Month: February 2024

New generative AI chatbot will help SMBs to create invoices, pay bills, project cash flow and more.

Xero has announced plans to use AI to help transform accounting for small businesses by removing some of the barriers and making it easier for less savvy business owners to nail their figures.

Central to the announcement is ‘Just Ask Xero’ (JAX), which unsurprisingly uses generative AI to help both business owners and their advisors when it comes to completing accounting tasks.

In order to extend the reach of its AI, Xero has announced plans to use conversational interfaces across the likes of mobile, email and WhatsApp.

Xero hopes AI will empower SMBs to do their accounting

The company’s platform aims to automate some of the more repetitive accounting tasks, helping to improve efficiency and give business owners some time back to spend where it matters.

Speaking about previous revolutions to SMB accounting – specifically cloud accounting and automation – Xero CPO Diya Jolly reckons that generative AI is the next big thing: “We’re embracing this new wave of tech innovation responsibly, with our customers at the heart of what we do, as we deliver on our vision to be the most trusted and insightful small business platform.”

Like other tools that we have become familiar with, Xero’s JAX is set to have a conversational interface with natural language processing. Some key areas where it could help include generating invoices, editing quotes, and paying bills. 

Because of contextuality, JAX also promises to deliver personalized insights such as cash flow projections.

To coincide with the news, Xero has appointed an SVP for Data & Science (Eitan Sharon) and an SVP for Product – Direct, Growth, and AI products (Akankshu Dhawan).

The promising recruitment news, which comes during a storm of redundancies across the tech industry, hopefully underscores Xero’s commitment to supporting both its own people and customers amid an AI revolution.

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Arm and Samsung join forces to deliver the next generation Arm Cortex-X CPU and beyond.

We’ve heard for quite a few years now that Arm might be planning to build its own chips, and it looks as if things might be moving a step closer to that happening.

Samsung has announced a new strategic collaboration with Arm to deliver the next generation Arm Cortex-X CPU, optimized on Samsung Foundry’s latest Gate-All-Around (GAA) process technology. 

This partnership is expected to pave the way for a series of innovations between the two tech giants, with ambitious plans to reinvent 2-nanometer (nm) GAA for next-generation data center and infrastructure custom silicon. 

Pushing boundaries

The collaboration also aims to develop a groundbreaking AI chiplet solution, set to potentially revolutionize the future generative AI mobile computing market. The mutual goal is to redefine the possibilities in mobile computing and meet the relentless performance and efficiency demands of the AI era – and also represents a significant step in the direction of Arm potentially starting to build its own chips. 

The partnership for now is focusing on the optimization of Arm’s Cortex-A and Cortex-X general-purpose CPU cores for Samsung’s next-generation 2nm-class process technology. The collaboration is expected to result in a wide range of applications, including next-generation data center and infrastructure custom silicon, smartphones, and various chiplet-based solutions. 

As Tom’s Hardware points out, this underscores the importance of design collaboration between IP developers and foundries in maximizing performance and minimizing power consumption of circuits. 

As a result of the joint work, customers of the two companies will be able to license Samsung 2nm-optimized versions of Cortex-A or Cortex-X cores, simplifying the development process and speeding up time-to-market. However, Arm and Samsung have yet to reveal when the first results of their collaboration will be available for their customers.

 “Our longstanding collaboration with Samsung has delivered multi-generation, leading-edge innovation,” said Chris Bergey, SVP and GM, Client Business at Arm Inc. “Optimizing Cortex-X and Cortex-A processors on the latest Samsung process node underscores our shared vision to redefine what’s possible in mobile computing, and we look forward to continuing to push boundaries to meet the relentless performance and efficiency demands of the AI era.”

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Changes CX AI will bring to customer satisfaction will be nothing short of game changing.

Whilst the world of Customer Experience (CX) has gone through exponential transformation due to technological advancements, the changes CX AI will bring to overall customer satisfaction will be nothing short of game changing for organizations.

The days of consumers having to repeat themselves and share the same information again and again will be behind us. Instead, instantaneous information, smart self-service and prepared agents will be there to quickly and effortlessly resolve requests.

And siloes, the scourge of business organizations, will be broken down, creating an experience continuum for the consumer – wherever they land, whatever team they speak to and whatever their inquiry, their needs will be met.

The good news is that CX AI adoption is growing rapidly and businesses are investing in technological advances to improve efficiencies and customer satisfaction. Automated digitized transactions will likely rise as more organizations consider this booming technology a must-have, meaning consumers will benefit sooner than expected.

A new definition of AI assistance

But what does this mean for the consumer? Imagine a highly personalized single point of contact for all inquiries, serving as an ‘AI Butler’ capable of dealing with multiple requests across not only different platforms, but also different businesses with whom they need to communicate.

This seamless experience will break down the friction of disjointed interactions, and allow customers to schedule a car appointment, swap out their latest clothes purchase for a different size and inquire about an insurance issue during one continuous, interconnected interaction.

With the demand for frictionless experiences increasing, this is the next level of customer experience and one of which both contact center workers and AI will be a vital part.

Smooth sailing across all interactions

The concept of the AI Butler stems from the ‘Experience Continuum’, where consumer interactions are fluid across multiple channels – for example, an online bot engagement could switch to a voice call, and the agent wouldn’t lose track of the consumer’s previous conversation. In this framework, contact center staff and AI work in harmony.

The current state of play

Although every interaction is unique – driven by different intents, relationships and expectations – they are also intrinsically connected when we understand the consumer. Currently, organizations are left with the responsibility of decoding each one – creating inefficiencies and economic costs in time and effort.

The consumer defines every interaction, and it’s the business’s job to determine what’s needed behind the scenes at each stage depending on whether or not the communication is synchronous (the conversation is live and both parties are present) or asynchronous (a consumer can send an email or chat message when the agent is offline, and wait for a response once they’re back online).

Customer service platforms need to be designed to handle complex communication, supporting businesses to turn a mediocre, or worse, bad experience into a great one. And in the future, this platform will evolve into a service specifically and uniquely for the consumer – a hyper personalised experience.

Making contact center roles more important than ever

The Experience Continuum and AI Butler eliminate the need to navigate fragmented systems, making it a simpler, more seamless experience for all involved. That means better experiences for contact center workers too.

An AI-powered unified cloud platform simplifies agents’ increasingly complex work, as well as supports and trains them to free up time and foster deeper connections with consumers. And because AI best handles low complexity, high-frequency tasks, it frees up employees’ time to take on more intricate cases.

For agents that can mean more job satisfaction, happier end customers and an overall increase in work-life balance. AI will provide more freedom not only in how they work but also where and when they work.

According to Omdia, 45% of agents work hybrid, with an even higher percentage (78%) reporting that they require flexible scheduling – having the choice of how one works is key. Having access to a platform that allows agents to work whenever they want, wherever they are gives employees autonomy, increases job satisfaction, and ultimately, leads to a happier business that is economically more efficient.

Multiple benefits across multiple channels… and multiple businesses

AI is transforming the world, and customer service is at the forefront of its evolution. The benefits of its use in customer experience are numerous: for consumers, it’s enhancing their journey by handling multiple requests across different platforms and businesses all at once.

For agents, the technology is empowering them by allowing them to take on human-centric roles and work symbiotically with AI – whether it’s being given the tasks best suited for people to handle, or accurately scheduling and forecasting for an optimal customer service experience.

And when it comes to businesses, the advantage is clear: managing all interactions in one place relieves them of the burden of system integration, accelerates innovation and fuels more powerful AI capabilities that are impossible in siloes, leading to greater productivity and profitability.

AI-focused platforms offer a seamless, omnichannel experience, and, one day, will power a one-stop-shop for consumers not only across multiple channels but multiple businesses. It’s also creating an enhanced workforce upskilled by the technology to excel in specialised roles. The future of CX is here. The question is: is your business ready and equipped to embrace it?

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro’s Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

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Let’s secure you a shiny new camera with our guide on where to buy the Fujifilm X100VI – including the latest shipping estimates.

Trying to get a hold of a Fujifilm X100VI? You’re not alone. This much-hyped compact fixed-lens camera is shaping up to be the most successful launch of 2024 right now, with demand massively outstripping supply.

It’s not a huge surprise, given the popularity of its predecessor, but most stores are currently fulfilling orders for the Fujifilm X100VI on a first-come, first-serve basis. That means if you order today, you may be able to secure yourself a relatively favorable position in line. We’ve outlined the best retailers just below, and we’re also aiming to update this page with the latest news regarding estimated shipping dates. We’ve also added some advice for those weighing up an order right now, including some suggestions for alternative models.

If you were lucky to snag yourself a Fujifilm preorder last week, then you may or may not have already gotten your delivery estimate. If you haven’t received a tracking code, then don’t worry – most people who ordered last week still haven’t received their tracking codes. Even those who were quick off the mark on day one of Fujifilm X100VI preorders haven’t received their cameras yet. 

The Fujifilm X100VI retails for $1,599 / £1,599 at all retailers right now, which we don’t expect will change for a long, long time due to this camera’s popularity. If you’re interested in a full run-down of the camera, check out our hands-on Fujifilm X100VI review for more details.

Where to buy the Fujifilm X100VI

If I buy today, how long will I be waiting?

As of writing, the only retailer from the above list that’s posted an expected delivery date is Adorama, which is quoting 06/01/2024 as the estimate (that’s July 1st for our friends in the UK). We’ve also spotted anecdotal estimates of anywhere between March and May in some cases on Reddit – although this is specifically for people who preordered a camera last week. 

Overall, concrete details for delivery estimates are very thin on the ground right now. Based on what I’ve read, it seems likely that you’ll be waiting at least four months for a camera if you order it today – but that’s just a rough estimate. Really, it depends on how many cameras Fuji can produce and whether people get tired of waiting.

According to reports in Japan, Fujifilm has significantly upped the production for the X100VI to 15,000 units per month – which is likely due to the camera now being manufactured in China. Still, this camera is proving incredibly popular right now, with 500,000 people registering their interest to preorder in China alone.

While details are annoyingly sparse, what we do know right now is that retailers are fulfilling orders on a first-come-first-serve basis, so it’s probably a good idea to commit to an order even if there are no delivery details right now. Some retailers will not charge your card until orders are dispatched, but you’ll want to carefully check on a case-by-case basis for specific preorder policy here.

Be aware: X100VI scalpers are active

(Image credit: Ebay)

Pro tip: I’ll tell you where not to buy the X100VI – over on eBay. As expected, unscrupulous sellers are now posting their X100VI preorders on the auction site for absolutely exorbitant sums of up to $5,000 in some extreme cases. You don’t need us to tell you that the X100VI isn’t worth anywhere near this crazy amount, so definitely don’t fall for the trap.

If you have $5,000 to spend on a camera, then there are plenty of other options right now – including some of the best compact cameras money can buy (hint: Leica Q3). You can also buy some superb Fujifilm cameras with up-to-date features and a gorgeous lens for much, much less – which we’ve covered just below.

Fujifilm X100VI: buying advice

What else can you do? Here’s our advice

(Image credit: Fujifilm)

1. Call around at local retailers

Here’s a tried and true tip that we’ve used to find stock on other in-demand tech over the years, like PS5 stock and graphics cards when they were hard to get. Often, local retailers have lower demand than the big online stores, and sometimes, just sometimes, they can be a good option for either snagging a device or getting a favorable preorder placement. Likewise, this tip also works for bigger retailers that have local branches like Best Buy – it never hurts to call around or send a few emails.

2. Check out Fuji’s other cameras

I know you really, really want that X100VI, but there are other great Fuji cameras that are definitely worth checking out also. You may have heard of the X100VI through word of mouth or social media, but remember – it’s not the only Fuji camera that features those superb straight-out-of-the-camera JPEGs.

You could, for example, opt for something like Fujifilm X-T5. This flagship interchangeable lens body features many of the same bones as the X100VI under the hood – like the 40.2MP APS-C sensor, image stabilization, and the latest subject-tracking autofocus. The downside? It’s a little pricey at $1,699 / £1,449 – and you’ll obviously have to buy your desired lens separately. It also doesn’t have the fancy hybrid optical viewfinder that’s unique to the X100 series, so you’ll arguably not get that same old-school feel. Image-wise, however, the cameras are identical, and we’re big fans of the X-T5 at TechRadar (see our Fujifilm X-T5 review for more details). 

Another possible contender is the rumored Fujifilm X-Pro 4. This one is an outside chance – namely because this rangefinder-style camera hasn’t even been announced yet – but there is potential that it’s in the pipeline. Outside of the X100 range, the X-Pro series is the most retro-styled from Fuji, with a hybrid optical viewfinder and classic control layout. It’s lens-interchangeable like the X-T5, which makes it a favorite with more hardcore photographers. It’s nowhere near as popular as the X100VI, however, and some sites have stated that the X-Pro 4 is unlikely to arrive in 2024.

There’s also a X100VI special edition

(Image credit: Fujifilm )

If you didn’t manage to snag an X100VI preorder early, there’s still potential to get a camera if you’re lucky, although via a somewhat narrower and pricier path.

To celebrate its 90th anniversary, Fujifilm created a special-edition X100VI that’s limited to 1,934 units – 1934 being the year Fujifilm was founded. It also costs $1,934 / £1,934, which is a significant markup over the regular X100VI at $1,599 / £1,599. However, these are available in-person only on specific dates and locations, so this could be the best chance of grabbing the premium compact camera, provided you can travel. 

Sales of the special-edition X100VI begin in the US on March 28 (contact Fujifilm for specific locations), and it’s anticipated all the units will sell on that day, while in the UK, sales are exclusively in-person at the London House of Photography from April 6 – expect queues.  

Functionally, the special-edition X100VI is identical to the regular version. However, you get a presentation box, a special-edition camera strap, the model’s unique number etched onto the top plate, plus a different branded lens cap.

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