Why 95% of enterprise IT leaders won’t move the needle

Good morning 😎! If the end-of-year gloom is bothering you, we suggest to shift your focus to the exciting developments the near future may (should) bring. Here are our top three technological advancements to watch for next year

1. Quantum Computing: This isn't just about computers getting faster. Quantum computing represents a paradigm shift in processing power, with the potential to solve complex problems that are currently beyond the reach of classical computers.

2. Open-Source LLMs Surpassing Commercial Counterparts: The rise of open-source large language models is set to democratize AI, offering powerful tools without the hefty price tag. This shift could lead to more innovation and accessibility in AI development.

3. Breakthroughs in Untreatable Diseases Thanks to AI: AI's increasing role in healthcare is a beacon of hope. Its ability to analyze vast datasets and uncover patterns can lead to breakthroughs in diseases that have long eluded medical science, opening new doors for treatment and understanding.

 Digital Transformation Progress Indicator

1. Cloud Computing Adoption:

   Global public cloud services revenues increased by 19.2% in the first half of 2023​​.

2. AI Implementation in Business Processes:

   AI adoption among business leaders has significantly increased to 61%​​, and 91% of leading global companies are continuously investing in AI​​.

3. IoT Integration in Industries:

   The IoT market is expected to grow from USD 0.20 Billion in 2022 to USD 1.07 Billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 23.10%​​.

NEXT IN AI
Your Enterprise LLM: Mistral (for now)

Remember when I emphasized the importance of going local? I mentioned BERT and GPT-Neo, but it appears that Mistral is the only open-source LLM currently receiving such significant investment.

Alright, so while Google's Gemini has been hogging the spotlight, Mistral's been sneaking up in the background, dropping its own open-source AI model. And what's really interesting is that they're doing it old-school style, like how we used to share music and games (not that anyone does that anymore, right?). They're using peer-to-peer sharing, which is super retro and kinda cool.

Why Mistral is a Big Deal
Here's why everyone in suits should pay attention: Mistral isn't just another AI model; it's shaking up OpenAI's monopoly.
Open-source models like Mistral are game-changers, especially if you're running your own stuff locally. You get to see what's under the hood, fix any bias or censorship issues, and nobody can yank it away from you.
Plus, you don't owe anyone a dime for using it, as long as your computers can handle it.

What's So Special About It?
Mistral is using this brainy thing called 'mixture of experts' – it's like having a bunch of mini-AIs, each good at different stuff, working together to give you answers. So, say you ask it something about coding or customer service, it figures out the best mini-AI brain to handle it. This setup makes Mistral super versatile and efficient.

We, at Techery, have been on the front lines of the 'mixture of experts' concept and have some incredible prototypes already. So yes - we confirm, it's a big deal.

Why Enterprises Should Jump on It
If you're a big company, Mistral is your ticket to AI freedom. You get to control it completely, tweak it to fit your needs, and it won't cost you a fortune. Plus, you won't have any big company breathing down your neck, telling you what you can or can't ask your AI.

And the best part? It's catching up fast to the fancier models out there.

The Cool and Not-So-Cool Parts
Mistral's got some serious chops. Tests show it's on par with, or even better than, some of the big-name models. But, like anything in tech, it's not perfect yet. It's still learning to fine-tune its answers so they don't sound like your grandpa telling a story – long and kinda all over the place.

The Future Looks Open-Source
Mistral's debut is more than just a new AI on the block. It's a sign that the future of AI might be in open-source models. It's like having a big brainstorming sesh with the whole world, where everyone shares their findings and builds on them.

This could mean faster, safer, and more creative AI development, without a few big companies holding all the cards.

The Bottom Line
So, if you're running a big company and thinking about AI, Mistral could be your best bet for now. It's like having your own personal AI brain that you can teach, tweak, and trust. In a few years, it might just be the AI that everyone's talking about.

The details:

1. Mixtral matches or outperforms models like LLaMA 2 and GPT-3.5 on most benchmarks while running 6x faster.

2. It significantly improves on past Mistral multilingual and scientific reasoning abilities in areas like math and code generation.

3. Mistral also introduced La Plateforme, which provides API access to hosted versions of Mixtral and its other models to quickly build apps.

ALEX’S TAKE
Why 95% of Enterprise IT leaders won’t move the needle in 2024

Over the years, we've consistently observed that most of our enterprise clients focus heavily on selling their 'main' (legacy) products or services, whether it's a weight-loss drink or a new credit card.

What's always striking is the abundance of new opportunities they have, yet often overlook, even when growth hits a plateau. Frugal tech initiatives rarely make it to their discussion tables. This trend persists today, explaining why 95% of enterprise IT leaders won’t move the needle for their companies in 2024.

But does it have to be this way? Is there a more promising alternative?

Stay tuned to find out.

FUTURE OF TECH
New security challenges with AI at the hands of bad guys

We have a feeling that ai in the hands of bad actors will soon accidentally create a president for an actual blockchain use case (I know, right!)

The thing is, given the current pace of development, soon the Feds will need to come up with something more clever than “Real ID”. Ai-weaponized criminals are already creating models capable of fooling your mom you called her last night without you even being aware of it.

Proving your identity (hence the blockchain reference above), what you said and didn’t say will become a real issue in 2024.

So as we step into this era, understanding the dynamics of AI’s role in both enhancing security and presenting new vulnerabilities is crucial.

Where We Are Today
Cybercriminals are leveraging AI for sophisticated attacks. A notable example is the increase in AI-powered ransomware attacks, like the infamous WannaCry, which exploited vulnerabilities in outdated systems at an unprecedented scale.

Defensive Strategies
On the flip side, companies like Darktrace are using AI to detect anomalies in network behavior, offering real-time responses to potential threats. This AI-driven approach represents a shift from traditional, rule-based security systems to adaptive, learning algorithms.

Where We’re Gonna Be Next Year
In 2024, expect a surge in AI-driven ‘deepfake’ techniques, which could be used to create highly convincing phishing emails. This trend was evidenced by the recent deepfake audio scams, where AI-generated voices mimicked CEOs to successfully conduct fraudulent wire transfers.

Proactive Measures
In response, companies like IBM are developing AI solutions that can analyze writing styles to authenticate emails and communications, helping to counter AI-generated phishing attempts.

What to Do 
Organizations should invest in AI-based security platforms, like those offered by CrowdStrike, which utilize machine learning to predict and prevent breaches more effectively than traditional antivirus software.

Data Centralization and Protection: Emphasizing data centralization, companies like Palantir are providing platforms where data analysis is performed in a secure, controlled environment, reducing the risk of data exfiltration through third-party applications.

Preparedness and Adaptability: Security teams need to be agile and well-informed. Regular training sessions on the latest AI threats and attending cybersecurity conferences, like RSA or Black Hat, can keep teams updated and prepared. Also, it’s always nice for IT folks to get out of town for a few days and see the real world :)

THIS MADE US LAUGH

If you are one of those who think that prompting ai is as simple as talking to a person, watch this awesome family video to prove yourself wrong 🤣🤣

📚THIS WEEK’S BOOK
Not really a book this week, but a Manifesto! And not just some random guy’s manifesto, but one written by Marc Andreessen, one of the most influential minds in the world of Technology, VC and US-driven innovation. It’s a must-read for any tech exec who wants to think wider.

🎧THIS WEEK’S TUNE
Following the footsteps of last week’s punk-rock legends “Green Day”, this week we have a brand new song by “Blink 182” reflecting on their personal dramas and the realizations that emerged from them. A very nice powerful song indeed - “ONE MORE TIME”

FUTURE OF HEALTH
Potentially cracking the cancer code?

Imagine if software engineers, notorious for their 'it'll be ready when it's ready' mantra, suddenly started delivering solutions at lightning speed.

That's the kind of unexpected shift happening with Absci Corporation and AstraZeneca's new partnership. Think of Absci, the AI drug discovery mavericks, joining forces with AstraZeneca, the old guards of oncology. It's like engineers who used to take eons to code now dishing out breakthroughs overnight.

We all know that battling cancer has always been like trying to figure out 15 years of someone else’s code without a simple comment. Traditional drug development is still a marathon with no finish line in sight. But along comes Absci, wielding its AI like a magic wand, ready to conjure up a cancer-fighting antibody in a mere six weeks. Yes, I repeat - 6 weeks! 
The catch? Integrating this tech sorcery into the gritty, real-world battle against cancer.

Basically, Absci's AI, acting like a turbo-charged coding session, produces a potential lifesaver. AstraZeneca throws in its deep-rooted oncology wisdom, ensuring this isn't just a flash in the pan.

What we hope for
A blend of next-gen AI speed with seasoned medical acumen. It’s a less dramatic, more real-world superhero story. No capes, just brains and tech, potentially cracking the cancer code. A bit less 'software update pending' and a lot more 'solution deployed'. Revolutionary? For sure. A tad ambitious? Maybe, but in the tech world, ambition is the mother of invention.

CURATED BY
Alex Pshenianykov
founder of Techery