AI NEWS

• OpenAI Wants to Trade Gov't Access to AI Models for Fewer Regulations
• These 3 AI Themes Dominated SXSW
• 5 Questions to Ask Before Deploying Agentic AI

MORE TECH NEWS

• Two-Thirds of Silicon Valley Tech Workers are Foreign-born - Report
• Microsoft Shutting Down Skype After a 21-Year Run
• BYD Claims Its New EV Battery Can Be Charged in 5 Minutes
• Cyber Threat Report Highlights Increase in Ransomware Activity

HEALTH-TECH NEWS

• Red Light Therapy Gets the Green Light, Sort Of
• The Hologram Doctor Will See You Now

Alvaka has announced a strategic professional services alliance with global technology distributor and B2B platform company Ingram Micro to help keep channel partners and their customers more informed and ready to respond in the aftermath of a ransomware attack. As part of the new engagement program, Alvaka will offer Ingram Micro channel partners and their clients in the U.S. prioritized access to its proven remediation and recovery services to help them when and if they are impacted by the current relentless run of ransomware attacks across multiple sectors.
ALSO, watch an on-demand webinar that Alvaka recently participated in: Effective Restoration Through Collaboration: Getting Back to Business After a Breach.
AND, read Managing Reputation After a High-Profile Ransomware Incident.
PLUS, check out more resources in Alvaka's blog posts, including "Ghost Ransomware: A Fast-Moving Global Threat." (FRI)

In Build a high performance team for exit!, Dave urges company leaders who are thinking about the end game to invest in a high-performing management team that can run the show without you. Why? Because buyers aren't just buying your tech or your customer list; they're buying a well-oiled machine.
AND, in another article about team building - The 18-month rule and a harrowing tale - Dave shares that it can take 18 months from initial concern about a critical employee to getting a replacement up to speed.
ALSO, click here to read other recent articles from Dave, including "Entrepreneurs: Employment law is not on your side!"; "A worker compensation policy is not optional;" and "Insurance is always too expensive - until you need it!" (FRI)

California LightWorks has announced the launch of its latest product, the MegaDrive UnderCanopy light system. Designed for both indoor and greenhouse controlled environment agriculture, these state-of-the-art fixtures provide high-intensity illumination for plants growing in shaded or lower canopies, ensuring optimal light penetration and support for healthy growth cycles. With these fixtures, California LightWorks is enabling growers to achieve not only higher yields but also more efficient operations, significantly contributing to the bottom line and the future of agriculture. (FRI)

CuraeSoft has published several articles recently:
> Breaking Down Silos: How coAmplifi Helps Organizations Break Barriers to Success, in USA Today;
> CuraeSoft Expands Workforce Management Solutions to Smaller Practices with coAmplifi Professional, on Investing.com; and
> Comprehensive Workforce Management Platform coAmplifi Enables Flexible Transition Between Remote and On-Site Work, on Success.com. (FRI)

Chris has been the featured guest on several recent podcast episodes:
> Create The Perfect Place To Work To Build A Thriving Culture, on Awakened Titans.
> From Lemonade Stands to Bestselling Author and Culture Expert: Chris Dyer's Entrepreneurial Story, on Beyond Fulfillment.
> Chris Dyer - Mastering Company Culture: Leadership, Lessons in Transparency, Remote Work, and more, on The Conversation Series.
AND, Chris's recently published articles include:
> Sales Burnout Is Real - How to keep your team motivated and engaged, in Inc.
> How high-performing companies build sales teams that win, in Fast Company. (FRI)

Eckert & Ziegler (EZ) has announced a comprehensive strategic partnership with Bicycle Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BCYC), a pharmaceutical company pioneering a new and differentiated class of therapeutics based on its proprietary bicyclic peptide technology. EZ will supply various radioisotopes and will develop as well as manufacture Bicycle's radiopharmaceutical molecules. Known for their small size and unique structure, they're designed to precisely and selectively deliver a range of therapeutic payloads to their chosen targets, engage targets previously considered inaccessible by conventional therapeutic approaches and therefore address significant unmet medical needs in patients. (FRI)

In Three takeaways from the Retail Alts panel at ICI Innovate, Envision Financial Systems shares insights gleaned from a recent panel discussion, entitled "A Comprehensive View of Retail Alternative Investments." In summary, they are: the Private market is huge; Wealth managers expect to increase allocations to private assets; and Technology is the key to overcoming operational challenges associated with retail-investor participation in private assets. (TH)

Get Visible CEO Jason Ciment shares, "2 weeks ago I announced my Custom GPT that analyzes website content and gives you a report that you can use to make your content simply better. Better quality as a writer. Better looking for Google and Bing for SEO purposes. If you don't have Chat GPT (pro version), then visit http://www.sentiscan.com (short for sentiment scan) and test the app there."
PLUS, Jason has released a new book - I Need More Patients: Digital Marketing For Doctors Who Would Rather be Doctoring. (FRI)

In How to track virus outbreaks: An overview of disease surveillance, GIDEON Informatics reports that from drawing simple maps to track local cases to today's AI-powered surveillance systems, we've come a long way in our ability to detect and respond to outbreaks. By combining traditional detective work with modern technology and global cooperation, we're better equipped than ever to spot outbreaks early and respond quickly. The key to our success lies in the tools we build and our willingness to share information and work together across borders in our shared mission to protect global health.
ALSO, a recent post shares how Dr. Jeffrey Jones, MD, MPH, Occupational and Travel Medicine, Indianapolis Travel Clinic, uses GIDEON to make strides in global travel medicine through advanced diagnostic tools, medical education and patient engagement, and an extensive vaccine database for international care delivery. (FRI)

Recent articles from iMediSync include:
> Brain Brightening for Elderly Using QEEG-Guided tPBM (transcranial photobiomodulation) - tPBM may counteract aging by enhancing blood perfusion and supporting metabolic function in the brain.
> Cultural Differences in QEEG Normative Databases: A Global Perspective - The Quantitative EEG Normative Database has played a crucial role in advancing neurofeedback and brain research. (FRI)

In a recent interview by Threshold Ventures, Instil Founder and CEO Adam Miller shared his journey, from launching his first venture while in law school to building Instil, a modern solution for nonprofit fundraisers. Adam's leadership is rooted in a deep commitment to social action, lifelong learning, and empowering organizations to maximize their impact and reach. His experience inspired him to build a platform that truly understands the complexity of nonprofit operations - where donors, volunteers, and members are part of a unified ecosystem.
ALSO, read an article from Groundswell, where Adam is Co-Founder and Executive Chairman - How to Choose a CSR Platform for Your Organization: Top Tips. (FRI)

At the recent NADA conference in New Orleans, myKaarma CEO, Ujj Nath, spoke with Yaron Saghiv, Chief Marketing Officer at UVeye, about how the two companies work together to streamline communication, improve transparency, and ultimately benefit dealerships and customers alike: Revolutionizing Vehicle Inspections with myKaarma and UVeye: A Partnership Built on Synergy.
AND, in Why Relative Goals Beat Fixed KPIs - and How myKaarma Reporting Makes It Easy, discover why relative goals outperform fixed KPIs and how myKaarma's reporting tools make it easier to drive continuous improvement and engagement in automotive service departments. (TH)

Optimum Info (OI) shares a couple of success stories:
> CNH Industrial North America Successfully Digitize their Dealer Application Process with APEX - CNH grappled with manual processing delays and data inaccuracies. OI's Apex provided a seamless cloud-based solution that addressed these issues and more.
> AGCO Boosts Dealer Financials and Performance with AMOS - AGCO dealt with lack of real-time insights and time-consuming processes. To overcome these challenges, AGCO turned to AMOS from OI, a powerful and user-friendly business management solution. (TH)

In Revising Your Marketing Strategy for 2025, Payani Media says that as we start wrapping up the first quarter of 2025, businesses must adapt to new technologies, changing consumer behaviors, and emerging trends. Payani offers its top actionable steps to help you revise your marketing strategy for 2025.
AND, in How to Find and Understand your Target Audience, Payani suggests that while there's some value in casting a wide net and trying to attract as many people as possible to your business, this isn't always the most productive approach. You should have specific types of people in mind when you're developing your products, starting new marketing campaigns, and making business decisions. (FRI)

Toast (NYSE: TOST) has signed an agreement with Ascent Hospitality Management to implement Toast Enterprise Solutions at Perkins American Food Co. and Huddle House initially across 500 restaurant locations. In addition to Toast point-of-sale terminals, both Perkins and Huddle House will use Toast Go mobile handheld devices, Kitchen Display Systems, and Toast's Restaurant Management Suite Enterprise. (TH)

A recent episode of Marshall's and Joel Kotkin's The Feudal Future podcast - Challenges and Solutions for California's Economy - offers a compelling conversation on the shifting dynamics of California's economic landscape.
AND, Marshall guested on the California Insider Podcast - Innovation Professor Explains What's Behind California Population Growth.
PLUS, Marshall is quoted in a recent article in U.S. News & World Report - How Will Trump's Tariffs Affect Homebuyers? (TH)

A recent article in Becker's Healthcare - Where 14 Payers Are Growing in 2025 - features Angle Health: As the firm reported: "We built Angle Health with AI-powered, human-in-the-loop workflows at the core of our operations. So as an AI-enabled health plan and healthcare technology company, we are most excited about doubling down on our investments in AI. ... As we move through 2025, our growth will be driven not only by continued rapid market and topline revenue expansion, but also through launching innovative, value-based products and partnerships that democratize access to healthcare services and redefine personalized healthcare delivery for Angle Health members and patients." (LA)

In April, Greg Buchert will be the Keynote Speaker for Tulane University's Research, Innovation and Creativity Summit. "As an 'Innovestor' that appreciates the incredible ingenuity of so many individuals across the academic spectrum in their quest to make a better world, I look forward to 3 days of stimulating presentations and discussions," Greg said. (OC)

Case Study: Concern Improves Access and Stability Through Cloud and AI Technology Enhancements shares an update on Concern's collaboration with technology partners Endava and AWS. The partnership empowers them to leverage the latest advanced cloud technology and AI capabilities to continually improve personalization, accessibility, and engagement. This includes: Seamless access to counseling and coaching options, guided mindfulness and work-life resources, and more; Smart matching technology to connect employees with the right resources for their in-the-moment needs; and a Secure, user-friendly interface designed to support every step of the user's wellbeing journey. (BA)

The Medical Futurist included MedWand in its recent article - 10 Ways Technology is Reshaping Healthcare, specifically in the discussion of portable diagnostic devices. On top of measuring multiple vital parameters, MedWand includes a camera for telemedical purposes, the article reports. (OC)

In Providence's plan to make tech meaningful for clinicians, Providence DIG shares how they are using intuitive and efficient tech solutions (like AI) to enhance clinical workflows and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
ALSO, a recent episode of the "Shift AI" podcast features Providence: From early days of COVID to the AI revolution, A Providence leader talks healthcare transformation. (LA)

OpenAI wants the government to review its AI models - in exchange for a break from state AI regulations. Recently, the company released a 15-page policy advisory in response to the Trump administration's request for input, which will inform the administration's forthcoming AI Action Plan. OpenAI offered to voluntarily let the federal government review its models in exchange for being exempted from state-specific regulations. The company positioned its proposal as a way to counter China's AI advances because of how it would allow American companies to speed ahead in AI.
        The Trump administration's forthcoming policy will replace former President Biden's AI executive order and related efforts, which Trump rescinded on his first day in office. While AI policy remains unclear at the federal level, individual states have been exploring their own legislation, which OpenAI's advisory called "overly burdensome." On the same day OpenAI made its request, Google published a similar set of requests for lessening copyright law. (https://www.zdnet.com/article/openai-wants-to-trade-govt-access-to-ai-models-for-fewer-regulations/) (https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/13/google-calls-for-weakened-copyright-and-export-rules-in-ai-policy-proposal/)

In a recent ZDNet article, the writer shared that she sat through a dozen AI panels at the recent SXSW, in which the leaders from some of the largest AI tech companies discussed three overarching themes about how safety and responsibility fit in the future of the technology. What they had to say may help put your concerns at ease, she reports. In summary, the themes are: The use case matters; Humans are here to stay; and User trust will be one of the biggest challenges. (https://www.zdnet.com/article/these-3-ai-themes-dominated-sxsw-and-heres-how-they-can-help-you-navigate-2025/)

Agentic AI can only work if it's secure, well-maintained and applied to the right use cases, according to a recent CIO Dive article, which includes five questions CIOs should ask before deploying the technology. In summary, they are: What problem will agentic AI solve? Do we have the data to make it work? Will data be secure? Where does agentic AI fit into the company's tech strategy? How will agentic AI be monitored? (https://www.ciodive.com/news/5-questions-agentic-AI-CIO/742296/)

Think tank Joint Venture Silicon Valley recently reported 66% of technology workers in Silicon Valley are foreign born, according to its "2025 Silicon Valley Index." Of tech workers with a bachelor's degree or higher, 23% came from India and 18% from China, and 25% from other countries. Among the 34% of the tech workers in the Valley born in the US, half were born in California, according to the index.
        Foreign workers enter the region "through multiple windows," said Sean Randolph, senior director of the Economic Institute at the Bay Area Council. "There's a very large number of incubators, accelerators and facilitating organizations here in the region whose primary purpose is to connect entrepreneurs from other countries into the innovation system here." High-profile universities - notably the UC-Berkeley and Stanford - draw foreign college students to study science, technology, engineering and math, many with an eye to getting jobs in the Valley after graduation. The number of science and engineering degrees conferred annually by Bay Area universities has grown 117% since 2002, with more than 21,500 science and engineering degrees earned locally in 2023. That's still far from enough to meet the needs of the tech industry, which created jobs that outstripped degrees from Bay Area schools by more than 20,000 from 2019 to 2023.
        Furthermore, about 45% of Bay Area tech startups are founded by people from other countries. (https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/mar/11/two-thirds-of-silicon-valley-tech-workers-are-fore/)

Microsoft has announced that Skype, the 21-year-old calling and messaging service, will shut down May 5. The software company is encouraging Skype users to migrate to its free Teams app. Skype won attention in the 2000s for giving people a way to talk without paying the phone company, but stumbled in the mobile era and didn't enjoy a major resurgence during the pandemic. Some people have forgotten that it's still available, given the many other options for chatting and calling. (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/28/microsoft-is-retiring-skype-in-may-encouraging-people-to-adopt-teams.html)

Chinese automaker BYD Co. has unveiled a lineup of electric vehicles that it says can charge almost as fast as it takes to refuel a regular car. BYD's new battery and charging system was capable of providing around 400 kilometers (249 miles) of range in 5 minutes in tests on its new Han L sedan, the company said. The manufacturer will start selling vehicles with the new technology next month. The speeds would be comfortably ahead of Tesla's Superchargers, which can add up to 275 kilometers of range in 15 minutes. Mercedes-Benz Group AG's new entry-level CLA electric sedan can add 325 kilometers in 10 minutes of charging. (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/byd-unveils-battery-system-charges-145056133.html)

[Editor's Note: ABL Member Oli Thordarson, CEO of Alvaka, recently posted a link to this press release, adding that Alvaka had record Q3 and Q4 ransomware restoration revenues with Q4 being a huge leap.]
The Travelers Companies released its Q4 2024 Cyber Threat Report, highlighting an elevated level of ransomware activity. The report, based on data collected from ransomware leak sites, showed an increase in the number of organizations that fell victim last quarter to ransomware groups, which used repeatable attack methods, such as targeting virtual private network accounts that had weak credentials and were not protected by multifactor authentication. One trend that stood out in the report was the increased targeting of IT services and consulting firms. The targets function as intermediaries for other industries, amplifying the impact of an attack through their connections to multiple clients. (https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306034145/en/)

According to The Wall Street Journal, red-light therapy is getting the green light in some health circles. The treatment, a type of light therapy called photobiomodulation that involves exposing the body to low levels of red or near-infrared light, purports to help users lose weight, look younger and balance mood. It's popping up everywhere from hotel spas to European beehives. Red light is thought to work by penetrating the skin's surface and boosting brain cells' energy, oxygen and blood flow to help them fire faster. While research shows some promise in certain areas like dermatology, many believe it's too soon to say it clearly provides health benefits more broadly - despite the many products being sold that seem to suggest otherwise. (https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/red-light-therapy-gets-the-green-light-sort-of-a2ac3887)

Last year, some cancer patients in Tennessee and Mississippi got a startling offer: Instead of videoconferencing with oncology specialists located hours away, they could see a hologram doctor, courtesy of the same special effects that have projected the Jonas Brothers and other celebrities at concerts and live events. The offer came from West Cancer Center & Research Institute, a health system that employs about 61 doctors and serves about 19,240 new patients a year across 12 locations in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. Its doctors typically spend hours on the road each week getting to the satellite clinics to see patients in more rural locations, while also relying heavily on videoconferencing for check-ins. Now, however, two of those clinics are replacing the video calls with life-size hologram-like displays, part of a cross-industry push to take videoconferencing to the next level. The setup works like this: Doctors are beamed from a small production studio in the Germantown clinic and appear in life-size boxes in designated exam rooms at the satellite clinics. The boxes are fronted with a flat, clear 4K LCD screen, and a specialized lighting setup inside gives the flat image an appearance of three-dimensionality. Patients, however, aren't being projected as holograms to the doctors. In the clinics, they communicate via camera - an intentional choice to give the patient, rather than the doctor, the more realistic experience. (https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-hologram-doctor-will-see-you-now-a68a504f?st=x4AHW9&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink) (https://www.wsj.com/articles/googles-new-tech-means-video-calls-may-not-be-the-death-of-us-after-all-ed10140c?mod=article_inline)

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