What began as a tool to help students at California State University campuses stay on track – artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots quickly became a lifeline to many students isolated due to the pandemic. After hearing of a similar program at Georgia State University- Elizabeth Adams, Associate Vice President of Undergraduate Studies at Cal State Northbridge applied for a grant to help students at California State Universities excel at the school both on an academic and personal level. According to Adams the AI chatbots were created with freshmen and transfer students in mind as well as students who are the first in their families to go to college. “It's especially appealing to first-generation students because they don't always know what questions to ask or who to ask them to, and they don't like being embarrassed about it," Adams noted.

Last year was a tough year for any organization, regardless of the industry they operate in. Many things did not go as expected. The pandemic hit many businesses to an extent never witnessed before, with some of them even closing altogether due to the adverse effects of the pandemic. During the crisis, IT became a solution to many problems as people were forced to work from home. One thing that stood out in all this is big data and big data analytics. It is clear that with the right technology thatprovides actionable insights, people can work from home and still be as productive as working from the office. Here are some big data trends that will alter the tech landscape in 2021.

A study out of Israel comparing two groups of 600,000 people found that symptomatic Covid-19 cases dropped a whopping 94 percent with two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The study, conducted by Health maintenance organization (HMO) Clalit, Irsael’s largest health care provider also found that 92 percent of participants who received the Pfizer vaccine were less likely to become seriously ill with the virus.

 Unlike decades ago, big data is no longer just a buzzword. It has come off age and is now revolutionizing workplace and businesses. According to a report by Forester Research, almost 40% of organizations are implementing and expanding big data technology adoption. Regardless of its standing, a business that lacks a clear and holistic data strategy that dictates its long term strategies lacks a competitive edge and is likely to fall behind in the current business environment. Similarly, failure to adjust your big data strategies will lead to challenges.