Core Insights - Infosys has launched the Infosys Customer Experience Suite for Salesforce, enhancing its collaboration with Salesforce to support enterprises in their digital transformation initiatives [1][4] - The suite leverages Infosys Topaz and Salesforce's agentic AI capabilities to automate customer interactions, streamline processes, and enhance personalization [2][4] - The solutions aim to drive measurable efficiencies across sales, services, and marketing channels, ensuring operational success for enterprises [2][4] Company Developments - Infosys deployed Agentforce SDR to improve the sales process for a leading research institute, significantly reducing response times and addressing inefficiencies [3] - A renowned media house transformed its customer service operations using Salesforce's agentic AI solutions, resulting in reduced transactional inquiries and improved customer satisfaction scores [3] - The collaboration with Fluido, an Infosys company, has been pivotal in driving Salesforce-powered transformations for clients, including VTT, a leading research organization in Europe [4][5] Technology and Innovation - The Agentforce platform represents a new evolution in AI services, utilizing generative AI and agentic AI capabilities to enhance enterprise and customer operations [4] - Infosys emphasizes the integration of cutting-edge technology and a deep understanding of client needs to foster sustainable growth and productivity in an AI-driven environment [4][5] - The solutions are designed to ensure compliance with ethical and regulatory standards while supporting real-time decision-making and dynamic customer interactions [2][4]

Core Insights - Alleanza Assicurazioni and Banca Generali have formed a partnership to enhance their offerings through 'insurbanking' solutions, combining Alleanza's distribution network with Banca Generali's expertise in private banking and investment [1][2] Group 1: Partnership Objectives - The alliance aims to grow Alleanza's market presence and diversify its income sources while Banca Generali seeks to access new growth opportunities in the affluent customer segment by leveraging Alleanza's distribution network and its 1.9 million clients [2] - The integration of IT systems between the two entities will incorporate generative AI to improve client onboarding and strengthen customer relationships [2] Group 2: Product Offerings - The insurbanking solution includes the Conto Unico banking product, which replicates Banca Generali's current account services, and the new Stile Unico insurance policy [3] - The Stile Unico policy provides six investment options tailored for different client profiles, combining Alleanza's Euro San Giorgio segregated fund with various investment funds, and offers access to 120 Undertakings for Collective Investments and three internal funds managed by Banca Generali [4] Group 3: Implementation Timeline - The phased introduction of the Conto Unico account and related banking services will begin with a pilot test, followed by business simulations until the first half of 2026, before a gradual rollout across the entire network [5]

This story was originally published on CIO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CIO Dive newsletter. As the financial sector harnesses generative AI’s capacity to speed and simplify processes, Bank of America has leaned on sustained research and technology investments to rapidly scale multiple use cases. The firm unveiled a generative AI-powered knowledge management assistant called AskGPS for its Global Payments Solutions division last week. In-house engineers fed the mo ...

Core Insights - Elastic NV's stock surged by 8% in after-hours trading following significant announcements, rising to $88.07 from $81.55 [1] Group 1: Acquisition of Jina AI - Elastic has completed the acquisition of Jina AI, a company specializing in open-source tools for handling diverse data types and languages [2] - This acquisition enhances Elastic's capabilities in vector search, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and context engineering for agentic AI, incorporating dense vector models for text and image processing [3] - The former CEO of Jina AI, Han Xiao, has joined Elastic as vice-president of AI, emphasizing the importance of search in generative AI [4] Group 2: Introduction of GPU-Accelerated Inference Service - Elastic launched the Elastic Inference Service (EIS), utilizing NVIDIA GPUs to achieve up to 10x faster data processing compared to CPU-based options [5] - The EIS offers an API-based inference service and features consumption-based pricing per million tokens, available on Serverless and Elastic Cloud Hosted deployments [6] Group 3: Stock Buyback Program - The board of Elastic has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $500 million with no expiration date, reflecting management's confidence in the company's business strength [7] - Over the past year, Elastic's stock has increased by 2.10%, although it has decreased by 17.69% in 2025, with a market capitalization of $8.67 billion [7]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The semiconductor industry in Greater China has been upgraded to an "Attractive" view for the second half of 2025, with a strong preference for AI-related semiconductors over non-AI counterparts [1][3] - The concerns regarding tariffs on semiconductors and foreign exchange impacts are now behind, leading to expectations of further re-rating for the sector [1][3] Core Investment Themes - Key investment themes for 2026 are being previewed, emphasizing the ongoing strength of AI semiconductors [1][3] - The report highlights the importance of AI in driving demand across various verticals beyond the semiconductor industry [5][6] Top Investment Picks - **AI Semiconductors**: TSMC (Top Pick), Aspeed, Alchip, KYEC, ASE, FOCI, Himax, ASMPT, AllRing - **Memory Stocks**: Winbond (Top Pick), GWC, Phison, Nanya Tech, APMemory, GigaDevice, Macronix - **Non-AI Stocks**: Novatek, OmniVision, Realtek, NAURA Tech, AMEC, ACMR, Silergy, SG Micro, Yangjie, GlobalWafers [5][6] Market Dynamics - The recovery in the semiconductor market is expected to be gradual, with historical data indicating that a decline in semiconductor inventory days is a positive signal for stock price appreciation [5][6] - The introduction of DeepSeek technology is anticipated to trigger demand for AI inferencing, although there are concerns about the sufficiency of domestic GPU supply [5][6] Long-term Demand Drivers - The reacceleration of AI semiconductor demand is attributed to generative AI technologies, which are expected to proliferate across various sectors [5][6] - Price elasticity in technology products is anticipated to stimulate demand further [5][6] Valuation Insights - A detailed valuation comparison across various semiconductor segments, including foundry, back-end, memory, and integrated device manufacturers (IDM), is provided, showcasing P/E ratios, EPS growth, and return on equity (ROAE) metrics [6][7] - TSMC's projected revenue from AI semiconductors is estimated to account for approximately 34% of its total revenue by 2027 [16][18] Future Capex Expectations - An estimated additional US$3-4 trillion in AI capital expenditures is expected in the remainder of the decade, with AI semiconductors identified as a major growth driver [20][22] Supply Chain Considerations - The supply chain for semiconductors is showing signs of improvement, with a decline in inventory days noted in the second quarter of 2025 [28][29] - The report also discusses the ongoing shortages in specific memory types, such as DDR4, which are expected to persist into 2026 [29][34] Conclusion - The semiconductor industry in Greater China is positioned for growth, particularly in the AI segment, with several key players identified for investment. The overall sentiment is optimistic, supported by favorable market dynamics and technological advancements.

When Jeff Bezos said that one breakthrough technology would shape Amazon’s destiny, even Wall Street’s biggest analysts were caught off guard. Fast forward a year and Amazon’s new CEO Andy Jassy described generative AI as a “once-in-a-lifetime” technology that is already being used across Amazon to reinvent customer experiences. At the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference, Elon Musk predicted that by 2040 there would be at least 10 billion humanoid robots, with each priced between $20,000 and $25,000 ...

Core Viewpoint - The discussion focuses on identifying companies in the AI sector that are likely to be long-term gainers versus those that are currently overhyped Group 1: Companies with Long-Term Potential - Broadcom is highlighted as a strong player in the custom chip market, expected to exceed $100 billion in the next five years [3] - TSMC is considered crucial for the semiconductor industry, acting as a bottleneck for production [3] - Palantir is viewed positively as a leader in next-generation software utilizing AI effectively in the market [4] - Cybersecurity companies like CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks are expected to benefit significantly from AI advancements [4] Group 2: Companies Under Scrutiny - There is caution regarding enterprise software companies, particularly in CRM and ERP sectors, as their future remains uncertain with the rise of generative AI [4][5] - Companies like Salesforce and MongoDB have faced significant sell-offs, raising questions about their sustainability in the evolving market [4] - Adobe, Qualcomm, Dell, and Cisco have been removed from the Futurum AI 15 list, indicating a shift in perception regarding their potential [6] Group 3: Overhyped Companies - Some mining companies have seen extraordinary price increases, with some stocks rising by 500% to 1,000%, leading to concerns about potential consolidation [6][7] - The market's frothiness is noted, suggesting that investors should focus on fundamentals rather than momentum trades [8][9] - While there is no immediate indication of a bubble burst, a period of consolidation is viewed as healthy for the market [9]

Core Insights - Dell Technologies (DELL) shares have increased by 32.2% in the past month, significantly outperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector's growth of 3.8% and the Zacks Computer - Micro Computers industry's rise of 13.1% [1][10] Company Performance - Dell's strong performance is attributed to high demand for AI servers, driven by ongoing digital transformation and interest in generative AI applications [3] - The company shipped $8.2 billion in AI servers in Q2 of fiscal 2026, with a $5.6 billion increase in orders and an AI backlog of $11.7 billion [4][10] - Dell projects $20 billion in AI server shipments for fiscal 2026, indicating robust momentum in the AI infrastructure sector [7] Product Innovations - In September 2025, Dell introduced the PowerEdge XR8720t, a single-server solution for edge and telecom infrastructure, offering more than twice the processing power of previous models [8][9] - The PowerEdge XE7740 server, featuring Intel Gaudi 3 PCIe accelerators, was also launched, providing scalable AI performance for enterprise workloads [11] Strategic Partnerships - Dell is expanding its partner base, collaborating with companies like Lowe's, NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms, enhancing its market presence and customer experiences [12][14] Financial Outlook - For Q3 of fiscal 2026, Dell expects revenues between $26.5 billion and $27.5 billion, with a midpoint of $27 billion, suggesting an 11% year-over-year growth [15] - Non-GAAP earnings are projected at $2.45 per share, indicating an 11% growth year over year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings at $2.48 per share, reflecting a 15.35% increase [16] Valuation Metrics - Dell shares are considered undervalued, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 0.99X compared to the sector's 6.92X, indicating a significant discount [17]

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Investment Strategy & Focus - Kayne Anderson Rudnick sees customer concentration risk in companies heavily reliant on CapEx spending by a few major players, questioning the return on investment [2][3] - The firm favors small-cap software companies already using generative AI in their operations, viewing AI as a leveler enabling smaller businesses to compete with larger ones [4] - The firm highlights profitable, niche small-cap software businesses that haven't benefited from the high beta rally [5] Specific Company Examples - Descartes is mentioned as a company with a real information advantage, handling approximately two-thirds of shipped packages through its network [5] - Encino is enabling small banks to compete with larger banks and has continued to grow despite a tough mortgage market [6] AI Market Perspective - There are concerns about a potential bubble inflating in the AI sector, with possible overinvestment and challenges in recouping investments [7][10] - The AI transformation is considered existential and impactful for the next decade, but not necessarily linear, drawing parallels to the aviation industry where returns took decades [8][9][10] Market Outlook - Expectations are optimistic heading into Q3 earnings season [11] - Companies have demonstrated an ability to manage uncertainty, particularly in supply chains, due to lessons learned during the pandemic and tariff implementations [12] - Companies are currently shouldering the burden of tariffs, with the potential for these costs to shift to consumers in the coming quarters [13]