IBM's Approach To AI In The Workplace + Samsung Teases Galaxy AI In Upcoming Flagship Series + Microsoft Introduces Copilot Key For AI Integration In Windows Keyboards
Good morning!
Welcome to the 59th edition of the Quantumics Weekly Roundup.
In this edition, we’ll take a deep dive into the latest AI trends.
And as usual, we’ll explore the latest news and information in data and AI, business, and tech.
Let’s go!
The Human-AI Partnership: IBM's Strategy for Employee Empowerment
According to Nickle LaMoreaux, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at IBM, artificial intelligence (AI) will not eliminate jobs at the company. Instead, it will either replace or complement specific tasks and roles, allowing employees to focus on more valuable work. LaMoreaux clarified that IBM CEO Arvind Krishna's statement about potentially pausing hiring for roles that could be automated was taken out of context. She emphasized that very few jobs would be entirely replaced by AI and that there would also be few entirely new roles. LaMoreaux expressed concern that media coverage on this topic may be misconstruing the situation.
LaMoreaux provided further context, stating that IBM, with approximately 300,000 employees, was only referring to around 7,000 jobs in Krishna's remarks—a relatively small portion. She clarified that Krishna's prediction involved about 2 percent of jobs being eliminated and 2 percent being newly created, emphasizing that the significant challenge lies in the transformation of the remaining 96% of jobs in the middle. While these jobs will still exist, the way they are performed will undergo substantial changes. LaMoreaux stressed that the misconception arises from framing AI as a replacement technology, whereas, in reality, it serves as a supplement to enhance job roles.
Samsung's Collaboration with Microsoft and Google on Generative AI
Samsung is gearing up for the launch of its upcoming flagship range, the Galaxy S24 series, and has teased a new feature called "Galaxy AI." The official teaser video, titled "Galaxy AI is coming," highlights Samsung's history of innovation in Galaxy smartphones. Despite the teaser, specific details about the AI features expected in the Galaxy S24 series are not provided.
It's worth noting that Samsung has already incorporated various smart software features, akin to AI functionalities, in its existing smartphone lineup. Premium Samsung smartphones boast AI photography features, OneUI tweaks for a smarter home IoT ecosystem allowing users to control appliances, and the presence of Bixby, although the latter didn't gain as much traction as anticipated.
With the teaser for "Galaxy AI is coming," Samsung may introduce generative AI features in collaboration with AI tool makers, leveraging its close partnership with Microsoft. Alternatively, the teaser suggests the possibility of consolidating all smart and collaborative features under the umbrella of Galaxy AI. The exact nature and scope of these AI features remain undisclosed for now.
In a previous report by News18, it was highlighted that Samsung is actively collaborating with Microsoft and Google in the development of generative AI technologies. Dr. TM Roh, President & Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, mentioned in an interview with News18 in March 2023 that Samsung has already integrated on-device AI technologies into aspects such as camera functionalities and performance management. Moreover, he emphasized the company's commitment to working closely with Microsoft, Google, and other emerging partners to advance the development of generative AI technologies. Dr. Roh expressed the belief that AI technology would play a crucial role in advancing the smartphone industry in the future.
Microsoft Declares 2024 as "The Year of the AI PC" with $13 Billion Investment in OpenAI's GPT-4 Technology
Microsoft is introducing a new button on the Windows keyboard to activate its AI Copilot service, marking the first alteration to the Windows keyboard layout since the addition of the Windows/Start key in 1994. The Copilot key, positioned to the right of the space bar, emphasizes Microsoft's commitment to artificial intelligence. Devices featuring this new key will be available starting this month.
Displayed by Microsoft's hardware partners at the CES technology conference, the Copilot button will eventually become a mandatory feature. This shortcut is designed to assist users in tasks such as creating images, writing emails, and summarizing text with the aid of AI.
Microsoft's consumer chief marketing officer, Yusuf Mehdi, emphasized in a blog post that AI will be seamlessly integrated into Windows, spanning from the system to the silicon to the hardware. The addition of the Copilot key underscores Microsoft's dedication to incorporating AI into various aspects of its operating system.
Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, envisions 2024 as "the year of the AI PC," echoing the trend among smartphone manufacturers who promote their latest models as "AI phones." While such labels may seem superficial, Microsoft has undertaken a significant effort over the past year to integrate AI technology into its major products, enabling the generation of new content from vast datasets. This transformative approach extends to Windows, Office, Bing search, security software, as well as customer and finance products. Microsoft's advancements heavily rely on GPT-4 technology from OpenAI, in which the company has made a substantial investment of $13 billion. This strategic move underscores Microsoft's commitment to harnessing the power of AI across a spectrum of its key offerings.