Guide to Changing Hostnames on Windows Autopilot Devices
|

Guide to Changing Hostnames on Windows Autopilot Devices

More articles on Microsoft Intune | Windows Autopilot Managing device naming conventions is a critical aspect of IT administration, especially when deploying devices at scale through Windows Autopilot. Whether you’re looking to implement a standardized naming scheme or need to rename devices after deployment, this comprehensive guide covers all the methods available to IT administrators….

Understanding AI Inference: The Magic Behind AI Responses

Understanding AI Inference: The Magic Behind AI Responses

In our previous post, we explored how AI tokens form the building blocks of language models and influence the cost of AI applications. Now, let’s dive into the fascinating world of inference – the process where AI systems transform your input into meaningful outputs. What Is AI Inference? Think of AI inference as a master…

Traditional Windows Image Deployment Solutions in 2024
|

Traditional Windows Image Deployment Solutions in 2024

While modern device management practices are indisputably (see blog post: MDM/UEM Tools in 2024 and beyond) replacing the deployment of “fat” Windows images, many organizations still rely on this approach. “Fat” images that contain not only the operating systems, but also applications can cause an unnecessary proliferation of images that need to be maintained over…

Top Reasons for Businesses To Move from Windows 10 to Windows 11
|

Top Reasons for Businesses To Move from Windows 10 to Windows 11

The transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 offers organizations several compelling advantages that can lead to significant cost savings. Windows 11 introduces improved security features, better performance, a modern user interface, enhanced multitasking capabilities, and futureproofing through extended support and compatibility. These advancements can contribute to cost savings in various areas, including reduced risk…

ChatGPT is not an LLM

ChatGPT is not an LLM

This is something that I have heard many times over the last few months that needs a bit of explanation… ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) is an application of a Large Language Model (LLM). It is an AI-powered application that enables human-like conversations and other text-based tasks. ChatGPT and other bots like it (see below)…

Understanding AI Tokens: The Building Blocks of AI Applications

Understanding AI Tokens: The Building Blocks of AI Applications

AI tokens are fundamental units that AI systems use to process and generate text. Think of them as the currency in a digital conversation economy – every word has a cost, and understanding this currency helps explain why AI applications can become expensive to run. What Are AI Tokens? Tokens are small pieces of text…

How to measure AI Project Success

How to measure AI Project Success

The first step in measuring success is to establish clear and relevant metrics that align with the organization’s goals and objectives. These metrics can span various dimensions: Before implementing an AI solution, it is crucial to establish clear baselines for the relevant metrics/benchmarks. These baselines provide a reference point against which progress can be measured….

From Salesperson to Trusted Advisor: Navigating the Shift
|

From Salesperson to Trusted Advisor: Navigating the Shift

There is a lot of conversations about how Artificial Intelligence will be affecting many fields out there. The future has changed already ( Love that saying!) and we are all learning ways to adapt to it. Two trends of note: With so much change and transformation in the air, for those of us in the…

White Paper: Understanding AI in the Services Sales Role

White Paper: Understanding AI in the Services Sales Role

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries worldwide, enabling individuals and organizations to gain a competitive edge through enhanced efficiency, data-driven insights, and personalized experiences. As people and businesses navigate this AI-driven landscape, it’s crucial to understand the value proposition of AI services and effectively communicate their benefits to potential customers. Any services sales /…

Microsoft Copilot: Understanding Security Risks

Microsoft Copilot: Understanding Security Risks

There is a lot of misconceptions / questions about the security around the Microsoft Copilot products. understandably, it is usually one of the first question that comes-up when companies are considering Copilot use within their organizations. (the elephant in the room!) Let’s quickly put some misconceptions to bed right away: Per Microsoft Documentation: Understanding how…

groq is amazing!

groq is amazing!

groq is not a new LLM, but instead is a company that specializes on making LLMs responses more efficient (by a very large factor more effective) and the results are simply amazing! It does this via their LPU chip set. Groq is on a mission to set the standard for GenAI inference speed, helping real-time…

What Are Large Language Models (LLM)

What Are Large Language Models (LLM)

Large Language models are powerful algorithms designed to understand and generate human-like text. They learn from vast amounts of text data and can perform tasks such as text completion, translation, summarization, and more. LLMs are a type of AI system that uses deep learning on massive text datasets to recognize patterns and generate remarkably fluent,…

Exploring AI Chatbot Use Cases

Exploring AI Chatbot Use Cases

Chatbots are artificial intelligence (AI) programs designed to simulate human conversation. They can interact with users via text or voice, providing responses based on the input they receive. AI chatbots have solidified their place in various industries, transforming how businesses operate and interact with their customers. The versatility of AI chatbots makes them a valuable…

Hands rapidly typing on a laptop, illustrating speed and technology in a digital work environment.

Improve email delivery and spoofing: DMIK, SPF and DMARC

Ever had a lead go cold because they thought your email was spam? Or worse, had a customer almost fall for a phishing scam that looked like it came from your company? Email spoofing and phishing attacks pose a significant threat to businesses and individuals alike. To combat these threats and ensure legitimate emails reach…

Microsoft Defender XDR Licensing
|

Microsoft Defender XDR Licensing

There is confusion about the licensing requirement associated with Microsoft Defender XDR The following is a collection of related items placed in the order to make licensing requirement clear to the reader. Microsoft Defender XDR (formerly Microsoft 365 Defender) Source <https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/siem-and-xdr/microsoft-defender-xdr> Microsoft Defender XDR is a unified pre- and post-breach enterprise defense suite that natively…

Linux – Unix – Ubuntu Differences
|

Linux – Unix – Ubuntu Differences

Unix and Linux are foundational operating systems that have significantly shaped modern computing, including desktop environments. Unix, developed in the 1960s, is a multi-user, multitasking operating system renowned for its simplicity, flexibility, and robust design. It was originally created for mainframes and servers but has influenced many contemporary systems. Linux, on the other hand, is a Unix-like,…

ServiceNow What Is It and Why You Should Use it
|

ServiceNow What Is It and Why You Should Use it

This is a follow-up to the blog post I wrote back in 2023: ServiceNow and Its Growing Significance What Is ServiceNow? ServiceNow (commonly referred as SNOW) is a powerful cloud-based platform that offers a wide range of services and solutions to streamline and automate various business processes. It is primarily known for its robust IT…

Alternatives to Google Chrome Remote Desktop

Alternatives to Google Chrome Remote Desktop

The following is a list of Alternative options for Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop Alternative Description Pricing AeroAdmin Simple and free remote desktop tool. Free AnyDesk Known for speed and lightweight design, suitable for remote desktop access on various platforms. Free for personal use. Price start at: $14.95/month Apache Guacamole Clientless, open-source option for remote access…

Copilot Studio – Create your own Copilot with No Code

Copilot Studio – Create your own Copilot with No Code

Microsoft Copilot Studio is a robust platform that allows you to customize and extend Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365. With a low-code approach, you can create and publish plugins directly to Copilot, tailoring them to your specific needs. The comprehensive authoring canvas within Copilot Studio empowers you to design, test, and deploy conversational AI solutions. Explore this innovative platform…

Expansive shelves filled with books in a Dubai library, showcasing an organized collection.

Optimizing WordPress Post Listing for RAG Systems

Optimizing WordPress Post Listing for RAG Systems: Essential Strategies and WordPress Plugins In the era of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and generative AI, effective content organization on WordPress sites has become more crucial than ever. This article explores the importance of post listing in RAG systems and introduces several popular WordPress plugins designed to enhance content…

Microsoft Stream January 2024 – Updates Changes
|

Microsoft Stream January 2024 – Updates Changes

Very interesting changes coming to Microsoft Stream platform…  Microsoft Stream Classic will retire on February 15, 2024 My FAVORITE:   Virtual teleprompter The teleprompter feature is a new addition to Microsoft Stream that allows you to add a scrolling script to your screen recording or video. This can be helpful if you need to read…

Terms of Service:  ZenBusiness

Terms of Service: ZenBusiness

ZENBUSINESS, INC.TERMS OF USE Curious about what you’re agreeing to? Everything you need to know is below, but if you have a question, let us know. Last updated on January 17, 2024 ZenBusiness, Inc. (“ZenBusiness”) provides software as a service and payments processing services (collectively known either as “ZenBusiness Money” or “Payment Services”) through its…

The Rising Cost of WordPress Plugins: A Call for Transparency
|

The Rising Cost of WordPress Plugins: A Call for Transparency

The WordPress ecosystem is facing a significant challenge that affects both website owners and developers alike: the escalating costs and complexity of plugin subscriptions. As someone who has navigated this landscape, I can personally attest to the frustration of seeing my initial investment in essential plugins skyrocket after just one year. For instance, a popular…

Build Specialized ChatGPT apps using ChatGPT
|

Build Specialized ChatGPT apps using ChatGPT

This past week the first OpenAI Dev Days happened, and it was, groundbreaking at many levels. From the number of monthly users, developers using their APIs, GPT-4 turbo, ChatGPT store, lower pricing and many others. I will link below several articles for details. The one that caught my eye the most – mostly because it…

Terms of Use Stripe

Terms of Use Stripe

Stripe User Terms Update: Additional Information for Express Connected Accounts On August 22, 2022, we updated our US Connected Account Agreement, incorporating our US Stripe Services Agreement and related terms, which apply to the use of specific Stripe products. More information on these updates, including a summary of the most notable changes, is outlined below….

SureCART – A Simple Friendly eCommerce Cart Alternative
|

SureCART – A Simple Friendly eCommerce Cart Alternative

Recently one of my customers had his Etsy store suspended (it’s been going around) and he asked me to create a store in his existing WordPress site. I used SureCart free version, which I have been testing on my own site, and had 10 of his items fully enabled within 30 minutes, after receiving their…

MICROSOFT B2B CONNECT

MICROSOFT B2B CONNECT

Microsoft Terms of UseIn order to access Microsoft resource(s), you must read the Terms of Use. Microsoft B2B Guest Terms of Use MICROSOFT B2B CONNECT These terms are an agreement between you and Microsoft Corporation. IF YOU COMPLY WITH THESE TERMS, YOU HAVE THE RIGHTS BELOW. BY USING THIS PRODUCT, YOU ACCEPT THESE TERMS. IF…

Making Sense of Microsoft’s Copilot brand

Making Sense of Microsoft’s Copilot brand

It seems like Microsoft has named “everything” that has to do with Artificial Intelligence fall into the Copilot brand. Copilot is an AI feature that allows you describe what you need in plain English. Please refer to the updated Update Blog post: Microsoft Copilot Evolution – November 2024. Also you can see all Copilot related topics…

OneDrive v3.0
|

OneDrive v3.0

Last week Microsoft announced OneDrive 3.0 Lots of excellent updated to an already great product. they are calling it The Future of File Management and it includes AI capabilities! ( OneDrive with Copilot ) to help quickly search, organize and extract information from your files.  Although not every featured mentioned is there, some are already…

The difference between LLM and a Foundational Model

The difference between LLM and a Foundational Model

A Large Language Model (LLM) and a Foundational model are related but distinct concepts in the field of natural language processing. The main difference lies in their specialization and use cases. A foundational model is a general-purpose language model, while an LLM is a language model fine-tuned for specific conversational applications. The LLC builds upon…

New Microsoft Teams version GA: Much faster and uses 50% less memory
|

New Microsoft Teams version GA: Much faster and uses 50% less memory

New Microsoft Teams version GA: Much faster and uses 50% less memory ! Much faster, and it uses 50% less memory! Announcing general availability of the new Microsoft Teams app for Windows and Mac – Microsoft Community Hub Switch to the new Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Support A great video on this topic published by:…

Checking for Windows 11 device compatibility across the fleet
|

Checking for Windows 11 device compatibility across the fleet

Now that we are less than 25 months away from the end of Windows 10, and the 3rd release of Windows 11 (23H2) is starting to roll out this week, many organizations are starting to plan their Windows 11 rollouts. Windows 10 Home / ProOctober 14, 2025 Windows 10 Enterprise & educationOctober 14, 2025 Windows…

Top 100 WordPress Plugins – September 2023
|

Top 100 WordPress Plugins – September 2023

The WordPress plugin directory is the most authoritative source of information about WordPress plugins. It is maintained by the WordPress team, and it is the place where users can go to find and install plugins for their WordPress sites. This directory contains over 60,000 plugins, and each plugin’s page includes the number of active installations….

ServiceNow and Its Growing Significance
|

ServiceNow and Its Growing Significance

For other ServiceNow posts here The ServiceNow platform has long held a prominent position in the IT service management domain, often associated with terms like “ticketing tool” or “support tool.” However, a significant shift occurred several years ago when ServiceNow recognized the potential to extend its platform beyond IT service management, adapting it for diverse…

Alternatives to ChatGPT

Alternatives to ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a language model developed by OpenAI that allows you to have human-like conversations with a chatbot. you can access the web-based app chatbot visiting chat.openai.com and creating an OpenAI account. The website is powered by a large language model called Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT). GPT is powered by a deep neural network (DNN)…

Understanding AI: What is RAG?

Understanding AI: What is RAG?

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is an innovative AI framework designed to enhance the performance of large language models (LLMs) by integrating external information into their generative processes. This approach addresses several limitations inherent in traditional LLMs, such as outdated knowledge and inaccuracies in generated responses. Overview of RAG RAG combines the generative capabilities of LLMs with…

Off-Road Tales: 20230708-MundsPark-to-Sedona (First Flat Tire!)

Off-Road Tales: 20230708-MundsPark-to-Sedona (First Flat Tire!)

Ride: Hellgate Wilderness Trail and Hieroglyphic Mountain Loop The Route Equipment: See: photos of the day below I have been puzzled by the road from Munds Park to Sedona downtown. The first 8 miles are pretty easy and staight forward. Just a dirt road. Lots of regular cards get to see the views from the…

List of AI Tools

List of AI Tools

Disclaimer: There is absolutely no way anyone can keep up with the new daily releases (and closures) of AI tools and experiments – This is a list as of a certain point in time, and plan to update from time to time. It is by no means complete or fully accurate. It is placed here…

ChatGPT vs. LLMs: Unveiling the Differences

ChatGPT vs. LLMs: Unveiling the Differences

Written by Microsoft Copilot 1. Transformer Architecture Both ChatGPT and LLMs share a common foundation: the transformer architecture. This powerful neural network structure has revolutionized natural language processing tasks. Its attention mechanisms allow for context-aware understanding, making it ideal for language modeling12. 2. Emergent Properties As LLMs grow in size (often surpassing 50 to 100…

Top WordPress LMS Plugins

Top WordPress LMS Plugins

An LMS (Learning Management System) is a software application designed for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, automation, and delivery of educational courses, training programs, materials, or learning and development programs. Generally speaking, the purpose of an LMS is to serves as a centralized platform for managing various aspects of the learning process for your audience….

Microsoft Intune Suite
|

Microsoft Intune Suite

On March 1, 2023 Microsoft announced Microsoft Intune Suite which consolidates its endpoint management and security solutions to streamline protection for cloud-connected and on-premises endpoints.  It includes: The new Intune Suite can be added all Microsoft Intune subscribers (including Microsoft 365 E3 and E5) which already include core Intune (now called Intune Plan 1) for an additional…

Reminder: Exchange 2013 End of Support
|

Reminder: Exchange 2013 End of Support

Exchange Server 2013 will reach its end of support on April 11, 2023.  Although Exchange 2013 installations will continue to work, it is hightly recommended for you to migrate to  to Microsoft 365, Office 365 , or, if you must, Exchange 2019 as Microsoft will no longer provide: Microsoft has listed a particular requirement regarding Active…