Alexa gets smarter with AI and how is AI paying off for Microsoft? According to one report AI was mentioned 175 times in a recent Microsoft analyst briefing – does that give you any hints? And could you determine that a breach is material and get a report out to authorities in four days? You might have to.
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These are the top tech news stories on today’s Hashtag Trending.
I’m your host Jim Love, CIO of IT World Canada and Tech News Day in the US.
Alexa – smarten up. You know you’ve said it. And you know what she says.
Amazon is gearing up to breathe new life into its Alexa voice assistant by integrating generative AI, a move that could redefine the role of over half a billion Alexa-enabled devices worldwide. The tech giant sees this as an opportunity to transform these devices into delivery channels for a voice-enabled AI similar to ChatGPT.
Amazon has been relatively quiet about offering AI services directly to consumers, but that’s about to change. The first signs of this shift are expected to be unveiled at an event at Amazon’s HQ2 offices in Arlington, Virginia, on September 20. However, more comprehensive integrations will take some time, possibly extending into next year and beyond.
Amazon believes that Alexa’s widespread presence in homes, coupled with its connectivity to a variety of devices, gives it a competitive edge. Many of Amazon’s devices are equipped with additional sensors like cameras and microphones that can provide context to generative AI queries. This could potentially enable Alexa to not only answer questions but also perform actions based on user instructions.
However, this potential advantage also presents challenges related to security and privacy. Alexa must ensure that these AI systems, which are known to “hallucinate” or make things up, do not perform actions they shouldn’t, such as opening doors or starting cars. There are also technical hurdles to overcome, such as the increased time and computing resources required for generative AI to respond to queries.
This move is part of Amazon’s broader interest in generative AI, as indicated by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. Other tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Apple are also exploring or integrating generative AI in their product lines.
Sources include: Axios
Microsoft’s quarterly sales and earnings have surpassed Wall Street expectations, thanks to the continued growth of its cloud business and strong demand for generative AI features. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that organizations are keen to apply the next generation of AI to address their most significant opportunities and challenges, both safely and responsibly.
The company reported revenue of $56.2 billion for the three months ending June 30, an 8 per cent increase from the previous year and higher than the average analysts’ estimate of $55.5 billion. Net income rose by 20 per cent to $20.1 billion, and per-share earnings were $2.69, a 21 per cent increase and ahead of Wall Street expectations of around $2.55.
Microsoft has been integrating generative AI across its product line, including its Bing search engine, Edge browser, and major software franchises like Windows and Office. The company recently announced a $30 per person per month charge for businesses wishing to use AI-powered “Copilots” for Office apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
So AI is paying off for Microsoft in a big way, but it may not be the only factor. Earnings in big tech appear to be rebounding. Meta hit revenues above its quarterly estimates and eBay is forecasting third quarter revenue above estimates. No doubt some areas like hardware may have challenges, but software seems to be on track for a good year.
Sources include: Axios, The Register, Reuters
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted new rules requiring public companies to disclose all cybersecurity breaches that could impact their financial performance within (wait for it) four days. Exceptions will be made if immediate disclosure poses significant national security or public safety risks.
The rules, passed by a 3-2 vote, also mandate that publicly traded companies disclose information annually about their cybersecurity risk management and executive expertise in the field, with the aim of protecting investors.
The new rules are designed to bring more transparency to an otherwise opaque but growing risk and may encourage improvements in cyber defenses. However, they could pose a bigger challenge for smaller companies with limited resources. The clock on the four-day window for reporting doesn’t start ticking until companies have determined a breach is material but what’s material and how quickly can you assess that during a cyber emergency.
The rules were first proposed in March 2022, when the SEC determined that breaches of corporate networks posed an escalating risk as their digitization of operations and remote work increased, and the cost to investors from cybersecurity incidents rose.
If you want to know more about this, I’m being interviewed by Howard Solomon on his Saturday Cybersecurity Today Week in Review podcast. You can find it where you find us.
Sources include: CTV News, CTV News
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I’m your host, Jim Love. Have a Thrilling Thursday!