NEWS YOU CAN’T MISS

Oprah Talks AI: Interviews Sam Altman and Bill Gates

Can we say AI has officially become mainstream when Oprah is talking about it? I think we can. 😎

Oprah Winfrey recently hosted a special on artificial intelligence titled "AI and the Future of Us." The program featured OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, among others.

Key Points:

1. Bill Gates emphasized that AI is evolving faster than even industry insiders anticipated, indicating that societal consequences may manifest sooner than expected.

2. Both Gates and Altman discussed the likelihood of AI displacing jobs across various industries. Gates suggested that work may not hold the same significance in the future, hinting at concepts like a three-day workweek.

3. FBI Director Christopher Wray shared alarming insights into how criminals are exploiting AI technologies, including child exploitation and "sextortion" aimed at teenagers.

Oprah's Perspective: "I don't think we should be scared," she said. "I think we should be disciplined and we should honor it and have a reverence for what is to come and respect because I think it's going to change in ways that are unimaginable for the good.

My take: I'm so happy AI is becoming mainstream and that more people are talking about AI. The more we discuss it openly and honestly, the better equipped we'll be to navigate its challenges and harness its incredible potential for good.

AI Hype? Nope, says Bank of America

There’s a ton of noise about AI being all hype at the moment. Well, a recent report by Bank of America (BofA) says that’s not so and highlights the transformative potential of AI in boosting profit margins across various industries.

Key findings include:

• AI Adoption: Expected to boost profit margins by 2% over the next five years, translating to $55 billion in annual cost savings. 🤯.

• Industry Impact: 23 out of 25 industry groups will see profit gains, with semiconductors and software leading.

• Investment Trends: Significant increase in AI investment, with 30% of U.S. companies investing $10 million or more by 2025.

• Adoption Pace: Rapid, but with a focus on long-term impact.

The bottom line is that AI has long-term potential: “Investors frequently overestimate the magnitude of tech disruption in the near term and underestimate it over the longer term,” Bank of America said.

I have to say I totally agree! And the bank certainly puts its money where its mouth is. Bank of America is set to invest $4 billion in AI and emerging technologies in 2024.

WOMAN IN TECH

Meet Carolina Dybeck Happe, Microsoft’s new COO

Celebrating this week’s Woman in Tech 🥳: Meet Carolina Dybeck Happe, who was just named Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Microsoft. She will report to CEO Satya Nadella and focus on driving continuous business process improvement and accelerating the company-wide AI transformation.

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Happe holds a Master of Science in Business and Economics from Uppsala University in Sweden.

Highlights from her stellar career:

• Happe started her career at Education First in 1996, holding various positions in Russia, Switzerland, and the USA.

• In 2002, she joined ASSA ABLOY as regional CFO in Germany, advancing to Group CFO in 2012. She was instrumental in transforming ASSA ABLOY from a regional player into a global, digitally driven leader.

• In 2019, she became the CFO of A.P. Moller - Maersk, where she executed a substantial deleveraging plan and reshaped the company's portfolio.

• In 2020, she joined General Electric (GE) as CFO and was the first outsider and non-American to be appointed in this role. She led GE’s financial activities and was pivotal in its historic turnaround, including the recent public offerings of its aviation and energy divisions.

Awards and recognition:

• She has been recognized as a top CFO in both Europe and the US by numerous leading publications and associations.

• She has served on the Supervisory Board of E.ON and the Board of Directors of Schneider Electric.

Happe is married with two children and lives in the Boston area. She is fluent in Swedish, German, English, and Polish.

It’s so cool to have a woman leading AI business transformation at one of the world’s leading companies in AI. Huge congrats to Happe! She’s going to be amazing in the role.😎

Food for Thought

Would you fly to space?

Billionaire Jared Isaacman just made history as the first private citizen to spacewalk, joining an exclusive group of astronauts. He blasted off from Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket earlier this week.

It seems like space tourism for the ultra-rich is really taking off. 🚀

Shelly Palmer and I did an AI Debate in Bangkok last week. It was super fun and I enjoyed reminiscing about New York 🍎, where he still lives and where I lived before coming to Singapore.

Happy Tuesday everyone. 😊

Until next time!

Ayesha ♥️

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