In recent years, there has been a significant shift away from traditional physical SIM cards towards eSIM technology. This transition marks a fundamental change in how mobile devices connect to cellular networks. Unlike traditional SIM cards, which are physical, removable chips inserted into devices, eSIMs are embedded directly into the device’s hardware, allowing for remote activation and management of cellular plans.

One of the primary benefits of eSIM technology is its convenience. Users no longer need to physically swap SIM cards when switching between devices or carriers. Instead, they can simply activate a new cellular plan over the air, making it easier to manage multiple devices and travel internationally without the hassle of purchasing local SIM cards.

eSIMs offer users greater flexibility when choosing cellular plans and carriers. Since eSIMs can store multiple profiles simultaneously, users can easily switch between different plans or carriers without acquiring and installing new physical SIM cards. This flexibility empowers users to choose the most suitable plans based on coverage, pricing, and data allowances.

By eliminating the need for physical SIM card slots, manufacturers can design devices with sleeker and more compact form factors. This space-saving feature is particularly advantageous for wearable devices, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, where size and weight are critical factors. Additionally, eSIM technology enables cellular connectivity integration into smaller devices that may not have space for traditional SIM card slots.

Industry giants like Apple are leading the charge in accelerating technological advancements within the mobile industry. With the introduction of eSIM capabilities in its devices, starting with the iPhone XS series, Apple signaled a significant shift away from traditional physical SIM cards. The subsequent release of the iPhone 15, which exclusively utilizes eSIM technology, further solidified the company’s commitment to this transition.

The trend has had a ripple effect, influencing other smartphone manufacturers to follow suit. Major players in the market, including Google with its Nexus series, have also adopted eSIM technology in their devices. This collective embrace of eSIMs reflects a broader recognition of the benefits they offer and sets the stage for widespread adoption across the industry.

In the midst of this transition, AVO Simfree has emerged as a leader in providing seamless connectivity solutions for travelers. Leveraging eSIM technology to simplify the process of staying connected abroad, AVO Simfree has been instrumental in popularizing eSIM usage among consumers by offering travelers the convenience of activating data plans directly from their devices without the need for physical SIM cards.

Alexandru Cebotari, CEO of AVO Simfree, explains, “Our solution is based on eSIM. Our customers don’t deal with local carriers. They don’t have to sign any kind of contract. We do this for them. They only receive great service and coverage, good speed, and everything they need to stay connected.”

AVO Simfree’s commitment to eSIM technology aligns with the broader industry trend towards digitalization and remote provisioning of cellular services. By offering affordable data plans and exceptional customer support, AVO Simfree has become a trusted partner for travelers seeking hassle-free connectivity solutions.

The trajectory of the industry’s move towards eSIM technology is poised for continued growth and eventual standardization. As more smartphone manufacturers adopt eSIM capabilities and consumers become accustomed to the convenience it offers, the demand for traditional physical SIM cards will inevitably decline.

“I believe that in less than five years, we’ll no longer have physical SIM cards. So, for me, it’s clear that all phones moving forward will use eSIM, nothing else. All phone manufacturers are moving in this direction. There’s no way back,” says Cebotari.

Telecom companies will also play a crucial role in driving the transition towards eSIMs. As they embrace the digitalization of cellular services and leverage remote provisioning capabilities, the operational and logistical advantages of eSIMs will become increasingly apparent. This, coupled with consumer demand for hassle-free connectivity solutions, will accelerate the industry’s shift towards eSIM technology.

The industry’s shift towards eSIM technology is inevitable, driven by factors such as consumer demand for convenience, operational efficiencies for telecom companies, and technological advancements. As eSIMs become the standard in smartphones and expand to other devices, AVO Simfree will continue to play a pivotal role in providing innovative connectivity solutions to meet consumers’ evolving needs. To learn more, visit avo-simfree.com.

The post eSIM evolution: AVO Simfree sets the pace with innovative connectivity solutions appeared first on Digital Journal.

Staying ahead of the curve is the key to success in digital advertising. Astrad, founded by industry leader Daniel Macia, is transforming this terrain by empowering brands worldwide with its cutting-edge platform and unparalleled technology.

Astrad’s success comes from its proprietary Demand Side Platform (DSP) that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence and big data to deliver incredible results. “Our DSP results from years of research and development,” explains Macia. “It’s not just about serving ads. We want to create meaningful connections between advertisers and their target audiences to drive real business outcomes.”

Unmatched scalability in processing billions of queries in real time

Astrad stands out from its competitors with its real-time data processing capability. It can handle 2.5 million queries per second and 180 billion daily queries. This allows advertisers to target global audiences with precision and efficiency on an unmatched level.

“Scalability is paramount in today’s digital ecosystem,” notes one of Astrad’s clients. “Astrad’s platform has allowed us to expand our reach and engage with customers in ways we never thought possible. It’s not just a tool but a competitive advantage.”

The implications of Astrad’s scalability extend far beyond reach and efficiency. The platform can identify patterns, trends, and opportunities that would otherwise go unnoticed by processing such a vast amount of data in real time.

This enables advertisers to make data-driven decisions, optimize their campaigns on the fly, and innovate in an industry that moves at breakneck speed.

Transparency and control: Empowering advertisers with data-driven insights

Astrad has made openness and trust a core pillar of its business model in an industry often criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability. Advertisers have complete visibility into the campaign performance and ad spending to ensure that every dollar invested delivers maximum impact.

“Transparency is one of our fundamental principles,” says Macia. “We believe in empowering our clients with the data and insights they need to make informed decisions. Our platform provides granular reporting and analytics, allowing advertisers to optimize their campaigns in real time and achieve their desired outcomes.”

This transparency extends beyond just numbers and metrics. Astrad works closely with its clients, fostering a partnership built on trust and collaboration. “Astrad isn’t just a vendor,” remarks Macia. “We are a strategic partner of companies.” 

Astrad’s collaborative approach to advertising success

The company’s bespoke approach with its clients emphasizes building strong, long-term partnerships driven by collaboration. Its dedicated account management team works closely with advertisers to understand their needs, goals, and challenges, tailoring solutions that inspire results.

“Yes, we are a technology provider,” explains Macia. “We also see ourselves as an extension of our clients’ teams, working hand-in-hand to develop strategies that meet and exceed their expectations. This collaborative approach sets us apart and enables us to deliver business value.”

Pushing the boundaries of technology in advertising

The company stands out in a field often led by big players for its commitment to making advanced advertising tech available to businesses of all sizes. Its flexible pricing and easy-to-use interface let advertisers use programmatic advertising effectively.

“Every advertiser, regardless of size, deserves access to the most advanced advertising technologies,” asserts Macia. “That’s why we’ve built our platform to be intuitive, flexible, and scalable, helping businesses of all sizes to harness the power of programmatic advertising and achieve their full potential.”

Astrad’s dedication to making its platform accessible is evident in its diverse client base, spanning different industries. From new e-commerce startups to established retailers, Astrad’s technology helps clients reach their target audiences effectively.

Advertisers efficiently use the platform, letting them concentrate on creating engaging campaigns and achieving results.

“We understand that our clients have a lot on their plates, and the last thing they need is a complicated advertising platform,” explains Macia. “That’s why we’ve invested heavily in creating a user interface that is both powerful and easy to use. We aim to empower advertisers to confidently take control of their campaigns, regardless of their technical expertise.”

Astrad’s ease of access extends beyond its current platform, with plans to integrate additional support systems for an even smoother experience. This dedication to continuous improvement ensures that advertisers can always access the most advanced and user-friendly advertising tools.

The role of Astrad’s platform in shaping the future of advertising

Astrad’s engineers and data scientists constantly push limits, creating new features that meet advertisers’ needs. Its investments in emerging tech are poised to transform how brands connect with their audiences.

“We’re not content with keeping pace with the industry,” Macia shares. “We want to shape the future of digital advertising, to create a platform that meets today’s needs and anticipates tomorrow’s challenges.”

From advanced targeting algorithms that leverage machine learning to dynamic creative optimization that adapts to user behavior in real time, Astrad’s platform proves the company’s unwavering commitment to its clients. 

This commitment has earned the trust and loyalty of advertisers in Asia, Europe, North America, and the rest of the world who recognize the company’s technology’s potential.

“When I founded Astrad, I wanted digital advertising to be more than just a numbers game and be a powerful tool for building genuine connections between brands and their audiences,” Macia reflects. “Today, I’m proud to say we’ve made that a reality. Our platform has helped countless businesses achieve their potential, from boosting brand awareness to driving sales and revenue growth.” 

The best is yet to come for Astrad, and digital advertising will never be the same.

The post Astrad: Pioneering the future of digital advertising with unrivaled technology and vision appeared first on Digital Journal.

In the ever-advancing field of technology, groundbreaking innovations are revolutionizing the way we transact online and in person. This rapidly evolving sector is reshaping traditional methods, offering seamless and efficient solutions that cater to the modern consumer’s needs. By harnessing such advancements, businesses are empowered to deliver unparalleled experiences that actually make a genuine difference to the average consumer. Driven by the relentless pursuit of optimization, companies are levering sophisticated fintech solutions, from securing digital payments to making even the most mundane of tasks like online hopping that much more straightforward. By eliminating unnecessary complexities, these innovations are paving the way for a future where transactions become effortless and more in tune with the way that modern consumers expect. In the following article, a team of experts on the matter will explore a range of related topics, showcasing precisely how technology is reshaping contemporary payments solutions in a range of sectors.

Technological innovations in services

Zachary Jarvinen, VP at Exact Payments:

“From contactless payments to the mass adoption of digital tools like QR code applications, online transitions have become more and more straightforward over the past several years. Leading the charge in payment processing are contactless and mobile payment systems, offering a swift and secure alternative to traditional methods. Consumers can now complete transactions with a simple tap or scan, eliminating the need for physical cash or cards. Essentially, it means that most people will only need to carry around one time when they go out, which also just happens to be the thing they would never dream of leaving at home anyway: their phone! Complementing these advancements are the digital tools designed to simplify various aspects of service delivery. User-friendly applications and platforms enable businesses to provide far more personalized experiences than ever before, including providing real-time updates and communication channels that open up new possibilities between company and customer. Another exciting avenue that is being more widely adopted in the West (it has already found mainstream success in Asia) is the integration and use of QR codes. From contactless menus and digital loyalty programs to instant access to product information and new ways to promote offerings, these versatile codes have become an indispensable component of any good marketer’s playbook. As the demand for these technologies continues to grow, they are poised to reshape entire industries.”

Digital platforms enhancing user experience

Jonathan Palley, Partner, QR Code Generator Hub:

“Digital platforms are nothing particularly new; they have been around in one form or another since the internet started to become more mainstream. However, what has changed is the fact that they have become far more user-friendly and begun integrating a vast range of services and features that make a genuine difference to how consumers interact with them, cutting down on friction and general annoyances that plagued those of the past. In a sector like education, online platforms have emerged as powerful tools, enabling access to an incredible wealth of educational resources, virtual classrooms, and personalized learning experiences, making them the go-to portals for those seeking a more immersive online education experience. Students can now engage with course materials more fluidly, such as by collaborating with peers and having open discussions that used to be only possible in a physical setting. Moreover, as a result of the available technology, it is even possible to receive real-time feedback from instructors, making it a much more enjoyable experience all around and one that fosters a much more holistic learning style. 

“Similarly, event booking platforms have utterly transformed how we plan and attend events, whatever those events may be. In most cases, this has manifested as intuitive interfaces whereby users can input detailed search operators with the platforms spitting out highly relevant and personalized options. To put it simply, these platforms have eliminated the hassle of traditional booking methods, providing a centralized and efficient solution for event enthusiasts. Another sector that has seen an enormous uptick in the use of digital platforms is the entertainment industry. Users can easily browse upcoming shows, select preferred seating options, and complete secure transactions all within the same system, and often directly from their mobile devices in the form of an application or well-designed, mobile responsive website.”

Specialized online solutions for health and environmental concerns

Paul Eddison, Content Editor, Instant AI Prompt:

“When you hear the word “transaction,” you probably think about consumer spending and how businesses interact with customers. While this is correct to a certain degree, specialized online solutions are emerging to address specific health and environmental concerns, redefining how we approach these critical issues. In the health sector, these solutions expedite access to medical expertise and enable a higher degree of personalized care, something that has been lacking as populations increase and budgets sink. Telemedicine services allow remote consultation with healthcare professionals, which can result in more timely diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Additionally, online portals offer a vast range of advantages to in-person care, particularly for those who are unable or unwilling to spend time waiting in a doctor’s clinic. These portals offer health assessments, personalized wellness plans, and access to educational resources, promoting preventative care and fostering a more proactive approach to healthcare in general. Turning to environmental concerts, online solutions are playing a pivotal role in promoting sustainability and eco-friendly practices. Carbon footprint calculators and energy auditing tools empower individuals and businesses to understand their environmental impact and identify areas for improvement. Furthermore, consultancy services provide tailored guidance on implementing sustainable practices, such as waste reduction strategies, energy-efficient solutions, and responsible resource management.

“These specialized online solutions are not limited to individual consumers; they also cater to the needs of businesses and organizations. Environmental compliance platforms offer comprehensive regulatory guidance, ensuring environmental standards and regulations are adhered to. Additionally, sustainability reporting tools enable transparent communication of ecological performance, fostering accountability and driving positive change within industries. As awareness of health and environmental issues continues to grow, these specialized online solutions are poised to play an increasingly significant role in shaping a more sustainable and health-conscious future.” 

New technologies are changing the way people do business on a daily basis in the modern era by making previously impossible tasks easier and faster. The way we do business, get our hands on information, and handle essential issues is being transformed by these state-of-the-art innovations, which range from simple online platforms and payment solutions to expert consulting services. New opportunities for data-driven decision-making, quicker procedures, and tailored experiences are opening up as we adopt these revolutionary technologies. There is a great deal of hope for future innovation, which might push the limits of possibility and bring about hitherto unseen improvements in the quality of routine financial transactions.

The post How tech innovations are redefining everyday transactions appeared first on Digital Journal.

She’s best known as the logo of Dogecoin, but to Atsuko Sato, Kabosu is the elderly former rescue puppy who accompanies her every day to work at a kindergarten.

“It felt so strange” to discover her dog was an internet celebrity, Sato told AFP in Sakura, where Tokyo’s eastern sprawl gives way to fields of rice and solar panels.

In 2010, two years after adopting the shiba inu, Sato posted a picture on her blog of Kabosu crossing her paws on the sofa and giving the camera a beguiling look.

That image became the “Doge” meme — and later an NFT digital artwork that sold for $4 million.

“She’s pulling a weird face,” Sato laughed. “Now I think she looks really nice” in the famous photo but “at first I thought it could be trashed”.

The meme grew from an online forum post into an anarchic in-joke that bounced from college bedrooms to office emails.

“One of my friends messaged me: ‘Isn’t this picture Kabosu?’ Then I searched for it and found all sorts of memes, like Kabosu turning into a doughnut,” Sato said.

The 62-year-old is now so used to “unbelievable” events that when Tesla boss Musk changed the icon for Twitter, now X, to Kabosu’s face last year, she “wasn’t even that surprised”.

“In the last few years I’ve been able to connect the online version of Kabosu, all these unexpected things seen from a distance, with our real lives.”

– ‘Mona Lisa of the internet’ –

Kabosu spends most days resting in a cart at the kindergarten or on a big cushion at home, where fan-made Doge tributes adorn the walls.

The memes typically use goofy broken English to reveal the inner thoughts of Kabosu and other shiba inu “doge” — usually pronounced like pizza “dough” but with a “j” at the end.

“Very love. Such star OMG. So heart. Much drawing,” says one framed print using this signature “doge speak”.

Kabosu fell ill with leukaemia and liver disease at the end of 2022, and Sato is sure the “invisible power” of prayers from fans worldwide helped her pull through.

Then in November last year, a $100,000 statue of Kabosu and her sofa crowdfunded by Own The Doge, a crypto organisation dedicated to the meme, was unveiled in a park in Sakura.

Sato and Own The Doge have also donated large sums to international charities, including more than $1 million to Save the Children. The NGO says it is “the single largest crypto contribution” it has ever received.

“The Doge is the most popular dog of the modern era,” said Tridog, a pseudonymous member of Own The Doge, describing Kabosu as “the Mona Lisa of the internet”.

– ‘People’s crypto’ –

Dogecoin was started as a joke by two software engineers and is now the world’s eighth most valuable cryptocurrency with a market cap of $23 billion.

“The Doge meme was pretty big on the internet in 2013 and I spent a lot of time on Reddit and other forums back then,” Dogecoin co-founder Billy Markus told AFP.

Markus, who is no longer affiliated with Dogecoin, was amused by the “silliness and innocence” of the memes.

Fellow founder Jackson Palmer “drank a beer and saw the doge meme and Bitcoin in the news and thought saying he was gonna invest in Dogecoin would make a funny tweet”, he said.

Markus found the idea “hilarious” and created the coin in “a few hours” before contacting Palmer and taking it live.

“Lots of weird stuff happened after that,” he said.

Since then, Dogecoin has been backed by stoner hip-hop king Snoop Dogg, “Shark Tank” entrepreneur Mark Cuban and Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, who once tweeted: “I bought Dogecoin… six figures.”

But its most keen supporter is probably the billionaire Musk, who jokes about the currency on X — sending its value soaring — and hails it as “the people’s crypto”.

Dogecoin has also inspired a plethora of other cheap and highly volatile “memecoins”, including spin-off Shiba Inu and others based on dogs, cats or Donald Trump.

– ‘Legend lives on’ –

A solitary figure wearing a Doge mask looks out over the Los Angeles skyline — this is Tridog, who says he has “worked for a dog photograph for almost three years”.

Own The Doge is his full-time job, and he preaches their motto D.O.G.E, or “Do Only Good Every Day”.

In 2021, Sato sold the viral photo of Kabosu as a non-fungible token (NFT), a digital ownership certificate that can be traded online, to a group of crypto art collectors called PleasrDAO for $4.2 million.

That makes it “a top-five most expensive photo ever sold”, Tridog told AFP.

PleasrDAO split the NFT’s value into a brand-new memecoin called $DOG, allowing many people to collectively “own” the meme.

Own The Doge has brought fans and other meme stars to Japan to meet Kabosu and Sato, and it recently secured the intellectual property rights to the famous photo, paving the way to make Doge toys, films and other products.

As a rescue dog, Kabosu’s real birthday is unknown, but Sato estimates her age at 18 — past the average lifespan for a shiba inu.

When Kabosu dies, “the world will mourn”, Tridog said, but “a legend always lives on”.

He hopes people will remember “the deeper values” behind the Doge meme: “the wholesomeness, the silliness, the not taking yourself too seriously.”

The post Rescue pup to meme star: the real-life ‘Dogecoin’ dog appeared first on Digital Journal.

The groundbreaking initiative aims to provide job training and confidence to people with autism who can find it hard to cope in Japan’s often high-stress and long-hours work environment.

“I was really bad at numbers, which was the first thing that troubled me,” Sakuma said at Shake Hands, her workplace since last year in Kyoto in western Japan.

“I would lose things… Customers’ stuff that is very important that you should never lose,” the softly-spoken 39-year-old told AFP.

With attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Sakuma says she had problems concentrating on bookkeeping and eventually started developing bipolar disorder. Sometimes she couldn’t leave home.

But now she spends her working days at a partitioned desk — which helps her to focus — adding digital effects to an anime keyframe.

“With my personality, I cannot move onto the next step unless I thoroughly understand every detail,” she told AFP.

“Instructors here accept me being like that and teach me in a very gentle manner,” she said.

“I feel at ease here. I am having fun.”

– More awareness –

Developmental disabilities like ASD were long considered a mere matter of personality in Japan, but scientific studies have helped raise public awareness and change public policy.

In 2004, Japan passed a law recognising conditions such as ASD, ADHD and learning disabilities, and mandated schools to detect and support children requiring special care.

It also widened the remit for so-called “Type B” facilities, workplaces which previously catered only to those with conditions like Down syndrome and which now number some 16,000.

Launched last year, Shake Hands does so with anime, an industry that with the likes of Ghibli studios (“Spirited Away”) is a major success story for Japan.

Instructor Yuki Kawai said that obstacles in other settings can be an asset in animation.

“An animation movie is constructed on what is called a time-sheet, a blueprint which commands every move of characters,” Kawai, 28, said.

“There are no abstract rules in creating animations … which is easy to understand for people like us,” he told AFP.

– ‘Terrible accident’ –

Kawai himself was diagnosed with ADHD after graduating from art and design school and the “terrible accident” of a first job in sales.

“Often I couldn’t get up in the morning or couldn’t get to the office on time,” he said. “I couldn’t handle phone calls because many times I couldn’t get the person’s name right.”

Such an experience for people with ASD can trigger mental health problems, said Yuji Umenaga, a Waseda University professor and specialist in mental health and learning difficulties.

“Many people who visit me have shown symptoms of depression,” he told AFP, adding that some people with ASD become depressed because their symptoms make it hard

“Anti-depressant medicines don’t work for them because, in the case of ASD, the trigger is its symptoms which make relationships with bosses and colleagues difficult,” he said.

– ‘Wonderful potential’ –

Shake Hands has provided animation sequences for several blockbuster films and has won an order from a Malaysian firm to produce a promotional anime movie.

In the studio, upbeat music plays in the background to help make the 10 or so employees comfortable.

“In a quiet environment, some people get sensitive about other people chatting, thinking they might be the subject of their talking,” said staff member Momoka Tsuji.

Workers, who earn a nominal salary, are reminded to take hourly breaks and people can start and stop whenever they like, even late into the night.

“Some of our colleagues don’t feel comfortable for having direct conversations, so we communicate through an intranet chat function,” said Tomoya Sawada, 34, head of the animation studio.

Professor Umenaga hopes that Shake Hands will inspire other initiatives along the lines of Exceptional Minds, a US animation studio in Hollywood that provides vocational training for autistic students.

“In order to help their wonderful potential shine, we need to provide the right environment for them, from childhood schooling to vocational trainings,” he said.

The post Japan anime studio draws on talent of autistic artists appeared first on Digital Journal.

The overnight success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT thrust generative AI as Silicon Valley’s latest tech revolution, lifting Microsoft, OpenAI’s main backer, to become the world’s most valuable company.

Since then, the maker of Windows and its rival Google have been competing furiously, rolling out tools that produce text, images or lines of code on the basis of a simple query. 

Meta and Amazon have followed suit, with their own increasingly sophisticated models and AI assistants.

The bets have so far paid off, with Microsoft on Thursday again posting stellar earnings, which the company attributes to delivering on AI’s promise.

Generative AI, which is being hyped as a new industrial revolution, “has taken on so much value, they can’t afford to lose,” said Jeremy Goldman, analyst at EMARKETER.

These big companies “have a war chest, and they feel they have to spend this money on AI, otherwise they’ll no longer have the warchest,” he added.

– ‘iPhone moment’ –

For now, however, AI is a potential winner for the cloud giants =- Amazon, Microsoft and Google — thanks to their offerings of beefed-up applications that are offered to existing clients at an extra cost.

According to Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities, the new business should generate an additional $25-30 billion a year for Microsoft between now and 2025.

“We view this as Microsoft’s ‘iPhone Moment,'” Ives said as Microsoft pushes out its Copilot AI tools to clients.

“We see an acceleration of adoption for generative AI and Copilot activity which in turn is catalyzing more Azure cloud deal flow (for the company),” Ives said.

Since the emergence of ChatGPT in 2022, Microsoft has pushed the hardest into the AI space and it is still not letting up.

Since February, Microsoft has unveiled AI investments of $3.4 billion in Germany, $2.1 billion in Spain and $2.9 billion in Japan, over two years.

Under the leadership of CEO Satya Nadella, the group intends to build AI-ready data centers, help train millions of people in AI and finance the energy infrastructure needed to supply its resource-hungry facilities.

“Microsoft calls on external partners, whereas Google relies more on its in-house teams,” said Goldman. 

He said overseas investments attract attention because they are substantial, but in the end, the main players are all spending so much money, “that it would be unrealistic to say their hopes are to dominate.”

– ‘Take bets’ –

Microsoft also signed contracts with companies beyond its ally OpenAI, which has already received around $13 billion from the Windows developer, mainly in credits to access its Azure servers.

Under a multiyear agreement signed last February, hotly watched French AI start-up Mistral will receive an investment of 15 million euros. 

Significantly, Microsoft will invest $1.5 billion in G42, an AI company based in the United Arab Emirates, and take a seat on its board of directors, in an operation encouraged by Washington.

According to the New York Times and Bloomberg, G42 has committed to abandon its Chinese partnerships in favor of US technology. 

“At first, we thought the AI wars were going to be fought by a few players in search of a general AI capable of doing anything and everything,” Goldman said. 

“Now the market is starting to recognize that different models are going to be needed for different needs,” he added. 

Indeed, cloud companies are now emphasizing the variety of their offerings in this area. 

Microsoft, for example, has just introduced Phi-3 Mini, the first in a new series of small models, adapted to simple tasks that can be carried out on a smartphone, for example. 

Microsoft’s approach to AI is to “take bets,” said Goldman. The group is investing in different strategies, and “some of them are more likely to pay off.”

The post Microsoft expands its AI empire abroad appeared first on Digital Journal.

The results were cheered by Wall Street investors who pushed up Alphabet’s share price more than 11 percent and Microsoft shares up nearly 4 percent in after-market trades.

Google parent Alphabet reported profit of $23.7 billion on revenue of $80.5 billion, crediting growth in cloud computing, YouTube, and online search advertising.

Artificial intelligence helped drive the Silicon Valley tech giant’s business, according to Alphabet and Google chief Sundar Pichai.

“We are well under way with our Gemini era and there’s great momentum across the company,” Pichai said, referring to the Gemini AI model that powers services across the Google platform.

“Our leadership in AI research and infrastructure, and our global product footprint, position us well for the next wave of AI innovation.”

Some $9.5 billion was brought in by Google’s cloud computing unit, compared with $7.5 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.

Google also reported its first-ever dividend of 20 cents per share.

“Things are looking good for Google,” said Emarketer senior analyst Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf.

However, the future of Google’s core search business is not assured, the analyst cautioned.

Google faces an antitrust case in the United States, and the incorporation of AI-generated content into the company’s leading search engine “will arguably be the biggest change to the search advertising market since its inception,” Mitchell-Wolf said.

The earnings come as Google, Microsoft, Amazon and other rivals competing in the hot field of AI face scrutiny from regulators in the US and Europe.

The US Federal Trade Commission early this year launched a study of AI investments and alliances as part of an effort to make sure regulatory oversight can keep up with developments in the sector and stop major players from shutting out competitors in a field promising upheaval in multiple areas of business.

Amazon — through its Amazon Web Services arm — Microsoft and Google are the world’s biggest providers of cloud-based data centers, which store and process data on a vast scale, in addition to being some of the world’s richest companies.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said sales in the January to March period rose by 17 percent from a year earlier to $61.9 billion, with net profit up by 20 percent to $21.9 billion.

Microsoft has been hugely rewarded by investors since it aggressively pushed into rolling out generative AI, starting with its $13 billion partnership with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, in 2023.

The embrace of AI has boosted sales of its key cloud services, such as Azure, which have become the core of Microsoft’s business under Nadella’s leadership.

Cloud giants Amazon and Google are also looking to beef up cloud sales by rolling out AI features to clients and prove that the AI revolution is more than just hype.

In its push, Microsoft has moved beyond OpenAI and signed partnerships with other promising AI startups such as Mistral AI, as well as investing heavily internationally.

In March, Microsoft also announced that it hired DeepMind AI and Inflection AI co-founder Mustafa Suleyman to lead up its AI unit, poaching one of the industry’s key figures from a promising startup.

– Unleashed revolution –

The succession of moves has often taken archrival Google by surprise and seen Microsoft pip Apple as the world’s biggest publicly traded company.

“Microsoft’s earnings show the company is well-positioned to profit from the AI revolution it helped unleash,” said Emarketer senior director of briefings Jeremy Goldman.

“While monetizing AI as effectively as Google remains a challenge, Microsoft has positioned itself in the realm of consideration for ad buys — something that wasn’t necessarily the case even a few years ago.”

Meta’s results on Wednesday however were a first sign of AI fatigue.

The Facebook parent said its quarterly profits soared last quarter but worries over its spending on artificial intelligence saw its share price take a hit.

A potential dark cloud for AI is government regulators that are taking a closer look at Microsoft’s ties with OpenAI and others amid fears that the giant is using its huge financial war chest to thwart the emergence of rivals.

Britain’s competition watchdog on Wednesday was the latest to begin examining tie-ups between artificial intelligence firms and their US big tech partners, including Microsoft.

The post Microsoft, Google earnings shine as AI drives revenue appeared first on Digital Journal.

Alphabet reported profit of $23.7 billion on revenue of $80.5 billion, crediting growth in cloud computing, YouTube, and online search advertising.

Alphabet chief executive Sundar Pichai credited artificial intelligence with helping drive the Silicon Valley tech giant’s business.

“We are well under way with our Gemini era and there’s great momentum across the company,” Pichai said, referring to an AI model that powers services across the Google platform.

“Our leadership in AI research and infrastructure, and our global product footprint, position us well for the next wave of AI innovation.”

Alphabet shares that ended the formal trading day down slightly leapt more than 12 percent to $177 in after-market trades that followed release of the earnings figures.

Google ads brought in a total of $61.7 billion in the quarter, compared with $54.5 billion in the same period the prior year, according to the earnings report.

Ads served up at YouTube accounted for $8 billion in revenue, up from $6.7 billion in the first quarter of 2023, earnings figures showed.

Some $9.5 billion was brought in by Google’s cloud computing unit, compared with $7.5 in the same quarter a year earlier.

The earnings come as Google, Microsoft, Amazon and other rivals competing in the hot field of AI face scrutiny from regulators in the US and Europe.

The US Federal Trade Commission early this year launched a study of AI investments and alliances as part of an effort to make sure regulatory oversight can keep up with developments in artificial intelligence, and stop major players shutting out competitors in a field promising upheaval in multiple sectors.

“Our study will shed light on whether investments and partnerships pursued by dominant companies risk distorting innovation and undermining fair competition,” said Lina Khan, head of the Federal Trade Commission, in a statement.

One major concern is that generative AI, which allows for human-level content to be produced by software in just seconds, requires a massive amount of computing power, something that big tech companies are almost uniquely capable of delivering.

Amazon — through its Amazon Web Services arm — Microsoft and Google are the world’s biggest providers of cloud-based data centers, which store and process data on a vast scale, in addition to being some of the world’s richest companies.

Microsoft has moved the fastest in the generative AI revolution with a reported $13 billion investment in OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.

Microsoft just weeks ago announced a $2.9 billion investment over the next two years in Japan to bolster the country’s push into artificial intelligence and strengthen its cyber defenses in the face of threats from China and Russia.

Meanwhile, Facebook-owner Meta on Wednesday said its quarterly profits soared last quarter, but worries about the cost of artificial intelligence saw its share price take a hit on Wall Street. 

The post Google parent Alphabet’s Q1 profits beat estimates: company appeared first on Digital Journal.

One of the most common tools cybercriminals use to breach your data are pop-ups, those small windows that appear while browsing a website. These are often disguised as legitimate messages from trusted entities like banks or phone carriers, which aim for your personal information.

Jason Mountford, researcher and writer at Compare Banks, tells Digital Journal to never click the words “Yes,” “No,” “Agree,” or “OK”  in a pop-up, as you could be downloading spyware, a malicious software that can obtain all your usernames, passwords, and credit card numbers.

The only way to get rid of those pop-ups is by hitting the red X or closing your browser.

There are some red flags that can help you identify potential threats, such as the urgency of the messages, unusual payment requests, and requests to download apps.

To reduce the risk of falling victim to these types of scams, Mountford recommends following these tips 4 tips:

Install Ad-Blockers

If you do not want to see any more pop-ups, one of the best solutions is to install an ad-blocker on your browser. Ad-blockers will remove the vast majority of pop-ups, along with other types of annoying ads.

“Ad-blocking extensions are easy to install and are one of the best ways to avoid intrusive, interruptive, or repetitive ads while also getting faster page speeds” says Mountford.

Improve Your Digital Habits

Users are constantly exposed to all types of dangers on the internet, so exercising extra caution while browsing should be a must.

“Avoid clicking on suspicious links and double-check them if necessary, even if you think they come from a reliable source. Hackers often create links that resemble official ones to lure users into clicking them,” warns Mountford.

Use Strong Passwords

The simpler the password, the easier it is for hackers to obtain. Users should keep their eyes open for any unusual activity within their online accounts.

“Change your passwords every three months. The ideal password should be at least 16 characters long and consist of a random combination of mixed-case letters, numbers, and symbols,’’ recommends Mountford.

Update Your System Regularly

Each system update tends to include security patches to ensure user safety and fix potential issues.

Mountford explains: “These patches commonly include solutions for vulnerabilities that are exploited by spyware and other malicious programs. Updating your system can be key to avoiding an attack. Also, ensure to download and use your web browser’s latest, most secure version”.

The post Be careful what you click: Rise in scam messages appeared first on Digital Journal.

The dire need for upskilling and reskilling is at an all-time high. With the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technologies, at least 25% of jobs in the next five years will tremendously evolve due to the ongoing industry transformation. This leaves companies facing the urgent task of ensuring their workforce is equipped with the necessary skills to navigate this rapidly changing landscape.

Here’s the catch: traditional learning models often fall short of meeting the diverse needs of modern learners. Static courses, mass cohorts, and rigid curriculums struggle to keep pace with the dynamic demands of today’s workforce. However, amidst this challenge, a groundbreaking innovation is reshaping the upskilling domain: Hard Skill Exchange (HSE). As the world’s first real-time 1:1 skill-building marketplace, HSE is spearheading a revolution in how professionals learn and develop their expertise.

The problem with traditional learning models

Traditional training methods have long been criticized for their one-size-fits-all approach, which often fails to cater to individual learning styles, preferences, and paces. For many professionals, engaging with generic content unrelated to their roles or interests can lead to difficulties in the retention and application of new skills. Moreover, the time-consuming and costly nature of traditional training programs imposes significant constraints on employees, requiring them to dedicate substantial hours away from their regular responsibilities.

Furthermore, the rigidity of these conventional methods tends to stifle creativity and innovation, hindering the development of critical thinking and problem-solving abilities among learners. In today’s fast-paced and dynamic work environments, where adaptability and agility are prized assets, the shortcomings of traditional training become increasingly apparent. As industries evolve and technologies advance, the need for flexible and personalized learning solutions becomes paramount.

How HSE addresses these challenges

Co-founded by Julia Nimchinski (CEO) and Justin Michael (CRO), Hard Skill Exchange disrupts the outdated paradigm of traditional learning models by offering a dynamic platform that emphasizes personalized learning experiences. Unlike passive consumption of content, HSE users engage in tailored coaching sessions, drills, and role-plays designed to address their specific learning objectives. This 1:1 approach ensures maximum relevance and effectiveness, empowering individuals to acquire skills that directly impact their professional growth.

With over 15,000 GTM leaders representing top-tier companies such as Gong, HubSpot, LinkedIn, ZoomInfo, 6Sense, and Oracle, HSE fosters a collaborative environment where knowledge sharing thrives. By leveraging the collective wisdom of industry experts, users gain access to unparalleled insights and best practices that drive success in their respective fields.

Furthermore, HSE enables organizations to scale 1:1 bespoke coaching initiatives across their SaaS teams, facilitating the acquisition of critical skills in alignment with company objectives. This tailored approach not only enhances team performance but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and development within the organization.

The impact of HSE on the upskilling landscape

As the upskilling revolution gains momentum, HSE takes charge of reshaping the way professionals acquire and refine their skills. By offering real-time, personalized learning experiences, HSE addresses the shortcomings of traditional training models and empowers individuals not only to survive but thrive in today’s fast-paced business environment.

With its innovative approach and vibrant community, HSE is not just a marketplace for skill-building but a catalyst for transformational change in the upskilling domain. As organizations recognize the value of personalized learning experiences, HSE is poised to lead 2024’s upskilling revolution and shape the future of professional development.

As the demand for continuous learning and development continues to rise, HSE serves as a key player in driving the upskilling revolution forward and empowering individuals to unlock their full potential.

The post This next-gen skill-building marketplace is leading 2024’s upskilling revolution appeared first on Digital Journal.