Innovation and Technology
AI and Platforms Challenge a Key Management Theory. Again

The Boundary of the Firm
Where should a leader set the boundaries of the company? Initially, this question related to employees vs partners and relied on economic theories of transaction costs. For instance, should the leader of a company making automobiles directly employ people making engines, or should it outsource the engine (or subcomponents of it) to suppliers in a different company?
This is not a trivial or purely theoretical question. The chairman of Ford has admitted that his company struggles to build a fully electric vehicle because it has thousands of suppliers, each with its own software for its own components. Control of all parts of the business model, from manufacturing to sales, is what has allowed Tesla to break into what many considered a closed industry.
The Evolution of Firms
The general trend has been to outsource many parts of an operation so that each firm focuses on its unique competence. The result (usually) results in products of higher quality and lower cost. However, there are some notable exceptions, such as Boeing, where firms outsourced too much and proved unable to consistently integrate thousands of suppliers into a single product.
This question evolved into where new ideas should come from. Should a leader rely exclusively on employees inside of the firm to think of new innovative ideas, or should the company solicit opinions from people outside of the company’s walls? The latter, labeled "open innovation," dramatically accelerated the pace, scope, and creativity of company innovations.
Multi-Sided Platforms and AI
Multi-sided platforms changed the conventional wisdom on firm boundaries again. Expedia books more travel than any other firm in the world and yet does not own a plane, boat, car, or hotel room. Not only does it not own its own supply, it does not even control its supply. An airline can discontinue a flight route without Expedia’s consent. Or, absent a contract, a hotel can remove itself from Expedia’s inventory. This change generated a shift in research on leadership, expanding beyond advice for how a company CEO should lead employees and activities within a firm to how a company CEO should orchestrate activities with partners in an ecosystem of companies.
The proliferation of AI inside companies will propel another shift in the firm’s boundaries. Whereas open innovation brings ideas from other people inside the firm, AI brings all human knowledge to every employee, customer, and competitor. The CEO is no longer the person in the company with the most wisdom or knowledge. In many instances, the CEO’s role is first to accelerate AI adoption to improve employee productivity, second to promote thinking about how AI could improve customer offerings, and third to prioritize which AI-powered projects should proceed to implementation.
Broader Impact
Narrowing the boundaries of a firm does not just impact the firm or its supply chain. If many firms decide to move some of their existing positions "outside the company" to AI, we will see a major drop in overall employment. This part of the story is already well-known. This article shows the company-specific logic that flows into larger trends.
Conclusion
The debate about the boundaries of the firm is ongoing and will continue to evolve as AI and multi-sided platforms shape the business landscape. Leaders must be prepared to adapt and innovate in response to these changes, or risk being left behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the main point of this article?
- The main point is that the boundaries of the firm are changing due to AI and multi-sided platforms, and leaders must adapt to these changes.
- What are the implications of AI on the firm’s boundaries?
- AI brings all human knowledge to every employee, customer, and competitor, making the CEO no longer the person with the most wisdom or knowledge.
- What is the impact of AI on employment?
- If many firms decide to move some of their existing positions "outside the company" to AI, we will see a major drop in overall employment.
Innovation and Technology
Ransomware Attackers Can Brute Force Your VPNs And Firewalls

Beware the Brute Force Ransomware Attackers
Ransomware Group Create Automated VPN and Firewall Brute Force Attack Tool
Recently leaked chat logs from the Black Basta ransomware group have revealed many things, including that passwords and stolen 2FA codes are driving many attacks. That’s not exactly a shocking revelation, it has to be said. Nor, for that matter, that these stolen credentials were used in brute force credential-stuffing attacks against enterprise targets.
Newly Published Research Confirms Brute Forcing Framework
New research by Arda Büyükkaya, a cyber threat intelligence analyst at EclecticIQ, has now confirmed "a previously unknown brute forcing framework" that has been used by the Black Basta gang to automate the process of gaining access to enterprise VPNs and firewalls. The tool, called Bruted, is designed to automate the process of gaining access to enterprise VPNs and firewalls by scanning for valid hostnames and IP addresses, and then using locally generated guesses to perform bulk authentication attempts.
How Ransomware Actors Employ the Bruted Brute Force Tool
The Bruted script is written in PHP and applies specialized brute-force logic for every individual attack platform, using tailored user-agent strings, endpoint paths, and success checks. The tool works by automating subdomain enumeration and IP resolution for any given domain to scan for potentially valid hostnames and IP addresses. It reports any discovered hosts back to a remote command-and-control endpoint, and then collates likely passwords from a remote server and combines them with locally generated guesses to perform bulk authentication attempts.
Targeted Vendors and Technologies
The tool is configured to attack a range of known targets, including SonicWall NetExtender, Palo Alto GlobalProtect, Cisco AnyConnect, Fortinet SSL VPN, Citrix NetScaler (Citrix Gateway), Microsoft RDWeb, and WatchGuard SSL VPN.
Mitigation Strategies
To mitigate these ransomware attacks, Büyükkaya recommended ensuring all devices are fully patched and up to date, password and login policies are strengthened, and unnecessary services and features are disabled.
Conclusion
The rise of automated brute force attacks against enterprise VPNs and firewalls is a growing concern for organizations looking to protect themselves against ransomware attacks. The Bruted tool is a sophisticated solution that enables attackers to gain initial access to target networks and then deploy ransomware. It is essential for organizations to stay vigilant and implement robust security measures to prevent these attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Bruted tool?
A: The Bruted tool is a PHP-based brute forcing framework used by the Black Basta ransomware group to automate the process of gaining access to enterprise VPNs and firewalls.
Q: What is the purpose of the Bruted tool?
A: The purpose of the Bruted tool is to automate the process of gaining access to enterprise VPNs and firewalls by scanning for valid hostnames and IP addresses, and then using locally generated guesses to perform bulk authentication attempts.
Q: What are the targeted vendors and technologies?
A: The targeted vendors and technologies include SonicWall NetExtender, Palo Alto GlobalProtect, Cisco AnyConnect, Fortinet SSL VPN, Citrix NetScaler (Citrix Gateway), Microsoft RDWeb, and WatchGuard SSL VPN.
Innovation and Technology
The Role of AI in Creating Accessible Content: A Guide

Introduction
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, software and platforms for accessibility, diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism (DEIA) are becoming increasingly important. Creating accessible content is crucial for organizations to reach a wider audience, improve user experience, and promote inclusivity. Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a significant role in this effort, enabling the creation of more accessible and user-friendly content. In this guide, we will explore the role of AI in creating accessible content and provide practical tips for implementing AI-powered solutions in your organization.
What is Accessible Content?
Accessible content refers to content that is designed to be usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities, disabilities, or language. This includes text, images, videos, and other multimedia elements that are easily accessible and understandable by all users. Accessible content is not only a moral imperative but also a legal requirement under anti-discrimination laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
How AI Can Help Create Accessible Content
AI-powered tools can significantly improve the accessibility of digital content by automating tasks, streamlining processes, and providing insights that can inform content creation. Some of the ways AI can help create accessible content include:
1. Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Automatic Transcription
NLP algorithms can automatically transcribe audio and video content into text, making it easier for users to consume. This is particularly useful for podcasts, videos, and lectures.
2. Image Recognition and Description
AI-powered image recognition can automatically add alt text to images, making them accessible to users with visual impairments or those who prefer to browse without images.
3. Language Translation and Localization
4. Content Analysis and Recommendations
5. User Feedback and Analytics
Best Practices for Implementing AI-Powered Accessible Content
To get the most out of AI-powered accessible content, follow these best practices:
1. Define Your Goals and Objectives
Before implementing AI-powered accessible content, define your goals and objectives, such as increasing website traffic or improving user engagement.
2. Choose the Right AI Tools and Platforms
Select AI-powered tools and platforms that align with your goals and objectives, and are compatible with your content management system.
3. Train and Test Your AI Models
Train and test your AI models to ensure they are accurate and effective in creating accessible content.
4. Monitor and Analyze User Feedback
Monitor and analyze user feedback to identify areas for improvement and optimize your content accordingly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, AI has the potential to revolutionize the creation of accessible content, enabling organizations to reach a wider audience and promote inclusivity. By understanding the role of AI in creating accessible content and following best practices for implementation, organizations can create content that is more accessible, user-friendly, and effective. Remember, accessible content is not just a moral imperative but also a legal requirement. By embracing AI-powered accessible content, you can create a more inclusive digital landscape that benefits everyone.
FAQs
- What is the purpose of accessible content? Accessible content is designed to be usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities, disabilities, or language.
- How can AI help create accessible content? AI can help create accessible content by automating tasks, streamlining processes, and providing insights that can inform content creation.
- What are some best practices for implementing AI-powered accessible content? Best practices include defining your goals and objectives, choosing the right AI tools and platforms, training and testing your AI models, and monitoring and analyzing user feedback.
- Why is accessible content important? Accessible content is important because it enables organizations to reach a wider audience, improve user experience, and promote inclusivity, which is both a moral and legal requirement.
Innovation and Technology
5 AI Prompts That Will Transform Your Writing Forever

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are revolutionizing the way people write. While some find this exciting, others worry about what it means for creativity, originality, and even job security. But instead of fearing AI, what if we saw it as a tool to enhance our writing rather than replace it?
The Role of AI in Writing
The idea of AI assisting with something as inherently human as writing raises important questions. How will it affect creativity? Will AI-generated content lack originality? Will all writing start to sound the same?
The reality is that AI doesn’t replace good human writers—it enhances their work. No one wants to read text that feels robotic or algorithmically assembled. But when used strategically, AI can help writers brainstorm ideas, refine their structure, improve clarity, and critically assess their work.
The key to making AI work for you? Mastering the art of writing great prompts.
How to Use AI to Improve Your Writing
The difference between letting AI write for you versus using AI to elevate your writing comes down to the prompts—the natural language instructions that guide AI in generating responses. Well-crafted prompts can turn AI into an intelligent writing assistant that enhances creativity instead of replacing it.
Here are five powerful AI prompts that can transform the way you write:
1. Critically Assess Your Writing
One of the most valuable ways to use AI is for objective feedback. Whether you need help refining clarity, checking logic, or ensuring factual accuracy, this prompt turns AI into an insightful editor.
🔹 Prompt:
“Critically assess this text’s clarity, logic, and factual accuracy. Evaluate how successfully it communicates its core message and engages the reader. Identify any gaps in information, inconsistencies, or areas that need improvement. Provide a report with actionable steps to enhance the content, such as further research, structural changes, or additional data.”
💡 Tip: AI can highlight potential weaknesses, but it’s still important to apply your own judgment when refining your work.
2. Find the Perfect Word When You’re Stuck
Every writer has experienced that frustrating moment when they can’t quite find the right word. Instead of settling for a placeholder, let AI generate alternatives that better capture your intended meaning.
🔹 Prompt:
“Please analyze this text and provide 10 alternative words or phrases to replace ‘[word]’ with a more precise or impactful choice.”
💡 Tip: If AI’s suggestions don’t quite fit, ask for variations based on tone (e.g., “more formal,” “more poetic,” or “more persuasive”).
3. Smash Through Writer’s Block
Staring at a blank page? AI can generate writing exercises to spark creativity and help you get unstuck. Whether you’re working on a blog post, novel, or speech, this prompt provides structured exercises tailored to your project.
🔹 Prompt:
“Generate five short writing exercises to help me overcome writer’s block. My goal is to write a [blog post/novel/speech, etc.] on [topic]. The exercises should inspire fresh ideas and encourage me to start writing.”
💡 Tip: Use AI-generated prompts to freewrite—don’t overthink it. Just let the words flow.
4. Proofread and Edit Like a Pro
Proofreading and editing are essential steps in the writing process, but they can be time-consuming. AI can serve as a first-pass editor, catching errors and suggesting improvements while maintaining your unique voice.
🔹 Prompt:
“Proofread this text, checking for factual errors, grammatical accuracy, spelling, and punctuation mistakes. Then, edit the text for clarity, consistency, and readability. Provide a summary of changes made and an improved version of the text.”
💡 Tip: AI-generated edits aren’t always perfect. Use them as suggestions rather than automatic corrections.
5. Make Your Writing More Persuasive
Persuasive writing is a powerful skill in various situations—whether crafting a compelling job application, an impactful sales pitch, or an argument for a cause. This prompt helps refine your message to maximize influence.
🔹 Prompt:
“Analyze this text’s persuasiveness. Identify strengths and weaknesses in tone, structure, and argumentation. Provide actionable tips to enhance its impact and make it more convincing.”
💡 Tip: If writing persuasively is a challenge, ask AI for examples of similar persuasive writing to study and model.
Mastering the Art of AI Prompts
Writing is an expansive discipline, covering everything from technical manuals to poetry, novels, and advertising copy. No matter your niche, AI can make you a more efficient, productive, and polished writer—but only if you use it wisely.
Instead of fearing that AI will replace human writers, embrace it as a tool for growth. It won’t generate masterpieces on its own, but it can refine ideas, enhance clarity, and provide fresh perspectives—all while keeping your creative voice intact.
Conclusion
Will AI replace some writing jobs? Probably. Some industries have already seen automation take over repetitive writing tasks. But writers who adapt, evolve, and leverage AI as a creative tool will always have a place.
By learning how to craft better AI prompts, writers can stay ahead of the curve—not just surviving the AI revolution, but thriving in it.
FAQs
🔹 How will AI affect human creativity?
AI can enhance creativity by helping writers brainstorm, refine ideas, and improve their craft. However, originality and storytelling still rely on human intuition and experience.
🔹 Will all AI-generated writing sound the same?
Not necessarily. While poorly crafted prompts can lead to generic results, strong prompts and human input can ensure diversity in tone and style.
🔹 Can AI replace good human writers?
AI can assist but not replace skilled writers who bring emotion, nuance, and lived experience to their work.
🔹 How can I use AI to improve my writing?
By using AI strategically—for brainstorming, editing, overcoming writer’s block, and refining clarity—rather than relying on it to generate entire pieces from scratch.
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