As automation technology advances, a new wave of agentic AI is reshaping the landscape. Discussions are increasingly focused on whether to build intelligent automation on top of robotic process automation (RPA) or approach intelligent process automation as a whole.

Ten years ago, script-based automation was in focus. Slowly, RPA came into focus, according to Vaibhav Bansal, Vice President at Everest Group.

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Meta will allow US government agencies and contractors in national security roles to use its Llama AI. The move relaxes Meta’s acceptable use policy restricting what others can do with the large language models it develops and brings Llama ever so slightly closer to the generally accepted definition of open-source AI.

However, the benefits are expected to remain largely confined to the US, with limited effect on CIO decisions in other regions, particularly Europe, where stringent regulations mean that credibility alone may not be enough to secure trust, according to Priya Bhalla, Practice Director at Everest Group.

“Trust in AI solutions across Europe and other regulated regions will hinge more on how well companies address concerns around data sovereignty, privacy, and compliance with local regulations, and simply having the endorsement of the US government may not be enough to win trust,” Bhalla said.

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Extending the standard refresh cycle of laptops in a corporate environment can significantly reduce a workplace’s carbon footprint, according to new workplace sustainability research. However, challenges in ensuring the older laptops still meet Windows OS requirements, and other cost issues, could offset these environmental gains, experts said.

Indeed, organizations are currently facing an important choice as the end of Windows 10 support looms: how do they want to approach either migration to Windows 11, or staying with older Windows 10 devices, noted Everest Group Senior Analyst Prabhneet Kaur.

“While component upgrades, like increasing RAM, can help meet Windows requirements, or informal workarounds may bypass them, maintaining robust security and a quality user experience will be tricky,” she said.

Read more at: Computer World

Top IT companies are changing their hiring processes for entry-level engineers, shifting from traditional coding tests to tasks like “refactoring” AI-generated code.

Yugal Joshi, Partner, Everest Group, said, “Unlike earlier times where developers were focused more on technical aspects of software development, now other skills such as reviewing AI-generated code, assessing AI-generated documents such as, code comments, requirements, etc., is important as well.”

Information technology companies are back on the college campus for bulk hiring with employee utilization reaching high levels; project signing, picking up, and onboarding started in a major way for the freshers who were given offer letters in the last couple of years. As a result, for the first time in the last two years, all four IT companies – Tata Consultancy Services, Cognizant, Infosys, and Wipro – have shown positive net employee hiring in the September quarter.

Yugal Joshi, Partner, Everest Group, says that these firms have pushed out their graduate requirements for quite some time now, so, this initiative does not come as a surprise.

The current demand environment continues to be uncertain, and this hiring should not be construed as a material change in demand. These graduates will join next year, and by then, more clarity will have emerged. As the demand has struggled, CFOs are being asked to drive more profitability, and therefore, they need to expand the pyramid further.

“If the demand environment improves, it will also enhance employability of people and therefore, these firms may be expecting higher attrition. They need such graduates to manage attrition spikes,” he said.

Read more at: The Hindu

After witnessing a hazy macro environment for five straight quarters, India-centric IT services firms saw green shoots in the first quarter of this fiscal. While experts were still uncertain about the continuity of tech spending, Q2 (July to September) earnings belied the doubts of the naysayers.

Peter Bendor- Samuel, CEO of Everest Group, said that the BFSI sector is witnessing a rebound following the post-COVID slump. “BFSI typically leads other industry segments, so this is an encouraging sign for the rest of the IT industry,” he said.

Ahead of his session at UNLEASH World in mid-October, we sat down with Sharath Hari, VP at Everest Group, to take an inside look at the what, the why, and the how of skills-first HR.

A major challenge facing HR leaders right now is “how can I put the right skills in the right places so that we align with business goals and contribute meaningfully to organizational objectives,” Hari tells UNLEASH.

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OpenAI has raised US$6.6 billion from investors like Thrive Capital and Tiger Global, but the AI company also sought assurances that investors would avoid funding five competing firms, according to a Reuters report.

“OpenAI’s move could stifle innovation in the short term,” said Nitish Mittal, Partner at Everest Group. “With fewer resources available, competitors might struggle to keep pace with OpenAI’s advancements. By restricting capital flow to competitors, OpenAI could consolidate more market share and talent, thus slowing down the growth of rivals.”

Read more at: Computer World

Everest Group has announced that the industry has met its Commitment to Action (CTA) to grow impact sourcing from 350,000 FTEs to 500,000 individuals throughout the first two years of a three-year pledge. Everest Group pledged to increase the impact sourcing workforce to US$1 million by 2030.

Rita N. Soni, Principal Analyst for Impact Sourcing and Sustainability, Everest Group, said: “The technology and tech services industries are such a source of inspiration for innovatively executing impact sourcing practices across the globe and improving the lives of millions from marginalized communities.  The added beauty of this inclusive talent strategy is that it has business benefits for employers and their clients, which is the quintessential double bottom line!”

Read more at: FutureCIO