Welcome to CIO Influence Top IT, Cloud, and Cybersecurity News Highlights of the week. In this roundup, we bring you the latest developments from the tech giants during the week. These updates o**** valuable insights into the evolving digital landscape, from cybersecurity measures to technological innovations.
#1 IBM’s Acquisition of HashiCorp Enhances Hybrid Cloud Solutions
IBM announced its agreement to acquire HashiCorp Inc. for $6.4 billion, at $35 per share in c***, for its hybrid cloud and AI offerings. The deal will help IBM manage the growing complexities that it still faces with managing infrastructure across multiple clouds and further bolster IBM’s hybrid cloud and AI offerings. HashiCorp’s suite of products will give a wide-ranging set of capabilities for Infrastructure and Security Lifecycle Management, where IBM’s hybrid cloud and AI innovation focus.
The acquisition will enable IBM to o**** a complete hybrid cloud platform, leveraging HashiCorp’s expertise and talent. HashiCorp solutions, especially Terraform, will contribute to IBM’s commitment to industry collaboration and open-source hybrid cloud and AI innovation. This acquisition marks a huge step for both firms as they seek to address the evolving needs of their enterprise clients while driving further into the rapid expansion of cloud-native workloads and the AI revolution.
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#2 Lenovo Unveils LISSA: AI-Powered Solution for Sustainable IT Decision-Making
Lenovo introduced LISSA, an AI-powered sustainability engine, which gives business superpowers the ability to make data-driven, sustainable purchasing decisions for IT. LISSA brings actionable insights into estimates of emissions impacts across the IT lifecycle. This will provide customized sustainability solutions that align with goals.
Utilizing Generative AI, LISSA identifies carbon emissions associated with Lenovo sustainability solutions. This aids in creating IT decarbonization pathways and opportunities to reduce emissions. Lenovo strives to help businesses achieve measurable outcomes that make net-zero greenhouse gas emissions a reality by 2050. Through LISSA, Lenovo allows customers to make informed, sustainable IT choices and optimize investments for furthering environmental goals.
#3 Dell Expands its Edge Manufacturing Solutions with Hyundai AutoEver and Intel
Dell collaborates with Hyundai AutoEver and Intel to provide manufacturers with better edge computing capabilities and deliver AI to refine factory processes. Dell Validated Design for Manufacturing Edge combines Hyundai AutoEver’s NeoFactory IoT software for real-time data analysis to achieve optimum equipment performance and predictive maintenance.
In addition, Dell has announced NativeEdge Blueprints with Intel’s OpenVINO Developer Toolbox, enabling businesses with the freedom of choice and optimized AI inferencing for edge computing. This expansion underscores Dell’s commitment to manufacturers and businesses in providing advanced technologies and driving operational efficiency and digital transformation.
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#4 U.S. Department of Defense Selects Intel Foundry for Phase Three of RAMP-C Program
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has selected Intel Foundry for Phase Three of the Rapid Assured Microelectronics Prototypes – Commercial (RAMP-C) program. The NSTXL’s S2MARTS OTA program implements RAMP-C and advances tape-out and test of early defense industrial base (DIB) product prototypes, demonstrating Intel 18A process technology readiness for HVM.
RAMP-C customers will be able to manufacture commercial and DIB product prototypes using Intel 18A process technology. This marks a significant step in Intel’s focus on accelerating partnerships and furthering US leadership in the global race for microelectronics R&D and advanced manufacturing. RAMP-C aims to reestablish US leadership in the best-of-breed semiconductors to enable US-based DIB and commercial customers to produce critical integrated circuits. Phase three of RAMP-C will produce wide test chips and many prototype tape-outs, demonstrating the capabilities of Intel 18A and advancing the DoD’s technology development objectives in microelectronics.
#5Â AWS New Capabilities for Amazon Bedrock with Surge in Demand for Generative AI Applications
Amazon Web Services announced new features and capabilities in the Amazon Bedrock platform, satisfying the growing demand for secure and powerful generative AI applications. Thousands of customers have chosen Amazon Bedrock as their foundation for generative AI strategies, citing ease of use, speed, and security. The platform includes access to leading foundation models FMs from leading providers such as AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Cohere, etc, giving customers the ability to choose their AI solution from a variety. As a fully managed service, Amazon Bedrock dramatically relieves customers from the burden of managing infrastructure for any future capabilities of generative AI applications, ensuring seamless deployment, scalability, and optimization.
Key Points:
- Custom Model Import: Amazon Bedrock allows customers to import and use their custom models, giving them the freedom to adopt specific models that can be tailored to the business process in a very specific way.
- Model Evaluation Capabilities: With Model Evaluation, customers can automatically evaluate and compare many different models to find the best model for a given business problem.
- Guardrails for Better Safety: Amazon Bedrock now comes with Guardrails, the newest safety feature that filters out undesired and harmful content while making sure AI is deployed responsibly.
- More Model Choices: AWS continues to expand the Amazon Titan family of models with the announcements of Titan Text Embeddings V2, Titan Image Generator, and new models from Cohere and Meta, giving customers even more options and flexibility to deploy.
#6 Microsoft’s Strategic Partnerships of the Week
1. Cognizant and Microsoft to Drive Generative AI Adoption in Enterprises
Cognizant and Microsoft Corp. have announced an expanded global partnership to broaden the adoption of generative AI in the enterprise sector and foster industry transformation. This collaboration seeks to leverage Microsoft’s generative AI and Copilots to drive innovation, enhance employee experiences, and accelerate cross-industry innovation. The partnership, backed by Cognizant’s expertise in digital transformation services, aims to inject significant innovation into enterprise operations, contributing to the projected $1 trillion AI is expected to add to the U.S. GDP over the next decade.
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2. Coca-Cola and Microsoft Forge Five-Year Partnership to Advance Cloud and Generative AI
Microsoft Corp. and The Coca-Cola Company have announced a five-year strategic partnership to align Coca-Cola’s core technology strategy, accelerate the deployment of emerging technologies, and drive global innovation and productiveness.
Key Points:
- Financial Commitment: Coca-Cola has committed $1.1 billion to the utilization of the Microsoft Cloud and its generative AI capabilities, and Coca-Cola continues to transform its technology with Microsoft Cloud, which it has chosen and will support as its target platform.
- Innovative Initiatives: The partnership will evaluate technologies such as Azure OpenAI Service to build new generative AI applications across multiple business functions. Testing includes consideration of Copilot for Microsoft 365 to drive workplace productivity.
- Migration to Azure: Coca-Cola has moved all its applications to Microsoft Azure, and most major independent bottling partners have followed, positioning Coca-Cola as a leader in AI adoption and innovative use of Azure OpenAI Service.
- Digital Transformation: The deal represents a major milestone in Coca-Cola’s digital transformation journey, reflecting increased access to Microsoft’s cloud and AI platforms, Microsoft 365, Power BI, Dynamics 365, Defender, and Fabric solutions that drive efficiency, scale, and innovations.
- Strategic Focus: The partnership represents Coca-Cola’s determination to become a digital-first enterprise supported by emerging technologies. Microsoft’s support enables the acceleration of AI adoption to create more enterprise value.
#7 Rackspace FAIR and OhioX’s Partnership Drives Responsible AI Adoption in Ohio
Rackspace Technology announced a partnership between Foundry for AI by Rackspace (FAIR) and OhioX, the Ohio-based non-profit technology and innovation trade association. The partnership works to speed the responsible adoption of AI in Ohio by advancing ethical AI practices, fostering innovation, and driving economic growth.
- Exclusive Partnership: FAIR is the exclusive presenting partner of the 2024 OhioX Ohio AI Roundtable, bringing together industry leaders to focus on opportunities and challenges in adopting AI.
- Thought Leadership: FAIR will moderate an AI panel discussion at OhioX’s 3rd annual Ohio Tech Summit, focusing on AI trends and using AI to drive business success.
- Partnership on Surveys: OhioX and FAIR will team up to develop a “State of AI in Ohio” survey as a part of OhioX Insights, which will gather insights to support responsible AI adoption.
- Mission Alignment: The partnership aligns with FAIR’s mission to promote Responsible AI practices and ensure that AI technologies benefit all Ohioans.
#8 Huawei Showcases Intelligent Distribution Solution at 26th World Energy Congress
Huawei is also exhibiting the new Intelligent Distribution Solution, IDS, at the 26th World Energy Congress in Rotterdam, focusing on helping the electric power industry overcome the critical issues of line loss and incomparable service. This innovative IDS, developed with the aid of ecosystem partners, leverages advanced technologies for optimizing power distribution in the grid. The solution allows for further enhancement of grid reliability and good integration of renewable energy, supported by its unique architecture framework. This whole solution allows for real-time observation and lets the utility providers optimize operations, lower costs, and provide better customer satisfaction by detecting and quickly repairing faults. Successfully deployed in China and promising test results worldwide, Huawei’s IDS impacts power distribution across the globe. The WEC visitors in Rotterdam Ahoy can learn more about the solution at the Huawei booth.
#9 HPE Aruba Networking Introduces High-Capacity Wi-Fi 7 Access Points Enhancing Enterprise Security
Hewlett Packard Enterprise introduced Wi-Fi 7 access points that enhance network security and adaptability to IoT. The Wi-Fi 7 APs of the HPE Aruba Networking design provide up to 30 percent more wireless traffic capacity than traditional APs. HPE Aruba Networking APs enhance the performance of enterprise AI, IoT, location, and security applications.
High-Capacity Wi-Fi 7 Points offers:
- Increased Capacity: The new Wi-Fi 7 APs from HPE Aruba Networking utilize patented ultra tri-band hardware technology, driving unmatched performance and efficiencies far above the industry expectations.
- IoT integration: HPE Aruba Networking APs work as smart IoT hubs and support various protocols, including Zigbee and Bluetooth, eliminating the need for separate IoT network overlays.
- AI and Data Insights: HPE Aruba Networking APs work with over 350 HPE technology partners to efficiently capture, secure, and consume IoT-generated data for business insights and AI model development.
- Industry Recognition: Wi-Fi 7 solves for the increasing demand for ubiquitous security, backward compatibility, and IoT device support, according to Chris DePuy, principal analyst at 650 Group.
- Advanced Feature: The HPE Aruba Networking 730 Series Campus APs include improvements to Wi-Fi performance, enhanced security features, such as link-level encryption, easy device onboarding, increased protocol support, and precision location services for real-time applications.
- Sustainability: AI-driven dynamic power-saving mode saves energy, aligning with sustainability goals.
- Global Availability: The HPE Aruba Networking 730 Series Access Points will be globally available in July 2024. They are all delivered with a limited l******* w******* and managed through HPE Aruba Networking Central.
#10 NetApp Announces 2024 Global Shift in AI-Driven Innovation in Its Cloud Complexity Report
NetApp, a leader in intelligent data infrastructure, has announced its second annual Cloud Complexity Report. This report reveals that leaders and laggards differ strategically in their AI adoption, with unified data infrastructure standing as a key to the future of AI adoption. The report also reveals that AI leaders are highly represented in countries like India and the USA, where technology has driven adoption.
Even though large companies are likely to have ongoing AI projects, it was revealed that AI laggards, such as Japan and Germany, are quickly innovating to fill the gap. The technical challenges posed by increasing IT costs and data security concerns remain. However, they will not stop the progress of AI advancement as companies continue to invest in the cloud to drive innovation in AI worldwide.
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