Amazon CEO Andy Jassy is pushing for a full return to the office by the beginning of 2025. For the past 15 months, employees have been required to work in the office three days a week, but this expectation will now shift to five days a week, with remote work only permitted under special circumstances. While many Big Tech executives have supported return-to-office mandates, these measures have not been well received by some tech workers.

In another development, Cisco has announced significant layoffs, reducing its workforce by 7%, which amounts to around 5,600 employees. This is the company's second round of layoffs in 2024, following an earlier cut of about 4,000 employees in February. Despite these layoffs, Cisco reported its "second strongest year on record" in its most recent full-year earnings report in August.

Additionally, TechCrunch's Brian Heater describes the iPhone 16 Pro Max as a $1,200 glimpse into a more intelligent future. The new iPhone 16 line features several noteworthy updates, including a Camera Control button, an A18 Pro chip, an overhaul of Siri, and various Apple Intelligence capabilities. However, the question remains whether these enhancements, coupled with the fear of missing out, are enough to justify an upgrade.