On June 12, 2023, Brookfield Renewable, one of the world’s largest publicly traded, pure‑play renewable power platforms, together with its institutional partners, announced that it has agreed to acquire Duke Energy Renewables, a fully integrated developer and operator of renewable power assets in the U.S., at an enterprise value of approximately $2.8 billion, including non‑controlling tax equity interests and the assumption of debt. Cravath is representing Brookfield Renewable in connection with the transaction.
A massive asteroid will zoom past Earth on Friday (February 2), coming within 1.7 million miles of our planet. NASA said that the asteroid 2008 OS7 will not come close to hitting the Earth, as it will pass by at seven times the distance from Earth to the moon, traveling at a speed of 41,000 mph.
NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies said that 2008 OS7 is between 690 feet and 1,575 feet across. That makes it roughly the same size as the Empire State Building. An asteroid of that size won’t cause planetary devastation but could wipe out a city if it strikes Earth.
You can watch the asteroid’s flyby live, thanks to The Virtual Telescope Project. The live stream starts on Friday at 1 p.m. ET.
One of the glaring Vision Pro issues that I noted immediately after Apple unveiled the headset last summer was the absence of generative AI features. But it was still too early for Apple to unveil a ChatGPT rival of its own. OpenAI’s generative AI software was just six months old at the time. There was plenty of time for Apple to bring its ChatGPT competitors to products like the iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro.
Vision Pro buyers who want generative AI features on their headsets right away will not have to wait for iOS 18. You can use ChatGPT, Google Bard, Microsoft Copilot, and other AI software on the Vision Pro via the Safari browser. Also, any AI apps for iPhone and iPad might work on the spatial computer.
But Microsoft went out and designed visionOS apps for its Microsoft 365 productivity suite for the Vision Pro. And that includes support for Microsoft Copilot.
Tech. Entertainment. Science. Your inbox.
Sign up for the most interesting tech & entertainment news out there.
Microsoft Copilot is partly built atop ChatGPT. It will offer you access to the GPT-4 language model without paying the ChatGPT Plus subscription. You will only need a Microsoft account and the Vision Pro app that Microsoft created.
Microsoft 365 Word on Vision Pro. Image source: Microsoft
Microsoft announced the Vision Pro software in a blog post on Wednesday, right in time for Apple’s Vision Pro launch on Friday. That’s where it explains what Copilot can do on the Vision Pro:
If you are an individual or an organization that uses Copilot, we have some exciting news for you. You will be able to create, analyze and connect, using your own words and voice (literally), with Copilot while using Apple Vision Pro. Copilot can help you to:
Get more out of your meetings, by being more engaged in the meetings you attend and quickly catch up for the ones you don’t.
Transform your writing: Copilot drafts, edits, summarizes, and creates right alongside you.
Bring your ideas to life: Easily start a new presentation from a simple prompt or outline using natural language commands.
Analyze and explore data: Identify trends, create powerful visualizations, or ask for recommendations to drive different outcomes.
What’s really interesting here is that Microsoft went and created brand new apps for visionOS rather than making its iOS and iPadOS apps available on the spatial computer. That’s one of the advantages of Vision Pro over competitors and other first-gen Apple products. The Vision Pro gets access to millions of iPad apps right out of the box. That’s on top of apps created specifically for visionOS.
The same blog post details the Microsoft 365 apps the company created for the Vision Pro. The list includes PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Teams. The latter uses the Vision Pro persona feature that lets you create a virtual avatar of yourself.
Teams video chat on Vision Pro. Image source: Microsoft
Some of these apps will take advantage of the virtually infinite AR display you get with the Vision Pro. PowerPoint will feature an Immersive Environment that lets you practice presentations in front of an audience.
Excel will let you use an infinite canvas on the headset and move graphs and charts with ease between apps. Finally, Word will use the Immersive Environments feature to help you focus on the writing task at hand.
Microsoft’s Vision Pro apps will be available before the spatial computer’s launch. I might not get my hands on the spatial computer until much later this year, but I am excited to try some of Microsoft’s apps. Copilot is certainly a priority, at least until a native AI experience running on Apple’s own language models will be available on the headset.
I’ll also note that Microsoft’s approach is a significant departure from the treatment Vision Pro is getting from other developers. Google decided not to make a YouTube app for the Vision Pro, and neither did Netflix. Similarly, there’s no Spotify app for the Vision Pro. And Meta is yet to announce software for the Vision Pro.
The Vision Pro launch dropped right in the middle of a heated debate between Apple and developers that’s part of a much larger battle over iPhone apps. Just last week, Apple announced rules for iPhone sideloading in the EU.
Unsurprisingly, some developers were quite vocal about the DMA changes, including Microsoft’s Xbox president. Spotify and Epic are other examples. But that doesn’t mean Microsoft will not go forward with its visionOS apps.
Dollar General (DG) now offers fresh produce in more than 5,000 U.S. stores, giving the company more individual points of produce distribution than any other mass retailer or grocer in the country. DG stores that carry fresh produce are stocked with the top 20 produce items typically sold in traditional grocery stores, including tomatoes, onions, apples, strawberries, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lemons, limes and salad mixes.
“We are constantly looking for ways to better serve our customers and one of our top priorities is to ensure the communities we call home have access to fresh, affordable and convenient food options,” said Emily Taylor, EVP and Chief Merchandising Officer at Dollar General in a statement. “We have exceeded our goal of having 5,000 total stores with fresh produce by January 2024. We’re proud to leverage our footprint to meet the need for healthy food options in more communities than any other retailer across the U.S.”
To ensure consumers have fast and convenient access to fresh foods, DG has partnered with Shelf Engine to roll out AI-powered automated ordering technology in approximately 3,000 stores. The platform is designed to improve perishable food forecasting and optimize in-stock levels so only the freshest produce options are available. As a result, DG will be able to improve operational efficiency and margins while also supporting the its broader “Food First” initiative.
“Adopting Shelf Engine’s AI solutions aligns seamlessly with our mission of serving others, helping our teams enhance value and convenience for our customers,” said Allen Warch, VP and Division Merchandise Manager with leadership of fresh merchandise at Dollar General in a statement. “This collaboration is a strategic step toward improving our operational efficiency while serving our customers with improved in-stock levels of fresh produce.”
Putting Food First
DG first unveiled its “Food First” initiative in July 2023, emphasizing its commitment to building out its Clover Valley private-label brand. Through a robust customer feedback-gathering exercise, Clover Valley added more than 100 new items to shelves, including new entrees, sides, sauces, condiments and snacks. The ultimate goal for “Food First” is to provide more affordable food options to local communities that rely on DG for groceries and everyday essentials, such as milk, eggs, bread, canned vegetables and lean proteins.
DG also partners with local and national nonprofit organizations, including food banks, as part of its ongoing efforts to help alleviate food insecurity. For example, the retailer’s operational partnership with Feeding America provides in-kind food donations from stores and distribution centers across the U.S. with a goal to contribute up to 20 million meals each year. To date, DG has donated more than 23 million meals and over $3 million to Feeding America.
If you’re looking to elevate the customer experience (CX) with generative AI, you’re not alone. Generative AI customer service investments have been shown to increase revenue, optimize costs, and accelerate contact center innovation. By automating a wide range of customer interactions with generative AI, you can improve overall CX through personalized interactions, faster and more efficient issue resolution, and multichannel support.
Generative AI customer service technologies are also revolutionizing the way advisors work, empowering them with assistance tools and real-time coaching for greater productivity and efficiency. By streamlining tasks, your advisors can devote more attention to meaningful conversations with customers, enhancing CX—and advisor satisfaction.
Companies can accelerate generative AI implementation by unifying systems and migrating to the cloud. Amazon Connect is a cloud-based contact center solution that can help break down silos, enabling you to leverage generative AI technology across your business.
Imagine uncovering the secret formula that has propelled organisations like NASA, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the New Zealand All Blacks to over a century of unparalleled success. That’s exactly what Professor Alex Hill, a visionary and a leading expert in organisational performance, has done in his captivating book, “Centennials: The 12 Habits of Great, Enduring Organisations.”
This isn’t just any research. Spanning over thirteen years, Professor Hill delved deep into the core of organisations that have survived and thrived for more than 100 years. His findings? Twelve extraordinary traits that set these institutions apart. Hill’s book is a treasure trove of wisdom, from their unique ways of analysing triumphs and failures to their innovative strategies for scouting the brightest minds and freshest ideas.
But Alex Hill is more than just an author. He’s a trailblazer at the forefront of organisational development. As the co-founder and Director of The Centre for High Performance, he’s part of a dynamic collaboration that includes prestigious institutions like Kingston University, Duke Corporate Education, and the London Business School. Together, they’re bolstering high-performing organisations to create a stronger, more resilient society and economy.
In “Centennials,” Hill takes us on an enlightening journey through the lifelines of organisations that have withstood the test of time. It’s a book that goes beyond mere theory and is packed with real-world insights and actionable strategies. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, a seasoned CEO, or intrigued by the art of lasting success, “Centennials” is your window into the world of enduring greatness. I love the systemic approach to your book if we want to solve the significant challenges we face – such as climate change, poverty, immigration, health and education.
So, are you ready to discover the secrets of the centennials and revolutionise your perspective on success and sustainability? Here is my interview with Professor Alex Hill as he invites you on this transformative journey!
The Centennials have worked out how to break this pattern by establishing a North Star – beliefs and behaviours they want to create – to guide them forward, ensuring they have enough stable stewards in place so they stay on track.
What are habits we must adopt now for the future?
The book is based on a thirteen-year study examining how organisations have outperformed their peers over the last 100 years and become ‘Centennials.’ They found that they challenge the conventional wisdom about how businesses should be managed and led, which helps explain why most US companies now only live for 15 years.
Although conventional business wisdom tells you to grow sales, cut costs, and keep your ideas close to your chest, these things will actually make it harder for you to sustain your success. For example, you’ll eventually lose control if you grow sales too fast, just like Nokia. You’ll eventually run out of new products if you cut costs too hard, just like Motorola. And if you’re too secretive, you’ll eventually run out of fresh ideas, like BlackBerry. And what’s interesting, we found, is that all the businesses that go under have their best year ever – with record profits and sales – just before this happens. Just think of BlackBerry, General Motors, Hewlett-Packard, Lucent, Nokia, Texaco, and Motorola. They all maximised their short-term performance but damaged their long-term success.
However, organisations must think differently to perform well in the long run. They must focus on getting better, not bigger, being intentionally inefficient, and sharing their secrets with the world so others will want to help them. We need organisations to think differently and perform better in the long run if we’re going to solve the big, complex problems that we face – such as climate change, poverty, immigration, health and education – as these problems aren’t solved quickly.
How can CEOs build and sustain success for decades to come?
Organisations need to develop a ‘stable core,’ we found, to guide them forward – with a stable purpose, stewardship, and openness – and a ‘disruptive edge’ to move them forward – with disruptive experts, nervousness, and accidents – if they want to sustain their success. CEOs need to stay in their role for at least ten years if they will help them do this. That’s why, for example, 80 per cent of the top performing CEOs in Harvard University’s recent study have been in post for at least ten years and either started or rose through the company they now manage. Just think of Tim Cook at Apple, Satya Nadella at Microsoft, and Andy Jassy at Amazon. It takes time to understand a company and develop a long-lasting impact.
Could you tell us something about you that we don’t know?
I spend most of my time working in the dark, not really knowing what I’m doing. I am figuring out what’s happening whenever I start a new project. It’s a feeling that stays with me right until the end of the project and seems to get worse over time as each new project is more complex and ambitious than the last.
Have you turned a life’s inevitable difficulty into opportunities for growth?
Over the last forty years, my passions and my career have always changed every four years. It’s always a shock when it happens. But with these sharp changes in direction, I learned so much, and I was able to write this book. For example, when I was eleven years old, I was told I could never play sports again. I didn’t know what to do. But the following year, after making new friends, I developed a passion for music and film that has stayed with me for the rest of my life. I went back to sports four years later but got injured four years after that and went into business. I ran companies for four years and then became a consultant (within a company) before I left four years later and went into academia. And then, I started working with high-performing organisations in the four years after that…
How do you define High Performance?
For me, high performance consistently redefines what’s possible by always performing at the cutting edge.
Why has the world become so short-term focused, and how can we buck this trend?
It’s straightforward to slip into a short-term mindset and only focus on the things that are immediately urgent. They’re often easier to do, and the pain of not doing them will be felt more quickly. However, if we only focus on the short term, we won’t make it to the long term and never solve the significant, complex challenges we face. The Centennials have worked out how to break this pattern by establishing a North Star – beliefs and behaviours they want to create – to guide them forward, ensuring they have enough stable stewards in place so they stay on track. But they also work with many different people from outside their organisation, so they’re always finding new ways to move forward.
What can we learn from your book on how to change the world?
These principles are relevant to anyone who wants to change the world. Establish a long-term purpose, build a community of stewards to guide you, and constantly expose yourself to outsiders with new ideas.
How did you get out of your own way?
All the great leaders I’ve worked with are brilliant at delegating urgent tasks and ignoring unimportant ones so they can focus on their long-term goals. And writing a book, I’ve found, is no different.
Finally, a complete view of Piero Lissoni’s decades of work across architecture, interior design, furniture, furnishings, graphics, landscape and more. This substantial book, edited by Stefano Casciani, presents the Lissoni & Partners studio work in a well-organized and easy to peruse manner, from The Middle House hotel—our go-to in Shanghai, to the chic Sanlorenzo Yachts SP110 plus working, retail and living environments, there are beautiful images and inspiriting designs to inspire.
Digital business files have replaced many paper documents, and the volume of content is expected to soar in the coming years. Every day, I talk to organizations leveraging intelligent document processing solutions to help them cope with the digital document deluge. But even today’s automated platforms can fall behind.
Traditional machine learning lost a step
As document content and layouts change over time, systems require costly, time-consuming manual tasks that reduce efficiency and revenue. AI adds efficiency and accuracy to automated capture workflows. Unfortunately, machine learning models can also take time and resources to train and calibrate.
Machine learning accuracy drifts and degrades over time as the layouts of incoming documents change. Keeping models accurate relies on periodic updates by data scientists in a labor-intensive cycle of retraining, sometimes at the code and database level. These specialized skill sets and activities come at a considerable cost to the organization. Updates typically occur only periodically and without input from key knowledge workers.
Take the leap with continuous machine learning
There is an ongoing shift taking place from machine learning to continuous machine learning. Many organizations have turned to continuous machine learning to address their content classification and data extraction needs to enable intelligent document processing. With continuous machine learning, models are updated on the go as they encounter new data and layouts in production. Updates occur in real-time in small batches, which reduces computational time. More importantly, continuous machine learning reduces the data and human resources required to retrain machine learning models.
How does OpenText leverage CML for information capture and intelligent document processing?
OpenText leverages a continuous machine learning (CML) approach that offers flexibility, accuracy, and efficiency for automated information capture while minimizing or eliminating manual machine learning model retraining.
OpenText information capture products and intelligent document processing solutions solve the machine learning challenge by embedding continuous machine learning. An AI approach to information capture and data extraction, continuous machine learning eliminates data staleness through an ongoing refresh as the model self-corrects and relearns. Humans in the loop ensure data accuracy as part of daily production runs – eliminating the need for week- and month-long pauses as data scientists scrub data sets to retrain models.
The OpenText approach to continuous machine learning relies on methodology embedded in its Information Extraction Engine (IEE). Data and differing layouts can quickly be reinforced with just a few clicks by a knowledge worker using a human-in-the-loop UI. IEE continuously assesses human feedback to reinforce or adjust the model accordingly. IEE eliminates the need for a team of data scientists to maintain and retrain machine learning models.
Ready to learn more about continuous machine learning?
In addition to announcing the facelifted 4-Series Coupe and Convertible, BMW has introduced a new entry-level version of the electric iX2 dubbed the eDrive20.
Sales of the iX2 eDrive20 will kick off in March, with prices in the UK starting from £50,710 ($64,280), making it £6,735 ($8,537) cheaper than the iX2 xDrive30.
Driving this new variant is a single electric motor rated at 204 hp which drives the front wheels. While it is not a performance model, the electric SUV can still hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in a respectable 8.6 seconds and tops out at 106 mph (170 km/h). Like the xDrive30, the eDrive20 uses a 64.8 kWh battery pack but the reduced power enabled a longer, by 18 miles (29 km), driving range, rated at 297 miles (478 km).
The electric SUV supports AC charging at 11 kW and 22 kW and DC charging at up to 130 kW, which is enough to provide 75 miles (120 km) of range with a 10-minute charge.
BMW has not yet announced complete specifications for the iX2 eDrive20, including the equipment details. That said, AutoExpress expects it to largely borrow from the iX1 eDrive20, which has a 10.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment display.
Launching alongside the new iX2 is the X2 xDrive20d. It’s the second diesel model in the X2 model range, powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine supplemented by an electric motor integrated into a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. It produces a combined 163 hp and 265 lb-ft (360 Nm) of torque.
All versions of the BMW X2 and iX2 will be available with an expanded range of exterior paint finishes from March, including Frozen Black Metallic.
Kaspersky shares cyberthreat data with INTERPOL in operation to disrupt transnational cybercrime
Kaspersky has contributed to the fight against transnational cybercrime by taking part in operation Synergia, involving INTERPOL and its Gateway project partners — an initiative promoting collective efforts of national law enforcement and private sector organizations in combating ever-evolving cyberthreats. The operation – spanning more than 50 INTERPOL member states – focused on the disruption of malicious infrastructure involved in phishing, malware, and ransomware attacks.
During the three-month operation (September-November 2023), INTERPOL coordinated cyber intelligence exchanges between law enforcement agencies from member states and private partners, resulting in the production of more than 60 Cyber Activity Reports. Kaspersky supported the operation by sharing data on malicious infrastructure identified worldwide, including globally-sourced threat data from Kaspersky Threat Intelligence, which is continuously updated by the company’s world-class experts.
Some 1,300 suspicious servers relating to various cybercrimes have been identified as part of the joint effort. As a result, investigators were able to take actions on 70% of those malicious servers and also apprehend suspected perpetrators across multiple states.
Operation Synergia highlights:
Authorities detained 31 individuals and identified an additional 70 suspects
Most of the C2 servers taken down were in Europe, where 26 people were arrested
Hong Kong and Singapore Police took down 153 and 86 servers, respectively
South Sudan and Zimbabwe reported the most takedowns on the African continent, arresting four suspects
Bolivia mobilized a range of public authorities to identify malware and resulting vulnerabilities
Kuwait worked closely with internet service providers to identify victims, conduct field investigations, and also offer technical guidance to mitigate impacts
Bernardo Pillot, Assistant Director to INTERPOL Cybercrime Directorate, said: “The results of this operation, achieved through the collective efforts of multiple countries and partners, show our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the digital space. By dismantling the infrastructure behind phishing, banking malware, and ransomware attacks, we are one step closer to protecting our digital ecosystems and a safer, more secure online experience for all.”
“Kaspersky has been an active contributor to INTERPOL’s operations, which have proved themselves as an effective instrument for taking down cross-border cyber offences,” comments Yuliya Shlychkova, Vice-President of Public Affairs at Kaspersky. “While Kaspersky has data, knowledge and technologies to track a wide range of cybercrime operations worldwide, international law enforcement agencies like INTERPOL possess legal authority and resources to further investigate and prosecute cybercriminals. Promoting a more comprehensive and holistic response to crime, our partnership strengthens overall security efforts and enables timely reactions and proactive measures to safeguard individuals, businesses, and society as a whole.”
About Kaspersky
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection, specialized security products and services, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help over 220,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.
,fit(1200,675),quality(65)&w=768&resize=768,0&ssl=1 "Skyscraper-Size Asteroid Will Fly By Earth On Friday")
