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The skies over New York City may soon get even more crowded as electric air taxi company Archer Aviation is planning to launch a network that connects the citys major and regional airports with vertiports in Manhattan. The company, which is teaming up with United Airlines for the effort, announced the plans on Thursday. It hopes to connect Manhattan with six airports in the areaLaGuardia, JFK, Newark, and regional airports, Republic, Teterboro, and Westchesterwith flights as short as five minutes. Archer’s Midnight aircraft could save passengers hours when trying to get between those airports or the three vertiports in Manhattan, according to the company. And the partnership with United Airlines would allow travelers to book those flights as a sort of add-on to their traditional inbound or outbound flight from one of the participating airports. For example, if you live in Manhattan and are booking a United flight out of JFK, you can book a flight from the Downtown Skyport to JFK as part of the booking process. [Image: Archer Aviation] The New York City air taxi network is the third such network in the U.S. that Archer has announced so far, with the other two being in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Archer Aviation CCO Nikhil Goel says that the company is currently working out the final details of getting those networks online with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). There arent too many steps left, Goel says, adding that Midnight air taxis could be flying people around New York, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area as soon as next year. Looking up If and when regulatory all the regulatory hurdles will be cleared is anyone’s guess, but should that day come, Archer may not be the only player soaring above the Big Apple. Its competitor Joby Aviation is also planning to launch service in New York City, even showing off its aircraft at an event in Grand Central Terminal late last year. Theres also the potential that the networks could expand. Well start with nine nodes in the New York area, Goel says. Thats the three vertiports in Manhattan, the three major airports, and the three regionalsthat covers a very large percentage of the people who live and work in the metropolitan area. When Archer gets a better sense of where more demand for its flights lies, it could expand to other nodes in the area, and the same goes for other cities, too. As for pricing, Goel says that the goal is to get to a place where air taxi flights are priced similarly to an Uber ride. For now, the goal is to open and speed up transit options, according to Adam Goldstein, Archers founder and CEO. “[The] drive from Manhattan to any of these airports can be painful, taking one, sometimes two hours,” Goldstein said in a statement. “We want to change that by giving residents and visitors the option to complete trips in mere minutes.”
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E-Commerce
I founded my company nearly two decades ago. As a bootstrapper, it was initially just me, but soon enough we grew to a dozen people, then a few dozen, then a hundred, and so on. In the early days, I remember feeling confident in my hard skills, like product development and growth strategy. But soft skills were uncharted territory. So I did what you do: practiced the tough conversations and speeches in front of the mirror. It helpedpreparation is half the battlebut sometimes I imagine how much faster my leadership skills would have developed if I had real-time feedback. Thats one of the features of AI-powered leadership platforms. For todays businesses, leadership training is more important than ever. Cornell Tech lecturer Keith Cowing recently noted that simply completing tasks will hold less value in an AI-driven future, while judgment and leadership will become increasingly critical. He added that those with strong judgment will be significantly more rewarded than those who rely solely on task execution. Its no wonder that tech giants and startups alike are tossing their hats into this burgeoning AI industry, from LinkedIn Learnings AI-powered coaching to newer arrivals like CodeSignal and Tenor. As CEO of Jotform, Im leveraging these training tools myself, but Im even more excited to see how they will help executives and employees at all levels to advance in their careers. Heres a closer look at the power of AI-powered leadership training. A more effective way to develop essential skills For enterprises across the globe, soft skills are more important than ever. According to the World Economic Forums The Future of Jobs Report 2025, leadership and social influence are among the top three core skills required by employers, highlighting the rising importance of human-centric abilities in the rapidly evolving job market. While out-of-the-box training solutions often fall short (and can be less than stimulating), AI-powered leadership training offers tailored, hands-on learning experiences. You can work on the skills and address the challenges unique to your position and organization. CodeSignals AI-powered Conversation Simulation solution, for example, leverages generative AI and voice models to create realistic conversational partners. Users engage in dynamic conversations with AI partners and simulate potential situations. They can practice invaluable skills like delivering feedback, active listening, and conflict resolution. Its the next best thing to real-world practice. While the AI-powered leadership development platform Tenor offers training in common scenarios, users can also work with the company to develop organization-specific situations and incorporate their companys distinctive leadership philosophies. Traditional leadership training modules often feel more like staged performances than genuine learning experiences. Imagine standing in front of your peers, tasked with role-playing a difficult conversation. For some, its an engaging exercise. For others, its an exercise in self-consciousness. (Like that time I had the brilliant idea of enrolling in an improv comedy classnot my most comfortable experience.) The beauty of AI-powered leadership training is that it removes this pressure. Instead of performing for an audience, youre practicing with an AI partnerfree from judgment, free to focus on developing real skills. At Jotform, we take an automation-first approach: If a process can be automated, we do it. If a solution scales, even better. AI-powered leadership training embodies both principles. Its accessible to employees at every levelfrom top executives and middle managers to ambitious entry-level employees. And because its scalable, as your company grows, more employees can tap into these resources, building a steady pipeline of future leaders. Best of all, AI-driven programs are often more cost-effective than traditional leadership workshops, making high-quality training available without breaking the bank. AI is transforming leadership training by making it more adaptive, personalized, and scalable. These platforms dont just offer cookie-cutter lessons. They analyze individual strengths and weaknesses, consider your companys unique circumstances, and provide tailored simulations and real-time feedback. Todays most successful leaders arent just keeping up with the latest AI advancementstheyre using it to boost their decision-making, innovation, and learning. By combining AI-driven tools and traditional training methods, companies can develop stronger, more prepared leaders who are ready to navigate as fast-changing business landscape.
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E-Commerce
More than 60,000 federal workers were dismissed during the first two months of the Trump administration with more staff reductions expected in the coming months. Many are mid-career employees who have worked for the government for a decade or more, making it more challenging for them to make the case that their skills are transferrable to the private sector. Its an identity shift, says Arianny Mercedes, founder of Revamped, a New York City-based career consultancy. For many of these professionals, their roles werent just jobs; they were commitments to public service, she says. When someones identity is deeply tied to government service, being laid off or pivoting into a new industry can feel like losing a part of themselves, she adds. However, experts agree that mid-career, federal employees who suddenly find themselves looking for new roles have much to offer the private sector, including institutional knowledge and emotional maturity. Here are five ways they can position themselves for private sector jobs. Related: 3 tips for federal workers who are scrambling to find new jobs Translate the jargon Many federal employees have robust leadership, policy, operations, and compliance experience, but most need help translating what they do into private sector language, says Carol Kaemmerer, president and principal at Kaemmerer Group LLC, an executive branding and coaching firm in Minneapolis. Federal employees have valuable skills, but they are often hidden behind their bureaucratic titles and government jargon, Mercedes says. For instance, federal employees with titles like procurement officer, program manager and policy analyst possess valuable skills like critical thinking, risk mitigation and stakeholder navigation. When writing a resumé, its essential to replace bureaucratic jargon with business-friendly terms. For instance, talk about your experience with strategic operations instead of policy execution, or refer to your cross-functional leadership or instead of inter-agency collaboration, says Caroline Geraghty, a client account manager at 110 North, The Creative Agency in Charlotte, N.C. Business-friendly terms will help hiring managers and recruiter connect the dots between your experience and their hiring needs, she says. Leverage your unique skill set Spend some time identifying the types of problems youre highly skilled at solving and then research which private sector company roles seek to solve the same types of problems, says Becca Carnahan, founder of Next Chapter Career, LLC in Boston. For example, if in your federal job, you created processes to improve efficiency then you might want to look at operation manager roles. If you were known for building unexpected partnerships, then perhaps look at business development roles. Identify and then leverage your unique skill set, Kaemmerer says. As a former federal employee, your superpower might be helping companies to navigate federal regulations and government relations, she says. Clarify the one thing you do better than 95% of peopleand articulate how that fills a pressing need in the team or project youre targeting, says Sylvana Rochet, an executive and transition coach at Elan Vital. For instance, federal employees often excel at building consensus among stakeholders with conflicting agendas. That mix of diplomacy and influence is highly valued by the private sector, she says. Focus on outcomes Rather than listing job duties and tasks on your resumé, emphasize the outcomes you achieved at your federal agency. Private employers dont understand the skill-coding system that is pervasive in the federal workforce, but they do understand outcomes, says Jason Leverant, president and COO of staffing firm AtWork Group. State your key accomplishments in plain language and highlight the impact those achievements had on your organizations success, he says. For instance, instead of saying you updated 70 Standard Operating Procedures, explain how you helped to improve operational efficiency or saved the agency time and money. Many mid-career federal employees manage multi-million-dollar budgets, lead teams and navigate complex compliance issues. All of these skills are highly transferable when framed properly, says Tristan Layfield, principal career coach at Career Clarity Solutions in Detroit. Talk about the size of your team, the dollar value of your budget and the number of strategic partners you worked with, he says. Become a better storyteller In the private sector, storytelling is strategic currency, Mercedes says. Practice telling hiring managers your story by creating narratives around your impact and adaptability, she advises. Private sector hiring managers often assume federal candidates cant keep up in faster-paced environments, when the reality is most government professionals have been doing more with less for years but they havent had to tell that story, according to Mercedes. Layfield agrees that one of the biggest challenges facing federal workers is combating the perception that they are too siloed or inflexible. Position yourself as an adaptable, data-driven problem solvers with a unique understanding of policy and systems thinking, he says. Leverage your professional networks Networking is essential when seeking private-sector jobs. About 70% of jobs are found through social and professional networks, so its important to engage with industry groups, be active on LinkedIn, and attend networking events. Connect with former government colleagues who may have already transitioned into the private sector to ask for guidance and referrals, Geraghty suggests. With the right guidance and strategic positioning, federal professionals can make powerful transitions, Kaemmerer says.
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E-Commerce
A new watchdog report uncovers Facebook groups quietly fueling a black market for operational Uber and DoorDash accounts, posing serious safety concerns for riders and customers. The Tech Transparency Project (TTP), a research initiative run by the nonprofit the Campaign for Accountability, found more than 80 black market groups through searches for terms such as uber account for rent. Sporting a combined membership of more than 800,000 users and named things like Uber Delivery Drivers Account For Rent or UBER ACCOUNT FOR RENT WORLDWIDE, these groups make no secret of their intent. Through these online groups, users can acquire delivery or rideshare accounts without going through the required screening process, allowing those without licenses or insurance to drive for these companies. By bypassing the screening procedure, buyers can also skip the required background checks for drivers. For women or people who may be vulnerable, if the person making a delivery or picking somebody up via Uber has a criminal history, there is an increased risk to those users, TTP Director Katie Paul says. Paul says that this concern is only the latest content moderation issue in a broader pattern with Facebook and Meta. Past TTP reports have documented a thriving black market for Facebook business accounts, revealing how the platformwhich has over three billion active users worldwide, according to recent financial filingsis being exploited for scams and potential election interference. This latest TTP report comes as Meta already faces fresh criticism for scaling back third-party fact-checking in January and shifting more responsibility to users to flag harmful content. That decision coincided with Metas launch of the Community Notes feature, which essentially relies on Facebook users to moderate content and flag posts that violate community guidelines. The move was met with widespread backlash, particularly given that it was announced mere weeks before President Donald Trumps inauguration. According to Paul, though, the change in moderation guidelines made little difference when it came to scams that are at the center of the latest TTP report. Paul says this recurring issue is especially prevalent on Facebook, largely because of its Group functionality. The platform relies on community moderators and administrators to police contentbut that system breaks down when the groups themselves are designed to enable scams and fraud. These have essentially become insulated communities for all kinds of nefarious activity, Paul says. Theyre not just groups where people are trying to keep their plants alive. In October 2024prior to Metas content moderation policy shiftTTP published a report on a pro-Trump scam ad network, uncovering more than 100 Facebook groups dedicated to selling business manager accounts capable of running multiple pages and ad campaigns. A similar trend was noted in a 2019 report by Talos, Ciscos cybersecurity research division, which found Facebook groups selling cyber fraud services. Some of these groups had been active for nearly eight years, their reach amplified by Facebooks content algorithm. A Meta spokesperson says the company is reviewing the report and removing content that violates guidelines. The spokesperson adds that Meta does not allow content that offers to buy, sell, or trade any personal identifiable information. The TTP report arrives as Meta stands trial for allegedly violating antitrust laws, with the Federal Trade Commission accusing the company of using a buy-or-bury strategy to eliminate competition. The case marks a major push to redefine how antitrust rules apply to tech giants, with the FTC targeting Metas high-profile acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsAppeach now boasting nearly two billion monthly active users. Meta is facing an FTC trial today about whether the platform has monopolized because its gotten so big, Paul says. If the company is not able to control its product because of its scale, it raises a lot of other questions that policymakers really should be looking into.
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E-Commerce
The world’s first commercial direct air capture plant opened in Iceland in 2021, with the capacity to remove around 4,000 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year and turn it into stone deep underground. Four years later, a new DAC plant planned in Louisiana, called Project Cypress, is designed to be 250 times largercapturing 1 million tons of CO2 a year. But supporters are now scrambling to save the project, and up to $550 million in Department of Energy funding on which its future relies. Under the Biden administration, the DOE planned to create four large new American DAC hubs, with two selected so far. In Louisiana, the project was designed to scale up two different technologies: one from Climeworks, the company behind the first plant in Iceland, and the other from Heirloom, a Silicon Valley startup that operates a plant in Californias Central Valley. Another DAC hub, in Texas, secured up to $500 million in funding from the agency. The government sent the first tranche of $50 million to both last year. Now theres a chance that neither project will happen. Last month, a leaked DOE memo suggested that the planned DAC hubs in Louisiana and Texas would lose their funding. If that happens, it will be a major challenge for either project to survive. “The whole point of the [DOE funding] is to step in when it’s too risky for the private sector to do so,” says Jessie Stolark, executive director of the Carbon Capture Coalition, a nonpartisan group of companies, unions, and environmental organizations that advocates for so-called carbon management tech. “Youve got to wonder who’s going to take that risk on. Stolark sees a very real risk that the U.S. is ceding its leadership in the energy space. She says that it’s a story that’s been played out so many times in tech advancement: The U.S. spends the money on the research and development for a technology, and then we don’t end up manufacturing or deploying the technology. It’s deployed elsewhere. Climeworks’ ‘Orca’ large-scale plant in Iceland, the world’s first. [Photo: Arnaldur Halldorsson/Bloomberg/Getty Images] Experts say DAC technology could be a meaningful part of the fight against climate change, though its still at an early stage of development. It will only ever supplement the main solution: radically curtailing greenhouse emissions across every sector of the economy, from transportation to manufacturing to housing. But the science suggests that to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we must also remove at least some of the billions of tons of CO2 that weve pumped into the atmosphere since the start of the Industrial Revolution. Congress has recognized the potential for DAC technology, and earmarked $3.5 billion in 2021s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund the DOEs hubs program, which is administered by the departments Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. The new office launched in order to run the program and support other early-stage climate tech in the private sector. Yet on his first day in office, Trump halted the payout of funds granted under both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. (He later clarified that the 90-day pause applied only to projects that are part of what the president derisively calls the “Green New Scam.”) He also tasked agencies with reviewing federal grants to assess whether they were “consistent” with his administration’s policy prioritieseven though the government already had signed legally binding contracts to disburse the funds. The planned locations for Project Cypress’s DAC facilities [Image: Project Cypress] Compounding the issue, these policy U-turns have put other sources of money at risk. Corporations that had planned to buy carbon removal credits from the DAC plants to help meet their own climate goals, including Microsoft, Amazon, and AT&T, now don’t know when or even if those credits will become available. Investors have to worry that a make-or-break chunk of funding will disappear. Banks financing the projects could get cold feet. “The uncertainty itself is damaging,” says Noah Deich, cofounder of the nonprofit Carbon180, who served as deputy assistant secretary for carbon management at the Department of Energy under Biden. “Everyone just needs clarity as quickly as possible.” Climeworks and Heirloom both declined to comment for this story. Batelle, which is overseeing the implementation of the project, didn’t respond to a request for an interview. A rendering of Heirlooms DAC Hub in Louisiana [Image: Heriloom/Project Cypress] It’s not yet a foregone conclusion that the projects are dead. After the meo leaked, a coalition of Louisiana business associations sent a letter to their D.C. representatives urging support for policies that boost carbon management. Signees included groups not known for their support of environmentalism or progressive ideals, such as the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association and the Louisiana Chemical Association. (Such support has made DAC tech controversial in some climate circles, since some industries appear to view DAC credits as an excuse to keep polluting. But help from the oil sector could also be the technologys fastest means of scaling up.) Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois sent another letter to Congress specifically advocating for Project Cypress. “Beyond the direct economic benefitsthousands of jobs and billions of dollars added to the states GDPthe project will have immense downstream impacts,” she wrote. Investing in DAC will generate demand for American-made steel, concrete, and advanced equipment, revitalizing U.S. manufacturing and ensuring that innovation and jobs remain here at home.” The project is estimated to bring around 2,300 jobs and a total investment of up to $1.7 billion to Louisiana. A report from the Rhodium Group estimates that the DAC industry as a whole has the potential to employ 55,000 people in the state, creating jobs that often appeal to people transitioning out of oil and gas. (In Texas, the planned DAC hub would bring 2,000 jobs, and the industry could attract more than 200,000 jobs.) Climeworks’ concept rendering for Project Cypress Southwest [Image: Climeworks] “What we’re seeing is that all of these projects are in really conservative districts,” says Deich. “These are the exact types of industrial and manufacturing jobs that so many of these communities have been asking for and are being delivered.” At the same time, “We’ve already seen this administration say very clearly that they don’t think climate change is a problem. And if you don’t think climate change is a problem, efforts to clean up carbon pollution from the atmosphere are not useful. That’s what’s so concerning to me.” Following lobbying efforts, a revised version of the memo leaked again. Project Cypress was no longer marked as “terminate,” sources say, but the list noted that DOE wanted more time to evaluate the project. (Funding for the Texas project was still slated for termination.) A final decision might come in the next couple of weeks, when Trump’s 90-day pause on funding disbursements expires. But even if the money survives, the projects will still face challengesincluding the fact that swaths of DOE staff have lost their jobs or accepted buyout offers, and it’s not clear who will be left at the agency to do the work. Meanwhile, some DAC projects that dont rely on massive federal grants are still moving forward, including a different large facility in Texas that’s slated to open later this year and will capture half a million tons annually. But it’s critical to launch more large projects, says Deich. The industry is aiming for a cost of $100 per ton of CO2 captured. “Everyone knows that you won’t get to that price point until you start building it at scale,” he says. “That creates the type of deployment-led innovations that you’ve seen from solar and windplaces where breakthroughs happened in the lab, initially, but then 90% of the cost reduction happened because the people who manufactured stuff figured out how to do it better.” If large projects are delayed, that means it will take longer to get down the cost curveand could make it harder to get more investments from the policy side in the future. Deich worries now that if the new hubs aren’t built now, people will think the projects didn’t move forward because the tech doesn’t work. That’s not the case. “It’s the political decisions that [could cause] the projects to fail at this point,” he says. “Not something inherent to the projects.”
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E-Commerce
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