Here are five things that happened in the tech industry this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss me?
1 – Small businesses use ChatGPT as their personal assistant.
DC News Now recently covered Alexandria Alison, a working mother of three who uses ChatGPT for her professional coaching business. Allison said she uses AI primarily for her social media marketing, which she added has provided enough content for her to engage with her followers over the course of several weeks. I was. The end result was fruitful, including attracting attention from new customers. (Source: WAVY.com)
Why this is important for your business:
This was a fun story to demonstrate how one small business owner is using ChatGPT to improve their business. In his previous Forbes article, he listed 27 uses for AI chatbots in small businesses. This list is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years.
2 – Google offers new learning and consulting options for companies advancing their AI journey.
TechCrunch’s Frederic Lardinois reported on Google Cloud Consulting, a new service offering expertise and guidance on using generative AI. Aimed at “big business executives,” the service aims to provide helpful suggestions on how to best leverage AI while maintaining a sensible approach to how technology is used. (Source: TechCrunch)
Why this is important for your business:
Google makes this available to large companies, but there are plenty of small businesses that can also take advantage of it. Google recognizes this transitional period for professionals and is responding to their need to stay up-to-date with generative AI to stay competitive. To that end, Lardinoa noted that Google plans to also offer “new generative AI consulting to help customers harness AI to analyze their data.”
3 – Apple Messages app update adds voicemail transcription, “check-in” location sharing, and more.
Apple has made significant updates to the most used features of the iPhone. As reported by TechCrunch’s Sarah Perez, the messaging app is getting some impressive upgrades. (Source: TechCrunch)
Why this is important for your business:
All of these changes will help you and your employees be more productive. One of the new features is “check-in,” which allows iPhone owners to notify friends and family (or colleagues) that they have safely arrived at their destination. This feature is programmed to detect when a person is at home or another location and send automatic notifications. Other features include viewing transcribed voice messages and a new “catch up” feature that lets you quickly highlight the first unread message in group chats.
4 – Meet your next colleague – Walmart’s Alphabot
Walmart is evolving with AI for the benefit of its employees. The megastore has enhanced its fulfillment process with the introduction of Alphabot, a robotic assistant that picks up items from fulfillment centers to expedite grocery orders. Walmart’s Senior Vice President of Southeast Regional Operations shared how Alphabot will create job opportunities, not reduce them. “As production capacity expands, companies will need to hire more personal shoppers and occupy more leadership positions…” Berkeley was reportedly quoted as saying of the new system. (Source: Fox Business)
Why this is important for your business:
Walmart joins a growing number of retailers, distributors and manufacturers deploying AI to improve warehouse productivity. As the cost of these technologies drops, more small businesses will do the same.
5 – NASA selects SMEs, research teams for technology development.
This week, NASA issued a press release announcing the winners of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Notably, eight Minor Service Institutes (MSIs) were included among NASA’s selection of his 300 proposals. The press release also highlighted that over 25% of recipients are women- and veteran-owned businesses (each proposal team will receive $150,000). (Source: NASA)
Why this is important for your business:
Focused on research and space exploration since 1958, the agency will fund more than 200 small and medium-sized companies to research new technologies and other areas of research to “protect the health of astronauts.” and advocating for the small business sector. “This program allows NASA to nurture pioneering ideas from a diverse range of innovators across the country,” said Ginel Steele, deputy director of the program.
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