🤖 Practical AI - Navigating the Evolving AI Landscape: Job Transformations, Market Shifts, and Emerging Technologies
Shifts in the job market, AI reskilling and technology trends to watch out for 2024
Hi! I’m Mike and welcome to this free edition of the 'Practical AI’ newsletter. Each week, I’ll cover what’s happened, what’s happening and how that applies to you.
SAP's Strategic AI Shift and Job Restructuring
SAP, a giant in the IT sector, is restructuring about 7% of its workforce, amounting to around 8,000 employees, as it pivots towards a stronger focus on AI. This reorganisation involves internal reskilling programs and voluntary leave schemes, with an estimated cost of $2 billion. Despite the restructuring, SAP expects to maintain its current headcount by year's end, reflecting a shift in job roles rather than a reduction. This move is part of a broader trend in the IT industry, characterised by layoffs and a shift towards AI-driven operations. SAP's commitment to this new direction is further emphasised by its plan to invest over $1 billion in AI-powered technology startups through Sapphire Ventures. For more insights, Reuters provides detailed coverage of SAP's restructuring and outlook for 2025 here.
Bard Ascends in AI Leaderboard
Bard, an AI model, has recently climbed to the second spot in the LMSYS Chatbot Arena Leaderboard, surpassing GPT-4 but still trailing behind the newer GPT-4 Turbo. This achievement is noteworthy as Bard is powered by Gemini Pro, not the yet-to-be-released Gemini Ultra. The rise of Bard in the leaderboard signifies the intensifying competition and innovation in the AI industry, where various models are continually evolving and challenging each other's capabilities.
AI Integration in Web Browsers
Web browsers are increasingly incorporating AI features to enhance user experience. Google Chrome's latest version includes three new AI-driven features: 'Tag Organiser' for tab management, 'AI Themes' for personalised browser aesthetics, and 'Writing Help' to assist users in composing text. Meanwhile, Arc has launched a new iPhone browser concept that revolutionises search experiences with its 'Browse for me' feature, which creates webpages based on search queries instead of traditional results. These developments signify the growing role of AI in everyday digital tools. More details on Chrome's AI features can be found on Google's blog here, and information about Arc's new browser concept is available on The Verge here.
Apple's AI Ambitions with Siri
Apple is reportedly investing $1 billion annually to enhance Siri with AI capabilities, potentially unveiling an AI-enhanced version at WWDC 2024. This initiative follows their efforts to integrate AI more deeply into Siri, with beta code indicating tests on various AI models, including in-house developed Large Language Models and OpenAI technologies. These advancements highlight Apple's commitment to AI and its potential impact on enhancing Siri's functionality, marking a significant step in Apple's AI strategy. CNBC provides more details on Apple's AI integration efforts here.
Top Seven Technologies to Watch in 2024
The technological landscape in 2024 is buzzing with AI-driven innovations. 'Nature' magazine outlines seven key technological areas to watch, ranging from protein engineering and 3D printing to deepfake detection. These fields represent the forefront of technological progress, with AI playing a central role in shaping these advancements. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the emerging technologies poised to make significant impacts in the near future. Explore the full list and details on 'Nature' here.
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