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Transforming the Search Experience: Microsoft Bing and Edge Unveil AI-Powered Upgrade

Transforming the Search Experience: Microsoft Bing and Edge Unveil AI-Powered Upgrade

by | Feb 8, 2023 | Communications, Microsoft

“AI will fundamentally change every software category, starting with the largest category of all – search,” stated Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft. “Today, we’re launching Bing and Edge powered by AI co-pilot and chat, to help people get more from search and the web.”

Yusuf Medhi unveiling the new Bing

Since the launch of ChatGPT on the web in November 2022, interest in AI-powered text generation has skyrocketed, leading Microsoft, which has a close partnership with ChatGPT creator OpenAI, to integrate the technology into its suite of office software. Microsoft has upgraded its search engine Bing, to use the same AI technology that underpins chatbot ChatGPT to bring a new, enhanced version of Bing.

The upgrade promises to bring new AI-enhanced features for its Edge browser, which will work together to provide a more immersive and personalised experience for browsing the web and finding information online.

Yusuf Medhi presents a few examples

In demonstrations, Microsoft executive,  Yusuf Medhi unveiled “the new Bing”, in action with various examples. One demonstration shows traditional search results side by side with indexed AI annotations and another mode that allows users to talk directly to the Bing chatbot, like ChatGPT’s interface. The new Bing can retrieve current news and events, unlike ChatGPT, which has a knowledge cut-off of 2021.

Some of the scenarios that were demonstrated included asking for recipes, travel advice, and furniture shopping. In one demonstration, the chatbot was asked to plan a 5-day trip to Mexico City. It delivered a comprehensive itinerary, complete with links to supplementary information sources, impressing those in attendance.

Yusuf Medhi Travel Itinerary example

A ‘limited preview’ of the new Bing is live today for desktop users to try. However, currently, users are limited to asking pre-set queries and receiving the same answers. A waitlist is also available for those who wish to gain full access in the future. Try the new Bing here.

Along with the new Bing search engine, Microsoft is introducing two new AI-powered features for its Edge browser: “Chat” and “Compose.” These features will be integrated into the Edge browser’s sidebar. “Chat” will provide users with a summary of the webpage or document and allow them to ask questions about the content. “Compose” serves as a writing assistant that generates text, including emails and social media posts, based on initial prompts.

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Maximising ROI: How Managed IT Services Can Benefit Small Businesses

Maximising ROI: How Managed IT Services Can Benefit Small Businesses

by | Jan 27, 2023 | Business Management, Communications, I.T., IT Support Brisbane, Solutions

Managed IT services have become increasingly popular among small businesses in recent years, and for good reason. Read on to discover the benefits of outsourcing IT Services to a Managed Service Provider (MSP).

MSPs provide a range of services that can help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations including:

• IT Support and Maintenance
• Cloud Services
• Network Management
• Data Backup and Recovery
• Security
• Compliance

By providing these services, MSPs provide their customers peace of mind and improve their ROI through increased efficiency, reduced costs, and increased overall competitiveness.

Our services will give you peace of mind

Cost savings

Instead of hiring a full-time IT employee, small businesses can outsource their IT needs to an MSP at a fraction of the cost. This can help small businesses keep their overhead costs low and increase their profitability. MSPs can also help small businesses identify and eliminate unnecessary IT expenses, such as software subscriptions or hardware that is no longer needed.

Increased efficiency

Managed IT services can also help small businesses increase their efficiency. MSPs can provide their clients with the latest technology and software, which can help them automate tasks and streamline processes, freeing up small business owners and employees to focus on more important tasks.

A professional MSP service will provide its customers with real-time monitoring and maintenance, which can help avoid downtime and keep operations running smoothly.

Improved security

Small enterprises are often the target of cyber-attacks, and MSPs can help protect them with advanced security solutions, such as firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems. MSPs can also assist with compliance and regulatory requirements that small businesses must adhere to.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about our Managed IT Services.

Mailchimp suffers a data breach, customer information compromised

Mailchimp suffers a data breach, customer information compromised

by | Jan 19, 2023 | Communications

On January 11th, the Mailchimp Security team discovered that an unauthorised individual had gained access to one of the tools used by customer-facing teams for customer support and account administration. This access was achieved through a social engineering attack on Mailchimp employees and contractors. As a result, the attacker was able to access a limited number of Mailchimp accounts using employee credentials that were compromised during the attack.

Their investigation has revealed that this targeted incident was limited to 133 Mailchimp accounts and there is no indication that this compromise has affected Intuit systems or customer data beyond these Mailchimp accounts.

In response to this incident, they immediately took action to protect their users’ data by temporarily suspending account access for any Mailchimp accounts where they detected suspicious activity. They also notified the primary contacts for all affected accounts within 24 hours of the initial discovery. Those affected later received another email from the Mailchimp Security team containing instructions to help them reinstate their accounts, answer questions and provide any additional support required.

WooCommerce, which build and maintain open source e-commerce tools for small business, was one of the accounts targeted. In a notification to their customers, WooCommerce said that Mailchimp Security notified them about the breach and that their customers’ names, email addresses and store addresses may have been exposed. They assured customers that no passwords, payment details or other sensitive data were taken.

Mailchimp advises anyone with questions regarding a notice they received or anything to do with the incident to please reach out to ciso@mailchimp.com.

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Refurbished Computers

Refurbished Computers

by | Dec 7, 2022 | Communications

If you are in the market for a spare computer or one for the home or office, then perhaps a refurbished Dell machine is for you.

All of our refurbished machines come cleaned up, tested and cleared for any faults, installed with Windows 10 Pro and a 3-month warranty!

Dell-optiplex7060 (example)
Dell optiplex 7060
Dell optiplex 7060

Dell OPTIPLEX 7060 SFF Desktop PC i5-8500 8GB-Ram 256GB SSD

5x Available $400+GST

  • Condition: Used
  • Brand: Dell
  • Series: Dell Optiplex
  • Form Factor: Small Form Factor (SFF)
  • Type: Desktop
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-8600 8th Gen (6 Core HT, 4.3GHz, 9MB)
  • Graphics Processing Type: Integrated/On-Board Graphics
  • RAM: 16GB DDR4 RAM
  • Hard Drive: 256GB NVMe SSD (Solid State Drive) Western Digital
  • Operating System Edition: Windows 10  Pro
  • Connectivity: USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB-C, DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet, Universal Audio Jack, Serial Port
  • Most Suitable For Casual Computing, Office, Business, and Light Gaming
  • Features: Optical Drive

Features

  • The refurbished Desktop has been fully tested and is in excellent working condition
  • The hard drive of the computer has been formatted and reinstalled with a copy of Microsoft Windows 10.
  • We can install free software such as OpenOffice (NOT Microsoft Office) and AVG free anti-virus if requested.
  • The unit will come with a power cable only.
  • No monitor / no Keyboard / No Mouse
  • Delivery – buyer pays or pickup from Toowong
  • 30 Day return warranty to base
  • Goods are confirmed and tested prior to leaving.

Enquire / Purchase

 

Dell T3620 (example)
Dell T3620
Dell T3620

Dell T3620 Tower, Intel i5-7600, 256GB SSD, 16GB RAM, DVD, Win10 Pro

3x Available $700+GST

  • Condition: Used
  • Brand: Dell
  • Series: Dell Precision
  • Form Factor: Tower
  • Type: Desktop
  • Processor: Intel Core i5 7th Gen.
  • Graphics Processing Type: Dedicated Graphics
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Hard Drive Capacity: 256 GB NVMe SSD
  • Storage Type: SSD (Solid State Drive)
  • GPU: NVIDIA Quadro P2000,5GB 4 DP
  • Processor Speed: 3.60GHz
  • Optical Drive: 8X Max Slimline DVD+/-RW
  • Operating System Edition: Windows 10 Pro
  • Connectivity: HDMI, USB 2.0, DisplayPort, USB 3.0
  • Most Suitable For Casual Computing, Office, Workstation

Features

  • The refurbished Desktop has been fully tested and is in excellent working condition
  • The hard drive of the computer has been formatted and reinstalled with a copy of Microsoft Windows 10.
  • We can install free software such as OpenOffice (NOT Microsoft Office) and AVG free anti-virus if requested.
  • The unit will come with a power cable only.
  • No monitor / no Keyboard / No Mouse
  • Delivery – buyer pays or pickup from Toowong
  • 30 Day return warranty to base
  • Goods are confirmed and tested prior to leaving.

Enquire / Purchase

Technologies that will shape our world in 2023 and beyond

Technologies that will shape our world in 2023 and beyond

by | Dec 7, 2022 | Cloud, Communications, Digital Marketing, IT News, Solutions

We are already using smart algorithms every time we search the internet, shop online, navigate as we travel, choose how we entertain ourselves, and conduct countless tasks. But what will the next few years bring? According to many experts, we are on the cusp of a new era in computing, one that will be defined by immersive digital worlds and blockchain technology. Here is what you need to know about the hyper-connected, intelligent world of 2023 and beyond…

What is the Metaverse?

Some futurists believe that by the end of 2023, we will all be spending a significant amount of time in digital worlds that are so realistic, they are indistinguishable from reality. These “metaverses” will be built on blockchain technology and will allow us to digitally recreate anything in the physical world. For example, you could attend a virtual concert featuring your favourite band, explore an exotic vacation destination, or play a virtual reality game with friends from around the world. And because metaverses will be built on blockchain technology, they will be incredibly secure and resistant to hacks and cybercrime.

The Hyper-Connected World

As metaverses become more popular, our physical world will become increasingly connected to the digital world. This “hyper-connectivity” will enable new types of interactions and experiences that are not possible in the physical world. For example, you may be able to purchase products and services with a simple voice command or receive real-time updates about the status of your delivery without having to track it yourself. And thanks to advances in artificial intelligence (AI), many of these interactions will be carried out by digital assistants who will always be available to help us with our needs.
The future of technology

A Sustainable Future

As we become more reliant on technology, it is essential that this reliance is sustainable. Fortunately, many of the technologies that will shape our future are environmentally friendly. A good example of environmentally friendly technology is 5G networks. 5G networks deliver high-speed internet to our mobile devices and use less energy than current 4G networks. Additionally, solar energy is becoming more cost-effective as technology improves its efficiency and storage capacity. As a result, it is likely that we will see an increase in solar-powered homes and businesses in the coming years.
The future is looking pretty bright—and pretty tech-savvy! It is important to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to emerging technologies so that you can make the most of their benefits. Whether it is getting ready for the metaverse or ensuring that your business is using sustainable technology, keeping up with the latest trends will help you stay ahead of the competition. Subscribe to KeyTech’s monthly mailing list to stay informed of the latest technology trends.

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Chat with clients in real-time with a Teams Chat link

Chat with clients in real-time with a Teams Chat link

by | Dec 2, 2022 | Communications, Microsoft, Solutions, Teams

It is common for most businesses to give their clients the usual communication options such as phone numbers, email addresses and links to their social media pages. These contact methods are fine and cater to a broad range of businesses and their recipients. But what if you could make it even easier for your recipients to contact you? What if they could DM you with just a click of a button – straight from your email signature? Well, it IS possible with Microsoft Teams! Add a chat link to your signature for effortless direct replies!

A Microsoft Teams chat link may not appeal to everyone or might not align with some company policies. But for those who want their clients to quickly engage with them, the Microsoft Teams chat link makes it as easy as clicking a link.

When clicked, the Teams chat link directs recipients straight to your Teams Chat channel even if they don’t have Teams!

If they don’t have Teams, they can choose to download the app or start an unmanaged Teams account on the web instead. The link will of course work for anyone in your company, so you can also use it for internal emails, intranet pages, newsletters, etc.

The Teams chat link will give companies a competitive edge with its endless possibilities. Departments and industries like PR, marketing, sales and HR could really take advantage of this feature.

Creating the link is surprisingly easy. Follow the steps below to add a Teams chat link to your signature.

Please Note:
Your Teams Administrator must allow external guests to chat with individuals within the company otherwise the link will not work.

How to create the Teams chat link

1. First, copy the link below:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/chat/0/0?users=(youremailaddress)

2. Paste the link in a text editor of your choice (Word, Notepad, etc)

3. Replace (youremailaddress) with your email address, including the brackets() and ensure there are no spaces.

* Below is a working example of the Teams chat link:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/chat/0/0?users=renee.bean@keytech.au
Teams chat link screenshot

3. Now you have your link, ensure it works by clicking it or pasting it into your browser.

When clicked, the link will give the options to chat in the Teams app, download the app or just the web app. (see screenshot below)

Options when Teams chat link is clicked

Once you confirm it works, you can send it to anyone via email, SMS, social posts, etc.

How to add the Teams chat link to your Outlook email signature

To learn how to add the link to your email signature in Outlook, follow our instructions here.

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