Author: Art Ryan

Airbnb is planning to embed artificial intelligence (AI) throughout its operations to transform guest and homeowner experiences, enabling a “concierge in your pocket,” according to its chief business officer. AI is an “incredibly high priority,” said Airbnb’s Dave Stephenson, at the Human[x] conference in Las Vegas on Monday (March 10). He added that top management recently met to discuss the “critical importance of AI” and its role in the lodging giant’s long-term vision. “It pervades everything we do.” Airbnb is developing sophisticated AI capabilities to personalize recommendations based on user preferences and behaviors. The company collects data through what it calls “passports,” or user profiles, that help…

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) remains at the top of the 2025 agenda for marketers as they work to determine how the technology will evolve and affect various functions in their organizations.  Among brand marketers, Coca-Cola has led the way in a space that saw a surge in attention and investment following OpenAI’s debut of ChatGPT in late 2022. But the beverage giant’s early moves actually pre-date the launch of ChatGPT, giving the company a strong base from which to experiment. The results of those experiments, at least in the marketing media bubble, have been mixed, from the successes of its “Create Real…

Financial technology firm FIS has introduced a new AI-powered offering for treasurers. The company’s “Treasury GPT,” unveiled Monday (March 10), is an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven product support tool created in collaboration with Microsoft, using that company’s Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service. “Corporate treasurers have a major role to play in their organizations, but emerging risks and expanded responsibilities can create disharmony and disruption to their strategies and workflows,” JP James, head of treasury and risk at FIS, said in a news release. “In this fast-changing environment, having access to the best tools and innovations is what will keep corporate treasurers ahead of the curve. By launching…

AI is consuming more energy than ever, with data centers struggling to keep up with demand. A breakthrough training method could change everything, slashing energy use while maintaining accuracy. By shifting from traditional iterative training to a probability-based approach, researchers have found a way to optimize neural networks with far less computation. This innovation, inspired by dynamic systems found in nature, has the potential to make AI much greener—without sacrificing performance. AI’s Growing Energy Appetite AI technologies, including large language models (LLMs), have become an essential part of daily life. However, the computing power needed to support them comes from data…

A Five-Pillar Approach to Ethical and Scalable AI That Accelerates Innovation and Strengthens Compliance  Feedzai, a global leader in risk management solutions, today announced the launch of its groundbreaking The TRUST Framework: Accelerate Innovation with Responsible AI at the HumanX conference. Designed to empower B2B organizations with a comprehensive blueprint for ethical, secure, and high-performing generative AI solutions, the framework ensures that companies can innovate confidently while protecting their reputations in an increasingly competitive market. As business leaders feel increasing pressure to launch GenAI technologies, Feedzai’s TRUST Framework sets a new standard by embedding responsible design directly into every facet of GenAI…

Revenue growth management (RGM) and trade promotion optimization (TPO) are evolving rapidly, driven by shifting consumer behaviors, retailer dominance, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). To remain competitive, consumer goods companies must address persistent challenges while leveraging AI to unlock new opportunities for growth. The Challenges The CPG industry has always been hyper-competitive and the addition of ecommerce and direct channels has only made the business more complicated. Powerful retailers like Walmart often set market anchors, dictating pricing norms and limiting manufacturers’ ability to execute their strategies effectively. This imbalance creates significant challenges for brands trying to maintain control…

Much of the focus on artificial intelligence’s impacts on customer service has been on increasing efficiency by having bots address basic questions, but AI agents are set to become much more autonomous, able to handle complex tasks on their own, according to Gartner. A March report on agentic AI predicts that it will handle 80% of customer service issues without human interaction by 2029, reducing operational costs by 30%. “Agentic AI has emerged as a game-changer for customer service, paving the way for autonomous and low-effort customer experiences,” Gartner customer service and support practice senior director analyst Daniel O’Sullivan said in…

With a bold vision to combine Web3 innovation and AI-driven gameplay, Clash of Coins, a Web3 game built on Base, plans to become a cornerstone in the GameFi revolution with a 100 million user base. Gone are the days when GameFi projects were defined solely by their tokenomics. The current meta in Web3 gaming requires a delicate approach to gameplay while keeping all the blockchain-related mechanics under the hood. Clash of Coins is a promising title in the Web3 gaming landscape that takes a hybrid “Web3-optional” approach to its game to attract those skeptical of blockchain technology aside from crypto enthusiasts. With…

Taco Bell is ramping up its use of AI as part of a broader $1 billion investment by parent company Yum Brands in digital and technology. At a recent investor event in New York, executives showcased the company’s ‘Byte by Yum’ AI tools, which aim to improve labour management and inventory tracking. Taco Bell’s Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Dane Mathews, said AI is already being used to streamline operations without reducing labour costs. Around 500 Taco Bell locations in the United States now use AI-driven voice technology to handle drive-through orders, a significant increase from 100 locations in mid-2024. During the investor event,…

Government overhauls funding for AI and Digital Projects to save taxpayer money and boost public services How AI experiments and digital projects are funded in the public sector will be overhauled and simplified to cut down waste in taxpayer funding, boost efficiency through innovation, and improve services for the public to deliver our Plan for Change. Embedding a ‘start up’ mindset, the change will offer a route to simplify how Government funds small AI projects and the replacement of outdated technology, after a review found that many digital projects face overly complex spending approval processes that can slow them down…

iPeople Inc., the education joint venture of the Yuchengco Group of Companies and Ayala Corporation, is breaking new ground in higher education by making learning more accessible to both traditional and non-traditional students through its expanded partnership with Coursera, one of the world’s leading online learning platforms. The strengthened collaboration will triple iPeople’s student reach from 15,000 to 45,000 learners annually, offering greater access to AI-powered learning, industry-recognized micro-credentials, and globally competitive skills across its six higher education institutions. According to Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, President and CEO of Mapúa University, this initiative aims to break barriers in education, allowing individuals…

During the MWC Barcelona 2025, at the Huawei Intelligent Collaboration Forum themed “Embracing a Smarter Future with Boundless Collaboration”, Huawei unveiled its flagship conference whiteboard, the IdeaHub ES3/S3. Huawei’s disruptive technologies are forging the path for enterprises to embrace a more intelligent and digital future. Gu Xuejun, President of Huawei Intelligent Collaboration, stated, “We hope our solution can improve communication and resource sharing. We are dedicated to offer high-quality audiovisual performance, smart user experience, simple operation and maintenance, and an open, compatible ecosystem.” Next-Gen Flagship Conference Whiteboard, Empowering Smart Office with AI AI-powered image enhancement delivers crystal-clear visuals and zero-cost HD…

A group of international experts from leading institutions has developed a glossary designed to encourage deeper discussions on artificial intelligence AI and its societal implications. Titled Critical Conversations about AI: A Glossary for Big Questions and Bold Ideas, the resource moves beyond standard definitions to address complex ethical, philosophical, and social aspects of AI. The glossary was created by experts from the Centre for AI in Government at the University of Birmingham, the International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technology (Obvia) in Canada, and the Tech Hub at the Geneva Graduate Institute. Contributors include researchers from…

Several of China’s top universities have announced plans to expand their undergraduate enrolment to prioritise what they called “national strategic needs” and develop talent in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI). The announcements come after Chinese universities launched artificial intelligence courses in February based on AI startup DeepSeek which has garnered widespread attention. Its creation of AI models comparable to the most advanced in the United States, but built at a fraction of the cost, has been described as a “Sputnik moment” for China. Analysts say that DeepSeek’s success, almost entirely staffed by researchers from elite domestic universities, highlights how…

Creatopy, a startup that uses AI to automate the creation of digital ads, has brought on a new CEO: Tammy Nam. Nam was previously COO and CMO at photo-editing startup PicsArt, and before that the CEO of video streamer Viki. She told TechCrunch via email that Creatopy was looking for a US-based executive who knows how to scale early-stage startups, has worked with European founders (the product was first developed in Romania), and understands marketing tech. “Fortunately, I fit that bill,” she said. Nam is also joining the Creatopy board, while the startup’s previous CEO Dan Oros has stepped into an advisory…

It’s ironic that AI, which has the potential to cause a crisis for companies and organizations, can also help them prepare for and manage a variety of crisis situations that are faced by government agencies and the private sector. Reshaping Crisis Management “I’ve seen firsthand how AI is reshaping our field by enhancing speed, situational awareness, and decision-making,” Emily Martuscello, the emergency management director for Nashua, New Hampshire, pointed out in an email interview. “AI-driven platforms process real-time data from geospatial tools, social media, and 911 calls to provide responders with a clearer operational picture. For example, NOAA’s Next Generation Fire System leveragesAI to rapidly…

Morocco has launched a national program to introduce children to digital technology and AI, and a framework partnership agreement was signed on Saturday in Rabat to put this initiative into action.  This initiative falls under the “Morocco Digital 2030” strategy, which has a strong focus on developing digital skills. The objective is to establish a thriving digital ecosystem and equip children with the knowledge to handle future technologies. The project also aims to introduce the young population to AI and digital technologies at an early age. It also promotes responsible technology use by instilling sensitivity towards ethics and best practices. By opening…

AI powers industry upgrades for global competitiveness Michael Woo Kim-kong, a member of the CPPCC National Committee, emphasized in an interview that while DeepSeek has achieved remarkable success, the real breakthrough lies in the widespread application of AI. AI has the power to transform industries — from manufacturing and design to marketing — by streamlining processes, enhancing efficiency, and strengthening competitiveness. With AI-driven upgrades, Chinese companies are rapidly advancing on the global stage, solidifying their competitive edge and driving future growth. Source: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/

Meta and Salesforce are rolling out new AI agents to help with customer service. Meta has launched a pilot program introducing AI-powered customer service agents to assist businesses on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. These agents can interact with customers in real-time, handling tasks such as managing returns, providing product recommendations, and processing purchases. Utilizing data from a business’s Meta footprint – including previous posts and customer service messages – agents can answer customer inquiries directly on ad pages or through direct messages. Agentic AI is enhancing CRM platforms like Salesforce which recently introduced AgentExchange – a new marketplace for AI agents in…

The “AI Plus” initiative has come under the spotlight at this year’s annual sessions of China’s national legislature and the top political advisory body, with many lawmakers and political advisors sharing their insights and proposals. The government work report, submitted Wednesday at the session of China’s top legislature, pledged to further promote the initiative in 2025, recognizing AI as essential for fostering new quality productive forces. It also outlined a blueprint to nurture and expand emerging industries and industries of the future, and called on innovative enterprises to pioneer breakthroughs for China’s economic growth. Engaging in heated discussions, national lawmakers…