According to the latest research from the Strategy Analytics Connected Home Devices service, manufacturers sold 49.3 million digital TV receivers worldwide in 2004, a 50 percent increase on the previous year and an all-time record. Revenue growth was even higher, at 70 percent, because of the growing importance of higher value integrated digital TVs. Global demand will continue to soar in 2005 and beyond as new services are launched and the user base expands. New digital terrestrial television and IPTV services will be key drivers of device sales over the next five years. Strategy Analytics predicts that 2005 sales of digital TV receivers (set-top boxes and integrated digital TVs) will grow a further 38 percent to reach 68.2 million units. By 2010 annual sales will have reached 181.3 million units, worth $39.1 billion in retail revenues. Because of the strength of its integrated digital TV market, North America will account for 65 percent of revenues in 2010. Asia-Pacific will account for 19 percent and Europe 14 percent.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformational force, reshaping business processes and unlocking new possibilities for efficiency and innovation in corporate finance. The latest Gartner survey on AI usage in finance provides evidence of this emerging trend, offering valuable insights into the future growth trajectory of AI in finance. The Gartner survey reveals a significant milestone. As of 2024, 58 percent of finance functions actively use AI technology -- that's a substantial increase from previous years. Artificial Intelligence Market Development Perhaps even more telling is the projection that by 2026 more than 80 percent of finance functions are expected to be leveraging AI solutions. The survey sheds light on the use cases of AI in finance: AI is being deployed to enhance forecasting accuracy and provide deeper insights into financial trends. Automation of routine tasks and improved accuracy in financial reporting are key benefits observed. AI algorithms are