Matthew Finnegan
Senior Reporter
Matthew Finnegan covers Microsoft, collaboration and productivity software, AR/VR, and other enterprise IT topics. He joined IDG in January 2013 and is based in Sweden.
Microsoft 365 Copilot rollout set for Nov. 1
The generative AI assistant will be available to enterprise customers for $30 per user each month; meanwhile, an invite-only early access program for SMBs has begun.
IDC: AR/VR headset sales slide, could rebound with Apple, Meta device launches
The upcoming Meta Quest 3 is set to drive a rebound in business demand for AR/VR headsets, but Apple’s Vision Pro is expected to have only a muted impact on commercial adoption.
Manufacturing firms make early bets on the industrial metaverse
The metaverse concept has faced a lot of skepticism, but industrial firms appear keen to deploy technologies, such as digital twins and virtual reality devices, that serve as the precursors to more immersive and interconnected...
IDC: Collaboration software spending growth slows; AI features to drive future increases
Global spending on collaboration apps continues to rise as businesses deploy software across their organizations, according to IDC. But the rate of growth has slowed as adoption of videoconferencing tools matures and vendors trim...
Here’s how Slack envisions adding genAI to its software
Slack is already working to include new generative AI tools in its popular collaboration app. But the company is taking a methodical approach before rolling out any new features.
Microsoft pledges to defend Copilot customers against copyright lawsuits
As Microsoft embeds the AI generative assistant into its various apps, customers are getting nervous about potential copyright claims.
Slack unveils ‘lists,’ a work management tool for team project tracking
The company continues to build out native functionality within its collaboration app with the addition of tasking capabilities similar to those offered by Asana and Trello.
Google’s Duet AI now available for Workspace enterprise customers
Google will match rival Microsoft’s pricing with its Duet AI assistant, which is available as an add-on to customers in its Enterprise tier – at $30 per user each month.
Q&A: How VR can automate delivery of mental health treatment
Daniel Freeman, a professor at the University of Oxford who has pioneered research into how virtual reality can be used in the treatment of mental health disorders, talked about the growing role of VR as devices become more widely...
As VR headset adoption grows, privacy issues could emerge
UC-Berkeley researchers found that hand and head motion data could be as good as fingerprints and facial scans at identifying users, raising a host of privacy concerns as headset adoption grows.
Microsoft to integrate Copilot into its Dynamics 365 Field Service app
Microsoft is bringing its generative AI assistant to tools used to coordinate frontline work with a Copilot for Field Service management in Dynamics 365 and a Shifts plugin for Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Slack redesigns app to tackle growing complexity
The revamp is aimed at streamlining the popular collaboration application as new features are added in a bid to help users avoid distractions and stay focused.
Slack tailors its chat app to sales staff
Slack Sales Elevate provides native access to parent company Salesforce’s Sales Cloud software, with a dedicated home screen and “opportunity view” for sales reps and managers.
PC market shows signs of a turnaround after historic slide
Business demand for desktops and laptops is expected to return to growth early next year after a series of declines in recent quarters. But uncertainty remains, as macroeconomic concerns persist.
Apple’s Vision Pro: Will it work for work?
The company’s ‘spatial computing’ device could be the first step on a long journey to the promised land of AR glasses, say analysts. But early-adopter businesses might still find the Vision Pro useful.
Businesses to boost Windows 11 adoption in ‘24, but Windows 10 still dominates
Economic uncertainty has slowed enterprise adoption of Windows 11, but analysts expect most companies to make the transition next year – if economic fears don’t get in the way.
Meta exec: VR meetings will coexist with, not replace, videoconferencing (for now)
Mike LeBeau, founder and product lead for Meta’s Horizon Workrooms, makes the case for VR as the future of team meetings — but admits the user experience is currently lacking.
5 hot workplace collaboration trends (and 2 going cold)
From generative AI to analytics, the collaboration software landscape is changing fast, but there’s more to consider than just the shiniest new tools.
The metaverse: Not dead yet
Two years ago, the metaverse was hyped as the Next Big Thing in tech. Nowadays, Generative AI has grabbed all the headlines. But don’t count out the concept of interconnected virtual worlds just yet.