The Week That Was: IT and Media news week 49

Author Moonshot.news

Published on: 08/12/2024

Big techs spend huge amounts on developing AI. A new survey shows that over 60% of investors expect that companies now will deliver productivity, revenue and profitability gains from generative AI within the next 12 months. Investors see the importance of investing in people alongside technology, with 74% expecting companies to increase investment in upskilling, the survey from consultancy PwC shows. 

PC and tablet sales are growing but it’s not AI driving it. Lack of clear use cases and a bump in average selling prices makes buyers questioning the utility, according to market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC). “It’s now up to Microsoft, Apple, and Google to prove the need for locally processed AI to avoid a backlash from hardware makers and end users”, says Jitesh Ubrani, IDC research manager.  

Across all adult age groups, women are spending more time online – on smartphones, tablets and computers – than men – clocking up an extra 33 minutes more each day, UK’s media authority Ofcom says in its annual report. Women spend on average at 4 hours 36 minutes online, compared to 4 hours 3 minutes for men.

Only 37.8% of all characters in family films are women,  according to an analysis of 82 films released last year by Geena Davis institute on gender in media. And Just 35.3% of leads are female characters. Female characters are almost five times more likely than male characters to be objectified (3.3% compared with 0.7%), and three times more likely to be wearing sexually revealing clothing (7.4% compared with 2.5%).