Overview Welcome to CIO Leadership Live Middle East, where today we are thrilled to have an insightful conversation with one of the region’s most prominent leaders in the world of technology. Joining us is Syed F. Albeez, the Head of Information Technology at Emaar, overseeing technology innovations within the prestigious Economic City. With years of experience at the forefront of IT leadership, Syed plays a crucial role in driving the digital transformation that is reshaping the future of smart cities and urban development. In this interview, we’ll explore his journey, leadership approach, and the pivotal role of technology in shaping the future of the Middle East. Let’s dive into this exciting conversation! Register Now source

By Katryna Perera ( February 14, 2025, 10:15 PM EST) — A New Jersey federal judge has dismissed, with leave to amend, claims in an investor suit against a blank check company that took digital health equipment venture Butterfly Network Inc. public, finding that some of the shares the plaintiffs purchased are not traceable to the registration statement at issue in the suit…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source

British startup Earthwave and a group of European scientists have used satellite data to map out glacial melt across the globe — and the results are alarming. The team discovered that the European Alps’ glaciers have shrunk the most of all — 39% in just over two decades, compared to a global average of 5%. Earthwave co-founder Livia Jakob said the project was invaluable to our understanding of glacier ice loss.  “We developed an algorithm to combine all the different datasets into one common estimate of glacier mass balance, giving us a new and improved picture of glacier behaviour in the past two decades,” Jakob told TNW via email. Across the world, glaciers have lost an average of 273 billion tonnes of ice per year since 2000, according to the research, which was published in Nature today. That’s equivalent to the entire global population’s drinking water consumption for 30 years. TNW Conference FLASH SALE is LIVE Meet investors from Sequoia, Walden Catalyst Ventures, and more. Take advantage of our 50% our Startup, Scaleup and Investor Programs. Ends 21 February. And the situation is snowballing. The rate of ice loss increased from 231 billion tonnes per year (2000–2011) to 314 billion tonnes per year (2012–2023) and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.  The Alps worst hit Temperatures in Europe’s highest mountain range are rising twice as fast as the global average. Swiss glaciers lost 6% of their total volume in 2022 alone, following intense summer heatwaves.  Dust from the Sahara could also be to blame for the rapid decline of central Europe’s glaciers. Particles in the air come from the Sahara desert and settle on glacier surfaces, darkening the ice. This causes them to absorb more solar radiation and melt faster. But ultimately, human-induced climate change is the greatest culprit. If greenhouse gas emissions keep increasing, scientists predict the Alps could lose over 90% of their glacier mass by 2100. Glacial retreat spells trouble for millions who rely on glacial melt for drinking water, agriculture, and hydropower — while coastal communities brace for the rising tides. Over the study period, glaciers contributed 18mm to global sea-level rise. The research was conducted as part of the Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise, or Glambie for short. The project is a major research initiative coordinated by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) hosted at the University of Zurich, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and Earthwave.  Jakob co-founded Earthwave in 2018. The startup uses satellite remote sensing to monitor the effects of climate change or help other scientists unlock valuable insights from satellite data.  Eyes over glaciers While many have experienced glacial decline first-hand, tracking it planet-wide is a bit more challenging. That’s where satellites can help.   Numerous satellites monitor Earth’s ice thickness from orbit. They use optical, radar, laser, and gravimetry instruments to provide data on glacier loss, sea ice changes, and rising sea levels.   The Glambie study used this information to compile one of the most comprehensive overviews of glacier retreat ever conducted.   The study included data from satellites including the USA’s Terra/ASTER and ICESat-2, the US–German GRACE, the German TanDEM-X, and the European Space Agency’s CryoSat.   As global temperatures continue to rise, studies like these deepen our understanding of how glacial melt impacts freshwater supplies, ecosystems, and sea-level rise — and what must be done to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. source

A chatbot dispensing weight loss advice to people with eating disorders? Ranking resumes based solely on what race and ethnicities the names on them are associated with? These are just two real-life examples of the harmful results of failing to apply responsible design when creating generative AI (genAI)-powered experiences. In contrast, when designed well, genAI-powered experiences can do immense good — for example, Be My AI, which enables people who are blind or of low vision to get immediate visual assistance by taking a picture of an object and getting an AI-generated description of it. The decisions that teams make when designing experiences that include genAI can steer outcomes one way or the other. Answer Essential Questions To Design Better With GenAI Design leaders should guide their organization through the process of answering 12 key questions as they explore opportunities, plan experiences, and evolve their practices and teams. For example, ask: Which of our ideas are good use cases for genAI? Just because you can use genAI doesn’t mean that you should. Conduct experience research using discovery methods such as contextual inquiry that are particularly effective for identifying unmet customer needs or problems for which AI can solve. Evaluate the impact of ideas, not just their desirability, viability, and feasibility. Facilitate a session to arrive at an understanding of the impact that AI might have on individuals, communities, and society — both how it might help but also any potential harms to mitigate. Are we applying established genAI design patterns in the user interface? While genAI design patterns are evolving, best practices have emerged. For example, learn from Salesforce’s “Human at the Helm” research on what aspects of an experience build trust in AI and the corresponding interaction design patterns. Start with published patterns like these, but tailor them to your specific brand, design, and content standards. Do all of our designers need to become genAI experts? Every designer should have a basic understanding of how AI works so that they can 1) use it well as a tool for designing experiences and 2) incorporate it as an ingredient in the experiences they design. But organizations also benefit from having designers with deep genAI expertise to help upskill team members, operationalize best practices for working with genAI, and collaborate with developers on technical issues that impact the user experience. Next Steps If you’re a Forrester client, read my new report, Design GenAI-Powered Experiences Responsibly, to learn about the rest of the 12 questions that teams should ask when creating genAI-powered experiences. Then, if you’d like to ask me questions or discuss how to apply this research in your organization, you can set up a conversation with me. You can also follow or connect with me on LinkedIn if you’d like. source

Running payroll can be a tedious, time-consuming task if you’re still doing it by hand. Fortunately, payroll software can speed up the process to let HR teams and small business owners focus on the people aspects of human resources. Instead of entering payroll data manually, many business owners use cloud-based software that automates every aspect of payroll, from paying employees via direct deposit to remitting payroll taxes to the IRS. Find out how payroll software works, what key features to look for, and whether payroll software is right for you in our guide below. 1 Paycor Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees) Micro, Small, Medium Features API, Check Printing, Document Management / Sharing, and more 2 Deel Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features 24/7 Customer Support, API, Document Management / Sharing, and more 3 Rippling Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features API, Check Printing, Document Management / Sharing, and more What is payroll software? Payroll software helps you manage, run, and automate payroll. It automatically calculates paycheck amounts for your salaried and hourly employees, including gross pay, deductions (like healthcare premiums and payroll taxes), and net pay. Payroll software solutions can be cloud-based or desktop-based, though the former are more common for small and midsize businesses. It can be standalone software that integrates with your business software systems like accounting or HR programs. Alternatively, they can be part of a wider human capital management system or an all-in-one payroll and HR software platform that lets you manage every aspect of the employee life cycle from one platform. Self-service payroll software Self-service payroll software calculates paycheck amounts and deductions. While it typically pays your employees via direct deposit or other methods, it does not remit payroll taxes to the IRS or other tax agencies on your behalf. Instead, it calculates how much to deduct, draws up pre-filled tax forms, and reminds you about quarterly tax-filing deadlines, leaving the final submission up to you. Full-service payroll software Full-service payroll software includes comprehensive tax administration. It calculates payroll taxes based on the employee information you input, and the software will then automatically deduct tax payments from your employees’ paychecks and remit those taxes to the appropriate tax bureau on a quarterly basis. More payroll coverage What are the key features of payroll software? Key features of payroll software include payroll processing, payroll tax administration, time tracking, direct deposit, employee self-service (often through a mobile payroll app), payroll compliance tools, and reporting. However, the exact features can vary by provider. The following features are fairly typical of most payroll software systems, though it’s worth noting that the more features your payroll software has, the more expensive it’s likely to be. Time and attendance tracking If you have hourly employees, you need a reliable way to track their work hours and correctly compensate them for their time and labor each pay period. Most payroll software either syncs with third-party time and attendance software or includes a built-in time tracker. This makes paying hourly employees straightforward, helping you save time and reduce errors. Payroll tax administration Full-service payroll software calculates, deducts, and remits each of your employee’s income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes to the appropriate tax agency. Most payroll software handles federal and state tax administration, while some also manage local payroll tax for an additional fee. As an employer, you are required to match your employees’ Social Security and Medicare tax contributions (collectively called FICA taxes). You must also pay a federal unemployment tax (or FUTA tax) based on your number of employees. At the very least, your payroll software should generate financial reports showing your tax liabilities based on employee- contributions. However, the best payroll software automatically deducts employer FICA and FUTA tax payments from your company’s bank account to remit to the federal government along with your employees’ payroll taxes. Additionally, the best full-service payroll software companies, such as our top overall payroll pick, Gusto, will generate and file end-of-year tax forms for you and your employees, including Form W-2 and Form 1099. However, some providers charge a fee for end-of-year tax form preparation. Most payroll software tools also charge you an extra fee if you want to print and mail hard copies of tax forms to your employees and contractors. Direct deposit Most payroll software, including self-service software, calculates employee paychecks and then automatically pays your employees via direct deposit. Some payroll software offers direct deposit only, but paper checks, prepaid debit cards, app-based payments (for instance, Venmo or Square’s Cash App), and other on-demand pay options are all common alternatives to direct deposit. Employee benefits administration Some employee benefits are deducted directly from employees’ paychecks, including employee contributions to employer-sponsored healthcare plans. If you offer benefits like health insurance and retirement plans, find payroll software that deducts benefits contributions from your employees’ paychecks and automatically distributes those funds to the appropriate parties. Employee self-service portals Most payroll software should include an employee-facing platform where your employees can view pay stubs and tax information. The most fleshed-out employee self-service portals include features that let your employees upload tax documents, choose benefits, request time off, and clock in or out. Payroll reports Payroll reports provide you with an overview of key payroll-related financial data, such as payroll tax contributions and workers’ compensation premiums. At a minimum, your payroll software should generate these reports. The best payroll software either integrates with popular accounting software options or includes a general ledger report to help you seamlessly sync payroll data with your financial systems. Compliance audits Strict rules and regulations govern workplace employment and employee pay. Penalties for issues like miscategorizing employees as contractors or failing to pay the employer portion of FICA taxes can be severe. You can catch these clerical errors and make crucial payroll updates by performing regular

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More Microsoft researchers have achieved what many in artificial intelligence considered a distant goal: teaching AI to understand and interact with three-dimensional spaces the way humans do. The breakthrough comes in the form of Muse, an AI model that can comprehend and generate complex gameplay sequences while maintaining consistent physics and character behaviors. The model, detailed in a paper published in Nature, learned entirely from observing human gameplay data — over seven years’ worth — from the Xbox game Bleeding Edge. Unlike traditional AI models that work with text or static images, Muse develops what researchers call a “practical understanding” of how objects, characters and environments interact in three-dimensional space over time. Three key capabilities of Microsoft’s Muse AI system: consistency in physics, diversity in outcomes and persistence of user modifications. (Credit: Microsoft) How Microsoft’s Muse AI sees, learns and plays like a human “The model architecture is agnostic to the game; the only requirement is access to an appropriate dataset,” said Katja Hofmann, senior principal research manager at Microsoft Research, in an exclusive interview with VentureBeat. “We designed the model to use the most general data format, which we call the ‘human interface’ of visuals and controller actions.” This approach allows Muse to generate consistent gameplay sequences lasting up to two minutes — a significant technical achievement in maintaining coherent 3D world interactions over extended periods. The system can take just one second of game visuals as input and generate complex scenarios that respect game physics and character behaviors. However, limitations exist. “Image resolution is fixed to 300×180 pixels,” Hofmann told VentureBeat. “There is a trade-off between model size and speed, meaning that our largest and most consistent models are also slowest at inference time.” Beyond gaming: how Muse could shape architecture, retail and manufacturing The development of Muse was shaped by extensive input from game creators. Microsoft researchers interviewed 27 game developers globally, including studios from both developed and developing nations, to ensure the technology would serve real creative needs. Beyond gaming, Microsoft sees broader applications for the technology. Peter Lee, president of Microsoft Research, highlighted in a blog post potential uses in architecture, retail and manufacturing: “From reconfiguring the kitchen in your home to redesigning a retail space to building a digital twin of a factory floor to test and explore different scenarios. All these things are just now becoming possible with AI.” “The main limitation for applications beyond gaming is access to high-quality data,” Hofmann told VentureBeat. “Gaming is an excellent application area for driving advances, because large amounts of high-quality data can typically be collected more easily than in other 3D environments.” Preserving gaming history and empowering future creators For the gaming industry specifically, Xbox is exploring how this technology could help preserve classic games. “Thanks to this breakthrough, we are exploring the potential for Muse to take older back catalog games from our studios and optimize them for any device,” said Fatima Kardar, corporate vice president of gaming AI at Microsoft, in a blog post. The model achieves three key technical innovations: maintaining coherent physics and game mechanics over extended sequences; generating multiple varied but plausible continuations from the same starting point; and allowing users to modify generated content while maintaining those changes consistently. “I am personally fascinated by Muse’s ability to learn a detailed understanding of a complex 3D environment purely from observing human gameplay data,” Hofmann said. “Our research demonstrates an exciting step towards novel interactive experiences crafted by creatives that are hyper-personalized to and by their players.” Microsoft is releasing the model weights and a demonstrator tool to researchers and creatives under a Microsoft Research License, though this is not yet an enterprise customer offering. This release aims to encourage further research and exploration of the technology’s capabilities. The development signals a broader shift in AI capabilities: from understanding static content like text and images to comprehending dynamic 3D environments and human interactions. This could have far-reaching implications for how we design and interact with virtual spaces across industries. As Microsoft moves to productize this research, it emphasizes that human creativity remains central. The technology is positioned as an assistive tool rather than a replacement for human game designers, aiming to augment rather than automate the creative process. source

Overview Paulo Martin Santos – Chief Network Transformation Officer at Converge ICT Solutions – shares how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming their networks and allowing their employees to focus on more strategic work, how their investment in data centres is accelerating innovation in the Philippines, and more. Register Now source

By Theresa Schliep ( February 14, 2025, 10:38 PM EST) — Three tech companies are taking issue at the Federal Circuit with jury instructions in a Texas case that implicate the U.S. Supreme Court’s Alice decision, telling the Federal Circuit that the instructions “lower the standard for patent eligibility.”… Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source

LastPass is a popular choice for managing passwords and sensitive information for individuals and businesses. However, its recent security breaches have raised concerns. While the tool still enjoys global patronage, it’s not a bad idea to consider other password managers that can serve as worthy alternatives to LastPass. Here, we look at the top LastPass alternatives and competitors for 2025. NordPass Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees), Enterprise (5,000+ Employees) Micro, Small, Medium, Large, Enterprise Features Activity Log, Business Admin Panel for user management, Company-wide settings, and more Dashlane Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees), Enterprise (5,000+ Employees) Micro, Small, Medium, Large, Enterprise Features Automated Provisioning ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features Access Management, Compliance Management, Credential Management, and more Star rating Encryption Two-factor authentication Cross-platform support Password autofill Starting price 1Password 4.3 out of 5 stars AES-256-bit Yes Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Yes $2.99/month Keeper 4.4 out of 5 stars AES-256-bit Yes Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Yes $2/month Dashlane 4.6 out of 5 stars PBKDF2 Yes Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Yes $4.99/month Bitwarden 4.6 out of 5 stars AES-CBC 256-bit and PBKDF2 SHA-256 Yes Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Yes $1/month NordPass 4.6 out of 5 stars XChaCha20 Yes Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web Vault Yes $1.69/month ManageEngine Password Manager Pro 3.7 out of 5 stars AES-256-bit Yes Windows, macOS, Linux Yes Contact vendor for a quote 1Password: Best overall LastPass alternative Image: 1Password 1Password caters to personal, business, enterprise, and developer use cases. It is popular for its unique features and well-rounded security. For instance, it generates a 34-character secret key locally on a user’s device, which is added to the user’s account passwords to enhance authentication and encryption. It secures its users’ data in transit using the Secure Remote Password handshake protocol without sending the data over the internet. It is worth mentioning that 1Password has undergone 26 security audits on its security and features as of January 2025, showing its commitment to regular security checks. For added security against onlookers and browser-based threats, 1Password reveals or fills data only when prompted by the user. There is also a Watchtower feature that allows users to monitor their password health and alerts them when there is any security incident on their account. Why I chose 1Password I identified 1Password’s dedication to user privacy and security, as seen with its Fastmail and privacy integration for creating masked emails and its SRP (offline) features. I also chose it as my best overall, as it provides a strong balance between ease of use and high-level security — two features I know former LastPass users will appreciate. Pricing 1Password comes in five payment plans, with annual and monthly options for each. Below is a summary of its annual pricing: Individual: $2.99/month (billed annually). Families: $4.99/month for five family members (billed annually). Teams Starter Pack: $19.95/month for 10 team members. Business: $7.99/month (billed annually). Depending on the organization’s size, a custom quote can be requested. Enterprise: Quote available on request. Note: All plans except for Enterprise have a 14-day trial period. Features Travel mode feature. Fastmail and privacy integration for email masking. Phishing protection. Secrets Automation. Clipboard management. 1Password Watchtower. Image: 1Password 1Password pros and cons Pros Cons SRP handshake protocol. No free version. Works only on verified websites. No dedicated customer support for its Business plan. 14-day free trial. Watchtower security and breach alerts. Great mobile application. If you want to learn more, read our full 1Password review. Keeper: Best for large businesses Image: Keeper Keeper is a cloud-based password manager with features appealing to both small and enterprise-level businesses. It comes with three major blocks of features: Enterprise password management for passwords and metadata protection. Secrets management for securing CI/CD pipelines and other critical infrastructure. Connection management for secure access (without VPN) to your infrastructure. Keeper is equipped with AES-256-bit encryption and features a zero-trust and zero-knowledge architecture, all contributing to the safety and privacy of personal and business information. Its secure storage capabilities and multiple encrypted vault entries, especially in the business options, make it ideal for password security and safeguarding large credentials and critical systems. Keeper recently introduced a passwordless authentication system, offering a better alternative to remembering one’s master password (or forgetting the master password and losing one’s account/vault entirely). With passwordless authentication, biometrics or face recognition can access a password vault. Why I chose Keeper Keeper made it to my list because of its advanced security and customizable vault that stores passwords and safeguards sensitive personal and business data against cybercriminals. Pricing Keeper has two subscription tiers: Personal and Business. Below are the plan options you have for each. Personal and family plan Personal: $2.92/month and $34.99 billed annually. Family: $6.25/month and $74.99 billed annually for five users. Business plan Business Starter: $2/month per user, with 10 users max (billed annually at $24). Business: $3.75/month per user (billed annually at $45), ideal for small to medium-sized businesses. Enterprise: Contact Keeper for pricing. There is a 14-day free trial for the Business and Enterprise plans and a 30-day free trial for the Personal and Family plans. Students may be eligible to receive a 50% discount. Features Multi-factor authentication. Customizable vaults for its users. Connection management. Zero-trust and zero-knowledge policy. Secrets management. Keeper vault. Image: Keeper Keeper pros and cons Pros Cons Free family plan for all Keeper Business users. Autofill feature can be inconsistent. Cross-platform compatibility across multiple devices and all browsers. Non-technical users may find the user interface less intuitive. Advanced reporting and alerts. Secrets manager capability. If you want to learn more, read our full Keeper review. Dashlane: Best for multi-platform integration and secure sharing Image:

In parallel, building the organizational constructs around data quality also requires addressing data governance in parallel and supporting roles for data custodians, stewards and a centralized or federated data governance model to support credible and consistent enterprise data catalogs and products. With an enterprise data platform in place that supports a business-ready zone for consumption as well as appropriate governance, a critical machine learning readiness step is also in place. This can address data anomalies, cleansing and data lineage validation with a deeper level of sophistication in terms of algorithms and training-ready models.  By focusing on building the right data platform with the right OEM channel partners, enterprises can not only position their foundational investment in data for success but extend capabilities on the same platform to include best-of-breed, native machine learning features. Enterprises that elect to implement on the Snowflake data cloud, for example, might pursue native machine learning platform options to leverage the strength of the investment they have as opposed to the ones they don’t. Open-source implementations for machine learning invite obvious and hidden costs if your organization is not prepared to manage them.  Assuming the data platform roadmap aligns with required technical capabilities, this may help address downstream issues related to organic competencies versus bigger investments in acquiring competencies. The same would be true for a host of other similar cloud data platforms (Databricks, Azure Data Factory, AWS Redshift). In all cases, the foundational data platform roadmap matters in terms of near-term gains and long-term vision.  source