Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming various sectors, from customer relationship management (CRM) to manufacturing and publishing, while also reshaping global investment landscapes and user interaction with technology. CRM systems, once passive data repositories, are evolving into active work management tools thanks to AI. This shift automates customer interaction capture, updates records, and identifies crucial details like buying signals, boosting sales team productivity by up to 25% and accelerating lead scoring. Manufacturers are also embracing AI, with 91% of US B2B firms either using or planning AI sales automation to modernize outdated processes like quoting and pricing, enabling faster responses and smarter proposals through AI search, sales assistants, and CPQ platforms. Globally, the AI race shows distinct strengths. AI expert Kai-Fu Lee notes that China is poised to lead in consumer AI and robotics manufacturing due to lower costs and faster production. In contrast, the United States maintains a strong lead in enterprise AI and advanced research, exemplified by companies like OpenAI. This divergence stems from investment patterns, with US investors favoring generative AI software and Chinese investors focusing heavily on robotics and hardware. American companies also show a greater willingness to pay for AI software subscriptions, a model China finds challenging. New AI-first systems are emerging, such as Humain One from Saudi Arabian company Humain. This system features its own operating system and data centers, allowing users to control computers solely by voice, eliminating the need for icons or mouse clicks. Humain's CEO, Tareq Amin, envisions a future where AI agents autonomously complete tasks, competing with AI-infused systems developed by tech giants like Microsoft and Google. Humain benefits from significant financial backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Aramco, though its ambitious goals face expert skepticism. The financial markets are also feeling AI's impact. China's WeRide, for instance, saw its shares open down by almost 8% on its Hong Kong Stock Exchange debut, despite raising approximately $308 million. AI's influence extends to investment risks, with a few 'Mag 7' companies dominating and driving substantial spending on AI technology, leading to a concentrated S&P 500. This concentration creates hidden risks for passive index fund investors. Analyst Leo Nelissen suggests investors should target industries benefiting from AI spending, such as power, infrastructure, energy, and housing, while largely avoiding consumer stocks. AI is also enabling new services and partnerships. Amazon has launched Kindle Translate, an AI-powered service in beta for select Kindle Direct Publishing authors, facilitating eBook translation between English and Spanish, and from German to English. This allows authors to reach global audiences and increase earnings efficiently. In the audio-visual sector, Legrand | AV and Xyte have expanded their partnership to integrate more AI-ready solutions, enhancing AV systems with smarter, more efficient capabilities through Xyte's cloud platform. Furthermore, the Laude Institute has awarded its first 15 'Slingshots' AI grants, providing funding, computing power, and engineering support for projects focused on AI evaluation, such as testing AI agents' code optimization and creating benchmarks for AI in office jobs. However, the rise of AI search, particularly services like Google Overviews, is causing brands to cut open web display ad spending by an estimated 30% by 2026 due to 'zero-click searches,' prompting a shift in ad budgets towards platforms like Connected TV, paid social media, and streaming audio.
Key Takeaways
- AI is transforming CRM systems, boosting sales team productivity by up to 25% through automated task management, interaction capture, and lead qualification.
- 91% of US B2B manufacturers are adopting or planning AI sales automation to modernize processes like quoting and pricing, improving efficiency and response times.
- Kai-Fu Lee indicates China leads in consumer AI and robotics manufacturing, while the US, with companies like OpenAI, leads in enterprise AI and advanced research.
- Saudi Arabian company Humain launched 'Humain One,' an AI-first computer system allowing voice control, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Aramco, competing with systems from Microsoft and Google.
- China's WeRide raised approximately $308 million during its Hong Kong Stock Exchange debut, though its shares opened down by almost 8%.
- AI is concentrating the stock market around a few dominant companies, creating investment risks for passive index funds and prompting advice to invest in AI-benefiting sectors like power and infrastructure.
- Amazon introduced Kindle Translate, an AI-powered service for authors to translate eBooks between English, Spanish, and German, expanding global reach.
- Legrand | AV and Xyte expanded their partnership to integrate AI-ready solutions into audio-visual systems, enhancing smart and efficient AV capabilities.
- The Laude Institute awarded 15 'Slingshots' AI grants, providing resources for research projects primarily focused on AI evaluation and development of new AI tools.
- Brands plan to cut open web display ad spending by 30% by 2026 due to AI search leading to 'zero-click searches,' shifting budgets to platforms like Connected TV and paid social media.
AI transforms CRM making sales and service smarter
CRM systems have long been inefficient, with sales and service teams spending too much time on administrative tasks. AI is now changing this by turning CRM from a simple data storage tool into an active system that manages work. AI automatically captures customer interactions, updates records, and identifies important details like customer needs and buying signals. This new approach helps sales teams become up to 25% more productive by removing the need for manual data entry. It also automates lead scoring and qualification, making processes much faster and more accurate.
Manufacturers boost sales with AI powered tools
Manufacturers are quickly adopting AI to improve their sales operations, moving beyond early tests. A survey of 200 US B2B manufacturers shows 91% are using or planning AI sales automation. This shift helps them update old processes like quoting and pricing that have not changed in decades. AI helps manufacturers respond faster, create smarter quotes, and grow efficiently. Key areas where AI is making a difference include helping buyers find products through AI search, using AI sales assistants for customer support, and creating real-time, error-free quotes with AI-powered CPQ platforms.
Kai-Fu Lee says China leads in AI hardware
AI expert Kai-Fu Lee believes America is falling behind China in the AI hardware race. He states that China is set to lead in consumer AI and robotics manufacturing due to lower costs and faster production. Meanwhile, the United States holds a strong lead in enterprise AI and advanced research, with companies like OpenAI. This difference comes from how investors in each country spend money: US investors focus on generative AI software, while Chinese investors heavily fund robotics and hardware. Lee also notes that American companies are more willing to pay for AI software subscriptions, a model China struggles with.
Humain launches AI first computer system Humain One
Saudi Arabian company Humain is introducing "Humain One," a new computer system designed for an AI-first experience. This system includes its own operating system and data centers, allowing users to control computers using only their voice, without icons or mouse clicks. Humain CEO Tareq Amin believes this is the future of user experience, where AI agents complete tasks autonomously. While rivals like Microsoft and Google also develop AI-infused systems, Humain has strong financial backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Aramco. However, some experts are unsure if Humain can achieve its ambitious goal of changing how we interact with computers.
China's WeRide shares drop 8 percent in debut
China's WeRide saw its shares set to open down by almost 8% during its first day of trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company raised about $308 million from its listing. This debut happened on Thursday.
AI reshapes market creating new investment risks
AI is significantly changing the stock market, with a few "Mag 7" companies dominating and driving huge spending on AI technology. This has made the S&P 500 very concentrated, creating hidden risks for investors who use passive index funds. AI investment acts like a boost to the economy, but it also causes job changes and an uneven distribution of wealth. Analyst Leo Nelissen suggests investors should focus on industries that benefit from AI spending, such as power, infrastructure, energy, and housing. He advises avoiding most consumer stocks due to ongoing market shifts.
Legrand AV and Xyte partner for AI ready solutions
Legrand | AV and Xyte have expanded their partnership to bring more AI-ready solutions to the audio-visual market. Legrand | AV will connect additional products to Xyte's cloud platform. This collaboration aims to integrate AI capabilities into AV systems, making them smarter, more efficient, and easier for users. Xyte's platform offers strong data analysis and remote management tools, which will help Legrand | AV understand how its products perform and how customers use them. Both companies are committed to innovation and improving customer satisfaction in the fast-changing AV industry.
Amazon Kindle Translate helps authors reach global readers
Amazon has launched Kindle Translate, a new AI-powered service to help authors share their eBooks with readers worldwide. This service, currently in beta for select Kindle Direct Publishing authors, translates books between English and Spanish, and from German to English. Authors can easily manage and publish their translated books on the KDP portal within days. Kindle Translate aims to provide a cost-effective solution for independent authors to reach new audiences and increase their earnings. Readers will find these translated eBooks on the Amazon store with clear labels and samples available.
Laude Institute awards first AI research grants
The Laude Institute has announced the first group of 15 projects to receive its "Slingshots" AI grants. This program gives researchers important resources like funding, computing power, and engineering support. In return, the recipients promise to create a final product, such as a startup or open-source code. Many of these projects focus on the challenging area of AI evaluation. For example, Formula Code from Caltech and UT Austin will test AI agents' ability to optimize code, while Columbia's BizBench will create a benchmark for AI agents used in office jobs.
Brands cut ad spending due to AI search changes
Brands plan to cut their spending on open web display ads by 30% in 2026 because of the rise of AI search. Services like Google Overviews lead to "zero-click searches," meaning fewer people visit publisher websites. This reduces the number of potential customers advertisers can reach there. Instead, companies are shifting their ad budgets to platforms like Connected TV, paid social media, and streaming audio, where audiences are still engaged. Some media agencies have already seen clients reduce their open web display spending by 20-30% in 2025. Publishers are now challenged to find new ways to keep their loyal readers engaged.
Sources
- How AI is Reshaping CRM Workflows: From Data Storage to Intelligent Execution in Sales and Service Teams
- From pilots to selling power: how manufacturers are using AI to sell
- Kai-Fu Lee's brutal assessment: America is already losing the AI hardware war to China
- Humain pushes for an AI-first computing experience — but there are skeptics
- China WeRide's shares set to open down nearly 8% in Hong Kong trading debut
- AI Completely Broke the Market—And Most Investors Haven't Noticed Yet
- Legrand | AV and Xyte Expand Strategic Partnership to Drive AI-Ready Connectivity and Product Innovation
- Amazon introduces Kindle Translate, an AI-powered translation service for authors to reach global readers
- Laude Institute announces first batch of 'Slingshots' AI grants
- Brands set to cut open web display spend 30% in response to AI search
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