Today in AI

• News roundup

• Today’s big story

• This week on the podcast

• AI research changing the world

• Tool spotlight

News roundup

The top stories in AI today.

NEW LAUNCHES

The latest features, products & partnerships in AI

• Vectorize launches AI-powered enterprise data platform

• MIT’s new AI aging tool will show you your future self

• China-based MiniMax launches AI image-to-video tool

• Instacart’s new ‘Caper Carts’ use AI to gamify grocery shopping

• OpenAI partners with Hearst to enrich ChatGPT with magazine content

IMPLEMENTATION

Announcements, strategies & tools

• How to balance instinct with data-driven decision-making in the AI era

• The genAI opportunity: From ‘data to insight’ to ‘context to action’

• SAP Build is being reimagined to enable faster enterprise software and AI agents

• How to avoid the hype and find genuine value in AI

MONEY FLOWS

Economics, Wall Street, investing & fundraising

• Braintrust raises Series A from A16Z to assess and improve AI tool performance

• Microsoft to acquire OpenAI by 2026, analyst predicts

• DARPA awards university team grant to develop AI-powered turbines

• Foxconn chairman says AI boom is far from over in Q4 guidance

GADGETS

Computers, phones, chips & AI powered devices

• New research to employ Drones and AI to boost cyclist safety in Boston

• MediaTek challenges Qualcomm with AI-powered Dimensity 9400 chip

• Cyberhawk unveils new AI tool for faster, smarter drone inspections

• Humane’s AI Pin is finally getting a timer — and some other features too

• The ChromeOS Recorder app is coming to all Chromebooks

• Fitbit will now use Gemini AI to decode your health data

• Amazon is offering a $100 gift card if you buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

MODELS

Deployment, research, training, infrastructure

• Hailuo MiniMax is a great AI tool for turning images into videos

• The Reflection 70B saga continues with release of training data report

• Inflection AI launches API, enhances LLMs with emotional intelligence

• Apple’s new ‘Depth Pro’ AI model could revolutionize augmented reality

What’s happening in AI right now

The rise of agentic AI

A new paradigm is emerging in the world of artificial intelligence, one that promises to revolutionize how businesses operate and interact with technology. Agentic AI, highlighted as the next frontier in generative AI technology at the recent Forrester B2B APAC Summit 2024, is poised to reshape enterprise software and workflows in profound ways.

What is agentic AI?

Agentic AI refers to AI systems that can autonomously perform tasks, make decisions, and interact with other systems on behalf of humans. Unlike traditional AI models that simply respond to queries or generate content, agentic AI takes a more proactive role in business processes.

These advanced AI agents are designed to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and revolutionize marketing processes. They represent a significant leap forward from the chatbots and text generators that have dominated the AI landscape in recent years.

SAP’s recent moves

The emergence of agentic AI is driving a transformation in the enterprise software landscape. Major SaaS providers are recognizing that while AI isn't necessarily replacing traditional models, it's certainly enhancing them in powerful ways.

SAP's recent moves illustrate this trend perfectly. The company is introducing significant AI capabilities to its Build platform, including an extensibility wizard for seamless integration with S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition and Joule Studio for developing custom AI copilot skills. These enhancements aim to streamline development processes and provide more intelligent enterprise software solutions.

This general shift towards agentic AI in enterprise software has several implications:

1. Task Automation: AI agents can handle high-volume, repetitive tasks autonomously, freeing up human workers for more strategic activities.

2. Intelligent Decision Support: Advanced AI can provide real-time insights and recommendations, supporting better decision-making across the organization.

3. Seamless Integration: As exemplified by SAP's efforts, agentic AI is being woven into existing software ecosystems, enhancing rather than replacing current tools.

Revolutionizing marketing operations

Marketing is one area where agentic AI is set to make a significant impact. These AI agents can:

• Analyze vast amounts of customer data to identify trends and opportunities

• Personalize marketing messages at scale

• Optimize campaign performance in real-time

• Automate content creation and distribution

The potential for agentic AI to transform marketing operations is immense, offering unprecedented levels of efficiency and personalization.

The future of SaaS

The rise of agentic AI is prompting a reevaluation of traditional SaaS business models. As AI capabilities become more advanced, we're likely to see a shift towards more integrated, AI-driven approaches to enterprise software.

This doesn't necessarily mean the end of SaaS as we know it. Rather, we're seeing an evolution where AI capabilities are being seamlessly incorporated into existing platforms. The result is a new generation of enterprise software that is more intelligent, proactive, and capable of handling complex tasks with minimal human intervention.

Preparing for the agentic future

The rise of agentic AI marks a significant shift in how we think about enterprise software and business operations. As these AI agents become more sophisticated and integrated into our work environments, they promise to unlock new levels of productivity and innovation.

The question for business leaders is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how quickly and effectively they can harness the power of agentic AI to drive their organizations forward. Those who successfully navigate this transition will be well-positioned to thrive in the increasingly AI-driven business landscape of the future.

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This week on the podcast

Can’t get enough of our newsletter? Check out our podcast Future-Proof.

In this episode, the hosts Anthony Batt and Shane Robinson with guest Joe Veroneau from Conveyor discuss outsmarting paperwork. Conveyor is a company that helps automate security reviews and document sharing between companies. They use AI technology, specifically language models, to automate the process of filling out security questionnaires. This saves customers a significant amount of time and improves the quality of their responses.

AI research changing the world

The latest breakthroughs and most pivotal papers — broken down in language anyone can understand.

The roadmap to getting 26,500 LA city workers Al training

The Information Technology Agency of LA has unveiled an ambitious plan to integrate Al across all city departments, potentially revolutionizing public service delivery for 4 million Angelenos. At its core, the roadmap outlines a strategy to train over 26,500 city employees in Al, starting with a 3-month trial of Google Gemini Enterprise. But it's not just about efficiency-it's a blueprint for the future of urban governance. The plan addresses critical ethical concerns head-on, prioritizing responsible Al adoption to mitigate risks of bias, privacy breaches, and job displacement. By 2028, cities fully embracing this Al-driven approach could see a 15% reduction in traffic congestion and a 10% improvement in air quality. As Al becomes integral to city operations, it raises intriguing questions: How will this reshape the relationship between citizens and local government? Will it lead to more trust or skepticism? And as other cities inevitably follow suit, could we be witnessing the birth of a new era of hyper-efficient, Al-augmented urban centers?

The AI tool we’re loving right now

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BigVu

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• AI voice changing & cloning

• Background music generator

• Post Scheduler

• Landing page generator

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