Latest news with #Microsoft365Copilot
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
New Smarsh UK Survey Shows AI Adoption Surges in Financial Services—But Employees Demand Stronger Guardrails
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Smarsh®, the global leader in communications data and intelligence, reveals new research that highlights UK financial services employees' perspectives on artificial intelligence (AI). The data indicates that while AI is fundamentally changing how UK financial services employees work and communicate, they are increasingly aware of the risks it poses to businesses without addressing training, privacy and compliance issues. Over a third of UK employees use AI tools often for work, however, nearly 70% would feel more confident if all AI outputs were captured and monitored for transparency. Balancing innovation with risk from the bottom up The study, based on responses from 2000 UK employees in financial services and insurance, highlights how AI is now a pivotal part of daily business, with over a third often using AI tools for work purposes. However, 55% of employees say that they have never received any official training for using such tools. The research also reveals that: Over a third (37%) say that they often use public AI tools – like ChatGPT or Microsoft 365 Copilot – for work purposes A further 38% are not sure whether their organisation has tools and processes to capture and monitor the outputs of AI tools, with a further 21% explicitly saying that they know that their firm does not Over two thirds (69%) would feel more confident using AI tools if all outputs were captured and monitored for transparency 'AI adoption in financial services has accelerated rapidly, with employees embracing these tools to boost productivity,' said Tom Padgett, President, Enterprise Business at Smarsh. 'But with innovation comes responsibility. Firms must establish the right guardrails to prevent data leaks and misconduct. The good news is that employees are on board—welcoming a safe, compliant AI environment that builds trust and unlocks long-term growth.' Licence to Skill? Employees unsure of AI Agent compliance The research also reveals employees' views around AI tools that are being used within their organisation for public, customer-facing tasks. Specifically, AI Agents – systems that are able to perform specific tasks without human intervention, i.e. a chatbot. The research shows that: The findings come as the FCA is set to give UK financial services firms the greenlight on ambitious proposals for AI innovation with an AI live testing service, aimed at supporting firms with implementing consumer-facing AI tools. "Using public Al tools without controls is digital negligence,' said Paul Taylor, Vice President of Product at Smarsh. 'You're effectively feeding your crown jewels into a black box you don't own, where the data can't be deleted, and the logic can't be explained. It's reckless. Private tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and ChatGPT Enterprise are a step in the right direction. Still, if companies aren't actively capturing and auditing usage, they're not securing innovation - they're sleepwalking into a compliance nightmare." Smarsh enables organisations to govern AI effectively, allowing them to facilitate compliant use of the technology while protecting employees from the new risks posed by it. With AI-enabled compliance and communications surveillance solutions such as Smarsh Intelligent Agent, Capture for Microsoft 365 Copilot and ChatGPT Enterprise, financial services firms can future-proof their communications infrastructure. Discover how to stay compliant and competitive with Smarsh's recent AI in Communication Surveillance report. About Smarsh Smarsh enables regulated organizations of all sizes to capture, archive and monitor data from business communications to help identify regulatory and reputational risks before those risks become fines or headlines. The Smarsh Enterprise Platform's AI-enabled applications, including Capture, Archive, Conduct and Discovery, give organizations the power to manage risk and unleash the intelligence in their digital communications at unmatched scale. Smarsh serves a global client base spanning the top banks in North America, Europe, and Asia, along with leading brokerage firms, insurers, and registered investment advisors and U.S. state and local government agencies. To discover more about the future of communications capture, archiving and oversight, visit or follow Smarsh on LinkedIn. About the research: This online survey of 2000 UK adults who work in financial services or insurance was commissioned by Smarsh and conducted by market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society's code of conduct. Data was collected between 8th April 2025 and 17th April 2025. All participants are double-opted in to take part in research and are paid an amount depending on the length and complexity of the survey. This survey was overseen and edited by the OnePoll research team. OnePoll are MRS Company Partners, corporate membership of ESOMAR and Members of the British Polling Council.
TECHx
20-06-2025
- Business
- TECHx
DEWA, Microsoft Advance AI and Cloud Collaboration
Home » Smart Sectors » DEWA, Microsoft Advance AI and Cloud Collaboration Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced a strategic meeting between HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, and Naim Yazbeck, General Manager of Microsoft UAE. The meeting aimed to explore new opportunities for collaboration in digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing within the utilities sector. During the meeting, both parties discussed ways to leverage Microsoft's advanced technologies to support DEWA's innovation-driven initiatives. They focused on enhancing operational efficiency and accelerating next-generation infrastructure aligned with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. It was reported that both DEWA and Microsoft reaffirmed their commitment to harnessing Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. Their goal is to improve service quality, strengthen cybersecurity, and enhance customer experiences. Al Tayer revealed that DEWA is working to become the world's first AI-native utility. He said the collaboration with Microsoft is instrumental in achieving this goal. He noted, 'By integrating AI and cloud-based solutions, we aim to enhance our renewable energy capabilities, drive operational excellence, and provide world-class services that support Dubai's sustainability and innovation goals.' Yazbeck stated that Microsoft is proud to support the UAE's vision of a strong, digitally powered economy. He added, 'Our work with energy leaders like DEWA enables us to co-develop transformative solutions that redefine energy management and advance sustainability.' In addition, DEWA has adopted advanced generative AI tools as part of its digital evolution. These include: Microsoft Power Platform Microsoft 365 Copilot These tools have significantly improved internal productivity, service delivery, and overall satisfaction for both employees and customers. DEWA began using AI technologies as early as 2017. It was among the first utilities globally to implement Microsoft's Copilot platform, further highlighting its commitment to innovation and sustainability. Source: Dubai Media Office
Cision Canada
19-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Fujitsu unveils AI-powered presentation technology, enabling automated multilingual and customizable presentations
Fujitsu AI Auto Presentation supports creation of presentations in over 30 languages and will be available as a Microsoft 365 Copilot AI agent KAWASAKI, Japan, June 19, 2025 /CNW/ -- Fujitsu Limited today announced the development of a new technology which enables AI avatars to carry out presentations and handle audience questions. The technology, a core component of Fujitsu's AI service Fujitsu Kozuchi, automatically generates and carries out presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint presentation data and provides answers to audience questions based on materials pre-integrated into a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) process. Starting June 19, 2025, Fujitsu will begin offering a trial environment on the Fujitsu Research Portal for corporate customers to try the technology. Through joint development with Headwaters Co., Ltd., an AI solutions company, this technology will also be offered as Microsoft 365 Copilot AI agent "Fujitsu AI Auto Presentation." Fujitsu will utilize the technology within the company from the second quarter of FY 2025 and begin providing it to customers around the world from the third quarter. Users will be able to create AI avatars using their own likeness and voice, and have them generate presentations automatically in over 30 languages, making it possible for anybody to utilize the technology without requiring specialist knowledge. Going forward, Fujitsu AI Auto Presentation will also be available directly via Microsoft Teams and PowerPoint. By democratizing the presentation process and allowing anybody to deliver presentations irrespective of time constraints, language level, presentation aptitude, and other factors, Fujitsu will empower organizations to share accurate and high quality information and improve operational efficiency, thereby contributing to the development of a digital society, a key essential contribution of its materiality. Other Fujitsu AI Auto Presentation features 1. Autonomous slide transition with time allocation (international patent pending) Fujitsu AI Auto Presentation generates presentation text based on the number of characters for each slide and time limit instructions and changes slides at the appropriate time. 2. Customizable presentation content generation Leveraging voice recognition, large language model (LLM), and voice synthesis technology, the content presented by the AI avatar can be controlled on a slide-by-slide basis by inputting prompts. Various customizations are possible, including automatically generated text, fixed text, insertion of specified text, and control over writing style.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
US Agency to Microsoft: Get your product naming right, everything is not Copilot; Microsoft responds ….
The Better Business Bureau 's National Advertising Division has called out Microsoft for its confusing overuse of " Copilot " branding across AI products, recommending the company modify its advertising claims and clarify product functionality differences. Microsoft disagrees with the findings but says it will comply with the watchdog's recommendations. The NAD reviewed Microsoft's Copilot advertising and found that the company's "universal use of the product description as 'Copilot'" creates consumer confusion, as customers "would not necessarily understand the difference" between various AI tools bearing the same name. The watchdog specifically criticized Microsoft's claim that Copilot works "seamlessly across all your data," noting that Business Chat requires manual copying and pasting to achieve the same functionality as Copilot in individual Office applications. Microsoft's productivity claims under fire NAD also challenged Microsoft's productivity statistics, recommending the company discontinue or modify claims that "67%, 70%, and 75% of users say they are more productive" after using Copilot for extended periods. The watchdog determined that while the study demonstrates perceived productivity improvements, it doesn't provide objective evidence of actual productivity gains. The criticism comes amid Microsoft's years-long branding confusion around Copilot products. The company has repeatedly rebranded its AI tools, with Business Chat evolving from a Teams chatbot to Business Chat for Microsoft 365 Copilot, while Bing Chat Enterprise became simply "Copilot" before further rebranding. What Microsoft has to say Microsoft's AI at Work chief marketing officer Jared Spataro defended the company's approach, stating they "take seriously our responsibility to provide clear, transparent, and accurate information to our customers." He highlighted customer success stories, including Barclays deploying Copilot to 100,000 employees and Dow identifying millions in potential savings. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the company disagrees with NAD's conclusions about advertising implications but will follow the recommendations. This latest scrutiny adds to Microsoft's long history of product naming challenges, with employees previously joking that the company would have called Apple's iPod the "Microsoft I-pod Pro 2005 XP Human Ear Professional Edition with Subscription." AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
OnePlus under scanner; Razorpay invests in Pop
OnePlus under scanner; Razorpay invests in Pop Also in the letter: OnePlus India audit flags glitches, PF payment lags Driving the news: Hosting its accounting software and maintaining financial records on physical servers outside India, in Dongguan, China. Using software with programming code in a foreign language, which auditors found difficult to review and verify. Delays in depositing employee provident fund contributions. The other side: Rival watch: Razorpay invests $30 million into consumer payments startup Pop Deal details: ET had reported on February 18 that Pop was in talks with Razorpay for a potential investment. The startup operates a rewards-first Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments app, designed to build loyalty in a competitive market. With the new capital, Pop plans to double down on product innovation and build deeper partnerships with merchants, particularly across direct-to-consumer (D2C) platforms. Yes, and: Fintech startup Saswat Finance raises $2.6 million: OpenAI executives have discussed accusing Microsoft of anticompetitive behaviour: Report Driving the news: The report added that OpenAI may push for a federal review of its contract with Microsoft over potential antitrust violations. It is also mulling a public campaign to highlight its concerns. Such a move could strain one of the most important alliances in the AI industry. At the same time, OpenAI still requires Microsoft's sign-off to complete its transition to a public-benefit corporation. However, sources said that talks between the two sides have stalled for months without a resolution. Also Read: Yes, but: Microsoft invested $1 billion in OpenAI in 2019 to help develop AI tools on its Azure cloud platform. Since then, OpenAI has been trying to reduce its reliance on Microsoft and is looking to onboard Google Cloud to meet growing compute demands. Meanwhile, Microsoft is also moving towards greater independence. It has started integrating internal and third-party AI models into Microsoft 365 Copilot, which currently leans heavily on OpenAI's technology. OpenAI wins $200 million US defence contract: Details: Game on: Phonemakers tap eSports to woo young Indians Current state: India is home to nearly 450 million mobile gamers, a number expected to surge to 720 million by 2028, according to Krafton India, the publisher of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI). The widespread availability of affordable smartphones and low-cost data plans is fueling this rapid growth. Brands are now capitalising on this momentum to push device sales. Expert take: Tell me more: (AI)gorithm turns recruiter Talent shopping: At HCLTech and Wipro, AI is actively involved in shortlisting and interviewing around 55,000 candidates for entry- and mid-level positions. Infosys CHRO Shaji Mathew said the company has integrated AI across its entire HR workflow, from hiring to retirement. Wipro COO Sanjeev Jain added that AI tools are used throughout the hiring journey – from scanning CVs and conducting first-level interviews to assessing communication skills and verifying backgrounds. Expert take: Also Read: The auditor of smartphone maker OnePlus Technology India has flagged issues with its bookkeeping processes. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.■ OpenAI and Microsoft's troubles■ Phonemakers woo young gamers■ AI turns recruiterThe statutory auditor of OnePlus Technology India has flagged several concerns with the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, including regulatory action by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax issues raised in the audit include:Shah & Jain Chartered Accountants serve as the statutory auditor, while Grant Thornton Bharat is the internal a regulatory filing, OnePlus said it is in the process of upgrading its IT systems. It added that it has initiated payments for the outstanding provident fund dues for FY2023–24 and has deposited an amount against disputed corporate income tax remains under the ED scrutiny for alleged financial irregularities under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).Other Chinese smartphone firms, including Oppo India and Realme India, are facing similar scrutiny . Their auditors have raised red flags over gaps in bookkeeping, internal processes, and incomplete firms have come under sustained pressure in India over the past four to five years, as authorities continue to allege violations involving customs duties, tax evasion, and money laundering.(L-R) Harshil Mathur and Shashank Kumar, cofounders, RazorpayConsumer payments platform Pop has secured $30 million in funding from fintech major Razorpay, as it looks to tackle rising customer acquisition costs for merchants and boost rewards for in June last year, Pop has already crossed one million monthly active users and facilitates over six lakh daily UPI transactions. In partnership with Yes Bank, it has also issued more than 40,000 RuPay credit Razorpay, this marks a deeper push into loyalty and commerce enablement. The company had earlier acquired PoshVine , another loyalty and rewards platform. The Pop investment leans into that and CEO Harshil Mathur stated that the Pop deal is designed to serve D2C merchants better. 'In today's crowded D2C space, brands need more than just payment solutions; they need tools to earn trust, drive repeat purchases, and build real loyalty,' he said.(L-R) Indrajyoti Bhattacharjee, Ravi Ranjan Chaudhary (above), Arun Tiwari, Rahul Nischal, cofounders, Saswat FinanceRural India-focused fintech startup Saswat Finance has raised $2.6 million in a funding round led by early-stage investor Ankur Capital, with participation from existing backer Incubate Fund Mumbai-based startup will use the capital to expand its technology stack, launch new financial products, and scale operations across Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh. The funding will also support investments in data and analytics to sharpen its executives have considered accusing key backer Microsoft of anticompetitive conduct in their partnership, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the a separate development, OpenAI has won a $200 million contract to provide artificial intelligence (AI) tools to the US Department of Defence, the Pentagon confirmed on project will be executed in and around Washington and is scheduled for completion by July 2026, according to the manufacturers are turning to India's booming eSports sector to boost visibility and drive sales amid a slowdown in the wider such as OnePlus, Realme, iQOO, and Infinix are actively sponsoring top-tier mobile gaming tournaments. They are also partnering with prominent eSports squads as part of a core marketing play, recognising the growing influence of mobile gaming on young Indian consumers, industry experts shipments in India fell by 5.5% year-on-year in the March quarter, with 32 million units shipped, according to IDC. In response, both smartphone brands and telecom operators are doubling down on eSports sponsorships, ensuring their devices are featured prominently during gameplay and intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tool for boosting employee productivity – it's now central to how recruiters identify the right talent . With IT firms hiring tens of thousands each year, AI handles 70–80% of the initial screening Sharma, CEO of Teamlease Digital, said that recruiters are saving up to 23 hours a week thanks to AI-driven efficiencies.
