Is the AI cost-savings boom overhyped?
Contributed by Pia Mitchell, Marketing Producer
Welcome back to the latest edition of Quantious’ Tech Roundup, where you gain exclusive insights into the tech news you need to know to stay at the top of your game.
Today we’re covering a Bain survey showing AI cost savings missing expectations, researchers making AI ask better questions, OpenAI’s new Codex tools for white-collar work, and Microsoft bringing OpenClaw-inspired AI agents into Microsoft 365.
With our Tech Roundup, you can trust that you’re getting concise updates on just the news that matters most. Let’s get to it!
And that’s a wrap, NY Tech Week!
NY Tech Week was back this week, bringing together thousands of founders, investors, creators, and tech enthusiasts for a week packed with conversations around AI, startups, and innovation. Presented by a16z and supported by sponsors including IBM, HSBC, Adobe, AWS, Cloudflare, Google for Startups, Atlassian, and Vercel, it’s no secret that New York City's role is growing as a hub for applied AI and emerging technologies.
Top Tech Highlights
Bain survey shows AI cost savings missing expectations
A Bain & Co. survey found that most companies aren't seeing the AI-driven cost savings they expected, with 40% reporting reductions of 10% or less. The findings suggest many businesses may be overestimating AI’s short-term financial impact despite continuing to invest heavily in the technology.
Battleship-trained AI learns to ask sharper questions, boosting win rate from 8% to 82%
MIT and Harvard researchers found that AI models struggle more with asking effective questions than answering them, a limitation that becomes critical in complex fields like science and medicine. By improving how models gather information, the team dramatically boosted performance, enabling smaller, lower-cost systems to outperform larger models on reasoning tasks.
OpenAI launches new Codex tools for white-collar work
OpenAI is pushing Codex beyond coding and deeper into the enterprise market. The company says the tool now has over 5 million weekly active users, with knowledge workers making up a fast-growing share, and has launched six job-specific plug-ins designed to support roles ranging from data analytics to investment banking.
Microsoft launches Scout, an OpenClaw-inspired personal assistant
Microsoft is bringing OpenClaw-inspired AI agents into Microsoft 365 with Scout, a personalized assistant that learns users’ work habits and adapts over time. The tool is designed to build persistent memories and skills, creating a more customized AI experience for productivity and automation.
Airbnb expands into hotel bookings and even grocery deliveries
Airbnb is expanding beyond vacation rentals with new hotel booking options and in-app grocery delivery, positioning itself as a more full-service travel platform. The updates highlight Airbnb’s push to compete more directly with traditional hotel and travel apps while making trips more seamless for users.
Fast Company, fresh perspectives
This week, Lisa attended the Fast Company Impact Council Annual Meeting at the beautiful Grace Farms in Connecticut, joining fellow leaders for thoughtful conversations around innovation, leadership, and impact. Between inspiring discussions, new connections, and a stunning setting, it was an energizing day!
#SmartFastCurious
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Join the conversation on Instagram andLinkedIn using #SmartFastCurious.
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