(Photo by Stefano Mazzola/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Here are five business technology news stories from this week and how they impact your business. Were you lonely?
This week’s business tech news
Business Tech News #1 – OpenAI’s secret robot plans revealed.
OpenAI is refocusing its efforts on developing robotics technology. The company has signaled a renewed interest in developing humanoid robots designed to perform automated tasks in warehouses and assist with household chores, among other “versatile” functions. revealed. The company says the new robotics team will focus on “unlocking general-purpose robotics to drive AGI-level intelligence in dynamic, real-world settings.” OpenAI’s former robotics division was shut down in 2021, but it maintains an active interest through investments in companies such as Figure AI Inc. and 1X, which are already developing humanoid robots. Learn more about the team here. (Source: AI Report)
Why this is important for your business:
Is this surprising? Not to me. OpenAI is more than just a generative AI chatbot. Its technology can be applied to many use cases, from office automation to self-driving cars to robots. My prediction is that within the next 10 years, many products will utilize OpenAI’s technology, as long as it works, without us even realizing it or even knowing it.
Business Tech News #2 – 10 Best Laptops of CES 2025
Technology journalist Matthew Smith reported on the laptops on display at this year’s CES 2025, the premier event showcasing the latest gadgets and innovations from technology companies around the world. Some of the laptops on PCWorld’s 10 Best list include the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, which has a rollable OLED display that stretches from 14 inches to 16.7 inches. Razer Blade 16 – A powerful gaming notebook with a bold design change. Asus Zenbook A14 – The world’s lightest Copilot+ PC, weighing just under 2.2 pounds, is Smith’s “Overall Choice.” Follow the link to see the rest. (Source: PC World)
Why this is important for your business:
I bookmarked this article as I continue to look for a new laptop. However, keep in mind that these are the latest and greatest technologies. This means that most are expensive and some are not yet available. But they’re all good signs of what’s to come. Lenovo’s “rollable” feature has garnered the most attention from both audiences and critics, and the opportunity to reduce hardware costs (reducing the number of monitors required) should be of interest to companies.
Business Tech News #3 – Why tech journalists use both ChatGPT Plus and Perplexity Pro.
Danny Maiorca of MakeUseOf advocates using both ChatGPT Plus and Perplexity Pro because users usually choose one or the other. His general assessment is that ChatGPT has a broader range of features, while Perplexity Pro is better in “niche areas.” Maiorca uses ChatGPT Plus to organize abstract ideas, plan projects, have conversations, and more. Perplexity Pro is used for his detailed research because it is a very efficient tool for finding resources based on broad queries. It also leverages large datasets and provides citation support, making it ideal for academic research. “I think the best approach is to use both…my subscription is automatically paid every month,” concludes Maiorca. (Source: MakeUseOf)
Why this is important for your business:
Me too! Perplexity is a research tool for writing articles. ChatGPT is my daily tool for answering questions and helping with business and personal decisions. I have subscriptions to both as they have become important tools that help my business and life. I’m starting to think that no one chatbot tool can do it all, and that we’ll see many chatbot tools that specialize in specific topics and functions.
Business Tech News #4 – AI search experts predict what the future of search will look like.
In an interview, AJ Ghergich, AI search expert and global VP at Botify, talked about the evolving trends to expect in search tools in 2025. Search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity are changing the way people search for information, making it conversational rather than keyword-based. . Gergich predicts that advertising will soon be integrated into the AI search engine, as it is the free service’s main source of revenue. AI systems will be highly personalized, making ads less intrusive and more relevant to users. AI agents will increasingly interact with each other on the web, reducing the need for human intervention in search. “In the future, the majority of searchers will be AI rather than humans. As we cross this threshold, the way we communicate will have to change,” Gerlich said. (Source: TechRadar)
Why this is important for your business:
I agree with Gargich’s prediction. SEO will be significantly disrupted over the next few years, and it is already disrupted. For a long time, Google had a monopoly on advertising. But new AI chatbot platforms provide answers, not just links to answers, and use the best content available to ensure answers are as accurate as possible. How do we incorporate advertising into this new and better content delivery? Gergich’s idea seems to make sense.
Business Tech News #5 – Microsoft Teams wants to keep meetings going with Copilot, whether you like it or not.
Copilot has a more autonomous role in Microsoft Teams meetings. The AI will soon suggest follow-up questions at the meeting. When a user responds to a prompt, Copilot suggests team members to “continue the conversation,” whether that’s their intended choice or not. This feature was discovered in a post titled “Copilot in Meetings will suggest follow-up questions.” According to reports, Microsoft plans to roll out this feature in March (Source: TechRadar)
Why this is important for your business:
This feature seems annoying and is mostly ignored. Don’t people want their meetings and conversations to be shorter instead of longer? Hey, what do I know? Anyway, I’ll check it out when it’s available and report back.
Every Sunday, I round up five business technology news stories and offer thoughts on why they impact your company.
