The world of technology is rapidly evolving, with artificial intelligence (AI) being at the forefront of innovation. Recent advancements in AI have led to the development of various applications and tools that are transforming industries and revolutionizing the way we live and work. From AI-powered customer service to AI-driven search engines, the potential of AI is vast and continues to grow.
Building a Voice Interface for Generative AI Assistants
Building a voice interface for generative AI assistants is a complex task that requires careful consideration of several factors, including the choice of AI model, the design of the user interface, and the integration of the voice interface with the AI model. The article provides a step-by-step guide on how to create a voice interface for an existing Amazon Bedrock generative AI assistant, enabling customers to engage in phone-based conversations with the AI implementation. The solution uses Amazon Web Services, including Step Functions and Amazon Chime SDK PSTN audio service, to deliver natural voice conversations with AI models through quick deployment using visual workflows. The demo application uses the base model to enable open-ended questions, and organizations can implement either Amazon Bedrock or other models to address specific business requirements.
AI Powers Real Data Center Investments
AI is driving significant investments in data centers, with global data center capex increasing by 51% in 2024 to $455 billion. The growth is led by hyperscalers such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, which are bolstering their support for AI training workloads. Custom accelerators from these hyperscalers accounted for more than half of the total investment, with Nvidia's Hopper architecture dominating spending. The research firm, Dell'Oro Group, notes that the number of data centers operated by hyperscalers has doubled over the past five years, with the capacity of hyperscale data centers doubling over the past four years.
How Japan's Largest AI Unicorn is Shaping the Future of Deep Learning
Preferred Networks, Japan's leading AI startup, is shaping the future of deep learning by tackling real-world challenges through deep learning. The company has embarked on several joint projects, ranging from autonomous driving to cutting-edge semiconductors, and has grown into Japan's largest unicorn, valued at over $1 billion. Preferred Networks' CEO, Toru Nishikawa, says that the company is trying to create new value in the world by focusing on computers and computer science, and its vision is to make the world a better place by making the latest technology available in the shortest possible time.
St. Pete Hospital's AI App Helps Quickly Identify Patients' Issues
A hospital in St. Petersburg is using an AI app to help doctors quickly identify patients' issues, including strokes. The app analyzes data from CT scans and other sources to provide insights that can help doctors make quicker and more accurate diagnoses. The app has been used to help a stroke victim, Ana Cortes, who was able to receive timely treatment and make a full recovery. The hospital's use of AI is part of a growing trend in the medical field, where AI is being used to improve patient outcomes and streamline clinical workflows.
EBSCO Information Services Launches Newest Artificial Intelligence Features
EBSCO Information Services has launched two new AI features, AI Insights and Natural Language Search, which are designed to create efficiencies for researchers. AI Insights generates a short list of key insights from full-text articles, while Natural Language Search improves the researcher's experience by enhancing context handling and overall search accuracy. The new capabilities are part of EBSCO's ongoing commitment to enhancing the researcher journey and user experience. The company's Director of AI and Semantic Innovation, Ashleigh Faith, says that the innovations have been thoughtfully developed based on extensive user feedback.
Big Sur AI Unveils Breakthrough E-Commerce AI Suite at Shoptalk 2025
Big Sur AI has unveiled a breakthrough e-commerce AI suite at Shoptalk 2025, which offers specialized AI agents to transform online shopping experiences. The comprehensive platform delivers personalized, interactive customer engagement that mimics in-store assistance, boosting traffic and brand visibility in AI search engines. The suite includes AI Sales Agent, AI Content Marketer, Adaptive AI Quiz, and AI Data Scientist, which work together to optimize the pre-purchase experience. Big Sur AI's CEO, Vinod Ramachandran, says that the company's expanded suite of AI agents democratizes access to sophisticated AI solutions, allowing merchants of all sizes to compete effectively.
AI's Invisible Touch: Customer Service Shifts to Revenue Driver
Enterprises are expanding their use of AI in customer experience to encompass the entirety of the process, not just relegating it to back-office tasks. AI-powered customer experience creates the feeling of being understood, of having needs anticipated and met with minimal effort. The use of AI in customer service is shifting from a cost center to a revenue generator, with companies using AI to drive ROI through omnichannel engagement. Google Cloud's senior director of industry products and solutions, O'Malley, says that AI-powered CX creates a seamless and personalized experience that drives customer loyalty and sales.
Google Is Searching for an Answer to ChatGPT
Google is overhauling its search engine to incorporate AI-powered chatbots that can answer questions directly. The company's web search team presented a proposal to leadership in 2021 to have a chatbot greet visitors at the search results page and offer to answer questions directly. Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai, has been talking about redesigning the company around artificial intelligence, and the organization runs two of the world's most sophisticated AI labs. The move is seen as a response to the growing popularity of ChatGPT, a chatbot developed by OpenAI.
German AI-Search Firm AmberSearch Secures €2.1M Seed Investment
AmberSearch, a German AI-search company, has secured €2.1 million in seed investment from Ventech, with participation from angel investors. The company's AI-powered search engine and chat interface enable employees to instantly retrieve documents, data, and insights from internal company sources. AmberSearch connects multiple platforms, not only US-American but also European software systems, allowing businesses to connect to their entire knowledge base. The company's product is integrated at over 200 SMEs throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Google Expands Search AI Mode Access to Free Users on Waitlist
Google has expanded access to its Search AI Mode to free users on the waitlist. The new Search AI Mode was announced at the start of March, and waitlist access is now expanding beyond Google One AI Premium to free users. The Search AI Mode offers a chat-esque UI with a number of four-color flourishes, and users can access and continue past queries through the AI Mode history button. The experience has not changed much in the past 2+ weeks, and Google is presumably expanding its testing process.
Key Takeaways
- AI is driving significant investments in data centers, with global data center capex increasing by 51% in 2024 to $455 billion.
- The use of AI in customer service is shifting from a cost center to a revenue generator, with companies using AI to drive ROI through omnichannel engagement.
- Google is overhauling its search engine to incorporate AI-powered chatbots that can answer questions directly.
- AmberSearch, a German AI-search company, has secured €2.1 million in seed investment from Ventech, with participation from angel investors.
- Big Sur AI has unveiled a breakthrough e-commerce AI suite at Shoptalk 2025, which offers specialized AI agents to transform online shopping experiences.
- EBSCO Information Services has launched two new AI features, AI Insights and Natural Language Search, which are designed to create efficiencies for researchers.
- Preferred Networks, Japan's leading AI startup, is shaping the future of deep learning by tackling real-world challenges through deep learning.
- A hospital in St. Petersburg is using an AI app to help doctors quickly identify patients' issues, including strokes.
- Google has expanded access to its Search AI Mode to free users on the waitlist.
Sources
- Building a voice interface for generative AI assistants
- AI powers real data center investments
- How Japan's largest AI unicorn is shaping the future of deep learning
- St. Pete hospital's AI app helps quickly identify patients' issues
- EBSCO Information Services Launches Newest Artificial Intelligence Features
- Big Sur AI Unveils Breakthrough E-Commerce AI Suite at Shoptalk 2025
- AI’s Invisible Touch: Customer Service Shifts to Revenue Driver
- Google Is Searching for an Answer to ChatGPT
- German AI-search firm amberSearch secures €2.1M Seed investment
- Google expands Search AI Mode access to free users on waitlist