Newsletter: Signs of the Tech Revolution #26
Today, we're looking at the biggest changes happening in tech right now. The stories we've gathered show how AI is shaking up the business world and how top security experts are gaining more say in big companies.
While AI is making huge waves in the stock market, we're still waiting to see if it really makes work better and faster. At the same time, big changes are happening quietly - digital money is taking off in growing markets, and Asia is quickly moving away from cash.
What's really interesting is the split between what tech bosses want and what their teams think is possible. Tech leaders are excited about AI tools, but the people who need to make them work have some serious doubts.
Ready to learn more? Let's get started.
News #1: AI market booms, but where's the economic magic
AI's impact on the stock market has been dramatic, but its effect on real economic productivity remains uncertain. Three potential scenarios emerge:
- optimistic, where AI drives widespread prosperity,
- pessimistic, when AI proves less revolutionary than hoped,
- or dystopian, where AI benefits only a small elite.
The economic impact likely lies between extremes, with sector-specific benefits and varying worker outcomes. While AI adoption is happening faster than previous tech revolutions, productivity gains are still modest at 1.86% annually. Early case studies show promise - programmers work 56% faster with GitHub Copilot and customer service efficiency improved by 14% with AI assistance.
News #2: Stablecoins find their path in emerging markets
Stablecoins are transforming global payments, especially in emerging markets where traditional banking falls short. SpaceX's adoption of stablecoins showcases their practical value.
The $205 billion market is seeing rapid growth, with companies like Yellow Card doubling transaction volumes to $3B in 2024. One of the biggest benefits is near-instant cross-border payments at minimal cost ($0.01 vs $12.13 for traditional methods).
While concerns about monetary policy impact still exist, stablecoins are becoming essential financial infrastructure, particularly in regions with unreliable banking systems.
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News #3: Tech spending gap widens between US and Europe
A stark investment gap exists between US and European companies in IT spending. Large US firms invest 1.45% of sales in technology versus 1.29% for European counterparts.
It doesn’t seem like much, but the divide is even wider among smaller businesses - US mid-sized companies spend 3.04% versus Europe's 2.07%.
While 69% of global executives believe increased IT investment is crucial for competitiveness, only 64% of European leaders share this concern, compared to 84% in the US. Despite new regulations like DORA and NIS2 requiring cyber investments, Europe's lower spending and recruitment challenges threaten its global competitiveness.
News #4: AI agents divide tech leaders and IT teams
A significant divide exists between IT leadership and practitioners regarding AI agents. While 53% of tech executives believe AI agents will be core to business operations within two years, only 29% of IT staff share this optimism.
The gap stems from practitioners' hands-on experience with deployment challenges, including integration complexities and security concerns. Recent examples, like Pull Logic's AI hallucinating product data, highlight real implementation risks.
Most experts recommend a phased, problem-first approach rather than top-down implementation, with a focus on small, high-impact projects and regular feedback from IT teams.
Other News
- Deepseek's hidden security nightmare - Read more
- EU draws lines for workplace AI control - Read more
- IBM's AI mainframe arrives this summer - Read more
- How Oracle transforms HR with AI assistants - Read more
- Altman admits OpenAI's open source missteps - Read more
- Lawmakers target ai-generated child abuse content - Read more
- Another cheap ($50) AI model challenges OpenAI supremacy - Read more
- CISOs gain more corporate power, with 8 out of 10 reporting directly to CEOs - Read more
- Share of cash transactions in Asia expected to drop from 47% in 2019 to 14% by 2027 - Read more
- Global coalition published an open letter calling on the AI industry and regulators to mitigate the tech’s harmful environmental impacts - Read more
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