Month: February 2019

Using AI For Lead Qualification & Cost Reduction

Microsoft posted an overview of how they use AI (and a bot) to score leads in their sales process — Microsoft IT Showcase/Microsoft increases sales by using AI for lead qualification. My personal ‘most interesting thing’ is that they’re using scikit-learn in Python for some of the analysis — I’m using similar components in a custom-written spam filter at home. Their idea of running the text through a spell checker first is interesting — I want to try running my e-mails through Aspell and see if there are statistically significant changes in classifications.

 

They’ve previously detailed reducing energy usage through machine learning — that’s something I’d love to see more companies doing. Energy can be a significant operating cost, and reducing energy use has a positive environmental impact.

Did you know … you are talking on mute?

Well, probably not *right this second*. But we’ve all heard — err, not heard — someone else do it. We’ve all done it too. The Teams desktop client helps you avoid saying “Sorry, I was talking on mute”.

In the Teams desktop client, you will see an alert when your microphone is muted and sound is detected. Maybe you’re talking to someone who stepped into your office — just ignore the warning. If you’re trying to speak to the meeting, this is a great way to avoid having to repeat your entire thought because no one else heard it the first time!

Did you know … your mouse can be a laser pointer in PowerPoint?

This works both in “Reading View” and when you are playing a presentation. To enable “Reading View”, select “View” from the ribbon bar and click “Reading View”.

To play your presentation, select “Slide Show” from the ribbon bar and click “From Beginning” (or “From Current Slide” to begin the presentation from the current slide).

Hold the CTRL key, then left-click and drag your mouse. You’ll see a red circle which can be used to draw attention to elements of your slide.

If you want a different color “laser”, select “Slide Show” from the ribbon bar and click “Set Up Slide Show”.

Click the drop-down next to “Laser pointer color” and select the desired color. Click OK.

Now when you hold the CTRL key, left-click and drag the mouse … now there’s a blue laser pointer.