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I’ve got an unusual one today: The first-ever Miss AI has been crowned. Kenza Layli is an AI-powered influencer created by a Moroccan marketing agency. She just won the title at the World AI Creator Awards (WAICA), beating out more than 1,500 virtual models in this groundbreaking virtual beauty pageant. Kenza Layli is a digital persona with more than 200,000 Instagram followers. She promotes women's empowerment and environmental conservation, and also showcases Morocco's culture and cutting-edge technology. Her content is available in seven languages and has captured the attention of a global audience. The Miss AI competition judged participants on aesthetics, online influence, and technical proficiency. Kenza's victory not only earned her creators $5,000 (around £3,850) and PR services but also highlighted the transformative potential of AI in marketing and branding. So why does this matter to you? The rise of AI influencers like Kenza Layli represents a significant shift in how businesses can engage with their audiences. AI models work 24/7, have tailored engagement and can adapt quickly to trends, making them powerful tools for marketing and customer interaction. As AI technology advances, do you think we’ll see the lines between human and AI influencers blur even more? Kenza's win sets a new precedent and showcases the possibilities of AI in creating compelling, influential digital personas. Would you ever leverage AI influencers for your business? 

How many times have you mispronounced someone’s name in a Microsoft Teams meeting? It happens to the best of us and can be quite embarrassing. Microsoft has a new feature that could save us all from those awkward moments: Real-time name mispronunciation detection in Teams. This innovative technology, described in a recent patent, automatically detects when you mispronounce a colleague's name and notifies you instantly. It works smoothly during online meetings by listening carefully and comparing the names spoken with the reference pronunciation. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Here’s how it works: Before the meeting begins, it gathers the names of all participants and creates a custom language model. During the meeting, if a name is mispronounced, the system compares the audio to the correct pronunciation and gives you a pronunciation score. If your score is low, indicating a wrong pronunciation, you'll get a notification to help you correct it. Plus, you can practice saying the name until you get it right, making future interactions smoother and more respectful. This feature adapts to the nuances of human speech and cultural name variations, showcasing advancements in speech recognition and machine learning. It’s a perfect example of how technology can bring us closer together by making sure everyone feels seen and respected. We don’t have a date for the rollout of this one yet, but of course we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, if you need a hand getting started with Teams, we can help - get in touch.

I’ve got some news about Windows 11. Some people have noticed some stuttering and sluggishness in the interface, especially with Task View previews and Quick Settings. These are minor issues, but they can still disrupt your workflow. Microsoft has listened and is rolling out fixes later this year. If you're still using Windows 10, it's a great time to consider upgrading to 11. Minor bugs aside, the new operating system is designed to be faster and more efficient. It looks better, too. Windows 11 has new features that aren't available in 10. These include; * Virtual desktops for better multitasking * Improved snap layouts for organising your windows * Seamless integration with Microsoft Teams. Windows 11 has advanced security features to protect your business data from cyber threats. Future-proofing your business tech is another important reason to upgrade. By moving to Windows 11, you're making sure your systems are up-to-date with the latest technology and preparing for future updates and improvements. Switching your business to Windows 11 is straightforward but if you’d like to make the move with minimal disruption, let my team help. Get in touch.

Ever called a company and had to deal with an AI assistant? If you don't love it, you’re not on your own. A recent survey found that 64% of customers would rather not deal with AI in customer service, and 53% would switch to a competitor that didn’t use AI. Are you guilty of using AI assistants for your customers? While AI can bring countless benefits like faster responses and cost savings, it's clear that customers are not fully on board yet. Many worry that AI will make it harder to reach a real person, which is a big deal for those needing personalised help. They also worry about AI giving wrong information and handling their data securely. So, what's the takeaway? AI can definitely help your business, but it’s all about balance. Make sure your AI systems are designed to assist, not frustrate. For instance, AI chatbots should clearly tell customers they can be connected to a human if needed. This builds trust and ensures a smooth experience. AI bots can efficiently handle routine queries, freeing your human agents for more complex issues. This is great for productivity. But remember, customers still value the personal touch. Incorporate AI thoughtfully, and let your customers know they're always just a step away from speaking to a real person. This way, you can enjoy the best of both worlds – efficient service and happy customers. If you’re not quite ready for AI customer service yet, there are many other ways you can adopt AI in your business to speed up processes and boost productivity, all without annoying your customers. Can we help you explore this? Get in touch.

There's yet another scam going around on Facebook. This one’s targeting people with fake Windows desktop themes. These ads look legit but they hide some nasty malware (malicious software) that can steal your passwords and other sensitive info. Cybercriminals are using Facebook business pages and ads to promote these fake themes. They're not just stopping at themes either – they're also pushing downloads for pirated games, software like Photoshop, and even AI tools. When you click on these ads, they take you to what looks like a real download page. But instead of the software you wanted, you get a zip file full of malware. The ads come from both new and hijacked Facebook pages, sometimes with thousands of ads for each campaign. Names like "blue-softs," "xtaskbar-themes," and "awesome-themes-desktop" are common. These pages are often run by people in Vietnam or the Philippines and they're really good at making their ads look trustworthy. If you think you might have fallen for one of these scams, don't panic. Here’s what you should do: Disconnect from the internet to prevent further data theft. Run a full system scan with a reliable antivirus program to detect and remove the malware. Change your passwords immediately, especially for sensitive accounts like email, banking, and, of course, Facebook. Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts where it’s available. This adds an extra layer of security. Alternatively, get in touch and we can help. And to avoid falling victim in the future, always be cautious about downloading anything from ads or sources you're not familiar with. Stick to official websites and trusted sources. Have you seen these ads doing the rounds?

Imagine hearing The Wizard of Oz narrated by Judy Garland herself. Thanks to a newly launched Reader App by ElevenLabs, you can now have AI versions of legendary voices read to you. ElevenLabs has teamed up with the estates of iconic celebrities like Judy Garland, Burt Reynolds, and James Dean to create scarily realistic AI voice clones. These voices are available on their Reader App, allowing you to listen to any digital text, including articles, PDFs, and e-books, narrated by these Hollywood legends. Judy Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli, is thrilled about this, saying, "It's exciting to see our mother's voice available to the countless millions of people who love her." This new technology not only preserves these incredible voices but also introduces them to new audiences. Imagine how engaging and entertaining business reports, training materials, or even your favourite industry news could be with these narrations. It’s a great way to keep your team motivated and make the most mundane tasks a bit more enjoyable. I think this is a really fun idea. Whose voice would you choose to narrate your next business report? 

Today marks a huge milestone in tech history. On this day back in 1968, Intel was founded in Santa Clara, California by Robert Noyce, Andy Grove, and Gordon Moore. It’s fair to say their vision and innovation have shaped the tech world as we know it. Did you know, Intel's journey began with the creation of the 4004, the first microprocessor, released in 1971 for use in calculators? But the real game-changer came when IBM chose Intel’s 8088 processor for their IBM PC. This was a decision that catapulted Intel to the front of microprocessor manufacturing. Intel's innovations have powered countless businesses, helping us to be more efficient, productive, and connected. From the early days of simple calculators to today’s advanced computing solutions, Intel has been at the heart of technological progress. Let’s raise a toast to Intel’s incredible journey and the groundbreaking advancements they’ve brought to the world of business and beyond. Happy birthday Intel!

Microsoft is adding some new features to Notepad on Windows 11: Spellcheck and autocorrect. What’s your take on this one? Not everyone’s a fan… If you use Notepad regularly, you might notice some words underlined in red, just like in Microsoft Word. This means Notepad is highlighting spelling errors. There’s also a menu that pops up with options to correct the misspelled words or add new words to the dictionary. This can be really useful for catching typos and making sure your notes are error-free. Microsoft started testing these features back in March. And after a few months, they’re now quietly being added to everyone's Notepad on Windows 11. While some people feel that these new features might make Notepad a bit bloated, others welcome them (especially since WordPad is no longer around). Notepad has always been known as a simple, lightweight text editor. Some, especially those who use it for coding, may not need these new abilities. But for others having spellcheck and autocorrect can be helpful, making it easier to write and edit text without mistakes. This isn't the first time Microsoft’s changed Notepad. Since Windows 11 launched, they've added features like a dark mode, making it more user-friendly. While there are concerns about adding too many features and slowing it down, these updates aim to make Notepad more versatile. Is it a welcome update for you, or do you think Notepad is perfect the way it is?

Nearly 10 BILLION passwords have been leaked in one of the largest data breaches ever. A file called RockYou2024.txt, was posted online and contains an enormous 9,948,575,739 unique passwords. This new leak combines passwords from old and recent hacks, adding 1.5 billion more passwords than the last big leak, RockYou2021. It means that cyber criminals now have almost 10 billion passwords to try and break into accounts using methods like brute force attacks and credential stuffing. What are brute force attacks? Cyber criminals use software to automatically try every possible password combination until they get it right. For example, a simple password like "1234" can be cracked in seconds. Credential stuffing is another technique where cyber criminals use usernames and passwords from leaked data and try them on other websites, hoping to get into poorly secured accounts. To protect your business it's crucial to use strong, unique passwords for each of your online accounts. This makes it harder for anyone to break in. Consider using a password manager; these tools can create and store strong passwords for you, keeping them safe and secure. Additionally, use multi factor authentication where you prove its you with a code from another device. If you’re concerned about your details being leaked, or you want to make your business more secure, my team can help - get in touch.