News
- TeamViewer study finds SMBs already missing out from AI-driven productivity boosts
- Most SMB leaders say they need more training
- But AI investments are rising across the board
New research has revealed just how much prospective SMBs must get on board with artificial intelligence to grow and stand out in a highly competitive market.
A new TeamViewer study found more than one in four (28%) say rising operational costs from missed automation opportunities are already taking a toll.
Nearly half (47%) of the SMBs surveyed admitted they lack the infrastructure needed to scale AI tools, and almost all (95%) say they still require more training.
SMBs need AI to grow, but they're still unsure about itDespite growing enthusiasm, confidence in managing AI remains poor, the study found
More than three-quarters (77%) of SMB leaders say they wouldn't even bet a week's salary on their organisation's ability to handle the risks associated with AI, such as data misuse or unauthorized tool access. Yet somehow, nearly the same number (72%) consider themselves AI experts.
As it stands, two in three (65%) say AI tools are only deployed in tightly controlled environments, with three in four (74%) feeling uneasy about data management vulnerabilities. Although AI plays a role in heightened risks, AI isn't entirely to blame – two in five (38%) agree that a lack of training is their main obstacle.
"SMBs are clearly motivated to embrace AI, but many are still searching for the right way to turn early adoption into lasting impact,” TeamViewer Director of Product Management Artus Rupalla explained.
The research also revealed SMBs are leading the way in terms of AI adoption across their workforces – but that doesn't always translate into frequent or mature use. Larger enterprises are generally seen to be using AI more frequently when it comes to daily and weekly measurements.
But despite current limitations, SMBs are betting on AI to drive future growth. Three in four plan to ramp up AI investments in the next 6-12 months, with 72% foreseeing major productivity boosts and 76% believing AI is essential for improving overall business performance.
You might also like- Many businesses are thinking twice on using AI bots
- These are the best AI tools and best AI writers you can use today
- Deepen your understanding of AI with the best online learning platforms
- In the US, the X-E5 costs twice the price of the X-E4 when it launched in 2021
- X-E5 offers a number of improvements over its predecessor
- The X-E4 remains on sale, if you can find it
It’s fair to say that the official reveal of the Fujifilm X-E5 has caused some consternation among fans of the brand. Starting at $1,699 / £1,299 body only, this compact mirrorless camera is a lot pricier than its predecessor, the Fujifilm X-E4, which cost just $850 / £799 when it arrived in 2021.
I’ll admit that it does seem a hefty sum to pay for a camera with no weather sealing and a dated, minuscule viewfinder. But as someone who reviews cameras day in, day out, I think the Fujifilm X-E5 represents pretty good value for money – at least on paper.
I’ve yet to actually get my hands on a Fujifilm X-E5 review sample (it’s coming though, so stay tuned for an in-depth review here very soon) but even from afar it’s clear that this camera is more expensive than the X-E4 for very justifiable reasons. And TechRadar's Cameras Editor Tim Coleman has his own take following a three day trip with the camera ahead of its launch – check out his X-E5 first thoughts.
First, the specs and features on offer in Fujifilm’s new camera far surpass those of the X-E4. To pick out the most obvious two upgrades: the X-E5 is built around a new-gen 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR back-illuminated sensor that offers almost twice the resolution of the X-E4’s 26.1MP sensor; and it now comes with in-body five-axis sensor shift image stabilization (IBIS).
These enhancements, particularly the IBIS, should result in big improvements to image detail and sharpness, especially for handheld shooting. It can now also record 6.2K video, while the X-E4 topped out at 4K.
More metal, more moneyThe X-E5's all-metal top plate is naturally going to drive up its asking price. Trust me, it's lovely. (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)The X-E5 is also the first camera in the X-E series to come with an all-metal top plate. Machined from a single block of aluminium, I’m certain this will make the X-E5 feel tougher and more luxurious than its predecessor. Yes – even if it’s not technically weather-sealed – which I’ll admit is a bit of a disappointment, particularly as Fujifilm is selling the camera in a kit with a new XF23mm f/2.8 pancake lens, which IS weather resistant.
I’ll also say that the tiny viewfinder could really have used an update. Incredibly, it actually appears to be the very same 0.39-inch, 2.36-million dot one as seen on the very first X-E series camera, the Fujifilm X-E1, which launched 13 years ago. It’s functional, yes – but as a photographer who much prefers composing shots with my eye pressed up against a viewfinder rather than looking at a screen, the bigger, brighter and crisper the viewfinder the better.
The LCD screen also appears to be a downgrade from other recent models – it's a 1.04m-dot unit rather than the 1.84m-dot utir lized by the the X-T50 and X100VI.
When talking about the price of the X-E5, particularly in the US, we must also acknowledge the impact of the Trump administration's tariffs, which has led to a situation where non-US manufacturers are naturally going to raise prices on their products. It's no secret that the X-E5 costs $200 more than it otherwise would have.
The X-E5 is available in black or silver and in a more cost effective bundle with the new XF 23mm f/2.8 WR lens. (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)Even setting aside this tariff confusion, inflation has also bitten hard since 2021 – so it’s really not that surprising to see the X-E5 priced this way.
Finally, it seems that Fujifilm is set to keep the X-E4 in its current X Series line-up, if you can find it in stock, which means the company is still giving consumer the option to pick up an affordable rangefinder-style mirrorless camera if that’s what they need. While the X-E4 is certainly not without its drawbacks, it’s still a very serviceable interchangeable lens camera. It just now has a more advanced, better-constructed sibling for anyone who wants it.
Disagree with me and still think the X-E5 is far too pricey compared to its predecessor? Feel free to sound off in the comments below – but do remember to check back soon for a full and definitive review of Fujifilm's latest release.
You might also like...- A new software update for PS5 and PSVR 2 adds a free educational app all about climate change
- The Climate Station app is now available and lets users explore the story of climate change through three acts
- The app is part of Sony's commitment to the United Nations' Playing for the Planet Alliance campaign
Sony has released a new software update for the PlayStation 5 and PSVR 2, which introduces a new educational app.
Today, the company launched Climate Station, a free app for both consoles that raises awareness about climate change. It uses the latest gaming tech, including virtual reality, to allow users to view, interact with, and understand complex climate data to learn more about climate change.
This app is the latest project in Sony's commitment to the United Nations' Playing for the Planet Alliance campaign, which aims to bring gaming industry leaders together to work towards their sustainability goals.
"Whether you’re a curious explorer, a data detective, or just looking for something totally unique to dive into, this free app available today on PS5 and PSVR 2 is your gateway to understanding the forces shaping our world," said Dan Bardino Senior Director, Strategic Development and Operations, PlayStation Studios on PlayStation Blog.
Those with a 4K TV can view Climate Station with high-quality 4K visuals from the PlayStation 5, while PSVR 2 adds immersion by allowing users to view information in a first-person view.
The app tells the story of climate change through three acts: Weather Year, Observations, and Projections, and also offers an Explainer Library, which features 90 minutes of multi-media content for users to explore.
"Bringing climate awareness into the homes of millions through gaming will help build both knowledge and action to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste," said Susan Gardner, Director of the Ecosystems Division, United Nations Environment Programme, in a press release.
"The approach to adapt the science into a game format has been impressive. We look forward to seeing how players react to this new tool and also recognise the leadership of Sony Interactive Entertainment in bringing climate science to consoles across the planet."
You might also like...- The Sitecore CMS had an account with a hardcoded password
- Threat actors could use it to upload arbitrary files, achieving RCE
- Thousands of endpoints are potentially at risk
Sitecore Experience Platform, an enterprise-level content management system (CMS) carried three vulnerabilities which, when chained together, allowed threat actors full takeover of vulnerable servers, experts have warned.
Cybersecurity researchers watchTowr found the first flaw is a hardcoded password for an internal user - just one letter - ‘b’ - making it super easy to guess.
The account does not have admin privileges, but watchTowr found malicious users could authenticate via an alternate login path, which would give them authenticated access to internal endpoints.
Save up to 52% off Lifelock Identity Theft Protection!
Your personal info is in endless places. And any one of them could accidentally expose you to identity theft. That's why LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for identity theft. LifeLock. For the threats you can't control.
Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal
Patching the flawsThis sets the stage for the exploitation of the second flaw, described as a “Zip Slip” in the Sitecore Upload Wizard.
In a nutshell, the now-authenticated attackers can upload malicious files due to insufficient path sanitation, and the way Sitecore maps paths. As a result, they can write arbitrary files in the webroot.
These two issues alone could be enough to cause some serious damage on the compromised server, but the problems don’t stop there.
If the website has the Sitecore PowerShell Extensions (SPE) module installed, which is commonly bundled with SXA, attackers can upload arbitrary files to specific paths, bypassing extension or location restrictions and resulting in a “reliable RCE”.
All Sitecore versions from 10.1 to 10.4 are apparently vulnerable, which translates to roughly 22,000 publicly exposed instances, at press time - but just because they’re all accessible and running these versions, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re all vulnerable.
"Sitecore is deployed across thousands of environments, including banks, airlines, and global enterprises — so the blast radius here is massive," watchTowr CEO Benjamin Harris told BleepingComputer.
"And no, this isn't theoretical: we've run the full chain, end-to-end. If you're running Sitecore, it doesn't get worse than this – rotate creds and patch immediately before attackers inevitably reverse engineer the fix."
So far there were no reports of abuse in the wild, but a patch is available now, so users should update as soon as possible.
In an email statement shared with TechRadar Pro, Sitecore said it is aware of Watchtowr's report, and has collaborated with the researchers to address it. The company published a Knowledge Base article with details of patches and steps to remediate, which can be found on this link.
"Our customer support teams have proactively communicated these updates to our affected clients," the company stated. "All impacted SaaS products have been remediated, and we strongly advise in-scope on-premises customers to promptly apply the provided patches."
You might also like- Schneider Electric says developer platform was breached, company data stolen
- Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
- We've rounded up the best password managers