Tue Mar-26-2024: IT Leaders Regret AI Investments, CISA Budget Cuts, & Microsoft's New Era of Work

[00:00:00] It's Tuesday, March 26, 2024, and I'm Dave Sobel, three things to note today.

[00:00:08] One quarter of IT leaders regret PCAI investments, CISF faces budget cut among growing cyber

[00:00:15] threats and political backlash, and Microsoft's new era of war, service devices with NPUs

[00:00:23] to accelerate co-pilot adoption.

[00:00:25] This is the Business of Tech.

[00:00:30] As we approach March 31, it's time to mark your calendar, time world, backup day.

[00:00:36] Since 2011, this global event has served as an annual reminder for customers to prioritize

[00:00:41] data protection.

[00:00:43] As an MSP, it also presents a golden opportunity for you to engage your customers in meaningful

[00:00:48] discussions about their coverage.

[00:00:50] With Skykick, you can confidently seize this moment to boost revenue and foster trust through

[00:00:55] comprehensive backup and recovery.

[00:00:57] We're hosting a webinar with a global panel of partners on March 26, all about world

[00:01:03] backup day and how to maximize the MSP opportunity.

[00:01:07] Squirt checking out, visit skykick.com slash MSP Radio to download a free, free step guide

[00:01:13] and sign up for the webinar.

[00:01:18] According to a survey by a son, one quarter of IT leaders regret investing in AI too quickly.

[00:01:24] The survey also found that nearly two thirds of IT leaders have seen their departments gain

[00:01:28] influence due to AI, but almost three quarters have felt stressed because of the pressure

[00:01:33] to implement AI.

[00:01:35] The article highlights the challenges and potential risks associated with quick, generative AI

[00:01:40] adoption, including costs, complexity, technical debt, and the impact of impending regulations

[00:01:45] and court decisions on AI progress.

[00:01:49] It's a report by Snowflake chatbots built using large language models are on the rise,

[00:01:54] counting for 46% of LLM apps as of May 2023.

[00:02:00] The report also highlights the shift toward chatbots with iterative text input and the use

[00:02:05] of Python as the preferred programming language for AI projects.

[00:02:09] Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of data governance in unlocking the value

[00:02:14] unstructured data and the need for accelerated execution of data strategies to take advantage

[00:02:20] of the opportunities presented by AI.

[00:02:23] According to a survey by Lexus Nexus, 86% of professionals are willing to embrace generative

[00:02:29] AI for creative and professional willing, while managers are more cautious about implementing

[00:02:34] with technology.

[00:02:36] The survey also found that 70% of professionals either use or plan to use generative AI for

[00:02:41] work or business purposes, with the most common use being increasing efficiency and summarizing

[00:02:47] content.

[00:02:48] Despite concerns about job displacement, workers who grow more optimistic about how AI can

[00:02:53] augment human skills.

[00:02:55] However, a separate survey by OrgView found that business leaders still have concerns

[00:03:00] about integrating AI into the workforce effectively pairing their workforce for AI.

[00:03:07] Why do we care?

[00:03:09] There's a downside in rushing and that's one in four regretting investing too quickly.

[00:03:14] I'd be remiss if I didn't note that three in four aren't saying.

[00:03:19] Discercing to note as well that all of the risks associated with the technology are standard

[00:03:24] ones.

[00:03:25] POST, complexity, technical debt, regulation, it's not get too worked up over those.

[00:03:31] This is all standard hype cycle moving faster.

[00:03:38] The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted a non-binding resolution led by the

[00:03:44] United States to ensure the safety, security and trustworthiness of artificial intelligence

[00:03:49] design, development and deployment.

[00:03:52] The resolution highlights the potential benefits of AI while emphasizing the need for

[00:03:56] safeguards and protections against its misuse.

[00:03:59] Although the resolution does not include enforceable measures, it sets a precedent for global

[00:04:04] regulation of AI and provides a framework for countries to develop their own policies.

[00:04:10] There's also been clarification of the role of NIST's new AI Safety Institute.

[00:04:15] That in a bit Monday, new director Elizabeth Kelly laid out aims to lead domestic and

[00:04:20] international discussions on standardization for artificial intelligence tools and applications

[00:04:26] focusing on monitoring synthetically generated content.

[00:04:30] And while I'm on legislation, the government spending bill includes a cut in funding for

[00:04:35] the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

[00:04:39] The bill grants SISA $2.8 million for fiscal year 2024, which is $35 million last in

[00:04:45] the previous year.

[00:04:46] The Senate is likely to approve the package without significant changes.

[00:04:51] SISA has emphasized its importance of funding for its operations and combining cyber threats.

[00:04:56] However, allegations of SISA working with tech platforms to censor conservative voices

[00:05:01] led to growing GOP backlash and resistance to empowering the agency.

[00:05:06] Ongo pressure from conservative critics has also affected SISA's information sharing initiatives.

[00:05:13] Why do we care?

[00:05:15] Today feels very tactical keeping up with the moves.

[00:05:18] I continue to be inspired by companies building their own frameworks.

[00:05:23] I was having this conversation just this morning when considering the work to be ready

[00:05:27] for AI, putting in place a framework in your customer's organizations and focusing on

[00:05:32] data readiness are immediate opportunities.

[00:05:35] I also would be remiss if I didn't point out that if you want to be selling cyber security,

[00:05:41] you should want a strong SISA that's investing in readiness and making it a societal

[00:05:47] priority.

[00:05:49] AI has a physical product element now as Microsoft has announced two new Surface devices.

[00:05:56] The Surface Pro X for business and the Surface laptop 6 for business aimed at increasing

[00:06:01] co-pilot adoption in the enterprise.

[00:06:04] These devices come equipped with Intel's newest core ultra processors and include a neural

[00:06:08] processing unit or NGU to boost AI-driven functionalities.

[00:06:13] They also include the new co-pilot key.

[00:06:16] The Surface Pro X retains the form factor of the previous generation while the Surface

[00:06:20] 6 offers increased web camera quality and the option of a smart part reader.

[00:06:26] These devices are part of Microsoft's new era of work strategy which focuses on leveraging

[00:06:31] AI to enhance productivity and optimize workflows.

[00:06:35] Microsoft is bringing designer and co-pilot pro capabilities to the Microsoft 365 mobile

[00:06:40] app on Android and iPhone.

[00:06:42] The app will offer a refresh to UI experience with enhanced functionality including image

[00:06:48] generation service and co-pilot features.

[00:06:51] Design capabilities will be available in preview by the end of April while co-pilot functionality

[00:06:56] is coming soon.

[00:06:59] Microsoft is enhancing the AI powered co-pilot and Microsoft teams with more new features

[00:07:03] for meeting chats, summaries, and message composition.

[00:07:07] Co-pilot will combine spoken transcripts and written chats allowing users to catch up

[00:07:11] on missed meetings, while also provide options to rewrite messages and generate new messages

[00:07:17] based on chat context.

[00:07:19] Additionally intelligent call recap for traditional teams calls will be available next quarter automatically

[00:07:25] taking notes during calls.

[00:07:27] Microsoft is also introducing hybrid meeting features including automatic camera switching

[00:07:32] and speaker recognition.

[00:07:34] New carriers will support the team's phone mobile feature later this year.

[00:07:39] And it's not only Microsoft.

[00:07:41] Zoom is introduced to Zoom workplace and AI powered collaboration platform along with

[00:07:46] new AI companion expansions to enhance teamwork.

[00:07:50] The platform includes features such as ASC AI companion, AI companion for Zoom phone

[00:07:55] and extended capabilities for team chat and whiteboard.

[00:07:59] Zoom workplace aims to improve productivity efficiency and the overall work day.

[00:08:04] Additionally zoom is announced customer experience enhancements to Zoom contact center providing

[00:08:09] real time AI powered insights to strengthen customer relationships.

[00:08:14] The new features and products will be rolled out over April and May.

[00:08:18] Go to is announced its portfolio with over 60 product enhancements, living the addition

[00:08:23] of generative AI capabilities.

[00:08:25] The upgrades include new AI assistance, real-time translation tools, enterprise application

[00:08:30] integrations, and other enhancements for both business communication and IT support

[00:08:34] and management.

[00:08:36] The AI innovations include AI screen translation, AI optimization for contact center and improved

[00:08:42] admin co-pilot.

[00:08:44] Go to is also released new features such as attendant console, CRM integrations, and enhanced

[00:08:50] integrations with Microsoft team.

[00:08:52] Why do we tear?

[00:08:55] Microsoft is all in on AI.

[00:08:57] There will clearly be partner upside.

[00:09:00] Wait long enough that all your products will have AI within.

[00:09:03] Today's episode is supported by CoreView.

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[00:09:58] Thanks for listening.

[00:09:59] Today is National Spinach Day.

[00:10:02] You'll excuse me if I pass on that one, not a sand.

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[00:10:25] The Business of Tech is written and produced by me Dave Sobel under ethics guidelines

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