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Comment by Grumbledour | Hacker News Reader

One could call it cute or funny, if it was not to the detriment of actually needed digital technology in the country, like broadband or support of IT startups.

But I am sure Deutsche Telekom will be quite happy about more state money, which is probably why they whispered this AI nonsense into the politicians ears. We can just write it up as another German success story, IT made in Germany. When has that ever not worked out in our favor?

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>> When has that ever not worked out in our favor?

Would you explain a little more?

I'm ignorant about the history of German government investment in IT. But here in America, federal investment has helped ignite new industries.

And as a data science engineer, I'd love to see more German code.

"Investments in IT" by the german government means we somehow funnel money to the big companies to make sure they dont fire people. Deutsche Telekom daughter T-Systems decided in september to cut 6000 jobs in germany (10k worldwide) to save 600mio €/year. Now the Government spents 3B on "AI". Coincidence?

seems a bit of a stretch in correlation ...

what does it mean if Angela Merkel wears green underwear on tuesday?

Consider this: approximately 32% of Deutsche Telekom is owned by the german state[0]. Its in their interest, that the money goes to the "right" company.

[0]: https://www.telekom.com/en/investor-relations/company/shareh...

T systems. Do not think I have ever worked with people more incompetent than the 'senior consultants' from that place. No surprise it is not going well with them.

German firms (like Deutsche Telekom) have a ton of redundant jobs because of their inability to make needed structural changes because of the work councils and labor laws.

This is why firms like Google are hiring in Switzerland and the United Kingdom instead of France and Germany.

I don't see why one relates with the other, unless you're saying Google doesn't hire in those countries because of Labour Laws

Yes - it is because of labour laws.

> have a ton of redundant jobs because of their inability to make needed structural changes because of the work councils and labor laws.

How will they able to adapt to truly focus on electric cars then? Especially when that means many of their suppliers become redundant.

Labor protection laws limit options with direct employees, they do not interfere at all with a company's relation to suppliers. That's why subcontracting exists, it's employer-side redundancy insurance.

Google in Germany is hiring quite alright.

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