Articles by Jack M. Germain

Retail giant Walmart is going all in on developing its own generative artificial intelligence GPT-4 platform to drive sales and boost customer experience (CX) This announcement puts Walmart on stage for the retail industry to see what this innovative technology means for the broader retail landscape. Will other big box retailers now get involved? H...

CachyOS is more than just a fun name to grab potential users' attention It reflects an effort to do what most Arch Linux distributions fail to achieve. It tries to turn its parent base into a beginner-friendly operating system that also satisfies the needs of seasoned Linux users....

Consumers in the U.S. lost more than $4 billion to investment scams in 2022, and this year is expected to be worse This rip-off trend is growing as investment scams become increasingly sophisticated and widespread, taking advantage of the rise of digital technologies. Compared to 2021, the number of losses grew by 116%....

Apple is upping the interest rate ante by giving its customers the ability to expand their financial footing while at the same time keeping them within its ecosystem The company on Monday announced a high-yield savings account from Goldman Sachs that offers Apple Card users an APY of 4.15% for their Daily Cash rewards money automatically deposited ...

Intent data is becoming an increasingly important tool among B2B organizations and retail marketers. In fact, 62% of companies now use one or more intent data solutions. Yet, as a new product category, intent data can be complex Gartner describes intent data as information that shows a prospect's level of online interest in a particular product or ...

Some technology insiders want to pause the continued development of artificial intelligence systems before machine learning neurological pathways run afoul of their human creators' use intentions. Other computer experts argue that missteps are inevitable and that development must continue More than 1,000 techs and AI luminaries recently signed a pe...

Human brain power is no match for hackers emboldened with artificial intelligence-powered digital smash-and-grab attacks using email deceptions. Consequently, cybersecurity defenses must be guided by AI solutions that know hackers' strategies better than they do This approach of fighting AI with better AI surfaced as an ideal strategy in research c...

Turbulent economic headwinds and unpredictable customer behavior have put immense pressure on customer experience teams. Many are asked to do more with less at a time when customers expect the absolute most from their vendors As a result, many organizations are looking to adapt or expand the tools that support the teams looking after their most imp...

Is it worth exposing your personal data in return for the convenience of using pet apps on your smartphone? Pet apps leaking your sensitive information has probably not been a mindful topic for you. But it may be now, thanks to two recent studies presented at the 2022 IEEE European Symposium on Security and Privacy Workshops conference....

The telehealth age of medical care is gaining momentum even as online medical services strive to overcome barriers to expanded services What began as online pharmacies and e-commerce vendors selling health care products and medical consultations became established alternatives in the throes of the pandemic....

Retailers are conducting business this year with an optimistic eye on future-proofing their business as they navigate a rising sea of mixed market signals Tight consumer budgets amid flooding inflation and floating inventory suggest strategies that push tempered optimism amid two predicted top risks to retailers: falling behind on technology and st...

The Linux Foundation (LF), one of the primary driving forces behind the continuing growth of open-source technology, is turning its attention to developing a better metaverse and creating a living digital record of the physical world In December, LF announced the Open Metaverse Foundation (OMF) with a mission to provide a collaboration space for di...

In today's ever-changing e-commerce landscape, small businesses need the latest tools to remain competitive A partnership between Worldpay from FIS and GoDaddy allows small businesses to sell and accept payments from online marketplaces to social media. The payments deal announced earlier this month solves a money issue choking business transactio...

Online therapy is a booming industry, and now AI-powered chatbots are starting to roll into the territory The recent arrival of ChatGPT and its enhanced language ability to deal with human interaction might soon be a revolutionary alternative to divulging your darkest mental health issues to a human therapist....

Artificial intelligence and ChatGPT promise to revolutionize customer service automation, but is that what customers really want? What if AI in the CRM stack leads to dissatisfied B2B customers fleeing for better treatment? A recent study by Fusion Connect, a global managed communication service provider, revealed that 90% of businesses are willing...

It is time to tackle the growing problem of removing your personal data from uncontrolled online displays, and there are solutions within your grasp Let's face some hard-core facts about life online. We spend a tremendous amount of time with our electronic devices connected to the internet. Websites track our activities, and mobile apps go everywhe...

Consumers are allying with dark web hackers to participate in payment fraud tactics Sift on Thursday released its Q1 2023 Digital Trust & Safety Index with findings that nearly one in five (16%) consumers admit to committing, or know of someone who has taken part in, payment fraud. Likewise, 17% of consumers have encountered online offers to commit...

Companies that established open-source program offices over the last few years now need more C-suite oversight to drive education, awareness, and use of open-source software. That sets the stage for an expanded role of open-source program officers Incorporating open-source technology brings organizations an ecosystem that expands the user base, res...

Financial processes and merchandisers need an upgrade in awareness to cash in on younger consumers' in-store shopping loyalty Embedded within the changing economy are fundamental differences in the buying and banking mores of younger consumers compared to older constituents. Meeting the needs of three essential overlapping consumer groups can go a ...

Digital Forensics Corporation is battling to protect and educate the public about a rapidly growing trend in cybercrime dubbed sextortion, where online predators target teens and young adults with threats to expose sensitive personal photos The extortionists disguise their identity on social media platforms, claiming to have a revealing picture or ...