A study on AI job displacement challenges the notion of rapid and widespread automation, particularly in tasks involving computer vision. The research finds that only about 23% of wages paid for vision-related tasks are economically viable for automation, suggesting a more gradual integration of AI into the workforce.
And I have to highlight this piece in the Wall Street Journal. Early adopters of Microsoft’s AI Bot, Copilot for Microsoft 365, have mixed reviews about its usefulness and price. While some companies found it valuable, the software’s shortcomings, such as mistakes in Excel and PowerPoint and hallucinations in generative AI tools, have raised skepticism about its worth at $30 per user per month. Microsoft is confident that the time and money saved through the tool justify the cost, but some users have experienced disappointment with features like PowerPoint slide generation.
There’s still a lot coming.
OpenAI is introducing “memory” for ChatGPT, allowing the AI chatbot to remember information about users and personalize their interactions. Users can either explicitly tell ChatGPT specific details about themselves, or the bot can learn and store information over time. This feature aims to make ChatGPT feel more personal and intelligent. OpenAI assures users they can control ChatGPT’s memory and manage what the bot remembers. Memory is currently being tested with a small group of users.
Apple researchers have unveiled a new AI tool called “Keyframer” that uses large language models (LLMs) to animate static images through natural language prompts. This tool represents a significant advancement in integrating AI into the creative process and may hint at future Apple products. Keyframer allows users to upload an image, provide a text prompt, and generate CSS animation code. Users can refine the animation through direct code editing or additional prompts.
D&H Distributing has launched the Go Big AI Program, which is aimed at helping MSPs and VARs effectively engage with AI solutions. The program provides training, resources, and consultative initiatives, including courses, workshops, sales enablement tools, and collaborations with leading technology entities. D&H aims to position its partners at the forefront of the AI transformation in the IT channel.
Most analysts, myself included, can overestimate the speed of adoption. Keep that in mind. The case of Microsoft’s AI Bot, Copilot, presents a valuable lesson on the importance of setting realistic expectations for AI tool adoption. The mixed feedback from early adopters, especially concerning its effectiveness and cost, highlights the need for continuous improvement and customization in AI solutions to meet diverse business needs and the dangers of focusing too much on early adoption. This is going to go slowly.
Leverage programs like D&H’s. You’ll need to keep up with lots of technology developments, so having fundamentals in place will be a big differentiator.