March 2024 Tech Upload
| The NEW Digital Alliance would like to thank Nature’s Way and Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction for their support as an Strategic Level investor! |  |
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Inaugural NEWDA Technology Career Exhibit
On February 27, the NEW Digital Alliance hosted the inaugural Technology Career Exhibit where regional high school and tech college students had a chance for small group conversations with area tech experts on the dynamic and diverse world of technology careers. Thank you Kimberly-Clark for being the Platinum Sponsor!
Building a Data Foundation for AI Success
January, 9 2024
By Rick Saeger
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world of business, enabling organizations to improve efficiency, productivity, innovation and customer satisfaction. However, AI is not a magic bullet that can be applied without proper preparation and planning. To leverage AI most effectively, organizations need a strong data foundation that can support their AI initiatives and goals.
A data foundation is the collection of data sources, data management processes, data governance policies and data infrastructure that enable an organization to access, analyze and make effective decisions. A solid data foundation is essential for AI because it relies on data to learn and generate insights and/or actions. Without good data, realizing value from AI is difficult, or even potentially damaging.
According to a report by McKinsey, there are at least 63 potential use cases where generative AI, a type of AI that can create new data or content, can address specific business challenges and produce measurable outcomes. However, to realize these benefits, organizations must have quality data that matches the needs for their AI models.
Bringing the full power of Copilot to more people and businesses
January 15, 2024
By Yusuf Mehdi
As we kick off a new year, we’re thrilled to see people increasingly using and loving Microsoft Copilot for work and life. Our goal is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more by bringing Copilot, the everyday AI companion, to millions of people around the world. We have reached another milestone in this mission with more than 5 billion chats and more than 5 billion images to date. As Copilot continues to earn preference and usage, we’re receiving valuable feedback on how to improve. Two examples: First, there are a set of Copilot power users like creators, researchers, programmers and others who want more rapid access to the very latest we have to offer. And second, our Microsoft 365 customers want access to Copilot in the Microsoft 365 apps for personal use.
To help address those needs, today we’re delighted to announce more options for power users, creators and anyone looking to take their Copilot experience to the next level. This begins with the introduction of Copilot Pro, a new premium subscription for individuals that provides a higher tier of service for AI capabilities, brings Copilot AI capabilities to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers, and new capabilities, such as the ability to create Copilot GPTs. We are also announcing the general availability of our Copilot app for iOS and Android phones. Finally, we’re excited to bring Copilot for Microsoft 365 to more commercial customers by expanding the availability to businesses of all sizes, including small- and medium-sized businesses, starting today.
Mastering the Orchestration of Hyperautomation: From Chaos to Concerto
By TEKsystems
THE CHANGE AGENT
From robotic process automation to artificial intelligence (AI), the potential of hyperautomation to harmonize the business is vast. Leading organizations are powering their businesses forward with strategic orchestration.
Hyperautomation to Maximize Business Potential
As digital transformation matures, it becomes less of a competitive differentiator. Now, it’s all about speed and velocity of digital transformation. Now, even automation isn’t fast enough to keep you ahead of the competition—you need hyperautomation. As businesses seek out ways to streamline business processes and increase speed and agility, better connectivity across the enterprise is needed to expedite progress. That’s where hyperautomation comes in.
Hyperautomation boosts the automation of business processes (e.g., production chains, workflows, marketing processes, etc.) by introducing advanced technology tools such as AI, machine learning (ML), and robotic process automation (RPA). Through this seamless integration, hyperautomation empowers organizations to automate both complex and mundane tasks, streamline business processes, and drive unparalleled levels of productivity and agility.
Regional News
The trends we’re watching in 2024
December 29, 2023
By Rory Bathgate
As business leaders reflect on the past 12 months and look forward to what the next might hold, a number of trends and technologies stand out.
While AI is dead set to continue its large role in 2024, the impact of high-performance computing (HPC), the spread of new 5G technologies, and the pernicious role that increasingly sophisticated fraud tech will play is also worth exploring.
For this new year’s edition of the podcast, Jane and Rory eschew predictions to focus on the top trends from this year that will continue to play a part in 2024.
Highlights
“If you’re looking to automate factory processes, you have a controlled 5G environment and you want autonomous vehicles or if you have a production line that operates on hundreds or thousands of 5G linked sensors operating in near real-time you need incredibly good latency.”
“There is perhaps also a new frontier when it comes to high-performance computing, that isn’t just like you say important stuff, like climate modeling, viral modeling, development of new pharmaceuticals, and so on.”
Cybersecurity Tips for Employees
Hackers will try every deceptive tactic possible to gain access to your systems to retrieve sensitive information or install malicious ransomware to hold your data hostage. Unsuspecting employees fall for their scams every day and continue to be the number one access point for cyberattacks.
Use our helpful infographic to inform and motivate employees to stay vigilant and follow best practices in the following areas:
- Internal threats — Tips for securing printed documents, computers, etc.
- Email security — How to recognize fraudulent content and next steps
- Password protection — Best practices for creating and updating passwords
- Personal devices — Equipping remote workers with the tools they need
- And much more!
Fill out the form to get your copy of our Cybersecurity Tips for Employees infographic, and make sure your employees are prepared with the knowledge they need to stop cyber criminals in their tracks.
An apprenticeship program combined with intensive mentorship is developing underrepresented tech talent
The nonprofit Code the Dream champions tandem apprenticeships, giving its participants real-world work experience
January 26, 2024
By Laura Aka
After she graduated from college in 2018, Danielle Prioleau expected to be working in events planning. Then in 2020, the pandemic hit. “That made me rethink my career and changed my perspective because events is definitely something that you can’t really be online for – you have to be in person,” recalls Prioleau.
She was looking into tech boot camps, but was worried about the cost. “A lot of boot camps can be $10,000, which is as much as a car. I already have student debt, so that wasn’t necessarily the route I wanted to take.”
A friend told her about North Carolina-based Code the Dream which “offers free intensive training in software development to people from diverse low-income backgrounds.”
Prioleau – who lives in Maryland and had no previous thought about going into tech – says, “I applied for Code the Dream’s React course and I got in. That was just a crazy amazing moment.” She started taking courses in October 2021, finished the following March, and then became a Code the Dream apprentice in June of 2022.
No More Fear of Being Obsolete: Upskilling and the AI Revolution
February 2, 2024
By Rachael Yi
Twenty-two percent of workers say they’re worried their job will become obsolete because of technology, up from 15% in 2021. And these fears aren’t unfounded: 72% of Fortune 500 CHROs foresee AI replacing jobs in their organization in the next three years.
Fears about AI are driven not only by the threat of losing one’s job, but also the uncertainty of whether they will have the skills they need to succeed in the AI era. Employees don’t want to be left behind.
But the fear of becoming obsolete doesn’t have to be an inevitability. If leaders help employees embrace AI, it can become an opportunity for boosted engagement and productivity. The key is development — and the need to provide growth opportunities is now a core part of the AI revolution.
Why it matters
Globally, employee stress is at a record high, and AI is likely adding to it. Employees question what will happen if AI automates their job and where they’ll go next. If employers fail to address these fears, workers’ discomfort can negatively affect their engagement and productivity.