What is the one thing common in high-profile wedding shoots and precision pesticide spray in agriculture? Well, drones! Drones are being used extensively across industries, today. They are assisting in various use cases in agriculture, helping in reducing search times in rescue operations, joining the fight against plastic pollution in oceans, and becoming almost indispensable in delivering aid to people in need.

Mission Possible​

Oceans cover more than 70% of the earth’s surface and are one of the most valuable natural resources of our planet. However, they are being drowned with trash. Armed with artificial intelligence (AI) and high-resolution cameras, drones are helping fight plastic pollution in the oceans. AI enables the drone to distinguish between plastic waste and sea animals, such as jellyfish. Once the drone can make this distinction, it can then take high-resolution pictures or 4K videos of areas in the oceans that are flooded with trash or pollution hotspots. This allows the teams to target the right area for cleanup without wasting effort, time, and money. Later, data and images can be analyzed to help understand and identify the triggers for pollution in specific areas. This can help in correcting or fixing bigger issues and provide a better and long-lasting solution.

It is important to note that storage plays a key role in capturing, storing, and processing data to help unlock solutions. Moreover, drones need specialist storage solutions with high endurance, high performance, and high capacity. For example, a 4K video at 100mpbs over 30 minutes of operation can generate up to 22GB of data. Therefore, the 4K cameras need to be powered by high capacity and high endurance microSD cards.

Continue reading: https://timestech.in/unlocking-new-possibilities-with-drones/

In early July, the Associated Press made a deal with OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, to license “part of AP’s text archive” and get access to “OpenAI’s technology and product expertise.” A few days later, OpenAI announced a $5 million grant, accompanied by $5 million in software use “credits,” to the American Journalism Project, an organization that supports nonprofit newsrooms. Meanwhile, Google has reportedly been presenting major news organizations, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, with a new software “personal assistant” for journalists, code-named Genesis, which promises to “take in information — details of current events, for example — and generate news content,” with a pitch described by some in attendance as unsettling. A number of news organizations, including G/O media, which owns Gizmodo, Jezebel, and The Onion, are experimenting with blog-style content generated from scratch, and plenty of others, with varying degrees of transparency, have started to dabble.

Last week, Semafor reported that the next significant meeting between news organizations and AI firms might occur in court: Barry Diller’s IAC, along with “a handful of key publishers,” including the Times, News Corp, and Axel Springer, are reportedly “formalizing a coalition that could lead a lawsuit as well as press for legislative action.” They’re not looking for small grants or exploratory collaborations. In their view, AI companies are systematically stealing content in order to train software models to copy it. They’re looking for compensation that could “run into the billions.”

These are, it is fair to say, the inconsistent actions of a mixed-up industry confronting speculative disruption from a position of weakness. This is not ideal if you’re the sort of person who places much stock in a functional Fourth Estate, but it’s also not unique: In conference rooms around the world, white-collar workers are stumbling through mind-numbing conversations about incoherent presentations on the imminent approach of AI with the assignment or intention of making some — any! — sort of plan. It’s also understandable. It’s easier to get the leadership at OpenAI and Google to talk about the apocalypse than it is to get a clear sense of even their own plans for making money with large language models, much less how those plans might affect the reporting and distribution of the news. The media industry’s particular expressions of panic are a result of a comprehensive sense of exposure to these new forms of automation — which is arguably the best way to think about artificial intelligence — combined with a sense of profound confusion about what the challenges are and for whom.

The industry’s scattered early responses to AI do, however, seem to contain some assumptions, and from those assumptions we can extrapolate some possible futures — if not the likely ones, then at least ones that people in charge of the news business are most excited about or of which they are most afraid. The news media’s flailing early responses to AI are, in their own ways, predictions. There are, so far, a few dominant schools of thought about this.

Continue reading: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/08/how-ai-will-change-the-news-business.html

The surge of generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications is spurring exciting innovations and consumer experiments, but it also worries many people who are concerned about data privacy or only being able to communicate with a company through a bot. These concerns are especially acute in industries where customer interactions and data privacy are critical, such as banking or healthcare.

Some level of anxiety typically accompanies breakthrough technologies, and it’s natural to worry about a technology that mimics human intelligence. As this new class of large language models has emerged, however, most companies have put model risk, accuracy of the model’s output, and ethical use of data at the heart of their risk frameworks. They aim to ensure responsible uses of new AI technology.

Less appreciated is the risk that companies will cede the customer experience to models and bots designed to extract value in the short term, not to foster long-term customer loyalty. Companies might increasingly pair traditional AI and machine learning models with generative AI to deliver messages and offers to customers in more human-like ways. If we are not careful, profit-seeking bots, algorithms, and predictive models could indeed lead to dystopian experiences.

Even in the world of AI, customer love should lead the way. Traditional metrics of customer sentiment, such as Net Promoter Score (NPS), may start to look different, but one premise will endure: Every interaction enhances or diminishes a customer’s perception the company involved.

Informing each decision with the goal of enriching customers’ lives will lay down a reliable route to an AI-enabled future that creates more value for customers, employees, and shareholders. In fact, early published results from researchers at Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology show favorable effects from the rollout of an AI-based conversational assistant tool to 5,200 customer support agents in several countries. Not only did the tool raise agent productivity by 14% on average, but the AI-assisted interactions had higher average NPS, and monthly agent attrition dropped by 9%.

Continue reading: https://hbr.org/2023/08/using-ai-to-build-stronger-connections-with-customers

One of the great challenges for the healthcare industry has always been patient privacy. Whether it’s a hospital setting, a physician’s office, or a child’s vaccination records required by a school, we are right to be cautious with sensitive medical data.

Historically, though, healthcare consumers have had little control over their personal medical records. These are often distributed across many fragmented systems and offices in our decentralized healthcare infrastructure. The result? Individuals often have little to no say in how their records are being used. There is no concept for the average consumer about where their information is stored, how it’s secured, or who else has access to it. The irony here is consumers must worry about others accessing their medical information they themselves do not have reliable access to!

When a consumer needs to request a record, sometimes it can result in having to jump through several hoops, especially when it comes to old records. Perhaps the consumer has moved to a new provider, perhaps the old provider has closed their office—both pose time-consuming problems for the patient. Beyond this, many records are never seen by the patients themselves, so how can they know the records exist except on blind faith? It’s not surprising many patients give up on tracking down old records and choose to “start fresh.”

Blockchain, however, can address many of our current concerns over privacy, security, and access through streamlined identity management. If we move medical records onto blockchain and tie them to an industry-wide patient identifier, it will allow individuals to finally exercise ownership over their own medical information. These private and public keys would serve as personal identifiers much in the same way that Bitcoin private keys allow ownership of Bitcoin wallets.

Not only would this allow consumers to exercise control over their records stored across a distributed network of healthcare providers and institutions, but the individual would be empowered to grant access to institutions as needed. The consumer could become the authority on what gets shared with whom!
Continue reading: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGtwVxjQFWPRfnKFdSKPDtlxtMW

The internet as we know it is changing. New web3 tools and platforms are arising that harness blockchain, NFTs and cryptocurrency. And thanks to metaverse technologies, online experiences are fast becoming much more immersive and realistic. In this future internet, web3, and metaverse technologies will transform how we engage with our favorite artists, musicians and sports stars. It'll give us more immersive gaming and entertainment experiences and new ways of consuming art. It will alter creative industries forever.

Music is one creative industry that’s already being disrupted by metaverse and web3 technologies. Here are four major shifts taking place in the world of music.

Virtual performances
Imagine going to a concert with millions of other people. It would be impossible in the real world. Hellish, even. But it’s a breeze in the metaverse, as shown by Ariana Grande’s series of virtual Fortnite shows – which, over the course of several days, attracted an audience of 78 million. Virtual gigs like this, where the artist performs as a digital avatar, are becoming increasingly popular, providing an exciting way for artists to expand their audience. So much so that the MTV Video Music Awards have now introduced a “Best Metaverse Performance” category. Launched at the 2022 VMAs, the first award was won by K-pop band Blackpink.

Interestingly, digital avatars of pop stars are also making an appearance in the physical world. The ABBA show, ABBA Voyage, is a perfect example of this, featuring digital avatars (“ABBAtars”) of the foursome in their 1970s heyday, performing on stage backed by a real-life band and backing singers.

I've been lucky enough to go to the ABBA show, and I was honestly blown away. It feels like you're watching the real ABBA perform on stage. Half-way through the show, my wife leaned over and told me this was going to “blow future concerts out of the water.” Take it from her, then: ABBA Voyage is a milestone moment in entertainment. Imagine where this technology could go in the future: gigs from long-deceased entertainers (either in physical locations or metaverse arenas); collaborations between artists who are on stage in a physical arena alongside hyper-realistic avatars of other artists; being able to watch the Beatles live in concert… It’s an exciting time to be a live music fan.

Continue reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernar...nd-web3-will-transform-music/?sh=547772365799

Today, there is an increasing realization amongst IoT adopters and vendors that the various constituent elements of an IoT solution must be delivered as a managed service or series of managed services. In June 2023, Transforma Insights published a white paper in collaboration with Telit Cinterion entitled, “The Internet of Things can only be delivered as a managed service,” which looked at why enterprises should be more selective about demanding a more personalized service and picking their IoT connectivity partners. Let’s take a look at some of the key highlights in the white paper.

8 Key Highlights​

#: Managed Service is the Best Way​

In February 2023, Transforma Insights published its annual Communications Service Provider IoT Peer Benchmarking report, looking at the capabilities and strategies of CSPs in delivering IoT connectivity and other associated services. One notable trend, which has also been manifested in other areas of IoT, has been the greater requirement to provide more customer support, whether it be a full systems integration project, enriched post-sales support, or something in between.

It has become well-recognized that enterprises need some handholding to deploy their IoT projects. This is even more pronounced for mass market deployments in which adopters have little to no direct expertise in IoT. Simply throwing an increasingly complex array of hardware, middleware platforms, connectivity options, and cloud architectures at an enterprise and expecting them to piece together their own IoT solution is, at best, fanciful. IoT is a non-core area for almost every adopter, so some element of handholding is critical.

#2: Infinitely Scalable IoT Is Gone​

One major implication of the customization requirement is that there is a diminishing opportunity for any company to exist as an infinitely scalable IoT platform. Such elements are increasingly commoditized and demanding of a service layer on top of them. Middleware companies are differentiating on vertical sector expertise, and recent years have seen some major technology vendors mothball or close their IoT platform play, including Google IoT Core and IBM Watson IoT.

IoT is a service rather than a product business; such is the necessity for customization to meet clients’ requirements. This means fewer unicorn platform companies and more service-oriented companies resolving real-world client requirements.

Continue reading:

#2: Infinitely Scalable IoT Is Gone​

One major implication of the customization requirement is that there is a diminishing opportunity for any company to exist as an infinitely scalable IoT platform. Such elements are increasingly commoditized and demanding of a service layer on top of them. Middleware companies are differentiating on vertical sector expertise, and recent years have seen some major technology vendors mothball or close their IoT platform play, including Google IoT Core and IBM Watson IoT.

IoT is a service rather than a product business; such is the necessity for customization to meet clients’ requirements. This means fewer unicorn platform companies and more service-oriented companies resolving real-world client requirements.

The exciting IoT project ideas and topics for beginners offer a boundless realm of innovation​

The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized our interaction with technology, enabling objects and devices to communicate, collect, and exchange data seamlessly. From smart home automation to wearable tech and environmental monitoring, Internet of Things (IoT) projects offer a gateway to innovation, automation, and connectivity.

The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to revolutionize industries and daily life, offering endless possibilities for innovation. We explore cutting-edge concepts, applications, and challenges in IoT projects in this dynamic era. IoT project ideas encompass various domains, including smart homes, healthcare, agriculture, industrial automation, and sustainable energy. Unleash your creativity by developing sensor networks, AI-driven IoT solutions, and real-time data analytics for enhanced decision-making. With rapid technological advancements and an interconnected world, our IoT projects open the gateway to endless opportunities for research, development, and positive impact. Let’s delve deep into the 10 exciting IoT project ideas and topics for beginners in 2023:

IoT projects have revolutionized various industries with their interconnected devices and data-driven solutions. Smart home automation is one prominent application that enables users to control appliances remotely for enhanced convenience and energy efficiency. IoT devices monitor patients’ vital signs in healthcare and send real-time alerts to medical professionals, improving patient care and response times. Agricultural IoT projects utilize sensors to optimize irrigation and crop management, boosting yields sustainably. Industrial IoT streamlines manufacturing processes by enabling predictive maintenance and remote equipment monitoring, minimizing downtime, and optimizing production. IoT-powered smart cities manage traffic flow and parking in transportation, reducing congestion and pollution. These diverse IoT initiatives showcase the transformative potential of the interconnected world, enhancing lives and industries alike.

1. Smart Home Automation System​

Create a smart home automation system allowing users to control various appliances and devices remotely. Utilize sensors and actuators to monitor and manage lighting, temperature, and security. Integrate voice commands and mobile applications to control the smart home efficiently.

Continue reading: https://www.analyticsinsight.net/10-exciting-iot-project-ideas-and-topics-for-beginners/

Over the past 24 months, it has become clear that our approach to public safety and security from the “air domain” lacks the attention and support needed to secure public space.

Although there is a tremendous ongoing effort by a select few of our legislators to address the technological advances in commercial drone platforms, it is still not enough. The reality of the current law dates to 2018, a time far removed from the technical maturity and innovations of the drone market today.

Recent predictions have the drone market growing substantially over the next several years, and sUAS producers are in a heated competition to bring the next feature or capability to the market. Additionally, events around the globe concerning drone incidents and use cases continue to show the agility and creativity of how the platform can be used and the risks associated with being asleep at the wheel.

Furthermore, if you look at how current legislation is structured, it clearly shows the focus on the centralization of authority for mitigation at the government level.

There are provisions in the 2018 bill (the bill currently in effect) that give federal entities the authority to protect and counter sUAS events, but these authorities are narrowly defined and focus on critical infrastructure, DOD and special events.

The current law does very little to address the real need: public events and venues. These are the places the public gathers in mass, are the most vulnerable, and should be considered a priority. Security professionals can no longer avoid this new dimension of the physical security program. The “air domain” is now a major consideration, and business owners should take note.

Let’s recap how this market is organized into various sectors. In general, the sUAS market consists of the following compartmentalized pillars.

Continue reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes...egislation-where-do-we-stand/?sh=249e0bb8553a

More firms are getting the chance to safely explore what generative AI can do for business thanks to out-of-the-box tools.

It was feared that the economics of generative AI and large language models (LLMs) trained on vast amounts of data gathered from the web and requiring thousands of GPUs could limit the rewards to just a few tech pioneers. But that scenario is changing. More firms are asking what generative AI can do for their business, and the specialist skills that were necessary at the beginning of the boom are being codified to help companies more widely.

AI systems capable of showing the right ads to the right people and enabling more powerful web searches are hugely valuable, which explains why tech giants such as Google, Meta and Microsoft have assigned multi-million dollar budgets to projects in these domains. But that activity barely scratches the surface in terms of potential use cases. And providers are showing that the rise of AI doesn’t just have to benefit massive tech firms with large in-house resources.

Democratizing AI access​

Andrew Ng – a famous figure in the success of deep learning – is aware that customization requirements can present a hurdle when it comes to realizing AI’s full potential across the long tail of applications. In principle, vision systems for textile firms and food preparation companies – to give just a couple of use cases – could help millions of workers.

Ng’s vision is that simple-to-use platforms that take the heavy lifting out of building an AI model will empower vast numbers of businesses that have, until now, been unable to reap the benefits. Ng’s team has developed a platform dubbed LandingLens that ‘makes computer vision super easy’. And users can quickly educate the system to automate defect detection, improving product quality and dramatically reducing the need for time-consuming manual inspection.

Continue reading: https://techhq.com/2023/07/what-can-generative-ai-do-for-business/

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) across industries globally is continuously transforming corporate strategy in today’s digital era, and HR and talent acquisition are no exception. Visions of the future are debated across departments and teams, as are hopes and concerns around how to approach and deploy this new technology.

My participation in two panel discussions at HR Tech North America, a two-day virtual conference organized by the HR Exchange Network, has prompted me to think more about where we stand when it comes to AI. Here are some key considerations and why they are important as companies continue to explore and invest in this technology.

1. Don’t be afraid of AI.​

With generative AI taking center stage since late last year, the biggest shift has been that users now have access to these tools directly. We are able to try them out and experiment ourselves, and we should. The future of work has arrived, and what we have been talking about for many years now is finally a reality.


Those who don’t continue to explore and learn risk falling behind in a fast-moving field. Staying on top of recent developments and learning about the strengths and weaknesses of these new tools, as well as their limitations, is key. This is reskilling and up-skilling in action, in an ever-faster changing environment. Staying on top of developments will be a key differentiator, across all areas of business, and agnostic to roles and seniority.

Continue reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes...-technology-for-business-use/?sh=787d91f179cb
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jodiecook/2023/07/31/6-chatgpt-prompts-to-improve-your-time-management/

AI and blockchain are two of the most talked about technologies. Both have the potential to become the most impactful solution we'll see in our lifetimes. Despite their differences, AI and blockchain not only coexist, but they also work in symbiosis. In fact, some companies around the world have already tried putting them together. Today, I'll discuss the possibilities of blockchain-powered AI and what it can mean for various areas of business.

Blockchain And AI​

A study conducted by Grand View Research projects the AI market expanse at a compound annual growth rate of 37.3% from 2023 to 2030. According to their revenue forecast, it’s destined to become a multi-billion-dollar industry. By the same year, the blockchain market is projected to reach $469.49 billion, according to Fortune Business Insights.

The obvious question is, what can these two do for each other? This is something in the works right now at many companies all around the world.

AI is an umbrella term that includes machine learning, deep learning and neural networks. All three are best illustrated in modern AI graphic and text tools. Neural networks, by definition, simulate the activity of a human brain. They perform the same tasks: prediction, analysis, decision-making, etc. Only in the case of AI, all the processes are more data-driven, logical and fast.

Blockchain is a technology dedicated to data recording and storage. Data is encrypted and secured so that it can’t be altered post-factum. Blockchains provide transparency, security and resistance to censorship, all without relying on trust.

Continue reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes...an-ai-be-tamed-by-blockchain/?sh=29e438e83e27

The "chunks of data" technology involves may put off many women, but not Loise Mwarangu.

Ushering us to a gazebo in Westlands, she recounts how she landed in data science without ever going to a physical school.

Mwarangu is a data scientist at the Artificial Intelligence Centre for Excellence.

"I first did my university degree to major in economics and statistics, and worked as a data analyst for a short time. It is from there that I gained interest in this field," she says.

After a while, Mwarangu transitioned into more coding because she loved dealing with data.

"It was during the Covid-19 period in 2020 when I started learning data science through online courses, where most of them were free,” she said.

"I could just Google and look for a course that I wanted. At that time, I did not have a permanent job.”

Doing online courses was the trend amid lockdowns, and Mwarangu motivated herself by affirmations and words of encouragement each day.

"When I was doing online classes, my thought was that I really needed to learn AI and machine learning so I can create amazing projects and be the best data analyst that ever existed,” she said.

She did not imagine that her choice at that time would have a big impact on her career life in the future.

"I gained skills that I now use in my job and help me to put food on the table," she said.

"I joined AICE as an intern and that is how I ended up being a data scientist. It has now been a two-year journey and I'm proud of myself."

With three years of experience in data analysis, she decided to advance her studies to gain more skills.

She is currently doing a master's in computational intelligence at the University of Nairobi to advance her skills.

"With the knowledge I have gained in data science, what stands out for me is the ability to make life easier and routine tasks more bearable using data. One can literally automate anything with machine learning," she said.

Continue reading: https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/big...ai-leverage-tech-to-turn-data-into-solutions/

If you had been fortunate in 2022, you would have invested in more BigTech in the S&P 500, in particular with Apple, Google, Microsoft, Nividea - stocks that have risen 75% in 2023.

We have already seen the Nasdaq composite jump by over 35% due to the big blitz of generative AI, which makes me wonder if are in a bubble, or will we see new AI companies dominate and start to disintermediate some of the players we have always bet on?

What is clear is that AI needs lots of processing power which means chipmakers are critical. Already Nvidia (NVDA) shares have increased by 209% in 2023, and trades at more than 220 times its trailed earnings.

Large language models (LLMs) that are the foundations of generative AI building blocks that provide the building blocks to develop applications. that mimic the ways a human writes and speaks. We must always remember LLM’s need large volumes of data to train on so companies like META have recently made its Llama (LLM) an opensource access. How long this will persist remains to be seen?


Other big bets are Qualcomm (QCOM)which is building its Snapdragon chip technology to process AI tasks directly on smartphones, without the aid of cloud-computing resources accessed via internet connections and is working on Meta. This is a very novel approach and gives us a vision of what will continue to be new approaches to cloud connections.

Continue reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/cindygordon/2023/07/31/betting-on-ai-is-big-business/?sh=2758b2f27c72

I need to begin this article with two important notes:


1. Some of this may be outdated as soon as it is written.


2. This was not written by a machine.


Artificial intelligence (AI) is a game-changer for many businesses, including the real estate industry, which I have been engaged in for 50 years. Its ability to crunch massive amounts of data could be hugely helpful to improve decision making, such as where to invest (neighborhoods and regions) and in what products (multifamily, single-family, commercial, mixed-use).


The latest wildfire in the AI world is generative AI, led by ChatGPT (and its newest iteration GPT-4) and the like. These are programs capable of generating original content, including text, images, audio, videos and more. What will AI and generative AI mean for the business world? Is it an inflection point or the next disruption on the scale of the smartphone?

My take is that these are tools of incredible magnitude and potential value, but they are still just tools. The wheel didn’t change the world…the wheel, coupled with human ingenuity, did.

AI is here to stay.​

AI brings the promise of helping us deal with the exponential growth of data, far too much data for humans to process. At lightning speed, AI can crunch data, spot patterns and elevate our decision making—not just in real estate but almost everything—to new levels.


It can also do things that we cannot, or that would take us an inordinate amount of time. Consider the fast-growing field of cybersecurity. While consolidating huge volumes of data can also create risks for data breaches, AI can help address those risks.

Continue reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes...hrough-tool-but-still-a-tool/?sh=5e4c0a72ebe0

Over the past decades, we witnessed the evolution of online data as an industry. As technology moves to enable user-owned digital public goods (a la Bitcoin), safeguarding and giving users power over their data has become vital.

Running a privacy startup has given me a close look at this evolution and the unique role privacy plays in society. It has allowed me to understand what a resilient startup requires in order to align with real needs and withstand industry demands.

Here are some lessons I’ve learned over the past few years to make private DeFi a reality.

Your message needs rock-solid foundations.​

Every good entrepreneur knows that to survive, you need to adapt. And yet, persistence is key. But how can you stay persistent despite constant calls to pivot?

In Web3, this dilemma is exacerbated. A once clear and convincing message can quickly become redundant at best or an existential threat at worst. This is the natural result of shifting regulations and uncertain market dynamics. Rapid tech breakthroughs render previous approaches obsolete while emerging narratives and social phenomena reshape public perceptions of Web3 startups.

After realizing how fast tides change, it became clear we had to craft a message that served as a framework for our values and direction.

Governments are actively addressing privacy, trying to decide on frameworks that protect users without enabling others to break the law. As such, our messaging needed to be compelling, flexible, and adaptable, while benefiting from every subsequent change.

Continue reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes...nning-a-web3-privacy-startup/?sh=3d2993213368

While many people fear the rise of artificial intelligence, some in Wisconsin's tech industry see it as an opportunity to bring more people from marginalized communities into the field.

Nadiyah Johnson, founder and CEO of the Milky Way Tech Hub — a group that primarily focuses on supporting women of color in tech in Milwaukee — said AI is not going away anytime soon. She described it as a possible "door-opener."

"With AI, specifically, these robust language models, they can be leveraged to really open door career paths, not just in the field of technology, but in different spaces that typically marginalized communities did not necessarily have access to," she said.

The technology is raising concerns over how Wisconsin will address its potential to replace and automate jobs. But Johnson and other leaders say that with intentional education, training and support, there's an opportunity for women and people from marginalized communities to leverage the technology.

Artificial intelligence is a field of computer science that trains machines to perform complex tasks, with generative AI behind chatbots like ChatGPT. The technology can produce text, images and audio that appear to have been created by humans. Some experts have warned AI poses risks to humanity. And many employers see it as a more cost-efficient way to conduct business — ChatGPT has already replaced some jobs.

In Wisconsin, there are 87,082 jobs in the tech industry, according to a report this year from The Computing Technology Industry Association. Overall, the direct economic impact of the tech sector is estimated to be $21.1 billion.

Statewide, women make up about 28 percent of the tech workforce, according to the same report. That's up slightly from the national average of 26 percent. Wisconsin's Black population comprises 3 percent of the tech workforce, as does the Hispanic/Latino population.

Johnson said as a Black woman in STEM, she's seen recent efforts focused on increasing representation for women in the field.

Continue reading: https://www.wpr.org/artificial-intelligence-ai-women-wisconsin-tech-industry

I believe a part of making sense out of the issue of artificial intelligence (AI) in the world of cyber comes down to definitions. AI is the idea that a machine can mimic human intelligence, while machine learning (ML) teaches a machine how to perform a task and identify patterns. A lot of cyber security vendors are jumping on the bandwagon, hyping up their products, and slapping an AI sticker on them when they aren’t actually AI. It’s been the same way as any fad since snake oil.

And for some, the end goal for AI is that it is automatic and doesn’t need human intervention. But I’m a firm believer that we need to accept that the answers and processes that AI generates shouldn’t be taken as gospel. We should always treat its outputs as a starting point to then apply human decision-making to, rather than see it as the end product. AI will always need a human perspective to make it ethical, and its outputs relevant.

Meanwhile, the use cases – currently – are quite slender for AI. For instance, GitHub Copilot. It turns natural language prompts into coding suggestions. And while it’s great, it’s great at being deep on one particular thing.

Deep, in this context, is like training for a particular career – like a neurosurgeon. Whereas wide is a GP who is good at treating lots of different medical conditions. But you could argue that Copilot is ML and not true AI. Midjourney’s capabilities for creating images, for instance, go deep but not broad. You need the AI to be both deep and broad to do a particular thing well. We are getting a bit closer thanks to ChatGPT, but it still feels a while away.

And specifically for security, we haven’t got our head round how we can effectively use it. This is where it can be used as a baseline of what a security team needs to consider, and for humans to take it to the next level. For example, security controls and policy decisions. But the interesting part about that is how do we actually take it and put it into practical solutions we can use down the line.

Continue reading: https://www.computerweekly.com/opin...security-Yes-but-only-if-it-works-with-humans

Welcome to the General Discussion forum!​

We want to create a welcoming atmosphere and as such ask that you have a quick look at our community code of conduct. The first rule as always, though, is to be nice to each other. Let’s learn, grow and make a real difference together.

Some quick links:

• Technology Interest Forums - dedicated to all sorts of interesting things… Like Drones, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, meetings, events & member benefits. Any registered user of CompTIA and the forum is welcome to ask (or share) anything they like. Take a look.
• Regional communities forums - ASEAN | ANZ | BENELUX | DACH | NORTH AMERICA | UK & IRELAND
• Committees - These are aligned to topics such as DEI, Cybersecurity and more. Access Insight on what they're working on in the Global Committee forums.

You'll need to have CompTIA membership in order to take part in regional communities and Committees.

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me either in a private message, @mention me in a thread or hover/tap on my name and click start conversation and I will be happy to help.

Welcome to the Events & meetings forum!​

We want to create a welcoming atmosphere and as such ask that you have a quick look at our community code of conduct. The first rule as always, though, is to be nice to each other. Let’s learn, grow and make a real difference together.

Some quick links:

• Technology Interest Forums - dedicated to all sorts of interesting things… Like Drones, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, meetings, events & member benefits. Any registered user of CompTIA and the forum is welcome to ask (or share) anything they like. Take a look.
• Regional communities forums - ASEAN | ANZ | BENELUX | DACH | NORTH AMERICA | UK & IRELAND
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The business benefits of diversity cannot be overlooked – having a diverse workforce produces better business outcomes, evidently performing better than those without. Fortunately, the technology industry is experiencing a steady increase in the number of women in leadership, which presents greater potential for long-term equity.

However, while the tech industry is paving the way forward for innovation and technical advancements, it still has a long way to go in terms of fully embracing and empowering women.

The current state of affairs​

While research from Deloitte shows that the global tech workforce has seen a 6.9% increase in women's participation and an 11.7% rise in their representation in technical roles from 2019 to 2022, women in tech still encounter obstacles in attaining and retaining leadership positions.

Aside from issues like the gender pay gap, McKinsey finds that only 52 women are promoted to managerial roles for every 100 men. With new reports showing that more than 50% of women in the technology industry are likely to quit before the age of 35, organizations need to act fast and implement cultural changes to retain more woman, encourage their ambition, and also promote more balanced promotion and mentoring opportunities.

Actively encouraging young girls into STEM​

It's important to acknowledge that businesses aren't solely responsible for tackling unconscious bias. Childhood experiences often contribute to its development and it starts very early in homes and in schools. Therefore, it's imperative for parents, local schools and government authorities to work together in empowering young girls to pursue STEM career paths and eliminate prejudice before they even enter the working world. I grew up with a mother who prized education and accomplishment plus I had natural leadership, aptitude, and resiliency to lean on.

Looking back at my own educational journey, I learned to read very early, and was always good at math and science, identified by the time I was seven. My elementary school already had specialized programs teaching biology, algebra, and chess by the time I was eight. While some of my middle school classes were more repetitive to that program when I moved schools, I then in high school had access to Advanced Placement classes where I could take college level STEM classes during my high school years. This positioned me well for a major in international finance and economics and, later, an MBA/ Masters in International Management. Yet, without the encouragement and support I experienced in my home life and developing years at school, I might have chosen another path altogether or not felt that I could achieve something that no one else in my family and no mentors during my younger years had done.

Although girls generally perform as well as, if not better than, boys in science and math standardized tests, women are notably less likely to pursue careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, except for life sciences. It has always been the right thing to do to encourage gender diversity in STEM, but now it is an imperative given resource and talent shortages in our ever-more digital world.

Continue reading: https://diginomica.com/encouraging-women-stem-early-years-to-workplace

Drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), have swiftly emerged as a disruptive technology with the potential to revolutionize various industries. From agriculture and construction to logistics and surveillance, drones offer unique advantages that can significantly benefit businesses.

ADVANTAGES OF DRONES IN BUSINESS​

1. INCREASED EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY​

Drones have the ability to perform tasks faster and more efficiently than traditional methods. For example, in agriculture, drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors can monitor crops, identify diseases, and assess crop health over large areas in a fraction of the time it would take humans to cover the same terrain. This increased efficiency allows businesses to save valuable time and resources, ultimately leading to improved productivity.

2. COST SAVINGS​

By streamlining operations and reducing manual labor, drones can significantly cut costs for businesses. In sectors like construction and infrastructure, drones can conduct surveys and inspections, eliminating the need for expensive manned operations. Additionally, drones can be used for last-mile deliveries, saving costs in the logistics industry. These cost-saving benefits make drones an attractive investment for businesses of all sizes.

3. ENHANCED SAFETY​

In hazardous environments such as mining sites or disaster-stricken areas, using drones can eliminate risks to human lives. Drones can access hard-to-reach locations, assess structural integrity, and provide real-time data without putting human lives at risk. This enhanced safety feature is a game-changer for industries dealing with dangerous work conditions.

4. REAL-TIME DATA AND ANALYTICS​

Drones equipped with advanced sensors and cameras can capture real-time data and provide valuable insights to businesses. For example, in the retail industry, drones can monitor foot traffic and customer behavior within stores, helping retailers optimize their layouts and marketing strategies. Real-time data analysis empowers businesses to make data-driven decisions and stay ahead of the competition.

5. IMPROVED INVENTORY MANAGEMENT​

In warehouses and distribution centers, drones can automate inventory management processes. They can efficiently count and track inventory, reducing the chances of errors and stock outs. This level of automation ensures that businesses maintain optimal inventory levels and avoid unnecessary carrying costs.

6. PRECISION AGRICULTURE​

In the agricultural sector, drones have revolutionized farming practices through precision agriculture. Drones equipped with sensors can assess crop health, monitor soil conditions, and even apply targeted fertilizers and pesticides. This precision approach optimizes crop yields, conserves resources, and promotes sustainable farming practice

Continue reading: https://www.lancashirebusinessview....atures/how-can-drones-benefit-businesses-7241

Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that enables secure and transparent transactions among multiple parties without intermediaries. It has been widely used in various sectors, such as finance, supply chain, healthcare, and energy. But what are the implications of blockchain for IT security and strategy? How can you evaluate the pros and cons of implementing blockchain in your IT operations? In this article, we will explore some of the key aspects of blockchain and IT security, and provide some tips on how to assess the risks and benefits of blockchain adoption for IT operations.

Blockchain basics​

Blockchain is based on a network of nodes that store and validate blocks of data, which are linked by cryptographic hashes. Each block contains a timestamp, a nonce, and the hash of the previous block, creating a chain of records that cannot be altered or tampered with. The nodes use a consensus mechanism, such as proof-of-work or proof-of-stake, to agree on the validity of the blocks and update the ledger. The ledger is public and accessible to anyone who has the appropriate permissions, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Blockchain benefits​

Blockchain offers several benefits for IT security and strategy, such as enhanced data integrity and availability, reduced costs and complexity, and improved trust and collaboration. Blockchain ensures that data is consistent, accurate, and complete across the network, and is always available and accessible, even in the event of a node failure or a cyberattack. It eliminates the need for intermediaries, such as banks, brokers, or third-party service providers, that may charge fees, introduce delays, or create vulnerabilities. Additionally, it simplifies processes and workflows, reducing the overhead and maintenance costs. Blockchain also enables trustless and peer-to-peer transactions, where the parties do not need to know or trust each other, but can verify the transactions through the ledger. Furthermore, it facilitates collaboration and coordination among different stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers, regulators, or partners, by providing a shared and immutable source of truth.

Continue reading: https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-do-you-assess-risks-benefits-blockchain-adoption?trk=cq

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized many aspects of our lives, including how we work and interact with technology. While some people have feared that AI may replace human workers, there is a growing perspective that AI can actually create new jobs—here's how AI can contribute to job creation.

Automation And Work Transformation​

AI has the potential to automate and simplify numerous repetitive and manual tasks that require less creativity and critical reasoning. This can enable workers to focus on more meaningful and high-value activities. For instance, in the manufacturing and logistics sectors, AI can automate assembly processes, allowing employees to engage in design, quality control and management tasks.

Furthermore, AI can improve the efficiency and accuracy of decision-making activities. AI systems can analyze vast amounts of data and provide intelligent recommendations to enhance productivity and effectiveness in business operations. However, this requires new skills for workers, such as the ability to interpret and utilize the results generated by AI.

New Opportunities In The Field Of AI​

While AI may reduce the demand for some jobs, it can also create new employment opportunities in previously unexplored areas. For example, the creation and development of AI systems require machine learning engineers, data scientists and specialized researchers. These types of professionals are increasingly in demand and well-compensated.

Additionally, implementing AI also necessitates support from AI ethics and cybersecurity specialists. With the growing awareness of the ethical implications of AI, there are opportunities for ethics experts to ensure that decisions made by AI systems align with moral and social principles. At the same time, the security risks associated with AI call for cybersecurity specialists to protect systems from external threats.

Continue reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes...intelligence-create-new-jobs/?sh=2daca67f2586

Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking the world by storm, due largely to its potential to dramatically change how we live and work.

Major tech giants are scrambling to embrace AI and are racing to develop new products. Meanwhile, some businesses are determining how to use AI to become more efficient, engage customers and tap new revenue. Others are more skeptical, citing concerns about ethics and compliance. Some critics are downright doomsayers, proclaiming AI to be the inevitable end of humanity.

The volume of AI noise and opinions is intense; for AI company marketers, the challenge is rising above the fray, particularly when media and potential customers are chasing after the shiniest new object.

The question is, how do these companies stand out—particularly when newer, potentially flashier businesses are dominating the headlines and jostling for market share? It can be a challenge for companies that have been offering AI technology for years to both compete for attention with modern media darlings and simultaneously convey the value and importance of AI.

Here are four tips to overcoming these challenges based on my experience as the CMO of an AI company:

Continue reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes...ies-can-rise-above-the-noise/?sh=5bc895693847