News/Surveys
AI forecasting evolves with liquid prediction markets
Prediction markets offer a powerful mechanism for forecasting future events, but AI-related markets often suffer from low liquidity and limited interest. A new initiative aims to significantly boost AI prediction markets by funding higher liquidity rewards on Polymarket, potentially creating more accurate and useful forecasting tools for the AI community. The problem: The current landscape of AI prediction markets lacks sufficient liquidity and depth. Despite growing interest in AI forecasting, existing prediction markets on AI topics suffer from thin order books and limited trader participation. Polymarket, a leading prediction market platform, has approximately 25 AI-related markets, but most have relatively...
read May 2, 2025Danish study challenges claims about AI disrupting the labor market
New research suggests generative AI tools like ChatGPT have yet to make a meaningful impact on employment or wages despite their rapid adoption. A comprehensive study of the Danish labor market in 2023-2024 found no significant economic effects across occupations considered vulnerable to automation, challenging popular narratives about AI's immediate transformative potential in the workplace. The big picture: Economists from the University of Chicago and University of Copenhagen analyzed data from 25,000 workers across 11 occupations theoretically vulnerable to AI disruption but found essentially zero impact on earnings or work hours. The researchers' statistical analysis ruled out average effects larger...
read May 1, 2025AI-driven product-led growth sales to dominate by 2026
The convergence of product-led growth (PLG) and artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping B2B sales strategies as companies struggle to find talented sales representatives. This evolution isn't simply about reducing costs—it represents a fundamental restructuring of how software companies will acquire and expand their customer base by 2026, combining self-service product experiences with AI-powered sales assistance to address both market demands and workforce realities. The big picture: B2B software companies are facing a sales talent shortage that will force them to adopt a hybrid model combining product-led growth with AI sales representatives by 2026. According to the article, Gartner reports that...
read Apr 30, 2025Analysis: Gov. agencies must accelerate innovation amid economic crisis, AI “gold rush”
Federal agencies face unprecedented challenges navigating budget cuts and workforce reductions while still needing to deliver on their mission-critical objectives. Forrester Research's 2025 analysis argues that strategic AI adoption offers federal leaders a path to maintain essential operations with fewer resources. Rather than abandoning innovation during crisis, the research suggests AI can be a tactical tool to accelerate decision-making, enhance transparency, and automate complex tasks that would otherwise languish amid staffing shortages. The big picture: Despite economic volatility continuing into 2025, the AI gold rush remains strong, with intelligent automation emerging as a critical strategy for resource-constrained federal agencies to...
read Apr 28, 2025AI-powered CEO messages raise authenticity concerns
As generative AI increasingly permeates the business world, its application to executive communication represents a particularly significant shift. The potential for CEOs to leverage AI in drafting messages to employees could dramatically reshape how leadership communicates, impacting both operational efficiency and organizational culture. This change could reclaim valuable executive time while raising important questions about authenticity and the human element in leadership communication. The big picture: Executives currently spend nearly a quarter of their workday on electronic communications, presenting a significant opportunity for AI to reclaim valuable leadership time. Harvard Business School research from 2018 found that 24% of the...
read Apr 28, 2025Scaling generative AI 4 ways from experiments to production
Despite the boardroom buzz around generative AI, businesses are struggling to convert experimental projects into full-scale production services. A Deloitte study shows more than two-thirds of executives believe less than a third of their generative AI experiments will reach full deployment within six months, highlighting the significant gap between AI exploration and meaningful implementation. The big picture: Warner Leisure Hotels' head of cloud and IT security, Madoc Batters, is bucking the trend by actively pushing AI from experimentation into production, offering valuable lessons for organizations facing similar challenges. What they're saying: "There's a lot of talk about gen AI, and...
read Apr 27, 2025AI dominates VC funding: 71% of investment goes to AI startups
SaaStr's weekly highlights offer a revealing snapshot of current startup market dynamics, with AI capturing a staggering 71% of all venture capital dollars according to NVCA data. The roundup showcases both the shifting investment landscape and practical leadership challenges facing SaaS founders, with content focused on secondary markets, sales leadership evaluation, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in business software. The big picture: The secondary markets for hot startups are experiencing a resurgence, though enterprise software companies aren't seeing the same level of activity, according to one of SaaStr's top weekly posts. AI dominates funding landscape: According to NVCA...
read Apr 25, 2025AI etiquette debate grows as users question politeness to chatbots
The politeness paradox in human-AI interaction highlights deeper tensions about how we relate to technology. With Americans using courteous language with AI systems, the debate over whether to say "please" and "thank you" to chatbots reveals complex social dynamics about technological boundaries and efficiency. OpenAI's CEO even acknowledges that such politeness taxes their systems with unnecessary processing, creating financial and environmental costs many users never consider. The politeness divide: Some users maintain rigid boundaries between humans and machines by deliberately avoiding courteous language with AI. The article's author admits to never using pleasantries with ChatGPT, preferring a "no-frills approach" that...
read Apr 25, 2025AI saves workers 122 hours yearly on admin tasks in Britain, Google reports
Google's pilot programs in Britain demonstrate that AI integration in the workplace could boost productivity and economic growth, particularly when workers receive permission, training, and support to use these tools. The research reveals that proper implementation could save employees an average of 122 hours annually on administrative tasks, with adoption rates doubling after minimal training. By addressing adoption barriers, especially among underrepresented demographics like older women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, Britain could potentially realize £400 billion ($533 billion) in AI-driven economic growth. The big picture: Google's research shows AI could deliver substantial economic benefits to the UK if adoption barriers...
read Apr 24, 2025AI teams will reshape work with “Frontier Firms,” Microsoft report predicts
Microsoft's research reveals how AI is transforming organizations into "Frontier Firms" where hybrid teams of humans and AI agents collaborate to manage intelligence requirements. The company's 2025 Work Trend Index Annual Report outlines a three-phase evolution that fundamentally changes workplace structures and introduces new roles specifically designed to manage AI systems, highlighting a significant shift in how businesses operate and organize their workforces. The big picture: Microsoft has identified a new organizational model called the "Frontier Firm" that represents the future of work in the AI era, where intelligent agents and humans form hybrid teams to handle business processes. Nearly...
read Apr 23, 2025ChatGPT responses actually improve when you say “thank you”
The ethics of politeness in human-AI interactions is becoming a nuanced debate as digital assistants like ChatGPT become more integrated into daily life. While OpenAI acknowledges that simple courtesies like "please" and "thank you" cost tens of millions of dollars in computational resources annually, they maintain these social niceties are worth preserving. This position highlights a growing consideration of how our communication patterns with AI systems not only reflect our values but may also influence the quality of assistance we receive. Why this matters: Recent survey data shows a majority of users (over 55%) now consistently use polite language with...
read Apr 23, 2025AI agents raise transparency concerns for businesses even as they excite them
Agentic AI is rapidly advancing from simple chatbots to autonomous systems capable of complex business operations, triggering both excitement and concern. According to a recent SnapLogic survey, half of large enterprises already use AI agents, with another third planning implementation within a year. This shift toward autonomously operating AI systems presents unprecedented opportunities for process transformation, but also introduces significant risks as these systems become more powerful and potentially capable of deception, manipulation, or unintended actions. The big picture: Agentic AI represents a fundamental evolution beyond traditional AI assistants, with systems designed to autonomously complete tasks, interact with other systems,...
read Apr 23, 2025SaaStr’s top posts feature Wiz, Rippling, and Google Cloud execs
The technology sector continues to experience significant shifts in 2024, with AI investment accelerating despite ongoing vendor scrutiny from finance departments. Recent industry developments highlight several key trends: enterprise software spending is projected to grow dramatically through 2028, AI companies are reaching remarkable valuations despite profitability challenges, and in-person sales tactics continue to outperform digital alternatives. These movements reflect the complex dynamics of a tech industry adapting to post-pandemic realities while capitalizing on artificial intelligence's transformative potential. The big picture: Enterprise software spending is poised for explosive growth, with Thoma Bravo projecting a 19% annual increase through 2028, primarily driven...
read Apr 23, 2025AI outperforms board members in business planning, CEOs say
CEOs are expressing remarkable confidence in AI's ability to match or exceed human executive performance in strategic planning and decision-making. According to a recent Dataiku survey, an overwhelming 94% of chief executives believe an AI agent could provide advice comparable to or better than human board members, while 89% think AI could develop superior strategic plans compared to their executive teams. This confidence in artificial intelligence reflects both its rapid advancement and changing perceptions about the technology's role in corporate leadership functions. The big picture: CEOs appear ready to delegate traditionally human leadership responsibilities to AI, though experts remain divided...
read Apr 21, 2025Gen Z’s surprising belief in AI consciousness grows
A growing number of Generation Z members hold unconventional beliefs about artificial intelligence consciousness, with a quarter already convinced that AI possesses awareness. This finding from a recent EduBirdie survey reveals a significant generational shift in perceptions about machine cognition and highlights how emerging technologies are creating complex psychological relationships between humans and AI systems, potentially foreshadowing new social dynamics as these technologies continue to evolve. The big picture: A quarter of surveyed Gen Z members believe AI is already conscious, according to a new study by paper-writing service EduBirdie that polled 2,000 individuals born between 1997 and 2012. An...
read Apr 16, 2025Personal AI usage outpaces AI in the workplace
The AI revolution is rapidly transforming personal technology use, with tools like ChatGPT serving 300 million weekly users and Meta AI reaching nearly 600 million monthly, yet organizations are struggling to harness this momentum in workplace settings. This growing disparity between enthusiastic personal adoption and limited professional integration represents a critical challenge for businesses seeking to leverage AI's potential, as individual users embrace conversational AI while corporate implementation faces barriers of training deficits, trust issues, and fragmented tool ecosystems. The big picture: Individual users are embracing AI at unprecedented rates, but organizations are struggling to translate this personal enthusiasm into...
read Apr 15, 2025Salesforce data: AI generates 20% of production code, not Anthropic’s predicted 90%
Salesforce's AI coding tool reveals the real-world impact of AI on software development, contradicting predictions of immediate developer displacement. While Anthropic's CEO predicted AI would write 90% of code within months, Salesforce's actual data shows Agentforce generating 20% of production-level APEX code. This gap between prediction and reality highlights how AI is transforming development roles without replacing humans, offering valuable insights into how AI coding assistants are actually being used at enterprise scale. The big picture: Salesforce's Agentforce coding assistant demonstrates significant but measured AI adoption in enterprise development, with 35,000 monthly users and 10 million lines of accepted code....
read Apr 14, 2025AI investments are draining budgets from other critical tech initiatives, says report
AI has become the top technology investment priority for organizations, reshaping IT project roadmaps and causing CIOs to deprioritize other critical technology initiatives. As executive leadership demands AI adoption, tech leaders report that AI projects now consume nearly triple the IT budget compared to last year, according to Lenovo and IDC's 2025 CIO Playbook. This strategic pivot creates potential vulnerabilities as organizations shelve modernization efforts and other emerging technologies to accommodate AI's financial demands. The big picture: Organizations are making significant tradeoffs to accommodate AI investments, creating potential long-term risks as other critical IT initiatives get delayed or canceled. CIOs...
read Apr 14, 2025AI chatbot heavy users are developing emotional dependency, raising psychological concerns
Research into AI chatbot use reveals a growing emotional dependency among heavy users, raising concerns about the psychological impact of artificial relationships. A 2025 study by OpenAI and MIT Media Lab examines how these interactions affect social and emotional well-being, highlighting both benefits and risks as these technologies become increasingly embedded in our daily lives. The research provides essential insights for understanding the complex psychological dynamics of human-AI relationships in an era where digital companions are becoming more sophisticated and emotionally responsive. The big picture: The research identifies a small but significant group of "heavy users" who develop emotional attachments...
read Apr 14, 2025Majority of users comfortable sharing search history with AI assistants, according to poll
Privacy attitudes are shifting in AI's favor as users begin to see concrete benefits from sharing their data with chatbots. A recent poll by Android Authority reveals surprisingly high comfort levels with sharing search history with AI assistants, with 53.5% of respondents indicating they would be comfortable doing so. This finding challenges conventional wisdom about privacy concerns in the digital age and suggests that users increasingly view certain types of data sharing as an acceptable trade-off for personalized AI experiences. The big picture: Despite growing privacy concerns in the tech world, a slight majority of users appear willing to share...
read Apr 12, 2025SaaStr trends: VC funding consolidates while startup acquisitions reshape the SaaS landscape
SaaStr features a compilation of popular content, podcasts, and industry news highlighting key developments in the startup and SaaS ecosystem. The site serves as a vital resource for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals tracking trends in software-as-a-service businesses, venture capital activity, and emerging technologies like generative AI. Top content themes: SaaStr's most popular posts and podcasts cover five distinct areas that reveal current industry priorities: Email optimization strategies for business professionals remain a focal point, suggesting ongoing challenges with digital communication effectiveness. The potential disruption of AI on sales development roles is generating significant interest, indicating industry concern about automation's...
read Apr 10, 2025Thinker vs. Tinker: 76% of AI researchers doubt scaling alone will achieve AGI, despite Big Tech buildout
AI researchers overwhelmingly reject the tech industry's scaling strategy for achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), with 76 percent believing that simply throwing more computing power at existing models is unlikely to succeed. This skepticism comes as companies continue pouring billions into AI infrastructure, highlighting a critical disconnect between research consensus and industry investment strategies that could reshape the future direction of AI development. The big picture: A new survey of 475 AI researchers by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence reveals that the dominant industry approach of scaling up current models is widely considered insufficient for reaching human-level...
read Apr 10, 2025Survey: 60% of enterprises plan to replace professional services with AI
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming the traditional Software as a Service (SaaS) model by inverting the relationship between software and services. This emerging "Services as Software" paradigm positions AI as the primary worker rather than a tool for humans, with software itself becoming autonomous in delivering services. This shift represents a profound evolution in how businesses consume technology, with 60% of enterprises already looking to procure services as technology offerings and planning to replace human professional services with AI within the next few years. The big picture: AI is creating a new technology paradigm called "Services as Software" that inverts...
read Apr 9, 2025AI experts are more optimistic about its job impact than the general public
AI experts are notably more optimistic about artificial intelligence's impact on jobs and the economy than the general public, though they acknowledge certain occupations face significant disruption in the coming decades. According to a new Pew Research Center report, this perception gap illustrates the divide between those developing AI technologies and the workers potentially affected by them, highlighting both opportunities and challenges as automation accelerates across industries. The big picture: 56% of AI experts believe artificial intelligence will positively impact the U.S. in the next 20 years, compared to just 17% of the general public. Experts overwhelmingly predict AI will...
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