Advancements in technology, from online shopping to streaming media to digital payments apps, have tried to make life a little more convenient for consumers. And Microsoft’s Purna Virji, Senior Manager of Global Engagement, says that image recognition and artificial intelligence are the latest tech trends pushing this effort forward.
Virji told Cheddar that more sophisticated image search software helps people discover businesses. For instance, she says that the company’s Bing search engine can now identify items in specific pictures.
“So if I looked at Angelina Jolie carrying a beautiful handbag, I can zoom in on the handbag and be like ‘I wonder where I can buy it,’” she said.
Companies such as Snapchat, Pinterest, and Facebook have incorporated similar technologies.
Another trend making waves, especially in Asia, is A.I. Virji notes that some in the West, notably Tesla CEO Elon Musk, have expressed concerns about the rise of artificial intelligence. But countries in Asia have been using the technology for years.
One benefit she sees is the ability to analyze customer relationship trends. Virji points to Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands as one company doing just that.
“When people order online, and they’re going to go pick up in store, they realized that adding an e-ticket … made the experience much better for people,” Virji said.
For the full interview [click here] (https://cheddar.com/videos/microsofts-purna-virji-talks-techs-impact-on-business).
Skift airline reporter Meghna Maharishi breaks down how the government shutdown is hitting air traffic control—and what it means for travelers and flight safety
Aya Kantorovich, Co-CEO of August Digital, breaks down Bitcoin’s surge, crypto ETFs, institutional investment trends, and the future of safer crypto access.
Most members of the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate setting committee supported further reductions to its key interest rate this year, minutes from last month’s meeting showed.
Sinead O’Sullivan breaks down Taylor Swift’s genius marketing for The Life of a Showgirl, which just set the record for most albums sold in a single week.
Markets are emerging from a turbulent Q3. Horizon’s Mike Dickson shares insights on interest rates, small caps, and where investors should look in Q4 and beyond
Bambu Ventures's Kyle Pretsch dives into Lemonaid’s $10M buyout, down from 23andMe’s $400M price tag, and what’s next after Chrome Co.’s dramatic pivot.
Former Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers learned all about technology’s volatile highs and lows as a veteran of the internet’s early boom days during the late 1990s and the ensuing meltdown that followed the mania. And now he is seeing potential signs of the cycle repeating with another transformative technology in artificial intelligence. Chambers is trying take some of the lessons he learned while riding a wave that turned Cisco into the world's most valuable company in 2000 before a crash hammered its stock price and apply them as an investor in AI startups. He recently discussed AI's promise and perils during an interview with The Associated Press.
