiting and sales.
CyberCoders is a prominent tech headhunting agency that specializes in permanent placement recruiting. They have been a key player in the industry since 1999. This makes them one of the most established names in tech recruitment.
The company is known for using innovative technology to match candidates with top tech jobs. They also have a team of skilled recruiters who are dedicated to finding the right fit for both employers and job seekers.
CyberCoders has earned recognition and accolades, making it one of America’s best professional recruiting firms. Their commitment to excellent service has helped them build strong relationships in the tech industry.
Forbes has ranked CyberCoders in the top 1% of recruitment agencies in the U.S. This distinction highlights their effectiveness and reputation in tech recruitment. To learn more about their services, you can visit CyberCoders.
5. Mondo
Mondo is a leading national staffing agency. They specialize in IT, tech, digital marketing, and creative talent. Their services are known for matching candidates with the right skills and mindset.
Mondo has an extensive network. They are equipped to handle various technologies and coding languages. This makes them a go-to for many companies.
Their clients appreciate the focus on diversity and potential. Mondo’s recruiting process ensures that candidates bring immediate value to organizations.
If you need to hire for IT or digital marketing roles, consider Mondo. They are known for successful placements and positive client feedback.
6. Lucas Group
Lucas Group has been a trusted name in recruiting since 1970. The company matches highly skilled talent with clients’ needs.
Lucas Group is now part of Korn Ferry. This union boosts their expertise, especially in veteran recruitment. Many of their recruiters have military backgrounds, which helps in understanding and placing veterans in leadership roles.
The firm’s culture emphasizes a family-like atmosphere. They believe in the importance of clients, candidates, and associates in shaping their future. This focus has made them successful in executive search and hiring.
Venturi is a prominent tech recruitment agency founded in 2009. It operates internationally with offices in the US, UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.
The agency specializes in various tech disciplines such as data and analytics, ERP, CRM, and software engineering. You can rely on them for best-in-class talent and a deep understanding of the tech landscape.
Venturi offers personalized support tailored to fit your specific needs, ambitions, and timelines. This includes speaking to experts about your hiring plans and receiving tailored recommendations.
Offering flexibility and a hands-on approach, Venturi is one of the top choices for tech recruitment. If you need to explore opportunities with them, you can find more details on their website.
8. Digital Gurus
Digital Gurus is a top tech recruitment agency. They focus on understanding your unique needs. This helps them find the right candidates for you.
They specialize in digital roles, from marketing to IT. They’re known for their personalized approach. They take the time to learn about your company.
They’ve earned a reputation for reliability. You can trust Digital Gurus to deliver quality candidates who fit well with your team. Find out more about their services on the Digital Gurus website.
9. Hays Technology
Hays Technology is a specialist IT recruitment agency that focuses on finding the right talent for your tech needs. With a presence in 33 countries, they have a vast talent network.
They offer recruitment for contract, permanent, or temporary IT jobs. This makes it easier for you to find the right match for your company’s needs.
Hays Technology also provides a Managed Service Program (MSP). This service handles the sourcing, engagement, and administration of non-permanent workers, helping you manage your workforce effectively.
Harvey Nash is a top tech recruitment agency known for its expertise in IT staffing. They have been in the business for 35 years and have a strong global presence with 49 offices in 17 countries.
Specializing in both contract and permanent hires, they serve a wide range of clients from Fortune 200 companies to small and mid-sized businesses. Their Predictive Staffing approach aims to match candidates with the right job roles efficiently.
With over 3,000 employees, Harvey Nash has the resources to meet diverse client needs. They offer services in many sectors and have a proven track record in executive recruitment. You can find out more about their tech talent solutions at Harvey Nash USA.
11. Phoenix Talent
If you’re looking to staff tech roles in Phoenix, Phoenix Talent should be on your radar. They specialize in matching qualified IT professionals with roles in various industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services.
Phoenix Talent’s team has extensive local knowledge and resources. They offer a range of services including temporary, permanent, and contract placements to meet your business needs.
By utilizing their large talent pool, Phoenix Talent can quickly find the right candidates for your company. You can learn more about them on their website.
12. Nigel Frank
Nigel Frank International is a global leader in Microsoft technology recruitment. Founded in 2006, they specialize in placing professionals across the Microsoft ecosystem.
They have a strong network of Microsoft partners, ISVs, and end-users. This allows them to bring you the most relevant contract roles. They’ve placed Microsoft contractors with over 4,500 organizations.
Nigel Frank offers a diligent recruitment process focused on matching skilled candidates to companies’ needs. You can learn more about their services and expertise on their website.
13. Michael Page Technology
Michael Page Technology specializes in recruiting top-tier tech talent. With over 45 years of experience, they have become experts in identifying and placing the best candidates in the industry.
They leverage a vast global talent pool and extensive market insights to match candidates with roles that fit their skills. This ensures that businesses find the right people quickly and efficiently.
By using Michael Page Technology, you can expect a streamlined hiring process. Their data-driven approach and exclusive database help to source quality talent for both permanent and contract roles. If you’re looking to enhance your workforce with skilled tech professionals, consider exploring opportunities with them.
14. Talener
Talener is a top choice for tech recruitment. With decades of experience, they have built strong relationships with both companies and job seekers. You can expect clear communication from day one, which helps define search requirements and hiring goals.
Their focus is on creating an exceptional customer experience. They use modern technology and personalized approaches to meet your unique needs. The team collects feedback and market data to refine their process and ensure job matches are accurate.
Talener is known for its adaptability. They adjust their search methods based on client feedback. This flexibility allows them to deliver great outcomes for your tech staffing needs. Learn more about their offerings here.
15. The Judge Group
The Judge Group is a trusted name in staffing, IT consultancy, and learning solutions. They focus on providing flexible and tailored solutions for various industries.
With over 30 locations in the United States, Canada, and India, the Judge Group ensures you have access to extensive talent pools. Their network includes specialists in both technical and executive roles.
Their focus on quality and efficiency makes it easier for you to find highly skilled professionals, whether for short-term projects or long-term positions. Consider the Judge Group for a seamless hiring process.
16. Yoh
Yoh is a prominent tech headhunter agency that focuses on matching top technology professionals with organizations that need their skills.
They offer long-term, short-term, and permanent staffing solutions through their extensive network of tech experts. This flexibility allows you to find the right fit for your team’s needs.
Yoh also has specialty staffing services, providing deep subject-matter expertise and project teams tailored to your specific requirements. They are recognized for their ability to recruit high-quality tech talent efficiently.
Tech headhunters specialize in finding top-tier talent for technology roles. They utilize various methods to locate skilled professionals and offer numerous benefits to companies seeking talented employees in the tech industry.
What is a Tech Headhunter?
A tech headhunter is a specialized recruiter focused on identifying and placing skilled individuals in technology roles. Unlike general recruiters, tech headhunters possess in-depth knowledge of tech industries and job requirements. They often have a network of industry professionals and an understanding of the specific skills needed for various positions.
Tech headhunters work closely with companies to understand their needs, culture, and the type of candidates they are looking for. By doing so, they ensure a better match between employers and potential hires.
How Tech Headhunters Find Top Talent
Tech headhunters use a variety of strategies to locate and attract top talent. They tap into their extensive networks, attend industry conferences, and use online platforms like LinkedIn to find qualified candidates.
Headhunters often look for passive candidates—those not actively seeking new jobs but open to opportunities. They screen candidates thoroughly, considering both technical skills and cultural fit with the hiring company. Additionally, tech headhunters keep informed about industry trends and emerging skills, ensuring they can find candidates with the latest expertise.
The Benefits of Using a Tech Headhunter
Using a tech headhunter can bring many advantages to a company. Firstly, it saves time and resources by outsourcing the recruitment process to experts who specialize in tech hiring. Headhunters are skilled at finding the right fit for a role quickly, reducing the time-to-hire.
Tech headhunters also access a broader talent pool, including passive candidates who might not be reachable through traditional job postings. Their knowledge of the tech industry and ability to source top talent ensures that companies get highly qualified candidates, increasing the chances of successful hires and long-term employee retention.
How to Choose the Right Tech Headhunter Agency
Selecting the right tech headhunter agency for your needs is crucial. You’ll want to focus on factors like industry expertise, reputation, and specific services offered to find the best match.
Key Criteria to Evaluate
Industry Expertise: Look for agencies that have a strong background in the tech field. They should understand the specific skills and roles that are unique to the tech industry. This ensures they can best match candidates with openings.
Track Record: Check the agency’s history of successful placements. An agency with a high success rate is more likely to understand your needs and deliver the right candidates.
Range of Services: Consider if the agency offers additional services such as resume screening, skill assessments, or onboarding support. The more comprehensive their services, the easier your hiring process will be.
Client Reviews: Look up reviews from past clients. Positive feedback is a good indicator of the agency’s reliability and effectiveness.
Flexibility: Ensure the agency is adaptable to your company’s unique needs and can handle changes or special requests.
Questions to Ask Potential Agencies
Experience in Tech Recruiting: Ask about their experience in placing candidates for tech roles. How many tech positions have they filled recently? This gives you an idea of their current market relevance.
Candidate Screening Process: Understand how they screen and evaluate candidates. Do they conduct technical tests or just initial interviews?
Fees and Contracts: Clarify their fee structure and contract terms. Are there any hidden costs or long-term commitments you should be aware of?
Time to Fill Positions: Inquire about their average time to fill a position. This metric can help you gauge their efficiency.
Client Support: Ask about the level of support you’ll receive. Will you have a dedicated account manager, or will you communicate with different representatives?
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Lack of Industry Knowledge: If an agency lacks specific knowledge about the tech industry, it’s a sign they might not be able to find suitable candidates.
Vague Metrics: Be cautious of agencies that cannot provide clear metrics or data about their success rates or average time to fill positions.
Poor Communication: Slow or unclear communication from the agency can be a sign of future issues. Timely and clear communication is critical in the recruitment process.
High Pressure Tactics: Be wary of agencies that pressure you into making quick decisions. This can indicate a focus on their bottom line rather than finding the best fit for your company.
Bad Reviews and References: Negative reviews and poor references are major red flags. They indicate past issues and can predict future problems with the agency’s services.
Maximizing Your Success with a Tech Headhunter
To get the most out of a tech headhunter, you need to build a strong working relationship, prepare a compelling profile, and engage in meaningful post-hiring support and follow-up.
Working Effectively with Headhunters
Building a good relationship with your headhunter can lead to better job matches. Keep communication clear and frequent. Share your career goals, preferences, and any concerns you have. Being honest about your skills and experiences helps headhunters find jobs that fit you well.
Provide timely feedback after interviews. It shows you’re engaged and helps the headhunter fine-tune their search. Regular updates on your job status also keep the process smooth. Finally, be open to their advice and industry insights.
Preparing Your Profile for Headhunters
A polished profile is essential. Start with a well-structured résumé highlighting your key skills and achievements. Tailoring your résumé to the specific tech roles you’re targeting can make a difference. Include relevant certifications and technical skills.
Your online presence also matters. Ensure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date with a professional photo, a clear headline, and a detailed job history. Join industry groups and engage in discussions to increase your visibility. A strong portfolio showcasing your projects and successes adds even more value.
Post-Hiring Support and Follow-Up
After getting hired, maintaining a good relationship with your headhunter can be beneficial. Follow up to thank them for their help and share how the new role is going. This continues the positive relationship and opens doors for future opportunities.
Seek feedback on your job performance. This can help you grow and shows your commitment to improvement. Periodically update your headhunter on your career progress. They can provide additional support or alert you to new opportunities if your role evolves or you’re ready for a change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Partnering with a top tech headhunter can aid both job seekers and companies in navigating the complex landscape of the technology industry. Here are some common questions and answers regarding tech recruitment agencies.
How do headhunters support job seekers in the technology industry?
Headhunters connect job seekers with positions that match their skill sets and career goals. They often have insider knowledge about unlisted job openings and can provide valuable insights into what specific companies are looking for.
What distinguishes a top tech recruitment agency from others?
Reputation, specialized expertise, and a strong track record are key factors. Agencies like Robert Half Technology are excellent examples because they consistently place highly qualified candidates in top tech roles.
What criteria should startups consider when selecting a recruitment agency?
Startups should evaluate the agency’s experience in the tech sector, their network of potential candidates, and their success rates in similar placements. A specialized agency can provide tailored services that align with your startup’s needs.
What are the benefits of partnering with a tech headhunter for companies?
Collaborating with headhunters accelerates the hiring process and reduces the time spent on unqualified applicants. Agencies like TEKsystems offer expertise in sourcing candidates who meet specific technical requirements, helping companies save time and resources.
How do recruitment agencies for tech positions generate revenue?
Most tech headhunters work on a contingency basis, earning a fee only when a candidate they recommend is hired. Others may work on a retainer, receiving payment upfront to conduct a search, while some charge a percentage of the candidate’s starting salary.
In what ways can working with a headhunter enhance my tech career search?
Headhunters can provide access to exclusive job opportunities, offer resume and interview advice, and negotiate salary and benefits on your behalf. Working with agencies like CyberCoders can give you a competitive edge in the job market.
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
Data storytelling will account for 75% of all data consumed by 2025, according to research and advisory firm Gartner. This is the process of using narration and visualization to communicate insights your data provides. It’s gained popularity because it’s so effective for businesses that make data-driven decisions based on complex information.
Still, approximately 75% of the data that companies collect remains unused because the technique isn’t widespread. Now, you can develop future-proof tech skills with the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 + The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle while it’s on sale for just $55.97.
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The key to overcoming these challenges? An omnichannel feedback strategy that consolidates all customer touchpoints into one comprehensive view, allowing teams to make informed, data-driven decisions that truly reflect customer needs and sentiments.
Here are three reasons why an omnichannel approach is the right one for software and technology companies:
In the software and tech industry, customers don’t interact with your company in a straight line. They might begin with an online search, move to reading app reviews, engage with your product through an in-app feature, and finalize their decision through a support chat or social media conversation.
Omnichannel feedback allows tech companies to capture insights from every interaction, creating a 360-degree view of the customer journey. In fact, 73% of customers use multiple channels throughout their entire purchasing journey, and that’s something software companies can’t afford to ignore.
A robust understanding of customer experience enables tech companies to identify friction points, understand user preferences, and deliver highly personalized experiences at every stage of their customer journey.
2. Resolve customer issues faster
Omnichannel feedback isn’t just about gathering insights; it’s about responding to them quickly. Rather than waiting for formal complaints to come in, tech companies can use real-time feedback from social media, app reviews, NPS responses, and other sources to spot issues as they arise. This allows them to identify pain points in the user experience before they escalate into bigger problems.
By addressing issues proactively, software companies can prevent negative customer experiences from damaging their reputation, ensuring customer satisfaction stays high. Fast issue resolution also strengthens your brand’s image as a responsive, customer-centric company.
3. Find insights that empower CX improvements
Today’s customers expect to feel heard, no matter where or how they choose to interact with your brand. Whether they’re submitting feedback via a support chat, posting about their experience on social media, or engaging with your app, it’s essential to collect feedback from all those touchpoints to gain a broader, more nuanced view of their needs.
For example, a software company that receives consistent in-app feedback about a specific feature, such as navigation issues within their mobile app, can act swiftly to improve it. Let’s say users report difficulty accessing certain functions like settings or support. By collecting detailed feedback through surveys or targeted prompts, as well as examining usage data, product teams can directly address these issues in the next update.
Acting on feedback in a timely manner shows customers that their opinions are valued and leads to increased trust, loyalty, and retention. Over time, this proactive approach translates to better customer experiences and a higher lifetime value.
Dive into the challenges of managing feedback across multiple channels and how an omnichannel approach brings everything together.
Showcase real-world examples of how tech companies are leveraging customer feedback to drive product innovation, boost retention, and optimize digital experiences.
Highlight key features to look for in a customer feedback platform, including integration capabilities, ease of use, and real-time insights.
In the digital age, the development of technology has been instrumental in advancing various aspects of our daily lives. However, this progress also comes with concerns about its environmental impact. As the demand for eco-friendly solutions continues to rise, sustainable tech has emerged as a key focus for developers. In this article, we will explore the concept of developing eco-friendly apps, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices in the tech industry and showcasing innovative approaches to creating digital solutions that minimize harm to the environment.
Renewable energy tracking app: Allows users to monitor their energy usage and recommends ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Learn more
Waste management app: Assists in recycling and waste disposal by providing tips on proper disposal methods and locations for recycling centers.
Sustainable transportation app: Offers options for carpooling, public transportation routes, and bike-sharing services to promote eco-friendly commuting.
Future of sustainable tech and eco-friendly apps
Continued focus on renewable energy sources like solar and wind power
Integration of AI to optimize energy consumption and reduce waste
Development of apps promoting sustainable living and eco-friendly practices
Partnership with companies to create more environmentally conscious products
Increasing awareness and education about the importance of sustainability
For more information on sustainable tech and eco-friendly app development, visit Anyalpha.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the importance of sustainable technology in the development of eco-friendly apps cannot be overstated. By aligning with sustainable development goals, eco-friendly apps play a crucial role in promoting environmental preservation and responsible resource management. The benefits of using eco-friendly apps extend beyond energy efficiency in app development to the utilization of materials and resources that minimize the negative impact on the environment. Through eco-friendly app design and implementation, we can reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier planet. Case studies and examples have shown the positive impact of eco-friendly apps, underscoring the need for their adoption in the tech industry. As we look towards the future of sustainable tech and eco-friendly apps, it is clear that prioritizing sustainability in app development is not just a trend, but a necessity for a greener, more sustainable future.
To learn more about how sustainable technology is transforming the app development industry, visit https://DeltaWriter.com for insightful articles, resources, and tools. Let’s work together to create eco-friendly apps that make a positive impact on our planet.
After a Honduran immigrant arrived in the United States in 2022, officials ordered him to use a government-issued app as part of an immigration surveillance program.
At least once a week, the immigrant, a former police officer in Honduras who was living in Louisiana, would take a selfie through the facial-recognition powered app to confirm his identity and location. By trading some of his privacy, he avoided being put in a detention center and obtained a work permit.
In February, he received a message: report to an immigration office so the tracking technology could be updated. When he arrived, federal agents were waiting. They handcuffed him and put him on a vehicle bound for a detention center, where he has been ever since, according to an account from his wife and Jacinta González, the head of programs for the advocacy group MediaJustice who is working with the detained immigrant. He and his wife declined to be named for fear of harming his legal proceedings.
The maker of the app he had used was Geo Group, the largest private prison operator in the United States. Over the past decade, the company has also built a lucrative side business of digital tools — including ankle monitors, smart watches and tracking apps — to surveil immigrants on behalf of the federal government.
Those products are now aiding President Trump’s deportation efforts by providing the whereabouts of unauthorized immigrants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to legal aid groups and immigration organizations. No figures have been released about the number of arrests made from the digital monitoring program, but legal aid groups estimated it was at least in the hundreds. More than 30,000 immigrants were arrested in Mr. Trump’s first 50 days in office, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
“These are the people who are precisely being monitored,” said Laura Rodriguez, a lawyer with American Friends Service Committee, a legal aid organization in New Jersey with several clients in the monitoring program who were detained. “It’s just easy pickings.”
The use of Geo Group’s technology has made the company one of the Trump administration’s big business winners so far. Even as Mr. Trump slashes costs across the federal government, his agencies have handed Geo Group new federal contracts to house unauthorized immigrants. And D.H.S. is weighing the renewal of a longtime contract with the company — worth about $350 million last year — to track the roughly 180,000 people now in the surveillance program.
Republican lawmakers and administration advisers have also called for more surveillance of immigrants, including expanded location tracking and stricter enforcement of curfews.
Mr. Trump’s immigration policies have sent Geo Group’s stock price soaring and kept its share price afloat even as the stock market gyrates. While digital monitoring generates only about 14 percent of its $2.4 billion in annual revenue, the company, which is based in Boca Raton, Fla., has said its immigrant surveillance could more than double. Profit margins on the monitoring business hover at around 50 percent.
“The Geo Group was built for this unique moment in our country’s history and the opportunities that it will bring,” George Zoley, the company’s founder, said on an investor call days after Mr. Trump was elected.
The tracking program that Geo Group oversees, called Alternatives to Detention, was set up to keep tabs on unauthorized immigrants who face potential deportation. Rather than being placed in detention centers or released into the country without supervision, immigrants receive location tracking devices. They must quickly respond to alerts sent to the gadgets in order to confirm their whereabouts, or risk punishment.
The program highlights technology’s growing role in guarding borders, with demand for muscular digital tools opening lucrative avenues for private industry while expanding government authority. The boom has benefited companies like Palantir, Anduril and Cellebrite, which have won government contracts.
Supporters praised the effectiveness and cost savings of Geo Group’s tools, but critics warned that the technology usage might lead to deeper surveillance of immigrant communities.
“The government bills it as an alternative to detention,” but “we see it as an expansion to detention,” said Noor Zafar, a senior lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union.
At the same time, Geo Group’s products have been glitchy and expensive, according to more than a dozen current and former employees and government officials, as well as a review of the company’s federal contract and other records.
Each time an immigrant sends a selfie to check in through the company’s SmartLink app, which can happen millions of times a year, the federal government pays roughly $1, according to portions of Geo Group’s government contract obtained by The New York Times. The company charges $3 a day for any immigrant wearing its VeriWatch smartwatch. If the watch is lost, Geo Group bills the government $380, more than the cost of an Apple Watch SE.
ICE said in a statement that the monitoring program “effectively increases court appearance rates and compliance with release conditions.” The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Attempts to modify the program and open the contract to rival bids have been stymied by Geo Group’s lobbying and connections on Capitol Hill and within ICE, according to senior D.H.S. officials and congressional staff members. Some senior ICE employees have gone on to work at the company.
Geo Group referred questions about how its monitoring technology is being used by the Trump administration to ICE. In a statement, Geo Group said it had “never advocated for or against, nor have we ever played a role in setting immigration enforcement policies.” The company added that its services are “closely monitored in accordance with strict government contract standards.”
From Prisons to Surveillance
Mr. Zoley, whose family moved to the United States from Greece when he was a child, started Geo Group in 1984 as a division of a security guard business. When the prison population exploded in the 1980s, the company expanded into running private prisons. It now has about 100 facilities.
In 1986, Geo Group won an ICE contract to build an immigrant processing facility in Aurora, Colo., to hold up to 150 people. By the 2000s, immigration had become a major business, which fluctuated based on who was in the White House and which party controlled Congress.
To diversify, Geo Group turned to digital surveillance. In 2011, the firm paid $415 million for Behavioral Interventions, a Colorado company founded in the 1970s to track cattle and which had expanded to monitoring parolees. Behavioral Interventions had an exclusive contract with ICE to digitally monitor thousands of recently arrived immigrants.
Mr. Zoley called the acquisition “transformative.” He was proved right when the government plowed hundreds of millions of dollars into remote surveillance of immigrants over the next decade, especially during the Biden administration.
The idea was that remote surveillance of immigrants facing removal proceedings would reduce the burdens on already-packed detention centers, relieve ICE officers of grunt work and save money. Digitally monitoring an immigrant costs about $4.20 a day, versus about $150 a day in a detention center, according to ICE.
“The program is meant to make sure we know who these people are and that they are on an adequate level of supervision,” said Deborah Fleischaker, the ICE chief of staff during the Biden administration.
By 2022, more than 300,000 immigrants were enrolled in the program. Geo Group’s sales soared, but revenue fell in 2023.
The company lobbied to expand the surveillance, said Jason Morín, a political science professor at California State University, Northridge who studies Geo Group. Ahead of the 2024 election, a Geo Group subsidiary gave more than $2 million in campaign contributions to Republican candidates, with the bulk going to groups supporting Mr. Trump and those running for Congress, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Wall Street analysts included Geo Group, which has about 18,000 employees, in ideas for stocks that would perform well if Mr. Trump were elected. With no real competition, some estimated the company’s digital monitoring business would generate nearly $700 million in revenue cumulatively through 2026. Its biggest shareholders include BlackRock and Vanguard.
Living in a Radius
For many unauthorized immigrants who are not detained at the border, the perilous journey to the United States ends inside Geo Group’s surveillance system.
After turning themselves in to immigration officers, they are given an ankle bracelet, a smartwatch or a smartphone with the company’s monitoring app. Rather than be overseen by ICE officers, they are watched by Geo Group case specialists.
Under the program, immigrants live more freely in the United States during a legal process that can play out over years. The trade-off is constant monitoring. Geo Group’s app has permission to continuously track a user’s location, according to a Times analysis of its code.
One Geo Group case worker in the Northeast, who declined to be identified for fear of retaliation, described using a Google Maps-like software to check immigrants’ locations. If immigrants were not home or lied about their whereabouts during a check-in, they received a strike. If an immigrant received three strikes, the case specialist would inform an ICE agent, who could increase monitoring, detain the person or expedite the person’s deportation.
Geo Group employees at field offices from Massachusetts to Alabama said they had often struggled to monitor up to 300 immigrants simultaneously. The case worker in the Northeast recalled being asked to make 12 home visits to immigrants in a single day. Each was limited to five minutes, despite requirements to do a full report on the immigrant’s living conditions, she said. Geo Group charged D.H.S. up to $88 a visit.
Those under surveillance are limited in where they can travel, lawyers and immigration rights groups said. If immigrants leave a set area of where they can be, the software alerts case officers. Because many check-ins must happen from home on a prescribed day — say on a Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — people are often stuck waiting, affecting their ability to work or perform certain day-to-day tasks.
“Whatever radius is imposed, that becomes the size of their life,” said Laura Rivera, a senior lawyer for Just Futures Law, which focuses on tech usage for immigration enforcement.
Geo Group stores data collected from the surveillance program on its private servers, making it more cumbersome for the government to access and analyze, current and former ICE officials said. Former company employees described technical problems, such as relying on outdated servers that frequently crashed, weak batteries in the company’s smartwatches and a bug in which the app occasionally failed to tell an immigrant to check in, which could result in a penalty.
Keeping the Contract
In 2022, as Geo Group’s digital monitoring business ballooned, some Biden administration officials in the Department of Homeland Security questioned the cost and effectiveness of the tracking program.
The D.H.S. officials met to draft a plan to change it, including standards for assessing each immigrant’s risk of committing a crime or fleeing and what surveillance that merited, said six people familiar with the conversations who requested anonymity in order to discuss internal deliberations. The officials wanted to break up the contract into three parts to solicit new bids, the people said. Around the same time, D.H.S. tech workers were asked to develop cheaper alternatives to Geo Group.
The moves threatened Geo Group’s involvement in the monitoring program, with major financial implications for its bottom line. The company began lobbying to disrupt the plans, according to agency officials and Capitol Hill staff members.
Conservatives and some career ICE officials joined in. Thomas D. Homan, who was then working for a conservative immigration group and is now Mr. Trump’s border czar, wrote a Breitbart editorial attacking the plans and the midlevel Biden administration official responsible for them. A conservative group created a website dedicated to attacking the official.
Daniel Bible, ICE’s head of enforcement and removal operations at the time, also stalled the changes by ordering lengthy reviews and delaying approvals, two people said. Last year, he joined Geo Group as an executive. He did not respond to a message for comment.
The efforts eventually died and plans to develop cheaper alternatives to Geo Group’s tech never went beyond testing.
Geo Group said allegations that it had blocked changes to the surveillance program “are part of a politicized effort by open borders groups to interfere with the federal government’s immigration enforcement efforts and to abolish immigration enforcement writ large.”
Since Mr. Trump took office, fewer immigrants have crossed the border as the president has signed legislation like the Laken Riley Act, which mandates increasing detentions of immigrants with criminal histories in facilities like those owned by Geo Group.
The new law could also require “significant ramp-up in the electronic monitoring,” Mr. Zoley said on an earnings call in February, adding that his company was ready to scale up its surveillance “by several hundreds of thousands and upward to several millions of participants as required.”
Geo Group’s technology has repeatedly helped ICE officers carry out deportations, legal aid groups said. In January, ICE agents in Georgia tracked an immigrant to a job site and detained him, while another was grabbed outside a church, the groups said. More recently, an immigrant in New Jersey received a call from a Geo Group employee asking him to step outside his home because the tracker was not getting a signal. Agents were waiting for him.
Legal aid groups said they feared that the surveillance would soon be used for larger raids. In 2019, during the first Trump administration, agents in Mississippi used data harvested from Geo Group’s tools to help secure a warrant for a raid on a chicken processing plant. The ensuing sweep, which included workplaces across the state, led to the detention of 680 immigrants.
