A close-up of a logo sign at social media company Pinterest’s headquarters south of the Market…(+)(SoMa) district on October 13, 2017 in San Francisco, California. SoMa is known as one of the most concentrated cities. We collect information on technology companies and startups from all parts of the world. (Photo courtesy of The Smith Collection/Gado/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 – Pinterest rolls out genAI tool for product images to advertisers.
Pinterest recently introduced a generative AI tool aimed at enhancing product images for advertisers. (Source: TechCrunch)
Why this is important for your business:
According to the company, these tools, part of the Pinterest Performance+ suite, enable brands to create dynamic, lifestyle-inspired backdrops for product ads. This tool helps increase click-through rates and improve ad performance by converting basic images into more appealing visuals. Generative AI tools are designed to reduce the time and cost of ad creation, reducing input from advertisers by 50%.
2 – Some tech experts are skeptical of VPN providers, and you should be too.
Virtual private networks (VPNs), which are designed to encrypt your device’s Internet connection, may not be the most secure way to protect your data. TechCrunch’s Zack Whittaker outlined why users should be careful, highlighting that both free and paid VPNs can pose privacy risks. Free VPNs often monetize by selling user data to advertisers, while paid VPNs still require users to trust all their internet traffic. Whittaker points out that VPNs, which are widely sold for privacy purposes, do not inherently provide anonymity. His recommendation is to set up your own VPN server for more control and privacy. (Source: TechCrunch)
Why this is important for your business:
I sometimes use a VPN when I travel. This is because we believe that a VPN makes it safer to work online, especially when using public Wi-Fi connections at hotels or airports. But I’ve always been a little suspicious. Do these really encrypt my data as promised? Do they collect my information when I go through their servers? Is this really secure? There is no good answer. The best possible method is to use your phone’s mobile hotspot connection.
Between 3 and 74% of workers believe that employers are to blame for the AI skills gap.
A recent study by education platform Skillsoft found that 74% of workers blame their employers for the AI skills gap. The survey of 2,500 full-time employees in the US, UK, Germany and India found that 35% of respondents were not confident in their skills and 41% were concerned about job security due to the skills gap. It turned out that. AI and machine learning (ML) were identified as the most critical skills gap, with 43% ranking these at the top. Among those who cited AI/ML as their biggest skills gap, 74% rated their organization’s AI training as “average or inadequate.” To address this critical issue, comprehensive, long-term workforce planning can provide quality training and better prepare employees for an evolving job market. (Source: CIO.com)
Why this is important for your business:
These employees are right. The biggest barrier to AI adoption is not technology. We’re teaching users how to truly leverage technology. But we’ve always been bad at that, haven’t we? We know that we don’t invest in the training needed to use Office and other business applications. And if our employees aren’t taking advantage of all the capabilities available to them to get their jobs done faster, we suffer the consequences, resulting in increased productivity and profitability.
4 – Microsoft powers AI assistant with voice and vision.
Microsoft has introduced major updates to Copilot, enhancing it with new voice and vision features. These improvements will allow users to interact with the AI assistant through voice conversations, with four different voice options designed for tasks like brainstorming, quick questions, and even emotional support. This makes interactions more natural and intuitive. Still in testing, the Vision feature allows Copilot to interpret images, further expanding its ability to assist with visual tasks (users must opt in to this feature). These upgrades are consistent with the company’s strategy to become more accessible in the face of AI growth. Competition with Google and Apple in the AI field. (Source: Tech Explore)
Why this is important for your business:
As most people in the technology and business world agree, Microsoft Copilot has been underwhelming. But there is no doubt that things will get better. That’s already the case.
5 – One of the best lightweight laptops tested by ZDNet is a dream machine for remote workers.
ZDNet’s Kyle Kucharski reviewed Lenovo’s Yoga Slim 7x and gave it high praise as a lightweight laptop for remote workers. Key features include a 3K OLED display that provides stunning visuals. Solid performance with Snapdragon x Elite processor. Excellent battery life. and the laptop’s sleek 2.6-pound design. “Compared to a MacBook, I would say the Yoga Slim 7x is at least better than the MacBook Pro M2 Max…I’m not going to pay thousands of dollars for this machine,” Kucharski said. (Source: ZDNet)
Why this is important for your business:
I entered. Thank you Kyle.
