Economic Outlook, Tech Earnings, AI Trends, and IT Confidence

The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index shows a slight increase despite concerns about the labor market, while Dell exceeds expectations with an 80% surge in AI-driven server sales. On the other hand, an IBM study reveals a decline in confidence in IT departments, and Intel considers splitting its chip design and foundry businesses due to financial struggles.The episode delves into the recent economic sentiment shift highlighted at the Jackson Hole symposium, where central bankers expressed optimism about steady growth and low inflation. Despite concerns about potential risks and high interest rates, the U.S. economy appears solid. The Consumer Confidence Index rose slightly, reflecting Americans' overall outlook despite job market volatility. However, concerns persist about rising prices and a more pessimistic view of future labor conditions.NVIDIA's strong demand for AI-related chips is evident in its earnings report, with revenue doubling to $30 billion. Dell also reports a significant increase in server sales, driven by AI-oriented servers using NVIDIA chips. CrowdStrike, despite facing financial impact from a recent global IT outage, emphasizes customer loyalty. The episode underscores the importance of focusing on business outcomes with AI integration to deliver solutions that benefit the business.The podcast highlights a decline in business leaders' confidence in IT departments, emphasizing the need for technology to deliver competitive advantages. The SAS Disruption Report reveals U.S. tech leaders' concerns about SAS security threats, urging the adoption of a no-data architecture. Additionally, enterprises are increasingly adopting cloud solutions for generative AI and machine learning, despite challenges like talent shortages and integration concerns. Intel's potential breakup and Thread's collaborative service approach are also discussed, showcasing evolving trends in the tech industry. Four things to know today 00:00 U.S. Consumer Confidence Index Rises Slightly Despite Labor Market Concerns and Rising Prices03:58 Dell Surpasses Expectations with 80% Surge in AI-Driven Server Sales, Raises Full-Year Revenue Outlook06:48 IBM Study Reveals Sharp Decline in Confidence in IT Departments, Urges Focus on Business Outcomes and Modernization09:10 Intel Mulls Splitting Chip Design and Foundry Units Amidst Financial Turmoil and Stock Decline  Supported by:  https://www.coreview.com/msp/https://getthread.com/mspradio/ Pulseway Event:  https://www.pulseway.com/v2/land/webinar-nexus-msp?rfid=vendor/?partnerref=vendor   All our Sponsors:   https://businessof.tech/sponsors/ Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/ Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/ Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.com Follow us on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspradio/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoftechBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/businessoftech.bsky.social