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IBM Launches watsonx Code Assistant, Delivers Generative AI-powered Code Generation Capabilities Built for Enterprise Application Modernization

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Watsonx Code Assistant for Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed and watsonx Code Assistant for Z are now available

ARMONK, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today IBM (NYSE: IBM) launched watsonx Code Assistant, a generative AI-powered assistant that helps enterprise developers and IT operators code more quickly and more accurately using natural language prompts. The product currently delivers on two specific enterprise use cases. First, IT Automation with watsonx Code Assistant for Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed, for tasks such as network configuration and code deployment. Second, mainframe application modernization with watsonx Code Assistant for Z, for translation of COBOL to Java on IBM Z.1

Designed to accelerate development while maintaining the principles of trust, security, and compliance, the product leverages generative AI based on IBM’s Granite foundation models for code running on IBM’s watsonx platform. Granite uses the decoder architecture, which underpins large language model capabilities to predict what is next in a sequence to support natural language processing tasks. IBM is exploring opportunities to tune watsonx Code Assistant with additional domain-specific generative AI capabilities to assist in code generation, code explanation, and the full end-to-end software development lifecycle to continue to drive enterprise application modernization.

According to a recent IDC report, “Because it relies on a model trained on curated data, watsonx Code Assistant can help enterprises improve code quality by propagating best practices through code recommendations, instead of polluting enterprise code bases with code generated by models trained on unvetted repositories.”2 

“With this launch, watsonx Code Assistant joins watsonx Orchestrate and watsonx Assistant in IBM’s growing line of watsonx assistants that provide enterprises with tangible ways to implement generative AI,” said Kareem Yusuf, Ph.D, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Growth, IBM Software. “Watsonx Code Assistant puts AI-assisted code development and application modernization tools directly into the hands of developers – in a naturally integrated way that is designed to be non-disruptive – to help address skills gaps and increase productivity.”

Additionally, IBM Consulting brings deep domain expertise across these use cases working closely with clients across industries such as banking, insurance, healthcare and government, to build strategies to allow them to take advantage of the potential of generative AI and code generation to accelerate modernization.

IT Automation – IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed

The Ansible Automation Platform helps enterprise developers and IT operators implement automation, using Ansible Playbooks, for IT tasks including infrastructure management, hybrid cloud deployment, network configuration, application deployment and more. With IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed, platform users can input plain English prompts to automatically generate task recommendations for Ansible Playbooks that adhere to best practices in task creation and maintenance. This way, a greater number of team members can create Ansible Playbooks more efficiently and implement automation engineered to be more resilient and easier to support without in-depth training.

Technical Preview Key Data:

Approximately 4,000 developers participated in the technical preview.85% overall average acceptance rate of the AI-generated content recommendations. (from July 27 – Oct 23, 2023, based on over 41,000 recommendations)Productivity improvements in the range of 20-45%.

“Red Hat has already shown what domain-specific AI can do for IT automation at the community level,” said Ashesh Badani, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer, Red Hat. “The release of watsonx Code Assistant for Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed has the potential to close skills gaps, create greater organizational efficiencies and free enterprise IT to deliver even more business value.”

The Hybrid Cloud Platforms team within the IBM CIO Office uses Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform to support a wide range of tasks within their IT environment whether it’s patching, resolving vulnerabilities, or running regular health checks of their systems. Bob Epstein, Leader of IBM CIO Hybrid Cloud Platforms, expects that the number of developers able to produce Ansible Playbooks with the full release version could increase as much as 10x as watsonx Code Assistant for Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed empowers other team members such as Site Reliability Engineers who can use natural language to generate Ansible-specific automation tasks.

“I like to look at our modernization journey in these stages: In the past we were crawling, doing a lot of things manually. Then, when we started automating, we were walking. Once we implemented Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, we were running. And as we look ahead, with watsonx Code Assistant for Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed, I think we will be able to fly,” said Robert Barron, Architect, Hybrid Cloud Platforms, IBM CIO Office.

Mainframe Application Modernization – IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z

IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z helps enable faster translation of COBOL to Java on IBM Z and enhances developer productivity on the platform. It is being designed to assist businesses in leveraging generative AI and automated tooling to accelerate their mainframe application modernization – while allowing clients to take advantage of the performance, security and resiliency capabilities of IBM Z.

Today, the product follows the application modernization lifecycle, starting with an application discovery capability, which maps out a technical understanding of the application and its dependencies. Then, an automated refactoring capability leverages the information captured in application discovery to identify selected elements to decompose the monolithic application into modular COBOL business services. Finally, watsonx Code Assistant for Z leverages generative AI to transform individual COBOL business services into object-oriented Java code. The next step in the lifecycle is validation testing. Anticipated in a future release, the product will support automated test case generation to validate the new COBOL or Java services.

TCS and IBM hold a long-term partnership that fosters a collaborative ecosystem to develop joint successes for their customers and stakeholders. Leveraging this partnership and the deep contextual knowledge, TCS has grown a purpose-led, dedicated, full-service practice for in-place application modernization.

“There is a significant need for the developer productivity gains that generative AI can bring to transform applications on the mainframe,” said Keshav Varma, ISU Head, Technology, Software and Services Business Unit, TCS. “While watsonx Code Assistant for Z has only just become available, we have several clients that have already requested that we create proofs of concept for them. With decades of enterprise experience from both our companies, we look forward to building on our deep partnership with IBM using watsonx.”

IBM Consulting Brings Expertise to Help Clients with IT Automation and Modernization

Early IBM Consulting engagements for both watsonx Code Assistant for Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed and watsonx Code Assistant for Z aim to provide clients with the ability to deliver continuous automation, Ansible Playbook productivity, quality improvements, and transformation of IT operations – in addition to helping them identify the right application areas to modernize with Z.

For those looking for more personalized use cases with watsonx Code Assistant, IBM Consulting and IBM Client Engineering can work side-by-side with clients to identify specific pain points and solve critical business and technical challenges from the users’ perspective. IBM Consulting brings deep industry expertise in application modernization, IT automation and generative AI via dedicated Red Hat and watsonx practices that work closely with IBM Research, IBM Technology and Red Hat.

Statements regarding IBM’s future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice, and represent goals and objectives only. 

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud products and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.

Media contact:
Rebecca Neufeld
rebecca.neufeld@ibm.com

1 IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z includes an on-prem and as a service component. When the components are purchased together, watsonx Code
Assistant for Z includes the referenced generative AI capabilities.

2 IDC Market Note, IBM’s watsonx Offers Generative AI for EnterpriseDevelopment and DevOps, IDC #US51203823, September 8, 2023

 

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLOcdyFZN0k 

SOURCE IBM

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EXRO PROVIDES UPDATE ON SEMI-ANNUAL INTEREST PAYMENTS ON OUTSTANDING CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

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3 hours ago

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December 21, 2024

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CALGARY, AB, Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – Exro Technologies Inc. (TSX: EXRO) (OTCQB: EXROF), a leading clean-technology company that provides new-generation power control electronics that expand the capabilities of electric motors and batteries, is pleased to provide an update on the settlement of interest payments through the issuance of common shares.

Pursuant to the terms of the C$15,000,000 secured convertible debentures of the Company issued on December 30, 2022 (the “Debentures”), bearing interest at 12% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears beginning on June 30, 2023 (the “Due Date”). As of December 20, 2024 the Company has 14,950 debenture units outstanding, and an aggregate amount of interest owing on the Debentures payable of C$897,000 (the “Interest”). The Company has elected to issue 6,407,141 common shares in the capital of the Company (“Common Shares”) at a deemed price of $0.14 to the debenture holders as payment for the interest. Pursuant to the Debentures, the deemed issue price per Common Share is calculated based on the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares for the five trading days immediately prior to December 20, 2024.

The issuance of the Common Shares as payment for interest owing on the Debentures is subject to the terms and conditions of the Debentures as well as the receipt of all requisite approvals, including, without limitation, the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

About Exro Technologies Inc.

Exro Technologies Inc., now expanded through the strategic acquisition of SEA Electric, is a leading clean technology company that has developed new generation power control electronics. Its innovative suite of solutions, including Coil Driver™, Cell Driver™, and SEA-Drive®, expand the capabilities of electric motors and batteries and offer OEMs a comprehensive e-propulsion solution with unmatched performance and efficiency. Exro is reshaping global energy consumption, accelerating adoption towards a circular electrified economy by delivering more with less – minimum energy for maximum results.

For more information, please visit www.exro.com.

To view our Investor Presentation, visit us at www.exro.com/investors.

Follow us on social media @Exrotech.

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SOURCE Exro Technologies Inc.

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OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION SCHEDULES CONFERENCE CALL TO DISCUSS FOURTH QUARTER AND FISCAL YEAR 2024 RESULTS

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4 hours ago

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December 21, 2024

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ROANOKE, Va., Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Optical Cable Corporation (Nasdaq GM: OCC) (“OCC®”) today announced that it will release its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 results on Monday, December 23, 2024. The fourth quarter and full year results are for the three-month and twelve-month periods ended October 31, 2024. The Company will also host a conference call on Monday, December 23, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should call (800) 445-7795 in the U.S. or (785) 424-1699 internationally, Conference ID: OCCQ424. For interested individuals unable to join the call, a replay will be available through Monday, December 30, 2024, by dialing (800) 839-7414 or (402) 220-6068. The call will also be broadcast live over the internet and can be accessed by visiting the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.occfiber.com.

As in the past, OCC will answer questions from analysts and fund investors during the conference call. OCC also invites individual investors to submit questions in advance of the conference call. Questions should be submitted in writing to occ-jfwbk@joelefrank.com by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 23, 2024.

Company Information

Optical Cable Corporation (“OCC®”) is a leading manufacturer of a broad range of fiber optic and copper data communication cabling and connectivity solutions primarily for the enterprise market and various harsh environment and specialty markets (collectively, the non-carrier markets) and also the wireless carrier market, offering integrated suites of high-quality products which operate as a system solution or seamlessly integrate with other components.

OCC® is internationally recognized for pioneering innovative fiber optic and copper communications technologies, including fiber optic cable designs for the most demanding environments and applications, copper connectivity designs to meet the highest data communication industry standards, as well as a broad product offering built on the evolution of these fundamental technologies.

OCC uses its expertise to deliver cabling and connectivity products and integrated solutions that are best suited to the performance requirements of each end-user’s application. And OCC’s solutions offerings cover a broad range of applications—from commercial, enterprise network, datacenter, residential and campus installations to customized products for specialty applications and harsh environments, including military, industrial, mining, petrochemical and broadcast applications, as well as for the wireless carrier market.

Founded in 1983, OCC is headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia with offices, manufacturing and warehouse facilities located in Roanoke, Virginia, near Asheville, North Carolina and near Dallas, Texas. OCC’s facilities are ISO 9001:2015 registered and its Roanoke and Dallas facilities are MIL-STD-790G certified.

Optical Cable Corporation™, OCC®, Procyon®, Superior Modular Products™, SMP Data Communications™, Applied Optical Systems™, and associated logos are trademarks of Optical Cable Corporation.

Further information about OCC® is available at www.occfiber.com.

AT THE COMPANY: 

Neil Wilkin                                                     

Tracy Smith

Chairman, President & CEO                         

Senior Vice President & CFO

(540) 265-0690                                               

(540) 265-0690

investorrelations@occfiber.com                     

investorrelations@occfiber.com  

AT JOELE FRANK, WILKINSON BRIMMER KATCHER:

Aaron Palash   

Spencer Hoffman

(212) 355-4449 ext. 8603   

(212) 355-4449 ext. 8928

occ-jfwbk@joelefrank.com 

occ-jfwbk@joelefrank.com

 

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SOURCE Optical Cable Corporation

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JOSH BERMAN JOINS ASSEMBLY AS EVP, ASSEMBLY LEAD IN NORTH AMERICA

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6 hours ago

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December 20, 2024

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Strategic hire underscores Assembly’s commitment to bolstering its leadership team to deliver best-in-class services and results for its clients. 

NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Assembly, a leading global marketing agency within the Stagwell (STGW) network, today announced the appointment of Josh Berman as Executive Vice President, Assembly Lead. Earlier this year, Assembly unveiled a new operating structure with teams organized into ‘Assemblies’ based on geography and industry sector. Based in New York, Berman will co-lead Assembly East, focusing on deepening brand relationships, driving innovation, and providing more rigor, expertise, and growth for clients.

Berman brings 15 years of media industry experience to Assembly. Most recently, as Managing Partner and Client Lead at Wavemaker, he led media planning and buying for a major Church & Dwight brand and contributed to global product development initiatives, leveraging data and technology to craft effective marketing solutions. Over his career, Josh has partnered with marquee brands across various industries, including Citi, Campbell’s, IKEA, Tiffany & Co., Amgen, Marriott, and AT&T. 

Berman’s appointment is part of Assembly’s ongoing growth efforts, ensuring that the agency remains at the forefront of the industry and continues to meet clients’ evolving needs.

“Our clients get the best of both worlds—an agency big enough to lead yet small enough to care—which means each client receives the attention, dedicated leadership, and prioritization the industry and clients are demanding,” said Rick Acampora, Global CEO of Assembly. “Josh’s extensive experience in media strategy, analytics, client leadership, and innovation, coupled with his ability to fuse media and creative to unlock and accelerate brand performance, will be instrumental as we continue to elevate and find the change that fuels growth for our clients. We are thrilled to have him join our team.”

Berman’s role is effective immediately.

ABOUT ASSEMBLY
Assembly is a leading global omnichannel media agency that merges data, talent, and technology to catalyze growth for the world’s most esteemed brands. Our holistic approach weaves together compelling brand narratives with a comprehensive suite of global media capabilities, driving performance and fostering significant business expansion. Our initiatives are powered by STAGE, our proprietary operating system, and executed by a dedicated global team of over 2,300 professionals across 35 offices worldwide. Committed to purposeful action, Assembly leads the way in social and environmental impact within the agency realm. As a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network designed to revolutionize marketing, Assembly continues to set new standards of excellence. For more information, please visit assemblyglobal.com.

Contact
Mariana Delacqua
mariana.delacqua@assemblyglobal.com

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SOURCE Assembly

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