Business Tech Roundup: Here’s When The First Apple Intelligence Features Will Arrive On The IPhone

Here are five things in tech that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?

1 – Apple Intelligence release date leaked — here’s when the first AI features are set to arrive on your phone.

October 28, 2024, is the official release date for Apple Intelligence – Apple’s new AI feature set. The initial release on iOS 18.1 will include features like Writing Tools, Smart Replies, Notification Summaries, and a redesigned Siri. These features will be available on the iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Pro models. Additional features like ChatGPT integration and Image Playground will roll out early next year. (Source: TechRadar)

Why this is important for your business:

Apple has this strange strategy that differs significantly from Microsoft and Google. The company releases products when they actually work. How innovative. Rather than dumping lousy AI tech on its users to test – like some other tech giants do – Apple has delayed their release of Apple Intelligence at least twice. And you know what? If they want to delay the October 28 release date again until they get it right people will understand – and appreciate.

2 – Zendesk enhances its service solution to strengthen human and AI partnership.

Customer service platform Zendesk is enhancing its service solution by deepening the collaboration between human agents and AI. Zendesk introduces new tools that integrate advanced AI capabilities into customer service workflows, aiming to improve efficiency and personalization. According to the company’s press release, these innovations include smarter AI-driven bots and automation features to assist agents in providing faster and more accurate responses. “AI is now bridging the gap between high quality service, at a lower cost,” said Zendesk CEO Tom Eggemeier. (Source: PR Newswire)

Why this is important for your business:

I’m a big fan of Zendesk for customer service, particularly because it has a strong presence in the SMB market with a very feature-rich, yet affordable platform. I’m betting that these AI enhancements are just the start of many. If your company is service oriented this is a good platform to consider. It also integrates with many CRM and accounting applications.

3 – Sam’s Club to open location without checkout stations.

Sam’s Club is testing a new store concept that eliminates traditional checkouts, requiring customers to use its “Scan & Go” technology. Shoppers scan items with their mobile devices while shopping and pay digitally, without needing to interact with cashiers or use self-checkout stations. The concept is being trialed at a new location beginning next week in Grapevine, Texas. (Source: Retail Dive)

Why this is important for your business:

The company says that “this model aims to streamline the shopping experience and speed up transactions.” And I’m sure it does. But does anyone deny that it will also help cut employees? If Sam’s Club succeeds, this will be a huge help in getting work done while keeping headcount low. And many other retailers will soon be following.

4 – 71% of merchants expect software to replace traditional point-of-sale terminals.

Related to the above according to a recent report published by PYMNTs, 71 percent of merchants expect software-based solutions (SoftPOS) to replace traditional point-of-sale (POS) terminals. SoftPOS allows merchants to accept payments using smartphones or tablets, eliminating the need for expensive hardware. This shift is driven by the rise in contactless payments and the cost-effectiveness of SoftPOS compared to traditional systems. By 2027, the number of merchants using SoftPOS is expected to increase by 475 percent transforming the retail landscape. (Source: Pymnts)

Why this is important for your business:

Again….hello AI. Bye-bye people.

5 – OpenAI says its ChatGPT 4.0 Canvas will change how you use AI chatbots.

OpenAI has introduced a new feature called Canvas. Designed to enhance productivity, Canvas provides a dedicated workspace for creating, editing, and managing documents and code. Canvas integrates a word processor with ChatGPT’s AI assistance, eliminating the need to switch between different tools and offering users smoother workflow. According to the company, Canvas opens in a separate window and will open automatically “when ChatGPT detects a scenario in which it could be helpful.” (Source: Business Today)

Why this is important for your business:

Businesses can use Canvas to brainstorm and visually map out marketing campaigns. Product teams can leverage Canvas for collaborative product development to sketch out prototypes, organize research, and plan product features, all while integrating AI suggestions. Business analysts can use OpenAI Canvas to visualize and present data insights more effectively. For example, sales trends, customer behavior, or financial performance can be mapped out using AI-generated charts and visuals. How do I know all this? I just asked ChatGPT. Cheating!