PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 22: Dario Amodei, co-founder and CEO of artificial intelligence(+) safety and research company Anthropic, arrives at the Porte de Versailles Parc in Paris on May 22, 2024. Attending the Viva Technology show at Des Expositions, France. Viva Technology is Europe’s largest technology show, also held in a unique digital format, with four days of reconnecting and rebooting thanks to innovation. The event brings together startups, CEOs, investors, technology leaders, and all the digital transformation players shaping the future of the internet. The annual technology conference, also known as VivaTech, was founded in 2016 by Publicis Groupe and Groupe Les Echos and is dedicated to promoting innovation and startups. (Photo courtesy of Chesnot/Getty Images)
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Here are five things that happened in the tech industry this week and how they impact your business. Were you lonely?
1 – Anthropic CEO reminds us of the fundamental benefits of AI.
In his essay “Machines of Loving Grace,” Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei offers an optimistic vision of AI’s potential to positively transform society. Amodei clarified his position on risks, which have been perceived as very pessimistic, and explained why Anthropic has been more focused on the potential dangers of AI. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced perspective and went on to enumerate the immense benefits that AI could bring to areas such as health, economy, and government. “I think most people underestimate how fundamental the benefits of AI will be,” Amodei says. (Source: Dario Amodei)
Why this is important for your business:
This is a great read for both executives and their employers who are hesitant about AI. Yes, there are big risks, including deepfakes, the environment, loss of control, and jobs. But I believe that the “fundamental benefits” of AI outweigh those risks, and Amodei eloquently explains why.
2 – Venmo has some new features.
Venmo is rolling out several new features to improve the user experience. You can now schedule payments as one-time or recurring transactions, making it easier to manage your bills and other expenses. Enhanced business profile features allow small businesses to create more engaging and promotional content, along with a ranking system. Users can now send and receive cryptocurrencies, and privacy settings have also been improved. (Source: Gizmodo)
Why this is important for your business:
Venmo is an important payment tool for many small businesses. I like the ability to schedule invoices and upgrade my company profile. If you’re a Venmo user, you’ve probably noticed these new tools.
3 – Gmail users – beware of new AI scams that look very real.
Gmail users beware. A sophisticated AI-generated scam has been discovered and described as “very realistic”. This latest alert was posted by Sam Mitrovic, a security expert at Microsoft, who received an account recovery message that required his approval. He then received a call from Google reporting “suspicious activity” on his account. Mitrovic later discovered that the person contacting him was an AI voice technology masquerading as a Google support representative. Account recovery messages are used by hackers to initiate calls, and Google engineers do not do so without your permission. (Source: ZDNet)
Why this is important for your business:
We mentioned the risks of deepfakes above, and this is one of them. Users are advised to scrutinize sending emails and phone numbers, use two-factor authentication, and never share sensitive information.
4 – Microsoft Teams can now warn or block frontline workers if accessed after hours.
Microsoft Teams recently introduced features aimed at supporting frontline workers by restricting after-hours access to the app. This new feature allows organizations to warn users or completely block users from accessing Teams outside of designated business hours. This feature is part of Microsoft’s commitment to improving employee well-being and helps prevent burnout by encouraging a good work-life balance. IT administrators can configure these limits based on company policy to prevent employees from engaging with the platform on their personal time. (Source: Neowin)
Why this is important for your business:
If you create a policy, you need help enforcing it. Additionally, with new overtime regulations issued by the Department of Labor, it is important to monitor employees’ overtime hours or use tools like this to limit overtime if it violates policy. is.
5 – Amazon says new technology in its delivery vans will help sort packages on the spot, saving you time.
Amazon has introduced a new technology called Vision-Assisted Package Retrieval (VAPR) to assist delivery drivers. (Source: Tech Explore)
Why this is important for your business:
Understand this: “When a van arrives at a delivery location, VAPR automatically projects a green ‘O’ on all packages being delivered at that stop, and a red ‘O’ on all other packages.” Project “X”. Before the driver enters the cargo area, VAPR provides instructions to the driver through audio and visual cues to ensure that the correct load has been found. ” Why do we do this? Because every minute or two a driver spends searching for a package can add up to an hour of unproductive time. It’s kind of amazing.
