Does Microsoft use Office documents to train AI applications?

Here are five tech news stories from this week and how they impact your business. Were you lonely?

1 – Tech News: No, Microsoft does not use Office documents to train its AI.

Users posted concerns about Microsoft’s use of personal data in Word and Excel documents to train AI models. Microsoft officially denied these claims and said the Connected Experiences feature in Microsoft 365 apps does not use customer data to train its AI. Instead, features such as document co-authoring and spell checking are enabled. Microsoft emphasized that the settings in question are for enabling internet-based features, not for AI training. (Source: The Verge)

Why this is important for your business:

Do you trust Microsoft? Do you trust big tech? If so, I think you are naive. But that doesn’t really matter. When we talk about AI at industry associations, we often get questions about whether our data is secure and confidential. Even if big tech companies promise it’s safe, I’m not completely sure. But this is a risk-reward relationship. Are you willing to risk the security/confidentiality of your data to reap the benefits of AI automation offered by products like Copilot and Google Gemini? To me, it’s worth the risk. I don’t know who really cares about my small, tiny micro-company’s data, so I’m willing to give it to big tech companies in exchange for increased productivity.

2 – Tech News: 2025 will be a bad year for remote work.

In an opinion piece, Mike Elgin asserts that the work-from-home phase will be “under threat” in the near future. The policy change will be implemented under new leadership, as Elon Musk announced his intention to rescind the remote policy for federal employees. Potential consequences include employee backlash leading to resignations. As our 2024 CEO Outlook Survey shows, in-office mandates are on the rise in the private sector as well, impacting productivity, employment, and pay. Despite data showing remote work improves employee productivity, moves to eliminate remote work models set the stage for a “tough 2025” for employees accustomed to flexibility. It is set. (Source: Computer World)

Why this is important for your business:

This year is not a “bad year.” It’s just an adjustment to reality. Before the pandemic, employees working from home two days a week would have killed them, especially if those two days were Monday and Friday, which most companies allow. Technology is great, but nothing can replace human interaction. Young people need guidance. Socialization of all people. Businesses need innovation. You can’t do this with Zoom or Teams. People need to be in the office at least part of the week, and there are very few customers who disagree with that point of view.

3 – Tech News: MasterCard says the checkout revolution will be optimized by AI.

Mastercard is leveraging artificial intelligence to revolutionize the checkout process. Company executives shared key benefits such as improved approval rates, where AI can enrich approval messages with real-time data, reduce errors, and optimize transaction routing. Transform the customer experience with faster and more efficient checkout processes, recommended payment options, and fewer lost sales due to failed transactions. “This is the holy grail of optimization,” said Shelley Haymond, co-president of global partnerships at Mastercard. (Source: PYMNTS)

Why it matters to your business:

Wouldn’t you expect more? Leading financial services companies like MasterCard are not only relying heavily on AI to improve the customer experience by making payments and checkout more seamless, they are also leveraging the use of AI to minimize fraud. It would expand and, at least in theory, minimize ongoing costs. .

4 – Technology News: Sales of professional robots increase by 30%.

Professional service robot sales increased by 30% globally in 2023. The main cause of the increase was labor shortages, especially in the transpiration and logistics sectors. The adoption of robotics technology is increasing in various industries, with healthcare having the second highest rate of adoption after logistics. Hospitality and agriculture also received attention. Asia Pacific led the market with 162,284 units sold, followed by Europe and the Americas. (Source: IoT World Today)

Why this is important for your business:

Don’t get me wrong. Robots are already in the workplace and will proliferate over the next few years as costs come down and the AI ​​brains that power their movements get smarter. This is good. Robots on the manufacturing floor can already carry loads, sort products, check for safety issues, and enhance security. More and more construction companies are deploying robots for monitoring, moving materials, and even installing drywall. Manual tasks that require human labor will be replaced by these machines very soon.

5 – Tech News: Accounts Payable is on the path to becoming an AI-powered growth engine.

Accounts payable (AP) departments are leveraging AI-powered solutions to transform operations and drive business growth. Key benefits include legacy inefficiencies, as many AP teams still rely on outdated processes such as paper invoices and checks. AI and automation can help AP departments overcome these traditional problems by streamlining workflows, reducing errors, and increasing efficiency. Automating the AP process significantly reduces the cost of using paper checks and improves fraud detection. Companies are encouraged to adopt a phased approach to modernization to improve overall efficiency. (Source: PYMNTS)

Why this is important for your business:

If you run a business that processes more than 50 accounts payable invoices per week, we highly recommend considering products like Bill, Ramp, and AvidExchange. These AP automation platforms can receive supplier invoices via email or other means, scan them, and enter them into accounting systems for approval and payment with minimal errors. They are faster and more accurate than humans. Save time and reduce overhead. In my experience, it’s a pain to set up, but once it’s done, the benefits are huge.

New technology news that will impact your business published every Sunday.