Microsoft Cloud & AI: A Dynamic Duo Shaking Up Your Business World

Today:

The Era Of AI: How The Microsoft Cloud Is Accelerating AI Transformation Across Industries

AI's takin' over the world, folks! Microsoft Cloud's helpin' businesses big and small make some serious dough by tapping into AI's full potential. We're talkin' better products, services, and sweet innovation for industries worldwide.

Mercedes-Benz, Coca-Cola, and some other big shots are jazzin' up their operations by usin' Microsoft's fancy AI tech. They're cuttin' costs, boosting efficiency, and making customers happier than a pig in mud.

Retail giants like Unilever and Żabka are hoppin' on the AI train too, makin' their stores smarter and keepin' customers grinnin' from ear to ear. Financial services are also joinin' the party, givin' people easier access to money stuff while keepin' the bad guys out.

AI's not just about cash, though. It's helpin' save the planet too. Companies in transportation and energy are usin' Microsoft's AI to reduce carbon emissions and conserve resources, all while keepin' their businesses chuggin' along.

But it ain't just the big dogs gettin' in on the action. Smaller companies are also jumpin' in with AI solutions, savin' lives, and improvin' customer experiences.

Microsoft's plannin' to keep the good times rollin' by infusin' generative AI into its offerings, and they're pumped to see what their partners will cook up with it. So buckle up, 'cause the AI revolution's just gettin' started!

READ THE ARTICLE ON MICROSOFT.

Google Brings Generative AI To Cybersecurity

Google's jumpin' on the cybersecurity bandwagon with their fresh-out-the-oven Cloud Security AI Workbench, announced at RSA Conference 2023. It's got Sec-PaLM, a smarty-pants AI model that's all about security. Google plans to use this tech to spot and handle cyber threats, make sense of nasty scripts, and explain attacks in plain ol' English.

But hold your horses, folks. The first tool in this Workbench, VirusTotal Code Insight, is only available in limited preview right now. And while Google and Microsoft are talkin' big about how AI will save the day in cybersecurity, the proof's in the pudding. We're still waitin' on solid evidence that this AI tech ain't just smoke and mirrors.

So, sit tight and keep a pinch of skepticism handy as we wait and see if generative AI really can make the cyber world a safer place.

READ THE ARTICLE ON TECHCRUNCH.

Apigee Rolls Out New AI-Powered API Protection Features

Google Cloud's got a new trick up its sleeve to keep the cyber baddies at bay. Meet Apigee, an AI-powered service to prevent those pesky business logic attacks. What are those, you ask? Well, they're flaws in apps that let the bad guys cause a ruckus. And they're everywhere—90% of companies lost dough to these attacks in just one year.

Google's solution is to use fancy machine learning models to sniff out these attacks. They claim these models are so good, they can even catch the sneaky stuff. Plus, Apigee's got some cool dashboards to help spot API abuse by looking for patterns. Talk about a digital detective!

API security is no joke, and it's becoming a top priority. In fact, there was a 400% increase in API attacks by the end of 2022. These incidents cost organizations a whopping $41 to $75 billion annually. And it's the small businesses that take the hardest hit.

Google says that 50% of organizations have faced an API security incident in the past year. And 77% of those incidents delayed the rollout of a new app or service. So, protecting against API abuse is key to avoid cash and reputation disasters.

READ THE ARTICLE ON TECHCRUNCH.

AI App Petey Uses ChatGPT To Make Apple Music Playlists For You

Yo! Check this out: Petey, that cool app that brought ChatGPT to Apple Watch users, is now on the iPhone. Guess what? It can make Apple Music playlists for ya. Just tell Petey what you want, like "90s grunge," and you'll get a playlist with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and the like. You can sample the songs and add 'em to your library.

You'll need Apple Music and a Petey subscription, but it's worth it. Petey's developer, Hidde van der Ploeg, made another sweet app called NowPlaying that dishes out the lowdown on songs, records, and artists. It's a perfect sidekick for Petey.

Petey's been a hit since its Apple Watch launch, and the iPhone version is pretty fresh, just out since April 6. So, if you're a music fan, you might wanna give Petey a whirl!

READ THE ARTICLE ON TECHCRUNCH.

Microsoft-Backed Tech Group Pushes For AI Regulation

Microsoft-backed tech group BSA is pushin' for some ground rules on artificial intelligence (AI) in US privacy laws, y'all. Representin' big shots like Adobe, IBM, and Oracle, BSA ain't messin' around. The group's got four key protections in mind for AI, and they're hopin' Congress will play ball. They want clear requirements for evaluating AI designs and impacts, and they're lookin' to rope in federal agencies to review compliance. Oh, and they want companies to manage risks for high-risk AI. No biggie, right?

Seems like everyone's in a hurry to regulate AI, what with Europe workin' on their AI Act and all. BSA's hopin' the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA) can be the ride for these new AI rules. They've been chitchattin' with the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and fingers crossed, the ADPPA might get some AI regulation added in. But hey, ain't nothin' easy in politics, so we'll have to see how this plays out.

READ THE ARTICLE ON CNBC.

Samsung's Galaxy Enhance-X AI Image Editor Comes To S23 Series

Samsung's Galaxy Enhance-X, a fancy AI photo editor, is now available on the Galaxy S23 series. It's been around on the S22 trio since last summer, but this new version is updated and ready to show off.

This app's got tricks up its sleeve, like adding HDR, fixing blur, and even making portraits look snazzy. There's a magic button that does its own thing, too. Just give it a tap, and it'll spruce up your pics.

The Galaxy Enhance-X app is an 85 MB download from the Galaxy store, and it's got plans to expand its reach to the Galaxy A series and update the S22 series.

We took it for a spin, and it's pretty nifty but also subtle. Upscaling a smaller image, though? Yeah, no dice. Still, worth checking out.

READ THE ARTICLE ON GSM ARENA.

Gitlab's New Security Feature Uses AI To Explain Vulnerabilities To Developers

GitLab’s got a cool new trick: an AI-powered feature that explains potential security weak spots to developers. Think of it as a friendly tech-savvy sidekick helping teams fix their code. This nifty tool isn't just for show – it's part of GitLab's plan to make the entire development process 10 times more efficient.

GitLab's already got some AI features under its belt, like an explain-the-code tool, and they're aiming to do even more in the future. This latest feature is all about giving folks a hand by breaking down vulnerabilities and helping them understand what's going on. The company calls this approach "velocity with guardrails," meaning they're making sure their AI-generated fixes are safe to use.

They're all about privacy too. Your code stays in the GitLab cloud, and they won't use your private data to train their models. That's a big deal for their security-conscious customers. So far, it's been a hit with not just developers but also QA and security teams, who get a better idea of what they need to test.

GitLab's DevSecOps report says 65% of developers are already using AI and machine learning in their testing or plan to do so soon. As AI becomes a "strategic resource" for DevSecOps teams, GitLab's aiming to help them fill in gaps, enforce policies, and make smart recommendations. Sounds like a game-changer, doesn't it?

READ THE ARTICLE ON TECHCRUNCH

A Fortune 500 Firm Paired Workers With ChatGPT-like AI Tools - And They Were Happier

Generative AI is givin' workers a boost, says a study by MIT and Stanford. It turns out entry-level folks get a lot out of using AI like ChatGPT at work, and their productivity jumps up by 14%. Noobs see the biggest gains, getting things done 35% faster with AI help. Though it doesn't do much for old hands, this study shows AI's got their backs in the workplace.

A real estate boss in Dubai says AI's a "1,000% game changer," with his folks bein' up to 200% more productive. Another company, Deeper Insights, is seein' gains of 20% to 40% by using AI for tasks like policy writin' and case law updates. The study doesn't dig into wage effects or long-term impacts, but it does make you wonder how folks should be paid for teachin' AI their tricks.

READ THE ARTICLE ON FORTUNE.