US-based chipmaker Qualcomm has announced its partnership with Google to extend software and security updates for devices powered by its Snapdragon chips up to eight years. According to Qualcomm, this collaboration aims to assist device manufacturers in prolonging the software support for Android-powered smartphones, promising users enhanced longevity and functionality.
During the announcement, Qualcomm revealed devices utilizing the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip will be eligible for these extended updates. Chris Patrick, Qualcomm’s senior vice-president and general manager for mobile handsets, emphasized the importance of this step, stating, “Qualcomm Technologies is excited to take this step forward, working closely with Google to facilitate the latest Android OS upgrades on devices with Snapdragon.” Patrick went on to say, “With this advancement, we are raising the bar, providing more flexibility for our OEMs and enhancing user experiences.”
It's important to note, though, this initiative does not guarantee all smartphones utilizing the eligible Snapdragon chips will receive the full eight-year software support. The decision on the duration of updates will still reside with individual smartphone brands. Through its partnership with Google, Qualcomm will introduce “two upgrades to the mobile platform’s Android Common Kernel (ACK)” aimed at supporting the eight-year update window. This measure simplifies the process and mitigates the costs associated with providing extended software support.
On another front, Accenture has launched new capabilities aimed at transforming how organizations build and scale generative AI solutions through its collaboration with Google Cloud and Salesforce. The announcement shared during their latest event highlighted the integration of Google Cloud’s Gemini models with Salesforce’s Agentforce, which is expected to significantly improve business workflows and customer experience.
Accenture's accelerators are set to help organizations embrace generative AI more effectively by leveraging real-time data insights. According to Lan Guan, Accenture’s chief AI officer, “Accenture is doubling down to bring its extensive ecosystem and customer domain capabilities and deep AI engineering skills together... to accelerate value for our clients.” These accelerators aim to provide organizations with tools to drive operational efficiencies and deliver personalized customer experiences rapidly.
Further elaboration on Accenture’s offerings reveals how they will revolutionize customer interactions, especially with healthcare winners. By allowing customer care representatives to access AI-powered assistance across various methods of interaction—such as video, text, and voice—the new capabilities are setting the stage for proactive and personalized engagements.
For example, in the healthcare sector, the health document AI accelerator—operated through Google Cloud’s MedLM model and Vertex AI—can interpret medical data from diverse sources, such as imaging and test results. This information can then be directly communicated to care providers via Salesforce’s Agentforce, fostering seamless patient experiences.
Kevin Ichhpurani, president of Google Cloud's Global Partner Organization, shared insights about how enterprise customers will benefit from these integrations, stating, “Enterprise customers will be able to deploy many of their most-critical Salesforce applications on Google Cloud’s secure, AI-optimized infrastructure.” This integration with powerful tools like AI agents and Google's technology stack promises to allow organizations worldwide to streamline their operations.
Jim Steele, president of Global Strategic Customers & Partners at Salesforce, added, “Our open and extensible platform provides customers the choice and flexibility to use their own applications and LLM models.” His comments underline the versatility and adaptability of these integrated systems, confirmed by the close cooperation among Google, Salesforce, and Accenture.
To support this massive transition, Google Cloud and Salesforce technology training and learning services will be made available through Accenture’s LearnVantage platform, providing integrated upskilling programs and certification services for clients. This initiative aims to bolster organizations' capabilities to navigate the rapidly changing tech environment.
With tech giants like Qualcomm, Google, Salesforce, and Accenture working hand-in-hand to craft next-gen solutions, the future undoubtedly appears bright for users and organizations alike. Enhanced software longevity and sophisticated AI-powered processes signify not only the evolution of customer engagement but also the promise of smarter technology integrating seamlessly with daily business operations.