Anthropic's computer use feature makes big waves
The Emergence of Autonomous AI Agents
AI agents are transforming tech, with Anthropic's new 'computer use' feature for Claude 3.5 bringing both innovation and a touch of fear—plus, so much more is happening in the world of tech today…
In this issue
This Week in AI and Tech: OpenAI’s Orion model, Gartner TOP 10 trends in 2025, Tesla stocks soaring, Anthropic’s breakthrough computer use feature
Need-to-knows for Managers: 7 Factors Why Companies Fail to Implement AI
Industry Insights: Autonomous vehicles will reshape our cities
AI tools of the Week: Boost your HR productivity
Culture corner: Why Read Nexus?
AI Art: Mercedes E-Class in 2050
Prompt of the Week: Prepare for a Board pitch
Quote of the Week: Techno-optimists vs. AI doomers
✅ OpenAI is reportedly gearing up to release its new AI model, codenamed Orion, by December 2024. This model is anticipated to be a significant upgrade, potentially up to 100 times more powerful than GPT-4. OpenAI's development of Orion is part of its broader goal to advance toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), underscoring its ambitions to lead in the competitive AI landscape. Read more here.
✅ Gartner’s top tech trends for 2025 are here to shake things up! Think Agentic AI taking action on its own, quantum-proof encryption, and “invisible intelligence” embedded everywhere. From hyper-efficient computing to robots that multitask like pros, these trends promise a new era of digital wizardry and human-machine synergy. But it’s not all smooth sailing—each trend brings its own risks and challenges. Will your business be ready to ride the wave or get swept under? Dive deeper into the trends here.
Source: Gartner
✅ Elon Musk’s fortune skyrocketed by $34 billion in one day on 25th October, thanks to Tesla’s massive stock rally—the biggest single-day jump of 22% in over a decade. This boost brings Musk’s net worth near record highs, securing his spot as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, currently estimated at around $269.8 billion. The surge comes as Tesla reported strong quarterly earnings, causing investor enthusiasm to explode, solidifying Musk’s already commanding presence in tech and finance. See it for yourself here.
✅ Anthropic’s computer use feature is convincing, and… scary! Imagine AI that not only thinks but acts like a digital human, navigating screens, typing, and completing complex tasks hands-free. Anthropic's new "computer use" feature gives Claude 3.5 the power to handle real-world applications with finesse—automating workflows, reducing repetitive work, and pushing AI to its interactive edge. Ready for beta testing, it’s a game-changer designed for those daring enough to redefine productivity. Dive in here or simply check out this video:
Source: Anthropic
7 Factors Why Companies Fail to Implement AI
The potential of AI to transform business is enormous, yet many companies struggle to implement it successfully. Here are seven key factors that often cause AI projects to fall short and how leaders can address these challenges from the start.
Lack of Clear Objectives: Many companies launch AI initiatives without specific goals, leading to disjointed efforts that fail to produce value. Defining clear, measurable objectives from the outset helps align AI efforts with the company's strategic goals.
Insufficient Data Quality and Availability: AI relies heavily on large, clean datasets, and poor-quality or incomplete data often undermines AI projects. Companies should invest in robust data governance and cleansing processes to ensure the foundation of their AI models is reliable.
Skill Gaps in the Workforce: AI projects require expertise in data science, engineering, and specific business knowledge. A shortage of these skills often hampers progress. Upskilling current employees and recruiting talent skilled in AI can close these gaps and drive successful implementation.
Resistance to Change: Employees and departments may resist AI due to fears of job displacement or lack of understanding. Clear communication about AI's role as a support tool and engaging employees in the process can build buy-in and reduce resistance.
Lack of Cross-Functional Collaboration: AI projects often span multiple functions, from IT to operations to customer service. A siloed approach can lead to misalignment and inefficiencies. Promoting cross-functional collaboration ensures that all stakeholders are aligned and contribute to the AI initiative.
Inadequate Infrastructure and Technology: AI requires robust computational resources and secure data environments. Many companies lack the infrastructure to support complex AI models, making it essential to invest in scalable cloud resources or dedicated hardware to handle the demands of AI projects.
Insufficient Governance and Ethics: Without a framework for ethical AI use, companies risk damaging their reputation. Establishing governance policies to guide AI ethics, privacy, and transparency is critical to maintain trust with customers and employees.
Understanding these common pitfalls is the first step for managers to address them proactively. By setting clear objectives, building data quality, fostering collaboration, and implementing ethical AI governance, business leaders can increase their chances of a successful AI journey.
Autonomous vehicles on the rise
🚗 Autonomous Vehicle Disruption: Tesla's Cybercab robotaxi is set to transform transportation by making urban mobility cheaper and less dependent on car ownership.
🚗 Challenge for Legacy Automakers: Already under pressure from the electric vehicle shift, traditional automakers now face further competition from autonomous vehicle innovations.
🚗 Impact on Urban Development: Autonomous taxis may reshape city infrastructure by reducing the need for parking and congestion.
The emergence of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is disrupting the automotive industry, and Tesla's new Cybercab robotaxi is leading this transformation. This driverless vehicle, unveiled with no steering wheel or pedals, is expected to drastically reduce operational costs, with Tesla projecting as low as $0.20 per mile. The potential for affordable, driverless taxis could redefine urban transport by minimizing car ownership and making ride-hailing services even more cost-effective.
Source: Tesla
For traditional automakers, this shift is particularly challenging. Already grappling with the shift to electric vehicles (EVs)—a process that has been especially demanding in Europe due to stringent emissions regulations—they now face competition from tech-driven mobility solutions. Companies like Waymo and Amazon's Zoox are developing autonomous fleets, which could capture a significant share of the market if they meet regulatory and safety standards.
In cities, AVs like the Cybercab are likely to reshape urban planning and infrastructure. The reduced need for parking lots and decreased traffic congestion may transform real estate and public spaces, freeing up valuable land for other purposes. However, Tesla and other companies will have to navigate complex regulatory requirements and address public concerns over safety to gain widespread acceptance.
Tesla’s focus on AI and software with the Cybercab marks a pivot where technological capabilities become as important as traditional automotive design. For managers, this shift underscores the need for investment in AV and AI innovations to stay competitive in a rapidly changing market landscape.
Boost your HR productivity:
Recruit - Hire - Support
🧑💼 Paradox.ai:
Paradox.ai automates the recruitment process with Olivia, an AI chatbot that engages candidates, schedules interviews, and answers questions. By saving recruiters' time and enhancing candidate experience, it optimizes hiring efficiency. Paradox.ai’s data-driven approach helps identify top talent, making it indispensable for modern HR teams.
🤝 Talmundo:
Talmundo streamlines onboarding with AI by automating tasks like training, paperwork, and compliance. Its chatbot guides new hires through the onboarding process, while analytics offer insights to improve retention. Talmundo is an essential tool for enhancing new employee integration and satisfaction, from startups to large corporations.
📞 Leena.ai:
Leena.ai simplifies HR tasks with AI-powered, 24/7 employee support via an intuitive chatbot. It automates routine HR inquiries and processes, freeing up HR teams and ensuring rapid responses. Analytics provide insights into employee satisfaction, enabling data-driven improvements in HR. Ideal for organizations aiming to enhance employee experience efficiently.
As a smaller company, you’ll be fine with these. As a large corporation, think always in the big picture, before setting up another shadow IT solution, or your CIO will get really mad at you…
Recommendation for Managers:
Why Read Nexus?
Yuval Noah Harari's Nexus is a compelling exploration of the unprecedented challenges and transformations that AI brings to society, with direct implications for business leaders. Harari delves into the potential of AI to disrupt everything from economies to individual autonomy, urging readers to consider not only the technological advantages but also the ethical dilemmas that come with them. For managers, Nexus offers essential insights into navigating a world where AI is both a tool for growth and a force reshaping human agency. Harari's book is a must-read for anyone seeking to lead responsibly in an era of rapid AI advancement, providing thought-provoking perspectives on balancing innovation with ethical leadership.
Mercedes E-Class from 2050
AI Tool: Dall-E
Prompt: “Create an image of the Mercedes E Class from 2050: futuristic luxury car, photorealistic image in an urban environment.”
Opinion: Well, Dall-E didn’t go too far…. Maybe I should have used a more detailed prompt. Why don’t you try yours? You can do it here.
I personally prefer Midjourney for more sophisticated image creation tasks…
Prepare for a Board pitch
Prompt: “I am the CIO of a multinational company seeking approval from the Board of Directors for my 2025 IT budget. With your extensive experience in preparing Board pitches, I need your help crafting a concise, three-sentence introduction that emphasizes the importance of sales digitalization, a company-wide AI platform, and cybersecurity—my top priorities for 2025. Please incorporate external data and research to ensure credibility, using a formal yet approachable tone that conveys the significance of these initiatives for the Board members personally.”
Result:
"Dear Board Members, as we prepare for 2025, it's essential to recognize that our ability to stay competitive, resilient, and secure hinges on our commitment to digital transformation in sales, a company-wide AI platform, and strengthened cybersecurity measures. According to recent McKinsey research, companies leading in digital sales grow revenue up to 5 times faster, while Gartner highlights that by 2025, AI-driven processes could enhance decision-making speed by 30%. With cyber threats now impacting over 70% of businesses globally, these priorities aren't just strategic—they’re vital safeguards for our reputation and your legacies as stewards of our company's future."
You better validate the numbers and sources before you pitch it, but it is quite okay to start with, right?
There are tons of prompting frameworks out there, you can choose whichever you want. But none of them work really without practice, practice and practice!
There are techno-optimists and AI doomers. One of the most popular scientist managed to be both in a single sentence:
"Artificial intelligence is likely to be either the best or worst thing to happen to humanity." — Stephen Hawking
Thanks for reading.
Until next time!
The Augmented Manager