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Here are five business technology news events that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
This week in business technology news
Business Tech News #1 – OpenAI robot secret plans revealed.
OpenAI is refocusing its efforts to develop robotics technology. The company revealed its renewed interest in creating humanoid robots designed to performing automated tasks in warehouses and assisting with household chores, among other “multi-skilled” functions. According to the company, their new robotics team will focus on “unlocking general-purpose robotics and fostering AGI-level intelligence in dynamic, real-world environments.” OpenAI’s old robotics department was suspended in 2021, but they have maintained an active interest by investing in companies like Figure AI Inc. and 1X, which are already developing humanoid robots. Further details about the team can be found here. (Source: The AI REPORT)
Why it matters to your business:
Is this a surprise? Not for me. OpenAI is not going to stop at just generative AI chatbots. Its technology can be applied to many use cases, from office automation to autonomous vehicles and yes… robots. My prediction is that over the next decade, many products will be powered by OpenAI technology without us even knowing it – or caring, as long as they work.
Business Tech News #2 – The 10 Best Laptops of CES 2025
Technology journalist Matthew Smith reported on the laptops showcased at this year’s CES 2025, the premier event where the latest gadgets and innovations from tech companies around the world are on display. A few of the laptops on PCWorld’s top 10 list include the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, which features a rollable OLED display that extends from 14 inches to 16.7 inches. Razer Blade 16 – a powerful gaming laptop with bold design changes. Asus Zenbook A14 – the world’s lightest Copilot+ PC, weighing just under 2.2 pounds and Smith’s “overall pick.” Visit the link to see the rest. (Source: PC World)
Why it matters to your business:
I’ve bookmarked this article as I continue the search for a new laptop. But keep in mind that these are the latest and greatest technologies. Which means most are expensive and some aren’t even available yet. But they are all a good indication of what is to come. Lenovo’s “rollable” feature has received the most attention from the public and critics, and any opportunity to reduce the cost of hardware (fewer monitors needed) should be of interest to businesses.
Business Tech News #3 – Why a Tech Journalist Uses Both ChatGPT Plus and Perplexity Pro.
Danny Maiorca of MakeUseOf makes the case for using both ChatGPT Plus and Perplexity Pro, since users generally choose one or the other. His general assessment is that ChatGPT has a wider range of features while Perplexity Pro shines in the “niche areas”. Maiorca uses ChatGPT Plus for things like organizing abstract ideas, project planning, and conversations. Perplexity Pro is used for its deep searches because the tool is very effective in finding resources based on deep queries. It also leverages large datasets and offers citation support, making it ideal for academic research. “I think the best approach is to use both… My subscriptions pay for themselves every month,” Maiorca concludes. (Source: Make use of)
Why it matters to your business:
I do the same! Perplexity is my research tool when writing articles. ChatGPT is my daily tool to answer questions and help me with my professional and personal decisions. I have subscriptions for both, as both have become important tools to help me manage my business and my life. I’m starting to think that no single chatbot tool can do it all and that there will be a number that specialize in certain topics or functions.
Business Tech News #4 – AI search expert predicts what the future of search will look like.
AJ Ghergich – AI research expert and global vice president at Botify – shared in an interview the evolving trends he anticipates with search tools in 2025. Search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity are changing the way we search for information, making it more conversational rather than keyword-based. Ghergich predicts that ads will soon be integrated into AI search engines, as they are the main source of revenue for free services. AI systems will become highly personalized, making ads less intrusive and more relevant to users. AI agents will increasingly interact with each other across the web, reducing the need for human intervention in searches. “In the future, the majority of researchers will be AI, not humans. We will cross this threshold and the way we communicate will have to change,” Gherich said. (Source: TechRadar)
Why it matters to your business:
I agree with Ghergich’s predictions. SEO will be – and is already – significantly disrupted in the coming years. For a long time, Google had a monopoly on advertising. But new AI chatbot platforms provide answers – not just links to answers – and will use the best content available to make their responses as accurate as possible. How will they integrate ads into this new and better content delivery? Ghergich’s ideas seem logical.
Business Tech News #5 – Microsoft Teams wants to use Copilot to continue your meetings, whether you like it or not.
Copilot takes a more autonomous role in Microsoft Teams meetings. AI will soon offer follow-up questions during meetings. When users respond to a prompt, Copilot also suggests team members “continue the conversation,” whether that’s the intended choice or not. This feature was discovered in an article titled “Copilot in Meetings will suggest follow-up questions to ask it.” » According to reports, Microsoft plans to roll out this feature in March. (Source : TechRadar)
Why it matters to your business:
This feature seems to be annoying and generally ignored. Don’t people want meetings and conversations to be shorter, not longer? Hey, what do I know? Anyway, I’ll check it out once it’s available and report back.
Every Sunday, I round up five business technology news stories and offer thoughts on why they would impact your business.