Apple's AI Misstep? 5 Tech Updates Your Business Can't Ignore
Here are five business technology news stories this week and how they affect your company. Did you miss them?
Apple's annual World Wide Developer Conference this year seemed to fall short of expectations. According to one report its recent WWDC event has been a "disappointment on the AI front" and that the 'company failed to meet even the basic expectations. The same report said that 'Wall Street has also delivered a dip in the stock price after the event. There had been a lot of hype around Apple Intelligence a year ago. Many bullish analysts projected that this would start another big upgrade cycle for the iPhone and could open up new monetization options for the company. The hype has not met reality, and we have not seen any major upgrade trajectory in the iPhone in the last few quarters.' (Source: Seeking Alpha)
Why this is important for your business:
Two takes:
1 – The company is reinforcing its main product lines and that's a good thing. In its official update the company said it is rolling out major updates to its services this fall, enhancing user experiences across its operating systems. It is also upgrading Apple Maps to give users preferred routes and visited places for smarter navigation. Apple Wallet will feature Apple Intelligence-powered order tracking, Digital ID integration, and enhanced Apple Pay features.
2 – Patience. Unlike some of its other big tech competitors, Apple is more hesitant releasing products based on technologies that still aren't working as they've been hyped. By this I mean AI. This is a company built on innovation, quality and reliability. So the company is going slower down this road and only releasing new features when they are reliable enough to use. Does this mean that they're behind in the AI 'race?' Considering how long this race still has to go, I don't think so at all.
Microsoft Teams is rolling out new feature allowing users to open core collaboration components such as chat, meetings, and files – in separate windows with Teams. This provides a more modular workflow across multiple displays or tasks – and allows users to tailor their workspace. The enhancement is in response to user's request for greater control over application management. Rolling out soon to commercial users, a preview is available by joining the Teams Public Preview or Targeted Release. 'This improvement enables users to manage their core collaboration applications more efficiently, ultimately leading to a more streamlined and effective work environment,' Microsoft stated. (Source: Cyber Security News)
Why this is important for your business:
As Teams grows in popularity more users within organizations need better control over their access, collaboration and data sharing. They also want a more individualized experience. These updates are a big step in that direction. If your company is using Teams my advice is to make sure it's the latest build and to also pay for a little training from a Microsoft consultant so that your users are fully taking advantage of this application.
A new survey conducted by Reimagine Main Street in partnership with PayPal, reveals that 82 percent of small businesses believe adopting AI is essential to staying competitive. One thousand small businesses with revenue between $25,000–$5,000,000participated in the study. Over 50 percent are exploring AI, while 25 percent have already integrated it into daily operations. With automation, 77 percent see AI as a game-changer for marketing and customer engagement. Additionally, 53 percent say AI-powered cash flow forecasting would solve a major pain point by enhancing financial intelligence. Forty-five percent are eager to use AI for staffing, inventory, and marketing decisions. The survey categorizes businesses into Active Users, Explorers, and Non-Users – highlighting a shift from AI being a futuristic concept to a necessary tool for growth. (Source: PR Newswire)
Why this is important for your business:
I agree that AI is a game changer and that it will have a big impact on small businesses. But I don't believe it's having that impact yet. Sure, some businesses are dabbling with generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini and CoPilot, but these tools are still hallucinating (i.e. making errors) too much to be relied upon for any serious decision making.
HubSpot has launched the first CRM deep research connector with ChatGPT, allowing businesses to apply AI-powered analysis to their customer data. This integration enables marketing, sales, and service teams to gain actionable insights without requiring extensive data expertise. Key features include AI-driven customer segmentation – businesses can analyze customer cohorts and create targeted engagement strategies.
Sales optimization allows teams go identify high-value opportunities based on revenue, industry, and technology stack. Customer success insights utilizes AI to help detect inactive accounts with growth potential and suggests re-engagement strategies. HubSpot emphasizes that this tool democratizes advanced analytics for SMBs, making AI-powered insights more accessible. (Source: Business Wire)
Why this is important for your business:
This is really a game-changer for CRM applications. And there will more of this. But think of it: rather than building your own internal model you simply connect a chatbot like ChatGPT to your CRM system and then train it on your data. This way your sales and service teams can not only ask questions about customers, prospects and other CRM activities but ultimately launch agents to perform tasks automatically based on these queries. My expectation is that most mainstream CRM vendors will partner with the major chatbot providers to offer similar functionality in the near future.
User-generated content (UGC) is becoming increasingly valuable for SEO – as Google prioritizes helpful, trustworthy, and people-first content. The search experience is evolving as platforms like Reddit and TikTok are influencing search rankings, indicating that users prefer real experiences and recommendations. UGC's SEO benefits include reviews, forums, and social posts help brands boost visibility and engagement. Google is integrating UGC more prominently to meet user expectations.. (Source: Search Engine Land)
Why this is important for your business:
As search behavior shifts, brands that embrace UGC will gain a competitive edge.
Each week I round up five business technology news stories and give my thoughts on how these stories impact your business and mine.
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