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One of the ways AI models are rapidly improving is in their image editing capabilities, to the extent that they can now quickly take care of tasks that would previously have taken a substantial amount of time and effort in Photoshop. This is undoubtedly one of the main reasons Adobe has decided to introduce its own ChatGPT plug-ins. Want your t-shirt to be blue rather than red? Need to cut out a person or an object from an otherwise perfect group selfie? These are tricks that AI chatbots are now able to do cleanly and professionally, from just a text prompt. You don't need to have any digital photo editing skills; you only need to describe what you want to happen. Over the past few months, both Gemini and ChatGPT have become better at more precise edits. They're able to tweak part of an image and leaving the rest of it untouched, rather than rendering everything again from scratch just to alter one detail. Now Gemini has quietly added some more markup tools for this job. Marking up images in GeminiGoogle hasn't said anything officially about these markup tools, which suggests the feature is still in testing (it's also previously been spotted by the team at Android Authority). If you're not seeing these tools, try quitting and restarting the Gemini app on mobile, or refreshing the app on the web—and if you still can't see the options after that, you may have to be wait a little bit longer If this functionality has rolled out to you, you should be able to upload an image in a chat using the + (plus) button in the prompt box, and then tap or click on the image thumbnail to find the markup tools. At the moment, they only show up before the image has been edited—you can't find them after you've started generating edits. Look out for this pop-up to see if you have the new feature. Credit: Lifehacker The easiest tool to understand is the drawing tool, which is enabled via the icon that looks like a scribble. You can use this to highlight a particular part of an image—a space in the sky, a lamppost in the street, a face in a crowd—and then describe the change you want Gemini to carry out. For example, rather than just saying "add a cartoon dragon in the sky" in your prompt, you can actually combine that prompt with a circle on the image showing exactly where the dragon should go. It gives you even more of that Photoshop-level precision, without cluttering up the interface too much. The scribblings can also be used if you're asking questions about the image. For example, you could circle an actor or an object in a scene and then ask "who is this?" or "what is this?" in the attached prompt. In that sense it works in a similar way to the Circle to Search feature that's available for images on Android. You can add scribbles and text to your images. Credit: Lifehacker There's also a text tool—the T icon—but I'm not sure exactly how you use this (and there's no official help available yet). You can use it to describe changes you want to apply to your picture (like "an add arrow here"), but the text stays in place—it's almost like a rudimentary text overlay feature, with a choice of colors but no font or styling options. You can use the prompt to manipulate the text you've added, adding outlines and backgrounds for example, so perhaps that's the way it's intended to be used: a more precise editing option, but for text. Presumably once these tools have reached all Gemini users, we'll get some more information from Google on how to use them—but you may well find they're available to you now. View the full article

Bloomberg Intelligence puts odds on a release from conservatorship and issuing new shares. Its study estimates critical steps would take "months if not years." View the full article

Every year since 2010, I’ve posted an article about what trend I expect to dominate the next twelve months. Throughout the 2010s, these forecasts usually focused on emerging technologies or new currents in management thinking. But around 2020, that began to shift. The annual trends increasingly centered on how we cope with change rather than the change itself. Last year my trend was “The Coming Realignment.” History tends to propagate at a certain rhythm and then converge and cascade around certain points. Years like 1776, 1789, 1848, 1920, 1948, 1968, 1989—and, it seems, 2020—mark these inflection points. The years that follow are usually spent absorbing the shock and navigating the consequences. Today, everything is up for question. Will AI boom or bust? Will it take our jobs or bring new prosperity? What kind of economic system will we adopt for the future? We are in the midst of a great realignment. What we know from previous inflections is that what comes after will be profoundly different from before. What we most need to watch is our institutions. AI boom or bust? Today, the AI investment boom is without a doubt the single biggest factor propping up the US economy. Just this year, tech giants are expected to invest roughly $364 billion in the technology. And the spending won’t stop there. McKinsey projects that building AI data centers could add up to $5.2 trillion in investment by 2030. This boom is different from what we’ve seen in the past because the main investors aren’t speculators or startups, but some of the world’s most profitable companies, including Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft. Unlike in past cycles, if the industry hits a downturn, there will still be tens of billions of dollars in annual profits to cushion the blow. Still, as investor Paul Kedrosky points out, there are reasons to worry. Investment in data center infrastructure has already surpassed the peak of the dot-com boom and is beginning to approach levels last seen during the railroad frenzy of the 19th century. Also, 60% of the cost of those data centers goes to AI chips, which have a useful life of only about three years. That means this is not a boom that can wait decades to pay off. If today’s investments don’t generate returns in the near future, much of the infrastructure could fully depreciate before delivering meaningful profit. In practical terms, unless tech firms can earn more than $200 billion in profit—on these investments alone, not from their core businesses—they will be underwater. And as investment accelerates, that bar only rises. Kedrosky also notes signs of growing systemic risk. Increasingly, tech giants are choosing to finance their infrastructure build-outs with Enron-like special-purpose vehicles. These structures cost more but keep the debt off their balance sheets. That risk, in turn, is increasingly being passed to more traditional investors, including REITs. Will AI displace humans or enhance us? A 2023 report by the World Economic Forum, analyzing 673 million jobs, predicted structural job growth of 69 million jobs and a decline of 83 million, an overall decrease of 14 million jobs. An IMF analysis found that 40% of global employment is exposed. In an interview with Axios, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said AI could wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs in the next one to five years. Yet more grounded economic analyses suggest a much more modest impact. A study by the St. Louis Fed suggests a 1.1% increase in aggregate worker productivity, with much of that increase concentrated in the tech sector. A paper by Nobel laureate Daron Acemoglu, which looks at total factor productivity (TFP), a measure which takes use of capital into account, sees a 0.66% increase over 10 years, translating to a 0.064% increase in annual TFP growth. A recent McKinsey report takes an optimistic view. While noting that many routine office and production jobs are likely to disappear, those that leverage technical, social and emotional skills are likely to flourish, just as Autor has predicted. However, there is reason to suspect that optimists may be merely extrapolating from historical trends that may no longer apply. There’s no guarantee that the future will look like the past. An analysis in Harvard Business Review suggested that AI could disrupt the non-routine creative work that, to this point, has been hard to automate. Meanwhile, research in Science has found that, although AI may enhance individual creative work, it diminishes the diversity of novel output, potentially stifling the very innovation it aims to support. What will be the economic system of the future? Before 1789 the world was ruled by the divine right of kings and the feudal system. Yet that year would prove to be an inflection point. The American Constitution, the French Revolution, and the first Industrial Revolution, already underway since the introduction of the steam engine in 1776, together created a fundamental realignment of power. These forces would build and clash for decades until things came to a head in the revolutionary year of 1848. Today, we seem to be in a similarly liminal space, as we decide what kind of future we want to live in. The next century and a half would be dominated by the tensions between socialism and capitalism. When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, the West was triumphant. Communism was exposed as a corrupt system bereft of any real legitimacy. Yet for anyone paying attention, communism had long been discredited. As far back as the 1930s, Stalin’s disastrous collectivization and industrialization campaigns had led to mass starvation. By the 1970s, Soviet total factor productivity growth had gone negative, meaning more investment actually brought less output. Yet today, it is capitalism that finds itself under siege from all sides. Leftist progressives like Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani advocate for reining in the private sector and creating a bigger safety net. The mercantilist American president rails against free trade and nationalizes the means of production. Christian nationalists openly call for theocratic rule. At the same time, a new cadre of theorists has emerged whose ideas don’t fit the traditional right-left paradigm. New Right thinkers such as Curtis Yarvin and Patrick Deneen call for wholesale reordering of society. On the more technocratic side, a new school of thought is emerging that is associated with Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s book Abundance. It’s the institutions, stupid In Why Nations Fail, economists Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson explain why the fate of nations rests less on innate factors such as geography, culture, or climate and more on the quality and types of institutions they build. In particular, they make the distinction between inclusive institutions and extractive institutions. Inclusive institutions protect property rights broadly across society, establish fair competition, and reward innovation. Extractive institutions, on the other hand, concentrate wealth in the hands of a small elite who exploit the broader population. These elite players control resources and use state power to enrich themselves at society’s expense. We are clearly in a liminal period in which we are struggling to adapt to shifts in technology, economics, and identity. Will AI oppress or empower regular people? Will we trade openly or retreat behind national barriers? Will we focus primarily on our local communities or see ourselves as citizens of a larger planet? As ever, there will be no shortage of pundits predicting the paths the future will take. Many of their narratives will be persuasive—but also mutually contradictory. The real tell will be what kinds of institutions we build and which ones we allow to decay or be destroyed outright. Are we creating institutions that strengthen rights and the rule of law, or those that serve the powerful? The outcome is still unclear, but the lines of battle have been drawn. If you want to know what to expect in the near to mid-term, pay less attention to predictions about technology, politics, or ideology and focus instead on institutions. Those are what create the norms and rituals that will shape the behaviors of the future. View the full article

Hedge fund billionaire says acquisition of Vantage is milestone in effort to transform real estate company Howard Hughes View the full article

If you get a letter from a company called 700Credit, don't ignore it. Your information may have been compromised in a massive breach affecting more than 5.8 million consumers, and you should take the necessary steps to protect your data. 700Credit supplies credit and identity verification services to more than 21,000 vehicle, RV, powersport, and marine dealerships in the U.S., so if you've purchased a vehicle and applied for dealer financing—or even been pre-screened or pre-qualified to do so—your information could have been affected. What happened with 700Credit?According to the company's filing with the Maine Attorney General, 700Credit's systems were hacked between Oct. 25 and Oct. 27. Attackers stole personal information about customers of 700Credit's dealership clients, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers (SSNs), and dates of birth. As BleepingComputer reports, this breach was actually a consequence of a system compromise back in July at one of 700Credit's 200 integration partners. Threat actors were able to gain access to an API used to pull consumer data, and a security vulnerability in the API allowed them to exfiltrate information from 700Credit. What you need to doIf you receive a data breach notice from 700Credit, read it carefully. 700Credit is offering 12 months of credit monitoring and identity restoration services through TransUnion's Cyberscout to affected consumers. You will need to go to the URL listed in your notice and enter your unique activation code in order to enroll, and you have 90 days from the date of the letter to complete the process. 700Credit expects to begin notifying individuals starting on Dec. 22. In addition to utilizing the free credit protection, you should take the usual precautions to lock down your identity: Freeze your credit at all three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). Place a fraud alert on your credit file. You only need to do this at one bureau, which will apply it to all three. Keep an eye on your financial accounts for suspicious transactions as well as your credit report. Note that if your credit is frozen, thieves shouldn't be able to take out new credit in your name. Request an IP PIN from the IRS to prevent someone from filing a tax return using your SSN. Follow good digital hygiene practices, such as using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. You cannot reverse a data breach, but you can (and should) do damage control. View the full article

Murtaza Lakhani is the highest-profile oil trader to have been targeted by western sanctions since 2022View the full article

Net zero is difficult enough — but an age of net negative emissions goals would be far tougher View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. For parents shopping for a first kids’ tablet that won’t turn into a headache or break after one drop, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids (2024) might be worth a look. It usually retails for $149.99, but it’s currently marked down to $74.99 on Amazon, its lowest price to date, according to price trackers. Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet $74.99 at Amazon $149.99 Save $75.00 Get Deal Get Deal $74.99 at Amazon $149.99 Save $75.00 At that price, you’re getting a rugged case, a year of Amazon Kids+ subscription, a two-year worry-free replacement guarantee, and solid parental controls all bundled into one eight-inch tablet. It’s not fast, and it doesn’t have a high-res display, but for young kids starting out with screen time, it does a lot right. It has a 2.0GHz hexa-core processor, 32GB of storage (expandable to 1TB), and a 1,280-by-800 resolution display. It handles video streaming and basic apps well, though heavier games and multitasking can slow it down. Battery life is impressive, lasting close to 10 hours in PCMag’s video playback tests. The case, which adds bulk, also includes a built-in stand that doubles as a handle, though younger kids might need help adjusting it. It’s not waterproof, but if it breaks, Amazon will replace it for free within two years—no questions asked. Setup requires a parent to create profiles, set screen time limits, and customize content filters. Once done, kids can access Amazon Kids+, which includes age-appropriate books, videos, games, and a genuinely fun “Quest” feature that blends learning with light gamification. When the free trial ends, though, you’ll need to pay $5.99 a month (or $48 annually) to keep access to that library. Without it, the experience is much more limited and depends on how much effort you want to put into finding and installing your own content. But for under $75, with a kid-proof case and thoughtful tools for parents, it’s one of the better value tablets out there for kids aged three to seven. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $248.00 (List Price $399.99) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Graphite) — $139.99 (List Price $219.99) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p 3-Camera Kit With Sync Module Core — $74.99 (List Price $189.99) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Meta Quest 3 512GB Mixed Reality VR Headset with Controllers — (List Price $499.99 With Code "QUEST50") Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Stargazers and scientists are getting a holiday present from the cosmos this week. 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar comet, will get “closest” to Earth on Friday, December 19, as part of its journey across the galaxy. Let’s break the facts of this natural phenomena down because it sounds like it could be the plot of an exciting science fiction thriller. What is an interstellar comet? Much like a Christmas tree, planets in our Solar System revolve around our star, the sun. It’s not the only planetary system out there. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, contains other systems, and if you zoom out even further, there are even more. The comet 3I/ATLAS is labeled interstellar because it comes from outside our star system and is not gravitationally bound to the sun. It’s on an elliptical vacation of sorts, exploring new locations with a greater freedom than the other objects surrounding it. When was 3I/Atlas discovered? Scientists only recently discovered 3I/ATLAS, on July 1, 2025. The Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System survey telescope, funded by NASA and located in Rio Hurtado, Chile, first laid eyes on the object. This observation caused scientists to go back and look over records from other Atlas telescopes to learn more. These pre-discovery findings found evidence of the comet dating back to June 14, 2025. The comet got its name because it is a tradition to name objects after the people or system that discover them. In this case, it was named after Atlas. The 3 and the I tell the world this is the third interstellar object found. How close will 3I/ATLAS actually get? On Friday, 3I/ATLAS will get the closest to Earth in its orbit, but close is a relative term. It will cross within 167 million miles of our planet. To put that in perspective, that is around two times the distance between the Earth and the Sun. The comet poses no danger to Earth, meaning there’s no need to hire a ragtag group of oil drillers à la the 1998 film Armageddon. How best to view 3I/Atlas Unfortunately, 3I/ATLAS cannot be viewed by the naked eye. Dedicated stargazers will need a small telescope. But the silver lining is that the comet will hang around until spring. For best results, view in the early, predawn hours. According to NASA, those who are extra enthusiastic and planning a Friday adventure should focus on the bright star Regulus in the constellation Leo, as 3I/ATLAS should appear near that location. For those who are without a telescope and would rather sleep in, NASA has done the work for you. You can visit the NASA website to view 3I/ATLAS from many different angles. Maybe the pictures will inspire you to write the next great science fiction tale. Finally, NASA’s “eyes on the solar system” tool lets you view a simulated live version of 3I/ATLAS as it hurls through space. View the full article

The Christmas holiday season is a time to step back from the busy pace of modern life and connect with our nearest and dearest instead of screens, apps and chatbots. Here are some suggestions on how to unplug from the online world for the next few weeks as you sit down for a festive meal, exchange gifts or take time out for some self-reflection. Do not disturb me Your phone already has built-in features that can help you stop getting distracted. To temporarily silence all those attention-seeking notifications, use the Focus setting on your iPhone or Android device. This mode is designed to stop interruptions when you want to concentrate. You can customize it by blocking specific apps or muting only when you’re doing certain things, like sleeping or reading. Android and iOS also have related screen time controls to manage overall device usage. Too much Instagram scrolling? Limit yourself to a daily total of 20 minutes. There are other tricks you could try, like turning the screen gray to make it less appealing. On iPhones or Android devices, tweak the color filter or adjustment settings. On Android, activating Bedtime Mode also turns the screen gray. Delete apps If you need to be more strict with yourself, then delete any or apps you’re addicted to. An effective way to stop looking at your phone is by removing those apps that you spend the most time scrolling through, even if temporarily. You can always reinstall them again if the withdrawal symptoms become too much. Get outside … When the temperature drops, it’s tempting to hunker down inside and stay cozy. But don’t sit on the couch all day. Head outdoors, away from Wi-Fi signals. If it’s been snowing where you are, have a snowball fight or go sledding. To keep your hands warm, don’t forget to put on bulky mittens — which your phone’s touch screen won’t respond to. Even if there’s no snow, take a walk in the woods, a park or along some tree-lined streets. Time spent outdoors, and away from screens, can benefit your mental health and physical well-being. There’s even a term for it: forest bathing. … And touch grass There’s an app you can use to force yourself to — literally — get back in touch with nature. Touch Grass takes its name from a viral catchphrase for when someone has lost their connection to the real world because they’re consumed by what’s on their screens. It’s similar to other apps designed to restrict screen time by forcing users to take a timeout from scrolling. The difference is that Touch Grass requires users to go outside and take a picture of themselves physically touching some grass. Touch Grass has a free service level that allows you to block two apps. I found it was quite effective at stopping me from opening two of my favorite time-wasters, Reddit and Instagram, though I ended up spending more time on other apps like Facebook. To block all apps, you’ll have to shell out for a subscription — $6 a month or $50 annually. If you can’t find grass because it’s winter, there’s also the option to touch snow or sand. It’s only available for iPhones so far, but there are copycat versions for both iOS and Android, though we haven’t tested them. Putting pen to paper When was the last time you sent a Christmas card? Most digital natives find it easier to type out holiday greetings or send digital cards over chat apps, than to put pen to paper. The consequence of all the time that we spend tapping, typing or swiping on our devices is that handwriting is becoming something of a dying art. But there are neurological and cognitive benefits of handwriting, research suggests. For example, taking notes by hand is a better way for students to learn and to remember information. So use this time of year to write a thoughtful message to someone special, a letter to a long-lost friend, or thank you notes for presents received. Pick up a book If you still don’t know what you want for Christmas, why not ask for a book? It’s easy to find inspiration and ideas at this time of year, when many people like to share the books they’ve read over the past 12 months, and outlets including The Associated Press compile their list of the year’s best books. Reading long-form literature or non-fiction has many benefits that can’t be gained from glancing at short-form bursts of text on your device, including a deeper understanding of a topic, developing empathy, increasing your focus and concentration and more. Lock your device up If you’re looking for a last-minute gift, how about a time-lock vault to put your devices out of reach for, say, 15 minutes, a few hours or even weeks? There are plenty of versions for sale online. For about $30, I bought a battery-powered gray plastic model that can hold several smartphones. The instruction leaflet says it’s intended to “enhance self-discipline.” Punch in the amount of time — up to 30 days — and a digital display will count down until it unlocks. The lid has portholes so you can thread in cables for charging while you wait. One evening, I locked my phone up for an hour and then grabbed my laptop to do some online Christmas shopping. But my plans were foiled because I forgot that authentication requests for my credit card and Amazon went to my phone. Not-as-smart phones For another gift idea, consider putting a brick phone under the tree. Also known as a feature phone, these devices cater to those who want a back-to-basics phone without all the digital stimulation that comes with a smartphone. Retro devices from Nokia evoke the early days of the cellphone era — no touch screens, numeric keypads and throwback video games like Snake. Most can only make voice calls and send text messages. If that sounds too primitive, there are so-called digital minimalist phones that serve a similar market niche. Devices from Light, Punkt and Balance offer sleek, modern designs but with a stripped-down experience. Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip. —Kelvin Chan, AP Business Writer View the full article

One of the best things about the Christmas period is all the yummy desserts found in people’s kitchens. But now one of the largest food companies in America is issuing a warning about one of those sweet treats. Here’s what you need to know about a new recall from Danone U.S., which impacts one of its dairy-free frozen desserts. What’s happened? On December 15, North American food producer Danone U.S. announced a voluntary recall of one of its dessert products, per a notice posted on the website of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company is recalling its So Delicious Dairy Free brand of Salted Caramel Cluster Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert. The recall is due to concerns that the product may contain foreign materials mixed into the dessert. Specifically, there is a chance that the cashews in the frozen dessert may have “small stones and other hard objects” embedded within them. The potential for foreign material contamination is obviously concerning, which is why Danone U.S. is pulling the impacted products from the shelves and urging consumers who have them not to eat them. What products are included in the recall? Only one product is listed as being part of this recall, though the product has multiple best-by dates: Product Name: So Delicious Dairy Free Salted Caramel Cluster Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert pints SKU: 136603 UPC: 744473476138 Best-By Dates / Lot No (Exp Dates): Before 08 Aug 2027 The recalled product, as the notice on the FDA website states, can have multiple “Best-By Dates / Lot No (Exp Dates),” all of which are before August 8, 2027. Danone U.S. has also posted photographs of the recall product, which you can view here. It should be noted that the recalled product actually came in two different packaging designs. Products purchased before February 7, 2025, have a different package design than those purchased after. Has anyone been harmed by the recalled product? The recall notice does not state whether anyone has been harmed by the presence of foreign materials in the frozen dessert. Danone U.S. says, “So Delicious Dairy Free is working swiftly with retail partners to remove the potentially impacted product from shelves. In the meantime, the company has already identified and corrected this issue and will soon be able to bring back the frozen dessert so many people enjoy.” Where was the recalled product sold? The notice does not specify where the product was sold. Fast Company has reached out to Danone U.S. for additional details. What should I do if I have the recalled product? You should not consume the recalled product if you have it in your possession. Instead, the recall notice posted on the So Delicious website states that you should dispose of the product. For information about a refund for the product, consumers are asked to contact So Delicious via the contact form on its website. Alternatively, consumers can call the company on the So Delicious Dairy Free Care Line at 1-833-367-8975. View the full article

Data will fuel boost calls for Fed to keep cutting ratesView the full article

Starting a certificate company can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. By following five straightforward steps, you can simplify the process and set yourself up for success. First, you’ll need to choose a unique business name that appeals to your audience. Next, appoint a registered agent based in Texas, then decide on your business structure. After that, drafting an operating agreement is crucial before you file the Articles of Organization. Comprehending each step is key to your success. Key Takeaways Choose a unique business name that reflects your brand and check its availability through the Texas business entity website and Google. Appoint a registered agent with a physical Texas address to handle legal documents and ensure compliance. Decide on a business structure, such as an LLC or corporation, considering legal and tax implications for your company. Draft an operating agreement detailing ownership, profit distribution, and management responsibilities to enhance credibility and clarify roles. File the Articles of Organization by submitting the Certificate of Formation to the Texas Secretary of State, ensuring compliance with naming requirements. Choose Your Unique Business Name Choosing a unique business name is essential for establishing your brand identity and avoiding potential legal complications. To begin, check the Texas business entity website and Google to confirm your chosen name isn’t already in use. This step is important, as it prevents trademark infringement issues that could affect your certificate of incorporation. Consider using descriptive words that relate to your products or services, enhancing your market presence. Furthermore, conduct a name search with the USPTO to identify any existing trademarks that may pose conflicts. Gathering feedback from friends and family can likewise help confirm your name resonates well with potential customers and stakeholders. A thoughtful name choice can greatly impact your business’s success and recognition in the market. Appoint a Registered Agent Appointing a registered agent is a critical step in the process of establishing your business, as this individual or entity will act as your official point of contact for legal documents. In Texas, your registered agent must have a physical address in the state and be available during regular business hours. You can choose to act as your own registered agent, appoint an employee, or hire a registered agent service for added privacy and professionalism. Keeping your registered agent information current with the Texas Secretary of State is fundamental to avoid legal complications. Option Pros Cons Self-Appointment Control over documents Limited privacy Employee Familiarity with business Possible time constraints Registered Agent Service Professional handling Additional cost Decide on Your Business Structure Deciding on your business structure is a crucial step that greatly impacts your operations, liability, and taxes. In Texas, you have several options: Sole Proprietorship, Limited Liability Company (LLC), Corporation, General Partnership, and Limited Partnership. Each comes with unique legal and tax implications. LLCs are often favored for startups because of their simplicity and personal liability protection, allowing profits to pass through to your personal tax returns. Corporations, whether C or S-Corps, have different structures and shareholder limitations. A Sole Proprietorship is the easiest to set up, but it lacks liability protection. Before making your choice, consult a legal advisor or accountant to understand the implications, including the need for a letter of incorporation for certain structures. Draft Your Operating Agreement After establishing your business structure, the next step involves drafting your operating agreement, particularly if you’ve chosen to form an LLC. This document outlines your ownership structure, management responsibilities, and operational procedures, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Although Texas doesn’t legally require it, having one increases your business’s credibility and aids in resolving conflicts. Key Elements Importance Notes Ownership Structure Clarifies member roles Vital for multi-member LLCs Profit Distribution Prevents disputes Details how profits are shared Decision-Making Process Improves collaboration Defines how decisions are made Member Changes Maintains clarity Covers adding or removing members LLC Dissolution Provides a clear exit Outlines the dissolution process Keeping this agreement updated is significant for compliance and can be particularly useful during disputes or audits, especially regarding your limited liability company annual report. File the Articles of Organization Filing the Articles of Organization is a crucial step in officially establishing your LLC in Texas. You’ll need to submit the Certificate of Formation for a For-Profit Limited Liability Company to the Texas Secretary of State, which you can do online or by mail. The filing fee is currently $300. Typically, online submissions take about 2-3 business days for processing, whereas mailed applications may take up to 5 days. Be sure to include your LLC’s name, registered agent’s name and address, and the business purpose in your application. Check that your chosen LLC name complies with Texas naming requirements to avoid delays. Once approved, your Articles of Organization will establish your LLC as a legal entity under Texas law. Frequently Asked Questions What Are 5 Steps to Starting a Business? To start a business, first, choose a unique name and check its availability. Next, decide on the business structure, like an LLC or Corporation, which affects taxes and liability. Then, hire a registered agent to handle legal documents. After that, file your Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State, usually online. Finally, obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS for tax purposes and employee hiring. What Are the Steps to Register a Business? To register a business, start by choosing a unique name and checking its availability. Next, decide on a business structure like an LLC or Corporation, which impacts your liability and taxes. File the Certificate of Formation with the Texas Secretary of State online, and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. Finally, make certain you apply for any required licenses or permits based on your business type and location to stay compliant. What Is the 7 Step Process for Starting a Business? To start a business, you’ll want to follow these seven steps: First, choose a unique business name. Second, select a suitable business structure, like an LLC or Corporation. Third, appoint a registered agent. Fourth, file the necessary formation documents with your state. Fifth, obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. Sixth, set up a business bank account. Finally, make certain you comply with all local and state regulations to operate legally. What Is the Best Way to Register a Company? To register a company, start by choosing the right business structure, like an LLC or Corporation, for liability and tax benefits. Next, file your Certificate of Formation online through the Texas Secretary of State’s website, which can take 2-3 days. Appoint a registered agent in Texas to handle legal documents. Don’t forget to get your Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS for tax purposes and consider consulting a tax advisor for structure implications. Conclusion By following these five straightforward steps, you can successfully register your certificate company in Texas. Selecting a unique business name, appointing a registered agent, deciding on a business structure, drafting an operating agreement, and filing the Articles of Organization are crucial actions that will set your business on the right path. Once completed, you’ll be well-prepared to operate legally and efficiently in the state, allowing you to focus on growing your certificate business. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Successful Certificate Company Registration in 5 Easy Steps" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Starting a certificate company can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. By following five straightforward steps, you can simplify the process and set yourself up for success. First, you’ll need to choose a unique business name that appeals to your audience. Next, appoint a registered agent based in Texas, then decide on your business structure. After that, drafting an operating agreement is crucial before you file the Articles of Organization. Comprehending each step is key to your success. Key Takeaways Choose a unique business name that reflects your brand and check its availability through the Texas business entity website and Google. Appoint a registered agent with a physical Texas address to handle legal documents and ensure compliance. Decide on a business structure, such as an LLC or corporation, considering legal and tax implications for your company. Draft an operating agreement detailing ownership, profit distribution, and management responsibilities to enhance credibility and clarify roles. File the Articles of Organization by submitting the Certificate of Formation to the Texas Secretary of State, ensuring compliance with naming requirements. Choose Your Unique Business Name Choosing a unique business name is essential for establishing your brand identity and avoiding potential legal complications. To begin, check the Texas business entity website and Google to confirm your chosen name isn’t already in use. This step is important, as it prevents trademark infringement issues that could affect your certificate of incorporation. Consider using descriptive words that relate to your products or services, enhancing your market presence. Furthermore, conduct a name search with the USPTO to identify any existing trademarks that may pose conflicts. Gathering feedback from friends and family can likewise help confirm your name resonates well with potential customers and stakeholders. A thoughtful name choice can greatly impact your business’s success and recognition in the market. Appoint a Registered Agent Appointing a registered agent is a critical step in the process of establishing your business, as this individual or entity will act as your official point of contact for legal documents. In Texas, your registered agent must have a physical address in the state and be available during regular business hours. You can choose to act as your own registered agent, appoint an employee, or hire a registered agent service for added privacy and professionalism. Keeping your registered agent information current with the Texas Secretary of State is fundamental to avoid legal complications. Option Pros Cons Self-Appointment Control over documents Limited privacy Employee Familiarity with business Possible time constraints Registered Agent Service Professional handling Additional cost Decide on Your Business Structure Deciding on your business structure is a crucial step that greatly impacts your operations, liability, and taxes. In Texas, you have several options: Sole Proprietorship, Limited Liability Company (LLC), Corporation, General Partnership, and Limited Partnership. Each comes with unique legal and tax implications. LLCs are often favored for startups because of their simplicity and personal liability protection, allowing profits to pass through to your personal tax returns. Corporations, whether C or S-Corps, have different structures and shareholder limitations. A Sole Proprietorship is the easiest to set up, but it lacks liability protection. Before making your choice, consult a legal advisor or accountant to understand the implications, including the need for a letter of incorporation for certain structures. Draft Your Operating Agreement After establishing your business structure, the next step involves drafting your operating agreement, particularly if you’ve chosen to form an LLC. This document outlines your ownership structure, management responsibilities, and operational procedures, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Although Texas doesn’t legally require it, having one increases your business’s credibility and aids in resolving conflicts. Key Elements Importance Notes Ownership Structure Clarifies member roles Vital for multi-member LLCs Profit Distribution Prevents disputes Details how profits are shared Decision-Making Process Improves collaboration Defines how decisions are made Member Changes Maintains clarity Covers adding or removing members LLC Dissolution Provides a clear exit Outlines the dissolution process Keeping this agreement updated is significant for compliance and can be particularly useful during disputes or audits, especially regarding your limited liability company annual report. File the Articles of Organization Filing the Articles of Organization is a crucial step in officially establishing your LLC in Texas. You’ll need to submit the Certificate of Formation for a For-Profit Limited Liability Company to the Texas Secretary of State, which you can do online or by mail. The filing fee is currently $300. Typically, online submissions take about 2-3 business days for processing, whereas mailed applications may take up to 5 days. Be sure to include your LLC’s name, registered agent’s name and address, and the business purpose in your application. Check that your chosen LLC name complies with Texas naming requirements to avoid delays. Once approved, your Articles of Organization will establish your LLC as a legal entity under Texas law. Frequently Asked Questions What Are 5 Steps to Starting a Business? To start a business, first, choose a unique name and check its availability. Next, decide on the business structure, like an LLC or Corporation, which affects taxes and liability. Then, hire a registered agent to handle legal documents. After that, file your Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State, usually online. Finally, obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS for tax purposes and employee hiring. What Are the Steps to Register a Business? To register a business, start by choosing a unique name and checking its availability. Next, decide on a business structure like an LLC or Corporation, which impacts your liability and taxes. File the Certificate of Formation with the Texas Secretary of State online, and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. Finally, make certain you apply for any required licenses or permits based on your business type and location to stay compliant. What Is the 7 Step Process for Starting a Business? To start a business, you’ll want to follow these seven steps: First, choose a unique business name. Second, select a suitable business structure, like an LLC or Corporation. Third, appoint a registered agent. Fourth, file the necessary formation documents with your state. Fifth, obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. Sixth, set up a business bank account. Finally, make certain you comply with all local and state regulations to operate legally. What Is the Best Way to Register a Company? To register a company, start by choosing the right business structure, like an LLC or Corporation, for liability and tax benefits. Next, file your Certificate of Formation online through the Texas Secretary of State’s website, which can take 2-3 days. Appoint a registered agent in Texas to handle legal documents. Don’t forget to get your Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS for tax purposes and consider consulting a tax advisor for structure implications. Conclusion By following these five straightforward steps, you can successfully register your certificate company in Texas. Selecting a unique business name, appointing a registered agent, deciding on a business structure, drafting an operating agreement, and filing the Articles of Organization are crucial actions that will set your business on the right path. Once completed, you’ll be well-prepared to operate legally and efficiently in the state, allowing you to focus on growing your certificate business. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Successful Certificate Company Registration in 5 Easy Steps" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Efficient time management takes, well, time to perfect. There are a variety of hacks out there to help you schedule, focus, and complete your work, but it’s still hard to actually do all of that without the right guidance and mindset. If you’re struggling with time management, it might be worth spending some time digging deep on the topic and reading what experts have to say. Here are some of the best books I recommend to help you improve your time management skills. The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life. $10.00 at Amazon $17.99 Save $7.99 Learn More Learn More $10.00 at Amazon $17.99 Save $7.99 The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less $11.19 at Amazon $20.00 Save $8.81 Learn More Learn More $11.19 at Amazon $20.00 Save $8.81 Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World $15.99 at Amazon Learn More Learn More $15.99 at Amazon Eat That Frog $15.99 at Amazon Learn More Learn More $15.99 at Amazon The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People $9.99 at Amazon Learn More Learn More $9.99 at Amazon 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think $9.00 at Amazon $19.00 Save $10.00 Learn More Learn More $9.00 at Amazon $19.00 Save $10.00 Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals $11.99 at Amazon Learn More Learn More $11.99 at Amazon SEE 4 MORE For a whole-day overhaulThe 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life by Robin Sharma If your goal is to wake up every day and kick things off with maximum productivity and overall put-together-ness, try Robin Sharma’s best-selling manifesto on embracing mornings (something I've been endeavoring to do myself for a few months). Sharma believes success starts early in the morning, so if you can harness the power of your morning routine and get up early to greet the day, you can be more focused, productive, and happy—and I've certainly found that to be true for myself, though it absolutely is rough to get used to waking up earlier. It doesn’t take much, either: You just need one hour every morning for this, meaning this goes hand-in-hand with the concept of a "Power Hour," which also comes from a book you should read. Reviewers call it a “game changer” and “extremely important.” To maximize the least amount of time The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More With Less by Richard Koch You may have heard the old adage that 80% of our success comes from 20% of our work—or the Pareto Principle, which I've written about if you need a reminder—but what do you do with that information and how do you apply it to your life? Koch’s book is all about how you can identify the 20% of your effort that truly counts for productivity, then focus in on it. This is great for people who have way too much going on. Reviewers say it can “add hours to your days” and increase your happiness. To lean in on focusingDeep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport I recommend Newport’s deep work practice pretty often around here, and for good reason: Learning the skill of focusing hard on your important tasks is key to handling your responsibilities well and getting everything done. Deep work is all about getting more efficient by eliminating distractions, so you’ll end up doing more in less time. It's integral to getting into a flow state, and you need to master it if you want to succeed with other productivity approaches, like the Pomodoro technique. Newport is all about leaning in on the truly demanding tasks, not taking shortcuts to avoid them, so this is perfect for anyone who truly cares about the quality, not just the quantity, of their output. If you don’t know where to startEat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy If you want to get a sense of the sheer amount of productivity hacks out there—and which one is best for your specific needs—try this book of 21 tips, which is in its third edition. It’s part of a series by Tracy, so you could pick up a version for students or supplemental cards to keep on hand as reminders, but the original book is a hit for a reason. Its most famous tip is, of course, that you should "eat the frog," or tackle your biggest, most demanding task right away every day, but there are a handful of other solid ideas in there that can suit anyone's needs if that doesn't work for you. (Eating the frog isn't my preferred time management method, but that's why it's great there are so many options.) Reviewers call the steps “practical” and praise Tracy for being a consistently helpful read for years. To embrace an old classiThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey You’ve heard of this book before. Maybe you heard of the version geared toward teens or saw someone else using the supplemental workbook. It’s been around more than 30 years, and it’s a classic in the productivity world. Covey recommends being proactive, beginning tasks with the end in mind, prioritizing, thinking “win/win,” seeking to understand before being understood, synergizing, and taking time to recharge—and if that sounds vague, it’s only because he then goes into much greater detail in the book itself, which reviewers say should be part of your permanent library. To gain perspective168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam If it feels like you just don’t have enough time in a day to get everything done, you could just be dealing with an issue of perspective. Instead of thinking about the 24 hours in your day, try thinking about the 168 in a week—and then figuring out where the important stuff fits in there, so you’re sure to get it done. Vanderkam advocates for identifying what genuinely matters—and what doesn’t—then scheduling around it in a way that recognizes you really do have time for it. The only issue? You won’t be able to use being “too busy” as an excuse not to do the things you want to do anymore. I like this technique a lot and have used it to reframe my thinking around my busy weeks to great effect. For goal-settingFour Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman I've recommended one of Burkeman’s principles—the 3-3-3 method—before, but his full book, a New York Times bestseller, goes into much more detail on what he believes are the secrets to maximizing the productivity of your life. Hint: You’re going to think long-term—even longer-term than Vanderkam suggests—as the first thing you have to do is realize that not only is your life finite, but on average, you only have 4,000 weeks in it. That doesn’t seem like a lot when you think about it, right? The goal is to figure out how to use them to the best of your ability, which reviewers say the book helps with by reconciling readers with the fact that you won’t get everything done, so you have to decide what is most important to get done. View the full article

Decision follows signs of Eurozone resilience to The President’s tariffs View the full article

Last week, two fonts became the unlikely stars of a political messaging firestorm, after the The President administration replaced Calibri as its official diplomatic font in favor of Times New Roman, claiming that an initial shift to Calibri in 2023 was part of former President Biden’s “DEIA” agenda. The implication was clear: Calibri was framed as a liberal, Democratic font; while Times New Roman took its place as the The President administration’s more conservative choice. Now, a new study is revealing the major flaw in this logic: font is certainly a political tool, but it’s not inherently partisan. The study, titled “You’re Just Not My Type: How Attitudes Towards Fonts Explain Affective Polarization,” examines how affective polarization—or the tendency to associate positive feelings with one’s political ingroup, and negative feelings with outgroups—impacts people’s reception of different fonts. The study showed that, across multiple kinds of fonts, respondents were more likely to respond favorably to a font if they were told that it was associated with their own partisan and ideological beliefs. As the study’s conclusion explains, “People will ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ the typeface in a political logo based on their political views of the candidate it represents.” According to the researchers behind the study, Katherine Haenschen, Shannon Zenner, and Jessica R. Collier, this finding demonstrates that campaign designers shouldn’t feel constrained to only using certain kinds of fonts in their work—because, at the end of the day, constituents vote for candidates, not fonts. Emotion leads to analytical inconsistency This new study adds another layer of nuance to several years worth of research on how fonts are perceived in a political context. In 2019, an initial study coauthored by Haenschen found that individuals do make some instinctive ideological distinctions between typefaces. Serifs, like Times New Roman or Garamond, were rated by study participants as more conservative; while sans serifs such as Helvetica or Arial were rated as more liberal. But that perception isn’t the same as reality. Based on 2020 data from the Center for American Politics and Design, both Democrats and Republicans are more likely to use sans serif fonts, with 68% of Democratic candidates and 62% of Republican candidates using sans serifs that year, respectively. Haenschen, Zenner, and Collier’s research offers more context on why that might be the case. Across three survey experiments, the researchers tested the relationship between political identity and emotional reactions to typefaces. They found that, when it comes to fonts in politics, emotions matter more than stylistic preference. In one condition, participants were shown a font along with a brief description framing it as ideologically associated—like, for example, “Time magazine rates Garamond as the most conservative font.” In another, participants were shown a typeface with a partisan description (which refers to party affiliation), like, “Time magazine rates Century Gothic as the most Democratic font.” They were then asked to rate how much they liked the font. In both the ideological and partisan cases, respondents’ favorability ratings were noticeably impacted by their own political views. And the more partisan a respondent was, the more these descriptors impacted their choices. “If you tell me, ‘This font is liked by conservatives,’ and I’m a conservative, then that makes me like it even more,” Zenner says. “If you tell me that liberals like this typeface, and I’m not a liberal, then I tend to dislike that typeface—or it will affect how much I like it.” While some respondents resisted these impacts, she says, most people’s political affiliation dominated their responses more than their actual taste. “We saw that the political grouping you have can really overrun any kind of taste.” But it’s good news for designers, actually For campaign designers, these results may actually be good news. Zenner says designers shouldn’t worry about constraining their font choices based on ideological associations, because, ultimately, voters will associate their positive (or negative) feelings about a candidate with the font itself. “Designers need to keep in mind that they still have the ability to make choices about typefaces,” Zenner says. “They shouldn’t say, ‘I can only pick a sans serif typeface if we have a liberal candidate,’ or ‘I can only pick a serif if we have a conservative candidate,’ because, no matter what, the partisanship of the people who are voting swamps all these taste-level things.” For some candidates, she adds, this research also opens the door to convey a more nuanced platform through design. For example, a Republican candidate campaigning in a swing state might opt for a sans serif font more traditionally perceived “liberal” to communicate a more forward-thinking, modern, or progressive stance, without actually alienating their voters. Affective polarization can also help explain how a font can so easily become a political flashpoint, as in the case of the The President administration’s nixing of Calibri in favor of Times New Roman. As soon as these typefaces became a topic of political discussion, Zenner says, the way people responded to them became inherently tied to their own political affiliations. It’s no longer about how the font looks, or works, or whether anyone actually likes it—it’s all about how it’s been politically labeled. “People will be like, ‘I only want stuff that looks like Times New Roman because I associate with MAGA and The President, and therefore I’m going to back that up,’” Zenner says. “Or the opposite will be like, ‘I’m definitely going to use Calibri in everything and I am going to make a statement by doing that, and I don’t know if I even care for it or if I like it or not—it’ll just be the politics of it.’ I think it’s an example of where, yes, these differences in taste exist, but they’re very much driven by culture.” View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Call me immature, but I’m about a thousand times more likely to participate in activities that are good for me when they can be gamified. Even the simple pleasures of watching a number go up or earning a digital milestone badge can motivate me to get to the gym, track my meals, or form a new habit. Gamification can be used for focusing and studying, too, and a wide variety of apps exist to serve this purpose. Here are some of the best. Gamification apps for focusingFocusing is notoriously difficult, especially in this hyper-connected era in which many of us can’t go five minutes without getting a text or eat a meal without watching TikTok videos. Use your device to your advantage instead with these apps that turn focusing into a game. Finch Credit: Finch Finch is my favorite habit tracking app and I use it every day (streak as of today: 311!). You are responsible for the well-being of a happy little bird character and you take care of them by marking off your to-dos. I will be upfront and say it's a little infantilizing and mushy; it comes pre-loaded with to-dos like "get out of bed" and "take a stretch break." I left those in alongside the actual daily activities I programmed in myself for some easy wins, but the app is clearly designed for people struggling a little with executive function. To me, though, Finch is great because it's so positive. Other apps might penalize you for missing a day, but this one is encouraging. It's useful to have a little positive reinforcement every day, even if it's a little cloying. By completing your tasks, you send your bird on "adventures," earn in-game currency to dress them up in outfits, and level up your friendship score with them. Interestingly, you are also periodically prompted to enter in how you're feeling and what's making you feel that way, which the app tracks. Over time, you can see a data breakdown of your moods and the things that affect them, which is useful if you're trying to maximize your productivity and make a few lifestyle changes to enhance it. Read my full review of the Finch app here. Habitica Credit: Habitica One of the gold-standard apps in gamification and productivity is Habitica, which is almost like a roleplaying game. You designate the goal you want to achieve, track when you do it, and watch as your in-game avatar gains (or loses) health. Your avatar can even link up with other players for games and challenges, so you all level up together. You earn gold coins that can be spent in-game or “redeemed” when you do something you want to do in real life, like watch a movie. It’s free, but you can make in-app purchases or subscribe to group plans that help coordinate team goals for $9 per month, plus $3 per person. Read my full review of the app here. Toggl Credit: Toggl Another app that’s great for teams but also works well for personal productivity, Toggl is a time-tracker that gives you leaderboards in addition to achievements when you stay focused and get things done. If digital badges don’t get you going, imagine the rush of seeing your name at the top of a leaderboard. If you’re using it on your own, it’s free, but after a 14-day trial, teams will pay $9 per user per month. It looks like any digital calendar tool (and you can import calendars, like Google Calendar, right into it so you can see all your daily commitments), but there's a Play button in the top right corner that you tap when you're ready to track time. You can label the time blocks (and should get familiar with the concepts of time blocking and time boxing to make this most effective) so you can see precisely how many minutes you're devoting to a given task every day. Beeminder Credit: Beeminder Beeminder is a great app because it links up to a variety of other apps—Habitca, Toggl, Duolingo, Gmail, Fitbit, Strava, and more—pulling in your data to make sure you’re staying on track with your goals. If you have a goal to stay focused on Slack or emails, Beeminder can actually make sure you’re doing it instead of relying on you to be honest in self-reporting. Continue to do what you’re trying to do and a red line will appear, inching toward your goal. The catch? If you don’t stick to what you’re trying to focus on, it charges $5 to the card you have on file. Otherwise, it’s free for up to three goals, but you can unlock unlimited goals (and the ability to put off payments and set charge caps) with premium plans that move from $8 per month, $16 per month, or even $50 per month, depending on how many features you want. If you're worried about the money-losing aspect, don't be: This isn't a tyrannical, scammy app. The developers are clear that if something comes up and prevents you from completing a goal on time, you can respond to the email you received about that goal's timeline starting, ask for a refund, and they'll "always believe you" and reverse the charge. Gamification apps for studyingIf you need to gamify your studies, there are special apps that work well for that, too. The software above also works for studying, so if you’re more of a Habitica person, feel free to stick with those. The ones below have unique features that might be helpful for students. FocusPomo Credit: FocusPomo This is my favorite Pomodoro technique app. FocusPomo is simple to use and allows you to quickly access "focus sessions," which are periods of time that are blocked out for studying or working. The app blocks your other, more distracting apps and rewards you with a little tomato graphic whenever you finish a session. It might not seem like much, but just collecting tiny, pixelated tomatoes becomes a little addicting. The app syncs with your calendars and communication platforms to make it easier for you to launch focus sessions whenever you have something to do, too, so earning those little tomatoes is surprisingly easy. Read my full review of FocusPomo here. Flora Credit: Flora If you want something a little zen that still motivates you, try Flora, which is an app that just wants to help you plant trees (and stay focused on your work). It gamifies your productivity by rewarding you with cool animations, similar to the others on this list. Here, you get to you grow "trees" in a virtual forest, but only so long as you don't interrupt their growth by using your phone when you're supposed to be working. Moreover, you can bet money on your ability to carry out focus sessions or buy a subscription, both of which directly fund the planting of trees in the real world. That's not a gamification so much as a real-world contribution that can make you feel good about your studying. Read my full review of Flora here. Study Bunny Credit: Study Bunny Study Bunny is a game designed for students. It has an in-app timer and a scored flashcard system, slots for to-do lists, and room for 15 subjects. You are assigned a virtual bunny rabbit that gets happier when you track work and progress, but sadder when you pause a work session or don’t open the app. The longer you work, the more coins you earn to buy items for your bunny. The app is pretty janky and I won't lie about that, but it's cute and stress-free, which makes it ideal if you're looking for a fun way to stay motivated about your studies. Read my full review of Study Bunny here. View the full article

Chipotle is officially in its Ozempic era. Today, the brand is launching an all-new High Protein Menu in the U.S. and Canada, which it describes as “a clean menu for the protein movement.” The menu comes with six items, including proteinmaxxed burritos and bowls and a new salad option. The real stand-out, though, is what Chipotle is billing as its “first-ever snack,” but is really just a tiny cup of chicken. The High Protein Cup is a topping-less, four-ounce serving of adobo-seasoned chicken that you could easily hold in the palm of your hand—and it’s a perfect, if somewhat depressing, symbol of the GLP-1 age. For Chipotle, the new menu means embracing two emerging trends in the food and beverage space: bringing off-menu, TikTok-inspired hacks into its official product offerings, and offering more nutritionally optimized (and visually unappealing) options as GLP-1 weight loss drugs begin to transform American consumers’ eating habits. Menu hacks go mainstream Over the past few months, popular chains have increasingly been turning to platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels to see exactly how their fans are engaging with menus—and bringing those popular online hacks into the real world. Starbucks ignited the trend in July by launching a “secret menu” in its app that built off of the digital-driven consumer behavior of drink customization. That same month, Taco Bell tried something similar by rolling out a feature called “Fan Style,” which let users build their own menu items and share them on socials. In a press release, Chipotle explicitly cited a viral TikTok of a fan ordering a side of chicken for an extra protein boost as one of the inspirations behind its new High Protein Menu. “On social media, guests have been ‘hacking’ their orders by getting a side of protein as a standalone snack,” says Chris Brandt, Chipotle’s chief brand officer. “We’re formalizing that behavior.” Chipotle’s Ozempic era Chipotle’s new menu appears to be targeting two different prospective customers: Those who are embracing the broader high protein trend, and those who are seeking low calorie, nutrient-dense options out of necessity driven by GLP-1s. The difference between these two categories is stark. Protein in its own right is currently having a moment across the fitness and nutrition worlds, and that’s snowballed into the macronutrient finding its way into everything from Cheerios to Starbucks drinks and Propel electrolytes. New protein-focused items on Chipotle’s menu include a “double high protein” bowl and burrito, both filled with chicken, beans, and other toppings, and both clocking in at around 80g of protein for 800 calories. But what really stands out about the Chipotle High Protein Menu are its options geared toward customers on GLP-1s—a group that would otherwise be left behind by Chipotle’s traditional, high-calorie burritos. These include a High Protein-High Fiber Bowl and High Protein-Low Calorie salad, both explicitly labeled “GLP-1 friendly”; an Adobo Chicken Taco (which is a singular taco with 190 calories); and the aforementioned four-ounce chicken cup. “We designed GLP-1-friendly builds to generally align with widely shared guidance: approximately 300 to 550 calories, 20 to 40 grams of protein, and 6 to 12 grams of fiber,” says Brandt. “Our goal is to make it simple to find options that fit those ranges.” The logic behind the tiny chicken cup is clear: GLP-1 users need small, low-calorie, protein packed portions, because their brain’s hunger signals have been altered to feel fuller faster. But the unfortunate side effect of this effort is that, compared to Chipotle’s iconic chunky burritos and overstuffed bowls, its Ozempic-optimized chicken snack looks more like plain, sad fuel to be dutifully digested than a meal to look forward to. Chipotle is hardly the first brand to rethink its menus for the GLP-1 era, and it won’t be the last. The brand’s embrace of new menu items geared toward smaller appetites signals that, as weight loss medications continue to fly off pharmacy shelves, GLP-1-centric menus may become the norm for other fast casual spots. We just hope they’ll add a few toppings to their offerings. View the full article

Andrew Bailey signals caution on further cuts even as central bank responds to signs of slowing economyView the full article

There’s no shortage of apocalyptic headlines about the future of work in the era of artificial intelligence. For workers, the technology has inflicted anxiety and uncertainty, provoking questions of when, how many, and which kinds of workers will be replaced. Companies have been propelled into a FOMO fury to integrate AI expediently or miss out on efficiency, cost savings, and competitive advantage. The disruption is inevitable, but from where I sit at the nexus of employee mental health and technology, we’re asking the wrong questions. Enhancing, not replacing, humans As CEO of Calm, I have spent the past year visiting with executives and their teams across the country to understand how they are faring amid the uncertainty. No matter their sector or location, employers and employees alike have shared their resounding commitment to a future where human talent will still lead, where work will still be human-powered. There’s no doubt that the future will be different and that workforces will be impacted. The how, who and when of it all is likely to remain uncertain for some time. AI is already transforming how we work—but it isn’t replacing the human element of work. It’s enhancing it. The future of work won’t be man versus machine; it will be man and machine. I see this every day in our work and in conversations with others navigating this transition. An experiment One recent experiment reinforced this truth. Partnering with a major chip company, our team explored whether AI visual-language models could help people recognize and reflect on their own emotions like happiness, sadness, or fear—so that they might use them to overcome a barrier many face in seeking mental health support: putting their feelings into words. The aim wasn’t to use machines to tell someone how they feel, but to use technology to help support emotional self-awareness that could lead to better descriptions of their emotional experience and other important outcomes, ultimately enhancing their journey with mental health support. While the AI model achieved 80% accuracy in mapping facial expressions to core emotions, which is closing the gap on the level of accuracy needed to deploy the tool for use, it was clear that achieving the level of accuracy needed could only be achieved with human input to label the data. In short, AI gave us scale to gather and get close to helpful analysis, but human input gave that data the accuracy and meaning we needed to get to a use case. This isn’t just true for mental health technology. It’s the blueprint for the future of work across every industry. Technology supports it, but humans lead it. The organizations that will succeed won’t be the ones deploying technology in isolation. They’ll be the ones that invest as deeply in human capacity as they do in data and algorithms—prioritizing mental-health support infrastructure, designing resilient cultures, and creating workplaces where people and machines complement one another. And that requires a specific kind of leadership: leaders who ask how employees see themselves integrating AI to supercharge their work, not replace it—and who actively encourage their teams to engage with these tools in ways that feel empowering and additive. Leaders who listen to what their teams need now to be ready for the AI future. Leaders who model the human capabilities no algorithm can replicate: creativity, judgment, empathy, and emotional intelligence. Overwhelmed But here’s the problem: the very people we need to guide us through this transition are struggling to stay afloat themselves. Calm Health’s latest survey of more than 250 U.S.-based C-suite executives revealed a striking paradox. While nearly nine in ten rate their mental and emotional health as “good,” nearly half say they feel overwhelmed; one in four report anxiety or depression tied to their role. Sleep disruption (41%), exhaustion (34%), and an inability to be mentally present (40%) are rampant. Many leaders say they’ve considered stepping down or changing careers. This isn’t just about the general difficulty of leadership. This crisis is happening as leaders navigate one of the most disruptive technological transformations in history. They’re making critical decisions about AI integration, workforce transformation, and organizational change—while burned out, anxious, and unable to be mentally present. They’re being asked to model emotional intelligence and human-centered thinking while running on empty. Leaders who are sleep-deprived and overwhelmed cannot do the thoughtful, human-centered work that AI integration demands. They can’t ask the right questions about preserving creativity and empathy in their organizations. They can’t build psychologically safe environments where employees feel secure enough to experiment with new tools. They can’t listen deeply to their teams’ needs or properly mentor the next generation of leaders. And they certainly can’t inspire and sustain organizations through profound uncertainty. The wrong questions This leads me to believe that we’re asking the wrong questions when debating AI and the future of work. We should not be asking which sectors will be transformed and how fast. We know that it will be all sectors, and transformation is already happening. We should be asking questions about how we are supporting our leaders and employees through this transition. How are we fostering a shared vision and sense of connection? How are we minimizing exhaustion, burnout and anxiety? Eighty-four percent of executives believe that mental health directly impacts their company’s bottom line. Research shows that when workplaces invest in well-being, employees are three times more likely to be engaged, far less likely to burn out, and significantly more loyal to their employer. Burnout alone drives $200–300 billion in lost productivity and turnover each year, while companies that invest in mental-health care see returns of up to 4:1 through lower absenteeism, better performance, and improved retention. At Calm Health, we see this firsthand. When employees engage with our offerings, 77% complete a mental-health screening, 39% enroll in a clinical program, and 37% report improved well-being after a single session. The benefits don’t just improve individual lives—they lift culture, performance, and the organization as a whole. And that begins at the top. None of that is possible when leaders themselves are depleted. Contrary to dystopian headlines, most leaders already understand the human + AI future. Just 13% fear AI will replace human workers. Nearly 60% see AI and human talent as complementary. Thirty-one percent believe AI will free people to focus on higher-value work; another 25% believe it enhances human capabilities rather than replaces them. And almost 80% describe the human brain as the “original data center.” These aren’t comfort statements. They’re strategic imperatives. The leaders who hold this vision are right. But vision without capacity is just aspiration. To actually build organizations where humans and AI complement one another, leaders need to be mentally and emotionally equipped to do that work. Well-being in the workplace isn’t just nice to have—it is the infrastructure that enables performance, especially in the era of AI. Technology may speed and scale work, but it doesn’t relieve the need for emotional presence or psychological safety. AI will reshape nearly every job, industry, and business model. The question isn’t whether humans will still be needed. They will. The question is whether we’ll prioritize investment in the mental health of that “original data center” and AI at the same pace. Human capacity—especially leadership capacity—is required to navigate our future wisely. We need to support the leaders and the next generation of management to guide us there. That work begins with ensuring today’s leaders not only have access to transformational AI tools, but also mental health resources that support their higher-value work, so they can actually show up—mentally present, emotionally resilient, and genuinely human. View the full article

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Zoho has unveiled a significant expansion of its AI capabilities within its Finance and Operations Platform, promising to transform the way small businesses manage their financial tasks. With automation, enhanced insights, and predictive analytics, these new features aim to streamline operations for finance teams, ultimately leading to better decision-making and efficiency. At the heart of these enhancements is Zia LLM, Zoho’s proprietary large language model designed specifically for business applications. This innovative technology not only improves operational efficiency but also prioritizes data privacy, a crucial factor for small business owners managing sensitive financial information. Raju Vegesna, Zoho’s Global Chief Evangelist, emphasized the importance of security, stating, “When it comes to AI and data privacy, there is no greater concern than the safety of a customer’s financial information.” The newly integrated AI features offer a range of practical applications that can help small businesses automate tedious tasks and gain deeper insights into their financial health. The Ask Zia function acts as a virtual finance assistant, enabling users to pose a variety of questions—ranging from basic inquiries to complex command requests—thus allowing for a more nuanced understanding of their financial situation. Another noteworthy feature is the Co-Create Agent, which allows users to see how Zia is generating documents like invoices and custom reports. This transparency not only aids users in monitoring the AI’s actions but also empowers them to intervene whenever necessary, fostering a collaborative environment between human operators and AI. The platform’s automation capabilities extend to bank reconciliation, where AI can suggest categorizations for transactions, significantly reducing manual input and decreasing the potential for errors. This feature is particularly beneficial for small businesses that often lack extensive financial resources and personnel. Revenue forecasting is another critical addition. By analyzing historical data, this AI-driven tool predicts future trends, equipping small business owners with insights necessary for long-term financial planning. Coupled with anomaly detection, which flags inconsistencies in transactions in real-time, these features present a robust framework for proactive financial management. Additionally, Zoho’s Finance and Operations Platform introduces several other AI functionalities, including Generated Blueprints, AI Custom Fields, Invoicing Agent, AI Summary, and Write with Zia, all designed to optimize various aspects of financial operations. While the potential benefits are substantial, small business owners should also consider some challenges. Implementing advanced AI features might require an initial investment in training and integration. For businesses unfamiliar with AI tools, there may be a learning curve that could temporarily disrupt workflows. Furthermore, ensuring that all staff members are comfortable using these new technologies will be crucial for maximizing their effectiveness. In summary, Zoho’s enriched AI capabilities present a valuable opportunity for small businesses to enhance their financial operations. By automating mundane tasks and providing deeper insights, these tools can lead to improved efficiency and decision-making. However, small business owners should prepare for the transition by investing in training and support to fully leverage these innovations. For more information on these features, interested parties can reach out to support@zohobooks.com or visit the Zoho blog. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Zoho Enhances Finance Platform with Advanced AI for Smarter Operations" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Zoho has unveiled a significant expansion of its AI capabilities within its Finance and Operations Platform, promising to transform the way small businesses manage their financial tasks. With automation, enhanced insights, and predictive analytics, these new features aim to streamline operations for finance teams, ultimately leading to better decision-making and efficiency. At the heart of these enhancements is Zia LLM, Zoho’s proprietary large language model designed specifically for business applications. This innovative technology not only improves operational efficiency but also prioritizes data privacy, a crucial factor for small business owners managing sensitive financial information. Raju Vegesna, Zoho’s Global Chief Evangelist, emphasized the importance of security, stating, “When it comes to AI and data privacy, there is no greater concern than the safety of a customer’s financial information.” The newly integrated AI features offer a range of practical applications that can help small businesses automate tedious tasks and gain deeper insights into their financial health. The Ask Zia function acts as a virtual finance assistant, enabling users to pose a variety of questions—ranging from basic inquiries to complex command requests—thus allowing for a more nuanced understanding of their financial situation. Another noteworthy feature is the Co-Create Agent, which allows users to see how Zia is generating documents like invoices and custom reports. This transparency not only aids users in monitoring the AI’s actions but also empowers them to intervene whenever necessary, fostering a collaborative environment between human operators and AI. The platform’s automation capabilities extend to bank reconciliation, where AI can suggest categorizations for transactions, significantly reducing manual input and decreasing the potential for errors. This feature is particularly beneficial for small businesses that often lack extensive financial resources and personnel. Revenue forecasting is another critical addition. By analyzing historical data, this AI-driven tool predicts future trends, equipping small business owners with insights necessary for long-term financial planning. Coupled with anomaly detection, which flags inconsistencies in transactions in real-time, these features present a robust framework for proactive financial management. Additionally, Zoho’s Finance and Operations Platform introduces several other AI functionalities, including Generated Blueprints, AI Custom Fields, Invoicing Agent, AI Summary, and Write with Zia, all designed to optimize various aspects of financial operations. While the potential benefits are substantial, small business owners should also consider some challenges. Implementing advanced AI features might require an initial investment in training and integration. For businesses unfamiliar with AI tools, there may be a learning curve that could temporarily disrupt workflows. Furthermore, ensuring that all staff members are comfortable using these new technologies will be crucial for maximizing their effectiveness. In summary, Zoho’s enriched AI capabilities present a valuable opportunity for small businesses to enhance their financial operations. By automating mundane tasks and providing deeper insights, these tools can lead to improved efficiency and decision-making. However, small business owners should prepare for the transition by investing in training and support to fully leverage these innovations. For more information on these features, interested parties can reach out to support@zohobooks.com or visit the Zoho blog. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Zoho Enhances Finance Platform with Advanced AI for Smarter Operations" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article