Latest news with #20countries
GSM Arena
4 days ago
- Business
- GSM Arena
Oppo introduces AI-powered after-sales service system
Oppo is enhancing its after-sales service system with the power of AI. Specifically, it is integrating AndesGPT (its in-house Large Language Model or LLM) into the customer support system. Right now, the upgraded system operates across 20 countries and regions and can handle requests in 13 different languages. One strength of this system is that it works 24/7 and you can get a response quickly outside of working hours or during holidays. Oppo also runs an AI-driven service on WhatsApp in 13 markets, a first in the industry. Today, 60% of Oppo users around the world have access to this system. By the end of the year, Oppo wants to expand it to 21 markets and other online platforms like Facebook, Line and Zalo. The system works in three stages. First, it uses AI semantic recognition to figure out the user's intent. Then, intelligent routing decides whether this is a request that the AI can handle itself or whether it needs the help of a human operator. Finally, it communicates with the user either to give them an answer or to ask them to wait for human assistance. The use of AI has reduced the workload of human operators by 40% – this gives them more time to handle the complex issues that the AI can't answer. Oppo has established teams in key markets that are tasked with creating regional knowledge bases, fine-tuning the AndesGPT model and collecting user feedback for future improvements. The company wants to extend its next-generation AI services to offline use cases too. Future applications include Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), a method of improving the accuracy of AI responses by checking relevant data sources instead of relying on just the model's training data. Email response assistants and intelligent queuing systems are also planned. 'We have already used AI to empower customer service capabilities across the organization, including R&D, customer experiences, and business operations. Now, through the evolution of AI agent technologies, we are transforming our customer services from a reactive to proactive approach that creates a more efficient, thoughtful, and intelligent service experience for OPPO users,' said Samuel Fang, Head of Global After-Sales Services at Oppo.
Al Bawaba
30-06-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Thales 2025 Global Cloud Security Study Reveals Organizations Struggle to Secure Expanding, AI-Driven Cloud Environments
Thales, a global leader in technology and cybersecurity, today released the findings of its 2025 Cloud Security Study conducted by S&P Global Market Intelligence 451 Research, revealing that AI-specific security has rapidly emerged as a top enterprise priority, ranking second only to cloud security. Over half (52%) of respondents said they are prioritizing AI security investments over other security needs, signaling a shift in how organizations are allocating budgets in response to the accelerated adoption of AI. This year's research captures perspectives on cloud security challenges from nearly 3,200 respondents in 20 countries across a variety of seniority remains at the forefront of security considerationsCloud is now an essential part of modern enterprise infrastructure, but many organizations are still building the skills and strategies needed to secure it effectively. The variability of controls across cloud providers, combined with the distinct mindset required for cloud security, continues to challenge security teams. This pressure is only increasing as AI initiatives drive more sensitive data into cloud environments, amplifying the need for robust, adaptable year's Thales Cloud Security Study confirms that cloud security remains a top concern for enterprises worldwide. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents ranked it among their top five security priorities, with 17% identifying it as their number one. Security for AI, a new addition to the list of spending priorities this year, ranked second overall, highlighting its growing importance. Despite sustained investment, cloud security remains a complex, persistent challenge that goes beyond technology to include staffing, operations, and the evolving threat landscape.'The accelerating shift to cloud and AI is forcing enterprises to rethink how they manage risk at scale,' Sebastien Cano, Senior Vice President, Cyber Security Products at Thales, said. 'With over half of cloud data now classified as sensitive, and yet only a small fraction fully encrypted, it's clear that security strategies haven't kept pace with adoption. To remain resilient and competitive, organizations must embed strong data protection into the core of their digital infrastructure.'The average number of public cloud providers per organization has risen to 2.1, with most also maintaining on-prem infrastructure. This growing complexity is driving security challenges with 55% of respondents reporting that cloud is harder to secure than on-prem, a 4-percentage-point increase from last year. As organizations expand through growth or M&A, they're also seeing a surge in SaaS usage, now averaging 85 applications per enterprise, complicating access control and data complexity extends to security operations, with many teams struggling to align policies across varied platforms. The study found that 61% of organizations use five or more tools for data discovery, monitoring, or classification, and 57% use five or more encryption key target cloud resources with human error remaining a top vulnerabilityCloud infrastructure is a prime target for attackers as organizations continue to struggle with securing increasingly complex environments. According to the 2025 Thales Cloud Security Study, four of the top five most targeted assets in reported attacks are cloud-based. The rise in access-based attacks, as reported by 68% of respondents, underscores growing concerns around stolen credentials and insufficient access controls. Meanwhile, 85% of organizations say at least 40% of their cloud data is sensitive, yet only 66% have implemented multifactor authentication (MFA), leaving critical data exposed. Compounding the issue, human error remains a major contributing factor in cloud security incidents, from misconfigurations to poor credential management. 'A rising number of respondents report challenges in securing their cloud assets, an issue that is further amplified by the demands of AI projects that often operate in the cloud and require access to large volumes of sensitive data,' Eric Hanselman, Chief Analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence 451 Research, said. 'Compounding this issue, four of the top five targeted assets in reported attacks are cloud-based. In this environment, strengthening cloud security and streamlining operations are essential steps toward enhancing overall security effectiveness and resilience.' Thales, Media Relations
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Cats and dogs preferable to spouses after a stressful day
The majority of pet owners prefer to spend time with their pets than their partners, family or friends when they are stressed, a new survey has revealed. A global survey of 30,000 pet owners across 20 countries has uncovered the way cats and dogs impact human wellbeing. The research found that six out of ten (58 per cent) of pet owners opted to hug their cats and dogs when they were stressed. Meanwhile, only 32 per cent said they would prefer to spend time with their partners, 23 per cent with family and just 18 per cent said they'd opt to hug friends or children when stressed. The survey, conducted by YouGov on behalf of Mars Petcare and Calm, also found that 56 per cent of pet owners said their pets provide company without needed to talk during stressful times. The vast majority (84 per cent) also said they found just the presence of their pet relaxing. 'While we love our pets, we often don't realise how much they give back,' said Dr. Tammie King, senior research manager at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute. 'Reframing your pet's daily 'interruptions' as loving reminders to pause, breathe and be present can be a powerful wellness tool. Research shows that touch-based pet interactions can boost oxytocin levels in humans. 'The findings of this survey will help more people reflect on and acknowledge the little wellbeing moments pets nudge us towards on a daily basis.' Almost eight in ten of those surveyed said their pet reminds them to pause and take a break from work, chores or tasks - with 50 per cent saying this happens daily. 73 per cent said their pet encourages them to stop overthinking or worrying and also that their pet encourages them to spend time outside. Meanwhile, 77 per cent said their pet encourages them to take a break away from screens. Dr. Chris Mosunic, Chief Clinical Officer at Calm said: 'We know that small, intentional moments of calm can have a big impact on our overall wellbeing, and our pets have an incredible way of guiding us there. A quick dog walk, or cat cuddle at our desk when they stroll in front of the screen, can provide a simple moment to reset and recharge. 'We're proud to partner with Mars and bring this data to the forefront to highlight the potential of our bond with pets and help more people discover the wonderful wellbeing benefits our relationship with pets can bring.'
Fast Company
12-05-2025
- Health
- Fast Company
Mars Petcare teams with mental health company Calm to help your pet become your ‘well-being superhero'
If you've ever felt like your pet knows exactly when to pull you away from the stress of your computer screen, you aren't alone. A landmark study surveying over 30,000 pet owners in 20 different countries found that 78% of dog or cat owners report that their pets remind them to take breaks during work or tasks, with 50% of the participants saying this happens daily. The study, which was conducted by YouGov on behalf of Mars, is the largest international survey of its kind in the world. The findings resonated deeply with David Reilly, global VP at Mars. 'If my dog's at daycare, I don't take a break at lunch time,' he says. 'But if my dog's not at daycare, somehow miraculously, I find the space to create up an hour to take my dog on a walk.' Knowing that his relationship with his own pet had such an impact on his mental health, Reilly was excited by the data. 'I think 46% of people globally report their mental well-being is their number-one health priority and 56% of the population of the world has a pet. So if we can help unlock this idea that the pet could be your well-being superhero . . . then there's a real opportunity there,' he says. To do this, the Mars team needed to seek further expertise. 'We have a deep knowledge of pets and we actually have a deep knowledge of the bond between people and pets. But we aren't experts in human mental health,' says Reilly. The solution was to collaborate with consumer mental health company Calm. Together, Mars and Calm collaborated on a collection of content meant to help pet lovers think about their bond with their pets as ways to improve their own well-being. Its launch marks the first pet-inspired collection featured on Calm. The content on Calm will include: A series of sleep stories inspired by the emotional connection between people and their pets. A series of guided meditations meant to help listeners reflect on the ways pets support their mental wellness. A series of breathing exercises. On Mars's pet advice platform Kinship, Mars and Calm are launching the interactive quiz My Pet Guru, which helps pet owners learn which of six 'wellbeing superpowers' their pet has based on questions about their personalities and behaviors. 'Together, we're helping more people—and their pets—experience the proven benefits of the human-animal bond through real stories, science-backed tools, and supportive content,' says Greg Justice, chief content officer at Calm. 'Once the insights are rich . . . it doesn't need to be overly clinical' says Reilly. The researchers, pet experts, and content creators, 'worked together to find the sweet spot of ensuring that the content was true to what we'd heard, but also really accessible and also engaging for pet owners or other people who love pets.' Mars and Calm are also seeking touching stories from pet owners to inform the wave of pet stories from Calm. 'What I'm looking forward to, honestly, is hearing the stories that people share. Pets genuinely make a really incredible impact on people's lives,' says Reilly.
