As the third quarter of 2023 comes to a close, the tech world has once again proven its dynamism and innovation. From breakthroughs in artificial intelligence to advancements in sustainable tech, we’ve seen some exciting products and strategies take shape. Let's delve into the biggest tech news stories that have turned heads during this period…
Google sent ripples of excitement through the tech community after its Cloud Next conference. The event saw announcements of new AI features for Google Meet, potentially transforming the way we approach meetings.
One standout feature is the real-time note-taking capability powered by Google's Duet AI. With a simple click of "take notes for me," this intelligent tool captures meeting summaries and actions items as the discussion unfolds, ensuring that you'll never miss crucial details
Even if you're late to the meeting, Google Meet has your back with mid-meeting summaries, allowing you to quickly catch up on what you missed. Now, this is something we’re excited to see.
In July, Gartner forecasted that global IT expenditure would reach $4.7 trillion in 2023, reflecting a 4.3% rise compared to the previous year. With IT talent becoming increasingly scarce, CIOs are adapting by reallocating their budgets towards technologies that facilitate automation and enhance efficiency. This strategic shift aims to promote scalable growth while requiring fewer personnel in administrative, manual roles, and allowing businesses to recruit talent for strategic, value-adding jobs instead.
IBM announced its plan to purchase Apptio, a software firm currently under the ownership of Vista Equity Partners, in a significant deal valued at $4.6 billion. Apptio specialises in delivering software for financial and operational IT management and optimisation, serving a diverse clientele of over 1,500 companies, which includes well-known technology giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.
Apple's stock achieved an unprecedented milestone, attaining a historic closing price and drawing closer to a market capitalisation of $3 trillion. The shares of the renowned iPhone manufacturer rose by 0.6%, reaching $189.25, thereby pushing Apple's market valuation to $2.98 trillion, according to data from Refinitiv. This signifies the second consecutive occurrence of record-high closing prices for Apple's shares.
This success reflects the power of brand consistency and customer experience. Apple sells recognisable products which have remained fairly unchanged from one model to the next. Yet, consumers and businesses still buy into it, year in and year out. With interesting in-store experiences, Apple conferences, exciting box opening events and more, the company has got something seriously right from day one.
Meta's recent launch of Threads marks a significant move in the social media landscape, directly challenging Twitter's stronghold on text-based conversations. Positioned as Instagram's "text-based conversation app," Threads bridges the gap between image-centric platforms and the need for straightforward, real-time communication.
With Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's CEO, at the helm, this strategic move demonstrates Meta's commitment to expanding its influence in the social media sphere and catering to users who have sought alternatives to Twitter's format.
On August 8th, information regarding the names, locations, and roles of police officers and personnel in Northern Ireland was publicly disclosed on the internet. The data was accidentally disclosed to the public by the police while they were handling a standard freedom of information (FOI) request. At the request of the PSNI and upon their awareness of the situation, the data was taken down after being publicly available for two and a half hours.
This instance highlights the growing need for vigilance among employees at organisations, with human error still being the biggest cause of breaches. Data security is paramount in today’s day and age, and more emphasis needs to be put on comprehensive employee training, strict security protocols, and continuous monitoring to safeguard sensitive information and prevent costly mistakes from occurring.
Microsoft entered the highly competitive secure service edge (SSE) landscape by introducing a software suite designed to safeguard Windows, Azure customers, and various cloud-based enterprise assets. This new software is a component of Microsoft's Entra identity and network access suite, featuring two novel components known as Entra Internet Access and Entra Private Access. These components are dedicated to managing and enhancing the security of cloud-based resources. Together with Microsoft's pre-existing cloud-access security broker (CASB), known as Microsoft Defender for Cloud apps, these elements constitute Microsoft's comprehensive SSE offering.
The advent of "smartphones on wheels" is introducing a new dimension of cybersecurity risks previously unseen on our roads. As vehicles become increasingly connected and equipped with sophisticated technologies, they also become potential targets for cyberattacks.
From autonomous cars to modern electric vehicles, these smart machines are more reliant than ever on software and data-driven systems. Consequently, the potential for malicious hackers to compromise vehicle safety, privacy, and functionality has grown significantly. Addressing these emerging cybersecurity challenges is paramount to ensure not only the security of our roads but also the trust and safety of those who rely on these advanced vehicles.
With conversations in the tech sector revolving heavily around generative AI right now, it’ll be interesting to see what happens in the industry over the coming month as 2023 draws to a close.
Ready to leverage these tech advancements for your business? Contact the Vapour team today to discuss your unique IT needs and stay at the forefront of innovation in 2023.
