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Deloitte’s 2019 TMT Predictions forecast the rise of the smart speaker in Canada
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Deloitte predicts the smart speaker will become the fastest-growing connected device category worldwide with a distinctly Canadian usage: checking the weather
- Smart speakers to become the fastest-growing internet connected device worldwide
- Canadian talent and innovation to drive country’s growth in cloud-based AI
- Popularity of sports betting leads to increased TV viewership among Canadian men, especially when money’s on the table
In the 18th edition of its Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Predictions, Deloitte forecasts the rise of the smart speaker—internet-connected speaker with integrated digital assistants—in Canada. While smart speaker adoption in the country is currently at nine per cent, Deloitte anticipates further adoption when language barriers are overcome and Canadians truly understand the devices’ capabilities. Smart speaker adoption in Quebec is almost half that of the rest of the country, and of six countries surveyed, most people used the technology to play music—except in Canada, where people use smart speakers to check the weather.
“Globally, smart speakers are poised for impressive growth,” said Duncan Stewart, director of research for TMT at Deloitte Canada. “In Canada, we’re also predicting growth, but barriers to adoption remain. Language acceptance is still a challenge in Quebec, with usage lagging behind the rest of the country. Additionally – and while it likely comes as no surprise – Canadians tend to use smart speakers to check the weather, but the power of these devices extends far beyond that.”
Deloitte predicts the industry for smart speakers will be worth US$7 billion in 2019. At a 63 per cent growth rate over 2018, smart speakers are poised to become the fastest-growing connected device category worldwide.
AI in Canada: Keeping up with the competitors
Deloitte predicts that companies will accelerate their usage of cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) software and services in 2019. Although Canada doesn’t have the size and scale to realistically compete head-to-head with the global tech cloud giants, it will likely supply technology to those who’ll be providing AI through the cloud. Canada will also see a democratization of AI capabilities and benefits that had previously been the sole preserve of early adopters.
As a strong global leader in AI, Canadian innovation and talent can drive the growth of AI through the cloud, most likely at the applications level, with a focus on enterprise software. Of the global companies already using AI, 58 per cent are using cloud enterprise software plus AI, which is predicted to rise to 87 per cent by 2020.
“Signs point to AI becoming one of the leading economic drivers of our time,” said Anders McKenzie, managing partner for TMT at Deloitte Canada. “Canada is a leader in both research and talent, which positions us well to drive innovation and growth for cloud-based AI by equipping providers with the technology to meet demand.”
In Canada, TV sports broadcasting is a safe bet
Globally, sports gambling is a US$200 billion industry. In Canada and the United States, TV sports watching and gambling is increasingly popular among 18-34-year-old-men, although Canadians tune in slightly less than their American counterparts. In the US, 73 per cent of Americans who bet on sports at least weekly are much more likely to watch the event on TV, compared to 59 per cent of
Canadians. Deloitte predicts that of the demographic who watch TV sports, 60 per cent will also bet on it—and the more often they bet, the more they’ll watch.
Deloitte’s annual TMT Predictions provide an outlook on key trends in the technology, media, and telecommunications industry sectors worldwide. They’re based on global research, including in-depth interviews with clients, industry analysts, global industry leaders, and Deloitte member-firm TMT practitioners. Last year, Deloitte was 90 per cent accurate with its TMT predictions.
The most significant TMT predictions in 2019 are:
- Hold onto your handsets: 5G heralds a much faster world – 2019 will be the year in which fifth-generation (5G) wide-area wireless networks arrive in scale, offering higher speeds than its 4G predecessor. That’s likely good news for some of the 24 per cent of Canadians who have a wireless-only connection for their home data needs when 5G launches in Canada in 2020 or 2021.
- Cloud cover spreading AI capabilities to all – In 2019, companies will accelerate their usage of cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) software and services, with 70 per cent of AI adopters obtaining their AI capabilities through cloud-based enterprise software. Of the global companies already using AI, 58 per cent are using cloud enterprise software plus AI, which is predicted to rise to 87 per cent by 2020.
- Siri/Alexa/Google, what’s the weather like today, eh? – The industry for smart speakers—internet-connected speakers with integrated digital assistants—will be worth US$7 billion in 2019, becoming the fastest-growing connected device category worldwide.
- Does TV sports have a future in Canada? Bet on it – In 2019, 60 per cent of Canadian and American men aged 18-34 who watch sports on TV will also bet on sports, and the more often they bet, the more often they’ll watch.
- On your marks, get set, game! – The North American market for esports will expand by 35 per cent in 2019, with the global market to reach US$1 billion by the end of 2019.
- Radio: Revenue, reach, and resilience – Deloitte predicts global radio revenue to reach US$40 billion in 2019, with over 85 per cent of the developed world’s adult population tuning in weekly.
- 3D printing picks up steam again – Sales related to 3D printing by large public companies will grow at about 12.5 per cent in each 2019 and 2020, more than double its five per cent growth rate from just a few years ago.
- Sino the times: Connectivity-driven innovation from China – China will have world-leading telecommunications networks in 2019, laying the groundwork to provide for the gestation and maturation of at least three significant new industries, each of which could generate tens of billions of dollars in revenue annually by 2023.
- AI will run on Chinese semiconductors – Revenues for semiconductors manufactured in China will grow by 25 per cent to US$110 billion in 2019, up from US$85 billion in 2018. Deloitte also predicts that in 2019 a Chinese chip foundry will begin producing semiconductors that are specialized for AI and machine-learning tasks.
- Quantum computers are coming–lock up your data – Quantum computers (QCs) will not replace classical computers for decades, but Deloitte predicts the QC market of the future will be about the size of today’s supercomputer market – around US$50 billion.
Deloitte’s Canadian TMT Predictions road show kicks off on January 10 in Toronto, followed by stops in Montreal, Quebec City, Kitchener-Waterloo, Vancouver, Ottawa, and other Canadian cities.
About Deloitte:
Deloitte provides audit & assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax and related services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. Deloitte serves four out of five Fortune Global 500® companies through a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries and territories bringing world-class capabilities, insights and service to address clients’ most complex business challenges.
Deloitte LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.
Source: Deloitte & Touche
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LambdaTest Unveils the World’s First Platform to Test AI Agents: Introducing Agent-to-Agent Testing
AI-native Multi-Agent System Delivers Smarter, Faster, and More Comprehensive Software Testing
LambdaTest, the leading AI-native testing platform, has launched the private beta release of its Agent-to-Agent Testing, the world’s first platform designed to validate and assess AI agents. With the rise of AI agents in developer workflows, the platform is set to revolutionize the way organizations test and validate their AI agents across conversation flows, intent recognition, tone consistency, complex reasoning, and beyond.
As enterprises increasingly rely on AI agents to power customer experiences, a critical challenge has emerged: no standard way of testing various AI Agents. These agents interact with users and systems in ways that are dynamic and unpredictable, making it hard to ensure their reliability and performance. Traditional testing methods fall short when the system under test is inherently unpredictable.
Organizations need a new, smarter way to test AI applications at scale, which is where Agent-to-Agent Testing comes in. LambdaTest’s Agent-to-Agent Testing platform is the first of its kind. The platform uses a suite of specialized AI testing agents to rigorously validate chat and voice AI agents..
Teams can upload existing requirement documents in various formats, such as text, images, audio, and video, and the system automatically handles multi-modal analysis to generate relevant test scenarios, simulating real-world challenges that could break the AI agent under test. Each scenario includes precise validation criteria and expected responses, evaluated within HyperExecute, LambdaTest’s next-gen test orchestration cloud, delivering up to 70% faster test execution than standard automation grids.
The platform highlights different key metrics like Bias, Completeness, Hallucinations, etc., to help teams analyse the quality of their AI agent
By integrating agentic AI and GenAI technologies, it generates real-world scenarios such as tone of personality agents, data privacy considerations, and executes test cases with unparalleled accuracy. This ensures much broader and more diverse test coverage compared to traditional testing tools. Unlike single-agent systems, LambdaTest’s Agent-to-Agent Testing leverages multiple large language models (LLMs), which the agents use for reasoning and test generation. This multi-agent approach results in a much more comprehensive and detailed test suite, enabling deeper, more robust testing of AI applications.
“Every AI agent you deploy is unique, and that’s both its greatest strength and its biggest risk! As AI applications become more complex, traditional testing approaches simply can’t keep up with the dynamic nature of AI agents,” said Asad Khan, CEO and Co-Founder at LambdaTest. ” Our Agent-to-Agent Testing platform thinks like a real user, generating smart, context-aware test scenarios that mimic real-world situations your AI might struggle with. Each test comes with clear validation checkpoints and the responses we’d expect to see.”
Enterprises using Agent-to-Agent Testing will experience faster test creation, evaluation of Agents, reduced testing cycles, and significant improvements in test coverage. The multi-agent system can generate a 5 to 10-fold increase in test coverage, providing a more comprehensive view of AI agent performance.
Furthermore, the integration with HyperExecute means teams receive rapid feedback, reducing the time between testing and iteration. By automating much of the testing process, companies also reduce their reliance on manual QA efforts, resulting in significant cost savings. With 15 purpose-built AI testing agents ranging from security researchers to compliance validators, LambdaTest Agent-to-Agent testing ensures every deployment is as robust, safe, and reliable as possible. Helping teams ship their AI agents with confidence.
Learn more about Agent-to-Agent Testing by LambdaTest here: lambdatest.com/agent-to-agent-testing
To watch the live unveiling of the platform, join the Testμ Conference 2025 on 20th August, 2025: lambdatest.com/testmuconf-2025
The post LambdaTest Unveils the World’s First Platform to Test AI Agents: Introducing Agent-to-Agent Testing appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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ADG Launches First-Ever Statewide Campaign to Empower and Protect Consumers
The Arizona Department of Gaming (“the Department”) is proud to announce the launch of its first-ever statewide Public Education Campaign focused on protecting consumers, promoting public awareness, and reducing the harms associated with unregulated gambling. This is a significant milestone in the Department’s ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure a safe and responsible gaming environment.
Arizona offers a variety of legal, regulated gaming options throughout the state, including tribal casinos, event wagering, fantasy sports, and parimutuel wagering. For 30 years, ADG has safeguarded the integrity of Arizona’s gaming industry through rigorous oversight, licensing, and enforcement in accordance with the Tribal-State Gaming Compacts. This new campaign expands on that mission by educating Arizonans on how to avoid illegal gambling and access support services when needed.
The campaign is designed to inform and empower the public by emphasizing the risks of engaging with unlicensed operators and providing them with tools to identify legal, regulated options. It aims to reduce consumer vulnerability, prevent exploitation, and help individuals make informed decisions if they choose to participate in gaming activities.
The campaign kicks off with a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs), developed in collaboration with the Arizona Media Association, which will be aired across TV, radio, print, and digital platforms. Available in both English and Spanish, the PSAs will:
- Educate the public on how to identify legal, regulated gaming operators in Arizona
- Emphasize consumer protection and the safeguards provided by regulated gaming environments
- Highlight the role regulated gaming plays in supporting Arizona communities and essential services
- Promote the 1-800-NEXT STEP helpline, which connects individuals to confidential, 24/7 support for problem gambling
To complement the PSAs, ADG has launched the Check Your Bet webpage, which serves as a centralized resource to verify regulated gaming and access consumer protection tools. The webpage includes:
- A searchable list and interactive map of authorized Tribal Casinos in Arizona
- A searchable list and interactive map of licensed Event Wagering and Fantasy Sports Operators and their retail locations
- Information on Advanced Deposit Wagering Providers (ADWPs), Off-Track Betting (OTB) locations, and permitted horse racing tracks in Arizona
- How to access the Division of Problem Gambling’s Helpline, a confidential Problem Gambling Self-Screening Quiz, and additional supportive resources
- How to request Self-Exclusion, a voluntary program to prohibit oneself from Tribal Casinos and Event Wagering and Fantasy Sports Contests
- Guidance on submitting tips about suspected illegal gambling to the Department and filing consumer complaints with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office
For more information, visit the Check Your Bet webpage at gaming.az.gov/checkyourbet.
“We are proud to celebrate 30 years of providing world-class gaming regulation and consumer protection,” said Jackie Johnson, Director of the Arizona Department of Gaming. “This campaign is about empowering Arizonans who choose to participate in gaming with the knowledge to make informed, responsible decisions. As illegal and unregulated options on the market increase, the Check Your Bet webpage serves as a key resource for the public to verify licensed operators and access support. By directing viewers from our PSAs to this tool, we’re helping ensure people not only play safely, but also know where to turn if they or a loved one are struggling with problem gambling.”
Since its founding in 1995, the Department has worked tirelessly to ensure that Arizona’s gaming industry operates with transparency, integrity, and responsibility. The campaign will run through the end of March 2026 and reflects ADG’s commitment to a safe, transparent, and well-regulated gaming landscape in Arizona.
The post ADG Launches First-Ever Statewide Campaign to Empower and Protect Consumers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Arizona Department of Gaming Continues Enforcement Against Unlicensed and Unregulated Gaming Operators
The Arizona Department of Gaming (“ADG”) has issued cease-and-desist orders to four additional unlicensed and unregulated gambling operators targeting Arizona residents. The identified operators are reportedly offering access to illegal online gambling platforms, including “sweepstakes” casino-style models and event wagering sportsbook betting options. Unlicensed operators operating outside the law and without regulatory safeguards pose serious risks to consumer protection and financial security across the state, undermining the integrity of Arizona’s regulated gaming industry.
This latest action underscores the Department’s commitment to protecting the public and upholding Arizona’s gaming laws. ADG continues to actively monitor, investigate, and take enforcement action against entities attempting to exploit Arizona residents through unauthorized gambling activities, including possible enforcement actions in partnership with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
The following entities are not licensed by the State of Arizona. Therefore, cease-and-desist orders have been issued to:
- Event Wagering Sportsbook:
- Fliff Online Gambling
- Thrillzz Mobile Gambling
- Sweepstakes:
- BettySweeps Casino
- Pulsz Casino
The active operations of these companies and online websites in Arizona are alleged to be felony criminal enterprises, and each operator has been directed to desist from any future illegal gambling operations or activities of any type in Arizona. Due to the unregulated and illegal online gaming offerings on these sites, operators are claimed to be in violation of Arizona gaming laws, including
- Promotion of Gambling (Felony) — A.R.S. § 13-3303.
- Illegal Control of an Enterprise (Felony) — A.R.S. § 13-2312.
- Money Laundering (Felony) — A.R.S. § 13-2317.
Each aforementioned operator has been directed to immediately cease all online (or other) gambling operations and activities in Arizona and take the necessary steps to immediately prevent and exclude Arizona residents and visitors from gambling on their websites.
Consumer Protection Advisory:
As illegal online gaming activity continues to rise, the ADG urges all residents and visitors to be cautious when participating in gaming, whether online or in person. Regulated gaming offers important consumer protections, helping ensure fair play, data security, accountability, and a safer overall experience.
Many online platforms currently accessible in Arizona are neither licensed nor regulated, exposing users to significant risks, including fraud, identity theft, and financial loss. Because these operations fall outside the state’s regulatory authority, ADG cannot assist with complaints or disputes involving unregulated or illegal gaming activities, often leaving victims with no recourse for recovering lost funds. It is important to remember: just because you can download the app, access the website, and play the games does not mean the platform is legal or safe.
Individuals are encouraged to verify the legitimacy of any gaming platform before placing bets or engaging in gameplay. To protect yourself, always use legally authorized and state-regulated operators. A complete list of authorized casinos, event wagering operators, fantasy sports operators, and off-track betting and advanced deposit wagering providers for horse racing is available on ADG’s official website: gaming.az.gov/checkyourbet.
How to Report Suspicious Gaming Activity, Fraud, or Identity Theft:
- If you encounter what appears to be an illegal gaming website, app, or an operation impersonating an authorized Arizona casino or licensed operator, take the following steps:
- Document the website URL, app, business name, and any promotional materials associated with the platform or operator.
- Report it to ADG at [email protected] and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office Consumer Information and Complaints Unit at (602) 542-5763 or by visiting azag.gov/consumer.
- Cease activity on the platform and monitor financial accounts for unauthorized transactions.
- If you suspect identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”): for help in English, go to IdentityTheft.gov, and for help in Spanish, go to RobodeIdentidad.gov.
ADG takes complaints about all illegal gambling seriously. To report any form of suspected illegal gambling, visit gaming.az.gov/about/contact-us, call ADG at (602) 255-3886, or email [email protected]. Reports can be made anonymously.
The post Arizona Department of Gaming Continues Enforcement Against Unlicensed and Unregulated Gaming Operators appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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