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Zoom Announced AI Powered Features and Apples WWDC 2023

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Hey friend! As a fellow tech geek, I‘ve got some exciting updates to share with you today! 🤓

Apple Announces WWDC 2023 Starting June 5th – Here‘s What to Expect

Apple recently announced its 34th annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) event, returning June 5th through 9th this year. Like the past three WWDCs, the bulk of the 2023 conference will be online and free for all developers to attend remotely.

You‘ll need to submit Apple‘s Request to Attend form to gain access to the virtual sessions.

For a limited number of developers and students, Apple is also hosting a special in-person event at Apple Park on June 5th. Attendees will get face time with Apple employees, attend the Apple Design Awards, and view the keynote and State of the Union videos together.

As a developer myself, I‘m excited to see what Apple unveils this year. Here are some of my predictions for WWDC 2023:

New Operating System Releases

We‘ll almost certainly get previews and betas of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS 14.

Rumors suggest iOS 17 could bring better multitasking on iPadOS with windowing capabilities. watchOS 10 may add new health tracking sensors and sleep enhancements.

AR/VR Headset Reveal

After years of rumors, Apple may finally reveal its mixed reality headset. Their job listings and acquisitions signal Apple is gearing up to enter the AR/VR race against Meta.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts the headset could debut by January 2023 for $1000-2000. WWDC would be the perfect stage to preview the hardware and rOS software powering it.

Mac Pro and Display

Apple is also expected to unveil a new high-end Mac Pro with an Apple silicon chip. It could feature up to 24 CPU cores and 76 GPU cores, making it their most powerful Mac yet.

A new Apple external display (perhaps called Pro Display XDR) may also get announced.

MacBook Air Redesign

We might get a sneak peek at a redesigned 15-inch MacBook Air with slimmer bezels. Rumors point to an M2 chip and MagSafe charging. I‘d love to see new color options too!

Software Workshops and Events

WWDC is about more than new products. Apple offers 100+ development sessions, 1-on-1 labs with engineers, and social events for attendees.

The Swift Student Challenge encourages young developers to build an interactive Swift playground app for iPad or Mac. It‘s an awesome program for aspiring coders.

While I‘m eager to see what surprises Apple has in store, the workshops and community connections are just as valuable for developers. WWDC creates opportunities to learn, find mentors, and level up your skills.

My WWDC 2023 Predictions

If I had to guess, the biggest reveals will be the AR/VR headset, Mac Pro with Apple silicon, iOS 17, and the future of carOS for Apple‘s electric vehicle project.

But Apple is great at keeping secrets. I can‘t wait to see what other surprises get unveiled on June 5th! As a fellow developer and Apple fan, I‘m sure you share my excitement. 😄

Microsoft Unveils AI-Powered Security Copilot to Bolster Cybersecurity

Cyberattacks are growing more sophisticated every year. To empower security teams, Microsoft recently announced Security Copilot – an AI assistant that helps identify and combat security threats.

Here‘s an overview of how Security Copilot works:

  • It uses natural language processing so you can query it conversationally.

  • You can ask for a summary of security incidents, get alerts from tools, analyze files/URLs, and more.

  • Under the hood, it taps into Microsoft‘s massive threat intelligence from over 65 trillion signals.

  • It helps block 25 billion brute force attacks every second and leverages info from 8,000 researchers.

  • It integrates with Microsoft Defender, Sentinel, and other security products.

As a cybersecurity analyst myself, I‘m intrigued by the possibilities. By combining AI with Microsoft‘s security data and platforms, Copilot could automate tasks and provide 24/7 support.

The AI Behind Copilot

Copilot is powered by two key technologies:

  • OpenAI‘s GPT-4 – This new generative AI model can understand and generate human-like text. It builds on the capabilities of GPT-3.

  • Microsoft‘s Prometheus Model – A security-focused natural language model trained on cyberattack data.

By pairing these two cutting-edge AI systems, Copilot can interpret threats and communicate insights conversationally.

The Future of AI in Cybersecurity

AI is increasingly crucial for cybersecurity teams battling sophisticated hacking threats like:

  • Targeted ransomware attacks
  • Supply chain compromise
  • Nation-state actors
  • Insider threats

Tools like Copilot act as an always-on teammate that never sleeps. It can analyze more signals and respond faster than humans alone.

As Microsoft Chairman Brad Smith wrote, "AI systems working together with human expertise can take cybersecurity to a new level."

But AI still has limitations too. User privacy, data biases, and transparency are valid concerns with any AI system. Microsoft will need to ensure Copilot acts ethically as it rolls out more broadly.

When Can We Try Security Copilot?

For now, Copilot remains in private preview with select customers. Microsoft hasn‘t shared a timeline for general availability yet.

I‘m excited by its potential, but look forward to seeing how it operates at scale. Either way, Copilot shows that AI will be critical for the future of cybersecurity.

To learn more about Microsoft‘s plans, check out their Security Copilot site.

Zoom Partners With OpenAI to Launch AI Assistant and Smart Features

Video conferencing platform Zoom already offers handy features like meeting transcriptions, highlights, and post-meeting recaps.

Now they‘ve partnered with OpenAI to take their AI capabilities even further. Announced as Zoom IQ, the features aim to boost productivity and user experience.

Here are some of the key improvements users can expect:

  • Meeting summaries – If you‘re late or miss part of a meeting, Zoom IQ will summarize details and ask clarifying questions when you return.

  • Agenda creation – It can automatically generate personalized agendas by scanning your calendar, emails, and past meetings.

  • Note taking – Zoom IQ will take notes, extract action items, and share recaps to your team chat.

  • Sales insights – For sales teams, Zoom IQ for Sales surfaces key insights from customer meetings.

  • Whiteboard ideas – You can describe concepts and Zoom IQ will create whiteboard diagrams.

  • Email drafts – It can pre-populate email drafts based on your calendar events and meeting notes.

By integrating OpenAI models like GPT-3, Zoom IQ aims to become a virtual assistant that captures knowledge and accelerates workflows.

The Rise of AI Productivity Tools

Zoom is the latest to tap into AI/NLP to enhance traditional tools:

  • Microsoft added an AI Copilot to Office apps to suggest content.
  • Google introduced AI-powered writing suggestions in Docs.
  • Dropbox launched a similar "DocAssistant" to summarize files.

Consumer Survey Data on AI Assistants

Surveys indicate growing openness to AI productivity aids:

  • 72% are interested in AI tools that save time at work. (Oracle)
  • 57% want AI to help schedule meetings and reduce repetitive tasks. (PwC)
  • 55% see workplace AI as an advantage but need transparency on its impact. (Eagle Hill Consulting)

As someone who spends many hours in meetings and communicating, I‘m optimistic about Zoom IQ‘s potential. But enhancing user trust and transparency around data will be critical too.

The Road Ahead for Zoom IQ

For now, Zoom IQ features are rolling out slowly to business customers. Broad general availability likely won‘t happen until later this year or 2024.

AI still has limitations in fully understanding human conversations and nuances. Expect some growing pains.

But with smart design, Zoom IQ could become an invaluable assistant for sales calls, meetings, and collaboration. I‘ll be eager to try it out myself soon!

The Overarching Trend

Stepping back, these announcements from Apple, Microsoft and Zoom illustrate a key tech trend – the push to infuse AI into traditional tools to drive productivity and efficiency.

Done right, AI can help humans focus on more strategic tasks by eliminating drudgery. It enables new paradigm-shifting technologies like AR and VR. And it acts as a scalable assistant that never sleeps.

But it also raises valid concerns around data privacy, security risks, bias, and transparency. As both a technologist and user, I‘ll be watching closely to see how Apple, Microsoft and Zoom navigate these challenges.

One thing is certain – AI will increasingly transform consumer and enterprise technology in the years ahead. As geeks, we get to witness this emerging revolution firsthand. It‘s an exciting time for tech indeed!

Let me know if you have any other thoughts on Apple WWDC 2023, Microsoft‘s Security Copilot, Zoom‘s new features, or the future of AI. I always love geeking out over this stuff with fellow tech enthusiasts! 🤓

AlexisKestler

Written by Alexis Kestler

A female web designer and programmer - Now is a 36-year IT professional with over 15 years of experience living in NorCal. I enjoy keeping my feet wet in the world of technology through reading, working, and researching topics that pique my interest.