AI Shifts: Self-Service Wins & the Future of Work

'Tis the season to share what we're thankful for, and here's what's topping our list: AI breakthroughs transforming industries.?

This week, we’re exploring how computer vision is supercharging warehouse efficiency, plus how AI bots are saving companies millions in customer service and redefining the future of work. Ready to dive in?

• X is testing a free version of AI chatbot Grok - Elon Musk's company xAI, which powers the AI chatbot Grok, is expanding access to a free version of the chatbot on the social network X (formerly Twitter). Previously available only to paying Premium users, Grok is now being tested for free users in select regions like New Zealand. Free access comes with limitations: users can make 10 queries every two hours using the Grok-2 model and up to 20 queries with the Grok-2 mini version, with three image analysis queries per day. To qualify, users must have an account that’s at least seven days old and linked to a phone number. This broader rollout aims to expand the user base and gather feedback to enhance competitiveness against other AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. The move comes amid reports that xAI is seeking additional funding at a valuation of $40 billion.
• Top Telecommunications Company Reports $10.5 Million Annual Savings from Verint AI-Powered Voice Self-Service - Verint has announced that a leading telecommunications company has saved over $10.5 million annually by implementing its AI-powered Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) for telephony self-service. The company replaced its legacy IVR system with Verint’s IVA, resulting in significant improvements in self-service efficiency. With the new system, the company handles over seven million customer calls annually, achieving a 50% overall containment rate and an 80% containment rate for billing inquiries. This translates to 3.5 million calls resolved without human agents, drastically reducing operational costs and enhancing customer experience. Verint’s IVA leverages advanced conversational AI that continuously improves by learning from customer interactions, enabling accurate and context-aware responses.
• AI in Recruitment is a Race to the Bottom - The article critiques the growing trend of using AI for candidate interviews, arguing that it dehumanizes the hiring process. While proponents claim that AI-driven interviews enhance efficiency and reduce bias, the author, Mark Somerfield, disagrees. He believes that interviews are not just a tool to assess candidates but also a chance for companies to present their culture to potential hires. By relying on AI avatars for interviews, companies risk coming across as impersonal and uncaring, potentially driving away top talent. Somerfield emphasizes that first impressions are crucial in hiring, especially for smaller companies that need to attract high-quality candidates. Additionally, while AI may promise unbiased hiring, it can inadvertently reinforce existing biases due to flawed training data. The piece argues that optimizing for efficiency in recruitment may result in filtering out the best candidates, ultimately lowering the quality of hires.

• Google rolls out its Gemini AI-powered video presentation app - Google has launched its Gemini AI-powered Vids app, which allows users to create video presentations using simple prompts. The app can automatically generate scripts, insert stock footage, and produce AI voiceovers, making it ideal for tasks like turning customer support content into videos, creating training materials, and summarizing meetings. Initially announced in April, Vids integrates with Google Workspace, allowing users to add documents, slides, and voiceovers to quickly generate video content. Currently, advanced features like "Help me create" are limited to English, though the app supports multiple languages for other functionalities. Vids is gradually rolling out to Workspace users starting November 7, with full access expected by 2026.
• Looking into future computer vision opportunities for warehouse logistics - Prime Vision is advancing the use of computer vision in warehouse logistics, moving beyond traditional optical character recognition (OCR) to enable deeper insights and efficiency improvements. By using high-resolution cameras, AI, and GPUs, computer vision systems can now track packages, identify errors, and optimize sorting processes in real-time. This technology helps warehouse operators go beyond reading labels, providing comprehensive scene understanding, which can identify overlapping parcels, non-machinable items, and even ensure safety compliance. The result is increased efficiency, reduced errors, and enhanced safety, making warehouse operations more seamless. Prime Vision’s systems have already shown success in detecting maintenance issues and reducing sorting errors, proving the value of computer vision in automating complex logistical processes.

• 80% Of Surveyed Businesses Don’t Have Plans For An AI-Related Crisis - A recent report by Riskconnect reveals that 80% of businesses lack plans to handle AI-related crises, despite increasing awareness of the risks associated with generative AI. The survey of 218 risk professionals highlights that companies are unprepared for potential threats, including AI-driven cyberattacks like ransomware, phishing, and deepfakes. Notably, 72% reported significant impacts from cybersecurity risks, yet many organizations still don’t have policies governing AI use by partners and suppliers, leaving them vulnerable. Experts stress that businesses need to prioritize AI governance, security measures, and transparency to mitigate risks and avoid potential self-inflicted crises as AI continues to evolve rapidly.
• Nvidia CEO Sees Future Where AI Staff Work Alongside Humans - Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang envisions a future where AI "employees" work alongside humans in various industries, performing tasks such as chip design, marketing, and supply chain management. Speaking on the No Priors podcast, Huang emphasized that these AI agents could be briefed just like human workers, allowing seamless integration into the workplace. He believes that embracing AI technology can boost company productivity, drive growth, and ultimately increase earnings. While there are concerns about job displacement, Huang argues that AI will also help secure and transform existing roles, with digital agents even collaborating with humans in platforms like Slack. Nvidia’s recent surge to become the most valuable company highlights the growing impact of AI on the market.

About Plainsight Technologies

Plainsight Technologies is the enterprise vision data company that makes cameras count. Through our pre-built Vision Intelligence Filters, containerized applications that solve business problems with accurate data from visual sources, we empower organizations to scale from concept to industry adoption while prioritizing privacy, security, and rapid innovation. Our mission is to "make your cameras count," extracting valuable insights from visual data to optimize processes in agriculture, marine biology, manufacturing, food service, and more. Headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, Plainsight Technologies operates as a distributed team, delivering cutting-edge solutions worldwide. To learn more, visit plainsight.ai .