Microsoft Edge Achieves Record 13.14% In May 2024, Still Trailing Google Chrome’s Dominant 64% Desktop Market Share

When you think of leaders in today’s desktop browser market, Microsoft Edge rarely comes to mind. The competition to reach the top spot is tough when you’ve got Google Chrome involved.

But the month of May 2024 proved otherwise for the software giant which managed to report record-high figures for its Edge browser users. The news comes to us thanks to intelligence from Statcounter where the latest findings put a lot of things in the spotlight.

Microsoft says that after a period of steady decline, the rapid rise in users of its desktop browser showed all-time high figures. The report also sheds light on which apps users like to browse online.

As per the figures from last month, it’s the Edge browser who hit the all-time high mark of 13.14%, beating out stats from the previous month by nearly 0.32 points. But, indeed, we won’t have a new leader in the browser market that overtakes Google Chrome’s massive share that it benefits from today. But one thing we can confirm is that the Android maker did lose a huge chunk of its user base last month.

If we look into the stats, it evident that the market share went downhill from 65% to 64%. So it’s Google in first place, Microsoft in second and Apple’s Safari stands at number three. In fourth position, we saw Mozilla Firefox and in 5th place it was Opera which closed at 3.2% market share.

On the other hand, mobile browsers are filled with two leading players which happen to be Apple and Google. The former has a 23% share while the latter has a 65% share. And while Microsoft’s Edge is also a tin6y player, the internet market share is really nothing when you look at the likes of Samsung. The latter has a 4.4% internet share while Edge stands at just 0.34%.

As experts have confirmed, disturbing the market that has been so well established over time is not easy. But when you’ve got the likes of Microsoft doing its level best and working to bring out new features that assist Edge in getting more users, it all makes sense.

As per results from Statcounter, the figure is really small and while it’s great for Microsoft to see this change and the result of its hard work to get more users, it’s got a long way to go to be a true leader.

We know the company is deriving Extensions as a means to get on board with more users. The goal is to bring more attention to the browser from various other mobile platforms so this could help in that regard. But at the same time, it’s struggling in terms of bringing forward more extensions from preview channels so users can benefit.

So yes, it’s a great milestone for Microsoft and its Edge browser but still a long way to go as competition is at its peak with strong arch-rivals in existence.

Read next: How to Turn Off Meta AI on WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

How to Turn Off Meta AI on WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook

The new blue circle appearing on your widely-used apps is a ChatGPT version of Meta, known as Meta AI, to help users do tasks fast and save their time. But not everyone is a fan of AI and wants this new feature to be on their screens while scrolling on Facebook, Instagram, or chatting on WhatsApp. So how can one get rid of it?

Can one get rid of it?

Frankly speaking, there is not a way to escape from it permanently. Meta, just like Google and Microsoft, feels compelled to rise in the artificial-intelligence industry, so it has included AI in all its services. However, it appears to be an unnecessary option, not required by all.

A loophole can help

One cannot get rid of it permanently, but making it invisible is an option we still have. Here are the steps you can take to make the AI icon invisible on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

On WhatsApp Mobile

• First, go to your WhatsApp and open the chat with Meta AI

• Tap on the profile name written at the top in the chat i.e. Meta AI.

• Tap on the notification tab and tap notification option.

• In next window choose Always from the options and click OK.

On Messenger Mobile

• Open the Messenger app on your phone.

• Click on the Meta AI symbol on your chat page

• Now, the chat window will open; look for the info icon in this window

• In next tab, select the mute option and then select Until I change it and then tap OK.

On Facebook Mobile

• Click on the Meta AI logo at the top of the page.

• In new tab, select the i (information) option at the top-right corner of the page.

• In next window, select the mute option under the AI symbol and then choose Until I change it from the given options.

On Instagram Mobile

Muting Meta AI on IG is as easy as the three methods mentioned above:

• Click on the AI symbol in the search bar at the top of the page.

• Click on the i option given at the top-right corner.

• Select mute from the given options and then choose Until I change it from the list.

Some other remedies

If you are not willing to go through all this hassle, a better option exists to overcome the issue. Strat using the web version of the apps or Lite versions as AI feature is still non-existent there. But iPhone users are exempt from using this panacea, as these apps are not available on iOS. They have to show a little cunning wit and do the following:

• Open their Facebook or Instagram account on Safari browser.

• Click on the share icon and then choose Add to home screen.

The aforementioned trick would generate a shortcut of apps in question and add them to your collection of apps on home screen.

The above-mentioned ways could be used by users not happy with the addition of AI feature in their widely-used apps.

Read next: Frustrated with Google's AI Overview in Search Results? Here’s How to Completely Disable It

by Ehtasham Ahmad via Digital Information World

Here's How Generative AI is Revolutionizing Marketing Creativity and Efficiency

Artificial intelligence, especially generative AI, is reshaping the marketing landscape nowadays. It is offering new ways for professionals to enhance creativity, streamline research, and optimize analytics. AI tools are becoming integral in the marketing field, helping marketers to generate content quicker, increase efficiency and build more creative campaigns.

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT have become essential in many marketers toolkits. For instance, a 2024 survey highlighted that 68% of B2B marketing leaders use generative AI to produce more content efficiently. Meanwhile, 55% leverage these tools to focus on high-value tasks, and 51% use AI to create content that is both optimized and engaging.

Additionally, the popularity of AI is evident in the upskilling of marketing professionals. LinkedIn's 2024 Global Marketing Jobs Outlook report shows an increased focus on AI skills. The top LinkedIn Learning courses for marketers now include topics such as "What is Generative AI?", "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence", and "Ethics in the Age of Generative AI". These courses are part of a broader trend where twice as many marketing leaders have added AI skills to their profiles in the last quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.

Furthermore, the demand for AI literacy is growing in the workplace. According to Microsoft and LinkedIn's 2024 Work Trend Index, 71% of leaders would prefer to hire a candidate with AI skills over one with more experience but without such skills. A significant 66% of leaders stated they would not hire someone lacking AI literacy.

The impact of AI on marketing extends to job opportunities and the competitive landscape. Over half of the marketers plan to use AI to gain a competitive advantage. The integration of AI into marketing not only facilitates a more efficient workflow but also fosters a creative and competitive industry. This shift suggests that we are moving towards a work environment that allows for more human interaction. This enables marketers to perform more fulfilling work and collaborate efficiently.

Read next: Report by Adobe Shows New Trends in Fonts, Colors and Other Elements on Websites in 2024
by Mahrukh Shahid via Digital Information World

Canalys Report: AI Smartphones Surge Amid Privacy Concerns

The latest report from research firm Canalys shows that there are growing concerns about privacy on AI smartphones. As we already know, AI is going to be a major force driving the smartphone market this year. Many companies are launching PCs and smartphones which are AI powered. Recently, Microsoft launched its Surface AI PC which has CoPilot+ features. Some other companies have also launched their devices which are powered by AI. Canalys has predicted that due to AI, PC sales will increase by 8% this year.

The report from Canalys talks about how presence of AI in hardware of smartphones is capable of executing AI models and supporting real-time device inference. Many of the big smartphones like Samsung Galaxy S24, Google Pixel Phones and Apple iPhone 15 have integrated AI in the smartphones. About 16% of the smartphones that will be sold this year will be powered by AI while in 2028, the percentage will increase to 54%. This means that manufacturers of smartphones will have a huge advantage due to AI smartphones. But despite all that, manufacturers will also have to face some challenges and negative effects of that.

• Also read: Has ChatGPT Superseded Human Intelligence? This New Study Provides A Unique Perspective

AI smartphones are generally safe to use but after studying 5000 participants, it was found that users are still facing privacy concerns due to AI capabilities. Canalys noted that these concerns are due to storage, usage and utilization of AI algorithms. The report says that over half of the participants in the survey are not sure if their data is safe. There are also some other problems like users not understanding AI use on those smartphones and their inability to use all the features on AI smartphones.

In the market of AI smartphones, Apple is going to take the lead with its iPhone with A17 Pro Chip which will offer a lot of features. About 55% of the AI smartphone market will be Apple's by 2025. It is because of its premium hardware and software, followed by a capable developer community.

Read next:

• 76% of Developers Use AI Tools 38% Report Inaccuracies 95% See Productivity Boost

• Report by Adobe Shows New Trends in Fonts, Colors and Other Elements on Websites in 2024
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Report by Adobe Shows New Trends in Fonts, Colors and Other Elements on Websites in 2024

The 2024 small business branding report by Adobe analyzed 930 websites to determine which colors, fonts and features are getting popular in 2024. All of the websites which were analyzed were all from small businesses which made it easy to study all the designs and features in detail. When the font colors were analyzed on those websites, the report found out that many brands are now opting for natural background colors like white (85%) and gray (34%). Other preferred colors were blue (22%) and black (9%). These were also the preferences for font colors as having neutral colors on the website makes readability easier. When you are choosing fonts for a website, it is important to have a background and font color contrast that is easier on eyes.

Adobe's report also talked about the font styles which are getting popular in 2024. The font style that is dominating the websites is Open Sans. The top font family is San-Serif which 90% of the websites are using nowadays. Other fonts that are being widely used include Roboto and Montserrat. A little drawback of using serif fonts is that they have to be adjusted according to the resolution and screen size. They, undoubtedly, add a touch of elegance to the blog but if there is a long reading material, it is advised to not use this font because it can affect the readability of the readers.

Other things that should be included in websites in 2024 are photographs (87%), Call to action button (86%) and illustrations (47%). Contact information, place to enter the email and zip code should also be a part of a website. The website should also give information about its Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages so that users could follow it on social networks. This whole report by Adobe shows that small and new businesses would try to make a website that is easy to access and has all the information and visitor wants. Only then can these businesses and websites increase their digital presence and attract customers.

Read next: HP, Apple, And Dell Dominate U.S. Laptop Market; Notable Shares Held By Acer, Lenovo, Samsung, Microsoft
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Facebook Is Making Significant Changes Keeping Young Adults In Mind, Meta Confirms

Facebook has been around for two decades now and that’s a long time when you think of a social network.

Over the years, we’ve seen one trend that just never seems to fade out. And that’s the company’s popularity amongst young adults. This might be one of the main reasons why the firm just announced how it is shifting focus to better appeal to the youth.

The company just rolled out a new update that explains how the platform is certainly for everyone but its future certainly lies with the youth. This is why a host of changes are being developed keeping the younger lot in mind.

The latest reorientation is not something shocking as it’s a true reflection of where it sees itself in the future and how it wishes to ensure the next generation can benefit the most.

For years, we’ve seen the tech giant’s executives do everything in their power to win over youngsters so that it could compete with its biggest arch rival which happens to be TikTok.

Three years back, Mark Zuckerberg said he wished to make the famous firm similar to the works of ‘North Star’. Both Alison and Zuckerberg were in the talks about this app and how it was focused on an algorithm whose feed was more aligned with discovery as compared to a user’s connections.

Now that vision is slowly and surely picking up the pace, The organization’s AI advancements are plenty and they’re improving as time goes by. Both Reels and Feed are rolling out advanced recommendations that have come into place after close and careful analysis.

Private sharing amongst so many users continues to be rising and more and more people share videos. While there is no update on how it wishes to get the video back on track, that might also be another possibility.

But what happened to the metaverse? It was alarming to see how the recent update by Meta on Facebook failed to mention the futuristic ideology. Zuckerberg saw this as the leading product capability enabled by the likes of AI which is the main goal at the end. It would help in attracting more young minds.

Looks like most metaverse initiatives are being rebranded as projects enabled through AI which makes more sense.

For now, it’s not quite clear what success Facebook’s parent firm would get in terms of winning over the youth with these changes. But Facebook feels five-quarters of its healthy growing population is made up of young minds located in the American and Canadian regions.

Today, the daily active user count has hit the 40 million target and it’s still quite small when you consider there are close to 205 million DAU across the US alone who use Facebook religiously. Mind you, such stats are linked to February. So we assume that the count has grown over the months.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next: From 'Don't Be Evil' to Legal Battles: The Erosion of Google's User-Centric Philosophy
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

From 'Don't Be Evil' to Legal Battles: The Erosion of Google's User-Centric Philosophy

Google, once renowned as the best search engine, provided services like Google Maps and the Android Open Source Project, benefiting many people and companies at a low cost. Its initial public offering was even designed to help average investors. However, these positive steps seem to belong to the past, as Google's actions today suggest a shift away from focusing on consumers.

Originally, Google's motto "Don't be evil" highlighted its commitment to moral behavior, especially in separating ads from search results and protecting user privacy. But over time, this motto has become less visible, and the company's actions have diverged from its original moral standards. For instance, Google's search engine, once praised for its effectiveness, now often provides less helpful results. The company pushes artificial intelligence powered answers, making it harder to find genuine information unless users specifically seek the "verbatim" setting.

Google faces numerous lawsuits around the world, suggesting a shift towards prioritizing profit over user privacy and fair competition. These legal battles involve accusations of privacy violations, antitrust issues, and other unethical behaviors. High-profile cases include disputes with the U.S. Department of Justice, the European Union, and other governments and corporations, focusing on Google's practices around data privacy and competition.

Moreover, Google's reputation has suffered due to the discontinuation of many of its products. Each year, Google discontinues services that did not meet expectations or were poorly managed. This pattern has become a running joke among Google users, undermining trust in the company's new products and services.

Content creators and developers also face challenges due to Google's policies. YouTube creators struggle with vague content guidelines and inconsistent enforcement, which affects their ability to earn money. Android developers face similar issues, with Google's changes often forcing them to update their apps or risk losing revenue.

Despite these issues, Google still employs talented engineers who work to improve products and the user experience. The company has made some attempts to maintain reasonable prices for products like the Pixel 8a and supports open-source initiatives. However, whether Google can truly return to its original ethos of not being evil remains uncertain, as the company continues to prioritize data aggregation and advertising revenue over the interests of its users and partners.

Read next: New Research Shows People’s Usage of Smartphones in Bed in Morning and at Night
by Mahrukh Shahid via Digital Information World