While the technology behind AI-powered chatbots quickly captured the public imagination, an even more powerful application of generative artificial intelligence has been creating a buzz among business leaders. It’s called agentic AI. “This innovative technology is not just another industry buzzword; it’s a paradigm shift that’s poised to redefine the boundaries of AI capabilities,” tech guru … [Read more...]

I’m writing this before the September 10 presidential debate to avoid any influence on my perspective. Both candidates are reportedly preparing by using surrogates to stand in for their opponents. This strategy doesn’t always work well and has proven ineffective in previous debates. The problem with using human surrogates is that unless the person prepares for the role like a professional actor by … [Read more...]

Apple’s greatest fear is that its exalted iPhone has become too foreseeable. For the most part, it has largely remained the same during the previous seven years, with incremental upgrades to its cameras, CPUs, and battery life. However, Apple attempted to break free from this predictability on Monday by releasing the first iPhone models designed for artificial intelligence from the “ground up,” a … [Read more...]

Inflation is causing many consumers to pass on upgrading to a new cell phone this year, according to a survey conducted by an online personal finance platform. The survey of more than 210 respondents, using data normalized by age, gender, and income so the sample would reflect U.S. demographics, found that nearly two in three Americans (63%) said they wouldn’t buy a new cell phone this year … [Read more...]

Apple’s flavor of generative artificial intelligence, called Apple Intelligence, was laced throughout its latest watch, AirPods, and phone offerings, announced at its “Glowtime” event on Monday. Speakers at the prerecorded session aired online touted a number of features in the new hardware lineup, which uses Apple Intelligence to support everything from diagnosing sleep apnea to addressing … [Read more...]

AMD just got the nod from Microsoft that its new mobile Ryzen AI 300 series processors will now be capable of running Microsoft’s advanced AI applications, which are marketed under the brand name Copilot+. AMD is also the supplier to Microsoft Xbox, and with Microsoft heavily focused on AI, it is only a matter of time before the AI Xbox is announced. Let’s talk about what to expect when the AI … [Read more...]

Attempts to protect children’s safety in the two-dimensional realm of online social media could adversely impact the 3D world of augmented and virtual reality, according to a report released Tuesday by a Washington, D.C., technology think tank. Legislative efforts, like the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act (KOPSA), which has passed the U.S. Senate and is now before the House of Representatives, … [Read more...]

AMD is a global semiconductor company known for its high-performance computing and graphics solutions. In recent years, the company has made significant strides in its commitment to corporate responsibility, focusing on sustainability, diversity and inclusion, ethical governance, and community engagement. As AMD’s success has grown under the leadership of CEO Lisa Su, it has shown the hallmarks of … [Read more...]

Making better use of educational technology is a goal that both software and hardware companies are aggressively pursuing. Keeping students engaged in today’s distraction-filled world is no easy feat. Teachers often have to contend with competing gadgets like tablets and smartphones distracting students from group instruction. However, when used correctly, technology such as smartboards and … [Read more...]

The 2014 Google Glass debacle stigmatized smart glasses, but the devices may be poised for a comeback. Despite the flaming failure of Google Glass, Meta and Google appear to be all in on the next generation of smart glasses that combine fashion, functionality, and generative AI into a compelling form factor, maintained Gene Munster, managing partner of Deepwater Asset Management, a venture capital … [Read more...]

This is a ‘man bites dog’ story because, for much of the two companies’ existence, Intel’s brand value ranked among the highest in the world, consistently outpacing that of AMD. Under the leadership of Intel’s then-CEO Andy Grove, its former CMO Dennis Carter significantly enhanced this value by creating constructs like the Bunny People and leveraging a generous marketing budget to generate … [Read more...]

Governments seek to create security safeguards around artificial intelligence, but roadblocks and indecision are delaying cross-nation agreements on priorities and obstacles to avoid. In November 2023, Great Britain published its Bletchley Declaration, agreeing to boost global efforts to cooperate on artificial intelligence safety with 28 countries, including the United States, China, and the … [Read more...]

Until now, I haven’t been a fan of billionaire businessperson Mark Cuban. I put him in the same group as many billionaires who prioritize getting even wealthier over everything, including their families. However, based on what I saw last week, I couldn’t have been more wrong about Mark Cuban. Jon Stewart, who often does a better job of interviewing than most journalists, had Cuban as a guest on … [Read more...]

A new approach to personalized computer instruction could help mitigate the impact of teacher shortages, understaffed classrooms, and lackluster self-learning, issues that have worsened since the pandemic. The EdYOU solution is built around an AI-powered learning tool that uses a visionary approach to enhance learning experiences for students and career-changing adults. According to data from … [Read more...]

Ransomware attacks have shown signs of decreasing in recent months. Yet they still pose enough threat for organizations to rethink whether a successful breach of their computers justifies paying a ransom demand in hopes attackers will not divulge their stolen content. According to the NCC Group Threat Pulse Report released in May, the ransomware landscape remains turbulent despite fewer reported … [Read more...]

Although AI-capable PCs were introduced in the middle of the second quarter, they still captured 14% of global shipments, according to a report released Tuesday by research firm Canalys. Canalys reported that 8.8 million AI-capable PCs were shipped during the period, 40% running Microsoft Windows and 60% running macOS. Canalys defines an AI-capable PC as a desktop or notebook that includes a … [Read more...]

For the past two decades, I’ve lived in condo-style apartments in various cities, including Houston, Austin, Coral Gables, San Jose, and Las Vegas. I yearned for the day when I could have a gas grill on the patio wherever I lived, but I’ve been subject to homeowner association rules that prohibit gas grills on patios. The gas grill was a staple of my upbringing as a child and young adult in New … [Read more...]

When ChatGPT exploded on the tech scene in November 2022, one of the burning questions in the minds of many technologists was how Google — which, up to that point, was known for its prowess in artificial intelligence — could be caught flat-footed when the starter’s gun sounded in the race to bring generative AI to the masses? Paul Buchheit, creator of Gmail, suggested some answers to that question … [Read more...]

With the advent of AI and rapidly changing corporate needs and performance, many companies have announced layoffs this year, and I expect we are far from done. These layoffs range in size from small, like eBay’s announcement of 1,000 layoffs, to the much larger 12,000-plus layoffs expected from Dell and Intel, among others. Regardless of the size of the layoff, employees face difficult and … [Read more...]

The field of database administration is far from glamorous. Even within the uncompromisingly geeky domain of information technology, database administration would be among the last fields picked for a game of proverbial kickball. However, the future employment landscape for tech jobs remains uncertain in these changing times. Despite its somewhat unglamorous reputation, database management and … [Read more...]