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MICROSOFT UNVEILS NEW AI AGENTS AND TOOLS
Microsoft introduced a suite of specialized AI agents for Microsoft 365 at its annual Ignite Conference. These include a Self-Service agent for human resources and information technology tasks, a SharePoint agent for document search, and a meeting note taker. The update also includes tools for developers to build custom agents through Copilot Studio. In 2025, Teams will get a real-time translation agent that can interpret conversations in up to nine languages while preserving speakers’ voices. For business managers, these AI agents could streamline administrative tasks, improve document management, and facilitate seamless communication in multilingual teams.
GOOGLE-ANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIP CLEARED BY UK REGULATOR
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded its investigation into Google’s partnership with AI company Anthropic. The regulator found that the available evidence did not indicate that Google has the ability to exercise material influence over Anthropic through the partnership. This decision clears the way for the collaboration to proceed without further antitrust scrutiny in the UK. For business leaders in the tech sector, this ruling may signal a more permissive regulatory environment for strategic AI partnerships, potentially encouraging similar collaborations in the future.
NIANTIC BUILDS LARGE GEOSPATIAL MODEL FROM POKEMON GO DATA
Niantic Labs, creator of Pokemon Go, is developing a Large Geospatial Model (LGM) using data from over 10 million scanned locations collected through its mobile games. This model aims to create detailed 3D maps of the world, including geometry and semantic understanding. The LGM could potentially transform how we navigate and interact with the physical environment. For businesses in retail or real estate, this technology could offer new ways to analyze foot traffic patterns, optimize store locations, or create immersive augmented reality experiences for customers.
MICROSOFT AND ATOM COMPUTING MAKE QUANTUM COMPUTING BREAKTHROUGH
Microsoft and Atom Computing have achieved a new record by using lasers to hold 24 qubits in place simultaneously. This advancement suggests that quantum computers could be commercially available as soon as 2025, potentially accelerating AI developments dramatically. The breakthrough could have significant implications for industries relying on complex computations, such as finance, pharmaceuticals, and logistics. Business leaders in these sectors should start considering how quantum computing capabilities might enhance their data processing and problem-solving capabilities in the near future.
CHINESE TECH FIRMS EXPAND TALENT SEARCH TO SILICON VALLEY
Chinese technology companies like ByteDance are expanding their search for top developers to Silicon Valley. Alibaba has reportedly hired several OpenAI alumni for a new Bay Area office. This move is partly due to United States restrictions on chip exports, making it harder for Chinese companies to build AI products domestically. For human resources professionals in the tech industry, this trend highlights the increasingly global nature of the AI talent market and the need for competitive recruitment strategies to attract and retain top AI professionals.
OPENAI EXPANDS ADVANCED VOICE MODE AND HINTS AT LIVE VIDEO FEATURE
OpenAI has made its Advanced Voice mode available to Plus users on web browsers, in addition to the mobile app. The company is also reportedly preparing to roll out a live video feature that can analyze and discuss users’ surroundings in real-time. This technology could recognize objects and engage in natural conversations about visual input. For customer service managers, these advancements could lead to more sophisticated virtual assistants capable of handling complex visual and auditory interactions, potentially improving customer support experiences across various industries.
GOOGLE LENS ENHANCES IN-STORE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
Alphabet is updating its Google Lens app to improve the in-store shopping experience. The new features will offer product insights, price comparisons, and real-time local inventory availability. This update aims to bridge the gap between online and offline shopping experiences. For retail managers, this technology could influence how customers make purchasing decisions in-store, potentially requiring new strategies for product placement, pricing, and inventory management to adapt to more informed and tech-savvy shoppers.
HARPERCOLLINS SETS NEW STANDARDS FOR AI TRAINING WITH AUTHOR BOOKS
HarperCollins has announced it will seek permission from authors before lending their titles to technology companies for AI model training. Authors who opt in will receive $2,500 for their consent. The agreement includes protections such as credit and limits on verbatim usage. Reports suggest Microsoft is the AI company involved in this arrangement. For publishing industry executives, this approach could set a new standard for balancing author rights with the growing demand for diverse training data in AI development, potentially influencing future licensing agreements across the sector.
AMAZON PARTNERS WITH MAJOR COMPANIES FOR AI-POWERED ALEXA
A leaked internal document reveals that Amazon is collaborating with companies like Uber, Ticketmaster, and Instacart for its upcoming AI-powered Alexa. This partnership aims to enhance Alexa’s capabilities and provide users with a more integrated experience across various services. For business development professionals in the tech and service industries, this move by Amazon highlights the growing importance of strategic partnerships in creating comprehensive AI-driven ecosystems, potentially opening up new opportunities for cross-platform integration and service expansion.
AI CAMERAS DETECT DRIVING VIOLATIONS IN GREATER MANCHESTER
In Greater Manchester, a new AI camera system recorded over 3,200 driving violations over a five-week period. The system detects drivers using phones or not wearing seat belts, supporting the region’s Vision Zero Strategy for road safety. This technology demonstrates the potential of AI in enhancing public safety and law enforcement. For transportation and city planning officials, such AI-powered surveillance systems could provide valuable data for improving road safety measures and developing more targeted public awareness campaigns to reduce traffic violations.
DEEPSEEK LAUNCHES POWERFUL REASONING AI MODEL
Chinese AI research firm DeepSeek has introduced R1-Lite-Preview, a new reasoning-focused AI model that matches OpenAI’s capabilities while displaying its transparent chain-of-thought processes in real-time. The model shows promising performance on various benchmarks, with improved results as the length of thought increases. DeepSeek plans to open-source the complete R1 model in the future. For data scientists and AI researchers in businesses, this development could provide new tools for complex problem-solving and decision-making processes, potentially enhancing analytical capabilities across various industries.
GOOGLE DEEPMIND’S ALPHAQUBIT IMPROVES QUANTUM COMPUTING ERROR CORRECTION
Google DeepMind has introduced AlphaQubit, an AI system that significantly improves error detection and correction in quantum computers. The system sets new records for error detection, reducing rates by 6% compared to previous top methods. AlphaQubit’s two-step training process allows it to learn from simulated data before adapting to handle complex errors in real quantum hardware. Google plans to open-source AlphaQubit for the broader research community. For technology executives in industries relying on high-performance computing, this advancement could accelerate the practical implementation of quantum computing solutions, potentially revolutionizing areas such as cryptography, drug discovery, and financial modeling.
AI Tools
🎥HeyGen iOS Mobile App – Advanced AI video tools for creators on the go.
💬Superchat – Automate your business messaging with AI agents for WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and more.
🗣️Vozo Video Translator – Precise AI-powered video translation with voice cloning and lip sync.
📧Attio Sequences – Next-gen CRM engine that builds email sequences that trigger on real prospect signals.
☁️Zilliz Cloud Serverless – Auto-scaling vector database for effortless AI application building with higher performance and lower costs.
🦸♂️Incogni – Prevents spammers, stalkers, and fraudsters from accessing your information by removing it from the web.
🛠️CrustAI – Generates custom, no-code business software with AI.
🎬GoEnhance – Creates AI shorts in minutes.
💡Herodot – A personalized AI-powered tour guide to help you make the most of your travel experiences.
🔍Parafact – Fact-check any human or AI-written text in real-time across multiple sources – all with one click.
📝Agree – Securely send and sign any agreement with AI-powered workflows, e-signature, automated invoicing, and integrated payments.
🤖Codeium – A customizable, AI-powered platform that can collaborate with you like a copilot and tackle complex tasks independently like an agent.
📂Extracta AI – A tool for extracting structured data from unstructured documents, saving time and reducing errors.
📅Postiz – AI social media scheduling tool for posting, analyzing performance, and managing accounts all in one place.
🔊Adobe Podcast Enhance Speech v2 – AI tool to improve audio quality, eliminate background noise and enhance voice clarity.
📚Dokko – Conversational AI platform for knowledge sharing.
📰ReadPartner – Personal AI assistant for automated news digest and quick summaries of websites, videos, and documents.
📄PaperGen – Fully-referenced, charted, long-form papers with one click.
🛡️Gecko Security – AI security engineer that finds and fixes bugs in your code.
🗨️Alta – Turn your ideas into great content by simply chatting with AI.
🧠FinetuneDB – AI fine-tuning platform to create custom LLMs.
🔗Edraw.AI – AI-powered visual collaboration platform.
🖥️Google Gemini Memory Feature – Allows premium subscribers to teach the model their preferences and personal context for more tailored interactions.
AI Jobs
✍️Writer/Editor – The Rundown is seeking creative and detail-oriented individuals to join their editorial team.
🤝Account Executive – Twelve Labs offers an opportunity for a dynamic salesperson to drive business growth.
🏢Office Manager, Palo Alto – Mistral AI is hiring an organized individual to manage their Palo Alto operations.
🚀Director, Go-To-Market Systems – Metropolis seeks a strategic leader to enhance its go-to-market strategies.
💻Software Engineer, Configuration – Figure AI is in search of talented developers to design and implement configuration solutions.
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