April 17, 2025

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AI Revolutionizes Industries with New Developments and Partnerships

The AI industry has seen significant developments, with companies like The Hackett Group launching AI advisory programs to help organizations integrate AI into their businesses. OpenAI is in talks to acquire AI coding startup Windsurf for $3 billion, which would be its largest acquisition to date. Meanwhile, DMACC has partnered with Intel to create an AI-focused certificate class, and Fluidstack has selected VAST Data to deliver infrastructure for AI model training. Opera has added its Aria AI assistant to the Opera Mini browser, and General Assembly has launched an AI Academy to address gaps in AI capabilities. Additionally, AI is being used in various fields, including astronomy, where a machine-learning algorithm has been used to identify stars that may host rocky planets. These developments highlight the growing importance of AI in various industries and its potential to transform the workforce.

Hackett Group Launches AI Advisory Program

The Hackett Group has launched a Gen AI Executive Advisory Program to help organizations integrate AI into their businesses. The program is led by John K. Thompson, a recognized AI expert with over 38 years of experience. The program aims to accelerate and enhance an organization's overall Gen AI initiatives through an advisor-led approach. Thompson brings a unique blend of thought leadership and hands-on application of AI, making him an ideal leader for the program. The Hackett Group's Gen AI Executive Advisory Program reinforces its position as a leader in AI-driven consulting, helping organizations integrate Gen AI to enhance productivity, streamline operations, and drive sustainable growth.

Hackett Group Launches AI Advisory Program

The Hackett Group has launched a Gen AI Executive Advisory Program to help organizations integrate AI into their businesses. The program is led by John K. Thompson, a recognized AI expert with over 38 years of experience. The program aims to accelerate and enhance an organization's overall Gen AI initiatives through an advisor-led approach. Thompson brings a unique blend of thought leadership and hands-on application of AI, making him an ideal leader for the program. The Hackett Group's Gen AI Executive Advisory Program reinforces its position as a leader in AI-driven consulting, helping organizations integrate Gen AI to enhance productivity, streamline operations, and drive sustainable growth.

OpenAI to Acquire AI Coding Startup Windsurf

OpenAI is in talks to acquire Windsurf, an AI coding startup, for about $3 billion. Windsurf offers an AI tool for coding help and competes with other popular AI coding tools. The acquisition would be OpenAI's largest to date and would help the company stay ahead in the generative AI race. OpenAI has recently closed a $40 billion funding round and is investing heavily in new products. The acquisition of Windsurf would further enhance OpenAI's capabilities in AI-driven coding assistants.

OpenAI to Buy AI Coding Startup Windsurf

OpenAI is in talks to acquire Windsurf, an AI coding startup, for about $3 billion. The acquisition would be OpenAI's largest to date and would help the company stay ahead in the generative AI race. Windsurf offers an AI tool for coding help and competes with other popular AI coding tools. The terms of the deal have not been finalized and talks could still change or fall apart.

DMACC Partners with Intel for AI Workforce Training

DMACC has partnered with Intel to create an AI-focused certificate class through its Continuing Education program. The program aims to help students build AI skills to become workforce-ready. DMACC is the first school in Iowa to offer this program, which started in Fall 2024. The program is designed to help students gain technical confidence in AI and enhance their employability for AI-related jobs. Intel has an AI education workforce program in the US to prepare current and future workers with AI skills.

Fluidstack Selects VAST Data for AI Infrastructure

Fluidstack has selected VAST Data to deliver infrastructure to accelerate global frontier AI model training. VAST Data's platform provides Fluidstack's end customers with reliable, secure data management, future-proof AI infrastructure, and fast access to distributed data at limitless scale. The partnership will help Fluidstack empower organizations to use distributed datasets and enable globally-synchronized model training. Fluidstack's innovative approach to AI infrastructure delivery requires a data platform that can operate globally, securely, and with high performance.

Opera Adds AI Assistant to Opera Mini Browser

Opera has added its Aria AI assistant to the Opera Mini browser on Android. Aria can help users get the latest news and information, learn more about various subjects, and generate images. Opera uses a mix of models from OpenAI and Google to get relevant answers. The addition of Aria to Opera Mini is a natural addition to the browser, which has over a billion downloads on Android and more than 100 million users worldwide.

Silicon Valley and AI Paternalism

The TV show Silicon Valley offers a satirical look at the tech industry and its approach to artificial intelligence. The show's portrayal of tech executives and their paternalistic attitude towards AI is particularly relevant in today's AI-driven world. The show's characters, such as Richard Hendricks, Erlich Bachman, and Bertram Gilfoyle, embody the tech industry's hubris and arrogance. The show's satire is a commentary on the tech industry's tendency to create technology that serves its own interests rather than the greater good.

AI Helps Scientists Hunt for Alien Earths

A machine-learning algorithm has been used to identify nearly four dozen real stars that have a high probability of hosting a rocky planet in their habitable zone. The algorithm was trained on synthetic planetary systems and has achieved precision values of up to 0.99. The algorithm will be used to narrow down the many thousands of systems discovered by the European Space Agency's PLATO mission to the few that have a higher chance of supporting an Earth-like planet. This will allow astronomers to find them more quickly and efficiently.

NMSU AI Institute Fundraising Efforts

The New Mexico State University Foundation is featuring the Institute for Applied Practice in AI and Machine Learning in its 1888 Minutes of Giving campaign. The institute aims to bring together AI researchers, educators, and practitioners to lead the region and the state in the application of AI models and technologies to practical solutions. The institute will provide scholarships and resources to ensure equitable access to AI education, build state-of-the-art labs and facilities, and attract world-class researchers and innovators.

The Rise of the Superworker

A new explainer video has been published to help understand the four stages of AI automation. The video is part of the Galileo platform, which offers dozens of AI case studies. The video aims to help teams understand how to redesign their work with AI and become 'Superworkers'. The concept of the Superworker is becoming a reality as AI transforms the workforce.

General Assembly Launches AI Academy

General Assembly has launched a new AI Academy to help businesses address gaps in AI capabilities across non-technical roles. The academy offers modular training programs with role-specific content across functions such as HR, marketing, sales, and product management. The aim is to equip employees with practical, hands-on skills that support enterprise-wide AI integration. General Assembly's research indicates that 89% of tech hiring managers expect their companies to increase AI spending in the coming year.

Key Takeaways

  • The Hackett Group has launched a Gen AI Executive Advisory Program to help organizations integrate AI into their businesses.
  • OpenAI is in talks to acquire AI coding startup Windsurf for $3 billion.
  • DMACC has partnered with Intel to create an AI-focused certificate class to help students build AI skills.
  • Fluidstack has selected VAST Data to deliver infrastructure for AI model training.
  • Opera has added its Aria AI assistant to the Opera Mini browser on Android.
  • General Assembly has launched an AI Academy to address gaps in AI capabilities across non-technical roles.
  • A machine-learning algorithm has been used to identify stars that may host rocky planets, highlighting the potential of AI in astronomy.
  • The New Mexico State University Foundation is fundraising for the Institute for Applied Practice in AI and Machine Learning.
  • The concept of the 'Superworker' is becoming a reality as AI transforms the workforce.
  • Companies are investing heavily in AI, with 89% of tech hiring managers expecting their companies to increase AI spending in the coming year.

Sources

AI Advisory Program Gen AI Executive Advisory Program Artificial Intelligence AI Consulting AI-Driven Consulting AI Workforce Training