New York Times' columnist and author Tom Friedman, in a talk to the World Affairs Council of Northern California, explained to the group that "the central, socio-economic fact for the hyper-connected world is that average is officially over... because every boss today has cheaper, faster, more efficient access to above average automation, above average software, above average robotics, above average cheaper labor, and above average cheap genius." Friedman shared further that jobs are being pulled in three directions all at the same time "up (require more skill), out (done with machines or overseas), and down (eliminated to history)."