The Quest for Public Attention Intensifies as AI vs Bitcoin Search Battle Continues

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly gaining traction as it becomes more integrated into our daily lives. However, Google Trends data highlights that the level of public interest in AI falls short of the peak experienced by Bitcoin in 2017.

As per Google Trends statistics, captured by DigitalInformationWorld, searches for the term "AI" have achieved their highest level ever, however, despite this peak, the level of interest in AI remains considerably lower when compared to the extraordinary frenzy surrounding Bitcoin.

Charts, featured below, portraying the search patterns for "AI", "Metaverse", and "Bitcoin." These terms have gained significant attention and have been extensively discussed within the technology industry over the past five years. The chart serves as a clear representation of the evident contrast in search volumes between "Bitcoin" and "AI," with "Bitcoin" exhibiting a higher peak in search volume. Furthermore, the chart highlights the limited growth in searches for "metaverse" up until now.

One possible reason why "AI" hasn't garnered the same level of attention as "Bitcoin" did during its peak frenzy in 2017 is the longevity of the term. Both "artificial intelligence" and "AI" have been in use for several decades, dating back to the 1950s. In contrast, Bitcoin was a relatively new invention at the time, capturing the imagination of the masses.

Another factor contributing to the lesser spike in searches for the metaverse may be the perception that it primarily revolves around video games and lacks practical applications for the average person. This view persists despite the enthusiasm expressed by Mark Zuckerberg, who sees the metaverse as an integral part of our ordinary lives.

Considering the upward trajectory of "AI" searches and its growing significance in various spheres, it seems inevitable that it will surpass "Bitcoin" in search volume sooner or later. However, we have not yet reached that milestone.

The increasing prevalence of AI in our lives indicates a rising curiosity and desire to explore its potential. As AI technology continues to advance, people are likely to seek more information and engage in further searches. Consequently, the gap between "AI" and "Bitcoin" in terms of search volume may eventually narrow.

The widespread integration of AI in various industries, including healthcare, finance, transportation, and entertainment, underscores its relevance and impact on society. From intelligent virtual assistants to autonomous vehicles and predictive algorithms, AI has already transformed numerous aspects of our daily lives.

Although AI's current search volume doesn't match the craze surrounding Bitcoin in 2017, it serves as a testament to the growing recognition and interest in this transformative technology. As more individuals become familiar with AI and witness its applications firsthand, its search volume is expected to rise, potentially surpassing the heights achieved by Bitcoin.

To summarize, AI is currently receiving considerable attention in Google searches and has gained significant prominence. However, it has not yet achieved the same level of search volume as Bitcoin did in 2017. Nevertheless, as AI continues to advance and assume a more crucial role in various aspects of our lives, it is inevitable that it will eventually surpass Bitcoin's search volume. The increasing interest and upward trajectory of AI searches highlight the growing curiosity and acknowledgment of its immense potential. This sets the stage for a future where AI becomes an indispensable component of our everyday existence.

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by Ayesha Hasnain via Digital Information World

Rising Rent Prices Put Small Businesses at Risk

The latest Alignable study highlights that approx. half of the surveyed small and medium-sized organizations are facing difficulty in coping with rental expenses, amid various ongoing issues in the US.

The factors influencing the increased rental prices we are seeing are several. One major aspect driving up operational costs for firms is inflation. Also, the supply of these bigger commercial spaces hasn't kept pace with the growing demand, causing rental prices to rise as a consequence.

The study further highlights that more than 35 percent of these enterprises are unable to meet their monthly rental expenses deadlines. Also, more than half of them are unable to pay the previous month's rent, leading to downsizing or closure of the business.

Several potential solutions can help loosen the burden on small businesses caused by rising rent prices. One possibility is for the government to intervene and offer financial aid or tax incentives that are specially tailored to encourage small enterprises. Landlords can also contribute by being more flexible with their rental arrangements. This could mean offering temporary rent relief or extending the duration of leases to give struggling small businesses some much-needed breathing space.

With the growing difficulties associated with renting issues come other difficulties, such as a lack of skilled labour, an inefficient supply chain, and rising prices for raw materials.

These days, inventory management has also grown to be a major hassle and is delaying many business activities. For these kinds of firms who are trying to preserve their stability, one of the major problems is the rising cost of raw materials.

To sum up, the escalation of rental prices presents a grave threat to the survival of these organizations. But the hope is still alive for these enterprises. By joining hands with government support and landlord flexibility, these businesses can still survive in this era.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

What US States Have the Most AI Jobs?

With AI advancing at such a rapid rate, many are wondering when it will start to replace real human beings in the work force. In spite of the fact that this is the case, many new jobs have been created thanks to AI, providing workers with more avenues to branch into than might have been the case otherwise. Lightcast recently published some data that revealed which US states have the highest proportion of AI related jobs, and the results were quite surprising.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that California topped the list with an estimated 142,000 openings for AI related roles. This accounts for 17.9% of the total number of jobs that are currently available in California, which is more than double that of the second ranking state namely Texas.

Texas still offers an abundance of opportunities for individuals who are working in this space. There are over 66,000 AI related jobs available in the state, accounting for 8.4% of the total. Coming in third place is New York with just under 44,000 jobs, or 43,899 to be precise, which means that around 5.5% of all of the New York based jobs listed have something or the other to do with AI.

This report also shed some light on which skills are necessary because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up helping aspiring employees to focus their efforts. Python was cited in 37% of AI job listings, followed by Computer Science with 33%. SQL came in at a distant third, being mentioned in around 23% of listed AI jobs, followed by data analysis and data science which got 20% each.

One thing to note here is that the tech industry in California is still flourishing with all things having been considered and taken into account. Texas is providing it with some stiff competition, but this hasn’t changed California’s dominance in the tech space with Silicon Valley fast becoming a hub for AI similar to how it became an nexus for previous tech innovations.

H/T: Visualcapitalist

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Google Bard To Provide Users With More Accurate Local Results Depending On Their Device's Specific Location

Google Bard is all set to give users a more wholesome and customized experience, thanks to a new feature.

The famous chatbot would now be giving users the chance to select a specific location depending on where their device is situated. Whenever a user directs a particular question at the chatbot, they can opt to give it a chance to detect their exact location.

Soon, a popup would arrive that states, ‘To get a specific response, simply allow Bard to select your specific destination.

Meanwhile, you could see prompts arise that ask the user to confirm if they’re willing to share location details with the search engine.

If that’s the case, you’ll get more specific results such as direct answers to a restaurant that might be situated to your location and several other places in the area. And that just makes the whole thing so much easier for those in a rush or who are pressed for time.

It’s just rolling out now so in case you don’t exactly see it, don’t worry. A little patience would go a long way here.

Remember, this is big news because the local search can really pave the way for small-scale firms that are trying to provide clients with the best business but tend to get overshadowed by the big names in the industry.

For instance, if you’re in need of a great doctor, good hair stylist, dentist, or perhaps the best ice cream parlor in the city- don’t sweat. Just use this new feature and you’ll be doing the smaller brands a big favor by giving them traffic.

You need to have your Business Profile on Google to have this work, the company adds. So ensure all of your customers are set in this feature and perform your searches ahead of time to witness how it alters from the usual search done via Google.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

78% of Americans Are Rethinking Their Investments, Here’s Why

The world has experienced a series of seismic economic shocks as of late, and this is resulting in many Americans changing up their plans for their financial future. According to a survey conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by Cadre, 78% of Americans are trying to rethink their investments because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up helping them weather the financial storm.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that this proportion is even greater among high earners. 85% of Americans who earn between $150,000 to $199,000 said that they are going to try to come up with new ways of managing their finances in order to render their wealth more secure than might have been the case otherwise.

Based on the findings in this survey, 57% of people have invested in stocks, 55% in cryptocurrency and 49% in bonds. 44% are exploring real estate, with commercial real estate in particular emerging as a viable option. 53% of people who have invested in commercial real estate stated that they expect to reach their financial goals, whereas just 19% of the people that have not invested in this asset class said the same.

52% of investors also said that they are looking to create a sustainable source of passive income for themselves with commercial real estate. 50% want to protect their assets from inflation, and 48% are looking to take advantage of tax breaks and incentives.

With 77% of investors nervous about how the state of the economy will affect their retirement plans, commercial real estate is turning into a go-to asset that can help them reach all of their goals. 61% of people said that they would invest any extra money that they get their hands on, and many experts are predicting that this will lead to skyrocketing commercial real estate prices down the line. However, if work from home becomes commonplace, these forms of real estate might end up going in the opposite direction which would wreak further havoc with the economy.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Elon Musk’s Post Acquisition Honeymoon is Over as Twitter Usage Starts to Decline

Elon Musk’s long legal battles that eventually led to him becoming the owner of Twitter, many claimed that this would spell the end for the struggling social media platform. In spite of the fact that this is the case, Twitter actually saw a 10% uptick in downloads and 1% increase in daily active users directly following Musk taking the helm. This seemed to suggest that Musk’s control over the company would help it steer out of the troubles waters it had recently found itself in.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that this honeymoon period now appears to be over. Twitter’s total installs, which saw an undeniable uptick in the aftermath of Musk’s acquisition, have now returned to normal levels. What’s more, users spent an average of 19.1 minutes on Twitter every day in April, which indicates that this metric has not grown at all year over year since this is the same number as April 2022.

Despite Musk’s bold claims that he will revolutionize the platform once and for all, downloads have fallen in the past few months. In April of 2022, Twitter received 17.5 million downloads across all platforms, but a year later this number has declined to just 16.2 million with all things having been considered and taken into account.

However, there are still some positive signs that can be taken note of. For example, in-app revenue for Twitter has increase considerably during Musk’s tenure as CEO and owner. Between the months of April and May in 2022, Twitter brought in approximately $120,000 from in-app revenue. A year later, this number hovers at around $3 million, representing a whopping increase that proves that at least some of Musk’s methods seem to be working out.

This is largely thanks to Musk’s monetization of the blue tick by rolling out Twitter Blue which allowed any user to get the verification mark so long as they paid the 8-11 dollar a month fee. Individual subscriptions such as Musk’s $4 a month package and Mr. Beast’s $5 a month subscription offer also turned out to be extremely popular products on the platform.

This still doesn’t change the fact that Twitter is lagging behind virtually all of its competitors. TikTok receives 87 minutes of usage per user per day, Instagram averages 43 minutes per user, and for Facebook users this number sits at approximately 39 minutes every day. Twitter, on the other hand, only managed 25 minutes of daily usage per day, and that puts it ahead of just Snapchat with every other competitor surpassing it.

The uptick in sales for Twitter Blue and personal subscriptions might not be enough if daily users continue to decline. Advertisers will start pulling marketing campaigns off of the platform because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up redirecting these resources towards other avenues.

Musk is now stepping down as CEO, with Linda Yaccarino coming in to replace him, and it will be interesting to see how she handles things. With his controversial tenure coming to a close, Musk will have a tough time reaching his target of one billion users by 2024.

H/T: Business Insider 

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

‘There’s No Chance Of Human Extinction Due To AI Advancements’, Top AI Researcher Expresses Frustration

A leading name in the world of AI research is shedding light upon his growing frustrations linked to false fears of AI advancements.

Kyunghyun Cho who has plenty of research under his name linked to AI and is also working as a top professor at NYU says the growing speculations of dangers linked to AI are not true. He finds it bizarre how people feel human extinction is near because of all the great amenities that Generative AI brings with it.

It’s all actually quite interesting because we’re talking about so many big names including the pioneers of AI stating in the past few days how AI is a growing and alarming threat to the human race and if moderation is not exercised, it can prove to have deleterious consequences.

But Cho says such words are really distracting from the main focus and benefits of AI, no matter what it could be.

He even sat down for a recent interview where he mentioned more about his work and how he assisted in the great architecture linked to ChatGPT while speaking of major disappointments related to those chats that keep on talking about AI’s risks. He felt it was time to speak about how AI can boost the economy and revolutionize the world's positivity as there was a clear lack of discussion on this subject.

He was very clear about how he does respect all researchers but warned against assuming all posts linked to top names were 100% accurate. In the same way, Cho was questioned about his thoughts linked to the many petitions that have been arising and was getting signatures from hero scientists.

Those petitions were calling for a pause in AI training and for greater regulation. He even shed light on the recent Senate hearings that went as far as claiming that AI was in the league of dangers where climate change and nuclear weapons were put in the same category.

Why was there no focus on the immediate benefits of AI and how we can mediate the harms and transform them into positive findings?- he wondered while expressing his discontentment.

He failed to see why such top names were simply offering their signatures on such petitions and taking them so lightly. Remember, having your name across something means you stand by the claims listed.

So as you can see, it’s a very interesting debate and one that definitely requires more attention.

Photo: Freepik/rawpixel

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