Ground Control: October 2024

Quote of The Month:

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.” – Socrates

In today’s fast-paced business environment, change is inevitable, and the key to thriving is in how you approach it. As Socrates suggests, resisting outdated methods can drain valuable resources and energy. For business owners, this means that rather than clinging to legacy systems or old processes, it’s far more effective to embrace innovative solutions that will move your business forward. Software development, when approached with a future-focused mindset, becomes a powerful tool for growth.

By directing your attention toward building new systems and adopting modern technologies, you not only stay competitive but also create a foundation for long-term success. Whether it’s upgrading internal processes, adopting cloud-based solutions, or automating routine tasks, focusing on progress allows you to make meaningful changes. The old ways may feel comfortable, but true growth comes from embracing the new. In software development, this often means aligning your goals with the latest advancements that will best serve your business and customers.

What's Going on in the Tech World?

Generative AI is Growing

As Generative AI grows, companies behind these technologies are evolving to meet business needs. When Generative AI tools began breaking breaking into the scene in late 2022, all information shared with the tools was used to train and improve the tools. This meant that indirectly any information shared with the tool was available to any users of the tool. While it was encouraged not to share personal or private information with these tools, it would greatly limit the use case.

In November 2023, OpenAI, announced a huge overhaul to their terms of service to better cater to businesses. One thing they and many other AI companies are taking into account is that businesses have very real concerns about sharing proprietary information. OpenAI has created different licensing and avenues to access their services that allow users to opt out of sharing their information. Two major changes to know about is that OpenAI created an Enterprise License as well as modified the terms around how data transmitted via API's is used. The terms of service are still evolving so it is important to continue to keep up to date.

To learn more about more about OpenAI's policy changes, you can read more at the following links: Enterprise Privacy, Consumer Privacy, 2023 Policy Update.

What Does This Mean for Your Business?

With the constantly changing landscape of Generative AI, it can be hard to know what will keep your data private. It can feel like you're between a rock and hard place. You want to take advantage of the benefits of AI, but can't risk your data being shared in ways you did not intend. These new policy changes may make these tools available to you in a way you can feel assured your data is not being shared. Even if you are not actively looking to implement AI into your existing workflows, many of the applications and technologies you are already using are starting to integrate it, like Microsoft's Copilot. Keeping on top of how your employees are using AI, along with these constant changes can be key to ensuring your data remains secure.

If you are looking to implement new AI technologies or have questions around ones you are already using, reach out to our Business Development Rep - Chuck Rodriguez ([email protected])

Case Study: Go To TRIO

Graham Enterprises, Inc. sought to transition its GoToTRIO website away from Kentico CMS to a more cost-effective and flexible platform. WordPress offered the ideal solution, providing a more customizable and front-end user-friendly administration interface while also offering significant cost savings by avoiding ongoing Kentico licensing fees. The project involved migrating content, maintaining SEO, and translating their previously established website design into a custom WordPress theme. We also integrated a custom location finder map and a custom career opportunities section.

The result is a faster, more manageable website with improved page load times which positively impacts user engagement and SEO rankings. The scalability of WordPress also means that as GoToTRIO grows, they can easily add new features, expand their content, and enhance the site without the constraints of a proprietary system. This transition has positioned GoToTRIO for long-term digital success with a website that meets both their current needs and future goals.

A Tip from Earthling Interactive

Halloween ADA Compliance for Local Governments Webinar!

Our team is also hosting an event on October 31, 2024, starting at 10 AM Central. We'll review the DOJ's ruling on Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how this will affect local and state municipalities.?

If you belong to a local government entity, or know of someone who works in a local municipality, feel free to signup and learn more about these rulings at our webinar here:?Title II & You

Questions? Contact us today: [email protected]