Tag: workers

AI will lead to cut in human workers, executives admit

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date April 8, 2024
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New research has found implementing AI tools across various business functions is likely to reduce human workforces over the next five years.

The survey from Adecco of senior-level execs from 2,000 large companies worldwide alluded to AI’s negative impacts on the workforce after many had eased their concerns in recent months, and many more became distracted with re-introduced office-working policies.

According to the report, an alarming two in five (41%) said that they foresee a decrease in their company’s workforce due to AI.

AI might replace workers, but it’s not the end of the world

The revelation comes as more companies accept and implement artificial intelligence to streamline operations and boost efficiency.

More broadly, perceptions of generative AI have been split. Many credit the technology for its ability to generate text, photos, and now videos from natural language prompts, while others have expressed concern over job insecurity.

A reasonably new technology, AI really started to gain traction when OpenAI launched ChatGPT as a public preview in late November 2023. Since then, seemingly hundreds if not thousands of AI tools have sprung up, designed to tackle a wide range of tasks.

Moreover, many tech giants have already reportedly started exploring and actioning layoffs as direct and indirect results of AI.

Despite the highly negative outlook and the fact that Adecco’s findings align with those of the World Economic Forum’s report in 2023, there is some hope. That same WEF report predicted that twice as many people anticipated that AI would create jobs as those who thought the technology would eliminate roles.

Others are less concerned – despite the promised productivity benefits, many companies are still (seriously) lagging behind in properly adopting AI, with poor data foundations preventing them from going all-in.

All in all, it’s clear that AI won’t simply replace all human workers, and for many more years, at least, workers have very little to worry about and maybe even future opportunities to look forward to.

Via Reuters

Philips debuts three highly affordable displays for home workers — but no 4K resolution

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date April 4, 2024
No Comments on Philips debuts three highly affordable displays for home workers — but no 4K resolution

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Philips is expanding its E1 series of business monitors with the addition of three new models designed to cater to the needs of professionals and remote workers.

The high-end Philips 27E1N1600AE comes with HDMI 1.4 and USB-C 3.2 connectivity with 65W Power Delivery. The 27-inch IPS panel offers QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution and HDR. The model also comes with a 100mm height-adjustable stand.

The other two screens, 24E1N1100A and 27E1N1100A, come with FHD IPS panels, measuring 23.8 inches and 27 inches respectively, and feature a frameless design with narrow borders.

VGA port for older computers

Philips says these screens are ideal for multi-monitor setups and include a cable management system for a tidy workspace. They both come with HDMI 1.4 ports and in place of the 27E1N1600AE’s USB-C 3.2 there’s a VGA port on both models.

The IPS panels promise vivid colors, and a 100Hz refresh rate with 1ms MPRT and Adaptive-Sync. They also include SmartImage Game Modes for ‘light’ gaming.

There are built-in 2W stereo speakers, and the monitors also feature LowBlue Mode and Flicker-free for comfortable viewing and EasyRead for a paper-like reading experience.

The Philips 24E1N1100A, 27E1N1100A, and 27E1N1600AE are available to buy from UK retailers now.

The Philips 24E1N1100A and 27E1N1100A retail at an affordable £94.99/€119 and £109.99/€139 respectively. The Philips 27E1N1600AE, with its QHD display, will set you back £199.99/€249, but you’ll want to shop around to see if you can pick it up for cheaper as there are better models from other makers available for that price.

California wants to introduce a law that will force workers to disconnect from work

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date April 3, 2024
No Comments on California wants to introduce a law that will force workers to disconnect from work

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In an attempt to help citizens across the state have some respite from the pressures of work, California State Assembly member Matt Haney has introduced AB 2751, a proposition designed to give workers the “right to disconnect” from work-related communications outside of working hours.

AB 2751 draws inspiration from similar legislation in countries like France, Spain, and Ireland. If passed, it would set a precedent for not only the US but other countries globally. In recent months, all eyes have been on California’s tech sector over concerns that Silicon Valley’s work-life balance has degraded.

The bill aims to address concerns over burnout, stress, and the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life in today’s digital working landscape.

“Right to disconnect”

The news, first reported by The San Francisco Standard, quotes an interview between Haney and the publication: “If you’re working a 9-to-5 job, you shouldn’t be expected to work 24/7. That should be available to everyone, regardless of the existence of smartphones.”

In the interview, Haney calls out the irony that the state that created the communication and collaboration tools that have led to concerns about out-of-hours working is also the state that is seeking to address worker burnout.

If passed, enforcement would fall under the Department of Labor’s jurisdiction, with penalties starting at $100 per incident. The bill covers exemptions, such as emergency situations.

While many see this as a positive change for tech workers, critics say that the restrictions could hamper innovation and competitiveness.

There’s also the fact that, with flexible working routines and foreign hiring, many employees work different hours. If the bill is passed, and even before that if it sparks enough interest, it wouldn’t be unlikely that we see online platforms introduce clearer ways for workers to limit their notifications outside of working hours.

The news comes following an extremely turbulent few years. Workers were first sent home during the pandemic, and then the mass layoffs began. After that came a period of increased return-to-office pressures, and the layoffs continued.

Remote workers won’t be put up for promotion, Dell declares

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date March 19, 2024
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According to a new report by Business Insider, Dell has announced a significant policy change that will impact its remote workforce.

Starting in May, fully remote Dell employees will no longer be eligible for promotion within the company. Employees are said to have told the publication that their remote setups had enabled them to adjust to other life factors. The flexibility had cut them some slack to perform better.

The company’s change of heart marks a departure from its previous stance on remote work; CEO Michael Dell himself had previously been an advocate.

Dell fights against WFHers

In 2022, the company’s CEO stated: “At Dell, we found no meaningful differences for team members working remotely or office-based even before the pandemic forced everyone home.”

Under the new policy, workers will fall into one of two remote-style categories: purely remote, which means that they will no longer be considered for career advancement opportunities, and hybrid, whereby workers will be required to be in the office at least three days per week.

In a memo obtained by Business Insider, Dell emphasized the importance of in-person connections and hinted at the necessity for remote workers to transition to hybrid roles.

Michael Dell previously told followers on LinkedIn, “If you are counting on forced hours spent in a traditional office to create collaboration and provide a feeling of belonging within your organization, you’re doing it wrong.”

Employees speaking anonymously to Business Insider expressed frustration and concern over the new policy, fearing job insecurity and the impact of increased office hours on work-life balance, with many workers living hours away from an office location.

While Dell may not be the only company implementing such drastic measures – Apple, Google, Microsoft, and more have also been pushing office-based working since the pandemic – it does at least highlight an ongoing and seemingly unsettled debate about the future of remote work and the effectiveness of working from an office.

TechRadar Pro has asked Dell to confirm the report.

Why printers are the ideal productivity tool for home and office workers alike

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date March 14, 2024
No Comments on Why printers are the ideal productivity tool for home and office workers alike

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Alongside the developments in digitisation and smart technologies, having reliable hardware tools such as an office printer is still an essential component to any small business office or home workspace. With recent figures from the ONS claiming 1 in 4 workers now have some kind of hybrid working model, providing the flexibility to print whatever and whenever is crucial for workers everywhere.

With many of us regularly splitting work between the office and at home, having a printing solution that is reliable and efficient has never been as important – and fortunately, HP is able to offer a range of printing solutions to suit all budgets and workforces, from independent workers and freelancers up to smaller businesses looking to grow and prosper.

If you’re looking to expand your business, you want employees who are equipped and enabled to be productive – and constantly shuttling between a desk and a printer is a sure way to ensure that fewer things get done. The HP OfficeJet Pro 9100 printer series offers a powerful and efficient printing solution for all your reports, budget docs, proposals and more. Customers can have up to 14 printers networked together in an office without the need for extra hardware or IT support, meaning your business is equipped to work seamlessly, and can focus on getting work done with less tech disruption.

For those looking for something more flexible,the HP OfficeJet Pro 9100b printer series focuses on the needs of managers and IT decision makers alike, particularly those who need to travel between multiple locations such as different office branches. This device provides a powerful and affordable way to get printing fast, offering reliable and adaptable printing for those who arrive in an office and need to have the most up to date documents ready and waiting.

And for workers focused more on creative tasks or design work, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9700 printer series offers an ideal solution for the likes of graphic designers or architects. Documents such as spreadsheets, floorplans and technical drawings can all be handled quickly and easily, with high-quality colour prints saving time and boosting productivity, which can be crucial when a key deadline for a big project arrives.

Finally, for those of us working from home predominantly, or only coming into the office on infrequent occasions, the HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 series offers the ideal solution. Designed to be able to slot into the smaller nooks and crannies within home offices, the Pro 8100 series allows hybrid workers to effortlessly produce and print notes, presentations, handouts and more before heading into the office.

All of HP’s printers are supplied with the company’s EvoMore cartridges, which mark a significant step forward in helping to make the printing industry as a whole more environmentally-friendly. With sustainability more important than ever before, you can be sure your business is doing its green duty with EvoMore, HP’s first new ink product line in over a decade.

So wherever you work, and whatever stage your business may be at, you can rest assured that there is an HP printer ideally set up to service your needs – to find out more, visit the company’s website here for all the latest deals and updates.

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Tags alike, Home, Ideal, Office, printers, Productivity, tool, workers

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Using AutoGen 2.0 to easily create AI automations and workers

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date January 22, 2024
No Comments on Using AutoGen 2.0 to easily create AI automations and workers

Microsoft AutoGen AI framework to build AI workflowsMicrosoft AutoGen AI framework to build AI workflows

If you are interested in creating a workforce of AI assistants or using AI to automate workflows and processes to improve your productivity or business workflows. You should deftly check out the automated AI agent creation and workflow system released by Microsoft. AutoGen is a framework that enables development of LLM applications using multiple agents that can converse with each other to solve tasks. AutoGen agents are customizable, conversable, and seamlessly allow human participation. They can operate in various modes that employ combinations of LLMs, human inputs, and tools. AutoGen has been made available by Microsoft and is now in its second generation.

Automating tasks using AI has become more accessible than ever and AutoGen 2.0 is at the forefront of this shift, offering a sophisticated suite that simplifies the creation and management of AI assistants. This tool is a boon for those looking to enhance their workflow without needing deep development knowledge.

Building AutoGen 2.0 AI assistants

One way to get started with AutoGen 2.0, is to install Anaconda, which is essential for handling Python environments and packages. Anaconda is particularly useful for scientific computing, making it a great choice for AI development. After setting up Anaconda, you’ll need to create a new Python environment to keep your AI projects organized and separate from other work.

The next important task is to obtain an OpenAI API key. This key connects AutoGen Studio with OpenAI’s language models, like GPT-3, which are at the cutting edge of AI technology. With this key, your AI assistant will be able to perform a wide range of tasks with remarkable capability.

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Once you have your API key, you can install AutoGen Studio using pip, the package manager for Python. A few commands in your terminal or command prompt are all it takes to get AutoGen Studio up and running.

Using AutoGen to build AI automations

Launching AutoGen Studio reveals an intuitive user interface that’s been designed for ease of use. The interface includes thoughtful features such as dark mode, which is easier on the eyes during long coding sessions. Navigating through the various options and settings is straightforward, making the experience user-friendly.
At the core of AutoGen 2.0 are agent workflows. These are sequences of tasks that your AI agents will carry out. You’ll learn how to create and adjust these workflows to match your specific goals, whether that’s analyzing data, generating content, or something else entirely.
Skills are another fundamental aspect of AutoGen 2.0. By developing skills, your agents can run code locally, which improves response times and privacy by reducing the need to connect to external servers.
Agent templates are also available within AutoGen 2.0. These pre-built models provide a starting point for your AI assistants, saving you time and allowing you to concentrate on tailoring them to your needs.
Customization is a critical feature of AutoGen 2.0. You’ll learn how to modify workflows to fit your unique requirements. By combining different agents and skills, you can create complex sequences that handle intricate tasks with ease.
The platform includes a playground area where you can experiment with crafting sessions for your models. This space is perfect for testing and refining how your AI assistant responds and acts. Once you’ve perfected a session, you can save it in the gallery for later use. This allows you to build on successful configurations for future tasks.

Main features of AutoGen

AutoGen enables building next-gen LLM applications based on multi-agent conversations with minimal effort. It simplifies the orchestration, automation, and optimization of a complex LLM workflow. It maximizes the performance of LLM models and overcomes their weaknesses.
It supports diverse conversation patterns for complex workflows. With customizable and conversable agents, developers can use AutoGen to build a wide range of conversation patterns concerning conversation autonomy, the number of agents, and agent conversation topology.
It provides a collection of working systems with different complexities. These systems span a wide range of applications from various domains and complexities. This demonstrates how AutoGen can easily support diverse conversation patterns.
AutoGen provides enhanced LLM inference. It offers utilities like API unification and caching, and advanced usage patterns, such as error handling, multi-config inference, context programming, etc.

Imagine using AutoGen 2.0 to set up an AI assistant that can retrieve, analyze, and visualize stock price data. This kind of task can be carried out smoothly within AutoGen Studio, showcasing the tool’s practicality and efficiency. To truly tap into the power of AutoGen Studio, it’s advisable to experiment with different workflows and settings. This exploration will help you understand the tool’s full potential to enhance your workflow and increase productivity.

AutoGen 2.0 is a powerful asset for anyone looking to create AI assistants and AI automations. By following the steps outlined above, you’ll be well on your way to automating tasks effectively and achieving new heights of efficiency in your work. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or someone with a semi-technical background, AutoGen 2.0 has the capabilities to transform the way you approach task automation.

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Tags AutoGen, automations, Create, easily, workers

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Build a team of AI workers for your business using CrewAI

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date January 14, 2024
No Comments on Build a team of AI workers for your business using CrewAI

Build a team of AI workers for your business using CrewAI

Having access to a single AI assistant is fantastic but what if you could create an entire workforce of AI assistants that can communicate together to solve problems, code and help you with those mundane tasks of daily life. A new platform is making waves among developers and tech enthusiasts called CrewAI and has been specifically designed to build AI workersfor a wide variety of different applications.

Offering a powerful AI tool that simplifies the orchestration of autonomous AI agents, enabling them to work together to accomplish complex tasks. This open-source platform is not only easy to use but also highly efficient, quickly garnering attention and a growing community on platforms such as GitHub. Providing users with a “cutting-edge framework for orchestrating role-playing, autonomous AI agents. By fostering collaborative intelligence, CrewAI empowers agents to work together seamlessly, tackling complex tasks.”

CrewAI workflow

At the heart of CrewAI is a role-based agent design, which allows users to assign specific roles and tasks to each AI workers. This structured approach ensures that each agent operates within its area of expertise, contributing to the team’s overall performance and the achievement of a shared objective. The platform’s collaborative nature is particularly beneficial for projects that require a combination of diverse skills and knowledge.

One of the standout features of CrewAI is its compatibility with a range of language learning models, both open-source and proprietary. This versatility makes it an ideal tool for developers looking to integrate different AI capabilities into their projects. Additionally, CrewAI’s custom GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) facilitates interactive queries about the platform’s features, providing an intuitive experience for users.

Building autonomous AI workers

Matthew Berman explains more about the CrewAI framework that has been specifically designed to help you build autonomous AI agent teams with a focus on giving them tools, delegation powers, and more.

Learn more about CrewAI and how you can build an army of AI workers to improve productivity and efficiency in your business or personal life. Prompt Engineering has created an overview video low showing how you can build your own team of autonomous AI agents.

“CrewAI is designed to enable AI agents to assume roles, share goals, and operate in a cohesive unit – much like a well-oiled crew. Whether you’re building a smart assistant platform, an automated customer service ensemble, or a multi-agent research team, CrewAI provides the backbone for sophisticated multi-agent interactions.”

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CrewAI is not exclusively for seasoned experts; it also caters to beginners by offering a comprehensive guide for building applications such as chatbots. This step-by-step guide walks users through the entire development process, from conceptualization to deployment, making it accessible to a wide range of developers.

One of the platform’s key advantages is its accessibility. Available through a Google Colab notebook, CrewAI is free and straightforward to use. Users can easily set up their projects by importing the necessary packages and defining their agents, complete with designated roles, goals, and tools.

The platform’s dynamic task assignment feature allows for the creation of a crew of agents that can execute tasks in a sequential or planned manner, providing the flexibility needed to tackle various project requirements. This adaptability is crucial for developers who need to tailor their AI systems to specific tasks.

Features of CrewAI

Role-Based Agent Design: Customize agents with specific roles, goals, and tools.
Autonomous Inter-Agent Delegation: Agents can autonomously delegate tasks and inquire amongst themselves, enhancing problem-solving efficiency.
Flexible Task Management: Define tasks with customizable tools and assign them to agents dynamically.
Processes Driven: Currently only supports sequential task execution but more complex processes like consensual and hierarchical being worked on.

Transparency is another core value of CrewAI. The platform enables users to observe the thought processes and actions of the agents, offering insights into their decision-making and problem-solving strategies. This level of transparency is essential for building trust and understanding in the system.

CrewAI is continuously evolving, with ongoing development efforts focused on enhancing its capabilities and optimizing its performance. The platform is at the forefront of autonomous AI agent orchestration, and its future looks promising as it pushes the boundaries of what is possible in this field.

For developers interested in the potential of autonomous AI agents, CrewAI stands out as a top choice. Its open-source nature, user-friendly interface, and robust set of features make it a prime candidate for driving innovation in AI. Whether the goal is to create a simple chatbot or a complex system of collaborative agents, CrewAI provides the foundation necessary for a successful project. As the platform continues to grow and improve, it is poised to play a significant role in the evolution of AI technology, offering developers the tools they need to bring their creative visions to life.

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Tags Build, Business, CrewAI, team, workers