Latest news with #AI-enabled
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zacks Initiates Coverage of Ocean Power With Neutral Recommendation
Zacks Investment Research recently initiated the coverage of Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. OPTT with a 'Neutral' recommendation, highlighting the company's emerging strengths and the substantial execution risks it faces. Ocean Power, a developer of autonomous maritime solutions based in New Jersey, has posted a record-high backlog of $7.5 million, driven by the global demand for its AI-enabled PowerBuoy and WAM-V platforms. This has reached a milestone for the company, underscoring growing interest from defense and commercial customers across more than 15 countries. The shift toward a recurring revenue model through 'Data as a Service' and 'Robotics as a Service' adds credibility to the company's evolving business model. These offerings are designed to boost margins, improve cash flow predictability and promote customer retention through scalable, subscription-based services. The research report highlights several key factors that can drive Ocean Power's growth. Financial discipline is beginning to take shape, with OPTT cutting its operating cash burn by 41% over the first nine months of fiscal 2025 and improving liquidity to $10.2 million. OPTT's strength lies in its proprietary autonomous maritime systems, which now integrate AI for real-time monitoring and vehicle control. Its PowerBuoy and WAM-V platforms can support long-duration offshore missions with minimal human oversight, offering competitive advantages in applications ranging from environmental monitoring to defense surveillance. The company's recent showcase of its WAM-V 22 platform operating autonomously for multiple days signals growing technical maturity and market readiness. However, potential investors should consider certain risks outlined in the report. For the first nine months of fiscal 2025, OPTT reported a net loss of $15.1 million. Although liquidity has improved to $10.2 million, management has warned of possible funding shortfalls by March 2026, which could raise concerns about the company's ability to continue operating if additional capital is not secured. Over the past year, OPTT has doubled its share count by issuing more than 100 million shares to fund operations. This continuous dilution may limit future upside for existing shareholders and reflect the company's dependence on less favorable financing options. Shares of Ocean Power have skyrocketed more than 240% in the past six months, far outpacing both the Zacks Alternative Energy – Other subindustry and broader market indices. Still, this rally may be outpacing fundamentals, given the company's continuing losses, high customer concentration and heavy reliance on equity-linked financing. For a comprehensive analysis of Ocean Power's financial health, strategic initiatives and market positioning, you are encouraged to view the full Zacks research report. This in-depth report provides a detailed discussion of the company's operational strategies, financial performance, and the potential risks and opportunities that lie ahead. Read the full Research Report on Ocean Power here>>> Note: Our initiation of coverage on Ocean Power, which has a modest market capitalization of $85.8 million, aims to equip investors with the information needed to make informed decisions in this promising but inherently risky segment of the market. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPTT) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Malaysia Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Xinhua Headlines: AI-powered trade, innovation deepen China-ASEAN ties
NANNING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese truckers, armed with AI-enabled gadgets that provide real-time navigation and safety tips, deftly maneuvered their way into China through Friendship Pass in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Meanwhile, several kilometers away at a buzzing e-commerce industrial park, Southeast Asian live streamers passionately engaged with their viewers, churning out a barrage of speech data for a specialized ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) language corpus to improve AI translation models. As China and ASEAN continue to deepen their trade ties, the rapid evolution of AI has opened new applications, further boosting economic engagement and reshaping industries across the region. ENHANCING CROSS-BORDER TRADE As China's largest land port with ASEAN, Friendship Pass has seen its customs clearance and other port operations being swiftly transformed by AI. At a distribution center in Guangxi Pingxiang Comprehensive Bonded Area, a network of wall-mounted AI cameras carefully scans every piece of cargo on deck -- identifying any signs of discrepancies and flagging potential risks in real time. The integration of new technology has greatly reduced the need for human intervention, enhancing accuracy and efficiency. "In the past, each inspection post needed to be manned by a staffer," said Liang Baoming, head of the smart port project at Friendship Pass. "Now, thanks to this powerful equipment, one worker can oversee a task that used to require an entire shift of people." Throughout this region, the application of AI is revolutionizing the transport and logistics industries. In the command center of Guangxi Beitou IT Innovation Technology Investment Group CO., Ltd., located at a sprawling commercial hub in Guangxi's capital city of Nanning, a state-of-the-art risk management platform was actively monitoring real-time interactions between the support staff and a fleet of truckers ferrying goods between China and Vietnam. "Our AI-enhanced platform analyzes drivers' facial expressions to spot signs of fatigue and send out real-time safety alerts," said Li Heng, deputy head of the company's technology institute. "Since its launch last June, the system has provided over 5,000 trucks and 10,000 drivers on the road with essential services such as satellite navigation, safe driving tips and emergency responses." The innovation is part of a broader effort to incorporate AI into Guangxi's trade framework, aiming to optimize logistics and increase connectivity with ASEAN economies. So far, Beitou has made huge strides in developing a suite of products tailored for ASEAN markets, catering to the region's growing needs in integrated transport, water management, industrial finance and other emerging sectors. Among these forward-looking solutions, products like air-ground inspection drones and a digital certificate platform have been meticulously crafted -- to meet the region's urgent demand for more efficient logistics and more secure cross-border services. In recent years, AI has played an increasingly important role in fostering deeper trade ties and cultural exchanges. This year, an AI translation model for ASEAN languages developed by Guangxi Daring Technology Co., Ltd. is set to widen access to cutting-edge language technologies for potentially under-represented languages in the region. "Unlike generic models, this system is fine-tuned for languages like Vietnamese, delivering faster, more accurate translations with lower computational demands," said Wen Jiakai, general manager of the company. "And our focus on ASEAN languages helps ensure a high accuracy rate and linguistic consistency." POWERING REGIONAL INNOVATION Since the beginning of 2025, China has doubled down on its pledge to build a collaborative future with ASEAN countries in the field of AI, with a host of projects and application scenarios having successively advanced toward rapid deployment. In February this year, Guangxi and Laos held a signing ceremony in the Laotian capital of Vientiane, formally establishing the China-Laos AI Innovation Cooperation Center. Notably, this groundbreaking initiative marked the first AI-focused innovation platform ever created between China and an ASEAN country, with the primary objective of systematically bolstering Laos's technology foundation for its diverse industries to thrive in the digital age. To date, Guangxi and Laos have inked over 10 Letters of Intent, eyeing an enhanced partnership concerning the development of AI and cross-border data sharing. In April, Beitou partnered with MY E.G. Services Berhad (MYEG), Malaysia's premier digital services company, to develop the China-Malaysia AI Innovation Center, delving even deeper into areas such as blockchain and robotics. Lai Shuiping, chairman of Beitou, highlighted the vast, but largely untapped potential for cooperation between China and ASEAN countries in AI. According to Lai, the first project under this initiative will introduce a mutual recognition system for digital identity in both China and Malaysia, with Guangxi set to serve as the initial pilot region. Once implemented, the system will empower Malaysian citizens to utilize "MyDigital ID" for seamless access to financial services and tourist attractions, while allowing Chinese citizens to navigate Malaysia with equal ease, paving the way for smoother business transactions and personal interactions. This March also marked the official launch of Wuxiang Cloud Valley AI Intelligent Computing Industrial Park in Nanning, as this region continued to step up its efforts in terms of comprehensive AI development, encompassing AI computing power, service platforms, algorithm innovation, and cloud and data security. The industrial park has also forged a partnership with local authorities to invest in the building of powerful training clusters and the advancement of research and development (R&D) of customized AI models. In addition, this project is expected to generate leasing services for AI computing power designed for ASEAN industries, promoting cross-regional flow and shared use of core AI resources -- including computing power, technologies and talents. According to Dong Weijun, the head of the industrial park, efforts are being made to accelerate the deployment of ASEAN-facing AI large models across various sectors, such as agriculture, apparel, consumer electronics, toys and cosmetics, thus nurturing vibrant industry clusters. "By cultivating a robust AI industry ecosystem, this initiative will position Guangxi as a new highland of AI innovation tailored for the ASEAN market," he said. GUANGXI AS AI HUB FOR ASEAN In a bid to transform itself into a regional center for innovation, Guangxi has spearheaded the development of a cross-border industrial ecosystem by leveraging world-leading R&D from top-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, integrating these advancements locally before putting them in practice across ASEAN. Nanning has also put the building of the China-ASEAN AI Innovation Cooperation Center in motion -- harnessing the power of AI to invigorate a wide array of industries. Some prominent global and domestic enterprises have flocked to the city and set up regional operations to explore collaboration opportunities, with partnerships and joint ventures having gradually taken shape in promising fields such as model training, data annotation and AI applications in education and cultural tourism. Launched earlier this year, the construction site of the AI Innovation Center at Nanning International Science and Technology Industrial City has become a hive of activity, featuring the frenetic pace of overhead cranes and engineering vehicles in constant motion. This project, spanning over 70 square kilometers, marks a significant milestone in China-Singapore industrial cooperation, and focuses on a pivotal trio in terms of bilateral cooperation -- AI, new energy applications and new health technologies. To underpin this ambitious vision, Nanning has rolled out an initial policy package aimed at driving the high-quality development of the project, according to an official document. This package comprises 22 initiatives spread across seven key areas, including fostering industrial clusters, promoting open data governance, supporting model development and deepening cooperation with ASEAN nations. Officials from Guangxi's Department of Industry and Information Technology have revealed that the region has outlined a big picture vision to construct a network of AI industrial parks and cutting-edge manufacturing clusters. The goal is to achieve a production output of AI-related industries that surpasses 100 billion yuan (13.9 billion U.S. dollars) by 2027, thereby initially establishing Guangxi as a leading AI hub for the ASEAN region.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jim Cramer Worries About Salesforce (CRM)'s Announcement of Acquiring Informatica
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discusses. When a caller mentioned that they own Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) stock, Cramer said: 'If Salesforce goes and buys this Informatica, that would be very bad, and it would make me question what the company was up to. I hope they don't do that. I like Agentforce very much…' A customer service team in an office setting using the company's Customer 360 platform to communicate with customers. Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) provides a unified platform that supports functions like sales, marketing, customer service, analytics, and e-commerce. The company's tools help businesses manage customer relationships and streamline operations. Mar Vista Investment Partners, LLC stated the following regarding Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) in its Q1 2025 investor letter: 'Salesforce, Inc.'s (NYSE:CRM) stock came under pressure in Q1 as investors grew concerned about the potential negative impact of trade tensions and tariffs on the global economy, as well as the current lack of monetization from AI-enabled software solutions. Despite these concerns, we remain confident in Salesforce's strong competitive position, deep customer relationships, and its ability to monetize AgentForce, its newly launched generative AI-enabled chatbot designed to automate customer service tasks and significantly reduce costs compared to traditional call center support solutions. Overall, CRM ranks 2nd on our list of stocks that Jim Cramer discusses. While we acknowledge the potential of CRM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CRM and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Channel Post MEA
3 days ago
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
Salesforce Showcases AI-powered Digital Labour
Salesforce showcased the transformative potential of AI-enabled digital labour for organisations in the Middle East at Agentforce World Tour Dubai, held at Madinat Jumeirah today. Salesforce brought together more than 3,000 delegates for the event, including customers, partners, and associates, demonstrating the fast-growing interest and strong demand for digital labour solutions that can help drive efficiency and transformation for organisations across all sectors. Keynote speakers included Salesforce's Marco Hernansanz, executive vice president & CEO Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa; Mohammed Alkhotani, senior vice president and general manager, Middle East; Maha Alaoui, head of solution engineering, MEA; Polly Summer, Chief Adoption Officer; and Olfa Kharrat, director of product management for AI and Agentforce. The speakers shared insights about the company's strategy and how its latest innovations in AI, data and CRM are helping customers transform. Delegates gained insights into how organisations are transforming with Salesforce solutions including Agentforce, Data Cloud and Customer 360 to drive success on a unified, trusted platform. Keynotes and presentations, including by Salesforce's customers and partners, covered the role of AI in sectors such as retail, real estate, travel, automotive, and manufacturing. They also explored using Data Cloud to create a trusted foundation for Agentforce, how to make the leap from 'good to great' customer experience, and how organisations can grow their team's AI experience. More than 15 customers from across the region participated in the event, demonstrating transformative use-cases that illustrate how they have transformed key aspects of their operations with Salesforce. National Bank of Kuwait revealed how it has leveraged data in Tableau to uncover insights, drive smarter decisions, and enhance business performance. In a session titled, 'Transforming Education with AI & Automation', Aldar Education, a leading education group in Abu Dhabi, discussed its partnership with Publicis Sapient to digitize student services, streamline admissions, and enhance parent engagement using AI-powered automation. Meanwhile, French energy group Engie, which has operations around the world including a regional HQ in Dubai, demonstrated how it used a tailored Salesforce Cloud solution to transform its renewable energy sales in Poland. Other companies presenting at the event were: Al Tayer, MAF Retail LLC, Zulekha Hospital, Ducab, Raiffeisen Bank International AG, Red Sea Global, and Marhaba. The potential of Agentforce and digital labour to transform operations featured prominently with sessions focused on private and public sector transformation, particularly the delivery of citizen services, and real estate, where Salesforce is helping customers optimise sales processes and enhance productivity to deliver a better experience for buyers and sales teams. Mohammed Alkhotani said that AI and digital labour will play an increasing role in enabling organisations to raise efficiency while innovating, improving customer service, and supporting national visions. 'Organisations in the Middle East are keen to leverage AI to transform their operations and thrive amid tough competition,' Alkhotani said. 'Customers want to tap growth opportunities and support national visions – yet many are understandably perplexed by AI and how to deploy it effectively. Today's event offered the ideal opportunity to showcase the power of Agentforce to transform organisations with autonomous AI agents that complement human employees, while delivering new levels of efficiency and customer experience.' With AI skills vital to the success of digital transformation within organisations, Salesforce recently partnered with Chalhoub, the Dubai-based luxury goods retailer and distributor, to create a training program to empower women at the company. The Chalhoub x Salesforce Women in Tech Leadership & Innovation Program was themed 'Women Driving Digital Innovation: AI, Data, and Cloud for the Future', and more than 60 participants graduated during Agentforce World Tour having completed a rigorous four-week course. The program focused on areas including technology and leadership; customer centricity; diversity, equity and inclusion; and future skills and career growth. Representatives from Chalhoub and Salesforce delivered a keynote at Agentforce World Tour to spotlight the program's successes in empowering women to spearhead digital leadership. Salesforce is well positioned to support transformation efforts in the UAE and the wider region after establishing a new office in the UAE in October 2024 and committing to invest $500m in Saudi Arabia earlier in the year. Organisations are keen to deploy AI, but don't necessarily have all the know-how and tools to do so effectively. Nearly half of customer service teams, over two-fifths of salespeople, and a third of marketers say they've fully implemented AI to augment their work, yet 77% of business leaders cite nagging issues around trusted data and ethics that could grind their deployments to a halt, according to Salesforce's most recent Trends in AI for CRM report. Meanwhile, organisations in the UAE increasingly recognise the need for AI-based solutions to liberate human employees from the repetitive, mundane tasks that often reduce productivity. With sales reps in the UAE spending an average of just 27% of the workweek connecting with customers, organisations see AI as a potential solution – 75% of sales teams in the UAE have either fully implemented AI or are experimenting with the technology, according to Salesforce's most recent State of Sales report. This indicates pent-up demand for solutions that offer to simplify effective AI deployments. 0 0
CNBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Palantir is a buy that has further to run, and other takes on AI plays
Palantir and Constellation Energy are buys that will benefit from the rise in artificial intelligence, while Salesforce faces rising competition in workflow software, according to David Kudla, founder and CEO at Mainstay Capital Management. Kudla joined CNBC's "Power Lunch" to discuss his views on the three stocks. Palantir Palantir , which has outperformed its peers after surging 64% in 2025, is still a buying opportunity for investors looking to tap into government demand for the company's AI-enabled tools. "We still think Palantir is a buy. Probably a buy on the dips," said Kudla, who added that he bought the stock in June 2023 when it was trading at around $15 a share. It was last selling for about $124 per share. PLTR 1D mountain Palantir "They are leveraging AI very well, they're winning the space with AI on counterterrorism and what they're doing for governments and they're increasing their commercial contracts in the private sector," Kudla said. "So, we think this stock has a lot further to run, even though it's richly valued." Constellation Energy Constellation Energy , the largest nuclear operator in the U.S. , is a clear beneficiary of the government's support of nuclear power after President Donald Trump last week signed executive orders to overhaul the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Kudla said. "Clearly, they are a winner going forward," Kudla said. "Those executive orders are to help with deregulation, and the nuclear industry, where it's redundant, where it can be streamlined. It takes almost 10 years to build a nuclear plant right now, and the idea here with the energy demands for AI data centers is to let nuclear grow and provide the energy that America needs." The investor added that he bought the stock at the end of March. It's surged 38% just in May. Salesforce Salesforce is a hold, according to Kudla, who said the enterprise software company faces stiff competition from Microsoft . "We're not as excited about Salesforce at this point," Kudla said. "About 7% year over year growth, still a leader, still a leader in its space. But, you know, as AI is disrupting every industry, it's doing that in CRM and workflow software as well." "We have the wars between Microsoft Copilot and Salesforce Agentforce, who's going to win the battle, with back and forth," Kudla added. "But it's really about integrating AI into what they do, and who's going to do that the best." The stock is down more than 17% year to date through the Wednesday close, and trading about 1.6% postmarket following better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter results and improved forward guidance.
