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The best generative AI solutions of 2024

AIport

January 25, 2024 — Ever since ChatGPT burst onto the scene in the fall of 2022, generative AI (GenAI) solutions have continued to disrupt industries with their surprising and never-before-seen features. Many of the generative AI solutions we hear about today are based on large language models (LLM), which allow them to successfully communicate with end users. Every such model has to be pre-trained on vast amounts of data and then fine-tuned using a variety of different methods. As we’re approaching the end of January, let’s look at the list of the most noteworthy of these models and explore the generative AI solutions they power. Compiled by the AIport newsletter team, this list is by no means exhaustive, but it is a review of what we believe are the LLM-based generative AI solutions and tools that are likely to make headlines this year. GPT (OpenAI and Microsoft) Expectedly, the first LLM on our list with some of the highest expectations this year is at the core of ChatGPT from OpenAI. GPT wasn’t the first LLM out there (there had been others like BERT ), but it was certainly the first one that resulted in a market-ready GenAI product. The original GPT model (Generative Pretrained Transformers) had 170 billion parameters, while the latest version, GPT-4, boasts over 1.75 trillion. The model’s applications are far and wide, being the basis not only for ChatGPT, but also Microsoft’s Bing Chat, which is now part of the Copilot infrastructure. While ChatGPT remains arguably the most impressive text-producing GenAI tool, Bing Chat (unlike ChatGPT) has internet access, making it ideal for web browsing. In addition, the same core GPT model is being utilized by other entities — from Panasonic Connect in Japan, OCBC Bank’s ChatGPT in Singapore, and KPMG’s KaiChat in Germany to the UK government’s upcoming GOV.UK chat. Notably, GPT is also a vital part of OpenAI’s DALL-E suite — a solution that generates images based on descriptions from text. PaLM and Gemini (Google) The next one on our list is Google’s PaLM (Pathways Language Model). The model, boasting 540 billion parameters, was first successfully tested in the spring of 2022. A year later, PaLM 2 was announced and subsequently integrated into Bard — Google’s GenAI chatbot — becoming available to test users around the world. Bard is considered among the finest solutions for productivity, having internet access like Bing Chat, but being less about navigating the web and more about answering burning questions. Bard was seriously bolstered at the end of last year with Google’s highly anticipated launch of the multimodal LLM, Gemini, which had been trained on images and audio/video files, not just text. The jury is still out on how far this update will take Bard, but the expectations are very high indeed. LLaMA (Meta, Microsoft, and Hugging Face) LLaMA (Large Language Model Meta AI) from Meta was released in February last year. However, the 65-billion-parameter model was leaked online as a downloadable torrent only a week later. While the model did not lead to any ChatGPT-like products at Meta, another AI company — Hugging Face — picked it up and released Hugging Chat. Offering internet access, this GenAI solution has been praised as “the first open source alternative to ChatGPT” with a snarky sense of humor. Not to be outdone, Meta partnered with Microsoft to produce LLaMA 2 in July of last year. Following that, the company announced a beta release of Meta AI at the end of September — a GenAI chatbot, currently available in the US, that can “provide real-time information and generate photorealistic images” from text prompts. This solution is expected to reach Meta users across the rest of the globe later in the year. Claude (Anthropic) Our next LLM is made by Anthropic, and it’s named Claude. Founded in 2021, the company along with its language model may be a less familiar name to most non-geeks. But this is likely to change in 2024. That’s the case not only because the latest version of the namesake GenAI chatbot released last year can now process long PDF files of up to 75,000 words, taking moments to summarize entire books. But also because this has already caught the attention of both Google and Amazon who are keen to invest $2 and $4 billion respectively. While Claude doesn’t offer internet access, its processing power, namely input character memory, outpowers every competitor by a wide margin, including ChatGPT. And the company is said to be working on yet more handy features as we speak. HyperCLOVA X (Naver) HyperCLOVA X is both the LLM and the namesake GenAI chatbot released by the South Korean search engine giant, Naver, last August. Boasting over 200 billion parameters, the LLM is being used mainly for AI-assisted web browsing, much like Bing Chat. While HyperCLOVA X doesn’t speak English, the chatbot’s proficiency in Korean is impressive, having learned 6,500 more Korean words than ChatGPT. In addition to answering user queries, HyperCLOVA X has been designed to offer AI assistance to businesses across numerous sectors — from finance to gaming. Naver is also presently working to make HyperCLOVA X multimodal, following in the footsteps of Google’s Gemini, so another big international headline is likely on the way. Pangu (Huawei) Last spring, Huawei, one of the global tech leaders, unveiled Pangu — an LLM with 1.085 trillion parameters in over 40 natural and programming languages. This LLM now powers the Chinese company’s GenAI assistant called Celia, which resides within Huawei’s HarmonyOS 4 operating system. Supposedly, Celia has already outperformed both Siri and Google Assistant as a phone-based virtual assistant in terms of prompt execution accuracy, such as finding specific photos and documents stored on a device. And as more Huawei smartphones are being churned out, Celia is expected to reach more global users this year with further refinements to the Pangu model. In addition, Pangu is available through Huawei Cloud for commercial use. According to a statement from the company’s leadership, the newest Pangu 3.0 utilizes hierarchical architecture, allowing it to be quickly fine-tuned for a wide range of downstream applications (including Huawei’s autonomous vehicle solutions ), which we’ll surely see more of in 2024. MiLM-6B (Xiaomi) Next up is another Chinese company, Xiaomi — one of the largest phone manufacturers in the world. The company made an entry into the LLM race last summer with its MiLM-6B, a lightweight model created for mobile devices. Boasting 6.4 billion parameters, MiLM-6B has reportedly outperformed rivals in its category and achieved notable scores from evaluation platforms like C-Eval and CMMLU. Xiaomi’s leadership has been vocal for some time about integrating LLMs into its smartphones. It appears that the company’s virtual assistant, Xiao AI, has now finally become a fully fledged GenAI chatbot, generating over 11 words per second. By this metric, despite operating locally on the phone, Xiao AI has matched the performance of some LLMs running on cloud computing services. It’ll be interesting to see whether Xiao AI gets assimilated into the company’s other products, as the rumors suggest, including the recently announced Xiaomi SU7, an autonomous-enabled electric sedan. YandexGPT (Yandex) The final entry on our list is an LLM named YandexGPT from the Russian search engine Yandex. The namesake GenAI solution with 100 billion parameters was beta-released in May last year. The more recent release of YandexGPT2 has demonstrated a 65% improvement in response quality, with a 1.5-fold increase in training data. Interestingly, this GenAI solution was tested and scored enough points to enter a Russian university. YandexGPT was also integrated into Yandex’s flagship virtual assistant named Alice, as well as the company’s smart speakers. Furthermore, the LLM has allowed the company’s e-shoppers to view summarized customer reviews in one place. With YandexGPT at the core, the company now also offers visual GenAI solutions, YandexART and Shedevrum, that can generate images from text, much like Open AI’s DALL-E. Currently, the LLM is also being merged with Yandex Search to offer the end user something similar to Bing Chat and HyperCLOVA X. It’s likely that we’ll see a new announcement pertaining to this development later in the year. New kids on the block Apart from the above entries on our list, several brand new LLMs along with their GenAI solutions are expected to arrive any day from other big players. Among them are Samsung from South Korea, Tencent from China, as well as Amazon and Apple. In fact, Apple already has an internal AI chatbot for employees, but its much-talked-about AppleGPT based on the company’s LLM, Ajax, is said to be around the corner. Amazon began to offer a service for building AI chatbots called Lex a while ago, but more notably, the company recently announced its upcoming GenAI solution tailored for commercial use. Japan doesn’t intend to be left behind either — at least three major LLM initiatives are currently being played out. Among them is a joint project between Fujitsu, RIKEN, Tokyo Tech, and Tohoku University who are developing a series of LLMs using one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, Fugaku. In addition, both NTT and SoftBank are reportedly in the final stages of developing their “homegrown” LLMs. While much remains unclear and covered in mist (or is it gray goo 😉), one thing is certain — 2024 is going to be the most AI-intense year we have seen yet! If you enjoyed this listicle, visit AIport for more exclusive insights into the latest tech trends, with a focus on the global ML landscape. All trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Contact Details NettResults PR Nick Leighton +1 949-478-5880 nick.leighton@nettresultsllc.com Company Website https://aiport.substack.com/

January 25, 2024 09:53 AM Pacific Standard Time

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Premier Design-Build Construction Firm Kingham Dalton Wilson (KDW) Announces Executive Leadership Changes

Kingham Dalton Wilson, Ltd.

Kingham Dalton Wilson, Ltd. ( KDW ), a renowned leader in the construction industry specializing in design-build industrial and commercial construction, has announced it will expand its executive leadership team to support a growing range of projects. The design-build firm will add two longtime team members to its C-suite. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, Jay Kingham, who joined KDW in 2006, will serve as President, a role formerly held by Keith Dalton, who will remain Chief Executive Officer. Eighteen-year veteran Rolf Scheffler has been named to the new role of Chief Operating Officer. Previously, Kingham was KDW Principal and Construction Manager, while Scheffler served as Director of Special Projects. “Clients rely on us as a single-source solution that excels in every stage of a commercial development,” said Scheffler. “As COO, I will work to optimize efficiency in processes, implement risk management practices and champion quality control initiatives to meet our 2024 operational excellence goals.” Former Project Manager Michael Mann replaces Scheffler as Director of Special Projects, and KDW’s Preconstruction Manager Mark Camilli has become Director of Preconstruction. With over 128 years of combined experience and a track record of more than 2,000 successful projects, KDW has an established reputation for providing the highest-quality construction services with a dedicated team of professionals who prioritize customer satisfaction and deliver projects within scope, within budget and on time. In 2023, the company launched nearly 40 projects, including Sovereign Flavors’ Kyle, Texas, headquarters, Balcones Resources’ San Antonio-based material recovery facility, Elin Energy’s Waller County, Texas, solar panel manufacturing facility and Newton Nursery’s Spring, Texas, nursery. The momentum continues into 2024, with additional projects slated for completion throughout the year. "As KDW expands in and beyond Texas, we need additional leaders to serve our growing client portfolio and employee base,” said Dalton. “The new structure recognizes and supports our employees’ dedication and professional development and provides a strong foundation for our future.” Kingham Dalton Wilson, Ltd. ( KDW ) is a full-service design-build firm specializing in customized industrial and commercial construction. With a team of more than 100 in-house designers, architects and multidisciplinary building professionals, the company is a single-source, one-contract solution for global and domestic companies, designing and building facilities that meet complex client specifications, often in niche industries such as cold storage, clean technology, food manufacturing and oil and gas. With headquarters in Houston and an office in Austin, KDW has completed more than 2,000 projects across Texas since its founding in 2004. For more information, visit www.kdw.com. Contact Details Jessica Poulalier jessica@centerreachcommunication.com Company Website https://www.kdwltd.com/

January 25, 2024 09:00 AM Central Standard Time

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How Minuteman Press Franchise Owner Ray Ochoa Turned a First Order for Sales Flyers Into a Branded Building Project for SoCalGas

Minuteman Press International Inc

Ray Ochoa has owned the Minuteman Press franchise in Torrance, CA since November of 2016. Before buying the business, Ray was no stranger to the printing industry. Ray shares, “I’ve been in printing all my life. I graduated from Don Bosco Technical Institute located in Rosemead, California, which was part of five-year program combined with high school. We spent half of each day on academics and the other half on vocational training. After completion of the program, I went straight into the workforce.” Throughout the course of his career prior to Minuteman Press, Ray worked all over Los Angeles, Texas, and Atlanta for large printing companies that worked with big businesses. Ray says, I worked my way up from press operator to sales to several levels of management. One of my jobs was doing sales for an entertainment print company doing theatrical printing, banners, posters, and printing for home entertainment. We had clients like Sony, Warner, and Paramount.” First Order Leads to Bigger Business Ray’s hard work in his previous career paid off when out of the blue, one of his clients from the entertainment industry called with a rush project for a friend of his. They hadn’t talked in years but they remembered Ray from his outstanding service. Ray says, “I get a call from my contact to see if I could help with a rush printing job for SoCalGas. They needed super-fast turnaround for sales sheets. I didn’t hesitate and fulfilled the order that same day.” Turning around that small print project of 2,500 sales flyers same day lead to the larger month-long project which included painting and large format graphics for the SoCalGas ERC (Energy Resource Center). SoCalGas happens to be the nation’s largest gas distribution utility. They service 21.1 million consumers for the past 150 years and are a subsidiary of SEMPRA Energy. Ray says, “You never know where that next big client will come from. The client was impressed with our quickness and efficiency, and this kick-started everything that was to come between the partnership of Minuteman Press and SoCalGas.” As the business relationship grew, so did the scope of the orders. Ray says, “The team at SoCalGas is so busy and they come to me to turn printing around on a dime. I was used to working with entertainment companies and ad agencies with short timeframes, and so I carried that with me to Minuteman Press. We have fast service, quick turnaround, and can handle high-level commercial printing.” Today, in order to service the SoCalGas marketing division with top quality, fast turnarounds and very competitive pricing, Ray and his team consider themselves an extension of the marketing team. He says, “When we hear of a potential project coming our way we purchase the paper right away and communicate with SoCalGas that we are ready to, willing and able to jump!” Ray continues, “We have delivered through so-called client emergencies, dilemmas, and timeframe issues, even if it means stepping out of our comfort zone. When SoCalGas needed a shipping container to be painted and have vinyl graphics added and installed, I managed the whole project including lining up the painters. They have come to trust me to get the job done, and it is very gratifying to keep delivering for their team.” 30-Day Project Sparks Record Sales Month It is no surprise that when SoCalGas needed to complete a 30-day project in lightning fast time, they turned to Ray Ochoa and Minuteman Press in Torrance. Ray shares, “They came to me with a huge project. There’s a push here in California for companies like SoCalGas to be carbon free by 2030, creating a big push for electric energy. SoCalGas has initiated a process where they add hydrogen to natural has, which is an intermediate step before going green.” Ray continues, “With that said, SoCalGas has its headquarters in downtown Los Angeles but has facilities all over Southern California, including their Energy Resource Center (ERC). As a result, they built a carbon-free hydrogen home – otherwise known as H2 Home – and they tasked me with doing all of the prep work, painting, and graphics installations.” For this project, Ray acted as the project manager in addition to handling all of the printing later on. He says, “I was there every morning at 7:30 am for their construction meetings, listening to everything that was happening. We went in there and prepped/painted all of the equipment and even the rooftops. We carefully measured each piece of equipment and then had graphics installed on every single piece that was built to those measurements.” The completion of this project not only helped Ray achieve a record sales month, it also has created even more business afterwards. Ray explains, “This initial project was 30 days and we had tight deadlines so they could hold their grand opening for the facility. Since then, we have also printed a lot of collateral materials for SoCalGas. They had a special request to have their marketing materials printed on FSC paper that is 100% recyclable, and we got it done. We’ve also done graphics for their trucks as well as a 200-ft. banner.” When asked for the keys to his relationships with clients like SoCalGas, Ray says, “It’s all about customer service… understanding what is needed, when it’s needed and delivering it to them without exception! You are that problem-solver and you need to build that reputation as a trusted business partner.” “When it comes to doing business, there are three keys: 1. We are in the happy customer business; 2. We need to make a profit; 3. We want to have fun doing it!” -Ray Ochoa, owner, Minuteman Press, Torrance, CA Additional Quick Questions and Answers On doing business in Torrance, CA: “Torrance is a big city with a rather large footprint. We are a beach city with restaurants, manufacturing, and attorneys, etc. The three primary ways I’ve grown my business are through marketing, building my reputation, and cultivating personal relationships.” On products and services: “High-demand products are all of the different kinds of signage – pullup banners, vinyl banners, window clings, large format, and stickers.” On support from Minuteman Press: “I graduated from that five-year program in 1985 and have been in printing since that time. What I liked about Minuteman Press the most was FLEX – from order entry to reports, it’s such a valuable tool. I also liked the capped royalties and the local support. If I need help, my RVP Dan Byers or anyone on the team at World HQ is there.” Advice for Others: “1. Customer service – this is the most important. 2. Follow the Minuteman Press system. Also, maximize the capabilities of FLEX. 3. You are there to serve and to help. Buyers are trusting you. If they pick the wrong vendor, they can lose their jobs. Mistakes happen, so make up for them, and say ‘this is what I’ll do for you.’ Clients may sign off on the proof but you have to look beyond that and make things right when needed.” For more information on Ray Ochoa’s Minuteman Press franchise in Torrance, CA, visit https://www.minutemantorrance.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

January 22, 2024 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Trust & Will Bolsters Executive Team with Strategic Hires

Trust & Will

Trust & Will, the leading digital estate planning and settlement platform in the U.S., today announced that it has made a number of new executive hires amid significant revenue and member growth and future market opportunities. These notable hires include: Dale Sperling joins the company as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing a unique blend of leadership, creativity, and deep knowledge of brand and marketing to the new role. Dale has been a persistent force in the marketing world, most recently serving as CMO at Stash, a financial investing app, and previously held senior marketing roles at Walt Disney Internet Group and AOL. Doug Luftman joins the company as Chief Legal Officer to lead the legal, government affairs, and people operations groups and further elevate such functions as strategic business resources. Over his 25-year career, Doug has served in strategic roles spanning from General Counsel at startups to senior legal executive positions at companies such as DocuSign, CBS & Palm, Inc. Stephany Bader joins the company as VP of Product, to lead the product management and design organization, bringing over 15 years of product management experience to the role. She is responsible for setting the company’s product strategy and roadmap, as well as overseeing product execution and user experience design. Previously she led the investing product at Wealthfront, and held senior product leadership roles at Intuit, Eventbrite, and Google. Michael Jones joins the company as VP of Engineering to lead our engineering practice, bringing over 20 years of engineering leadership experience across fintech, startups, and communities. He has been accountable for building efficient teams from scratch and maturing organizations to scale across multiple engineering disciplines and cross-functional accountabilities. He most recently held senior engineering roles at Fundrise, Acorns, and Capital One. David Weisman was promoted to VP of Sales & Partnerships. He brings over 13 years of experience in partnerships and sales strategy and execution to his role. Previously, David held roles as Head of Business Development at Scoop Technologies and as Global Product Expert at Google, demonstrating expertise in B2B development, market analysis, and driving sustainable revenue growth. After recently announcing brand ambassadors Matthew and Kelly Stafford, along with becoming a Certified B Corporation, the startup is uniquely poised to help every family leave a legacy. "Empowering families to leave a lasting legacy is our mission. With top-tier talent joining our executive team, we're primed to reach the 60% of Americans without an estate plan through our affordable platform. As we gear up for explosive growth in 2024, their expertise and leadership align seamlessly with our vision. I'm confident their contributions will shape Trust & Will's future success," said Cody Barbo, Founder and CEO of Trust & Will. With more than 700,000 members, the digital platform has a 1300% growth rate according to Deloitte, and will reach even more families in 2024 to help with estate planning and probate. Squarely in hyper-growth mode, Trust & Will’s newly enhanced executive team will help propel the company through this next growth phase to serve hundreds of thousands of new members. ABOUT TRUST & WILL Trust & Will is simplifying estate planning and settlement with attorney-approved, legally valid documents and processes designed to adhere to individual state guidelines. Since 2017, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of Trust & Will members leave their legacy with an affordable way to create an estate plan or settle the estate of a loved one. Our platform uses bank-level encryption that protects customer data and complies with the highest security standards, including SOC 2 and HIPAA. Trust & Will is a certified B Corporation and is the official estate planning benefit provider for AARP members, along with several leading financial institutions, who all believe in our mission of helping every family leave their legacy. Trust & Will is an online service providing legal forms and information. Trust & Will is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Contact Details Danielle Nuzzo +1 631-807-7772 danielle@trustandwill.com Company Website https://trustandwill.com

January 22, 2024 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Trust & Will Announces Strategic Investment from Erie Strategic Ventures

Trust & Will

Trust & Will, the leading digital estate planning and settlement platform, is proud to announce a strategic investment from Erie Strategic Ventures, the venture capital arm of Erie Insurance (ERIE) in partnership with Touchdown Ventures. This financing builds on previous investments, with more than $50 million raised since Trust & Will’s founding in 2017. The new capital will further integrate Trust & Will's award-winning platform with leading financial institutions and insurance providers. “We are honored to partner with Erie Strategic Ventures and Touchdown Ventures to help more families leave a legacy,” said Cody Barbo, founder and CEO of Trust & Will. “With this strategic investment and ERIE’s reputation as a leading auto, home, business and life insurance company, we can bring our innovative digital solutions to people who may otherwise think they can’t afford or don’t need an estate plan.” Nearly 60% of American adults do not have an estate plan. Trust & Will provides an easy and secure way to create estate plans and settle estates online, with the ability to customize legal documents that adhere to individual state and county guidelines. The fintech company recently achieved B Corporation certification, becoming the first in their industry to do so. “Trust & Will has made it easy and affordable for anyone to proactively get their estate in order and we’re pleased to partner with this leader in online estate planning and settlement,” said Keith Kennedy, senior vice president for Next Level Innovation at Erie Insurance. “Similar to the flexible and affordable life insurance that we offer through Erie Family Life, estate planning is an essential part of protecting your family and helping loved ones when they'll need it most.” About Trust & Will Trust & Will is simplifying estate planning and settlement with attorney-approved, legally valid documents and processes designed to adhere to individual state guidelines. Since 2017, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of Trust & Will members leave their legacy with an affordable way to create an estate plan or settle the estate of a loved one. Our platform uses bank-level encryption that protects customer data and complies with the highest security standards, including SOC 2 and HIPAA. Trust & Will is a certified B Corporation and is the official estate planning benefit provider for AARP members, along with several leading financial institutions, who all believe in our mission of helping every family leave their legacy. About Erie Strategic Ventures Erie Strategic Ventures is the venture capital arm of Erie Insurance (ERIE), a Fortune 500 auto, home, business and life insurance company that generated $8.6 billion in direct written premiums in 2022. Founded in 1925, ERIE is the nation’s 12th largest homeowners insurer, 12th largest automobile insurer and 13th largest commercial lines insurer based on direct premiums written. ERIE is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best and has more than six million policies in force and a network of over 13,000 independent agents across 12 states and Washington D.C. Learn more about Erie Strategic Ventures at www.erieinsurance.com/ventures. About Touchdown Ventures Touchdown Ventures partners with corporations to manage their venture capital programs. Touchdown works closely with each corporation to help achieve the financial and strategic benefits from venture capital investments. The firm maintains offices in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. More information on Touchdown can be found at www.touchdownvc.com. Trust & Will is an online service providing legal forms and information. Trust & Will is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Contact Details Trust & Will Danielle Nuzzo +1 631-807-7772 danielle@trustandwill.com Company Website https://trustandwill.com

January 18, 2024 01:47 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Lotis Blue Consulting Releases Future of Retail Workforce Study: New Research Predicts Associate Stay/Leave Decisions with 87 Percent Accuracy

Lotis Blue Consulting

Lotis Blue Consulting, a corporate advisory and business transformation firm, releases the third edition of its comprehensive research study, Lotis Blue Future of Retail Workforce Study, analyzing the current state of the retail workforce. The study investigates ways the current macroeconomic environment has influenced retention trends for the retail workforce; factors that are becoming more important to employee retention and loyalty; how motivations for leaving or staying in a job are changing over time; and, new to this edition, how factors driving quit and stay decisions differ by workforce characteristics and retail segment. Research for the Lotis Blue Future of Retail Workforce Study was conducted during the lead-up to the 2023 holiday season and is based on comprehensive, objective feedback from 1,000 retail associates. The report uses the lens of the Employee Value Proposition (EVP)—including 7 dimensions and 30 underlying factors—to evaluate retail employees’ decisions to stay, consider leaving or leave an employer. “Labor dynamics in retail have changed dramatically in the last 12 months with a tightening of the job market and stabilizing sales, coinciding with major attitude shifts toward work and employers,” noted Lotis Blue Consulting partner and study author Aaron Sorensen, adding, “Even with changing labor conditions and issues, the data is comprehensive enough to predict an employee’s decision to stay or leave an employer with 87 percent accuracy. And in order to hold onto valued employees, we’ve observed that retailers must simultaneously provide an environment where there are more factors that make workers want to stay, and fewer that make them want to quit.” The study found that recent changes in labor market dynamics resulted in a decrease in turnover but a 7% increase in retail associates who are considering leaving their jobs, suggesting an underlying dissatisfaction with their current work situation. “Changes to the reasons that associates are staying or leaving an employer suggest that factors such as schedule flexibility serve a triggering role to job dissatisfaction,” noted study co-author and Lotis Blue Consulting partner Erica Grant. “While some decision drivers such as enjoyable work consistently influence staying decisions across workforce segments, other factors vary significantly in their importance by retail segment. There is no one-size-fits-all approach for retailers." The study findings in this most recent edition include: Talent strategies for the retail workforce have a short shelf-life, due to changes in labor and market conditions Stay and leave decisions have changed significantly in the last 12 months, differing across retailer types and workforce characteristics Job factors create magnetism that uniquely attracts or repels retail associates More associates are staying, but there are also more with one foot out the door Some factors matter more than others: 60% of all stay-or-leave decisions currently relate to Job & Work Environment, Company, and Leadership Culture Pay and Health & Safety have made significant jumps as turnover/retention drivers this year, and Scheduling triggers a cascade of turnover intentions For more information or to see the newest edition of the Lotis Blue Future of Retail Workforce Study, please visit: https://www.lotisblueconsulting.com/insights/2024-the-future-of-retail-workforce-study/ Study Methodology The ongoing Lotis Blue Future of Retail Workforce Study, now in its third iteration, has cumulatively surveyed over 3,000 employees across 700 retailers in the apparel, big box, apparel & luxury, grocery & convenience, home goods & electronics, specialty, fast casual and other sectors, deriving comprehensive, objective feedback. Research for the first study was conducted in summer 2022, for the second, in the lead-up to the of 2022 Holiday season, and for this current edition, in the lead-up to the 2023 Holiday season. At the intersection of growth and transformation, you’ll find Lotis Blue Consulting. We help businesses improve the performance of their workforce, leadership teams, and organizations through evidence-based strategies grounded in leading-edge analytics and behavioral science. Contact Details Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://www.lotisblueconsulting.com

January 17, 2024 10:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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PRESTIGEPEO NAMED 2023 WINNER IN THE BIG AWARDS FOR BUSINESS PROGRAM

PrestigePEO

PrestigePEO, one of the nation’s leading professional employer organizations (PEOs), announced today it received Business Intelligence Group’s BIG Awards for Business. The Company was named a winner in the Small Business of the Year category. Business Intelligence Group’s BIG Awards for Business program rewards companies, products, and people who are leaders in their respective industries. PrestigePEO, which provides a broad range of human resources outsourcing services, was recognized for its customer-focused service model, strategic human resources consultation, diverse employee benefits service offerings and outstanding 2023 performance. “In 2023, we improved our technological infrastructure and extended the range of HR services we offer clients. These advancements were primarily driven by the valuable feedback our clients provide, which enables us to better cater to their needs and facilitate the growth of their businesses. We appreciate the recognition PrestigePEO received from Business Intelligence Group and are honored the judges took note of both the efforts put forth and dedication exhibited by our entire team,” said Robyn Rusignuolo, chief operating officer. Andrew Lubash, PrestigePEO founder and chief executive officer, added: “For more than two decades, PrestigePEO has remained dedicated to delivering immense value to our small and medium-sized business clients via our hands-on service approach. Our team members build strong connections with the brokers with whom we work and the clients we serve, along with our clients' employees. This longstanding personal bond results in ongoing referrals, which significantly contributes to our continued growth, and is among the key reasons for PrestigePEO earning this prestigious award from Business Intelligence Group.” "In the spirit of achievement and excellence, we congratulate PrestigePEO on their outstanding success in 2023. Their victory exemplifies the highest standards of innovation and business acumen,” said Maria Jimenez, chief nominations officer. “Kudos to all the winners who have demonstrated unparalleled excellence, collectively shaping the future of business. May this recognition inspire continued greatness in the years to come." About Business Intelligence Group The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, business executives—those with experience and knowledge—judge the programs. The organization’s proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers. About PrestigePEO Melville, N.Y.-based PrestigePEO provides integrated, end-to-end human resources (HR) solutions to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) for managing all essential human resources operations. This includes support for employee benefits management, payroll administration, compliance, and HR guidance, among others. PrestigePEO’s full spectrum of HR services and solutions helps SMBs lower employee benefit costs, reduce administrative workloads, and manage critical HR functions. PrestigePEO is among only one percent of PEOs accredited by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC), certified (CI) through Workers Comp Risk Management, and classified as a Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO) by the IRS – demonstrating financial stability and strict adherence with a diverse range of regulatory and security standards. To learn more, visit www.prestigepeo.com and follow PrestigePEO on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Contact Details PAIRELATIONS Susan Turkell +1 303-766-4343 sturkell@pairelations.com Company Website https://www.prestigepeo.com/

January 17, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Taking the Guesswork Out of Finding the Right Therapist with Two Chairs

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/_XF1w-pVxZs While more Americans are seeking therapy than ever before, many people are matched with the wrong therapist. Two Chairs, the leader in connecting patients to the right therapist, has developed a solution called Matchmaker, an industry-leading technology platform that expertly connects people with the right therapist based on their health history, personal background, and clinical needs. Research shows that a strong client-therapist relationship is the key to great therapy but finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming. Knowing where to start and what makes a great patient-therapist match saves time and increases the likelihood of success. Data shows that the majority of people attend just one therapy session before quitting: ● 1 in 5 patients quit therapy prematurely because they don’t trust their therapist. ● Data finds that a strong patient-therapist relationship is the single best predictor of therapy success. ● Recent research shows that an average 15-20 sessions are needed for 50% of patients to recover. When Two Chairs hires a new therapist, Matchmaker analyzes their strengths, experiences, and skill sets, zeroing in on clinical presentations, diagnoses, focus areas, and demographics. For example, a therapist highly skilled in treating panic disorders may be less adept at addressing postpartum depression. Conversely, a clinician who has limited experience in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy may demonstrate a high level of expertise in utilizing Dialectical Behavior Therapy. This meticulous process ensures that the precise therapist-patient pairing is fine-tuned to match an individual's needs. Two Chair’s Matchmaker process considers over 300 factors, including therapy types (such as dynamic, emotion-focused, cognitive-behavioral, etc.), clinical styles, specific disorder expertise (anxiety, mood, trauma, addiction, eating, personality, etc.), life stages, relationships, identity, and more. Additionally, therapists can stipulate therapeutic approaches they choose not to practice, serving as a safeguard for both patients and clinicians. This comprehensive analysis ensures a tailored and optimal match for individuals seeking therapy. Established with the goal of providing the highest quality outpatient mental health care system in the United States, Two Chairs boasts an impressive patient retention rate, with 90% of their patients continuing to a fourth session—significantly surpassing the national average of 33%. Key to their treatment success is one of the most rigorous and sophisticated clinician-patient matching processes on the market. Two Chairs’ newly launched Matchmaker features further empower clinicians to practice at the top of their license, allowing them to focus on cases they are most skilled in treating. On January 10th, a media tour was conducted featuring Colleen Marshall, Vice President of Clinical Care at Two Chairs and a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist, to discuss the new Matchmaker feature and the importance of measuring outcomes to ensure clients get better faster. With a growing team of 500 licensed clinicians across 90 areas of expertise, Two Chairs has more than 20 million covered lives. Topics that Colleen Marshall discussed during the media tour included: ● Why a strong client-therapist relationship is crucial for effective therapy. ● Why it’s important to prioritize your mental health and destigmatize getting help. ● Reasons why people quit therapy, emphasizing the importance of a good therapist match for a long-term relationship that will lead to better outcomes. ● Why Two Chairs' developed the Matchmaker feature, delving into how it works to improve therapist-patient connections. For more information, visit TwoChairs.com About Two Chairs Two Chairs was founded in 2017 with a mission to build a world where everyone has access to exceptional mental healthcare. We're creating a better experience for both patients and clinicians by starting with an in-depth, research-backed matching process to ensure the ideal patient-therapist fit, offering hybrid care that gives patients and clinicians flexibility between in-person and virtual sessions, and measuring outcomes to ensure patients get better faster. With a growing team of 50 licensed clinicians across 90 areas of expertise, Two Chairs has more than 20 million covered lives Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

January 16, 2024 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Quilbot Out, Excellence In: Best Alternative to Quilbot's Paraphrasing Tool

Spark Metro

When it comes to writing for school or work, having a good paraphrasing tool is super important. Students and professional writers often need a tool to help them rephrase work while keeping their writing clear and unique. Quilbot has been a go-to for many, but it turns out it is not so great at getting the job done. This tool doesn't give the required output at first, making it very time-consuming. Also, the subscription rates are not student-friendly at all! That's where our journey begins — exploring alternatives that not only beat Quilbot but also save time and money. We have discovered the top 2 paraphrasing tools that will get the job done at the most affordable rates. MyEssayWriter.ai PerfectEssayWriter.ai How to use them? Don’t worry! This descriptive guide is your answer to all of your paraphrasing woes! Stay tuned, and let's dig deeper into each tool! MyEssayWriter.ai's Paraphrasing Tool Unlike Quilbot, MyEssayWriter.ai's paraphrasing tool is designed with a focus on accuracy and speed. This tool stands out with its accuracy, speed, extensive support, and document-friendly features, offering a superior alternative to the limitations of Quilbot. Benefits of MyEsayWriter.ai’s Paraphrasing Tool This outstanding paraphrasing tool stands out through an enhanced user experience and thoughtful adaptability to user preferences. Let’s check out some of the benefits of this smart paraphraser. Enhanced User Experience: The tool transforms the user experience with its intuitive, seamless, and straightforward experience, designed for users of all proficiency levels. Precision in Rephrasing: One of the standout features is the tool's remarkable precision in rephrasing content. It carefully looks at the context, keeps the original intent, and makes it clearer and more organized. Preservation of Original Meaning: The tool places emphasis on preserving the original meaning of the text. Through advanced algorithms, it ensures that the rephrased content remains faithful to the author's intent. Adaptability to User Preferences: Recognizing the diverse needs of users, the tool offers a range of customizable settings. Users can tailor the level of paraphrasing based on their preferences. How it Works Let’s dig into the convenient and easiest working process of this tool: 1. Manual Content Input Whether it's a sentence, a paragraph, or an entire document, the user-friendly interface allows for manual and direct input. 2. Paste Text or Sample Text Another convenient option is the ability to paste existing text directly into the tool. Users can simply paste the content they want to paraphrase or else use sample text to test the efficiency of the tool. 3. Document and PDF Upload MyEssayWriter.ai's paraphrasing tool goes a step further by supporting document and PDF uploads. Now, users can also upload files directly into the tool. 4. Click “Paraphrase” Button Once the content is input or uploaded, start the paraphrasing process with a simple click on the "Paraphrase" button. We used this tool to check out its efficiency and definitely loved the results: Outstanding Features of this Paraphrasing Tool MyEssayWriter.ai's tool excels at preserving the context and tone of the original content. Here are some outstanding features offered by MyEssayWriter.ai: Contextual Brilliance: MyEssayWriter.ai's tool goes beyond simple rewording, ensuring that the essence and feeling of the original text are preserved with precision. Customizable Settings: Whether the users want a subtle rephrase or a more significant transformation, the tool adapts to their unique writing style and needs. Multilingual Support: This tool goes beyond language barriers, offering robust multilingual support for over 26 languages. Multiple Modes MyEssayWriter.ai also offers different modes of paraphrasing, making the experience unforgettable for you! If you, like us, also liked this tool, you can also explore multiple tools offered by this essay maker. PerfectEssayWriter.ai's Paraphrasing Tool In contrast to Quilbot, PerfectEssayWriter.ai's paraphrasing tool is designed with a focus on precision and efficiency. This tool surpasses Quilbot with accurate and swift paraphrasing, keeping the main idea of the original text intact. Benefits of PerfectEssayWriter’s Paraphrasing Tool This smart and advanced paraphraser is loved for its exceptional precision, ensuring a refined and clear paraphrasing of content. Precision Beyond Rephrasing: The tool excels not just in rephrasing but also in precision. Each word and sentence is thoroughly analyzed, maintaining coherence and clarity. Enhanced Coherence: The tool carefully structures the rephrased content, ensuring that ideas flow seamlessly, contributing to an improved and polished narrative. Clarity Amplification: The rephrased content is not only coherent but also crystal clear, making complex ideas more accessible. How it Works Let's delve into the seamless and user-friendly operational process of PerfectEssayWriter.ai's tool: 1. Manual Content Input Users enjoy the flexibility to manually input content, and paste functionality for text and sample text. It further supports document and PDF uploads, enhancing versatility and ease of use. 2. Paraphrase it Once content is input or uploaded, users can paraphrase the content with a simple click on the "Paraphrase" button. 3. Effortless Results The paraphrasing tool swiftly processes input, providing a well-crafted, paraphrased version that maintains the original meaning while presenting it in a unique way. Exceptional Features of PerfectEssayWriter.ai Paraphraser PerfectEssayWriter.ai's tool includes a vast set of paraphrasing features, including: Enhanced User Interface: Its intuitive and user-friendly interface simplifies navigation, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable paraphrasing experience. Contextual Brilliance: This tool shows precision in maintaining the context and tone of the original content, ensuring intent preservation. Customizable Settings: You can tailor the paraphrasing with user-controlled settings, allowing for a subtle rephrase or transformative modeling. Multilingual Proficiency: Get support for over 26 languages, breaking language barriers for seamless paraphrasing in diverse linguistic preferences. Various Writing Modes PerfectEssayWriter.ai has different ways of paraphrasing, making the experience memorable for you! PerfectEssayWriter.ai also offer the diverse range of tools other than paraphrasing too. Try out this AI essay writer! Final Thoughts As we wrap up, the transition from Quilbot to MyEssayWriter.ai and PerfectEssayWriter.ai marks a significant upgrade in your paraphrasing experience. These tools, each with their unique strengths and modes, promise precision, clarity, and a user-friendly approach. Say goodbye to limitations and embrace the future with MyEssayWriter.ai and PerfectEssayWriter.ai. It's no t just a change; it's a powerful transformation. Your writing deserves the best, and with these tools, you're on the path to excellence. Contact Details Skyscrapers LLC Alex +1 302-597-6768 info@skyscrapersllc.com Company Website https://skyscrapersllc.com/

January 16, 2024 07:12 AM Eastern Standard Time

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