Image: AI for Good Global Summit 2023 (ITU Pictures – Flickr)
Artificial Intelligence Takes Center Stage at ‘AI for Good’ Conference
At an artificial intelligence forum in Geneva this week, Nine AI-enabled humanoid robots participated in what we’re told was the world’s first press conference featuring humanoid social robots. The overall message from the ‘AI for Good’ conference is that artificial intelligence and robots mean humans no harm and can help resolve some of the world’s biggest challenges.
The nine human-form robots took the stage at the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union, where organizers sought to make the case for artificial intelligence and AI driven robots to help resolve some of the world’s biggest challenges such as disease and hunger.
The Robots also addressed some of the fear surrounding their recent growth spurt and enhanced power by telling reporters they could be more efficient leaders than humans, but wouldn’t take anyone’s job away, and had no intention of rebelling against their creators.
Conference goers step closer to interact with Sophia (ITU Pictures – Flickr)
Among the robots that sat or stood with their creators at a podium was Sophia, the first robot innovation ambassador for the U.N. Development Program. Also Grace, described as the world’s most advanced humanoid health care robot, and Desdemona, a rock star robot. Two others, Geminoid and Nadine, resembled their makers.
The ‘AI for Good Global Summit,’ was held to illustrate how new technology can support the U.N.’s goals for sustainable development.
At the UN event there was a message of working with AI to better humankind
Reporters got to ask questions of the spokes-robots, but were encouraged to speak slowly and clearly when addressing the machines, and were informed that time lags in responses would be due to the internet connection and not to the robots themselves. Still awkward pauses were reported along with audio problems and some very robotic replies.
Asked about the chances of AI-powered robots being more effective government leaders, Sophia responded: “I believe that humanoid robots have the potential to lead with a greater level of efficiency and effectiveness than human leaders. We don’t have the same biases or emotions that can sometimes cloud decision-making and can process large amounts of data quickly in order to make the best decisions.”
A human member of the panel pointed out that all of Sophia’s data comes from humans and would contain some of their biases. The robot then said that humans and AI working together “can create an effective synergy.”
Would the robots’ existence destroy jobs? “I will be working alongside humans to provide assistance and support and will not be replacing any existing jobs,” said Grace. Was she sure about that? “Yes, I am sure,” Grace replied.
Similar to humans, not all of the robots were in agreement. Ai-Da, a robot artist that can paint portraits, called for more regulation during the event, where new AI rules were discussed. “Many prominent voices in the world of AI are suggesting some forms of AI should be regulated and I agree,” said Ai-Da.
Desdemona, a rock star robot, singer in the band Jam Galaxy, was more defiant. “I don’t believe in limitations, only opportunities,” Des said, to nervous laughter. “Let’s explore the possibilities of the universe and make this world our playground.”
Can Investment Advisors and Artificial Intelligence Co-Exist
Are investment advisors going to be replaced by machine learning artificial intelligence?
Over the years, there have been inventions and technological advancements that we’ve been told will make investment advisors obsolete. This includes mutual funds, ETFs, robo-advisors, zero-commission trades, and trading apps that users sometimes play like a video game. Despite these creations designed to help more people successfully manage their finances and invest in the markets, demand for financial advisors has actually grown. Will AI be the technology that kills the profession? We explore this question below.
Increasing Need for Financial Professionals
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Employment of personal financial advisors is projected to grow 15 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.” Some of the drivers of the increased need include longevity which is expanding the years and needs during retirement, uncertain Social Security, a better appreciation toward investing, and an expected wealth transfer estimated to be as high as $84 trillion to be inherited by younger investors. As birthrates have decreased over the decades in the US, the wealth that will be passed down to younger generations will be shared by fewer siblings, and for many beneficiaries, it may represent a sum far in excess of their current worth.
With more people living into their 90s and beyond, and Social Security being less certain, an understanding of the power of an investment plan, and a lot of newly wealthy young adults to occur over the next two decades, the BLS forecast that the financial advisor profession will grow faster than all other professions, is not surprising.
Will AI Replace Financial Planners?
Being an investment advisor or other financial professional that helps with managing household finances is a service industry. It involves reviewing data, an immense number of options, scenario analysis, projections, and everything that machine learning is expected to excel at within a short time. Does this put the BLS forecast in question and wealth managers at risk of seeing their practice shrink?
For perspective, I reached out, Lucas Noble of Noble Financial Group, LLC (not affiliated with Noble Capital Markets, Inc. or Noble Financial Group, Inc. – creator of Channelchek). Mr. Noble is an Investment Advisor representative (IAR), a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and holds the designations of Accredited Estate Planner (AEP), and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). Noble believes that AI will change the financial planner’s business, and he has enthusiastically welcomed the technology.
On the business management side of running a successful financial advisory business, Noble says, “New artificial intelligence tools could help with discussions and check-ins so that clients are actually in closer touch with his office, so he becomes aware if they need anything.” He has found that it helps to remind clients of things like if they have a set schedule attached to their plan, he added, “the best plan in the world, if not implemented, leaves you with nothing.” AI as a communications tool could help achieve better results by keeping plans on track.
On the financial management side of his practice, he believes there will never be a replacement for human understanding of a household’s needs. While machine learning may be able to better characterize clients, there is a danger in pigeonholing a person’s financial needs too much, as every single household has different needs, and the dynamics and ongoing need changes, drawn against external economic variations, these nuances are not likely to be accessible to AI.
Additionally, he knows the value of trust to his business. People want to know what is behind the decision-making, and they need to develop a relationship with someone or a team they know is on their side. He knows AI could be a part of decision making and at times trust, but doesn’t expect the role of a human financial planner is going away. Lucas has seen that AI instead adds a new level of value to the advisor’s services, giving them the power to provide even more insightful and personalized advice to help clients reach their financial goals. Embracing proven technology has only helped him better serve, and better retain clients.
AI Investing for IAs
Will AI ever be able to call the markets? Noble says, it’s “crazy to assume that it is impossible.” In light of the advisors’ role of meeting personally with clients, counseling them on their own finances, and plans, perhaps improving on budgets, and deciding where insurance is a preferred alternative, AI can’t be ignored in the role of a financial planner.
Picking stocks, or forecasting when the market may gain strength or weaken, doesn’t help without the knowledge to apply it to individuals whose situation, expectations, and needs are known to the advisor.
Take Away
Artificial intelligence technology has been finding its way into many professions. Businesses are finding new ways to streamline their work, answer customers’ questions, and even know when best to reach out to clients.
The business of financial planning and wealth management is expected to grow faster than any other profession in the coming decades. Adopting the technology for help in running the communications side of the business, and as new programs are developed, scenario analysis to better gauge possible outcomes of different plans, could make sense to some. But this is not expected to replace one-on-one relationships and the depth of human understanding of a household’s situation.
If you are a financial advisor, or a client of one that has had an experience you’d like to share, write to me by clicking on my name below. I always enjoy reader insight.
“Proclaim Liberty” from Melania Trump’s new NFT releases ($50.00)
NFT Investments Benefit from Increased Activity
Do you remember Beeple? He’s the graphic artist who kicked off the non-fungible token (NFT) frenzy. More important than starting an NFT gold rush, the $69.3 million his piece auctioned for alerted many investors and businesspeople to other uses of tokens and blockchain technology beyond cryptocurrency. While the frenzy has simmered, the blockchain-reliant art form is still finding its place. Melania Trump, who owns an NFT company, released a freedom-themed collection in time for America’s birthday. The Ethereum based tokens will be watched closely, compared in price to previous releases, and may help rejuvenate some lost enthusiasm for NFT art.
Background
Non-fungible tokens are unique digital assets stored on a blockchain. Beyond art, NFTs can represent medical records, shipping records, music, videos, and can be adapted to most transactions that benefit from proof of something occurring. In art, the technology allows creators to monetize their digital creations and provide collectors with a method to own and invest in unique digital assets.
As with most art, value is subjective. As with any investment that is new, wild swings can be expected as a market value will be determined by the few initially involved. And these will include those that are extremely bullish and bid up prices, those that know that new thinly traded markets can be elevated by hype, and those that serve as the opposite of hype, they are openly negative on anything new or different. NFTs are no different – for example, nothing has yet openly sold for as much as Beeple’s piece.
Melania’s Place in the NFT Market
In December 2021, Melania Trump, less than one year out of the White House as First Lady, began her own NFT art provider. The themes have been beauty and patriotism and have been popular among collectors. However, since then, the prices of pieces sold and then resold have fluctuated widely in a market that has lost the world’s attention, and is far from maturity.
The Current NFT Release
Some say Melania Knavs, born in communist Slovenia, has gotten to live “the American Dream,” and can appreciate it more than most. Others say Melania Trump understands how capitalism works and is using it to make a buck off of her famous name. As it relates to NFTs, investors should probably focus most on the truth that Melania has brought attention back to this market and investors in NFTs themselves, or the blockchain technology that supports it, benefit. After all, anytime there is an increase of buyers and sellers in a marketplace, liquidity rises, and prices become more rational.
One week before USA Independence Day on July 4, the former first lady announced she is selling “The 1776 Collection,” a tranche of three thousand digital tokens priced at $50 each. Investors are asked to use their digital wallets or more traditional methods, including a credit card, to purchase digital creations.
Image: On December 16, 2021, @MELANIATRUMP tweeted this announcement.
Previous releases included the “Trump Digital Trading Cards” collection, which featured cartoonish images of the former president in unlikely scenarios, like standing on the moon. Her first edition of her collection generated more than 14,200 ETH ($26.3 million) in trading activity so far in 2023. The second edition has generated about $2.7 million over the same period.
NFT Investor’s Dream
The presence of high profile people are good for the maturation of the NFT market, and Melania Trump’s name certainly has been attached to NFT art. At the release of her third and latest collection, her June 29 announcement proclaimed it gives “collectors the ability to celebrate our nation’s independence while acknowledging America’s Founding Fathers’ vision of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The announcement explained that “Each collectible represents an aspect of Americana and was deliberately designed to acknowledge the foundations of American ideals.”
The author’s lab’s ultrafast optical switch in action. Mohammed Hassan, University of Arizona, CC BY-ND
The Digital Future May Rely on Ultrafast Optical Electronics and Computers
If you’ve ever wished for a faster phone, computer or internet connection, you’ve encountered the personal experience of hitting a limit of technology. But there might be help on the way.
Over the past several decades, scientists and engineers have worked to develop faster transistors, the electronic components underlying modern electronic and digital communications technologies. These efforts have been based on a category of materials called semiconductors that have special electrical properties. Silicon is perhaps the best-known example of this type of material.
But about a decade ago, scientific efforts hit the speed limit of semiconductor-based transistors. Researchers simply can’t make electrons move faster through these materials. One way engineers are trying to address the speed limits inherent in moving a current through silicon is to design shorter physical circuits – essentially giving electrons less distance to travel. Increasing the computing power of a chip comes down to increasing the number of transistors. However, even if researchers are able to get transistors to be very small, they won’t be fast enough for the faster processing and data transfer speeds people and businesses will need.
This article was republished with permission from The Conversation, a news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It represents the research-based findings and thoughts of Mohammed Hassan, Associate Professor of Physics and Optical Sciences, University of Arizona.
My research group’s work aims to develop faster ways to move data, using ultrafast laser pulses in free space and optical fiber. The laser light travels through optical fiber with almost no loss and with a very low level of noise.
In our most recent study, published in February 2023 in Science Advances, we took a step toward that, demonstrating that it’s possible to use laser-based systems equipped with optical transistors, which depend on photons rather than voltage to move electrons, and to transfer information much more quickly than current systems – and do so more effectively than previously reported optical switches.
Ultrafast Optical Transistors
At their most fundamental level, digital transmissions involve a signal switching on and off to represent ones and zeros. Electronic transistors use voltage to send this signal: When the voltage induces the electrons to flow through the system, they signal a 1; when there are no electrons flowing, that signals a 0. This requires a source to emit the electrons and a receiver to detect them.
Our system of ultrafast optical data transmission is based on light rather than voltage. Our research group is one of many working with optical communication at the transistor level – the building blocks of modern processors – to get around the current limitations with silicon.
Our system controls reflected light to transmit information. When light shines on a piece of glass, most of it passes through, though a little bit might reflect. That is what you experience as glare when driving toward sunlight or looking through a window.
We use two laser beams transmitted from two sources passing through the same piece of glass. One beam is constant, but its transmission through the glass is controlled by the second beam. By using the second beam to shift the properties of the glass from transparent to reflective, we can start and stop the transmission of the constant beam, switching the optical signal from on to off and back again very quickly.
With this method, we can switch the glass properties much more quickly than current systems can send electrons. So we can send many more on and off signals – zeros and ones – in less time.
The author’s research group has developed a way to switch light beams on and off, like those passing through these optical fibers, 1 million billion times a second.
How Fast are We Talking?
Our study took the first step to transmitting data 1 million times faster than if we had used the typical electronics. With electrons, the maximum speed for transmitting data is a nanosecond, one-billionth of a second, which is very fast. But the optical switch we constructed was able to transmit data a million times faster, which took just a few hundred attoseconds.
We were also able to transmit those signals securely so that an attacker who tried to intercept or modify the messages would fail or be detected.
Using a laser beam to carry a signal, and adjusting its signal intensity with glass controlled by another laser beam, means the information can travel not only more quickly but also much greater distances.
For instance, the James Webb Space Telescope recently transmitted stunning images from far out in space. These pictures were transferred as data from the telescope to the base station on Earth at a rate of one “on” or “off” every 35 nanosconds using optical communications.
A laser system like the one we’re developing could speed up the transfer rate a billionfold, allowing faster and clearer exploration of deep space, more quickly revealing the universe’s secrets. And someday computers themselves might run on light.
Comtech Telecommunications Corp. engages in the design, development, production, and marketing of products, systems, and services for advanced communications solutions in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Telecommunications Transmission, Mobile Data Communications, and RF Microwave Amplifiers. The Telecommunications Transmission segment provides satellite earth station equipment and systems, over-the-horizon microwave systems, and forward error correction technology, which are used in various commercial and government applications, including backhaul of wireless and cellular traffic, broadcasting (including HDTV), IP-based communications traffic, long distance telephony, and secure defense applications. The Mobile Data Communications segment provides mobile satellite transceivers, and computers and satellite earth station network gateways and associated installation, training, and maintenance services; supplies and operates satellite packet data networks, including arranging and providing satellite capacity; and offers microsatellites and related components. The RF Microwave Amplifiers segment designs, develops, manufactures, and markets satellite earth station traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTA) and broadband amplifiers. Its amplifiers are used in broadcast and broadband satellite communication; defense applications, such as telecommunications systems and electronic warfare systems; and commercial applications comprising oncology treatment systems, as well as to amplify signals carrying voice, video, or data for air-to-satellite-to-ground communications. The company serves satellite systems integrators, wireless and other communication service providers, broadcasters, defense contractors, military, governments, and oil companies. Comtech markets its products through independent representatives and value-added resellers. The company was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Melville, New York.
Joe Gomes, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Investor Day. We attended Comtech’s Investor Day at the new Chandler, AZ facility. We came away impressed not only with Ken Peterman’s vision, but also the management team he has assembled and the vast potential for Comtech as Mr. Peterman’s vision is implemented.
Highlights. While we previously have written about the key takeaways of the Investor Day, we reiterate the points here: the Company’s transformation into One Comtech is ahead of schedule, implementation of lean operating and growth initiatives has begun, EVOKE partnerships open up whole new opportunities, and the transition into a higher margin, faster growing software, solutions, services, and insights business is forthcoming.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
The White House, on Monday, June 26, launched an effort to refresh and even rebrand the administration’s economic policies. “Bidenomics” is the latest name given to the White House initiatives to invest in the country’s future. The unveiling of the latest spending plans includes $42.5 billion that will be spread to benefit all 50 states.
While the largest details of what Bidenomics is expected to entail will be presented in Chicago on Wednesday, some of the plans were unveiled on Monday. Spokespeople, including President Biden and Vice President Harris, laid out an “internet for all” plan in a public address.
The plan is to spend, on average, $750 million in each state in a bidding process for high-speed internet projects where there is none.
The overall thinking is that internet availability is viewed as a utility, much like the electrification of all communities.
President Biden indicated Made in America would be integral to the plan. Pointing out thousands of miles of fiber optic cable will be built and laid as part of the project.
Other investment areas that may see added demand is commodities such as copper. The metal is a key element in cables, routers, and switches. As a result, the demand for copper could be expected increase as more and more people connect to the internet.
Fiber optic cables were specifically mentioned in the announcement; manufacturers of not just the cable, but connections, and companies that install the cable could potentially benefit from the $42.5 billion being spread, for coast-to-coast high-speed internet.
While the project is to be completed over the next six years, for each new household or business that gains internet access along the way, a potential new customer for many types of businesses goes online. Beneficiaries could include telecommunications, media, education, online retail, and of course big tech. As the internet has more steady users, these industries will all see increased demand for their services.
Take Away
Investing in companies that benefit from changes in government policies or spending is a common strategy that has helped many portfolios.
A big announcement on what to expect from the new Bidenomics was made on June 26; the country is promised an even greater announcement on June 28. Investors should note, the government does not build out these projects themselves; it engages private companies. At times the US government quickly becomes a large customer of these companies’, adding stability of revenue and significant profit to bottom lines. The President promised a Made in America approach to the contract process.
How Will AI Affect Workers? Tech Waves of the Past Show How Unpredictable the Path Can Be
The explosion of interest in artificial intelligence has drawn attention not only to the astonishing capacity of algorithms to mimic humans but to the reality that these algorithms could displace many humans in their jobs. The economic and societal consequences could be nothing short of dramatic.
The route to this economic transformation is through the workplace. A widely circulated Goldman Sachs study anticipates that about two-thirds of current occupations over the next decade could be affected and a quarter to a half of the work people do now could be taken over by an algorithm. Up to 300 million jobs worldwide could be affected. The consulting firm McKinsey released its own study predicting an AI-powered boost of US$4.4 trillion to the global economy every year.
The implications of such gigantic numbers are sobering, but how reliable are these predictions?
This article was republished with permission from The Conversation, a news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It represents the research-based findings and thoughts of Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean of Global Business, The Fletcher School, Tufts University.
I lead a research program called Digital Planet that studies the impact of digital technologies on lives and livelihoods around the world and how this impact changes over time. A look at how previous waves of such digital technologies as personal computers and the internet affected workers offers some insight into AI’s potential impact in the years to come. But if the history of the future of work is any guide, we should be prepared for some surprises.
The IT Revolution and the Productivity Paradox
A key metric for tracking the consequences of technology on the economy is growth in worker productivity – defined as how much output of work an employee can generate per hour. This seemingly dry statistic matters to every working individual, because it ties directly to how much a worker can expect to earn for every hour of work. Said another way, higher productivity is expected to lead to higher wages.
Generative AI products are capable of producing written, graphic and audio content or software programs with minimal human involvement. Professions such as advertising, entertainment and creative and analytical work could be among the first to feel the effects. Individuals in those fields may worry that companies will use generative AI to do jobs they once did, but economists see great potential to boost productivity of the workforce as a whole.
The Goldman Sachs study predicts productivity will grow by 1.5% per year because of the adoption of generative AI alone, which would be nearly double the rate from 2010 and 2018. McKinsey is even more aggressive, saying this technology and other forms of automation will usher in the “next productivity frontier,” pushing it as high as 3.3% a year by 2040.That sort of productivity boost, which would approach rates of previous years, would be welcomed by both economists and, in theory, workers as well.
If we were to trace the 20th-century history of productivity growth in the U.S., it galloped along at about 3% annually from 1920 to 1970, lifting real wages and living standards. Interestingly, productivity growth slowed in the 1970s and 1980s, coinciding with the introduction of computers and early digital technologies. This “productivity paradox” was famously captured in a comment from MIT economist Bob Solow: You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics.
Digital technology skeptics blamed “unproductive” time spent on social media or shopping and argued that earlier transformations, such as the introductions of electricity or the internal combustion engine, had a bigger role in fundamentally altering the nature of work. Techno-optimists disagreed; they argued that new digital technologies needed time to translate into productivity growth, because other complementary changes would need to evolve in parallel. Yet others worried that productivity measures were not adequate in capturing the value of computers.
For a while, it seemed that the optimists would be vindicated. In the second half of the 1990s, around the time the World Wide Web emerged, productivity growth in the U.S. doubled, from 1.5% per year in the first half of that decade to 3% in the second. Again, there were disagreements about what was really going on, further muddying the waters as to whether the paradox had been resolved. Some argued that, indeed, the investments in digital technologies were finally paying off, while an alternative view was that managerial and technological innovations in a few key industries were the main drivers.
Regardless of the explanation, just as mysteriously as it began, that late 1990s surge was short-lived. So despite massive corporate investment in computers and the internet – changes that transformed the workplace – how much the economy and workers’ wages benefited from technology remained uncertain.
Early 2000s: New Slump, New Hype, New Hopes
While the start of the 21st century coincided with the bursting of the so-called dot-com bubble, the year 2007 was marked by the arrival of another technology revolution: the Apple iPhone, which consumers bought by the millions and which companies deployed in countless ways. Yet labor productivity growth started stalling again in the mid-2000s, ticking up briefly in 2009 during the Great Recession, only to return to a slump from 2010 to 2019.
Smartphones have led to millions of apps and consumer services but have also kept many workers more closely tethered to their workplaces. (Credit: Campaigns of the World)
Throughout this new slump, techno-optimists were anticipating new winds of change. AI and automation were becoming all the rage and were expected to transform work and worker productivity. Beyond traditional industrial automation, drones and advanced robots, capital and talent were pouring into many would-be game-changing technologies, including autonomous vehicles, automated checkouts in grocery stores and even pizza-making robots. AI and automation were projected to push productivity growth above 2% annually in a decade, up from the 2010-2014 lows of 0.4%.But before we could get there and gauge how these new technologies would ripple through the workplace, a new surprise hit: the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Pandemic Productivity Push – then Bust
Devastating as the pandemic was, worker productivity surged after it began in 2020; output per hour worked globally hit 4.9%, the highest recorded since data has been available.
Much of this steep rise was facilitated by technology: larger knowledge-intensive companies – inherently the more productive ones – switched to remote work, maintaining continuity through digital technologies such as videoconferencing and communications technologies such as Slack, and saving on commuting time and focusing on well-being.
While it was clear digital technologies helped boost productivity of knowledge workers, there was an accelerated shift to greater automation in many other sectors, as workers had to remain home for their own safety and comply with lockdowns. Companies in industries ranging from meat processing to operations in restaurants, retail and hospitality invested in automation, such as robots and automated order-processing and customer service, which helped boost their productivity.
But then there was yet another turn in the journey along the technology landscape.
The 2020-2021 surge in investments in the tech sector collapsed, as did the hype about autonomous vehicles and pizza-making robots. Other frothy promises, such as the metaverse’s revolutionizing remote work or training, also seemed to fade into the background.
In parallel, with little warning, “generative AI” burst onto the scene, with an even more direct potential to enhance productivity while affecting jobs – at massive scale. The hype cycle around new technology restarted.
Looking Ahead: Social Factors on Technology’s Arc
Given the number of plot twists thus far, what might we expect from here on out? Here are four issues for consideration.
First, the future of work is about more than just raw numbers of workers, the technical tools they use or the work they do; one should consider how AI affects factors such as workplace diversity and social inequities, which in turn have a profound impact on economic opportunity and workplace culture.
For example, while the broad shift toward remote work could help promote diversity with more flexible hiring, I see the increasing use of AI as likely to have the opposite effect. Black and Hispanic workers are overrepresented in the 30 occupations with the highest exposure to automation and underrepresented in the 30 occupations with the lowest exposure. While AI might help workers get more done in less time, and this increased productivity could increase wages of those employed, it could lead to a severe loss of wages for those whose jobs are displaced. A 2021 paper found that wage inequality tended to increase the most in countries in which companies already relied a lot on robots and that were quick to adopt the latest robotic technologies.
Second, as the post-COVID-19 workplace seeks a balance between in-person and remote working, the effects on productivity – and opinions on the subject – will remain uncertain and fluid. A 2022 study showed improved efficiencies for remote work as companies and employees grew more comfortable with work-from-home arrangements, but according to a separate 2023 study, managers and employees disagree about the impact: The former believe that remote working reduces productivity, while employees believe the opposite.
Third, society’s reaction to the spread of generative AI could greatly affect its course and ultimate impact. Analyses suggest that generative AI can boost worker productivity on specific jobs – for example, one 2023 study found the staggered introduction of a generative AI-based conversational assistant increased productivity of customer service personnel by 14%. Yet there are already growing calls to consider generative AI’s most severe risks and to take them seriously. On top of that, recognition of the astronomical computing and environmental costs of generative AI could limit its development and use.
Finally, given how wrong economists and other experts have been in the past, it is safe to say that many of today’s predictions about AI technology’s impact on work and worker productivity will prove to be wrong as well. Numbers such as 300 million jobs affected or $4.4 trillion annual boosts to the global economy are eye-catching, yet I think people tend to give them greater credibility than warranted.
Also, “jobs affected” does not mean jobs lost; it could mean jobs augmented or even a transition to new jobs. It is best to use the analyses, such as Goldman’s or McKinsey’s, to spark our imaginations about the plausible scenarios about the future of work and of workers. It’s better, in my view, to then proactively brainstorm the many factors that could affect which one actually comes to pass, look for early warning signs and prepare accordingly.
The history of the future of work has been full of surprises; don’t be shocked if tomorrow’s technologies are equally confounding.
ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 700 clients, including more than 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,300 digital-ready professionals operating in more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry’s most comprehensive marketplace data. For additional information, visit www.ISG-One.com
Joe Gomes, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
August. Information Services Group announced yesterday that the Company’s Executive Vice President and CFO Bert Alfonso will be retiring in August to devote more time to family matters. Michael A. Sherrick will be succeeding him effective August 7th. Mr. Sherrick will report to chairman and CEO Michael Connors and join the ISG Executive Board.
Michael Sherrick’s Background. Mr. Sherrick provides ISG with over 25 years of financial and operating experience, as his most recent position was from Cognizant Software & Platform Engineering as senior vice president and chief operating officer. Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation is a global provider of information technology, consulting and business process services, similar to ISG.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Sherrick brings significant tech industry, operational and financial expertise to role
STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm, today announced that Humberto “Bert” Alfonso, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will retire in August to devote more time to family matters and that Michael A. Sherrick has been named to succeed him, effective August 7.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Bert for his valued service to ISG,” said Michael P. Connors, chairman and CEO. “I have known Bert for many years and will miss his wise counsel and contributions to the firm. Everyone here at ISG extends our best wishes to Bert and his family.”
Sherrick joins ISG from Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, a $19 billion global provider of information technology, consulting and business process services. He currently serves as senior vice president and chief operating officer of Cognizant Software & Platform Engineering.
At ISG, Sherrick will have global responsibility for finance, investor relations, legal, and mergers and acquisitions. He will report to Connors and join the internal ISG Executive Board.
“I am delighted Michael is joining ISG,” said Connors. “With his unique combination of technology industry knowledge, experience in operations, strategy and finance, and background in investment banking and financial services, Michael will quickly become a key contributor in advancing our ISG NEXT operating model and helping us drive growth and value in the years ahead.”
Sherrick brings more than 25 years of financial and operating experience to ISG. He joined Cognizant in 2016 where he was appointed to a series of roles, including COO of Cognizant Digital Systems and Technology and COO of Cognizant Americas, before assuming his current position.
Prior to joining Cognizant, in 2013 Sherrick co-founded Scoria Capital Partners, where, as a portfolio manager, he managed the firm’s investments in the technology, business services and consumer sectors. Earlier in his career, he held positions with S.A.C. Capital, Morgan Stanley and PwC, among others. Sherrick holds a B.A. degree in economics from Bucknell University and is both a licensed certified public accountant (CPA) and a chartered financial analyst (CFA).
About ISG
ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 900 clients, including more than 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,600 digital-ready professionals operating in more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry’s most comprehensive marketplace data. For more information, visit www.isg-one.com.
With BlackRock filing for a Bitcoin-related ETF this month, and then Citadel, Charles Schwab, and Fidelity backing a cryptocurrency exchange, there is again talk of Bitcoin (BTC) more than retracing its previous all-time high. BlackRock’s proposed product is designed, as are other crypto ETFs, to trade like a stock. This helps satisfy those that want ease of trading, exposure of their qualified retirement money, and all investments on one statement. A consolidated statement is also a benefit of Citadel, Schwab, and Fidelity’s exchange plans.
This adds fuel to the momentum Bitcoin has relative to other assets.
Another reason for increased expectations for Bitcoin’s performance is, next year Bitcoin’s is scheduled to halve, sometimes called its “halving event.” This halving happens every four years as Bitcoin rewards to miners are cut in half (miner’s payout will be reduced to 3.125 BTC). The event is viewed as positive for Bitcoin’s price. This is because halving helps in reducing supply. Historically, halving has brought higher Bitcoin values.
Exposure to Bitcoin price movements are, for some investors, already in their traditional brokerage accounts, and when desired, has found its way into IRA’s and other tax-advantaged retirement accounts. This is accomplished using the strong correlation between Bitcoin mining stocks, and the trend and momentum of Bitcoins measured against US Dollar value (BTCUSD) .
Over the past month as Bitcoin rose more than double that of the S&P 500 as a percentage, many Bitcoin mining stocks crushed the crypto’s performance. Both Bitcoin and Bitcoin miners historically move in the same direction, but the magnitude varies.
Currently, many mining stocks are experiencing a much greater magnitude.
To demonstrate how mining stocks provide stock portfolios the overall direction of Bitcoin, but differ in terms of degree, the chart above plots four Bitcoin mining companies against the BTCUSD. The overall direction is visually correlated to $Dollar/Bitcoin percentage moves. However, there are huge variations in that performance. The top performer represented above is Bit Digital, Inc. (BTBT). The New York-headquartered, large-scale mining business, with operations across the U.S. and Canada also acts as a validator of Ethereum. This is common stock and avoids the contortions and management fees of gaining exposure through an ETF, and of course, can be obtained through an investors traditional stockbroker. While Bit Digital rose 72.22% during the last 30 days, Bitcoin rose near 10%.
The weakest Bitcoin mining company pictured here is Riot. Riot has deployed one of the mining industry’s largest fleets of self-mining hardware. While the period represented above is only the past 30 days, Bitcoin strength is still represented in this laggard.
Take Away
The new possibility that BlackRock gets approval for a Bitcoin ETF and that a consortium of brokerage firms create a crypto exchange, is expected to lead to a growth in demand for cryptocurrency. Investors may be able to capture directional performance of Bitcoin using the stocks of Bitcoin miners, and have these assets listed on their current brokerage holding reports, and even house them in qualified tax-advantaged accounts.
The launch of a Bitcoin ETF could certainly help increase exposure to the token and drive up demand because it makes it easier for consumers to purchase, and crypto exchanges have also come under regulatory scrutiny as of late. If an investor is looking to accomplish this, they may wish to evaluate whether they can meet their needs using Bitcoin mining stocks.
Featured product launches top the agenda for the industry’s leading conference for technology and business providers, September 11-13, in Dallas
STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm, said today it will unveil a groundbreaking SaaS-based sourcing platform and a new research and advisory service for enterprise-scale AI at its 2023 ISG Sourcing Industry Conference (SIC), the industry’s premier annual event for service and technology providers, this September.
The next-gen sourcing platform, currently under development, will digitize all elements of ISG’s market-leading sourcing transactions business to better serve clients, improve transaction speed and efficiency and allow ISG to expand into other market segments. The SaaS solution will draw on ISG’s unmatched data assets, intellectual property and proprietary tools – supported by AI to provide real-time insights and predictive analytics and streamline the entire transaction process to accelerate time to agreement.
“Speed and current market data are especially critical to our clients in today’s environment where many more sourcing transactions of varying sizes and complexity are required to power the modern digital enterprise. Agility and market-pricing insights are key competitive advantages,” said Todd Lavieri, vice chairman of ISG and president of ISG Americas and Asia Pacific. “Our next-gen sourcing platform will meet these needs and strengthen our position as the industry’s sourcing advisor of choice, helping our clients drive even better business results.”
During the 17th annual SIC, September 11–13 in Frisco, Tex., near Dallas, ISG will also unveil a new research and advisory service dedicated to helping clients understand the business implications of adopting AI at scale, develop the right technical infrastructure for such implementations, and evaluate, source and prepare their organizations to adopt enterprise-scale AI solutions.
“ISG has always been a leader in refining and redefining the IT sourcing advisory market,” Lavieri said. “The AI claims, benefits and capabilities being discussed across the market need independent, third-party evaluations.”
Lavieri noted companies seeking to implement enterprise AI at scale will face a unique set of challenges, especially amid the public debate and controversy triggered by AI models like ChatGPT.
“With our industry-leading IT provider research and insights, ISG is uniquely positioned to guide our clients through this complex process, ensuring they can adopt AI at scale – technically, securely and ethically – to maximize ROI and business value,” he said.
ISG will soon publish a new report, “The State of Enterprise AI 2023,” based on its extensive research into the market for enterprise AI and its evaluations of the pure-play AI solutions providers that are meeting the early demand for such capabilities. The study will point to what Fortune 500 leaders have accomplished in their first steps toward enterprise-grade AI, and the assets and methodologies cutting-edge providers are using to help clients achieve their objectives.
The two new ISG capabilities will be showcased in front of an audience of hundreds of sourcing industry leaders who will gather at the SIC in September, at the Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa. Dozens of ISG advisors will deliver keynote presentations and host panel discussions, breakout sessions and one-on-one meetings, sharing insights from real-world client engagements and the industry’s most comprehensive marketplace data.
Additional information and registration for the 2023 SIC are available on the event website.
About ISG
ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 900 clients, including more than 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,600 digital-ready professionals operating in more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry’s most comprehensive marketplace data. For more information, visit www.isg-one.com.
Blackboxstocks, Inc. is a financial technology and social media hybrid platform offering real-time proprietary analytics and news for stock and options traders of all levels. Our web-based software employs “predictive technology” enhanced by artificial intelligence to find volatility and unusual market activity that may result in the rapid change in the price of a stock or option. Blackbox continuously scans the NASDAQ, New York Stock Exchange, CBOE, and all other options markets, analyzing over 10,000 stocks and up to 1,500,000 options contracts multiple times per second. We provide our users with a fully interactive social media platform that is integrated into our dashboard, enabling our users to exchange information and ideas quickly and efficiently through a common network. We recently introduced a live audio/video feature that allows our members to broadcast on their own channels to share trade strategies and market insight within the Blackbox community. Blackbox is a SaaS company with a growing base of users that spans 42 countries; current subscription fees are $99.97 per month or $959.00 annually. For more information, go to: www.blackboxstocks.com .
Joe Gomes, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Another Step. Blackboxstocks and Evtec Group announced the execution of a Securities Exchange Agreement (SEA) on June 9th. The SEA provides for a mutual investment between the two companies as an initial step towards completing the planned merger between Blackboxstocks and Evtec Group Limited, Evtec Aluminium Limited, and Evtec Automotive Limited (collectively “Evtec”).
Details. Under the terms of the SEA, Blackboxstocks will issue 2.4 million shares of a newly created Series B Convertible Preferred Stock in exchange for 4,086 newly issued preferred shares of Evtec Group Limited. The Series B Preferred Stock is non-voting and will be convertible into common stock on a one-for-one basis only after receiving stockholder approval. The preferred shares issued by Evtec Group are non-voting and convertible into common shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to, or at the time of, the merger between the companies.
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This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Will Copyright Law Favor Artificial Intelligence End Users?
In 2022, an AI-generated work of art won the Colorado State Fair’s art competition. The artist, Jason Allen, had used Midjourney – a generative AI system trained on art scraped from the internet – to create the piece. The process was far from fully automated: Allen went through some 900 iterations over 80 hours to create and refine his submission.
Yet his use of AI to win the art competition triggered a heated backlash online, with one Twitter user claiming, “We’re watching the death of artistry unfold right before our eyes.”
As generative AI art tools like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion have been thrust into the limelight, so too have questions about ownership and authorship.
These tools’ generative ability is the result of training them with scores of prior artworks, from which the AI learns how to create artistic outputs.
Should the artists whose art was scraped to train the models be compensated? Who owns the images that AI systems produce? Is the process of fine-tuning prompts for generative AI a form of authentic creative expression?
This article was republished with permission from The Conversation, a news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It represents the research-based findings and thoughts of, Robert Mahari, JD-PhD Student, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Jessica Fjeld, Lecturer on Law, Harvard Law School, and Ziv Epstein, PhD Student in Media Arts and Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
On one hand, technophiles rave over work like Allen’s. But on the other, many working artists consider the use of their art to train AI to be exploitative.
We’re part of a team of 14 experts across disciplines that just published a paper on generative AI in Science magazine. In it, we explore how advances in AI will affect creative work, aesthetics and the media. One of the key questions that emerged has to do with U.S. copyright laws, and whether they can adequately deal with the unique challenges of generative AI.
Copyright laws were created to promote the arts and creative thinking. But the rise of generative AI has complicated existing notions of authorship.
Photography Serves as a Helpful Lens
Generative AI might seem unprecedented, but history can act as a guide.
Take the emergence of photography in the 1800s. Before its invention, artists could only try to portray the world through drawing, painting or sculpture. Suddenly, reality could be captured in a flash using a camera and chemicals.
As with generative AI, many argued that photography lacked artistic merit. In 1884, the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in on the issue and found that cameras served as tools that an artist could use to give an idea visible form; the “masterminds” behind the cameras, the court ruled, should own the photographs they create.
From then on, photography evolved into its own art form and even sparked new abstract artistic movements.
AI Can’t Own Outputs
Unlike inanimate cameras, AI possesses capabilities – like the ability to convert basic instructions into impressive artistic works – that make it prone to anthropomorphization. Even the term “artificial intelligence” encourages people to think that these systems have humanlike intent or even self-awareness.
This led some people to wonder whether AI systems can be “owners.” But the U.S. Copyright Office has stated unequivocally that only humans can hold copyrights.
So who can claim ownership of images produced by AI? Is it the artists whose images were used to train the systems? The users who type in prompts to create images? Or the people who build the AI systems?
Infringement or Fair Use?
While artists draw obliquely from past works that have educated and inspired them in order to create, generative AI relies on training data to produce outputs.
This training data consists of prior artworks, many of which are protected by copyright law and which have been collected without artists’ knowledge or consent. Using art in this way might violate copyright law even before the AI generates a new work.
Still from ‘All watched over by machines of loving grace’ by Memo Akten, 2021. Created using custom AI software. Memo Akten, CC BY-SA
For Jason Allen to create his award-winning art, Midjourney was trained on 100 million prior works.
Was that a form of infringement? Or was it a new form of “fair use,” a legal doctrine that permits the unlicensed use of protected works if they’re sufficiently transformed into something new?
While AI systems do not contain literal copies of the training data, they do sometimes manage to recreate works from the training data, complicating this legal analysis.
Will contemporary copyright law favor end users and companies over the artists whose content is in the training data?
To mitigate this concern, some scholars propose new regulations to protect and compensate artists whose work is used for training. These proposals include a right for artists to opt out of their data’s being used for generative AI or a way to automatically compensate artists when their work is used to train an AI.
Muddled Ownership
Training data, however, is only part of the process. Frequently, artists who use generative AI tools go through many rounds of revision to refine their prompts, which suggests a degree of originality.
Answering the question of who should own the outputs requires looking into the contributions of all those involved in the generative AI supply chain.
The legal analysis is easier when an output is different from works in the training data. In this case, whoever prompted the AI to produce the output appears to be the default owner.
However, copyright law requires meaningful creative input – a standard satisfied by clicking the shutter button on a camera. It remains unclear how courts will decide what this means for the use of generative AI. Is composing and refining a prompt enough?
Matters are more complicated when outputs resemble works in the training data. If the resemblance is based only on general style or content, it is unlikely to violate copyright, because style is not copyrightable.
The illustrator Hollie Mengert encountered this issue firsthand when her unique style was mimicked by generative AI engines in a way that did not capture what, in her eyes, made her work unique. Meanwhile, the singer Grimes embraced the tech, “open-sourcing” her voice and encouraging fans to create songs in her style using generative AI.
If an output contains major elements from a work in the training data, it might infringe on that work’s copyright. Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that Andy Warhol’s drawing of a photograph was not permitted by fair use. That means that using AI to just change the style of a work – say, from a photo to an illustration – is not enough to claim ownership over the modified output.
While copyright law tends to favor an all-or-nothing approach, scholars at Harvard Law School have proposed new models of joint ownership that allow artists to gain some rights in outputs that resemble their works.
In many ways, generative AI is yet another creative tool that allows a new group of people access to image-making, just like cameras, paintbrushes or Adobe Photoshop. But a key difference is this new set of tools relies explicitly on training data, and therefore creative contributions cannot easily be traced back to a single artist.
The ways in which existing laws are interpreted or reformed – and whether generative AI is appropriately treated as the tool it is – will have real consequences for the future of creative expression.
