This weeks Microsoft Ignite 2024 event in Chicago showcased Microsoft's vision and strategies for corporate and enterprise customers, highlighting AI's potential to transform operations. The post Microsoft Ignite 2024: Enterprise Productivity Is the Easiest AI Sell appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

Outdated Risk Management Frameworks Face Growing CriticismBy John P. Mello Jr.November 19, 2024 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTYour Salesforce Data, Your ResponsibilityLearn best practices to effortlessly protect your Salesforce Data with Rubrik. Find Out How Risk management in many organizations is mired in a framework that cant keep pace with the challenges that most enterprise risk teams face. It needs to be modernized.Thats the verdict that senior analysts Cody Scott and Alla Valente handed down in a recent Forrester Research blog thats critical of the Three Lines of Defense (3LOD) approach, which is widely used to assess organizational risk.Conventional means of managing risk havent kept pace with the demand, velocity, or pressure that most enterprise risk teams face, the analysts wrote.Worse yet, they continued, many governance, risk, and compliance programs hyperfocus on compliance, completely ignore risk, and scramble to stand up governance for every new emerging risk, technology, or threat. The 3LOD model is not built to solve this. They explained that 3LOD was developed as a corporate governance framework to implement segregation of duties requirements under the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). Then, in 2013, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) promoted it as a solution to enhance risk management. But as anyone who has tried to implement it as a foundation for enterprise risk management will tell you, the 3LOD is not a model for managing risk, the analysts wrote.Rigid FrameworkThe framework is designed to meet the compliance requirements set by SOX, not deal with business risks, noted Ian Amit, founder and CEO of Gomboc, a provider of automated cloud infrastructure security solutions in New York City.Its not adaptive enough to work for most modern organizations, where reporting lines and hierarchy arent as rigid as they used to be in 2000, he told TechNewsWorld.The 3LOD framework is a fairly old approach that the financial sector used and likely still does, added Brian Betterton, practice director for risk and strategic services at GuidePoint Security, a cybersecurity services provider in Herndon, Va.3LOD is not what I would call a modern approach, but some like it as it creates separation and thus splits risk management across three functions, he told TechNewsWorld. To me, 3LOD is more of an audit approach than a risk one.He also pointed out that because of the audit nature of its controls, it has a point-in-time focus and not the continuous approach found in solutions focusing on business risk.Compliance Trumps RiskMany risk management programs are hyper-focused on compliance over actual risk for a number of reasons.Traditional risk management approaches tend to focus on compliance passing the audit and checking the boxes rather than actual business risk, Amit said. These approaches are often taken by organizations with leadership more concerned with preserving the current status quo than driving revenues or innovation.Often risk management programs focus more on compliance because its tangible and tied to clear goals, added Nicole Sundin, CPO of Axio, a cyber risk management company in New York City.Compliance work is usually linked to a business objective or external requirement, she told TechNewsWorld. In this context, compliance becomes a point-in-time effort aimed at meeting a specific business need, rather than an ongoing process of identifying and mitigating evolving risks.In addition, most risk management programs are driven by compliance goals, added Chandrasekhar Bilugu, CTO of SureShield, a security, compliance, and integrity management software company, in Atlanta. Organizations seldom take up risk management as an independent process disconnected from compliance mandates, as it would lack the necessary executive sponsorship, he told TechNewsWorld. Heath Renfrow, CISO and co-founder of Fenix24, a disaster recovery and restoration company in Chattanooga, Tenn., asserted that compliance-driven risk management programs are nothing more than paper drills with no sound way of quantifying the risks for senior executives to make risk-based decisions. You cannot manage risks that you do not understand, he told TechNewsWorld.Betterton noted that in less mature organizations, risk management programs tend to focus on compliance over risk. Less mature organizations are viewing compliance as their main risk and, in turn, missing all of the risks they may have, he said.Meeting compliance requirements is also easier for many organizations than assessing security needs. Compliance means that you are complying with a rule or a regulation that must be followed. There are clear definitions of what must be followed, explained Ira Winkler, CISO at CYE, a cybersecurity optimization company in Tel Aviv, Israel.However, what it means to be secure varies greatly, he told TechNewsWorld. If you have no idea what security means for your organization, while you do have a clear definition of what it means to be compliant, you are obviously first going to achieve compliance because it is hard to be secure when you dont exactly understand what that means.Foundation of Modern Risk ManagementScott and Valente cited three pillars for a modern approach to risk management.The approach must be dynamic and able to deal with risk in three dimensions: systemic risk external to the organization and beyond its control; ecosystem risk external to the organization but within varying degrees of control, such as third-party and supply chain risk; and enterprise risks internal to the organization and directly controllable, such as cybersecurity and financial risk.Further, the approach must be continuous because risks and opportunities evolve over time. Point-in-time, static risk assessments dont reflect reality, the analysts explained. Instead, teams require a continuous process to identify risk context, assess it as plans and objectives develop, make decisions, and monitor the results. The approach must also recognize that cyber risk is business risk. The analysts noted that typically, the chief risk officer selects the risk management model, while the CISO needs to ensure that the model is functional for the organizations cybersecurity needs. Without working in lockstep, security, and risk pros are stuck living in fear from audit to audit while foreseeable, preventable risk events materialize repeatedly.The chief risk officer and chief information security officer need to be on the same page when implementing a risk framework because both are responsible for identifying and addressing different aspects of risk within the organization, Sunlin observed.The CRO typically focuses on overall business and operational risks, while the CISO focuses on cybersecurity risks. However, both roles have overlapping responsibilities when it comes to managing risk, and their teams possess crucial insights that must be shared to effectively address and mitigate risks.Collaboration between the CRO and CISO ensures a holistic approach to risk management, enabling the organization to proactively identify, assess, and resolve potential threats across all domains, she said. When their efforts are aligned, it fosters a unified, comprehensive risk strategy that reduces vulnerabilities and enhances the overall resilience of the business.Forresters ModelScott and Valente also touted Forresters continuous risk management model, which they hailed as a blueprint for holistic risk management.Forresters approach isnt completely new, Amit noted. It mimics how modern organizations manage risk, he said.The introduction of tools that allow an organization to get more frequent data points on its internal controls and processes, as well as external threats, allow for more granular risk management that is more continuous than periodical, he explained.He also pointed out that the audit and compliance requirements force organizations to implement more continuous evidence-gathering and controls, which allow them, in turn, to practice more pronounced risk management on an ongoing basis.Fundamentally, people need to understand what risk management and security are, Winkler advised. The definition of security is being free from risk, and you can never be free of all risk.Security professionals need to understand that their job is essentially risk management, which involves making the best decisions to optimize their spend compared to the amount of the potential loss, he continued. This requires good decision science and mathematical tools to help. This will drive their work from being an art to a science.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.More by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Security

IBMs beta release of its Environmental Intelligence (EI) platform offers application developers and data scientists curated environmental insights powered by AI with access to open-source geospatial and satellite data.This cloud-based platform provides a variety of geospatial, weather, and climate APIs, enabling users to create applications that address sustainability, climate change, and regulatory needs.IBM aims for the software to help businesses manage financial risks associated with climate disruptions. Both public and private sectors face climate-related challenges, including operational disruptions, asset damage, and supply chain vulnerabilities. IBM Environmental Intelligence offers geospatial data, advanced models, and AI insights to support organizations in addressing these critical issues.Environmental Intelligence is a new product, but some of its remnants date back several years. We have a very wide IBM research community of sustainability and climate scientists who are investing and working with specific industry type problems, climate type problems that are really forward-thinking, David Blanch, director of product management, ESG, and Environmental Intelligence at IBM, told TechNewsWorld.Versatile API Suite Powers Environmental InsightsIBMs EI solution offers a suite of APIs to help developers and data scientists gather and analyze Earths surface data for predictive insights and proactive decision-making. It simplifies the process of working with public satellite data by processing, normalizing, and organizing it into geospatial layers, making it ready for analysis and visualization.Satellite imagery highlighting biomass data to support environmental monitoring and sustainability initiatives.The APIs and a Python software development kit (SDK) provide access to high-resolution imagery, global weather data, and other valuable datasets to gain insights for quicker action. The EI platform features a foundation model co-developed with NASA for pre-processing and cleansing geospatial data.Other key features include seamless access to environmental and geospatial datasets through easy-to-use APIs for real-time analysis. Geospatial-temporal querying uses an advanced insights engine to analyze geospatial and temporal data and improve application functionality.IBMs Environmental Intelligence platform features data layers, predictive models, and insights to support decision-making and sustainability efforts.On-demand historical weather data provides access to past weather data to inform predictive models and optimize operations across various sectors. Advanced data querying lets users execute complex queries on diverse environmental datasets at customizable spatial and temporal resolutions.APIs automate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions calculations for the internal and supply chain emissions to track and manage carbon footprints.The beta platform is free. IBM will consider future pricing and packaging decisions pending market feedback.Market Trends Show New Uses for Climate DataIBM is targeting a specific audience of technical builders, developers, and data scientist communities because of observed trends in the market. According to Blanch, these targeted users are not necessarily all climate scientists or meteorologists who benefit from accessing the innovative data, putting it behind an API, and applying embeddable use cases across their existing applications.The trends involve how climate change is impacting business operations across various verticals. Research indicates that climate-related disasters are causing significant losses on a macro level. Some of the datasets within environmental intelligence fall into a couple of buckets. One dataset is open-source satellite imagery, offering high-resolution visuals captured by European satellites orbiting the globe every five days. This imagery supports a wide range of applications, from environmental monitoring to regulatory compliance.An organization could access that raw imagery on its own but would encounter a lot of challenge with pre-processing cloud removals, noted Blanch in a key benefit of using the EI platform instead.Another dataset includes meteorological data such as historical records, real-time updates, and short-term weather forecasts. Blanch noted that climate projections for more long-term needs involving climate planning should be added to those scenarios.Thinking in terms of specific business examples, how do you build more resiliency inside your organization regarding natural hazards like floods and wildfires? How do you handle disaster risk planning and risk assessments? How do you calculate your businesss carbon emissions?Visualizing wildfire risk across regions using IBMs Environmental Intelligence platform for disaster planning and resiliency.If you think about how companies are operationalizing sustainability, they have an industrial asset and a methane link to a carbon equivalent in todays workflow. A work order might be issued so that somebody can go perform some maintenance for these different operational groups who are not traditional sustainability-minded people, Blanch suggested.Sustainability Solutions for Diverse IndustriesAccording to Blanch, IBM wants to expand beyond traditional uses to benefit the potential applications in other industries. He referenced use cases already showing EI success in agriculture, such as crop monitoring, yield prediction, and precision farming.For example, easier access to satellite data is helping organizations comply with new environmental regulations from governments. The European Unions deforestation regulation is a case in point.It requires companies to review their supply chains and verify they are not working with suppliers who violate these regulatory requirements involving extensive land use changes.Another example involves how IBMs EI technology can impact animal growth and influence nutrition adjustments based on environmental conditions. Some groups developed a predictive modeling system using weather data to assess mycotoxin levels in their crops. They were able to create a forecasting model using environmental and weather data from the platform to improve their business operations.Temperature distribution map aiding predictive modeling for agriculture and climate-related decision-making.The potential for third-party, remote imaging is tremendous. So you dont need to be meteorologists or climate experts, but you can have access to a pre-processed, curated data set that could be available with easy tutorials, samples, and guides to embed those within your applications, models, or workflows, Blanch said about the goal of IBMs EI software.The OpenStreetMap images in this article were provided to TechNewsWorld courtesy of IBM.

Microsoft Ignite is on this week. Its the companys massive event focused on IT professionals. While you can attend this event remotely, you should consider attending in person this year because I still see far more AI failures than successes. When AI is deployed successfully, it has a significant positive impact on productivity, yet quality appears to be going in the wrong direction. But not for everyone.Shows like Microsoft Ignite are full of information on products and services. The event is attended by many IT professionals in different industries, with varying levels of AI deployment and very different paths to success.With the intense focus on all things AI, and Microsoft Copilot being one of the most widely spread AI tools, being able to talk to the people who have been successful with this tool, which vendors they worked with to deploy it successfully, and what practices helped their success become golden knowledge.Lets talk about why this years Ignite is important not only to attend but to attend in person. Well close with my Product of the Week: Bluesky, the social media platform I hear people are having the best success with as they move from Twitter/X.The Value of RelationshipsBuilding strong vendor and peer relationships is essential for AI success, especially when navigating the complexities of new technology like Microsoft Copilot, which appears to be the most successful AI offering in the market so far. It has enormous productivity-improving value to every product it enhances.Because Microsoft is a platform, tools, and cloud company, its tools tend to be relatively unfocused in terms of industry or geography. This broad applicability doesnt preclude tuning; it indicates the tools can be useful to almost every company, from enterprises to small businesses. While smaller companies will likely use AI as a service, enterprises are increasingly likely to use tools hosted on their own hardware or in a hybrid approach where sensitive information is retained, AI is accessed on-premises, and less secure information and implementation that dont require low latency can be cloud-deployed.The issue to address is that service providers, OEMs, and most companies trying to ramp up AI dont know enough about it to succeed. However, the people who understand AI and have had successful AI deployments (particularly the early adopters Microsoft assisted) will be at Ignite. Meeting these experts could make a difference in whether you overspend on these tools and help avoid common mistakes by learning from the mistakes of others and being able to delineate the hype from reality.Genuine Value vs. Exaggerated ClaimsI learned this lesson a few decades ago when Microsoft held an event arguing that its Windows NT servers could replace mainframes. When I had a chance to talk to two of Microsofts reference accounts, it became clear that Windows NT wasnt ready to replace mainframes for most organizations.The first indicated that it was working very well and had effectively replaced their mainframe, but also that had Microsoft not paid for the deployment, theyd never have been able to afford it.The second account didnt have a lot of time to talk to me because their NT servers had gone down, and the CEO was pissed. The poor guy likely thought his job wouldnt survive the result.Vendors tend to overpromise and underdeliver. Microsoft is better than many, but it has had this problem in the past. When it comes to AI, while Copilot is performant, it appears to have a significant adverse impact on quality, which is only a dealbreaker if you cant mitigate it.At Ignite, you can learn from the early adopters where the hype matches reality and where it doesnt and how to mitigate the damage from the latter. You dont want to be that poor guy who was an early adopter and likely lost his job as a result. These people can help ensure that your initial AI implementations with Copilot are something you can be proud of, not something youll be hiding from.Microsoft PartnersAt Ignite, there are always a lot of Microsoft partners, and every one of them will tell you that they are the partners for you. But along with these vendors are their customers who have used their services and deployment teams. Even if an OEM or service provider has a successful process, given how rapidly theyve had to ramp up, some teams know what they are doing, and some are learning on the job.Given that large language models (LLMs) cost around $100 million to develop, learning on the job can be incredibly expensive and embarrassing for the individuals or organizations that hire the teams tasked with training these models. Asking about not only the vendors IT professionals used successfully but also the specific teams they used can inform you which vendors are better than others and which vendor teams are better than others. I once met with an executive who correctly identified the best vendor for a specific task only to find that the team was unavailable. So, they passed and went with a different vendor who could provide their most successful team for the deployment. The efforts result was successful, but it might not have been if he had not looked under the covers to ensure the competency of the vendor and the team that provided the critical service.Wrapping UpAI is in the midst of a significant feeding frenzy. Most failed deployments appear to be primarily due to the immaturity of the tools, the inexperience of the vendors and customers, an excessive focus on productivity, and an inadequate focus on quality. This doesnt mean that AI is crap. It isnt, and it is working for an increasing number of companies.The problem is the inability to delineate between those products, tools, and vendors that are competent for your industry and company and those that are not. Because of Microsofts leadership in AI, Ignite is one of the few places to get the critical information you need to make better choices and ensure your expensive AI deployment is successful.BlueskySince Elon Musk took over Twitter and renamed it X, many users have been looking for an alternative service. Mastodon and Metas Threads initially looked like good alternatives, but both products had issues.While capable, Mastodon was somewhat difficult to use and hasnt lived up to being a Twitter replacement. Threads got a huge initial bump, but it fell off quickly because it lacked many of the features people relied on with Twitter. People still use both platforms, but they dont seem to be the go-to replacement for Twitter/X.(Image by Author / Gemini)Bluesky, at least for now, has gained traction as a viable replacement. It is relatively easy to use, and more feature-rich than Threads initially was. Im getting inquiries from all over the world on that platform this week as more and more people globally abandon or cut back on their use of Twitter to use Bluesky instead.Social media is a thing, and while it might be healthier not to spend as much time on it, Bluesky continues to be a much more balanced platform, one I and others feel safe using. It reminds me of the early days of Twitter when the tool was fun to use, and you didnt end up wasting time in online arguments with people who seemed outright crazy.For me, Bluesky is safer, more fun to use, and less full of misinformation than Twitter. It appears to be the best Twitter alternative for now, so its my Product of the Week.The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECT News Network.

AI Search Threatens Digital Economy, Warns ResearcherBy John P. Mello Jr.November 12, 2024 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTYour Salesforce Data, Your ResponsibilityLearn best practices to effortlessly protect your Salesforce Data with Rubrik. Find Out How Search engines using artificial intelligence could harmfully disrupt the digital economy, warns a researcher at Harvards Berkman Klein Center.[I]f AI search becomes our primary portal to the web, it threatens to disrupt an already precarious digital economy, Benjamin Brooks wrote in a recent article in the MIT Technology Review.Today, the production of content online depends on a fragile set of incentives tied to virtual foot traffic: ads, subscriptions, donations, sales, or brand exposure, he explained. By shielding the web behind an all-knowing chatbot, AI search could deprive creators of the visits and eyeballs they need to survive.Brooks urged the AI industry to address the content compensation problem before others do it. The AI industry should use this narrow window of opportunity to build a smarter content marketplace before governments fall back on interventions that are ineffective, benefit only a select few, or hamper the free flow of ideas across the web, he wrote.We need to bear in mind that these new systems, these new business models, are just taking off, he added in an interview with TechNewsWorld, but however we respond to these challenges, its important we do so in a thoughtful, measured and targeted way. Thats why industry should take the lead here.Government is now more confident regulating content and regulating bargaining than it ever was before, he said. The AI search industry should be mindful of that. With that additional pressure over the coming years, the industry should get ahead and build a smarter solution before government turns to blunter solutions.AI Search Impact UnclearSo far, the impact of AI search on the wallets of content creators is still foggy. Its not yet clear, but there is a strong argument to be made that there will be reduced traffic to many publishers, said Greg Sterling, co-founder of Near Media, a news, commentary, and analysis website.The evidence is mixed, he told TechNewsWorld. During the Google SGE period, there was evidence that organic links were being pushed down the page and therefore [were] less visible. Introduced in December 2023, Googles Search Generative Experience provides overviews of search topics using AI.However, he continued, there was little research on actual click behavior. Google claims that links within AI results get more engagement. We need to do more research on this issue.Chris Ferris, senior vice president of digital strategy at Pierpont Communications, a public relations agency in Houston, added that AI search will exacerbate the problem that already exists with traditional search. Most web pages dont get any traffic from organic search, he told TechNewsWorld.He cited research published by Search Engine Land predicting that organic traffic will fall between 18% and 64% because of AI search. Mark N. Vena, president and principal analyst at SmartTech Research in Las Vegas, noted there is growing evidence that AI-driven search, such as generative AI summaries in search engines, has caused a decline in click-through rates to content providers websites, as users increasingly consume information directly from AI responses.News outlets and niche content creators have reported reduced traffic from traditional search sources when AI systems generate comprehensive answers, he told TechNewsWorld. While detailed impact studies are ongoing, this trend indicates potential risks to publishers ad revenue and visibility.Without doubt, AI-driven search tools risk reducing traffic to content providers sites, potentially undermining ad revenues and subscriber models, he added.Without users clicking through to original sources, content creators may struggle to monetize their work, threatening the sustainability of quality journalism and niche content. Balancing AI-driven convenience with adequate attribution and redirection to content providers will be essential to preserve a healthy digital content ecosystem.Eyeball Apocalypse OverblownDev Nag, CEO and founder of QueryPal, an enterprise chatbot based in San Francisco, asserted that the narrative that AI search will destroy content creation by stealing eyeballs fundamentally misunderstands how content ecosystems have evolved.Think about how we transitioned from paid newspapers and centralized TV/movie studios to ad-supported online content, he told TechNewsWorld. Each shift brought predictions of doom, yet we ended up with far more content and from more content creators than ever.AI is poised to dramatically expand content reach through better discovery, translation, and personalization. Rather than destroying the content economy, AI search is likely to create a more efficient marketplace where quality content finds its intended audience more effectively.He contended that the evidence so far doesnt support the eyeball apocalypse narrative.While AI search is changing how people discover content, were seeing content creators adapt by producing more focused, high-quality material that AI systems can better understand and distribute, he said. The real transformation isnt about losing eyeballs. Its about shifting from a mass-market advertising model to more sophisticated monetization approaches.Nag predicted two primary models emerging: content licensing, where creators get paid for allowing AI systems to learn from and reference their work, even if its available openly otherwise, such as the recent Google-Reddit agreement, and a value-share system, where AI platforms distribute revenue based on how often they reference and synthesize a creators content. Thats currently possible with RAG-based systems that are able to provide explicit references like Perplexity and could be adapted to systems which are directly trained through sophisticated attribution tracking, he explained.Search engines could do as TikTok and YouTube do and share their revenue to build up creators feeding their services, added Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst at the Enderle Group, an advisory services firm in Bend, Ore.However, as AI advances, he told TechNewsWorld, it may need less and less human creators, which will be problematic to this future outcome.Ross Rubin, the principal analyst at Reticle Research, a consumer technology advisory firm in New York City, pointed out that AI search is the culmination of something seen over the course of decades.Back in the day, long before AI, there was Ask Jeeves, he told TechNewsWorld. It didnt execute on the idea very well, but the idea was, rather than get a whole bunch of links, you got an answer. In many cases, thats what the person searching wants. Its a better experience to be given information up front and not have to piece it together or track it down from multiple information sources.Downside of Big Content DealsIn his article, Brooks was critical of AI companies cutting deals with big media companies to avoid litigation or government intervention. This policy of selective appeasement is untenable, he wrote. It neglects the vast majority of creators online, who cannot readily opt out of AI search and who do not have the bargaining power of a legacy publisher.It takes the urgency out of reform by mollifying the loudest critics, he continued. It legitimizes a few AI firms through confidential and intricate commercial deals, making it difficult for new entrants to obtain equal terms or equal indemnity and potentially entrenching a new wave of search monopolists.In the long term, it could create perverse incentives for AI firms to favor low-cost and low-quality sources over high-quality but more expensive news or content, fostering a culture of uncritical information consumption in the process, he added.At this point in the development of AI search, Sterling said its still too early to tell how the game will play out. We have many assumptions and fears but need to test them and produce real data so that were not operating from a place of pure conjecture, he observed.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.Related StoriesMore by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Search Tech

ANALYST COMMENTARY Qualcomms AI-First Vision for the Future of Smart DevicesBy Mark N. VenaNovember 11, 2024 2:22 PM PTQualcomm showcased its latest innovations at the 2024 Snapdragon Summit, held in Maui, Hawaii, from Oct. 2123. (Photo by Author) ADVERTISEMENTYour Salesforce Data, Your ResponsibilityLearn best practices to effortlessly protect your Salesforce Data with Rubrik. Find Out How At its Snapdragon Summit in October, Qualcomm emphasized its commitment to an AI-first future, revealing advances aimed at bringing AI-powered experiences to a broad spectrum of devices, from smartphones and laptops to extended reality (XR) and automotive platforms.Held in Hawaii, the event showcased Qualcomms dedication to making artificial intelligence more accessible by developing powerful on-device AI capabilities. This strategic move reflects a vision of technology thats smarter, more intuitive, and closely connected to consumer priorities like privacy, performance, and energy efficiency.Snapdragon X Elite: AI-Driven PC Performance RedefinedOne of the summits key announcements was the Snapdragon X Elite platform, Qualcomms latest PC chipset that delivers high-performance computing with advanced AI capabilities.Engineered to efficiently manage demanding workloads, Qualcomm designed the X Elite to provide users with a seamless experience for tasks such as real-time language translation, voice recognition, and enhanced photo and video editing.Unlike traditional processors, the Snapdragon X Elite handles AI processing directly on the device, improving speed and data privacy by reducing dependency on cloud processing. This local AI capability empowers the device to perform more quickly and protect sensitive information, catering to users who prioritize performance and security.The Snapdragon X Elites 12-core CPU is poised to challenge conventional PC chipmakers like Intel by delivering a balance of high-speed performance with power efficiency.Qualcomm claims that Snapdragon X Elite is comparable in power to Intels Lunar Lake and uses less energy a crucial benefit for users looking for high-performance laptops with long battery life. Qualcomms move to Arm-based architecture underscores its commitment to energy-efficient processing, positioning Snapdragon as a formidable competitor in the PC market.Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: AI-Enhanced Mobile ExperiencesAnother major reveal at the summit was the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, designed for mobile devices. This chipset elevates smartphone capabilities with AI-driven camera improvements, real-time translation, and personalized user interactions.The AI-powered camera system, for example, can optimize settings based on environmental factors like lighting, enabling users to capture high-quality images even in challenging conditions. Such advanced personalization uses AI to adapt to users unique needs, making mobile devices more responsive and intuitive. By processing these AI functions directly on the device, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 minimizes latency, providing real-time results that enhance the user experience. This approach also emphasizes data privacy, as processing doesnt rely on the cloud.In combination with connectivity upgrades like 5G and Wi-Fi 7, the Gen 3 chipset supports the rapid data exchange required for these sophisticated AI functions, ensuring a smooth, high-speed experience for mobile users.Snapdragon Auto: In-Car AI ExperiencesBeyond personal devices, Qualcomm highlighted the transformative potential of its Snapdragon Auto platform, with an entire day devoted to the companys engagement in the automotive segment.Snapdragon Auto integrates AI capabilities to provide real-time navigation, voice assistance, and advanced driver safety features, aiming to make driving safer and more intuitive. Qualcomms automotive innovations extend its broader AI-first vision, where AI enhances convenience and security across different aspects of life, from mobile and PC devices to vehicles.This automotive AI aims to enhance user interactions and make driving safer and more efficient by optimizing the cars systems in real time. The Snapdragon Auto platform thus represents Qualcomms ambition to extend AI-first experiences into new domains, aligning with the increasing demand for more intelligent, connected vehicles.Connectivity Innovations: Fueling an AI-First EcosystemThe Qualcomm Summit also highlighted advancements in connectivity, an essential factor for supporting AI-driven devices. The Snapdragon platforms, including X Elite and 8 Gen 3, feature built-in 5G and Wi-Fi 7 support, which are vital for delivering the seamless, high-speed data exchange that AI applications demand.Qualcomms connectivity enhancements provide stable, fast connections that improve the user experience for remote work, gaming, and virtual meetings, eliminating interruptions and improving response times.For instance, Snapdragon-powered laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and Samsung Galaxy Book4 leverage 5G to maintain reliable connectivity, making these devices highly suitable for todays hybrid work environments. By integrating 5G and Wi-Fi 7, Qualcomm ensures that its Snapdragon technology supports the rapid data transfer necessary for AI tasks, creating a cohesive ecosystem where all devices benefit from fast, reliable internet access.Product Proof Points: Snapdragon Elite-Powered LaptopsWith prices starting respectively at $1,499 and $1,399 for comparable configurations, the Dell XPS 13 and Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge are prime examples of how Snapdragon Elite technology transforms the laptop experience. Both devices integrate Qualcomms Snapdragon Elite platform, which enhances their performance, efficiency, and AI capabilities to meet the diverse needs of modern users, from business professionals to casual tech enthusiasts.The Dell XPS 13 9345, powered by Snapdragon Elite, offers significant performance and battery life gains. Featuring a 13.4 optional touch-capable display and known for its sleek design, the XPS 13 benefits from Qualcomms energy-efficient processing, allowing users to work, multitask, and even game without compromising performance or overheating. The AI-driven thermal management system keeps the laptop cool during prolonged usage, making it a comfortable choice for intensive tasks.Dell XPS 13 9345 laptop (Photo by Author)Snapdragons built-in 5G connectivity further enhances the XPS 13 by allowing users to stay connected to high-speed internet, a valuable feature for remote workers and frequent travelers. This connectivity improvement supports smooth video conferencing, cloud-based work, and large file transfers, reducing frustrations over poor internet speed and interruptions.The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, which features a crisp 16 WQXGA AMOLED touch display, also benefits from Snapdragon Elites AI capabilities, particularly in productivity and entertainment. One of its standout features, Copilot, is an AI assistant that streamlines tasks and personalizes the user experience.By learning from user behavior, Copilot assists with text summarization, schedule organization, and personalized recommendations, making Galaxy Book4 ideal for users managing tasks and workflows.Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge laptop (Image Credit: Samsung)Snapdragons AI-driven graphics processing also ensures that the Galaxy Book4 provides a vibrant visual experience, automatically adjusting brightness and color for optimal viewing. This visual enhancement makes the laptop an excellent option for streaming, casual gaming, and multimedia consumption. With these features, Snapdragon Elite essentially turns the Galaxy Book4 into a productivity powerhouse and an entertainment hub.Without compromising overall performance, battery efficiency is another highlight for the Dell XPS 13 and Galaxy Book4. Snapdragons intelligent power management maximizes battery life based on user habits, extending usage time between charges and meeting the demands of users who rely on their laptops for extended periods without easy access to a power source.Qualcomms AI-First Vision: Shaping the Tech LandscapeQualcomms Snapdragon Summit made a bold statement about the future of AI in technology, positioning Snapdragon X Elite as a serious competitor to Intels upcoming Lunar Lake chips. By shifting to Arm-based architecture, Qualcomm has embraced energy-efficient, AI-capable devices, directly challenging the x86 dominance in the PC market. The Snapdragon X Elites robust performance, combined with its power efficiency, marks a significant step forward in Qualcomms bid to redefine expectations for laptop performance.With both the Dell and Samsung laptops acting as proof points, Qualcomms commitment to on-device AI is central to this vision. This approach enhances performance and protects data privacy by processing sensitive information locally, meeting evolving consumer demands for smarter, more intuitive devices that dont compromise security. Qualcomms advancements in connectivity further enhance this user experience, providing Snapdragon-powered devices with the reliable, high-speed data connections that todays highly connected world requires.In challenging Intels claims, Qualcomm conveyed a sense of confidence and ambition, positioning Snapdragon X Elite as a more practical, efficient choice for real-world performance. The companys shift aligns with its broader AI-first vision, where devices span mobile to automotive platforms operate with integrated intelligence.The Snapdragon Summit highlighted Qualcomms readiness to lead the tech industry toward a future where AI enhances every aspect of device functionality, from efficiency and connectivity to security and usability.Closing ThoughtsQualcomms latest Snapdragon advancements are shaping a future where AI-powered devices offer robust, more responsive user experiences. Qualcomm demonstrates how AI can transform everyday technology through the X Elite and 8 Gen 3 platforms, making it more innovative and intuitive across various sectors.Snapdragon Elite technology is advancing raw performance and enriching the user experience by adding thoughtful, adaptive features that make devices more intelligent, personal, and responsive.My recent SmartTechCheck podcast, recorded at the Qualcomm Summit, features a lengthy interview with a team of analysts discussing the highlights of the event, as well as some standout product demos that are good examples of the companys AI-first vision and strategy.With AI-driven processing, advanced connectivity, and energy-efficient design, Qualcomms Snapdragon platform provides a premium, future-proofed experience that caters to todays mobile, tech-savvy users.The Snapdragon Summit highlighted Qualcomms dedication to a connected, AI-first ecosystem that redefines expectations across personal computing, mobile, and automotive markets. At the event, the company made a strong case that Snapdragon-powered devices promise to become essential tools for a modern lifestyle, seamlessly blending high performance, data security, and intelligent, adaptive features.Mark N. Vena has been an ECT News Network columnist since 2022. As a technology industry veteran for over 25 years, Mark covers numerous tech topics, including PCs, smartphones, smart homes, connected health, security, PC and console gaming, and streaming entertainment solutions. Vena is the CEO and Principal Analyst at SmartTech Research, based in Las Vegas. Email Mark.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.Related StoriesMore by Mark N. Venaview allMore in Chips

OPINION AMD Is Making Great Strides in AI, May End Up Merging With IntelBy Rob EnderleNovember 11, 2024 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTQuality Leads That Turn Into DealsFull-service marketing programs from TechNewsWorld deliver sales-ready leads. Segment by geography, industry, company size, job title, and more. Get Started Now. AMD has made significant strides in AI. Last week, it announced that its first 1-billion parameter large language models are performing exceptionally well. Under the leadership of CEO Lisa Su and with the help of CTO and Executive VP Mark Papermaster, AMD has done an admirable job of fast pivoting after Nvidia and OpenAIs initial surprise success to create a credible generative AI solution.What makes this incredible is that it took Nvidia around 20 years to get where it is and although Nvidia clearly plowed the AI field, AMD is planting AI seeds like crazy. While this might be considered a risk to Nvidias growth, demand for AI solutions remains high and largely unmet. In a rapidly expanding market, all major players can benefit, and both AMD and Nvidia are well-positioned to succeed.In addition, the U.S. is pushing for AMD and Intel to merge, which could remove a lot of the marketing inefficiencies in the x86 space and allow both firms to better compete in the growing battle for AI dominance, in which China represents the most significant competitive threat.Lets talk about AMDs AI progress and its potential merger with Intel. Well close with my Product of the Week: Google Gemini Advanced, which has proven incredibly helpful in creating images to accompany my writing.AMD and AINvidia caught the tech market with its pants down when it became clear that it was the technology behind OpenAIs ChatGPT platform that was, in turn, the foundation for Microsoft Copilot. While Microsoft did a relatively poor job launching Copilot+, Copilot has been immensely successful, particularly with developers. Given that Nvidia took around two decades to build its incredible AI platform, it seemed unlikely that anyone would be able to compete with it for a few years.Well, AMD clearly didnt get that memo. To catch up with Nvidia, AMD bought a company called Silo AI, known for its extensive pool of AI experts, rivaling even IBM. Silo AI was already amassing a number of successful AI projects in a market currently more defined by unsuccessful projects.AMDs methodical approach to AI has been refreshing in a market where many players seem to be selling solutions that fall short. Sadly, this is the nature of a new tech market darling. People are so desperate to get it they arent looking under the covers hard enough. The result is an unusually high failure rate.However, both AMD and Nvidia are providing well-curated solutions. Nvidia built its capabilities largely organically, while AMD has done it faster through acquisition (given Nvidia was a first mover, this option wasnt available to it in time).Much like AMD has always been a strong competitor to Intel and is an even stronger one today, it has also become an impressively strong peer to Nvidia as both companies move aggressively on this massive AI growth opportunity.AMD and Intel May MergeCurrently, AMD is also outselling Intel in the data center space, which most of us thought was impossible. This shift showcases the difficulty Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger faces as he tries to turn around the company, partly by navigating the Chips Act to build a massive U.S. microprocessor manufacturing capability, a strategic imperative for both Intel and the U.S. Government.Intel is one of the too big to fail companies from a national security perspective, so the U.S. government is pushing for an AMD/Intel merger where AMD would manage the combined companies while manufacturing would spin out as a separate entity. Gelsinger would likely run the manufacturing spin-out, giving Lisa Su the resources to better compete with the threat represented by China, especially Huawei, a company that has overcome U.S. sanctions to challenge Apple, among others. Huawei is considered one of the AI challengers to Nvidia and, by extension, AMD and Intel.This combination would significantly improve both x86s prospects by eliminating unneeded competition between AMD and Intel both of which are facing challenges from Arm, China, and Huawei and allow greater focus on the strategic U.S. effort to build up domestic processor manufacturing.Wrapping UpThere is a lot of change going on in the tech space. Companies are flocking to AI solutions like nothing Ive ever seen. The AI ramp-up and competitive dangers are pronounced. The U.S., while currently in the lead, is being approached rapidly by China, which is executing well with better government support than the U.S. has been able to create yet. AMD has stepped up to this competition behind Nvidia and is performing impressively well and not just with AI. Its primary processor business is doing so well that its being asked to buy and merge with Intels development side and spin out manufacturing so it can advance more quickly with greater focus.While we often hold up Nvidia as the gold standard for AI computing, AMD is moving up fast as an alternative, and the market needs alternatives. Its growing too fast for one or even two primary vendors. Lisa Sus team continues to do impressive work, and I can only imagine the success they will likely enjoy in 2025.Google Gemini AdvancedI use several AI products at the moment, one of which is Google Gemini. There are two forms of Gemini: The base form is free, and Gemini Advanced costs around $20 monthly.While I initially struggled a bit learning how to state prompts to create images I wanted properly, both Gemini Advanced and I have improved over time. It now only takes me one or two iterations to create an image to complement my writing.Ive found Gemini Advanced to be incredibly fun to mess around with. For instance, I created the image shown here with the prompt, generate an image of a beautiful anime girl in a flying car fighting a horrific monster in space.The thing about AI tools is that they need to be fun and rewarding to use because there is a bit of a learning curve in how you phrase prompts and each tool requires slightly different phrasing. Gemini Advanced is clearly a kid-friendly, G-rated tool, so its a bit safer than some of the others that dont have guardrails.Im having great fun with Google Gemini Advanced, so its my Product of the Week. You should check out the free version.Rob Enderle has been an ECT News Network columnist since 2003. His areas of interest include AI, autonomous driving, drones, personal technology, emerging technology, regulation, litigation, M&E, and technology in politics. He has an MBA in human resources, marketing and computer science. He is also a certified management accountant. Enderle currently is president and principal analyst of the Enderle Group, a consultancy that serves the technology industry. He formerly served as a senior research fellow at Giga Information Group and Forrester. Email Rob.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.Related StoriesMore by Rob Enderleview allMore in Tech BuzzShould we end the twice-yearly clock change for business efficiency?Yes - Making Daylight Saving Time permanent could boost evening activity.Yes - Making Standard Time permanent could improve early work hours.No - Businesses adapt well to the current system.Loading ...

Microsoft was the first to put AI on devices with its Copilot+ launch months ago. It caught Google and Apple sleeping and seemed poised to own the AI space with the help of OpenAI and ChatGPT.However, Microsofts execution was so flawed that it isnt clear if anyone is even using these Copilot+ features now. Recall is still being held back, and buyers are confused about what is or is not an AI PC, given there are no desktop AI PCs, gaming AI PCs, or workstation AI PCs in the market or on the near-term horizon.This has given both Apple and Google time to close the competitive gap. Apple announced its Apple Intelligence initiative in June and then rolled it out last week in a way that should have more general Apple users using desktop and smartphone AI than Windows users are. Google has also begun to roll out AI features, so both companies are taking advantage of Microsofts extremely poor execution.The big difference for Apple is that it has started offering AI experiences in Apple stores with 15-minute sessions so that Apple users and potential users can play with the technology and become more familiar with it. There is no similar effort from either Microsoft or Google.Lets discuss how this is likely to benefit Apple and its users during this AI rollout. Well then close with my Product of the Week, my new favorite phone: the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which I now carry daily.The Problem With People and FeaturesWe are creatures of habit. We tend to like to do things as weve always done them. This is problematic for companies like Microsoft and feature-rich products like Office 365 and Windows because their advantage over other offerings is their more features.What makes this problematic is that if users dont use the massive number of features, it is relatively easy to migrate those users to a competing offering because the competition doesnt have to bridge all of the features, only the ones most people actually use. We are seeing this happen today with Google Workspace, which, while not as complete as Office 365, does what most people want done and is far cheaper during a time of belt-tightening.If you dont get people to use and like the parts of your product that make it unique, even if dominant, a lower-cost competitor can easily migrate those users to their competing offering. To overcome this, if you have a complex product or a unique set of features like, say, Copilot+, you need to promote using these features and remind users of their value. Otherwise, your ability to retain your customer base is significantly degraded.Internet Explorer ExampleWe saw this happen with Internet Explorer. Initially blindsided by Netscape Navigator, Microsoft executed exceptionally well and ultimately stole the market away.Netscapes downfall stemmed from two strategic missteps. First, they openly challenged Microsoft. Then, instead of making Navigator a front end to a suite of compelling web tools, Netscape chose to compete directly with Microsoft Office. This shift placed them on Microsofts turf, a battlefield they were not equipped to win. Netscape lost that battle and became part of history. Then, after rising to around 98% market share, Microsoft defunded IE much as it has now largely defunded Windows. Google came forward with a version of its Chrome browser that seemed to work better than IE, and Microsoft bled market share.Given that Microsoft Edge the browser that followed Internet Explorer is now based on Googles Chromium technology, Google owns the browser space and isnt repeating the mistakes that Netscape and Microsoft made.Microsofts Artificial Intelligence Screw UpGenerative AI, the current advanced iteration of AI, is moving aggressively into the market, mainly via the cloud. Microsoft launched Copilot+ with two features: Cocreator and Recall, which, on paper, were both very useful. Then Microsoft had to pull Recall back because its presentation raised security concerns without mitigating them, and Cocreator alone is basically Dall-E but running locally.In addition, the only PCs that would run these two apps were those initially configured with the Snapdragon X processor and were focused on people who valued high portability but not performance. Its a group that just typically wants the basics and doesnt chase new features or capabilities as much as performance users, gamers, and workstation users do.So, not only was one of the two apps held back, but the people targeted with the hardware were not those that typically would be first movers for AI tools.Thus far, it has been one of the worst misfires Ive ever seen.Apples Better AI ApproachApple is rolling out its AI tools to its entire customer base, not just a subset of laptop users. Plus, if done right, the in-store experiences mentioned above will convince users to try and eventually use these AI tools, ramping up use far faster than Microsofts approach can. As a result, even though Apples AI implementation still lags behind Microsofts, more people are likely to use it, so it should be a far stronger competitive differentiator. This is because an unused feature has no value, and Apple is simply doing a far better job of getting people to use Apple Intelligence than Microsoft is doing with Copilot.Wrapping UpWhile entering a market first, as Microsoft did, can provide a significant competitive advantage, poor execution allows competing companies to slipstream this initial effort and seize the market the first mover created. This is what happened with Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer. Microsoft moved late in that race, but it out-executed Netscape. Now we see something similar happen with AI between Apple and Microsoft and Google is right behind Apple. Microsoft opened the market but stumbled, giving Apple the chance to step in with a stronger effort. While Microsofts Cloud AI efforts remain largely uncontested, its desktop AI effort is now being eclipsed by both Apple and Google due to Microsofts very poor execution.While part of this is because Microsoft abandoned the smartphone market, the result is the same: Apple is out-executing Microsoft. That means that Microsofts goal of displacing Apple will not only not be achieved this cycle, but Apple has a decent chance of taking a significant share from Microsoft as people become more excited about Apples more useful AI tools and base user training.Google Pixel 9 Pro FoldI read a lot, and Ive long been a Microsoft phone user, both initially and when Microsoft brought out the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2. The Duo phones were perfect for me because they used Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, worked incredibly well, and they felt like a book when reading on them.Nonetheless, keeping with the trend since Bill Gates stepped down from the company, Microsoft again under-executed with the Duo and is again out of the phone business, leading me to search for a replacement.The closest was the Google Pixel Fold, which was a good phone but lacked a powerful processor, and it was decidedly less feature-rich than my old and obsolete Duo 2 phone, which had to be retired. Then the Pixel 9 Pro Fold came out. While it, too, lacks a Qualcomm processor (which it should have as a premium phone), the Google processor it has is far more powerful than the one in the old Pixel Fold, and it supports head-mounted displays that the older Pixel Fold did not.As a result, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has been a dream to live with. It has decent all-day battery life even if Im reading for most of the day, fast inductive charging (though the magnet on the phone is weaker than on earlier phones, so inductive charging placement is a bit more difficult), the camera is very good, and the sound quality, for a small device, is decent as well.At around $1,300, this isnt a cheap phone, but it is worth the money. While Im still lusting after that Huawei Tri-Fold phone I cant get my hands on, this Google phone is certainly less expensive and more practical.The phone is handy for movies on a plane or in a car, great for reading and browsing the web, and has a head-mounted display and a keyboard. It can even sub for my laptop in a pinch. Ive been very pleased with the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and it is my Product of the Week.

Because of Intels relative weakness at the moment, Arm has an opportunity to move outside of its smartphone base and solidly into PCs. Instead of backing Qualcomms play, Arm has decided to cancel Qualcomms license. This move not only appears to be an abuse of power but is extremely ill-timed, given Intel and AMD have correctly identified the threat and formed a partnership to fight it.It suggests that maybe Qualcomm shouldnt have blocked Nvidias attempt to buy Arm because, to get government approvals for the deal, Nvidia would have had to protect Qualcomms interests and be blocked from doing what Arm is now doing to Qualcomm.Further, Arm is at risk even for smartphones because the hottest smartphone currently on the market is from Huawei. It doesnt use an Arm processor but a Kirin processor, which, on paper, might be better. My Product of the Week is a Huawei phone pulling interest in line with the original iPhone. So, this Arm vs. Qualcomm war is ill-timed.Qualcomms PC Effort Is StrugglingWhile there is a lot of focus coming out of Huawei from Qualcomm on the performance of the new Snapdragon processors for laptops, the big problem for them isnt performance but compatibility. This compatibility issue, while not pronounced for those of us who dont use many custom apps, has become a bridge too far for large companies with a lot of custom Windows apps.In addition, over the last few months, AMD and Intel have stepped up their laptop processor game. While Qualcomm can still successfully argue its better in terms of efficiency, the need for emulators detracts from this, and x86 is the entrenched technology. This means all Intel and AMD need to be is good enough, but Qualcomm has to outperform them.One critical mistake was the failure to drive more 5G capability into these Snapdragon notebooks. Qualcomms biggest advantages are its wireless capability and powering a laptop that has not only all-day battery life but also instant and pervasive connectivity. However, only the Microsoft Surface Tablet has this capability. Coincidentally, I understand that the Surface Snapdragon AI PC products are significantly outselling everyone elses, suggesting that 5G capability was a significant potential game changer.One of the significant reasons the line is struggling is that it is both different and not well-marketed. When a product is different, its marketing requirement is higher because we dont like different unless that difference has key benefits.For instance, the LG Prada phone (on which the first iPhone was allegedly based) didnt sell well because people didnt like virtual keyboards and preferred phones like the Blackberry. But Apple marketed the consumer benefits of a screen phone and pivoted the market to it, knocking dominant companies like Palm, Research In Motion (Blackberry), and even Microsoft out of the market.Thats the power of well-funded and fully executed marketing, and we just didnt see that with these offerings.The x86 Ecosystem Advisory GroupIntel and AMD recently formed the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group to defend against Arm and any other challenging technology. This group has pretty much every major PC OEM within it, as well as several server and web providers, including Google, Meta, and Microsoft.This is a hell froze over type of relationship, given AMD and Intel have been at each others throats for years. But these two competitors rightly saw the risk, put aside their differences, and moved collectively against the Arm threat.While the group is still too young to make much progress, it provides significant resources with the goal of not only blocking Arm from entering the broader computing ecosystem but also the potential to challenge Arm for tablets and potentially smartphone alternatives in the future.Arm should have moved immediately to consolidate its licensees into a similar group, much like the partnerships formed during wars where countries put aside their differences to address the broader threat. Instead, Arm decided to go to war with Qualcomm. This would be like Russia in World War II deciding to bomb the United Kingdom while being invaded by Germany. The outcome of that war would likely have been very different.The Huawei ThreatRight now, Huawei is contained because of its alleged close relationship with the Chinese government. Nonetheless, its products have for some time had significant price and performance advantages that appear to be increasing. Much like the electric car companies in China have started to outstrip even Tesla, Chinese companies appear to be advancing far quicker than their Western counterparts. Should relations ease again between the West and the East, Western tech companies like Arm, Qualcomm, and Tesla will be at greater risk.This situation is a threat to Arms and Qualcomms current core markets, making this conflict between the two companies not only ill-timed but incredibly stupid because it puts a cloud over both companies futures.Wrapping UpArm has significant potential to redefine the personal computing space, but so do x86 and challengers like Huawei. This is not a time to launch preemptive attacks on licensees; it is time to gather them to counter the AMD and Intel Advisory Group effort.This fight between Arm and Qualcomm has the potential to create the same kind of dynamic that resulted in the iPhone taking out Nokia, Blackberry, and Palm, among others, and destroying the otherwise bright future of both firms.Lets hope the adults eventually step in because should this fight continue to escalate, it wont end well for either firm.Huawei Tri-Fold Mate XT SmartphoneThe Huawei Tri-Fold Mate XT may just be the most amazing smartphone launched so far.Thanks to the Chinese and Huawei sanctions and restrictions, this phone is available only in China for now, but it has Samsung worried and again points to how far off the cutting-edge Apple is.This phone expands from a good-sized 6.4-inch screen to a whopping 10.2-inch tablet, creating an iPhone and an iPad in one device. Its cameras are as good or better than any premium phone in the market, and when folded, it has nearly the same thickness as a single-screen phone.Given it has only two hinges, the tri refers to the number of screens, not the number of hinges. The phone can be used with a single screen, a double screen with the spare screen on the back, or with all three screens as needed. The UI, which is based on Huaweis Harmony OS (not Android), handles all three configurations with ease.One shortcoming is battery size. It has a small, smartphone-sized battery, not a tablet-sized battery, giving it a relatively short battery life in tablet mode. Another shortcoming is the price, nearly $3,000, making it one of the most expensive phones out there.It isnt waterproof, and the screens are relatively fragile. Screen protectors typically dont work well on foldable phones. You can gray market buy it on eBay, but with prices often pushing a whopping $10,000 and little compatibility outside of China, even I wouldnt buy one that way. But the massive premium prices suggest enough people want this phone to justify that unaffordable price.Shortcomings aside, this thing draws a crowd because there is nothing quite like it. Plus, it may show how Qualcomm, assuming it survives the Arm insanity, could move more aggressively on the PC market by creating a different class of PC, much like the iPhone initially was a different class of smartphone, similar to what Huawei is doing with the Trifold. Embrace the difference and push it with a uniquely interesting design.Qualcomm is the only processor company with something that could effectively compete with the Kirin processor in this phone. If the Arm community doesnt step up to this threat, they may wish theyd studied what Apple did to Nokia more deeply. In the end, even though I cant use it, I have lust in my heart for the Huawei Mate XT Tri-Fold smartphone, and it is my Product of the Week.

Multifamily Residences Turn to Tech for Tenant Appeal, Efficiency: ReportBy John P. Mello Jr.October 29, 2024 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTFuel your eCommerce growth in 2025Discover fast, flexible funding options to fuel your eCommerce growth. Learn how to unlock capital and scale your business. Download the eBook! Fast, secure, reliable connectivity is now an expectation at multifamily residences, according to a report released Monday by market research and consulting company Parks Associates and Xfinity Communities.Residents need access to high-speed internet services to work, attend class, and stream video and games, among other high-bandwidth activities, it explained, while properties need connectivity solutions that help them better manage operations, bring down costs, and reduce risk in an age of skyrocketing insurance costs.By embracing connectivity, IoT, and wireless technologies, property owners can not only improve their operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness but also enhance tenant satisfaction and retention, ultimately leading to increased profitability and long-term asset value, Jeff Barney, president of TP-Link Systems, a global provider of networking devices and accessories, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., told TechNewsWorld.Property owners can generate revenue by providing IoT and property-wide Wi-Fi services to the tenant, he added.Many multifamily properties are looking at different ways to deploy and adopt connectivity technologies, noted Parks analyst Kristen Hanich, but theyre also carefully considering the financial results they can expect by rolling them out.They want to know what the return on investment [ROI] will be on operations, she told TechNewsWorld, and if theyre a short-term kind of investment company, how much will be added to a propertys value by rolling out some of these technologies.Gaining Competitive EdgeThe multifamily real estate market is embracing connectivity and IoT to enhance tenant experiences and attract tech-savvy renters, explained Mark N. Vena, president and principal analyst at SmartTech Research in Las Vegas.Smart building technologies like automated lighting, temperature control, and security systems improve operational efficiency and lower maintenance costs for property managers, he told TechNewsWorld. Additionally, connected devices enable better energy management, reducing utility expenses and promoting sustainability.As tenants increasingly expect seamless connectivity and smart living solutions, properties offering these amenities gain a competitive edge in the market, he added.Hanich explained that many new properties under construction for the last few years are about to hit the market. When they do, we expect that a lot of existing properties are going to have to compete more tightly for renters and residents, she said. So we expect that a lot of existing properties, older properties, are going to look at what amenities they can offer folks and see what they can do when it comes to some of these connected solutions.However, according to the Parks report, a lack of suitable pre-existing networking infrastructure is a top barrier holding multiple dwelling units (MDUs) back from widely deploying IoT. Many existing properties were created without suitable wiring or the infrastructure to run new wiring, it continued. Additionally, many properties do not own the wiring infrastructure, making new connectivity deployments costly or not feasible. As a result, older properties are far less likely to offer smart amenities and have worse experiences with their existing infrastructure.Parks researchers found that 82% of properties 10 years old or older that offer Wi-Fi have difficulty maintaining device connections on the network compared with just 13% of newer properties.Internet Must Be Available ImmediatelyPoor connections have been a chronic problem due to wireless environments becoming increasingly crowded and wireless devices proliferating, Barney noted, but the introduction of Wi-Fi 7 promises to address those problems with more stable connections.In addition, multi-gig Ethernet is becoming available. With multi-gig Ethernet, more and more bands are becoming available and are being deployed to the properties to help people get connected, Barney said.Infrastructure woes arent the only challenges facing tech in the multifamily residential market. Theres a lack of understanding about what these technologies can and cannot do, and a lack of skills on how to set them up so they perform as intended and provide a better return on investment, Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst with the Enderle Group, an advisory services firm in Bend, Ore. told TechNewsWorld.The Parks report maintained that connectivity services must connect residents to experiences they care about: entertainment, work, safety, and smart living.Furthermore, it must be ready at move-in, it added. According to Parks research, the majority of MDU residents say having internet ready to go immediately after moving in is very important in their next home. That ranks third among 16 amenities rated by consumers in the research, just after good insulation, soundproofing, and low-cost internet.Parks also noted that more and more MDU residents are using smart home tech acquired themselves and from their properties. It explained that 22% of apartment renters and 58% of condo owners use smart home devices today, and these residents need modern networking services to support them.In fact, it added, many properties are offering smart home devices as a differentiator to attract and retain residents a differentiator that appears to be popular, as 79% of MDU dwellers with property-provided smart home devices and services are satisfied with them.Curbing Insurance CostsConnected technology can impact another concern in the multifamily residence market: insurance. Citing information from TBM Multifamily, an insurance and risk management firm, Parks noted premiums have soared 10% to 40% for multifamily property owners. The report explained that properties are seeing the benefits of deploying risk-mitigation technology solutions to reduce the damages caused by catastrophic events such as leaks and floods, which damage multiple units. These solutions are not typically resident-facing but have a strong ROI when implemented on a large scale through reductions in insurance rate increases and preventing small leaks from becoming large incidents.There is a growing trend towards insurance discounts for properties with connected solutions, such as water leak detectors. However, Parks acknowledged that this is still at an early stage, and properties may need to negotiate rates or change providers to see the full benefits.Without question, connectivity and IoT in the multifamily market offer significant benefits by enhancing tenant satisfaction, streamlining property management, and improving operational efficiency, Vena said.These technologies also contribute to sustainability efforts through better energy management and resource optimization. As smart living becomes more prevalent, embracing connectivity and IoT can help properties stay competitive and future-proof their offerings.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.More by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Internet of Things