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Empowering Sustainability Progress with New Data and AI Solutions in Microsoft Cloud

In an era where global sustainability is paramount, organizations face the challenge of translating pledges into actionable progress. Despite the strategic importance placed on sustainability by 85% of executives, only a mere 16% have seamlessly integrated it into their business strategies. 

 Introducing a suite of new data and AI solutions within the Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, aimed at providing organizations with the tools they need to expedite their sustainability journey. These solutions offer accelerated environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data analytics and insights, alongside an AI assistant designed to streamline decision-making and reporting processes. 

 Microsoft Fabric emerges as the central analytics platform for sustainability data. Launched in May 2023, Microsoft Fabric serves as an end-to-end SaaS platform, amalgamating an organization’s enterprise data, including previously inaccessible ESG data. Now in preview, sustainability data solutions within Microsoft Fabric offer organizations pre-built ESG data models, connectors, and reporting capabilities, facilitating faster insights and progress tracking. 

 Copilot and intelligent insights, now in preview within Microsoft Sustainability Manager, offer AI-driven assistance for enhanced decision-making. Leveraging generative AI and natural language queries, Copilot enables organizations to swiftly analyze environmental data, draft preparatory reports, and engage with sustainability data in a conversational manner. Intelligent insights further augment this by providing an integrated AI model for in-depth analysis of emissions data, aiding in identifying reduction opportunities and optimizing decisions based on historical trends and anomalies. 

 Moreover, the ESG value chain solution within Microsoft Sustainability Manager, now generally available, enables organizations to streamline data collection from suppliers and identify emissions reduction opportunities within their value chain. This solution proves vital, as supplier activities often contribute significantly to an organization’s emissions footprint. 

 Real-world examples showcase the efficacy of these solutions, such as Södra, Sweden’s largest forest-owner association, which has leveraged Microsoft Sustainability Manager to enhance reporting practices and streamline data collection processes. 

 Further emphasizing the transformative potential of sustainability initiatives, Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability facilitates partnerships and fosters innovation. Allegiant Stadium, home to the Las Vegas Raiders, stands as a testament to this, utilizing Microsoft solutions to achieve LEED Gold certification and operate entirely on renewable energy sources. 

 With an ecosystem of sustainability solution partners, including Avanade, Microsoft endeavors to address the multifaceted challenges of sustainability by harnessing the power of AI responsibly. By leveraging data and AI, organizations can not only drive efficiency and accuracy in decision-making but also uncover new avenues for business growth, propelling us towards a transformative future of sustainability. 

Get more information by mailing us at tech@cyberwaves.eu.

Author

Deepthi Bennan

Marketing Manager, Cyberwaves B.V.

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How to Generate Videos Using Artificial Intelligence from Text Alone

Pika, developed by Pika Labs, is an advanced artificial intelligence tool that seamlessly transforms text and images into captivating multi-second video clips. To get started with Pika, follow these steps: 

Sign Up for Pika 

Pika Labs no longer has a waiting list. Simply visit the Pika website and sign in using either your Google account or Discord account. While a Discord account provides access to the Pika Discord server with additional features, a Google account still grants full access to the online tool. 

How to Use Pika  

  1. Text-Based Generation:

   – Type your prompt into the text box on the main page. 

   – Press the Enter key to initiate the generation process. 

   – The selected prompt and options significantly influence the output, so experiment with different combinations. 

  1. Image or Video Input:

   – Click on the “Image” or “Video” button to attach media for additional context. 

   – This can enhance the AI’s understanding and creativity. 

  1. Wait for Generation:

   – The generation process may take a minute or two during peak times, so be patient and allow it to complete. 

Prompt Tips 

  1. Basic Prompt Structure:

   – Keep prompts simple and direct, including subject, shot type, scene description, and lighting effect. 

   – Choose a specific style like anime, cinematic, or pixel art. 

  1. Use Pre-Generated Images:

   – Utilize images generated in separate text-to-image tools like Midjourney or Dall-E as a base model for Pika. 

  1. Negative Prompts:

   – If unsatisfied with certain video outputs, employ negative prompts in the Parameters menu to specify undesired elements, such as “low resolution” or “blurry background.” 

Changing Aspect Ratio in Pika 

  1. Write or Upload Prompt:

   – Input or upload your prompt, but don’t submit it yet.   

  1. Adjust Video Options:

   – Click on the Video options icon (four disconnected corners of a square) before submitting. 

   – Select the desired aspect ratio (e.g., 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:5). 

   – Optionally, adjust frames per second (fps). 

By following these steps, you can harness the power of Pika to create stunning and tailored video content. Experiment with prompts, input media, and customize aspect ratios to achieve the desired results.