Technology

New research from Google Workspace and The Harris Poll shows rising leaders are embracing AI to drive impact at work

Published

4 hours ago

November 25, 2024

82% of ‘young leaders’ are already leveraging AI tools in their work.98% anticipate that AI will have an impact on their industry or workplace within the next 5 years.

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Google Workspace—the productivity platform that includes AI-powered tools like Gmail, Docs, Drive, and more and is relied on by more than 3 billion users—shared new research that showcases the widespread adoption and value of generative AI (gen AI) across rising leaders at work. Conducted by The Harris Poll and commissioned by Google Workspace, the study is based on a survey of over 1,000 U.S.-based knowledge workers ages 22-39 years old who currently have or aspire to hold a leadership position at work (‘young leaders’).

82% of individuals surveyed are already leveraging AI tools in their work and almost all (98%) of those surveyed anticipate that AI will have an impact on their industry or workplace within the next 5 years. What’s more, 93% of young leaders who identify as Gen Z and 79% who identify as millennials use 2 or more tools on a weekly basis. And they’re excited to talk about how they’re using them: Over 50% of the AI users surveyed regularly share their experiences and insights with colleagues, with 75% of them having suggested gen AI tools to their peers.

AI gives young leaders the boost they need at work
In addition to the excitement around and anticipated impact of AI, the survey found that individuals are using AI to supercharge productivity and enhance communication to solve common challenges for the modern worker. For instance, 70% have used AI for tasks like drafting email responses, writing challenging emails from scratch, or helping to overcome language barriers. More key findings include:

Overcome task paralysis: 88% say they would use AI to start a task that feels overwhelming.Improve writing: 88% also agree that AI can help them strike the right tone in their writing.More flexibility: 87% of respondents believe that AI can make them more comfortable composing lengthy emails on their phone, while 90% also believe they would feel more confident joining meetings on-the-go if they knew AI was taking meeting notes for them. This can be especially impactful when considering hybrid work, and the value of empowering people with tools to support more flexible collaboration from anywhere.

“Our research shows that emerging leaders are adopting AI to increase their impact at work,” said Yulie Kwon Kim, VP of Product, Google Workspace. “Rising leaders are not simply using AI as a tool for efficiency, but as a catalyst to help grow their careers.”

Leveraging AI to foster leadership skills and more
In addition to demonstrating a strong correlation between the use of gen AI and increased productivity, the data shows how AI can help scale business-critical soft skills, such as the ability to collaborate with others, communicate effectively, lead a team, and more. It not only helps individuals get work done faster and more efficiently, but also changes how they work in meaningful ways. Key findings include:

Improve management capabilities: 86% believe that AI can help current leaders become better managers, while 79% are interested in using AI to become a better manager.Enhance communication: 47% say AI can help enhance communication to improve problem solving and facilitate better relationships. With hybrid work, enabling strong communication is more important than ever. AI can help enhance cross-team communication, ensuring teams stay coordinated. Bigger impact: 50% recognize the current and potential impact of AI on automating routine tasks to free up their time to focus on more strategic work.

“The future of work is here—and it’s AI-powered,” Yulie Kwon Kim added. “Rising leaders are not only advocating for AI—they’re deploying this technology in meaningful ways, from improving communication with colleagues to freeing up time for strategic work.”

Survey methodology
This report is based on a survey of 1,005 knowledge workers ages 22-39 years old who are employed or self-employed full-time and currently hold or aspire to hold a leadership position. The survey respondents are based in the U.S.

About Google Workspace
Google Workspace is a suite of productivity apps, including Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Docs, Meet, Vids, and more, that are trusted by more than 3 billion users and over 10 million paying customers. Google Workspace helps people and teams do their best work across any device, from anywhere. AI has been used in Google Workspace for years to improve grammar, efficiency, security, and more with features like Smart Reply, Smart Compose, and malware and phishing protection in Gmail. Now, Gemini for Google Workspace brings AI into the entire suite.

About Google Cloud
Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.

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SOURCE Google Cloud

Technology

Wrap Up Your Phone in Style with OtterBox

Published

56 minutes ago

November 25, 2024

-Sleigh the season with must-have holiday cases-

FORT COLLINS, Colo. , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Gearing up the holidays includes getting your phone ready for heavy travel and tons of photos. Prepare your most crucial travel companion for the holiday season with Symmetry Series Winter Collection and 2-in-1 Crossbody Straps, available now on otterbox.com.

Spread holiday cheer with Symmetry Series Winter Collection. These ultra-slim cases feature nutcrackers, holiday bows and a classic holiday plaid. Symmetry Series hugs your phone’s curves and features legendary OtterBox protection to keep your device safe all season long. These three new cases are perfect for getting into the holiday spirit and traveling in style.

Pair Symmetry Series Winter Collection with new 2-in-1 Crossbody Strap, available now. Symmetry Series for iPhone 16 devices have two built in connection points that act as accessory attach points. The crossbody is perfect for keeping your device close at hand during the holiday bustle. It features loops to easily connect keys and headphones when wearing as a crossbody or can be quickly converted into a wrist strap. The adjustable straps allow you to dial in the perfect length every time you wear it.

OtterBox Symmetry Series Winter Collection and 2-in-1 Crossbody Strap are available now on otterbox.com and are 30% off through Thanksgiving.

About OtterBox:
From humble beginnings in a Fort Collins, Colo. garage, OtterBox now leverages more than 25 years of engineering and design expertise to develop protective products for all things mobile. It’s no surprise that OtterBox is the #1 most trusted smartphone case brand in the U.S. From ultra-rugged to sleek and stylish, OtterBox has you covered.

Protect it. Style it. OtterBox it.

At the center of every OtterBox innovation is a deeper goal to affect positive, lasting change. In partnership with the OtterCares Foundation, OtterBox gives back by inspiring kids to change the world through entrepreneurship and philanthropy. To learn more about this mission, visit otterbox.com/givingback.

For more information, visit otterbox.com.

1Symmetry Series is NOT protective against water. Will provide added protection against drops and shock.

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SOURCE OtterBox

Technology

VTech® and LeapFrog® Capture Coveted Holiday Toy Honors for 2024

Published

56 minutes ago

November 25, 2024

These Toys Deliver Award-Winning Learning and Fun for Kids of All Ages

CHICAGO, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — VTech® and LeapFrog®, industry leaders in electronic learning toys, today announced that several of their innovative products have received top industry awards for 2024. These accolades celebrate the brands’ dedication to creating high-quality, engaging toys that bring excitement to every playtime.

“We couldn’t be more excited to see VTech and LeapFrog toys shining on holiday lists this year!” said Karen Balduf, Vice President of Marketing, VTech Electronics North America. “These awards reflect our commitment to creating toys that deliver joy while fostering kids’ development, learning and exploration.”

Highlights of the award-winning products include:

VTech® Sort & Discover Activity Wagon™: Discover a wagon full of wonders! Kids will love pulling this interactive wagon filled with light-up buttons, cheerful sounds and shape-sorting blocks. With an engaging activity panel and colorful design, it’s perfect for little adventurers to explore and play. Spark their curiosity and watch them enjoy hours of imaginative discovery. This wagon is a delightful way to turn playtime into an exciting journey!VTech® Sandy Snacks-a-Lot™: It’s time for a snack! Hold up a snack piece for Sandy to sniff, then place it on her tongue when she opens her mouth. Listen to Sandy’s thoughts on different foods and see her belly light up based on what she eats. Pet her head or press her back buttons for phrases and songs about food, flavors, colors and axolotl facts. Easily store snacks inside Sandy’s tail when playtime is over for convenient cleanup.VTech® KidiZoom® Smartwatch DX4: This super-cool, splash-proof smartwatch is perfect for kids ages 4+. It features dual cameras, a large high-resolution screen and a premium metal body. Kids can play exciting activities, challenges and reaction games designed to get them moving. They can explore creativity with photo and video effects or make music with the composer app. With 50+ clock faces and a shake-to-hear time feature, it’s both fun and entertaining!VTech® Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Checkered Flag Motorized Track Set™: Race into excitement with this fun track set! Use the remote to control the RC Racer and challenge the Motorized Race Car. Zoom around thrilling turns and bends, with track switches adding surprises at every lap. Celebrate victories on the winners’ podium with fun role-play phrases. Explore interactive SmartPoint® spots for first words, songs and racing sounds. This engaging toy develops fine motor skills and offers endless racing fun for toddlers!LeapFrog® Get Ready for Phonics™ Spin & Learn: This interactive toy is designed to boost vocabulary and early reading skills for kids ages 18+ months. With colorful lights, sounds and fun illustrations, kids can explore word sounds and vocabulary through four engaging modes. Press the big red button to light up pictures and hear fun phrases. Flip through ten easy-turn pages featuring playful scenes and characters. It’s a fun, educational adventure that helps little ones discover the magic of words!LeapFrog® Magic Adventures® Binoculars: Explore the world up close with these real high-tech binoculars, featuring a digital camera and vibrant video screen that magnifies up to 10x with day and night vision. Embark on virtual adventures with 340+ preloaded BBC videos and images of animals, insects, plants and more. Interactive games and trivia boost learning while exploring. Perfect for curious kids, these binoculars combine fun and education, letting them capture and save pictures of their discoveries and making every outdoor adventure an exciting learning experience!

Highlights of the award wins include:

Parents Best Toys Award Winners

VTech® Sort & Discover Activity Wagon™VTech® Sandy Snacks-a-Lot™LeapFrog® Get Ready for Phonics™ Spin & LearnLeapFrog® Magic Adventures® Binoculars

Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award Winners

VTech® Sort & Discover Activity Wagon™VTech® KidiZoom® Smartwatch DX4VTech® Baby Bopping & Cruising Baby Driver™LeapFrog® 4-in-1 Learning Hamburger™

Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Finalists

VTech® Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Checkered Flag Motorized Track Set™ (Vehicle of the Year Finalist)LeapFrog® Magic Adventures® Binoculars (Preschool Toy of the Year Finalist)

For more information about VTech and LeapFrog products, available at major retailers, visit www.vtechkids.com and www.leapfrog.com.

About VTech®
VTech is a world leader in age-appropriate and developmental stage-based electronic learning products for children. As a pioneer in the learning toy category, VTech develops high-quality, innovative educational products that enrich children’s development and make learning fun. With a rich 45-year history, VTech has not only established itself as a learning authority but also consistently remains at the forefront of innovation with multiple award-winning products, including prestigious Toy of the Year (TOTY) Award winners. The company also has a broad range of award-winning infant, toddler and preschool products available in 28 different languages worldwide, with more than 100 new products introduced every year. In order to further strengthen VTech’s position as a learning authority, new products are developed with critical insights from a dedicated team of in-house learning experts.

VTech Electronics North America, L.L.C. is based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. VTech Electronics Limited is headquartered in Hong Kong with distribution globally.

About LeapFrog®
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. is the leader in innovative learning toys for children that encourage a child’s curiosity and love of learning throughout their early developmental journey. For more than 25 years, LeapFrog has helped children expand their knowledge and imagination through award-winning products that combine state-of-the-art educational expertise led by the LeapFrog Learning Team, innovative technology, and engaging play – turning playtime into quality time that helps children leap ahead. LeapFrog’s proprietary learning tablets and ground-breaking developmental games, learn to read and write systems, interactive learning toys and more are designed to create personalized experiences that encourage, excite and build confidence in children. LeapFrog is a subsidiary of VTech Holdings Limited, which is based in Hong Kong. LeapFrog was founded in 1995 by a father who revolutionized technology-based learning solutions to help his child learn how to read. Learn more at www.leapfrog.com.

Media Contact:
Lauren Fagan
Coyne Public Relations
973-588-2000
lfagan@coynepr.com

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SOURCE VTech Electronics North America, L.L.C.

Technology

Charge Your Phone For FREE At Lovesac This Holiday Shopping Season

Published

56 minutes ago

November 25, 2024

New StealthTech Charge Side brings wireless charging to any Sactionals configuration

STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Lovesac Company, the Designed for Life home and technology brand, today announced the launch of the StealthTech Charge Side, bringing wireless device charging to its Sactionals Sides. Utilizing the invisible wireless charging capabilities of StealthTech Sound + Charge, the latest Lovesac innovation allows customers to stay connected without leaving the comfort of their couch. Throughout this year’s truncated holiday shopping season, Lovesac invites customers to recharge, literally and figuratively, with free device charging in all 300+ locations starting today through end of year.

Featuring invisible wireless charging, embedded in a Sactionals Side, StealthTech Charge Side offers the ultimate convenience, letting you power your devices without the clutter of power cords. With the ability to add up to three charging stations in a single Side, you’ll always have plenty of power at your fingertips. Like all StealthTech product line innovations, the Charge Side is designed with upgradable technology, allowing customers to easily stay up to date with the latest advancements. Charge Side seamlessly integrates into existing and new Sactionals configurations and is designed to be compatible with future innovations that enhance the comfort and convenience Lovesac is known for.

StealthTech Charge Side is the fourth major innovation to launch from Lovesac this year, closely following the Reclining Seat, the AnyTable, and the style renowned PillowSac Accent Chair – all building out new product categories or further innovating existing platforms for the brand. Understanding a shorter holiday shopping window will have many customers spending longer hours at the mall scrambling to find the perfect gift, Lovesac is offering complimentary device charging to keep your phone fueled in all 300+ locations, just in time for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on fan favorite Sactionals and accessories. Perfect for nearly half of holiday shoppers who prefer to experience products in person before buying, customers can recharge themselves and their phones while they shop select Lovesac styles, which are 30% off from 11/8/2024 – 12/8/2024.

“With the new StealthTech Charge Side, our customers can stay connected without leaving the comfort of their couch,” said Lovesac CEO Shawn Nelson. “Our mission has always been to create products that are Designed for Life – products that evolve as your life does. The Charge Side product takes the innovation of Stealth Sound + Charge and makes it more accessible and customizable for the changing needs of our customers.”

All 300+ Lovesac locations will be open to consumers for free charging during business hours starting today. For more information on StealthTech Charge Side, now available for purchase starting at $575, visit www.lovesac.com. To find the closest Lovesac showroom to you to start charging, visit the Showroom Locator.

About The Lovesac Company
Based in Stamford, Connecticut, The Lovesac Company (NASDAQ: LOVE) is a technology driven company that designs, manufactures and sells unique, high-quality furniture derived through its proprietary Designed for Life approach which results in products that are built to last a lifetime and designed to evolve as customers’ lives do. The current product offering is comprised of modular couches called Sactionals, premium foam beanbag chairs called Sacs, the Sactionals StealthTech Sound + Charge System, and the most recently launched PillowSac Accent Chair, a first of its kind accent chair for the living room. As a recipient of Repreve’s 7th Annual Champions of Sustainability Award, responsible production and innovation are at the center of the brand’s design philosophy with products protected by a robust portfolio of utility patents. Products are marketed and sold primarily online directly at www.lovesac.com/, supported by direct-to-consumer touch points in the form of our own showrooms, as well as through shop-in-shops and pop-up-shops with third party retailers. LOVESAC, DESIGNED FOR LIFE, SACTIONALS, SAC, STEALTHTECH, and THE WORLD’S MOST COMFORTABLE SEAT are trademarks of The Lovesac Company and are Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Contact Lovesac:
Nate Zubal, PR & Project Specialist
Nate@lovesac.com

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SOURCE The Lovesac Company