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7 Critical Education Trends That Will Define Learning In 2025

By Banking, Career, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Digitalization, Food for thoughtNo Comments

In 2025, education is transforming, driven by game-changing technologies like artificial intelligence and the needs of a changing world of work.

The traditional model of front-loading education in youth no longer fits a society where change happens at lightning speed. Meanwhile, skills like emotional intelligence and communication,  sometimes overlooked in traditional education models, are becoming increasingly important as machines take over many routine technical tasks.

Let’s explore the key trends shaping education in 2025 and the opportunities they offer individuals preparing themselves for success in a rapidly changing world.

Human-Centric Skills Back On The Curriculum

As machines become more efficient at analyzing trends, crunching numbers and generating reports, the value of the skills that they still can’t replicate will grow. This means that educators should increasingly focus on nurturing these soft, “human” skills, like critical thinking, big-picture strategy, communication, emotional intelligence, leadership and teamwork. Expect to see greater integration of these into mainstream education as we train to become more effective at high-value tasks involving person-to-person interactions and navigation of complex and chaotic real-world situations. These are tasks that human leaders and professionals will use to distinguish themselves in the AI age.

Generative AI In The Classroom

Generative AI (think chatbots like ChatGPT) is everywhere now, and in 2025 the classroom will be no exception. With 57 percent of workers saying they believe it can make them more efficient, learning how to make it work effectively will increasingly become a priority for educators. As well as learning how to use it, uses will be found for it across the education workload. For example, teachers will use it to assist with grading, providing personalized feedback on work, and creating bespoke content and lesson plans. There will also be a focus on responsible use of AI as well as learning about when and how it can be used; students should also be taught about using it safely and when it is better to rely on real intelligence rather than artificial intelligence.

Personalized Learning

All learners are different – we take in information at different speeds; while some of us absorb knowledge better from videos, some benefit more from group discussions or activity-based learning. Personalized learning promises to deliver education in a way that’s tailored to the specific strengths of individual students. This means tailored lesson plans, assessments and learning materials. In 2025 we will see experiments and pilot projects involving using AI to accomplish this begin to move into the mainstream, as well as the emergence of AI tutoring aids that are able to track the progress of students in real time and adjust the delivery of learning on-the-fly to create dynamic and engaging learning environments.

Lifelong Learning

In 2025, the idea that education ends with graduation is hopelessly old-fashioned. Lifelong learning has become the mantra to live by – for professionals, there’s a need to consistently upskill and reskill in order to keep pace with rapid changes in technology and the world of work. In fact, I’ve heard it said that today, it’s increasingly common to find that tech skills learned in degree courses are frequently outdated by the time a graduate enters their first professional role. Online learning, modular courses and concepts such as micro and nano-learning will be part of the solution, offering bite-sized and stackable learning pathways that can be fit around busy careers.

Virtual Classrooms And Remote Learning

Imagine educational experiences where students can explore ancient civilizations or distant planets without leaving their homes. In 2025, this is increasingly becoming a reality as learners adopt virtual and augmented reality technology into their study. This trend also covers the growing use of online learning platforms and course providers to enhance educational opportunities and provide increasingly collaborative digital learning environments. As well as opening the doors to more immersive and engaging study, remote learning and virtual classrooms will improve accessibility for those who can’t get to school because of where they live or due to political reasons.

New Partnerships To Foster High-Tech Vocational Training

Increasingly, we will see partnerships emerging between schools, colleges, and businesses as employers and education providers seek new ways of bridging the skills gap. Right now, there simply aren’t enough graduates coming out of the education system to meet industry demands for critical high-tech skills like artificial intelligence and cyber security. This collaboration will help educators formulate courses to fit real-world requirements and ensure students are graduating with the skills that employers need.

Ed-Tech Becomes Big Business

Providing the technology needed to make the trends covered here a reality is a fast-growing business, with the ed-tech industry forecasted to grow from $142 billion to nearly $350 billion by 2030. As enthusiasm in the education sector for online learning platforms, AI assistants and immersive VR learning experiences grows, technology will become increasingly integral to transforming the way that education is delivered in 2025. Continued investment and innovation in the sector will ensure that educators are able to meet the demands of a fast-changing world.

The educational landscape of 2025 represents a pivotal shift from traditional models to a more dynamic, technology-enhanced, and human-centered approach to learning. As AI and automation continue to reshape our world, the fusion of cutting-edge technology with enhanced focus on uniquely human capabilities isn’t just transforming how we learn – it’s redefining what it means to be educated in the digital age. The future of education isn’t just about absorbing information; it’s about creating adaptable, lifelong learners who can thrive in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving world. For educators, students, and professionals alike, embracing these trends isn’t optional – it’s essential for success in tomorrow’s world.

Credit: Bernard Marr

2025’s Tech Forecast: The Consumer Innovations That Will Matter Most

By Banking, Career, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Digitalization, Food for thoughtNo Comments

Consumer technology covers all of the tech we buy to make our lives more convenient, productive or fun. It’s a broad category, covering everything from home appliances to cars, DIY, health and fitness products and connected smart home devices – and understanding these trends is crucial not just for manufacturers, but for any business looking to meet modern customer and employee expectations.

In a tough economic climate, both consumer tech manufacturers and enterprise solution providers know they have to offer real innovation to stay competitive. As the line between consumer and enterprise technology continues to blur, the expectations set by consumer tech increasingly shape workplace technology demands.

In 2025, the driving force behind innovation will be artificial intelligence (AI), with its promise of devices and solutions that are smarter and more useful than the ones we already own. This shift will impact everything from product development to workplace tools and customer service platforms.

Will this be enough? Time will tell – but in the meantime, let’s explore the hottest trends that I believe will shape not only consumer buying decisions but also enterprise technology strategies over the next year.

2025’s Tech Forecast: The Consumer Innovations That Will Matter Most | Bernard Marr

Personalized User Experiences In Consumer Technology

In 2025, manufacturers understand the importance of creating technology that we feel “gets” us. With AI beginning to be embedded in everything from smart home devices to wearables, fitness equipment and toys, we will increasingly expect personalized experiences that adapt to fit in with our lives. The idea is to go beyond creating tech that offers convenience, to offering experiences that feel tailor-made to us. Think of smart home devices that adapt to our daily routines, or smartphones equipped with AI assistants that effortlessly manage our lives.

Conversational Interfaces And Chatbots

Forget the stilted interactions we’ve grown accustomed to having with assistants like Alexa or Siri. In 2025, advances in large language models (LLMs) and natural language processing (NLP), such as those demonstrated by ChatGPT, mean we can talk to our devices almost as if they are fellow humans. This means we’re soon going to be having conversations with kitchen appliances and chewing the fat with our cars, as voice increasingly becomes our primary method of operating and interacting with consumer tech.

Sustainability In Consumer Technology

With buying decisions increasingly driven by concerns over sustainability and our environmental footprints, manufacturers understand that eco-friendly principles are now a business priority. This means devices that are more energy efficient, designed and built in a way that minimizes water consumption, emissions and waste, with a focus on reusability and recyclability. Computer chips like Apple’s M-series processor, designed to minimize power consumption, smartphones constructed from modular, replaceable parts, and increasing use of recycled materials and environmentally-friendly inks in packaging are all examples of this trend in action.

Healthcare-Focused Consumer Technology

Smart healthcare devices like fitness trackers and remote monitoring tools have been around for a while. But while the market for these products will continue to grow in 2025, we’ll also see them become smarter – capable of predicting and even diagnosing conditions, rather than simply monitoring basic health metrics. From the ECG and blood oxygen sensors on smartwatches, we can expect to see devices offering insights based on genetic or gut microbiome data, which, when paired with telehealth and virtual healthcare services, will begin to offer truly personalized wellness experiences.

Real-Time Language Translation

Communicating during our travels will be easier than ever before in 2025, thanks to the proliferation of devices enabling real-time language communication. These capabilities will be available in earbuds, smart glasses, and watches, as well as dedicated portable translation devices like the Poketalk, leveraging machine learning and LLMs to break down language barriers wherever we are.

Diversity And Inclusion In Consumer Technology

We can expect to see a strong push towards inclusivity in consumer technology during 2025. This hasn’t always been the case – last-gen voice assistants often struggled with understanding non-standard accents and dialects, and there have been instances where health wearables like heart rate and oxygen sensors have been less accurate on users with dark skin. Signs that this may be changing include a move towards more accessibility features on smart devices, a focus on AI features that are more culturally aware, and improved female-centric functionality on healthcare devices, such as menstrual and pregnancy tracking.

AI-Enhanced Friends And Companions

From smarter-than-ever toys that can converse and play games, to robots designed to keep us company or act as teachers, AI will breathe new life into companion devices. Also known as “social robots,” these are machines designed to engage and interact with us in order to provide entertainment or in-home assistance. Relatively simple toys like Poe, the bedtime-storytelling bear, are early attempts at using AI to turn everyday objects into “friends” we can relate to, and they will become more numerous and sophisticated as time goes on.

Micro-Mobility

In recent years, we’ve seen an explosion in the number of micro-vehicles such as e-bikes, scooters and compact EVs on the market, and in 2025, we will continue to see them getting smarter, more user-friendly and more deeply integrated into urban life. Longer battery life and innovations like smartphone integration will bring real-time route optimization and GPS functionality, and the vehicles themselves will continue to become more convenient and affordable. All of this means micromobility will be an increasingly prominent trend as our approach to commuting, living locally, and day-to-day transport in urban areas evolves.

The consumer technology landscape of 2025 promises to be more personal, sustainable, and inclusive than ever before. While AI clearly emerges as the driving force behind many of these innovations, understanding these trends isn’t just important for consumer tech manufacturers – it’s crucial for every business. As consumer expectations evolve, these technological advancements will inevitably influence workplace technology demands, with employees expecting the same level of personalization, sustainability, and AI-powered convenience they experience in their personal lives. Companies that stay ahead of these consumer tech trends will be better positioned to attract talent, meet changing employee expectations, and maintain competitive advantage in an increasingly tech-driven marketplace. The future of consumer tech isn’t just about smarter devices – it’s about understanding and adapting to fundamental shifts in how people expect to interact with technology, both at home and in the workplace.

Credit: Bernard Marr

The True Value Of Data And AI In Human Resources

By Banking, Career, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Digitalization, Food for thoughtNo Comments

As we venture deeper into the digital era, the scope and possibilities of data and artificial intelligence (AI) in human resources (HR) are expanding at an unprecedented rate.

As I discuss in my new book ‘Data-Driven HR: How to Use AI, Analytics and Data to Drive Performance’ (2nd edition), HR is no longer just a supporting actor in companies. People management departments are now stepping into the spotlight and are actively guiding and informing business strategies with rich, data-derived insights.

By deploying AI tools, HR is becoming more adept at providing better experiences for employees — and these technologies are also being used to streamline HR processes and services.

Let’s dig into the three most significant areas where data and AI are bringing considerable value and fundamentally influencing the way businesses operate.

The Three Pillars Of Data-Driven HR: Decision-Making, Employee Services, And Efficiency

Data and AI can create value in organizations in three crucial ways:

● Facilitating a more informed decision-making process

● Improving service delivery to employees (and potential candidates)

● Optimizing HR service efficiency

Let’s dive deeper into each of these.

Empowering Decisions With Data-Driven HR Insights

HR professionals are now using data and AI to equip decision-makers with critical information, create valuable people-centric reports, and enlighten leaders about what’s happening on the ground from moment to moment.

AI can also forecast upcoming people-related issues, acting as an early warning system, which can help organizations future-proof their systems and processes. For example, AI could predict a skill deficit so HR could ramp up recruiting in a particular area.

Juniper Networks, a networking hardware firm, uses LinkedIn data and analytics to track where high-performing employees come from and understand where they migrate when they leave Juniper. This information allows the company to understand career trajectories better and make more informed decisions to attract and retain talent.

Google’s Project Oxygen is another instance of data-driven decision-making in HR. The project aimed to identify the characteristics of effective managers within Google. By analyzing data sets, the project identified the key characteristics of successful managers and then developed specific training programs and feedback mechanisms to improve management quality across the company.

Enhancing Service Delivery For Employees

The primary role of HR revolves around catering to the organization’s workforce. This can include:

● Providing exceptional recruitment services

● Delivering opportunities for training and development

● Creating and implementing comprehensive wellness programs

● Designing safe working conditions

By leveraging data and AI, HR teams can improve all of these services and provide more value to employees throughout their journey in the organization.

Walmart, for example, uses AI to guide employees in choosing the most suitable medical providers for their needs.

IBM uses AI in its HR operations to provide a better experience for its employees. For instance, the AI virtual assistant “Watson” helps IBM employees with different queries, ranging from company policies to technical support, offering personalized answers and reducing response times.

Boosting HR Service Efficiency

AI can be a game-changer for HR teams looking to improve efficiency.

Using data and AI can help HR teams automate procedures with chatbots, create better onboarding processes, leverage metaverse environments for more immersive training, and more.

Johnson & Johnson deployed an AI-based writing tool, Textio, to identify unconscious bias in their job listings. Upon identifying a masculine tilt in the language of many of their job postings, they made some AI-driven adjustments that led to a 9% uptick in female applicants.

Unilever employs AI to streamline the initial stages of its recruitment process. Candidates are asked to play a number of games that test their logic, aptitude, reasoning, and appetite for risk. Then the HR team uses machine learning algorithms to assess candidates’ suitability for the role they have applied for, by matching their profiles against previously successful employees. This approach has not only improved the efficiency of Unilever’s recruitment process but also provided a more engaging candidate experience.

Reimage HR Through Data And AI

Data and AI are more than just buzzwords — they are the drivers of meaningful, beneficial change within HR. As businesses move forward in this digitally connected world, prioritizing the three HR domains we’ve discussed above can create a significant difference in achieving strategic goals and building a work environment where employees thrive.

3 Ways To Reinvent Your Products And Services For The Future

By Banking, Career, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Digitalization, Food for thoughtNo Comments

With the rise of the metaverse and web3 technologies, there’s no denying the next evolution of the internet is already underway. This is what I mean when I talk about the “future internet” – the next generation of the internet, characterized by immersive virtual metaverse worlds (such as Fortnite or Meta’s Horizon Worlds) and decentralized web3 technologies (think crypto, blockchain and NFTs).

For organizations, this future internet brings many opportunities – and threats. This means every organization must take a look at the products and services they provide and consider new and improved ways to serve their customers.

Here are three avenues to explore.

1. Augmenting Your Existing Products And Services

A good starting point is to look at your existing products and services and explore how you could enhance them with metaverse and/or web3 technologies. Consider how Fortnite has reinvented itself from a gaming platform to a trailblazing metaverse platform that provides immersive virtual experiences (like gigs by real-world megastars). Or consider how smartphone manufacturers are increasingly building AR capabilities into their phones, allowing users to see immersive virtual elements overlayed over the real-world view simply by using the built-in camera. Both are great examples of making your existing products or services more compatible with the next, more immersive evolution of the internet.

Could you augment your products and services for the future internet? If you ignore this question, the danger is another company will come along with that improved offering. Consider how services like Audius are reimagining music streaming and challenging established platforms like Spotify. Audius is a blockchain-based, artist-owned, decentralized streaming service with its own crypto token – in essence, the platform lets musicians decide how their music is monetized and allows them to connect directly with fans.

2. Creating New, Digital-Only Products

The next generation of consumers is only too happy to spend real money on products that don’t exist in the physical world. My children routinely spend their pocket money on Fortnite Skins, and yours may well do the same. In fact, Fortnite (and gaming in general) has led the way in creating digital-only products. What’s really interesting is Fortnite is a free-to-play game, so the sale of in-game items is clearly a vital revenue-earner for the game’s makers. In-game purchases are so popular that close to 70 percent of Fortnite players purchase outfits, accessories, and dance moves for their virtual characters. These outfits, accessories and moves don’t give players any actual advantage when playing the game – it’s purely about making your character look different from those who don’t pay for products. It goes to show that, in the metaverse era, digital-only products have very real value.

What about new services for the future internet? A great example comes from BlockBar, the NFT marketplace for high-end wines and spirits. BlockBar is a direct-to-consumer NFT marketplace that connects consumers and collectors with luxury alcohol brands such as Glenfiddich and Hennessy – allowing brands to sell NFTs that are tied to physical luxury and limited-edition products. (The NFT acts as proof of ownership but may also provide the NFT holder with access to exclusive perks and content.) As a service, BlockBar is taking the business of selling wine and spirits into the 21st century. And it’s proving popular with brands and consumers alike; the marketplace reached $7 million in sales in its first year and attracted more than 300,000 users.

Ask yourself, could your business create new products and services that are designed with the future internet in mind – or could your existing products or services be threatened by new, digital-native offerings?

3. Creating Hybrid Products And Services That Span Both Digital And Physical

What about blending the physical and digital to create hybrid products and services? One cool example comes from Merge EDU, which has designed a range of digital teaching aids for STEM subjects. The teaching aids immerse students with 3D objects and simulations they can “touch” and interact with – thereby helping students understand complex science concepts. This shows how digital products and services can deliver significant value in the physical world.

Of course, physical products can also be enhanced with a digital element, such as an accompanying NFT. Like how legendary music magazine SPIN – known for its iconic covers that are collectors’ items in their own right – is selling its covers and other art assets as collectible NFTs.

This “tokenization” of physical products is interesting because it also allows products to be sold in a distributed ownership model – where multiple customers share ownership of an asset. One example comes from the Crurated wine platform, which offers members the chance to buy fractions of wine barrels certified by NFT and blockchain technology.

Can You Afford To Ignore The Future Internet?

There’s no doubt in my mind that companies that ignore the impact of the metaverse and Web3 risk being overtaken by startups who are creating new, improved versions of existing products and services – essentially, reimagining them for the future internet.

That said, because the future internet is evolving so fast, some of the products and services being developed now may not exist in a few years’ time. There will be new products and services that we can’t yet imagine. The upshot is amazing innovations are coming our way, and we can’t predict where all this is going. But don’t let that stop you from reimaging your own products and services and experimenting with future internet innovations. Don’t wait, in other words. The time to experiment is now.

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The 6 Most Powerful AI Marketing Trends That Will Transform Your Business In 2025

By Banking, Career, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Digitalization, Food for thoughtNo Comments

The quiet hum of AI servers is rapidly drowning out the traditional drumbeat of marketing departments worldwide. As we venture deeper into 2025, this technological revolution isn’t just changing how we market – it’s fundamentally transforming what marketing means.

Over the last decades of analyzing digital trends, I’ve never seen such a profound shift in how businesses connect with their customers. While AI and automation are undoubtedly the stars of this show, other fascinating developments are emerging from the wings, from the evolution of influencer culture to a growing emphasis on digital privacy. Let’s explore the most significant trends that will shape marketing’s future in the coming year.

The Move Towards Dynamic Content Creation

The buzz around generative AI isn’t just hype – it’s the harbinger of a fundamental shift in content creation. But here’s the interesting part: while many marketers are still stuck in the basic ChatGPT-generated blog post phase (a strategy that’s increasingly showing its limitations), the real innovators are pushing boundaries we didn’t even know existed. They’re creating content that adapts in real-time, responding to context and audience sentiment in ways that make traditional personalization look primitive.

What’s particularly exciting is how forward-thinking content creators are integrating AI into their creative process itself. They’re not just using AI to generate content – they’re showing their audiences how to use it in novel ways, creating engaging meta-content that builds authority and drives engagement. In 2025, we’ll see the emergence of truly dynamic content that transforms based on viewer behavior, time of day, or even global events, taking the concept of marketing “micro-moments” to an entirely new level.

AI’s Strategic Takeover

While AI’s role in tactical marketing operations is well established, 2025 will mark its emergence as a crucial strategic partner. We’re moving beyond basic data analytics and recommendation systems into an era where AI actively participates in high-level planning and decision-making. Imagine AI systems that can predict future market trends with unprecedented accuracy, simulate entire campaign outcomes before launch, and optimize resource allocation in real time.

This strategic evolution of AI is particularly exciting because it’s happening first in marketing departments. As we push into 2025, marketing teams are becoming the proving ground for AI’s ability to contribute to strategic business decisions, setting patterns that other business functions will likely follow.

Search Is Dead, Long Live Search

The integration of generative AI into search engines isn’t just an upgrade – it’s a complete reimagining of how people find information online. With both Google and Bing now embedding AI-generated responses directly into search results, marketers are facing a fundamental shift in how they approach visibility. The traditional SEO playbook isn’t just being updated – it’s being completely rewritten.

But here’s what makes this trend particularly fascinating: as AI chatbots increasingly become the go-to tool for information seeking, we’re seeing a shift in user behavior that could rival the move from desktop to mobile. Marketing teams are now grappling with the challenge of not just ranking in traditional search results but also ensuring their brand messages are effectively captured and conveyed through AI-generated responses. This isn’t just about keywords anymore – it’s about understanding and influencing the AI systems that are becoming the new gatekeepers of information.

Video Marketing Gets A Brain Upgrade

If content is king, video continues to be its crown jewel. The appetite for quick, engaging, “snackable” video content shows no signs of slowing down, particularly among Gen-Z consumers. What’s changing is the sophistication of video creation and distribution. AI-driven video production tools are making it possible to create personalized, targeted video content at scale, while new formats like shoppable video and live streaming are opening up exciting new possibilities for brand engagement.

User-generated content remains a powerful force, but the tools and platforms for creating and sharing it are becoming increasingly sophisticated. In 2025, the ability to create, optimize, and distribute video content will become less about technical capability and more about strategic application.

Your Next Influencer Might Not Be Human

Virtual influencers have been around for a while, but 2025 is the year they get smart – really smart. We’re moving beyond static digital avatars to AI-powered personalities that can engage in meaningful, real-time interactions with audiences. This isn’t just about posting pretty pictures anymore – it’s about creating authentic connections through intelligent conversation.

The implications for brands are enormous. Imagine having an influencer who perfectly embodies your brand values, is available 24/7, and can engage with thousands of followers simultaneously in personalized conversations.

The Privacy Paradox

The marketing world has long grappled with the balance between personalization and privacy. As we move into 2025, this balance is becoming more crucial – and more complex – than ever. Smart marketers are adopting what I call “privacy-first personalization,” an approach that delivers highly relevant experiences while maintaining transparent and ethical data practices.

This isn’t just about compliance with growing regulations – it’s about building trust in an era where consumers are increasingly aware of and concerned about their digital footprint. The marketers who succeed in 2025 will be those who can deliver personalized experiences while demonstrating a genuine commitment to protecting consumer privacy.

Looking ahead, it’s clear that success in 2025’s marketing landscape won’t just be about adopting new technologies – it will be about using them thoughtfully and strategically to create genuine value. The most successful marketers won’t be those who chase every new trend but those who understand how to integrate these innovations into a coherent strategy that puts the customer first.

The Simple ChatGPT Trick That Will Transform Your Business AI Interactions

By Banking, Career, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Digitalization, Food for thoughtNo Comments

I believe ChatGPT and other generative AI tools can help pretty much any business. With a low-cost subscription or even simply using free tools, advanced AI assistance that would have seemed the stuff of science fiction just a few short years ago is within reach of anyone.

Without specific information, though, the advice and output that these genAI tools give can be very formulaic and mundane.

Simply ask it to “write me a blog on subject X” or “create a business plan for my Y business” and you’ll see what I mean.

The problem is that by default, it doesn’t know enough about you or your business and its specific challenges to create anything very useful

Luckily, there’s a way to ensure it has the information it needs to give you very specialized, specific advice that’s relevant to your opportunities and challenges. Get it to ask you what it needs to know.

With that in mind, here are a few prompts that can be used to get AI to help you with everyday business tasks, but in a way that’s customized and personal to you. Of course, you can use these as they are or personalize them further to make them even more relevant to your own situation and challenges.

Either way, they all make good jumping-in points for anyone wanting to start putting AI to work for them in a personalized way:

Review Compliance Regulations Around A Project

I need you to help me create a list of all my compliance and regulatory obligations around a project I am planning. Please ask me questions, one at a time, to get all of the information you need to know. Then create a step-by-step, prioritized list of actions I need to take in order to ensure I am fully compliant.

Understand Cybersecurity Requirements

I need your help understanding all of the steps I need to take in order to ensure my business is protected against cybersecurity threats. Please ask me questions about my business, one at a time, to get all of the information you need. When you are ready, please create a step-by-step strategy for implementing cybersecurity measures in a way that’s specifically relevant to my business.

Create A Social Media Marketing Campaign

Please help me create five social media posts optimized to generate maximum engagement. First, ask any questions, one at a time, you need in order to understand my business, our products and services, and our branding and messaging. It’s important you understand who our customers are and our brand’s voice, tone and style. When you have enough information, please draft the posts.

Create A Website FAQ Page

I need you to help me create a FAQ page for my company website. Please ask me questions, one at a time, to get the information you need to understand my business and customers. Then, ask me for details on any specific questions that I frequently encounter. When you have enough information, please generate a list of questions and answers in an FAQ format suitable for use on our company website.

Write A Business Plan For Use In Applying For Loans And Financing

Please help me write a business plan designed to maximize my chances of success when applying to banks or investors for loans or funding. Format the plan in a way that you think is best in order to optimally present the information clearly and concisely. Ask me questions, one at a time, to get all of the information you need to generate the plan. When you have all the information needed, go ahead and draft the plan.

Create A Customized Blog Post Relevant To Your Audience

Please help me create a blog post introducing my products or services to my online audience. Ask me questions about myself, my business, products/services, my customer base, and what I hope to achieve with the blog post in order to get all of the information you need to create a post that is informative, engaging, and optimized to achieve my aims.

Creating Your Own Personalized Prompts

As you can probably see, by following this formula, it’s possible to get ChatGPT (or whatever chatbot you prefer) to create personalized help, advice, and plans for just about any business task.

Asking it what information it needs means you can guarantee that you’ll always get more useful responses than simply expecting it to rely on whatever it already knows.

Mastering this technique will take you a step closer to leveraging the full potential of generative AI when it comes to assisting with everyday business tasks, helping you save time, money and effort.

Credit: Bernard Marr

6 Mistakes IT Teams Are Guaranteed To Make In 2025

By Banking, Career, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Digitalization, Food for thought, UncategorizedNo Comments

The next wave of artificial intelligence isn’t just knocking at enterprise doors – it’s exposing fundamental flaws in how organizations approach technology transformation. As IT teams race to stay competitive in 2025, they’re making mistakes that could significantly impact their digital initiatives.

Mistake 1: Mishandling AI Governance

Many organizations are mishandling AI deployment by operating without proper guardrails, while employees increasingly turn to unauthorized “shadow AI” applications to boost their productivity. In 2025, we’ll see the consequences of this oversight manifest in data breaches, biased outputs, and compliance violations. Organizations are discovering sensitive data being fed into public AI models through unofficial channels, creating massive security vulnerabilities. Forward-thinking IT leaders are already implementing comprehensive AI governance frameworks that cover everything from model selection to output verification while providing approved alternatives to popular consumer AI tools. This isn’t just about risk management – it’s about building sustainable AI practices that can scale with your organization’s growing needs while keeping shadow AI use in check through education and accessible, secure alternatives.

Mistake 2: Ignoring Regulatory Requirements

IT teams are significantly underprepared for incoming AI regulations. While the U.S. currently lacks comprehensive federal AI legislation, states like Colorado are implementing strict requirements around automated decision-making systems, and the EU’s sweeping AI Act will impact any organization doing business in Europe. By 2025, organizations will need to demonstrate their AI systems aren’t discriminatory, provide transparency reports for high-risk applications, and comply with complex international requirements. Even existing regulations are being reinterpreted through an AI lens – from biometric privacy laws to consumer protection statutes. IT teams building AI systems today without considering these emerging compliance requirements are creating unnecessary technical debt. Smart organizations are future-proofing their AI implementations by designing for transparency, establishing clear governance frameworks, and building systems that can adapt to evolving regulatory demands across multiple jurisdictions.

Mistake 3: Creating Integration Complexity

In rushing to modernize, organizations are creating unnecessary technical debt with brittle architectures that span old and new systems. While everyone wants to talk about their latest AI implementation or cloud migration, organizations are drowning in hundreds of point-to-point connections between specialized tools and aging legacy platforms. Smart organizations are taking a hybrid approach, methodically modernizing their core systems while implementing robust integration frameworks that can scale. They’re replacing brittle connections with flexible architectures that can adapt as systems evolve. This isn’t as exciting as launching the latest chatbot, but building sustainable, maintainable technology ecosystems is fundamental to long-term success.

Mistake 4: Neglecting Data Quality

Organizations are building AI initiatives without addressing fundamental data quality issues. Their data lakes are more like murky swamps – plagued by inconsistent standards, conflicting formats, and quality issues that render them nearly unusable for advanced AI applications. The problem goes beyond mere technical challenges. Business units are hoarding information in isolated silos, data governance policies are outdated or ignored, and metadata management is often an afterthought. The result? AI initiatives that produce unreliable outputs, models that perpetuate hidden biases, and massive costs in data cleanup and rework. Forward-thinking organizations are treating data quality as a board-level priority, investing in robust data governance frameworks, and building centralized data platforms that enforce consistent standards. They understand that in 2025, the difference between AI success and failure often comes down to the quality of the data foundation it’s built upon.

Mistake 5: Compromising Security

IT teams are compromising security in their push for rapid innovation. The pressure to deliver new capabilities at speed is leading to incomplete security reviews and inadequate protections. This is particularly concerning as cyber threats evolve into hybrid attacks that combine AI capabilities with traditional hacking methods. Automated systems are probing for vulnerabilities 24/7, while AI-powered social engineering attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect. Adding to this perfect storm is the looming threat of quantum computing that is forcing organizations to confront the possibility that their current encryption methods may soon be obsolete. Forward-thinking organizations are adopting zero-trust architectures and implementing DevSecOps practices that bake security into every stage of development. They’re also investing in quantum-safe encryption and AI-powered security tools that can detect and respond to threats in real time. In 2025, a single security breach can undo years of digital transformation efforts.

Mistake 6: Maintaining Outdated Skills Development

Organizations are maintaining outdated approaches to skill development and technical training. The technical skills that were cutting-edge six months ago are now baseline requirements, while entirely new competencies emerge almost weekly. This skills gap is particularly apparent in AI and quantum computing, where the underlying technology evolves faster than training programs can adapt. Progressive organizations are taking a radically different approach, implementing continuous learning platforms that combine foundational principles with real-time skill adaptation. They’re fostering partnerships with AI vendors, cloud providers, and educational institutions to create dynamic learning environments. The focus has shifted from traditional certifications to practical experience and adaptability – because, in 2025, the most valuable skill is the ability to learn and unlearn at the pace of innovation.

The Price Of Inaction

These mistakes are already impacting digital transformation efforts across industries. The organizations that will thrive in 2025 are those that recognize these issues for what they are: predictable, preventable problems that require immediate attention. The time to course-correct is now, before these compounding issues create problems too expensive and complex to fix. The choice is clear: address these challenges head-on today, or watch your digital transformation efforts falter tomorrow under the weight of avoidable mistakes.

11 Most Reliable AI Content Detectors: Your Guide To Spotting Synthetic Media

By Banking, Career, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Digitalization, Food for thought, UncategorizedNo Comments

Since the launch of ChatGPT just two years ago, the volume of synthetic – or fake – content online has increased exponentially.

Firstly, not all “fake” content is inherently bad. Generative AI text, image and audio tools have streamlined many repetitive tasks, from drafting routine letters and notices to storyboarding and prototyping in more creative projects.

But AI-generated content becomes problematic when it’s intended to mislead, misinform or spread fake news. Some have even gone as far as to say it threatens to destabilize democratic processes and create a “truth crisis.”

So what can be done? Well, luckily, a number of methods of differentiating between AI-generated and authentic content have been developed. These include sociological approaches, emphasizing the importance of education and critical thinking. They also include technological solutions, often leveraging the same generative and machine learning models used to create “fake” content, repurposed to detect it instead.

Here, I’ll focus on the latter. I’ll start by covering how they work, then take a look at some of the most popular tools and applications in this category.

The last few years have seen a big increase in both. However, the term “fake news” covers any deliberately constructed stories, lies, or disinformation designed to deceive. Whereas “deepfake,” “fake content,” or “synthetic content” specifically refers to content that’s not just designed to deceive but also generated by AI.

This deception could simply be for the sake of entertainment – as in the case of viral internet fakes like “deepfake Tom Cruise”, or “Pope In A Puffer Jacket.”

On the other hand, and increasingly, it could also be intended to cause real harm, such as influencing elections, damaging trust in public figures, or spreading geopolitical propaganda.

This year, ahead of upcoming elections in many countries, the WEF recognized AI misinformation as the biggest cybersecurity risk facing society. This all suggests that developing methods and tactics for identifying and combatting the rise of deepfake content is important for all of us.

What Are AI Content Detectors And How Do They Work?

In the simplest terms, most AI content detectors work by analyzing content and attempting to spot patterns that suggest it may have been generated by AI.

Often, they rely on AI itself to do this, leveraging neural networks that are trained to recognize typical traits.

For text, this could be particular phrases or ways of structuring information that is typical of large language models (LLMs), such as those powering ChatGPT or Google Gemini.

With images, this could mean looking out for telltale mistakes. For example, it’s frequently observed that AI image generators will often have difficulty with adding the correct number of fingers to their drawings of hands, correctly rendering text, and dealing with lighting and shadows.

It’s important to remember, however, that even the best tools are not foolproof. For example, it’s easy to mix AI and human-generated content to create hybrid content, but that’s likely to confuse AI content detectors.

Because of this, most of the tools covered here don’t categorically determine whether content is either AI or genuine. Instead, they are more likely to assign a probability or estimate how much of the text is likely to be AI-generated.

(To demonstrate this, I fed the text of this article, which is entirely human-written, into all of the text-based AI detectors mentioned here. You can see the results below)

The Best AI Content Detectors

AI Or Not

This paid-for site detects the use of generative AI in both images and audio.

Copyleaks

AI text analysis that’s widely used by businesses and academia.

Is this article written by AI? No

Deepfake Detector

Identifies fake video and audio with a claimed 92% accuracy.

Deepware

Deploy professional-quality deepfake detection resources on-premises for businesses.

GPTZero

One of the first widely available AI text detectors.

Is this article written by AI? 4%

Grammarly

The real-time grammar-checking plugin also offers an AI content detector.

Is this article written by AI? 50%

Hive Moderation

Designed to provide real-time moderation of video, audio and text content, also detects AI content.

Is this article written by AI? 0%

Is It AI?

Machine learning-powered AI image detector with free and paid-for options.

Originality

This lets you verify that the content you are planning to publish is authentic and trustworthy by checking it for AI, as well as plagiarism and factualness.

Is this article written by AI? 3%

Plagiarismcheck

Powerful AI text detection suite, with specialized tools for educational use cases.

Is this article written by AI? 0%.

Quillbot

Free-to-use AI text checker with no sign-up requirements.

Is this article written by AI? 0%

Winston

Winston is a comprehensive AI checking tool that can detect fake images as well as text. It also offers a certification program, certifying content as human-created.

Is this article written by AI? 0%

As AI-generated content becomes increasingly sophisticated, the tools and technologies we use to detect it must evolve in parallel. While today’s AI content detectors offer valuable insights, they’re not infallible – as demonstrated by the varying results when testing this human-written article. The key lies in using these tools as part of a broader approach to content verification, combining technological solutions with critical thinking and digital literacy. As we navigate an increasingly complex information landscape, these detection tools will become essential components in our collective effort to maintain digital truth and combat harmful misinformation.

Credit: Bernard Marr

What are the 4 Vs of Big Data?

By Banking, Career, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Digitalization, Food for thought, UncategorizedNo Comments

How do you know if the data you have is considered big data? There are generally four characteristics that must be part of a dataset to qualify it as big data—volume, velocity, variety and veracity. Value is a fifth characteristic that is also important for big data to be useful to an organization.

Our world has become datafied. From data that shows activity such as our Google searches and online shopping habits to our communication and conversations through text, smartphones and virtual assistants, and all the pictures and videos we take to the sensor data collected by internet-of-things devices and more, there are 2.5 quintillion bytes of data created each day. The better companies and organizations manage and secure this data, the more successful they are likely to be. How do you know if the data you have has the characteristics that qualify it as “big”? Most people determine data is “big” if it has the four Vs—volume, velocity, variety and veracity. But in order for data to be useful to an organization, it must create value—a critical fifth characteristic of big data that can’t be overlooked.

Volume

The first V of big data is all about the amount of data—the volume. Today, every single minute we create the same amount of data that was created from the beginning of time until the year 2000. We now use the terms terabytes and petabytes to discuss the size of data that needs to be processed. The quantity of data is certainly an important aspect of making it be classified as big data. As a result of the amount of data we deal with daily, new technologies and strategies such as multitiered storage media have been developed to securely collect, analyze and store it properly.

Velocity

Velocity, the second V of big data, is all about the speed new data is generated and moves around. When you send a text, check out your social media feed and react to posts on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter or make a credit card purchase, these acts create data that need to be processed instantaneously. Compound these activities by all the people in the world doing the same and more and you can start to see how velocity is a key attribute of big data.

Variety

Today, data is generally one of three types: unstructured, semi-structured and structured. The algorithms required to process the variety of data generated varies based on the type of data to be processed. In the past, data was nicely structured—think Excel spreadsheets or other relational databases. A key characteristic of big data is that it not only is structured data but also includes text, images, videos, voice files and other unstructured data that doesn’t fit easily into the framework of a spreadsheet. Unstructured data isn’t bound by rules like structured data is. Again, this variety has helped put the “big” in data. We are able to use technology to make sense of unstructured data today in a way that wasn’t possible in the past. This ability has opened up a tremendous amount of data that have previously not been accessible or useful.

Veracity

The veracity of big data denotes the trustworthiness of the data. Is the data accurate and high-quality? When talking about big data that comes from a variety of sources, it’s important to understand the chain of custody, metadata and the context when the data was collected to be able to glean accurate insights. The higher the veracity of the data equates to the data’s importance to analyze and contribute to meaningful results for an organization.

Value

While this article is about the 4 Vs of data, there is actually an important fifth element we must consider when it comes to big data. This is the need to turn our data into value. In fact, organizations that have not created a data strategy to yield insights and to drive data-driven decision-making are going to fall behind competitors. Big data that’s analyzed effectively can provide important understanding of customers and their behaviors and desires, how to optimize business processes and operations and to improve a nearly endless amount of applications. Whether you use data to create a new product or service or to understand a way to cut costs, it is incredibly important that big data creates value. This value is why organizations of every size must have a data strategy in place in order to ensure the data needed to achieve the business objectives they adopted are being collected and analyzed.

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Can Your Device Run Apple Intelligence? What You Need To Know

By Banking, Career, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Digitalization, Food for thought, UncategorizedNo Comments

Apple’s announcement of Apple Intelligence has sent waves of excitement through the tech world. This new AI-powered system promises to revolutionize how we interact with our devices, making them smarter, more intuitive and more helpful than ever before. But the burning question on everyone’s mind is: “Will my device be able to run Apple Intelligence?” Let’s dive into the details and find out if you’ll be joining the AI party or if it might be time to consider an upgrade.

The Hardware Requirements: It’s All About The Chips

As with any major software advancement, the ability to run Apple Intelligence comes down to hardware. In this case, it’s all about the chips powering your device. Here’s the lowdown:

iPhones: The A17 Pro Takes The Lead

If you’re an iPhone user, you’ll need the latest and greatest to get the full Apple Intelligence experience. According to Apple, Apple Intelligence will be available on iPhone 16 as well as iPhone 15 Pro models, which are powered by the A17 Pro chip. This powerhouse of a processor packs the necessary punch to handle the complex on-device AI processing that Apple Intelligence requires.

But what if you don’t have the latest Pro model? Don’t worry, you’re not entirely out of luck. While the full suite of Apple Intelligence features may require the A17 Pro, it’s likely that some features will be available on other recent iPhone models. However, Apple hasn’t provided specifics on this yet, so we’ll have to wait for more details.

iPads: M1 And Beyond

For iPad users, the entry point for Apple Intelligence is the M1 chip. This means if you have an iPad Pro from 2021 or later or an iPad Air from 2022 or later, you’re in business. These devices pack serious computing power, making them capable of handling the demands of Apple Intelligence.

Macs: The M-Series Club

When it comes to Macs, if you’ve got an M-series chip, you’re good to go. This includes MacBooks, iMacs and Mac Studios with M1, M2 or M3 chips. The power and efficiency of these chips make them ideal for running Apple Intelligence.

What About Older Devices?

If your device doesn’t meet these requirements, don’t despair just yet. While you may not get the full Apple Intelligence experience, it’s possible that some features will be available on older devices. Apple has a history of bringing some new features to older hardware, even if the most advanced capabilities are reserved for the latest models.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that Siri, Apple’s existing virtual assistant, will continue to work on older devices. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of Apple Intelligence, it will still be there to help with basic tasks.

The Software Side: iOS 18, iPadOS 18 And macOS Sequoia

Hardware is only half the story. To use Apple Intelligence, you’ll also need to be running the latest operating systems: iOS 18 for iPhones, iPadOS 18 for iPads and macOS Sequoia for Macs. These new OS versions are set to be released this fall.

The good news is that Apple has been known for supporting older devices with new software updates for several years. So even if your device is a few years old, you may still be able to update to the latest OS and get at least some Apple Intelligence features.

A Phased Rollout: Patience Is A Virtue

It’s important to note that Apple is planning a phased rollout for Apple Intelligence. While some features will be available immediately with the release of the new operating systems, others will be rolled out over the course of the following year.

Initially, Apple Intelligence will be available in U.S. English, with support for additional languages and regions coming later. So, if you’re not in the U.S. or prefer a different language, you might need to wait a bit longer to experience all that Apple Intelligence has to offer.

The Cloud Factor: Private Cloud Compute

One interesting aspect of Apple Intelligence is its use of “Private Cloud Compute” for more complex tasks. This system allows devices to tap into more powerful server-based models when needed while still maintaining strong privacy protections.

The good news is that this could potentially extend some Apple Intelligence capabilities to older devices. Even if your device isn’t powerful enough to handle all the processing locally, it might be able to use Private Cloud Compute to access some features.

What If Your Device Isn’t Compatible?

If your current device isn’t compatible with Apple Intelligence, you have a few options:

  1. Wait and see: Apple may bring some features to older devices in future updates.
  2. Upgrade your device: If you’re due for an upgrade anyway, this could be a good reason to take the plunge.
  3. Use alternative AI tools: There are many third-party AI apps available that can provide similar functionality, although they may not be as deeply integrated into your Apple ecosystem.

The Bigger Picture: The Future of Apple Devices

Apple Intelligence represents a significant shift in how our devices operate. It’s clear that AI is becoming an integral part of Apple’s ecosystem, not just an add-on feature. This suggests that future Apple devices will likely be designed with AI capabilities in mind from the ground up.

If you’re in the market for a new Apple device, it might be worth considering one that’s compatible with Apple Intelligence. Not only will you be able to enjoy these new features now, but you’ll also be better positioned for future AI advancements.

The Verdict: A New Era, But Not For Everyone (Yet)

Apple Intelligence is ushering in an exciting new era of personal computing, but it’s clear that not everyone will be able to join in right away. If you have the latest Pro iPhone, a recent iPad,or a Mac with an M-series chip, you’re all set to experience the full power of Apple Intelligence.

For everyone else, it’s a bit of a waiting game. Some features may trickle down to older devices, and the phased rollout means that even compatible devices won’t get all features right away.

But don’t let that dampen your enthusiasm. Apple Intelligence represents the direction that personal computing is heading, and it’s only a matter of time before these kinds of AI capabilities become standard across all devices.

So, whether you’re gearing up to dive into Apple Intelligence this fall or planning your future upgrade, one thing is clear: the future of our devices is intelligent. The question isn’t if you’ll be using AI like this, but when. And for many Apple users, that “when” is just around the corner.

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