Top AI Trends in the Travel & Hospitality IndustryAPI4AI·Follow16 min read·Just now--The Visual Shift in Travel Marketing: Why AI Matters NowTravel Decisions Are Now Made Through ImagesIn today’s digital-first world, photos play a major role in how travelers choose their next destination, hotel or experience. Studies show that a vast majority of travelers — especially millennials and Gen Z — make booking decisions based on visuals. Whether it’s scrolling through social media or comparing listings on a travel platform, people want to see what they’re getting.This shift means that hospitality businesses are under pressure to present high-quality, appealing and well-organized images across all platforms. The days of uploading a few grainy room shots are long gone. Now, potential guests expect polished galleries, virtual walkthroughs and visuals that inspire trust and emotion.The Image Overload ProblemBut there’s a challenge: the sheer amount of visual content is growing fast. A large hotel chain or travel agency may handle thousands of images across different properties. Even a boutique resort could struggle with managing hundreds of photos from professional shoots, guest uploads or marketing teams.Without a system in place, these images often end up:poorly labeled or tagged,hard to find or organize,outdated or off-brand.This slows down marketing campaigns, reduces search visibility and ultimately hurts booking performance.Where AI Steps InArtificial intelligence, especially computer vision technology, is now helping businesses solve these visual challenges. AI can automatically analyze, tag, sort and enhance images with speed and precision. Instead of manually reviewing hundreds of photos, teams can rely on smart algorithms to identify what’s in the image, detect quality issues or even flag duplicates.What makes this especially powerful is the shift from manual curation to automated workflows. For example:Tagging a photo of a hotel room with terms like “sea view”, “king bed” or “modern interior”.Grouping similar images together so the best one can be selected automatically.Flagging and removing images that include people’s faces (for privacy reasons) or inappropriate content.These tasks used to take hours. Now, they can be done in seconds with AI.A Foundational Layer for Digital TransformationImage processing may seem like a small detail, but it becomes foundational when scaled across an entire travel platform or hotel group. With clean, tagged and organized images:Websites load faster with optimized content.Booking platforms show more relevant visuals for search queries.Marketing teams can launch new listings or campaigns quickly.AI doesn’t just save time — it improves consistency and professionalism across all customer touchpoints. And as visual content continues to grow in importance, these tools are becoming essential rather than optional.In short, AI isn’t just making things easier — it’s changing how the travel and hospitality industry connects with guests online.AI-Powered Photo Tagging & Organization for Lightning-Fast ListingsThe Challenge of Managing Visual Content at ScaleHotels, resorts and travel platforms often deal with thousands of images — photos of rooms, pools, restaurants, spa areas, conference halls and more. Add to that seasonal updates, renovations and guest-generated content and it becomes clear: managing all this imagery manually is time-consuming and often chaotic.Without proper organization, businesses run into serious issues:Guests see outdated or low-quality images.Marketing teams struggle to find the right photo for a campaign.Listings take longer to publish or update.Inconsistent image descriptions can lower search rankings.That’s where AI steps in to turn visual chaos into structured content.What AI Tagging Can DoModern computer vision models can automatically detect and label the contents of images. This process, known as image tagging or image labeling, goes far beyond just identifying “a bed” or “a pool”.Here’s what AI can automatically recognize and tag in travel-related photos:Room type (e.g., suite, double, single)Key features (e.g., balcony, sea view, sofa bed)Amenities (e.g., minibar, bathtub, desk, TV)Indoor vs outdoor areasProperty type (e.g., resort, boutique hotel, hostel)Common areas like lobbies, restaurants or gymsThe result is a clean, searchable database of images. Teams can filter by tags, group similar photos and update listings in a fraction of the time.Deduplication and Visual ClusteringAnother smart feature of AI-driven image tools is automatic deduplication. Many times, hotels have multiple shots of the same space from slightly different angles. AI can group similar images, making it easy to choose the best one or avoid uploading repetitive visuals.This helps keep listings visually sharp, professional and easy to browse.Boosting SEO with Structured Visual MetadataSearch engines increasingly rely on context to understand and rank content. When images are properly tagged with relevant metadata (such as alt-text, descriptions and captions), they have a better chance of showing up in image searches on Google or appearing higher on booking platforms.AI-generated tags can be automatically converted into SEO-friendly labels like:“Modern king suite with ocean view”“Luxury bathroom with spa tub and marble finish”“Tropical resort garden area with palm trees”These descriptions don’t just help machines understand the image — they also improve discoverability and appeal to human viewers.Real-World Tech in ActionHere are a few AI capabilities making this possible:Image Labeling APIs recognize dozens of objects and settings relevant to hospitality.Furniture & Household Item Recognition tools help surface features like beds, sofas, lamps or decorative items — critical for highlighting comfort and style.Brand Logo Detection ensures that only approved logos (and no competitor branding) appear in promotional images.These ready-made tools can be integrated directly into content management systems, allowing instant tagging during upload or bulk processing of existing galleries.Business Benefits That Add UpBy integrating AI-powered tagging and organization, hospitality businesses can:Launch new property listings 2–3 times faster.Improve consistency across platforms and campaigns.Reduce the manual workload for content teams.Increase booking rates by showing more relevant and compelling images.For travel brands dealing with growing content libraries, AI isn’t just an efficiency upgrade — it’s a competitive advantage.Next-Gen Virtual Tours: Auto-Stitching Photos & Videos into Immersive WalkthroughsThe New Standard for Hotel and Destination PreviewsToday’s travelers expect more than just static images. They want to explore a hotel room, stroll through the pool area or peek inside a cozy café — before they make a booking. Virtual tours have quickly become a must-have feature for hotels, resorts and even entire travel platforms.But producing these immersive experiences used to be expensive and time-consuming, requiring professional photographers and manual editing. Thanks to advances in AI, that’s changing. Virtual tours can now be generated automatically using standard photos or videos, with computer vision doing the heavy lifting.How AI-Stitching WorksAt the heart of modern virtual tours is a process called image stitching. It combines multiple photos taken from different angles into one seamless panoramic or 360° image.Here’s what AI can do:Align and merge photos with precision, correcting angles and perspectives.Identify overlaps and edges to blend shots into a continuous view.Remove visual artifacts, like inconsistent lighting or duplicated objects.When applied to a series of rooms or spaces, this technology creates a smooth, connected experience where users can “walk through” a property from their screen.Some systems also apply the same logic to short video clips, automatically cutting and combining segments to form a guided walkthrough.Enhancing Tours with Smart Visual CleanupRaw images and video clips aren’t always perfect. That’s why AI-based enhancement tools are used alongside stitching to improve visual quality and ensure brand consistency.Common improvements include:Background cleanup: Remove clutter or distracting elements using background removal.Sky or lighting adjustments: Replace overcast skies or brighten dim interiors automatically.Object removal or replacement: Eliminate unwanted items like cleaning carts, cables or staff.Face anonymization: Blur or block out guests or employees for privacy compliance, using face detection and anonymization tools.For example, API4AI’s Background Removal API can isolate rooms or scenic areas, while the Image Anonymization API ensures faces are blurred in accordance with privacy regulations like GDPR.Adding Interactivity with Hotspots and NavigationSome AI-powered systems go beyond visuals and add layers of interaction to the tour. Using object detection and scene understanding, these tools can:Tag key areas (e.g., “Ocean View Balcony” or “Mini-Bar”)Add clickable hotspots with descriptions, prices or booking optionsAllow smooth transitions between rooms or scenes with arrow-based navigationThis turns a passive viewing experience into an engaging and informative exploration, helping customers make faster, more confident booking decisions.Measurable Business ImpactVirtual tours aren’t just a marketing gimmick — they drive real results. Studies show that listings with immersive walkthroughs can:Increase time spent on a page by 2x or moreRaise direct booking rates by 40–67%Lower bounce rates on travel websitesReduce customer uncertainty and support requestsThese tools are especially powerful for luxury hotels, resorts and unique stays, where visuals have a strong influence on customer perception.Making It AccessibleThe best part? AI now makes this technology accessible to businesses of all sizes. You don’t need expensive custom software or a film crew. With the right set of AI-powered APIs and some basic camera work, travel brands can create immersive experiences that once took weeks — in just a few hours.In a visual-first world, letting guests “walk the space” online isn’t optional — it’s a key differentiator. And with AI doing the heavy lifting, it’s never been easier to offer.Content Moderation & Brand Safety: Keeping Guest-Generated Media CleanThe Double-Edged Sword of User-Generated ContentIn the travel and hospitality world, user-generated content (UGC) is a powerful asset. Guests love to share their vacation photos and videos — on social media, in reviews or even directly on hotel and booking platforms. This kind of content adds authenticity, builds trust and often drives more engagement than staged marketing photos.But there’s a downside: once you allow users to upload content, you also open the door to potential risks. Inappropriate photos, offensive symbols, nudity or even unwanted competitor branding can slip through and damage your reputation. Worse, they might violate platform guidelines or local regulations.That’s why content moderation is becoming a critical part of visual management in travel businesses.Why Manual Moderation Isn’t ScalableMany businesses still rely on human moderators to review every uploaded photo. While this works for small volumes, it becomes nearly impossible at scale. A popular resort or travel platform may receive hundreds — or thousands — of new images every week. Reviewing all of them manually:Slows down content approvalIncreases labor costsLeaves room for human error or inconsistencyAs more visual content comes in from users, influencers and marketing campaigns, it’s simply not practical to keep up without automation.How AI Makes Moderation Fast and ReliableAI-powered image analysis tools can now take over most of the repetitive, time-consuming tasks of moderation. These tools are trained to recognize a wide range of visual elements and patterns and can flag or block problematic content within seconds.Here’s how AI is used in moderation:NSFW detection: Automatically identifies nudity, adult content or suggestive imagery that shouldn’t appear in public listings or reviews. Tools like the NSFW Recognition API help keep all media clean and brand-appropriate.Face detection and anonymization: Automatically blur or block faces in images to respect privacy policies — especially important in Europe and other regions with strong data protection laws.Brand and object detection: Spot unauthorized branding (e.g., logos of competitor hotels or products) or restricted items such as weapons, alcohol or cigarettes — particularly relevant for family resorts or wellness retreats.Offensive symbols and signs: AI can also detect and remove hate symbols, inappropriate gestures or other harmful visual cues.The speed and consistency of AI moderation make it a reliable first line of defense, with the option to escalate uncertain cases for human review.Protecting Your Brand ImageBrand safety is more than just avoiding inappropriate images. It’s about maintaining a consistent, polished and trustworthy visual identity. For example:Ensuring every guest photo aligns with the brand’s vibe (e.g., clean, elegant, family-friendly).Avoiding blurry or poor-quality images that dilute the professional look of your listing.Preventing images from including unwanted surprises, like messy backgrounds or construction zones.By combining moderation with tools like background removal or image enhancement, brands can guide what appears online — without micromanaging every upload.The Bottom LineAI-powered moderation tools allow travel brands to:Keep up with growing volumes of guest-generated contentMaintain high content standards without constant manual effortReduce the risk of reputational damage or legal issuesBuild a trustworthy and polished digital presenceIn a market where perception drives booking decisions, protecting your brand’s image through smart automation is not just wise — it’s essential. And with AI, it’s finally easy to do at scale.Visual Personalization & Search-by-Image for Frictionless BookingA New Kind of Travel Search: Visual FirstTraditionally, travel bookings start with text-based search — users type in their destination, dates and preferences. But with the rise of visual discovery, a new trend is emerging: search by image.Instead of describing what they want, travelers now prefer to show it. A photo of a stylish suite on Instagram, a beachfront villa in a blog post or a cozy mountain cabin seen on Pinterest can spark inspiration. The challenge? Most booking platforms still can’t turn that inspiration into action.This is where AI, especially visual similarity search, creates a powerful opportunity to modernize how people find and book their stays.How Visual Search WorksVisual search uses AI to analyze the visual features of an image — colors, shapes, textures and layout — and compare them to a database of available properties. It doesn’t rely on written tags or metadata. Instead, it learns to understand style and atmosphere.For example, a user uploads a photo of:A room with boho decor and plants → the system finds listings with similar interior styles.A rooftop pool at sunset → it returns hotels with rooftop amenities and similar ambiance.A snowy wooden cabin → it suggests mountain lodges with rustic designs.This creates a more natural and intuitive discovery experience, especially for travelers who are inspired by visuals and less likely to search using specific keywords.Personalized Recommendations Based on Visual CuesAI can also be used to personalize booking experiences based on a user’s past behavior, preferences or uploaded visuals.For example:If a guest frequently browses modern minimalist rooms, the system can prioritize similar listings across destinations.If someone uploads a photo with a pet, the system can highlight pet-friendly properties.If a user spends more time viewing spa or wellness images, the platform can promote resorts with those features.This personalization can be powered by object detection and scene recognition, allowing platforms to understand what users are drawn to — even without asking them directly.Upselling With Visual InsightsAI doesn’t just help with search and discovery — it also opens the door to smarter upselling.By analyzing which features a customer focuses on in images (e.g., balcony views, private pools, gym areas), platforms can:Recommend room upgrades with matching amenities.Suggest add-ons like spa access or guided tours.Present more relevant promotions in the booking flow.This improves both the user experience and the average revenue per booking.Real-World Tech ExamplesSome of the AI tools behind visual personalization include:Similarity Search Models trained on hospitality datasets to match decor styles and room layouts.Object Detection APIs that can identify features like beds, artwork, lighting or outdoor views.Image Labeling APIs that create a profile of each property image, making it easy to match with user preferences.Combined, these technologies create a smarter, more engaging booking journey — one that responds to what travelers seeand feel, not just what they type.Why It MattersIn an industry where competition is high and attention spans are short, helping users find exactly what they’re looking for — quickly and visually — can be the difference between a bounce and a booking.Visual personalization and search-by-image:Reduce friction in the discovery processIncrease user satisfaction and engagementBoost booking conversionsSupport upselling and tailored offersAs AI continues to evolve, the travel platforms that embrace visual intelligence will stand out — by speaking the visual language today’s travelers already use.Choosing Between Off-the-Shelf APIs and Customized Vision PipelinesOne Size Doesn’t Always Fit AllAI-powered image processing offers incredible value to the travel and hospitality industry — but not every solution fits every business equally. Some companies need fast, ready-to-use tools to get started right away. Others require tailored solutions to match unique branding, local aesthetics or specific operational goals.This is where the choice between off-the-shelf APIs and custom AI models becomes important. Understanding the difference can help travel brands make smarter technology decisions.What Are Off-the-Shelf APIs?Off-the-shelf APIs are pre-built tools designed to perform specific tasks with minimal setup. These can include:Image Labeling APIs for identifying objects and scenesBackground Removal APIs to isolate rooms, people or productsObject Detection APIs for spotting specific items like beds, lamps or poolsNSFW or Face Detection APIs to manage content moderation and privacyLogo Recognition APIs to catch branding in guest-uploaded contentThese APIs are ideal for companies that:Need quick integration into existing platformsDon’t have large custom datasetsWant a cost-effective way to automate visual tasksAre solving common problems (e.g., room tagging, face blurring)They’re reliable, fast to deploy and constantly improved by providers.When a Custom Model Makes SenseFor businesses with more specialized needs, custom-built AI models offer flexibility and a higher degree of control.Here’s when going custom might be the better option:You want to detect very specific features that general models don’t support, such as recognizing local décor styles or proprietary design elements.Your property has a distinct brand identity and you want visuals to reflect that consistently.You need the model to understand regional or cultural variations in architecture, room layout or signage.You’re managing a large volume of unique data and want to build a model trained specifically on your imagery.You’re looking to optimize long-term costs by building once instead of paying ongoing subscription fees.Custom solutions are usually trained on your internal data and fine-tuned to your goals, which results in higher accuracy and more tailored outputs.Trade-Offs to ConsiderA hybrid approach is also possible — many businesses start with off-the-shelf APIs and later upgrade to custom models as their needs grow.Making the Right DecisionTo choose the best path, ask yourself:What are the specific visual challenges I’m trying to solve?Do I need quick wins or long-term flexibility?Do I have access to quality image data for training?What are the operational and budget constraints?In general, smaller companies or teams testing new features may find off-the-shelf tools ideal. Larger or more mature brands with strong visual identity or complex workflows often benefit from going custom.A Strategic InvestmentWhile custom models require more time and planning, they can become a long-term asset. Instead of adapting your workflows to fit a tool, you build a solution that fits your business exactly. Over time, this can:Lower licensing and per-call API costsImprove customer experience through more accurate outputsGive your brand a unique technological edgeFor the travel industry, where visuals directly impact conversions and trust, investing in the right kind of AI solution is more than a technical choice — it’s a business advantage.Key Takeaways & Action Plan for Travel BrandsVisual AI Is Transforming Travel, One Image at a TimeFrom how travelers discover destinations to how they decide what to book, the journey has become increasingly visual. A simple scroll through Instagram, TikTok or a booking platform can spark instant interest. But to turn that interest into a reservation, travel businesses need to show the right content, at the right time, in the right way.This is where AI-powered image processing comes in — not just as a tech trend, but as a real solution to everyday problems in marketing, customer experience and operations.Let’s recap the most important ideas explored in this post.What AI Can Do for YouHere’s how visual AI is already reshaping the travel and hospitality industry:Photo tagging and organization: Helps content teams manage thousands of images faster and with greater accuracy, improving online listings and SEO performance.Virtual tours and immersive experiences: Transforms simple photo sets into dynamic, interactive content that builds trust and boosts bookings — without huge production costs.Content moderation and brand safety: Automatically screens guest-uploaded images to ensure only appropriate, high-quality and on-brand visuals are displayed.Visual personalization and search-by-image: Creates a more intuitive way for travelers to find properties that match their tastes, while also helping businesses upsell more effectively.Off-the-shelf vs custom solutions: Gives brands flexibility to start quickly or build a solution that’s uniquely tailored to their business, style and scale.These are not theoretical concepts — they’re real, working tools that travel brands can adopt today.Building Your Visual AI Action PlanIf you’re ready to take the next step, here’s a practical plan to start implementing visual AI in your business:1. Audit your current image workflowsLook at how your team handles image uploads, tagging, organization and moderation. Identify bottlenecks and repetitive tasks.2. Choose one area to automate firstStart small: maybe it’s auto-tagging your room photos or filtering UGC for inappropriate content. Quick wins build momentum.3. Try ready-to-use APIsAPIs like image labeling, face anonymization, background removal and object detection are easy to integrate and provide fast results.4. Monitor results and feedbackTrack key metrics like time saved, content accuracy, guest engagement and booking conversions. See what’s working.5. Plan for scale with custom toolsAs your needs evolve, consider investing in a custom solution that reflects your brand’s unique identity and goals.Staying Ahead in a Visual-First MarketAI won’t replace the emotional impact of a great photo, but it will help ensure that the right photos are seen by the right people, at the right time. In an industry where visual presentation directly affects trust and sales, falling behind on image tech means falling behind in business.With visual AI tools now more accessible and affordable than ever, the opportunity is clear: modernize your visual content strategy, automate where it matters and deliver the kind of experience today’s travelers expect.In the competitive world of travel and hospitality, showing is everything. And with AI, you can finally do it smarter.Source | API4AI Blog

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The biggest challenge The Witcher IV will face is convincing players that Ciri is just as important as the iconic Geralt of Rivia, if not even more, and to present this fact convincingly, according to the game's Cinematic Animation Director. Speaking in a new interview with Revenant, David Cordero, who also worked as the Cinematic Animation Director for Cyberpunk 2077, commented on the challenges the next entry in the series will face coming after one of the most beloved role-playing games of all time, saying that the biggest will be convincing players that Ciri is just as important as Geralt, if not even more. This, according to Cordero, will be the hardest part, as Geralt is a really charismatic character that has already appeared in multiple games, whereas Ciri has only appeared in The Witcher 3. The rest, on the other hand, is not going to be difficult, as the studio is going all in for gameplay and combat, and is constantly listening to players' feedback. To present Ciri in the proper way in The Witcher IV, the development team is leveraging the lore department that was formed during the development of the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty expansion, and will focus on showing what's actually happening and not just on showing why Ciri is a proper witcher. The lore department will also make sure that every little detail fits properly into the game's world. Speaking about the narrative elements in The Witcher IV, CDPR's Cinematic Animation Director revealed that Cyberpunk 2077 will be a point of reference for the game, as CDPR did some outstanding work on the first-person open-world RPG that has, in many ways, surpassed what was done in The Witcher 3. Being as much a The Witcher nerd as those in CDPR's lore department, I can only concur with David Cordero's statement, as Ciri plays an extremely important role in the books written by Andrzej Sapkowski. The best thing about the novels, however, is how Ciri's importance is balanced with Geralt and Yennefer's importance, so hopefully, the development team will be able to strike a similar balance in their highly anticipated game that is not launching until 2027. Deal of the Day

Intel has reportedly placed 2nm orders at TSMC for their Nova Lake CPUs, as Team Blue plans out a massive comeback in the desktop processor segment. Intel Plans To Stick With Its "Dual-Sourcing" Approach With TSMC For Future Desktop CPUs, Signaling A Strategic Shift Well, it seems like Team Blue won't hold back when it comes to the process node it utilizes for future CPUs, as it looks like, under the new leadership, Intel has made it a priority to ensure that it delivers the best to its consumers. According to a report by Taiwan Economic Daily, it is revealed that Intel has outsourced Nova Lake's compute tile to TSMC, where it will leverage the foundry's 2nm process. Apparently, Intel plans to go all-out with the Taiwanese giant, which raises doubts about the fate of Intel's 18A process node, which is "advertised" to be better than TSMC N2. When it comes to using TSMC for semiconductor needs, Intel's Products CEO Michelle Johnston Holthaus made it clear that the firm won't hesitate to opt out of Intel Foundry, stating that Team Blue needs to meet consumer expectations. So, the possibility of acquiring cutting-edge nodes from TSMC was always there, but the one thing that makes this development a bit confusing is the way Team Blue would use IFS for its product lineup, given that Intel would certainly not rely on it for its flagship offerings, so a dual-source approach will likely be adopted. TSMC's 2nm process has received much attention from industry giants, given that Apple, AMD, and now Intel are in the race to acquire the node. AMD recently announced that they were the first customer of 2nm, integrating the semiconductor for its 6th-generation EPYC "Venice" processors. Similarly, Apple plans to adopt the process for its A20 chip intended for the iPhone 18 series, and now, Intel will also use it for Nova Lake, so it is safe to say that attention is there, but it is important to note that 2nm integration will turn out to be much more costlier compared to previous-gen processes, especially with the supply chain uncertainty. As far as Intel Foundry is concerned, well, we are going to see 18A with Panther Lake SoCs and Clearwater Forest Xeon, which means that Intel doesn't plan on leaving its in-house processes alone. However, the prospect would likely be decided by how PTL-S and other products play out, but for now, it is safe to say that the company would stick with a dual-sourcing approach. Deal of the Day

Macworld With great thanks to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Macalope is happy to report that we have something to talk about this week which is neither AI nor tariffs! And you thought it wasn’t possible. To be fair, the Macalope also thought it wasn’t possible, but he’s glad to be proven wrong. According to Gurman, Apple is working on an “iPadOS 19 overhaul that will make the tablet’s software more like macOS,” focusing on “productivity, multitasking and app window management.” Some–the Macalope swears this is not a strawperson–think Apple should just allow users to run macOS on the iPad. You might say, “Well if you are so sure, Mr. Macalope, name names! Who are these non-strawpersons, if they exist at all?!” Well… Many of them, including myself, just wanted Apple to put macOS on the iPad. Mark Gurman, April 13, 2025 Now, there are many ways that could be done. It is unlikely Gurman believes Apple should just slap macOS on the Mac and call it a day. Although…maybe. If so, that would be a mistake. Here’s an example: hold the tip of your finger up to the traffic light buttons on any window on macOS and imagine trying to tap a specific one with any degree of accuracy. Good. Luck. Half the time the Macalope can’t even get the right one using the cursor. Until humans grow pointier digits, just making the current macOS touch-enabled and slapping it on the iPad is a non-starter. And when humans do grow pointier digits, the Macalope would like to leave the planet because that sounds like a real horror show. IDG Of course, you can use a mouse on the iPad, you just shouldn’t have to use a mouse on the iPad. Apple could and should relax its attitude toward virtualization on the iPad, at least allowing it to run macOS in a VM. Barring that, it could also choose to allow macOS to run a la Classic mode in early versions of OS X. But the Macalope is one who hopes iPadOS retains its identity as its own thing, not becoming an interface layer, something people just drive through in order to get someplace else, like Delaware. Because where have we seen that before? Oh, right. Windows 8. Windows 8’s overlay interface (née “Metro”) was a bold swing at making Windows touch-enabled, but underneath it was the same ol’ Windows that you knew and… ehhh, not “loved,” that’s not right… more like, “were contractually required to use by your company’s IT department.” Microsoft has made further strides to make Windows whole again after the Island of Dr. Moreau-esque effort that was Windows 8, but it’s still a bit of a rough ride, with some interfaces better designed for touch and others for mouse and keyboard. There hasn’t been a lot of talk about Apple making a Mac with a touch screen in a while, probably because Apple doesn’t seem interested in making such a device and we all just got tired of talking about it. Turning the iPad into a Mac, however, is still the fever dream of a lot of people, but the Macalope wants to see someone do it right: take an operating system designed from the ground up for touch and give it fully professional capabilities. Despite the huffy, repeated, and oddly nasally-toned complaints of some, you can do work on an iPad and have been able to for years and years. Seriously, stop trying to tell those of us who do actual work on an iPad that you can’t do work on an iPad. We’re literally doing it all the time. What you mean is you can’t do your work on an iPad. Yes, you can’t do everything on an iPad. Even though many individual apps are capable of professional production, the operating system itself often gets in the way. It’s not wrong to wonder how long we should have to wait for Apple to get it right. It tried Split View, Slide Over, and Stage Manager, and none of those made multitasking on the iPad elegant or even terribly useful. While Apple has made movements that could be perceived as making macOS more touch-friendly or at least touch-curious, it’s not a touch-first interface. Maybe the Macalope is a dreamer. Maybe he’s just a glutton for punishment. But he wants to see Apple keep trying to crack this nut. If nothing else, it gives us something else to talk about. If you’d like to receive regular news and updates to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters, including The Macalope and Apple Breakfast, David Price’s weekly, bite-sized roundup of all the latest Apple news and rumors. iPad Pro 13 Zoll M4 Space Schwarz (2024) Price When Reviewed: 1.549 Euro Best Prices Today: €1419 at notebooksbilliger.de€1439 at Computeruniverse€1439 at cyberport1.489,00 € at amazon.de iPad Pro 11 Zoll M4 (2024) Price When Reviewed: 1.449 Best Prices Today: €1379 at Computeruniverse€1379 at cyberport1.319,00 € at amazon.de Read our full iPad Pro 11 Zoll M4 (2024) review iPad Air 13 Zoll (M3, 2025) Best Prices Today: 877,58 € at tease-Shop884,00 € at amazon.de884,00 € at notebooksbilliger iPad Air 11 Zoll (M3, 2025) Best Prices Today: €648 at notebooksbilliger.de€669 at Computeruniverse€669 at cyberport629,00 € at amazon.de Apple iPad (A16) Price When Reviewed: 399 Euro Best Prices Today: €379 at Computeruniverse€379 at cyberport€379 at notebooksbilliger.de379,00 € at amazon.de Read our full Apple iPad (A16) review Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) Price When Reviewed: 599 Euro Best Prices Today: €554 at notebooksbilliger.de€569 at Alternate€569 at Computeruniverse554,00 € at amazon.de Read our full Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) review

تستعد لينوفو لإطلاق جهازها اللوحي الجديد المخصص للألعاب Legion Tab Gen 4، والمزوّد بمعالج Snapdragon 8 Elite، في وقت ما من شهر مايو 2025.بعد أن كشفت الشركة مؤخرًا عن تصميم الجهاز، جاءت الآن بتأكيد جديد عبر منشور تشويقي يسلّط الضوء على عودة ميزة مهمة غابت عن الجيل السابق: دعم التخزين القابل للتوسعة.عند النظر إلى الوراء، نجد أن جهاز Legion Tab Gen 3، الذي يعمل بمعالج Snapdragon 8 Gen 3، لم يأتِ بأي منفذ لتوسعة التخزين.في المقابل، دعم الجيل الثاني من السلسلة هذه الميزة من خلال منفذ microSD، مما أتاح للمستخدمين توسيع السعة التخزينية حتى 1 تيرابايت.والغريب أن لينوفو لم تكن الوحيدة التي حذفت هذه الميزة؛ فجهاز RedMagic Nova المخصص للألعاب والذي يعمل بنفس المعالج أيضًا، افتقر لمنفذ توسعة التخزين.ولكن الآن، مع تأكيد لينوفو أن Legion Tab Gen 4 سيأتي بمنفذ TF Card، فإن الأمور تعود إلى نصابها.للتوضيح، لا يوجد فرق فعلي بين بطاقات TF وmicroSD، فهما يعتمدان على نفس المعايير ويمكن استخدامهما بالتبادل؛ الاختلاف فقط في الاسم التجاري. ومع ذلك، فإن عودة هذه الميزة إلى الجهاز اللوحي الجديد ستمنح المستخدمين مرونة أكبر في تخزين ألعابهم وبياناتهم.في سياق متصل، تعمل شركة RedMagic أيضًا على جهاز ألعاب جديد بمعالج Snapdragon 8 Elite، وقد يشهد هو الآخر عودة دعم التخزين القابل للتوسعة.وأكدت لينوفو أن Legion Tab Gen 4 سيحمل شاشة بمقاس 8.8 بوصة، بدقة متوقعة تبلغ “3K” ومعدل تحديث 165 هرتز، بالإضافة إلى كاميرا واحدة في الخلف. ومن المنتظر أن تكشف الشركة عن المزيد من التفاصيل في الأيام المقبلة.المصدر

كالعادة، من المتوقع أن تكشف أبل في شهر سبتمبر المقبل عن مجموعة جديدة من أربعة طرز من هواتف iPhone 17، والتي يُشاع أنها ستتضمن: iPhone 17، وiPhone 17 Air، وiPhone 17 Pro، وiPhone 17 Pro Max.وقد ظهرت بالفعل سلسلة من التسريبات التي تناولت تفاصيل مثل تصميم شريط الكاميرا، ومواصفات العدسات، والأبعاد المحتملة للهواتف. ومع ذلك، لم تكن هناك معلومات كثيرة عن الألوان التي ستأتي بها هذه السلسلة الجديدة… حتى الآن.وظهر تقرير جديد نشره المسرب المعروف Majin Bu يسلط الضوء على لون رئيسي قادم في iPhone 17 Pro، وهو ما قد يغير المعادلة.فبحسب المعلومات التي حصل عليها من “مصادر قريبة من سلسلة التوريد”، يبدو أن اللون الجديد الذي تعمل عليه أبل يحمل اسم “Sky Blue”، وهو يختلف عن ألوان التيتانيوم المعدني التي استخدمتها الشركة في iPhone 15 Pro وiPhone 16 Pro.يشير Majin Bu إلى أن هذا اللون الجديد يُعد أكثر جاذبية من لون Sierra Blue الذي ظهر في iPhone 13 Pro. ورغم أن أبل ما زالت تختبر عدة نماذج بألوان مختلفة، إلا أن Sky Blue يبدو حتى الآن هو الأقرب ليكون اللون البارز في iPhone 17 Pro.وحتى هذه اللحظة، لم نر صورًا رسمية توضح الشكل النهائي للهاتف بهذا اللون، ولكن Majin Bu قارنه باللون الأزرق في جهاز MacBook Air M4 الجديد. ويصفه بأنه “أزرق ناعم وأنيق” يتمتع بدرجات مكررة، مشرقة، وحديثة.للأسف، لا تزال التفاصيل حول اللون محدودة، لذلك من الأفضل التعامل مع هذه المعلومات بحذر حتى تظهر تسريبات أو تأكيدات إضافية.المصدر

Generative artificial intelligence (genAI) capabilities and features are coming to unified endpoint management (UEM) platforms — in fact, some are already here — and technology and business leaders need to be prepared for the challenges they might face. Some of the leading UEM vendors are weaving AI and genAI features into their platforms. Here are a few examples: ManageEngine has made its in-house AI-based assistant, Zia, an integral part of its UEM solution, Endpoint Central. Through natural-language interactions with the “Ask Zia” chatbot, IT teams can tap into AI-powered insights, intelligent report generation, and AI-enabled remote support. Upcoming features for the platform include genAI-powered management and security automation. GenAI capabilities will be integrated through Ask Zia, and additional features will be aimed at enhancing device performance optimization and security incident management. Microsoft offers Copilot for Windows Autopatch in its Intune UEM product, which enables AI-driven guidance through every update management stage, from planning and deployment tracking to issue identification and remediation. The genAI tool provides actionable insights so teams can keep endpoints secure and up to date with minimal disruption, according to the company. Other available or upcoming Intune features include Copilot assistance for multiple device queries, endpoint privilege management, and policy management. BlackBerry’s mobile threat defense capability for UEM uses AI and machine learning models for scoring apps and URLs to check for malware and malicious sites and phishing incidents. The company says it is evaluating genAI use cases across both servers and apps for inclusion in future releases, with an emphasis on maintaining customer data privacy. A spokesperson declined further comments on these roadmap features or the approximate timeframe of release. Industry watchers also point to improved script generation, natural-language data extraction and analysis, and end-user support as likely applications for genAI in UEM tools. In a large enterprise, a UEM platform might be managing thousands of user devices and other endpoints and tightly tied to security systems, digital employee experience tools, and other enterprise software. Clearly there’s a potential for challenges around security, user experience, and operational efficiency when genAI is embedded in UEM. Preparation is important for success. Computerworld asked three enterprise mobility analysts for their advice on how businesses can take advantage of genAI in UEM tools while still protecting their users, systems, and data. Ask vendors for key information “The most important first step that organizations can take is to fully understand the vendor’s roadmap for genAI features, along with the architecture that will be used to deliver the capabilities,” said Tom Cipolla, senior director and analyst at research firm Gartner. “Surprise releases of genAI are indicative of a failure to prepare and a potentially weak vendor relationship,” Cipolla said. Technology costs are a common concern of organizations, so executives need to keep tabs on how much genAI features cost and whether the added expense is worth it. “Today, most of these capabilities are beta and offered at no cost,” said Andrew Hewitt, principal analyst at Forrester Research. “However, that may not last, as the cost of genAI is high.” Customers should ask vendors for specifics on what they intend to charge for various genAI features in their UEM platforms — and when, he said. Other big issues include cybersecurity and the privacy of corporate data. “GenAI may be utilizing data that is proprietary to the organization, and sending that to a third-party cloud” could be risky, Hewitt said. It’s a good practice to verify with the UEM vendor that data is being processed locally and protected, he said. To that end, UEM customers need to get guarantees from their vendor about security and privacy protections, Hewitt said. It should be stated in the contract that customers’ proprietary data, including their employees’ private data, is encrypted and will not be used in training genAI models. Gartner’s Cipolla also urged IT leaders to ensure that their UEM vendors are making security a priority with genAI. Ideally, genAI features should be provided in a secure way that isolates personal employee and customer data. “Organizations should carefully review the data privacy protection documentation provided by the vendor, specifically looking for cases where the genAI capabilities of the platform use public large language models to fulfill requests,” Cipolla said. Create guardrails Before deploying any forthcoming genAI capabilities in their UEM platforms, companies should take steps to protect their systems and data. For example, they need to put guardrails in place to make sure proprietary data, such as personally identifiable information for employees, is protected. “Organizations need to build AI governance not just for UEM platforms, but also across the digital workplace stack,” Hewitt said. “They should be doing an inventory of where their data currently resides, what protections they have in place for secure authorization, and doing their due diligence around personal or other sensitive information.” IT organizations should start to think about their automation process, Hewitt added. “What types of approvals and authorizations will be necessary to execute automation in the endpoint management stack?” he said. “How will they plan to gain trust and confidence in AI and automation? How should they measure this? Taking an inventory of existing automation processes could help here, as well as doing some testing of genAI on basic use cases.” Testing genAI features should be done in a safe environment prior to rolling them out. “As with any AI solution, organizations should proceed carefully and employ a ‘block, walk, run’ strategy while they gain comfort with the solution and its security,” Cipolla said. Verify, test, and monitor — with humans in charge As genAI features begin to appear in UEM tools, “organizations should ensure that endpoint device management tasks or functions enabled or assisted by AI have similar or better outcomes” than approaches used previously, said Phil Hochmuth, program vice president, enterprise mobility, at research firm IDC. That means keeping a close eye on AI recommendations and actions. “Teams using AI in IT operations for endpoints must be watchful for AI system misinterpretation, partial or incorrect completion of tasks, and other bad outcomes that affect end-user productivity,” Hochmuth said. Enterprises need to be especially mindful of false or inaccurate recommendations from AI, Hewitt said. Administrators need to conduct a “sanity check” on these recommendations before implementing them in their environment. For example, it’s important to confirm that the recommendations are based on recent or real-time data, he said. Cipolla concurred. “Information delivered via genAI can contain inaccuracies and hallucinations — statements that sound factual but are not accurate — resulting from the large language model used to train the AI,” he said. If genAI results are not verified prior to usage, that could result in significant operational impacts, including loss of data, a brand credibility hit, and a degraded digital employee experience, Cipolla said. “For this reason, genAI must be combined with human expertise to validate generated results,” he said. “Prior to implementation of genAI recommendations, ensure that at least one expert human validates the accuracy of the information. Do not use genAI to validate genAI, as different models could share hallucinations.”  To reduce the risk of inaccurate results, Cipolla recommended using a framework similar to common approaches based on the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), where proper vetting of IT changes is performed. “Also, prior to implementing any script in a production environment, ensure that testing is performed to validate that there are no unintended side effects. After implementation, carefully monitor the operation of the system for delayed impacts,” Cipolla said. Share what works and build on success Organizations should not fall into the trap of thinking genAI can replace tech employees. “The accuracy of genAI-produced information within tailored use cases, such as digital workplace management tools, will improve quickly. However, genAI will never be able to replace human intuition, empathy, curiosity, experience, and expertise within the digital workplace,” Cipolla said. To prevent potentially catastrophic results, “genAI must be positioned to augment humans and not be seen as an opportunity to replace humans,” Cipolla said. “Human creativity and expertise combined with genAI is a force multiplier that has the potential to yield significant breakthroughs.” To share and collectively improve on positive results, Cipolla recommended that organizations create wiki-style, easily searchable libraries of prompts (and sample result sets) that can be used to identify common successful prompts. “This can be as simple as a shared spreadsheet, a channel in a collaboration tool, or a basic wiki-style website. Enable all employees to contribute, and recognize those employees who exhibit extraordinary creativity in their prompts,” Cipolla said. “Prompt libraries also can be purchased from vendors as a service,” he noted. Here, too, communication with the UEM vendor is important. Most genAI capabilities will have built-in feedback collection mechanisms, where feedback is routed to the vendor for integration into the program, Cipolla said. In this way, genAI successes (and failures) can be used to improve the features in the future.

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