News from the AI & ML world
DeeperML - #productivity
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Steve Newman@Second Thoughts
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New research suggests that the integration of AI coding tools into the development process may not be the productivity silver bullet many have assumed. A recent study conducted by METR, a non-profit AI benchmarking group, observed experienced open-source developers working on complex, mature codebases. Counterintuitively, the findings indicate that these AI tools actually slowed down task completion time by 19%. This slowdown is attributed to factors such as the time spent prompting the AI, waiting for responses, and meticulously reviewing and correcting the generated output. Despite this empirical evidence, many developers continued to use the tools, reporting that the work felt less effortful, even if it wasn't faster.
The study involved 16 seasoned developers and 246 real-world programming tasks. Before engaging with the AI tools, participants optimistically predicted a 24% increase in their productivity. However, after the trial, their revised estimates still overestimated the gains, believing AI had sped up their work by 20%, a stark contrast to the actual observed slowdown of 19%. Furthermore, fewer than 44% of the AI-generated code suggestions were accepted by the developers, with a significant portion of their time dedicated to refining or rewriting the AI's output. Lack of contextual knowledge and the complexity of existing repositories were cited as key reasons for the reduced effectiveness of the AI suggestions. While the study highlights a potential downside for experienced developers working on established projects, the researchers acknowledge that AI tools may offer greater benefits in other settings. These could include smaller projects, less experienced developers, or situations with different quality standards. This research adds a crucial layer of nuance to the broader narrative surrounding AI's impact on software development, suggesting that the benefits are not universal and may require careful evaluation on a case-by-case basis as the technology continues to evolve. Recommended read:
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@shellypalmer.com
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References:
Lyzr AI
AI agents are rapidly transforming workflows and development environments, with new tools and platforms emerging to simplify their creation and deployment. Lyzr Agent Studio, integrated with Amazon's Nova models, allows enterprises to build custom AI agents tailored for specific tasks. These agents can be optimized for speed, accuracy, and cost, and deployed securely within the AWS ecosystem. The use of these AI agents are designed to automate tasks, enhance productivity, and provide personalized experiences, streamlining operations across various industries.
Google's Android 16 is built for "agentic AI experiences" throughout the platform, providing developers with tools like Agent Mode and Journeys. These features enable AI agents to perform complex, multi-step tasks and test applications using natural language. The platform also offers improvements like Notification Intelligence and Enhanced Photo Integration, allowing agents to interact with other applications and access photos contextually. This provides a foundation for automation across apps, making the phone a more intelligent coordinator. Phoenix.new has launched remote agent-powered Dev Environments for Elixir, enabling large language models to control Elixir development environments. This development, along with the ongoing efforts to create custom AI agents, highlight the growing interest in AI's potential to automate tasks and enhance productivity. As AI agents become more sophisticated, they will likely play an increasingly important role in various aspects of work and daily life. Flo Crivello, CEO of AI agent platform Lindy, provides a candid deep dive into the current state of AI agents, cutting through hype to reveal what's actually working in production versus what remains challenging. Recommended read:
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@www.apple.com
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Nicola Iarocci
, IEEE Spectrum
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AI is rapidly changing the landscape of software development, presenting both opportunities and challenges for developers. While AI coding tools are boosting productivity on stable and mature technologies, some developers worry about the potential loss of the creative aspect of coding. Many developers enjoy the deep immersion and problem-solving that comes from traditional coding methods. The rise of AI-assisted coding necessitates a careful evaluation of which tasks should be delegated to AI and which should remain in the hands of human developers.
AI coding is particularly beneficial for well-established technologies like the C#/.NET stack, significantly increasing efficiency. Tools like Claude Code allow developers to delegate routine tasks, leading to faster development cycles. However, this shift can also lead to a sense of detachment from the creative process, where developers become more like curators, evaluating and tweaking AI-generated code rather than crafting each function from scratch. The concern is whether this new workflow will lead to an industry full of highly productive but less engaged developers. Despite these concerns, it appears that agentic coding is here to stay due to its efficiency, especially in smaller teams. Experts suggest preserving space for creative flow in some projects, perhaps by resisting the temptation to fully automate tasks in open-source projects. AI coding tools are also becoming more accessible, with platforms like VS Code extending support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers, which integrate AI agents with various external tools and services. The future of software development will likely involve a balance between AI assistance and human creativity, requiring developers to adapt to new workflows and prioritize tasks that require human insight and innovation. Recommended read:
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Alexey Shabanov@TestingCatalog
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Perplexity AI is rapidly expanding its presence in the AI market through strategic integrations and innovative features. The company has launched Perplexity Labs, a new tool for Pro subscribers designed to automate tasks such as creating reports, spreadsheets, and mini web apps. This feature leverages AI research, code execution, and content generation, positioning Perplexity as a versatile platform for both information retrieval and content creation. Labs can generate and execute code for data structuring, create interactive web apps, and produce various file types, making it well-suited for diverse projects from marketing campaigns to business analysis.
The startup is also making strides in device integration. Samsung is reportedly nearing a wide-ranging deal with Perplexity that includes investment and deep integration into devices, the Bixby assistant, and the web browser. This partnership could see Perplexity pre-installed on upcoming Galaxy S26 series phones, potentially replacing Google Gemini as the default AI assistant. The integration might also extend to Samsung Internet, offering users more advanced and personalized AI experiences directly within their web browsing. Furthermore, Perplexity is enhancing its AI-driven search capabilities within the Comet Browser. Users can now observe Perplexity AI controlling pages in the Comet Browser, with visual indicators showing actions like clicking and filling forms. This new feature allows for more interactive and transparent AI-driven automation, benefiting users who automate repetitive workflows such as data entry and testing. This positions Perplexity as a pioneer in bringing interactive and transparent AI-driven automation to the browser. Recommended read:
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@ComputerWeekly.com
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Microsoft is actively developing new features for its Copilot AI, including an experimental "Live Portraits" feature. This feature aims to provide a more personalized assistant experience by offering users customizable avatars for voice-based interactions. Internal references suggest the potential for real-time, visually expressive 3D characters, aligning with the broader trend of synthetic video avatars and expressive voice agents in the AI space. The "Live Portraits" feature may eventually merge with the previously hinted "Copilot Characters," offering a spectrum of assistants from fixed personas to customizable 3D portraits.
UK civil servants are experiencing significant productivity gains with the aid of Microsoft Copilot AI. A recent report indicates that civil servants using Copilot saved an average of 24 minutes per day. Extrapolating these savings, the report estimates that individuals are saving two weeks per year thanks to the efficiency improvements driven by Copilot. Currently, there are approximately 20,000 UK civil servants utilizing Microsoft Copilot AI. Microsoft is also enhancing the user experience beyond AI by tightening requirements for USB-C ports in Windows 11 24H2. These changes ensure that new PCs deliver fast charging and the best of USB-C capabilities, similar to those found in MacBooks. Previously, manufacturers could skip implementing features like "Full Power Delivery" or "DisplayPort Alt Mode," leading to slower charging speeds. Now, Microsoft requires WHCP-certified PCs to use "Full Power Delivery" or "DisplayPort Alt Mode" to achieve certification. Recommended read:
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Tripty@techvro.com
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Google has begun rolling out automatic email summarization powered by its Gemini AI model within the Gmail mobile app. This new feature aims to streamline the process of reviewing lengthy email threads by providing a concise summary at the top of the message content, without requiring manual activation. The Gemini-generated summaries are designed to help users quickly grasp the main points of an email thread, especially when dealing with complex or multi-reply conversations. This initiative reflects Google's broader strategy to integrate AI more seamlessly across its Workspace applications to enhance user productivity and efficiency.
The automatic summarization feature is currently available for English-language emails on Android and iOS devices, specifically for Google Workspace Business and Enterprise users, as well as Google One AI Premium subscribers. As new replies are added to an email thread, the summaries are dynamically updated to reflect the latest information. Users who prefer manual control can collapse the summary cards if they find them unhelpful, and they can still use the "Summarize this email" button for messages where the automatic feature isn't triggered. This rollout follows Google's push to embed Gemini across its products. Google emphasizes its commitment to user data protection and privacy with this AI integration. Users need to have smart features and personalization turned on in Gmail, Chat, and Meet, as well as smart features in Google Workspace. This new capability has been generally available since May 29, 2025. While it is currently limited to mobile devices, Google may consider expanding the feature to desktop users in the future. Google also has indicated that they plan to add more languages at a later date. Recommended read:
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Alexey Shabanov@TestingCatalog
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Perplexity has unveiled Perplexity Labs, a new AI-powered tool designed for Pro subscribers, aiming to revolutionize the creation of work deliverables. Labs automates tasks like generating reports, spreadsheets, dashboards, and even mini web apps, leveraging AI research and code execution to bring projects from ideation to completion. It functions as an AI-driven team, providing users with a comprehensive suite of tools to transform their ideas into tangible results, marking a significant move beyond traditional search functionalities.
Labs stands out by investing a minimum of 10 minutes in self-supervised work, conducting web browsing, writing and executing code, and organizing data to achieve its objectives. This extended timeframe allows the AI to crunch numbers, apply formulas, generate visuals, and construct interactive web apps, all without requiring the user to lift a finger. The technology combines various AI capabilities Perplexity has developed, packaging the output into an "Assets" tab for easy access and download. Available on web, iOS, and Android, with Mac and Windows apps on the horizon, Perplexity Labs is accessible for Pro subscribers at $20 per month. With the mini web apps feature being particularly ambitious, Labs can build and deploy simple interactive websites directly within the interface, such as dashboards, slideshows, or data visualization tools, without the user needing any coding knowledge. This move aims to shift Perplexity's positioning from a "better Google" to a "personal research assistant and worker," providing training wheels for building AI agents and automating time-consuming tasks. Recommended read:
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Amicie Ourega@Yseop
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AI agents are rapidly emerging as the next major advancement beyond chatbots, offering the potential to revolutionize how businesses operate and individuals live. These agents are distinguished by their capacity for autonomous action, enabling them to execute tasks and make decisions independently. Microsoft is expanding its suite of AI agents for ERP systems, with several new agents soon available for public preview in Dynamics 365. These agents promise to streamline business processes across various functions, including finance, supply chain, and operations, marking a shift towards AI-first operations.
The key difference between AI-powered assistants and autonomous agents lies in their roles. While assistants primarily support human tasks, agents function as "digital colleagues," taking on specific tasks and responsibilities. In ERP systems, agents can automate high-volume, rules-based activities, reducing manual effort, improving accuracy, and accelerating decision-making. Microsoft highlights the potential of these agents to transform how business processes are orchestrated and executed, paving the way for intelligent and scalable automation. DataRobot has also launched its federal AI application suite, designed specifically for government agencies. This suite includes a range of agents and custom applications intended to enhance efficiency and impact within high-security environments. The Account Reconciliation Agent for example, accelerates the period-end close by matching ledger entries, flagging discrepancies, and recommending resolution steps. These advancements underscore the growing recognition of AI agents as a powerful tool for driving innovation and improving performance across diverse industries. Recommended read:
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@www.pcworld.com
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Entrepreneur
, PCWorld
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed that a significant portion of the company's new code is being written by artificial intelligence. Nadella stated at Meta's LlamaCon conference that approximately 20% to 30% of Microsoft's code is now generated by AI. This marks a significant shift in software development practices, with AI tools becoming increasingly integrated into the coding process. He also noted the increased usage of AI agents for code reviews, highlighting AI's role in enhancing efficiency and productivity within the company's software engineering workflows.
This trend isn't exclusive to Microsoft. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has also indicated that a substantial percentage of Google's new code is being written by AI, exceeding 30%. Meta, under the leadership of Mark Zuckerberg, is also aggressively pursuing AI-driven software development, with plans to have AI handle half of its software development within the next year. These developments signify a broader industry movement towards leveraging AI to automate and augment coding tasks, transforming how software is created. The rise of AI in code development and review has significant implications for software engineers. While some experts, like Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott, predict that AI could write as much as 95% of code within the next five years, others view it as an opportunity to enhance productivity and focus on more complex, creative tasks. The transition to AI-assisted coding requires software engineers to adapt and learn how to effectively collaborate with AI tools. These technologies, like Microsoft's Copilot, powered by OpenAI's ChatGPT, are increasingly vital for businesses aiming to drive innovation and efficiency through AI-driven solutions. Recommended read:
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@Salesforce
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References:
Salesforce
, Salesforce
Agentic AI is rapidly transforming various sectors, from government operations to small businesses. Salesforce executives highlight the potential of agentic AI to assist overstretched government workers by automating routine tasks and improving efficiency. The focus is shifting from automating basic tasks to creating intelligent systems that adapt and learn, providing personalized and efficient support. This evolution promises to reshape how work is done, streamlining processes and enhancing productivity.
Companies are quickly adopting AI agents to enhance customer support and streamline operations, leading to a new competitive landscape. Microsoft has launched powerful AI agents designed to transform the workday and challenge Google’s workplace dominance. These agents, such as the 'Researcher' and 'Analyst' agents, are powered by OpenAI’s deep reasoning models and can handle complex tasks, such as research and data analysis, that previously required specialized human expertise. This increased productivity across sectors signifies a major shift in how businesses operate. Dynamics 365 Customer Service now offers three AI service agents in public preview: Case Management, Customer Intent, and Customer Knowledge Management agents. These agents learn to address emerging issues, uncover new knowledge, and automate manual processes to boost business efficiency and reduce costs. The Case Management Agent automates key tasks throughout the lifecycle of a case, while the Customer Intent Agent uses generative AI to analyze past interactions and provide tailored solutions. This represents a significant step towards autonomous systems that improve customer experiences and reduce the burden on human agents. Recommended read:
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@orases.com
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orases.com
, John Werner
AI agents are rapidly evolving from simple digital assistants to sophisticated systems that are transforming workflows across various organizations and industries. These agents are now capable of actively managing data, automating decision-making processes, and driving cross-functional workflows, marking a significant shift in how businesses operate. This evolution presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly concerning fragmentation, security, and the need for scalable tools to effectively manage these AI agents. Companies are racing to adopt these technologies to gain a competitive edge.
The adoption of AI agents is particularly impactful for Small and Mid-sized Businesses (SMBs), which often lack the resources of larger enterprises. AI agents offer SMBs a new competitive edge by streamlining operations and improving productivity without requiring extensive manpower or complex processes. Intelligent automation, driven by AI, is replacing manual tasks with smarter workflows, freeing up employees to focus on strategic initiatives. This trend is evident across various sectors, as companies explore how to best leverage AI agents to optimize their operations and communication. One innovative solution is the SOP-driven LLM agent framework, which integrates Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure reliable execution and enhance productivity. This framework addresses common challenges faced by Large Language Models (LLMs), such as inaccuracies and inconsistencies, by structuring SOPs as a tree, allowing for intuitive workflow creation. Initial evaluations demonstrate remarkable accuracy, exceeding 99.8% in real-world scenarios, with AI-powered solutions being developed up to 10 times faster than traditional methods. The framework is transforming enterprise operations and exploring industry applications in engineering, data analytics, and data science, heralding a new era of AI-driven automation. Recommended read:
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@www.microsoft.com
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Tony Bradley
, www.microsoft.com
Microsoft is at the forefront of a workplace revolution, driven by the rapid advancement of AI. According to their 2025 Work Trend Index, AI agents are transforming how businesses operate, particularly in customer service and security operations. These agents, powered by sophisticated AI, are designed to augment human capabilities, enabling companies to scale rapidly, operate with agility, and generate value faster. The report highlights the emergence of "Frontier Firms," organizations built around on-demand AI and human-agent teams, where employees act as "agent bosses."
Microsoft envisions a future where every employee will have an AI assistant, and AI agents will join teams as "digital colleagues," taking on specific tasks. Eventually, humans will set directions for these agents, who will then execute business processes and workflows independently, with their human supervisors checking in as needed. This shift represents a move from simple coding assistance to AI agents capable of handling complex tasks, such as end-to-end logistics in a supply chain, while humans guide the system and manage relationships with suppliers. This transformation is expected to impact various knowledge work professions, including scientists, academics, and lawyers. The company also introduced AI service agents for Dynamics 365 Customer Service and Contact Center. These agents are available in public preview and include Case Management, Customer Intent, and Customer Knowledge Management agents. These AI agents learn to address emerging issues, uncover new knowledge, and automate manual processes to boost business efficiency and reduce costs. The Case Management Agent simplifies case management, reduces handling time, and improves customer satisfaction, while the Customer Intent Agent uses generative AI to analyze past interactions and provide tailored solutions. Microsoft is also emphasizing the importance of securing, managing, and measuring agent workstreams with the Copilot Control System, ensuring that businesses can effectively mitigate risks and track the ROI of their AI agent deployments. Recommended read:
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Thomas Claburn@The Register
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Microsoft is significantly advancing human-agent collaboration with the latest upgrades to its Microsoft 365 Copilot. The tech giant is rolling out new updates, including Researcher and Analyst agents designed to enhance workplace productivity by providing in-depth research and data analysis. These AI agents, powered by OpenAI's deep reasoning models, are envisioned as digital colleagues capable of performing complex workplace tasks, helping professionals tackle intricate challenges with advanced reasoning capabilities. This aligns with Microsoft’s broader AI-first strategy, aiming to scale digital labor and drive substantial productivity gains for companies adopting these technologies.
Microsoft is also unveiling a redesigned Microsoft 365 Copilot app featuring AI-powered search and an Agent Store, positioning it as the central hub for human-agent collaboration. The new AI-powered enterprise search tool, Copilot Search, organizes data across the enterprise, providing rich, context-aware answers from first-party and third-party apps like ServiceNow, Google Drive, and Jira. The Agent Store provides access to Microsoft’s Researcher and Analyst agents, initially introduced in March and available to those enrolled in Microsoft’s Frontier program. Moreover, Microsoft is adding new capabilities to its Control System feature to assist IT professionals in overseeing and measuring bot usage effectively. These updates are part of a broader effort to integrate AI across the Microsoft ecosystem, addressing the increasing demand for AI-powered solutions in the enterprise. According to Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index report, a significant majority of companies are rethinking their strategies to leverage AI, signaling a decisive move toward full-scale AI transformation. Key features include AI-powered enterprise search, personalized memory capabilities, specialized reasoning agents like Researcher and Analyst, and the Agent Store. The Researcher agent helps with multi-step research tasks, while the Analyst agent provides data science capabilities. Recommended read:
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Alexey Shabanov@TestingCatalog
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The Lalit Blogs
, www.microsoft.com
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Microsoft is significantly enhancing its AI integration within knowledge work tools, focusing on boosting critical thinking, decision-making, and creativity. This initiative is underscored by findings from the Semantic Telemetry Project, revealing that professionals who incorporate AI into their routines are more likely to continue using these tools and increase their usage. Microsoft Research is actively exploring AI systems as "Tools for Thought," aiming to reimagine AI's role in augmenting human intellect. The company presented four new research papers and cohosted a workshop at the CHI 2025 conference, diving deep into the intersection of AI and human cognition.
Microsoft's Copilot AI is expanding with the early testing of a new podcast-generation feature. This tool can transform nearly any topic or user-provided material into a concise, conversational show. Copilot analyzes the content, develops a script for two synthetic hosts, and uses neural text-to-speech technology to create a dynamic summary. Users can interact with the podcast in real-time, pausing to ask questions that Copilot will adapt to, streamlining multitasking and improving the user experience. The Microsoft Copilot AI Podcast feature was outlined during Microsoft's 50th-anniversary Copilot event on April 4, 2025, and in a follow-up blog post. Microsoft is also focusing on user-friendly automation with the New Copilot Studio Feature. Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is being introduced as an AI-powered conversational assistant that integrates with tools like Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook. It can interpret context, offer suggestions, and draft responses, leveraging OpenAI's capabilities to make work smarter and faster. Copilot Chat provides context-aware assistance, enhanced communication by drafting emails and summarizing threads, efficient data insights in Excel, and real-time collaboration, bridging the gap between documents and communication tools. Recommended read:
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