Here are five things in business tech news that happened this week and how they affect your business.
Did you miss them?
This Week in Business Tech News
Business Tech News #1 – Mark Zuckerberg says AI will be doing the work of mid-level engineers this year – and he’s not the only big tech exec predicting the end of the profession.
In a recent interview with Joe Rogan, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that AI will replace mid-level engineers by 2025. He believes AI can take over coding tasks, allowing human engineers to focus on higher-level problem-solving and creativity. Other tech giants like Google have also started integrating AI in coding processes. While initially costly, companies hope the transition to AI-generated code will become more efficient over time. This shift may reduce the demand for mid-level coding roles, pushing software engineers towards more strategic responsibilities. “My view on this is like [in the]
future people are just going to be so much more creative and are going to be freed up to do kinda crazy things,” Zuckerberg said. (Source: ITPro)
Why this is important for your business:
I don’t think AI will replace ALL mid-level software developers. But it will replace many. Most companies I know that use ERP, accounting CRM, HR and other business platforms need them customized, integrated and modified to suit their processes. They have to hire expensive outsiders to do this or hire full time employees. Some of these costs will still be necessary. But as AI continues to mature – over the next few years – many of the software applications written will be done on command and without the need of these humans. But you will still need humans to THINK about what’s best, oversee the development done by an AI bot and then make sure it’s implemented the right way. Hopefully, smart technology implementers will embrace these new tools to help their clients more. And smart companies will hire those implementers for better and quicker results.
Business Tech News #2 – Salesforce introduces Agentforce for Retail and Retail Cloud with Modern POS to revolutionize retail operations.
Salesforce has launched Agentforce for Retail – designed to enhance efficiency in retail through AI-powered automation. This innovation aims to improve customer personalization and streamline operations. Key features include Order Management that can automate tasks such as order modifications and tracking. Guided Shopping provides product recommendations based on customer preferences, and Loyalty Promotion Creation can assist marketers in crafting loyalty programs. (Source: Small Business Trends)
Why this is important for your business:
Perfect example of what we’re telling our clients: wait, then lean in and reap. Many multi-billion-dollar retail brands are building systems like this internally. Smaller retailers can’t afford to do that. But now platforms like Salesforce (and there will be many more) are rolling out newer versions of their POS systems to incorporate the kinds of AI functionality that the bigger corporations are using.
Business Tech News #3 – Many VPNs are vulnerable to hackers and hijackers, study claims.
A study by Top10VPN – an independent research group – discovered significant vulnerabilities in VPN tunneling protocols, affecting over 4 million systems. These include VPN servers, home network routers, mobile servers, and CDN nodes. The vulnerabilities are found in IP6IP6, GRE6, 4in6, and 6in4 protocols, allowing attackers to exploit these weaknesses to access networks. Major companies like Meta and Tencent are also impacted. (Source: PCWorld)
Why this is important for your business:
The issue stems from the protocols’ inability to reliably verify the identity of a sender. Attackers can repeatedly gain unauthorized access by sending data packets using the affected protocols. This can lead to denial-of-service (DoS) attacks and infiltration of private networks. To mitigate these risks, additional security mechanisms like IPsec or WireGuard – which provide end-to-end encryption – are recommended.
To a layman this seems a little complicated. But the takeaway is that not all VPNs are as secure as they advertise. It’s important to work with an IT professional to make sure yours is not giving away confidential information.
Business Tech News #4 – AI to become core business driver within next year, claims IBM study.
A report published by IBM – Embedding AI in Your Brand’s DNA – states that AI is set to become a major business driver by next year. The report found that 81 percent of retail and consumer product executives use AI significantly. Investment is expected to surge by 52 percent beyond traditional IT budgets as companies increasingly adopt sophisticated AI applications beyond IT. Executives plan to use AI for integrated business planning, expanding its usage by 82 percent in the coming year. Companies expect that 45 percent of employees will need AI-related upskilling within three years. Additionally, investment in ecosystem platforms will grow significantly. IBM’s Global Managing Director, Dee Waddell said, “Retail and consumer product companies are at a tipping point where embedding AI across their operations can help define not just productivity gains, but the future of brand relevance, engagement and trust.” (Source: Retail Customer Experience)
Why this is important for your business:
I’m not saying that AI isn’t growing and that investments are significant. But who are IBM’s customers? Large corporations. And what does IBM do? Technology services. So read these things with some caution: IBM – like many tech companies – wants these large corporations to think that their competitors are all wildly investing in AI and they have to keep up with the Joneses. So you better hire IBM for help! Reports like these are interesting and I’m not discounting their responses. But just know that there’s an agenda behind them.
Business Tech News #5 – The best 2024 Microsoft Surface laptop ever has never been priced lower than now.
Mike Fazioli of Gizmodo alerted readers to a fantastic deal on the 2024 Microsoft Surface Laptop – it’s currently available at an all-time-low price of $1,240. Known for its top-notch performance and advanced AI capabilities, the computer boasts a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite processor, 1TB of storage, and the Windows 11 Copilot+ feature set. This price drop to $1,240 is a significant discount from its original price of $1,700. According to Fazioli, this laptop is “blazing fast” and has a “state-of-the-art” processor. Its Copilot+ feature offers video call enhancements, real-time translation, and smart document retrieval. Fazioli also gives the surface laptop high marks for its sleek design. (Source: Gizmodo)
Why this is important for your business:
Microsoft Surface is a great laptop. $1,240 is a steal.
Every week I round up the top five business tech news stories and share how this impacts your business and mine.
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