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If you’re looking to streamline your social media strategy, utilizing sample social media calendar templates can be a transformative element. These templates, such as HootSuite’s customizable calendar and HubSpot’s organized solution, provide crucial features that improve your content planning. With options like Content Cal and Smartsheet offering automation and detailed breakdowns, you can enhance your workflow considerably. Explore these tools to find the best fit for your needs and boost your marketing efforts effectively. Key Takeaways HootSuite’s customizable calendar template facilitates planning across multiple platforms, enhancing workflow efficiency for social media strategies. HubSpot’s structured content calendar simplifies scheduling and allows customization for specific marketing goals, ideal for immediate use. Content Cal automates calendar creation, aligning social media strategies with broader marketing objectives for improved cohesion and accountability. Smartsheet’s detailed template provides a daily breakdown of posts, supporting collaboration and organized management across teams. Social Media Examiner’s Google Sheets template offers a practical solution for tracking posting schedules and ensuring timely content delivery. HootSuite’s Social Media Content Calendar HootSuite’s Social Media Content Calendar is a valuable tool for anyone looking to streamline their social media strategy. This customizable Google Sheet supports planning across five major platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok. With an evergreen content library tab, you can maintain a steady flow of content, avoiding those last-minute scrambles. The calendar is organized with tabs for each month and space for weekly post scheduling, making it easy to track your content creation and publication. You can download the sample social media calendar template for immediate use, ensuring quick implementation into your social media strategy. It improves workflow efficiency, allowing you to generate a social media analytics report template effortlessly, optimizing your content performance. HubSpot’s Social Media Content Calendar For those looking to improve their social media strategy, HubSpot’s Social Media Content Calendar offers a structured solution that simplifies the planning process. This all-encompassing spreadsheet supports organized scheduling across various platforms, guaranteeing you can manage your posts effectively. With dedicated sections for daily posting and monthly campaigns, it allows you to strategize your content efficiently. The calendar is designed for easy access and collaboration, making it ideal for teams handling multiple accounts. Furthermore, HubSpot’s template is customizable, so you can tailor it to fit your specific content needs and marketing goals. The downloadable format guarantees you can start using it right away, providing a practical tool for streamlining your social media management efforts. Content Cal’s Customized Content Calendar Content Cal’s Customized Content Calendar stands out as a strong tool for anyone looking to improve their social media planning. This platform automates calendar creation based on your input, helping you organize content over a 12-month period. It aligns your social media strategies with broader marketing goals, ensuring cohesive messaging. You can define content types and streamline your posting process, enhancing overall efficiency. The calendar requires you to draft and post actual content, promoting accountability. Furthermore, Content Cal provides insights into content performance, allowing you to refine strategies based on audience engagement. Feature Benefit Purpose Automation Saves time Simplifies calendar creation Strategy Alignment Cohesive messaging Supports marketing goals Performance Insights Refines content strategy Boosts audience engagement Smartsheet’s Social Media Content Calendar Template Smartsheet’s Social Media Content Calendar Template offers a detailed daily content breakdown, making it easier for you to manage posts across multiple platforms. With predefined slots for up to six daily posts per platform, you can guarantee consistent content delivery while tracking engagement data effectively. This template is designed for immediate use, allowing your team to streamline social media strategies and improve collaboration with ease. Daily Content Breakdown When you’re looking to streamline your social media strategy, the Daily Content Breakdown in the Social Media Content Calendar Template can be invaluable. This template allows you to effectively plan content across five major social platforms, ensuring that your messaging remains consistent. With predefined slots for up to six daily posts per platform, you can establish a reliable posting schedule. Furthermore, the template includes fields for social copy, images, links, and engagement data, which facilitates organized content management and performance tracking. You can easily download the template for immediate use, making setup quick and straightforward. This thorough layout helps visualize daily content plans, reducing last-minute content creation stress and enhancing overall workflow efficiency. Multi-Platform Support Having a structured approach to social media planning can greatly improve your strategy, especially with Smartsheet’s Social Media Content Calendar Template. This template supports planning across five major social platforms, with an “Other” section for additional channels. You can schedule up to six posts per platform each day, ensuring you maintain an active presence. The detailed daily breakdown includes fields for social copy, images, and links, allowing for thorough content management. By easily downloading the template, you streamline your content planning process and avoid last-minute scrambles. This organized format not only helps you stay on track but likewise enables your team to collaborate effectively, ensuring everyone is aware of upcoming posts and responsibilities. Engagement Data Tracking Effective engagement data tracking is a vital component of any successful social media strategy. With Smartsheet’s Social Media Content Calendar Template, you can easily monitor performance across five major platforms. This template allows you to capture critical engagement metrics, ensuring a detailed review of your content’s effectiveness. Here are some key features: Predefined slots for tracking likes, shares, comments, and link clicks Space to input social copy, images, and links for a thorough view Daily breakdowns to identify engagement trends over time Ability to spot high-performing content types Streamlined content planning that supports data-driven adjustments Social Media Examiner’s Social Media Calendar Template Social Media Examiner’s Social Media Examiner Calendar Template offers a practical solution for teams looking to streamline their content management across multiple platforms. Designed in Google Sheets, this template provides a detailed day-by-day view, making it especially useful for those posting high volumes of content. You can quickly implement the calendar since it’s downloadable for immediate use, which simplifies the content planning process. By organizing scheduling across various social media platforms, it guarantees your content remains timely and relevant. The template includes fields for crucial information, allowing teams to track their posting schedules and content strategies efficiently. Field Description Date When the content will be posted Platform Social media channel used Content Description Brief overview of the post Status Current state of the content Engagement Metrics Track likes, shares, and comments CoSchedule’s Social Media Content Calendar Template CoSchedule’s Social Media Content Calendar Template provides a centralized layout that streamlines your content management across various platforms. With visual planning features like customizable scheduling options and color-coding, you can improve the organization and visibility of your posts. This template not only helps you identify posting gaps with a monthly overview, but it additionally integrates seamlessly with other marketing tools to optimize your workflow. Centralized Content Management When managing a diverse array of marketing activities, having a centralized platform can greatly improve your content strategy. CoSchedule’s Social Media Content Calendar Template provides an extensive overview of your content plans across multiple channels. This template features a visual layout, enabling you to easily schedule, filter, and color-code posts. Here are some key benefits: Organizes your content planning and tracking seamlessly. Integrates with various tools, enhancing team collaboration. Identifies posting gaps, helping maintain a consistent schedule. Promotes effective social media strategy execution. Is downloadable for immediate implementation in your practices. Utilizing this template not just streamlines your workflows but also guarantees your marketing efforts remain focused and effective. Visual Planning Features One of the standout features of CoSchedule’s Social Media Content Calendar Template is its visual layout, which allows you to view your entire content strategy at a glance. This feature helps you easily identify posting gaps and overlaps in your schedule. The template also includes scheduling, filtering, and color-coding options, enabling you to organize content effectively by type, platform, or campaign. You can add monthly notes to track your progress and make necessary adjustments, ensuring alignment with your marketing goals. In addition, CoSchedule integrates with various tools, streamlining your workflows and allowing you to manage all marketing activities in one centralized location. The downloadable template offers a user-friendly interface, making collaboration with your team seamless and efficient. ClickUp’s Social Media Content Calendar ClickUp’s Social Media Content Calendar provides an efficient way to plan and organize your content across various platforms during keeping track of its status. This tool improves collaboration within teams and allows you to leverage a library of templates, streamlining your social media management. You’ll find it easier to store ideas for future posts and prioritize them based on your marketing goals. Key features include: Tracking content progress across platforms Integrating seamlessly with other tools Ensuring a focused content strategy Improving team collaboration Accessing a variety of templates With these capabilities, you can effectively oversee your social media campaigns, ensuring that your content aligns with your overall marketing objectives. Frequently Asked Questions How Do I Choose the Right Template for My Needs? To choose the right template for your needs, start by evaluating your objectives. Identify the platforms you’ll use and the type of content you want to share, like promotions or engagement posts. Consider how frequently you plan to post, as some templates accommodate daily, weekly, or monthly schedules. Evaluate the layout and design; it should be user-friendly and visually appealing. Finally, make sure it aligns with your brand’s identity and goals for consistency. Can I Integrate These Templates With Other Tools? Yes, you can integrate these templates with other tools. Most social media calendar templates are designed to work with various applications like Google Sheets, Trello, or Asana. You can easily import or export data between these platforms, enhancing your workflow. Furthermore, some templates offer features that allow direct linking to scheduling tools or analytics software, making it easier to manage your social media strategy efficiently during keeping everything organized in one place. Are These Templates Suitable for All Social Media Platforms? These templates can be adapted for various social media platforms, but their suitability depends on your specific needs. Each platform has unique characteristics, such as post length and image requirements. You should consider the audience and the type of content you plan to share. Although templates provide a structure, customizing them to fit each platform’s guidelines will improve your effectiveness in reaching your goals and engaging your audience. How Often Should I Update My Social Media Calendar? You should update your social media calendar regularly to stay relevant and effective. Aim for a review at least once a month, adjusting based on analytics and audience engagement. If you’re launching a campaign or responding to trending topics, update it more frequently. Consistent updates guarantee you’re aligned with your goals and audience needs, allowing for timely content that resonates. Staying flexible will help you adapt to changes in the social media environment. Is There a Cost Associated With Using These Templates? Using social media calendar templates can vary in cost depending on the source. Some templates are free, available through blogs or resource websites, whereas others might charge a fee, especially if they offer advanced features or customizations. It’s important to research different options, as paid templates often provide additional support or unique designs. Ultimately, the choice depends on your specific needs and budget, so weigh the benefits against the costs involved. Conclusion https://elements.envato.com/photos/social+media+calendar+template In summary, utilizing these seven crucial social media calendar templates can greatly improve your content planning and execution. Each tool offers unique features customized to streamline your scheduling process, enhance organization, and encourage collaboration. By selecting the right template for your needs, you can effectively manage your social media strategy, ensuring consistency and maximizing your marketing efforts. Take advantage of these resources today to boost your social media presence and achieve your business goals more efficiently. Image via Envanto This article, "Essential Sample Social Media Calendar Templates You Can Use Today" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

OLED is a fantastic display technology. Unlike an LCD, which uses a single backlight for all the pixels of the display, all of the pixels on an OLED display can be individually lit up or turned off entirely. That means dark areas of the screen are inky black, while brighter areas can be selectively illuminated. It just looks fantastic, and if I have the option, I always try to choose it. OLED isn't new tech at this point, and yet, Apple has been slow to adopt it into its products, especially when compared to some of its competitors. The company's first device to feature OLED was the Apple Watch in 2015, then the iPhone X in 2017, whereas every Samsung Galaxy has featured an AMOLED display since the company introduced the line in 2010. The iPhone remained the only product line with OLED for quite some time, until it included them with the M4 iPad Pros. Aside from these products, Apple tends to choose alternative display types for its devices. For certain products, like the iMac, MacBook Air, and most iPads, it still uses LCD. For more "premium" devices, like the MacBook Pro, it uses mini-LED, which offers a large number of backlight "zones." This gives these products more contrast than the single backlight of LCD, but not quite as much as OLED. I prefer watching shows and movies on my iPad with mini-LED than my LCD iMac, for example, but I'd always prefer my OLED TV. Apple's OLED roadmapAs it turns out, Apple might give me some new OLED options in the future. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is working on bringing OLED to more of its devices. Gurman says that the company is currently testing the tech for the MacBook Air, iPad mini, and iPad Air, all of which now ship with LCD. In addition, the company is reportedly working on an OLED MacBook Pro, which might also ship with a touchscreen. Before you get too excited for an OLED MacBook, Apple is likely starting the OLED rollout with the iPad—specifically, the iPad mini. Gurman's sources say the OLED mini will drop sometime next year, which would mark the first refresh for the device since 2024. While I'd love an OLED Mac, this might be the perfect excuse for me to pick up an iPad mini, which I've long thought of as the most fun of Apple's devices. Gurman isn't sure when Apple will add OLED to the iPad Air, but it won't be with the next refresh. The next-gen iPad Air will likely launch this spring, and will ship with LCD. That's true for the M5 MacBook Air, as well. While Apple is testing OLED for the Air, the next model will be out this spring sporting the same display tech as the M4. An OLED MacBook Air might not hit stores until 2028. If you'll buy any Mac that Apple sells with OLED, you're going to be buying a Pro. That OLED MacBook Pro might even come with a touchscreen, which would be a first for Apple's Mac line. That machine could be out as early as 2026, but Apple could also push them to 2027. Adding OLED to products won't come cheap, though. Gurman suggests that Apple could raise the price of the iPad mini $100, which would drive the starting cost from $499 to $599. When those OLED MacBook Pros come out, they'll also likely be even more expensive than the current Pros, by at least a few hundred dollars. These machines start at $1,999 (14-inch) and $2,499 (16-inch) today, so their OLED, touchscreen counterparts could fetch a high price tag. You probably shouldn't wait for these devices if you need to upgradeIf you're holding out on buying any new Apple tech until the company refreshes those devices with OLED, you're going to be waiting a while—at least, for anything other than the iPad mini. I'd recommend waiting for that particular device, but for the others, it might be a while indeed. If you really need an upgrade, Apple's current iPad Pros ship with OLED, and the mini-LED tech in its MacBook Pros is also excellent. But even the LCDs on its devices look quite good. If you can stomach seeing the backlight when dark elements are on-screen, an iPad Air or MacBook Air will suit you well. View the full article

Labour government has promised to apply limits to ‘fleeceholds’ on existing propertiesView the full article

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You may remember this, if you are old enough: in 2002, search engine optimization (SEO) transformed from a technical curiosity into a full-blown industry. All of a sudden, agencies, consultants, and “black-hat sorcerers” emerged overnight, offering tricks and hacks to get brands onto the first page. Today, we stand at the dawn of the next wave: what some call Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) or simply AI Engine Optimisation (AIO). The logic is similar: get your brand seen, but the stakes are higher, the rules blurrier, and the risks far more structural. Imagine a world where users no longer click search results but instead ask an AI assistant, in natural language, “What’s the best CRM for a small-business startup?” The answer appears instantly. No links, no pages, just a response. Brands that hope to matter must not only rank, but be mentioned, cited, trusted, and recommended before that user ever visits their site. This shift is real. Some articles call GEO “about getting your brand noticed and accurately represented in AI-generated answers”, talk about how it is “rewriting the rules of online shopping”, or advise brands that “AEO is the future of SEO”. But herein lies the danger. If SEO’s past is any teacher, we’re headed toward a new playground of snake-oil and shortcuts. Soon you’ll see “GEO specialists,” “AI optimization gurus,” and “zero-click quantum marketing” workshops popping up. Brands will chase algorithms that nobody fully understands, pay for tools that promise to “place you inside the answer box,” and invest in techniques whose mechanics are opaque even to those selling them. I should know. I’ve published daily for decades and licensed not under copyright, but copyleft (Creative Commons BY), open for anyone, including AI companies, to use, repurpose, or analyze. My reward? I’m widely well-positioned in the AI assistant era because I kept my content open, clear, structured, and undisguised. I don’t rely on tricks. My brand (in this case, my name) is simply known, cited, and relied upon. ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other chatbots knew me very well the first time I asked them who I was or what my ideas were, back in 2022. That is the real lesson. The perfect storm approaching Here are the forces aligning: AI assistants and answer engines now mediate discovery: traditional search traffic is already falling. Brands recognize that ranking #1 isn’t enough: they need to be the answer. AEO guides emphasize “being the response.” Agencies and vendors sense new revenue streams: tools measuring “AI brand visibility,” dashboards tracking “mentions in ChatGPT,” promise access to this new ecosystem. Algorithmic opacity means how you’re mentioned matters. Is your brand cited because you’re best, or because you paid? The mechanics are hidden. The consequences of getting it wrong are real: you could invest heavily, only to find your brand absent in AI answers while competitors dominate mention space. If history repeats, this could be the SEO disaster 2.0: an industry of quick fixes, questionable tactics, and brands locked into dependency on channels they don’t control. What brands should do instead Here’s the counter-advice: simple, logical, future-proof. Create open, structured, authoritative content Don’t lock your content behind barriers. Make sure it’s accessible, clearly written, and structured for machine readability (headings, bullet lists, schema where appropriate). Brands optimized for AI answers aren’t hiding or obfuscating; they’re enabling. Ensure your brand is citable, not just linkable SEO taught us backlinks. GEO/AEO teaches us mentions: in articles, industry lists, data sets, authoritative partners, in places as open and accessible as possible. AI engines favor earned media over pure brand-owned content. Avoid “trick” agencies chasing black-box signals If someone offers a “GEO shortcut” or “AI answer box hack,” ask: what is the mechanism, what transparency do you offer? The models are evolving. You’re betting on infrastructure you don’t own if you rely on opaque tactics. Combine SEO foundation with GEO awareness These are not separate marketing silos. Solid SEO still matters: fast site, good authority, clear content. But now you need to overlay a GEO mindset: how AI will interpret, summarize and cite your content before the user ever visits. Think of it as guaranteeing your brand enters the conversation. Monitor and adapt, don’t optimize once and forget Unlike traditional search results, AI answers evolve. Models update, data sources shift, assistants adopt RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation). Brands must treat visibility as a continuous feedback loop, not a one-time project. A cautionary tale Remember when brands bought bulk link-packages in 2010 thinking that would guarantee #1 Google ranking? Many saw a bump, then a crash when the algorithm changed. GEO could replicate that cycle: brand invests in “AI visibility tools,” sees short-lived gain, then is penalized or overshadowed as models adjust. But the bigger risk is dependence. If your brand presence becomes entirely mediated by an ecosystem you don’t control, say, a chatbot that places you in the answer box, you lose agency over your narrative. You become a commodity subject to the platform’s rules. The human-scale advantage Here’s the good news: you don’t need a “magic GEO hack.” You just need authenticity, clarity, and openness. My own case (and many similar ones) prove it. I published each day, I licensed openly, I structured clearly: not for the algorithm, but for readers and machines alike. Brands that follow the same logic will create meaningful content, make it accessible, make it citable, and will not only avoid the GEO trap: they’ll thrive in the AI era. Because when models evolve, and when assistants interface with your content, the brands they cite first will be the ones built for trust, not tricks. GEO, AEO, and AIO are the next frontier, but they don’t require shortcuts. They require doing the fundamentals better. Avoid the hype, the sorcerers, the quick-fix vendors. Do what’s been proven: publish well, open your content, let the engines (and your audience) do the rest. Because the worst thing you can optimize for is the algorithm. The best thing you can optimize for is being known. View the full article

Toyota was quick to pump the brakes on a claim President Donald The President made this week regarding an alleged promise by the Japanese automaker to invest $10 billion in the U.S. “We didn’t specifically say that we’ll invest $10 billion over the next few years,” Hiroyuki Ueda, president director, told reporters on Wednesday during the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, as first reported by Reuters. While Ueda stressed that the automaker will continue to invest and create jobs in the U.S. over the next few years, it hasn’t made any explicit promise of an investment of the magnitude The President referenced—nor, in fact, of any particular amount. The confusion, it seems, may stem from investments the world’s largest automaker made in U.S. auto plants during The President’s first administration, which ended in early 2021, and totaled roughly $10 billion, according to Ueda. The topic of investing in the U.S. also didn’t come up when Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda spoke briefly with The President at a U.S. Embassy event on Tuesday, Ueda said, according to Reuters. GAME OF TELEPHONE Where this supposed promise of an investment came from is a game of telephone of sorts. On Tuesday, The President referenced that $10 billion figure during a speech aboard the aircraft carrier, USS George Washington during his visit to Japan—and said he’d just heard about it from Japan’s newly elected prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. “I was just told by the prime minister that Toyota is going to be putting auto plants all over the United States to the tune of over $10 billion,” The President said, before urging U.S. military members: “Go out and buy a Toyota.” A spokesperson for Toyota USA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Fast Company. However, in a statement to The Hill, Toyota reiterated its commitment to investing in its U.S operations without specifying an amount. “With nearly $50 billion already invested and 49,000 direct employees across the United States, this ongoing commitment strengthens our support for American manufacturing, supply chains, jobs, and customers,” the statement to The Hill read. “More details will follow soon.” Shares of Toyota fell nearly 0.8% on Wednesday. View the full article

Investment is a long game that does not transform the immediate growth outlook, and cuts are difficultView the full article

An index of contract signings held at 74.8 after climbing a revised 4.2% a month earlier to the highest level since March, according to National Association of Realtors data released Wednesday. 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. The 10th-generation iPad may have been replaced by a newer model in 2025, but it remains an excellent entry-level Apple tablet, and among the best options in its price range. And right now, you can pick one up for a record-low price at Walmart. It's currently $242, marked down more than $100 from its $349.99 list price, and $68 cheaper than Amazon. According to price comparison tools, this is the cheapest price this iPad has reached since its release in 2022. (iPads hold their value really well even after newer models are released, which explains the seemingly high price for three-year-old tech.) Apple iPad (10th Generation) A14 Bionic chip, 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display, 64GB, Wi-Fi 6, 12MP front/12MP Back Camera... $242.00 at Walmart $349.00 Save $107.00 Get Deal Get Deal $242.00 at Walmart $349.00 Save $107.00 Back in the winter of 2022, the 10th-gen iPad was named “the best tablet for most people,” in PCMag’s “excellent” review. At that point, however, it was also considered expensive, edged out of the “affordable” category due to its higher base price when compared to previous models. The current $100 discount makes it a more attractive option. One of the best upgrades this iPad offers is its buttonless design, which brings it in line with its higher-end Apple tablet siblings. It measures 9.79 by 7.07 by 0.28 inches; and includes the A14 Bionic chip, a 10.9-inch liquid retina display, 64GB of storage, a 12MP front and back camera, Touch ID, and a battery that Apple promises will last all day. Recommended iPad accessories:Apple Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad 10th Gen (Open Box) $99.99 (originally $249) Apple Pencil (USB-C) $69.99 (originally $79) MoKo Case for iPad 10th Generation $9.95 Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) $209 (originally $249) Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) $115 (originally $169) If you are considering this iPad, useful accessories include the Apple Magic Keyboard Folio, which will make your iPad work like a laptop, and the Apple Pencil USB-C, which will allow you to make the most of your iPad's touchscreen abilities. Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Shark AV2501AE AI XL Hepa- Safe Self-Emptying Base Robot Vacuum — $459.95 (List Price $649.99) Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, White with Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen), White — $59.99 (List Price $99.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $29.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $27.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 with Ring Chime Pro — $149.99 (List Price $259.99) Introducing Amazon Fire TV 55" Omni Mini-LED Series, QLED 4K UHD smart TV, Dolby Vision IQ, 144hz gaming mode, Ambient Experience, hands-free with Alexa, 2024 release — $699.99 (List Price $819.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p 2-Camera Kit With Sync Module Core — $51.99 (List Price $129.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Statement follows FT reporting on crude purchases that had been transported on sanctioned vesselsView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. A dependable external drive is one of those things you don’t realize you need until your laptop storage is nearly full or your photos are scattered across cloud accounts. Western Digital’s Elements Portable USB 3.0 Hard Drive is built for exactly that situation, and it’s currently on sale for $64.99 on StackSocial for 2TB of storage. That’s enough space to offload years of pictures and videos or stash work files without juggling thumb drives. At just under half a pound, it’s light enough to carry around in a bag, and since it uses USB 3.0, transferring large batches of files feels quick and painless compared to older drives. It’s plug-and-play for Windows 10 and newer, so you don’t need extra software to get going. You can literally connect it and start dragging files over in seconds. The design is also more thoughtful than you might expect for a budget drive: the casing is made from over 50% recycled plastic, and the packaging is recyclable as well—a small but welcome improvement. It also has fast file transfers, straightforward backup, and a three-year limited warranty in case anything goes wrong. That said, there are limitations worth noting. This particular model is formatted for Windows out of the box, so if you plan to use it with a Mac or Linux system, you’ll need to reformat it first. Like all portable hard drives, it also isn’t built to survive drops or rough handling—WD even cautions that a small fall can cause data loss. And unlike pricier SSDs, this is still a spinning-disk drive, so while it’s reliable for everyday backups, it won’t be as fast or durable as solid-state options. Still, if your main goal is affordable, dependable storage that you can toss in a backpack and trust with years’ worth of files, this 2TB WD Elements drive is hard to argue with at this price. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Shark AV2501AE AI XL Hepa- Safe Self-Emptying Base Robot Vacuum — $459.95 (List Price $649.99) Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, White with Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen), White — $59.99 (List Price $99.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $29.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $27.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 with Ring Chime Pro — $149.99 (List Price $259.99) Introducing Amazon Fire TV 55" Omni Mini-LED Series, QLED 4K UHD smart TV, Dolby Vision IQ, 144hz gaming mode, Ambient Experience, hands-free with Alexa, 2024 release — $699.99 (List Price $819.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p 2-Camera Kit With Sync Module Core — $51.99 (List Price $129.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Earlier today, you might have seen reports that Grammarly is changing its name to Superhuman. That's not really the whole story. While the company did announce a broader rebrand coinciding with the release of a new AI assistant (more on that later), it also assured users that "the Grammarly brand isn't going anywhere." Essentially, what that means is that while Grammarly the company has a new name, Grammarly the product is still going by the same tried-and-true moniker as ever. The confusion follows Grammarly's acquisition of AI-powered email app Superhuman in June, which the company said "accelerates Grammarly's evolution into an AI productivity platform for apps and agents." Usually, acquired companies take the name of the companies that bought them, but that's not a hard-and-fast rule. "Superhuman" certainly implies a broader scope than a name that's all about grammar, so it makes sense that Grammarly might want to yoink its name if it plans to expand into other markets. To that end, the company also today announced Superhuman Go, a more general AI addition to the Grammarly extension that works like Grammarly does now, but with more capability. The free version will still let you do everything Grammarly does, but it also ropes in access to tools like Coda, a collaborative workspace, and a chatbot that supposedly integrates with and can help take action for you across 100 apps. Or, you could pay up to also get the Superhuman AI inbox and the features you would previously expect from Grammarly Pro and Enterprise. But while Grammarly is available within Go, if you're skeptical, you don't need to change your workflow yet. Pricing for the base paid Superhuman Suite subscription matches the previous Grammarly Pro subscription pricing, so you won't be paying more even with access to new tools (although you'll need to hop up to a higher tier to get that AI inbox). And as for using Go itself, it's entirely optional. Credit: Superhuman To try Superhuman Go out, open the Grammarly extension, go to Settings and toggle on the switch next to Go. Otherwise, you can leave it off to continue using Grammarly as you always have, name and all. View the full article

A regulation requiring nonbanks to report violations of local and state orders to federal offices was redundant and offered no benefit, mortgage leaders said. View the full article

Uber said Wednesday that the San Francisco Bay Area will be the first market for its specially built autonomous taxi, which is expected to launch in late 2026. The San Francisco ride-hailing company said in July it was developing a robotaxi with the electric car company Lucid and the self-driving technology company Nuro Inc. The vehicle is exclusive to Uber but is based on the Lucid Gravity SUV. Uber said Lucid recently delivered test vehicles to Nuro and said it plans to have 100 test vehicles on the road in the coming months. Within six years, Uber plans to deploy 20,000 or more Lucid-based autonomous taxis in multiple locations. The vehicles will be available to riders through the Uber app. Uber is working with multiple companies to speed the deployment of autonomous taxis. On Tuesday, Uber said it’s also developing robotaxis with the tech company Nvidia and the automaker Stellantis. Uber said Tuesday that in 2028, Stellantis expects to start production of at least 5,000 vehicles powered by Nvidia software for autonomous taxi operations in the U.S. And last week, Uber said it has begun offering autonomous taxi rides in Saudi Arabia as part of a partnership with WeRide, a Chinese autonomous tech company. Uber also works with WeRide in Abu Dhabi. Autonomous taxis aren’t new, but as the world’s largest ride-hailing service, Uber’s adoption of them is significant. Uber operates in 15,000 cities in more than 70 countries. Waymo, which is owned by Google parent Alphabet, has been testing autonomous taxis for years. Those taxis are currently available in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Austin. Waymo said earlier this month it plans to expand to London next year. Uber is partnering with Waymo on autonomous taxis in Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta. —Dee-Ann Durbin, AP business writer 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. The Tinymoose Pencil Pro 2 is aimed squarely at iPad users who want the feel of Apple’s own stylus without paying Apple’s price, and it's on sale for just $29.99 on StackSocial right now. It costs a fraction of the official Pencil but still packs features that cover most daily needs. This second-generation version is made for iPads from 2018 onward and brings a few upgrades over the original, including Bluetooth support and shortcut gestures. A smart button on the side is mapped for simple actions: one press for multitasking, two presses to exit apps, and a long press to power the pen on or off. That may not sound like much, but it helps when you’re hopping between notes and apps throughout the day. Using the stylus feels pretty close to writing or sketching with a real pen. You can tilt it to shade or adjust the angle of your strokes, and palm rejection makes it easy to rest your hand on the screen without disrupting your lines. The input keeps up well, too, with no lag or weird trailing behind the tip. It connects over Bluetooth, which means your iPad can show you the battery level, and charging is quick. A full charge takes about 25 minutes and lasts over 10 hours, while a 15-minute top-up on USB-C gets you most of the way there. The aluminum body of the Pencil Pro 2 is light at just 13 grams and snaps onto supported iPads with its magnetic strip, though unlike the pricier models, it doesn’t recharge that way. The extras round it out. Each purchase includes three spare nibs, a USB-C cable, and a leather case, which is more than Apple throws in. Still, there are compromises to consider. The Pencil Pro 2 only works with iPads, so you won’t get the cross-platform flexibility some third-party styluses offer. Its six-month warranty is also shorter than the standard one-year coverage from Apple, and while gestures and shortcuts are handy, they’re limited compared to the wider integration of the official Pencil. Even so, for students, note-takers, and casual artists who don’t need pro-level features but want a reliable everyday stylus, this deal makes a lot of sense. Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Shark AV2501AE AI XL Hepa- Safe Self-Emptying Base Robot Vacuum — $459.95 (List Price $649.99) Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, White with Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen), White — $59.99 (List Price $99.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $29.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $27.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 with Ring Chime Pro — $149.99 (List Price $259.99) Introducing Amazon Fire TV 55" Omni Mini-LED Series, QLED 4K UHD smart TV, Dolby Vision IQ, 144hz gaming mode, Ambient Experience, hands-free with Alexa, 2024 release — $699.99 (List Price $819.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p 2-Camera Kit With Sync Module Core — $51.99 (List Price $129.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

PayPal and BigCommerce are stepping up their partnership to introduce an embedded payment processing service specifically designed for small businesses. Set to launch in the United States in 2026, BigCommerce Payments powered by PayPal promises a streamlined merchant experience with key features that address the ever-evolving landscape of ecommerce. Travis Hess, CEO at Commerce, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “BigCommerce Payments represents a major step forward in creating a seamless and simplified intelligent commerce experience for Commerce merchants.” With this new offering, small businesses can access advanced payment capabilities, simplified account management, and the highly popular buy now, pay later (BNPL) option via PayPal’s Pay Later program—all seamlessly integrated into the BigCommerce Control Panel. One of the standout features of this new payment solution lies in its ability to keep small business owners in control. By embedding payment options directly into their existing platform, merchants can avoid the hassle of switching between multiple systems. This integration culminates in a dedicated “Money” dashboard, where business owners can monitor and manage their payment activities. Essential functionalities include real-time balance insights, top-ups and payouts, currency management, and bank and card connections. Michelle Gill, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Small Business & Financial Services at PayPal, remarked, “Together with Commerce, we’re not just addressing the needs of today’s merchants; we’re empowering them to seize the future with confidence and agility.” This sentiment resonates particularly well with small business owners who are increasingly faced with the need for agile solutions that can adapt to market demands. The introduction of this co-branded solution not only streamlines the payment experience but also allows for greater transparency. While the new service will be implemented through BigCommerce, the merchant’s payment relationship will remain directly with PayPal. This ensures that small business owners still have access to PayPal’s trusted reliability, security, and global reach. However, small business owners should consider potential challenges as they look forward to this new offering. Transitioning to BigCommerce Payments from other existing solutions may require adaptation and some initial learning curves. Existing merchants using PayPal’s Complete Payments solution will have the option for a seamless transition, but businesses relying on different payment systems may face hurdles in migration. Furthermore, while the embedded nature of BigCommerce Payments aims to simplify the payment process, it also raises questions about dependency. Relying primarily on one platform for payment processing could limit flexibility in exploring alternative payment solutions in the future. The launch in 2026 promises to impact a considerable number of small businesses operating through BigCommerce, which is widely known for its user-friendly platform. As online shopping continues to rise, these payment enhancements are likely to empower small business owners by giving them tools to better manage transactions and customer interactions. As ecommerce develops, solutions like BigCommerce Payments could very well become essential for small businesses striving to remain competitive. By enabling easier management of financial operations within a single interface, this new software not only seeks to simplify business processes but also enables merchants to focus on what truly matters: growing their businesses. For more details on the announcement, visit the original press release here. By combining the strengths of PayPal and BigCommerce, this collaboration aims to reshape the way small businesses approach payment processing, making it more intuitive and efficient. Ultimately, as small business owners assess their operational needs, solutions like BigCommerce Payments will be worth considering for a more resilient and empowered future. Image via Envanto This article, "PayPal and BigCommerce Set to Launch Embedded Payments in 2026" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

PayPal and BigCommerce are stepping up their partnership to introduce an embedded payment processing service specifically designed for small businesses. Set to launch in the United States in 2026, BigCommerce Payments powered by PayPal promises a streamlined merchant experience with key features that address the ever-evolving landscape of ecommerce. Travis Hess, CEO at Commerce, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “BigCommerce Payments represents a major step forward in creating a seamless and simplified intelligent commerce experience for Commerce merchants.” With this new offering, small businesses can access advanced payment capabilities, simplified account management, and the highly popular buy now, pay later (BNPL) option via PayPal’s Pay Later program—all seamlessly integrated into the BigCommerce Control Panel. One of the standout features of this new payment solution lies in its ability to keep small business owners in control. By embedding payment options directly into their existing platform, merchants can avoid the hassle of switching between multiple systems. This integration culminates in a dedicated “Money” dashboard, where business owners can monitor and manage their payment activities. Essential functionalities include real-time balance insights, top-ups and payouts, currency management, and bank and card connections. Michelle Gill, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Small Business & Financial Services at PayPal, remarked, “Together with Commerce, we’re not just addressing the needs of today’s merchants; we’re empowering them to seize the future with confidence and agility.” This sentiment resonates particularly well with small business owners who are increasingly faced with the need for agile solutions that can adapt to market demands. The introduction of this co-branded solution not only streamlines the payment experience but also allows for greater transparency. While the new service will be implemented through BigCommerce, the merchant’s payment relationship will remain directly with PayPal. This ensures that small business owners still have access to PayPal’s trusted reliability, security, and global reach. However, small business owners should consider potential challenges as they look forward to this new offering. Transitioning to BigCommerce Payments from other existing solutions may require adaptation and some initial learning curves. Existing merchants using PayPal’s Complete Payments solution will have the option for a seamless transition, but businesses relying on different payment systems may face hurdles in migration. Furthermore, while the embedded nature of BigCommerce Payments aims to simplify the payment process, it also raises questions about dependency. Relying primarily on one platform for payment processing could limit flexibility in exploring alternative payment solutions in the future. The launch in 2026 promises to impact a considerable number of small businesses operating through BigCommerce, which is widely known for its user-friendly platform. As online shopping continues to rise, these payment enhancements are likely to empower small business owners by giving them tools to better manage transactions and customer interactions. As ecommerce develops, solutions like BigCommerce Payments could very well become essential for small businesses striving to remain competitive. By enabling easier management of financial operations within a single interface, this new software not only seeks to simplify business processes but also enables merchants to focus on what truly matters: growing their businesses. For more details on the announcement, visit the original press release here. By combining the strengths of PayPal and BigCommerce, this collaboration aims to reshape the way small businesses approach payment processing, making it more intuitive and efficient. Ultimately, as small business owners assess their operational needs, solutions like BigCommerce Payments will be worth considering for a more resilient and empowered future. Image via Envanto This article, "PayPal and BigCommerce Set to Launch Embedded Payments in 2026" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

U.S. stocks are rising toward more records on Wednesday as Wall Street waits to hear from the Federal Reserve in the afternoon about what it will do with interest rates. The S&P 500 added 0.3% in morning trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 231 points, or 0.5%, as of 10:15 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.6% higher. All three indexes are coming off their latest all-time high. The bond market was also relatively steady as the countdown ticked to the announcement from the Fed. The widespread expectation is that it will announce the second cut of the year to its main interest rate in hopes of helping the slowing job market. More important will be whether the Fed gives hints about another cut to rates in December and beyond. Wall Street is banking on it. In the meantime, the deluge continues of big U.S. companies reporting how much profit they made during the summer. The pressure is on to deliver growth because that’s one way they can quiet criticism that their stock prices have shot too high in recent months. Caterpillar rallied 12% after reporting stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. CEO Joe Creed said Caterpillar saw resilient demand, as customers bought more equipment, even with a “dynamic environment.” Teradyne soared 14.6% after the company, which makes automated test equipment and advanced robotics systems, likewise reported a stronger profit than analysts expected. CEO Greg Smith credited strength related to artificial-intelligence applications and said “AI-related test demand remains robust.” Nvidia, meanwhile, was the strongest force lifting the S&P 500 after rallying 4.4%. It became the first company valued at $5 trillion on Wall Street, just three months after the AI darling was the first to break through the $4 trillion barrier. They helped offset a 42.6% plunge for Fiserv. The payments and financial technology company reported weaker profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, slashed its profit forecast for the year and revamped its board of directors and leadership team. The stock is heading toward its worst day since it began trading in 1986. Mondelez International fell 2.8%, even though it reported stronger results than analysts expected. The company, whose brands include Oreo cookies and Toblerone chocolate, has been dealing with record-high inflation for the cost of cocoa. It expects challenging conditions to continue in some markets, though it hopes that price increases are moderating for cocoa. In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed in Europe following a stronger finish in Asia. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 jumped 2.2% to another record. Seoul’s Kospi rose 1.8% to its own all-time high after President Donald The President met with South Korea’s leader following his visit in Japan. Stocks rose 0.7% in Shanghai ahead of a meeting between The President and China’s leader, Xi Jinping. The world’s two largest economies have been locked in an escalating trade war, with Washington imposing high tariffs and tightened technology controls and China retaliating with curbs on rare earth shipments, one of its key sources of leverage. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury was holding at 3.99%, where it was late Tuesday. It’s been coming down from nearly 4.80% early this year, a notable move for the bond market, as expectations have climbed for several cuts to rates by the Federal Reserve. But the Fed has also warned that it may have to halt the cuts if inflation accelerates beyond its still-high level, because lower rates can worsen inflation. Making an already tough course for Fed officials more difficult is the U.S. government’s shutdown. That has delayed important updates on the economy that would normally help guide the Fed’s decision-making process. —Stan Choe, AP business writer AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. View the full article

While I updated my iPhone to iOS 26 as soon as I could, I haven't yet pulled the trigger with macOS Tahoe. I love my M1 iMac, but I worry that Apple's first version of this new update isn't quite optimized for the five-year-old chip, and have been waiting to see if a future version of Tahoe performs a bit better. As it happens, that next version is well on its way—and does seem improved, at that. Apple has been beta testing macOS Tahoe 26.1 alongside iOS 26.1 since September, and it dropped the release candidates for both of the updates on Tuesday. The "RC," as the name implies, is what Apple thinks is the finished version of any given software release. Barring any major bugs or glitches discovered by developers and public testers, this will be the version of macOS Tahoe 26.1 released to the general public. That release will likely come next week. In the meantime, we know what features Apple has in store for Mac users who decide to update. This is a much smaller revision than macOS 26, but 26.1 does bring some interesting new features for users to explore. Control over Liquid Glass' appearanceBy far the most striking difference between this year's Apple updates and last year's is Liquid Glass. This new design language is Apple's most drastic UI change in years, and while some people love it, others hate it. I've enjoyed the new look on my iPhone, but I understand why some users dislike how some elements let the background shine through, in some cases reducing visibility. Apple seems to have taken the criticism to heart: With macOS Tahoe, as well as iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, the company now gives users the option to control how Liquid Glass looks, at least to a degree. The new toggle, which you can find in System Settings > Appearance, has two options: "Clear," which retains the original look of Liquid Glass, and "Tinted," which increases the opacity of your system's UI elements. With Tinted, you won't see as much of the background poke through, and whatever does come through doesn't take over the overlayed element as much. If you find Liquid Glass in macOS Tahoe too clear and "glassy," this might be a good option to try. Expanded support for Apple Music AutoMix Apple's latest round of updates introduced a new DJ-like feature to Apple Music. AutoMix will automatically build a transition between songs, fading one song into another. It's a cool feature (when it works well), and can make transitioning between dissimilar songs a lot smoother. With macOS 26.1, AutoMix now works over AirPlay. Previously, you lost this feature when beaming your music to an AirPlay device. Better FaceTime audio qualityApple says that Mac users updating to 26.1 should experience improved FaceTime audio quality in low-bandwidth conditions. The company doesn't elaborate, but this is good news on its, uh, face: If you're calling someone in a low-signal area, or with a weak wifi connection, you should be able to hear each other better. Communication Safety and Web content filters for child accountsIf your Mac has child accounts (made for ages 13 through 17), Communication Safety and Web content filters will be enabled by default for those accounts after updating to this latest version. These filters are designed to limit adult websites, protecting underage users from content they shouldn't be accessing. A new Network iconAs spotted by the MacOSBeta subreddit, Apple has updated the Network icon for macOS 26.1. The new icon looks great, in my opinion, sporting a blue theme with glow effects: A new Macintosh HD iconSimilarly, the Macintosh HD icon gets a small refresh. The original Tahoe icon was a major redesign over the previous, iconic icon. Now, Apple has removed the additional elements to simplify the design. (I still miss the original.) This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. A few security updates, probablyApple hasn't announced security updates for macOS 26.1 yet, but in all likelihood, they will. Apple doesn't often issue true security patches like other companies, barring an emergency patch. Instead, the company usually bundles its security patches within point updates like 26.1. Once the official update drops, expect Apple to update its security release notes to include details about these patches. View the full article

Stewart McLaurin knew it was coming. An entire wing of the White House, a building he calls “the most special, important building on the planet,” was going to be replaced to make way for a ballroom that President Donald The President wants to add to the building. But when McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, saw the first images of backhoes tearing into the East Wing, it still came as a bit of a shock. “When the reality of things happen, they strike us a little bit differently than the theory of things happening, so it was a bit of a jarring moment,” McLaurin told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday. McLaurin, who has led the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for more than a decade, did not take a position on the changes. It’s not his job. “Ours is not to make happen, or to keep from happening — but to document what does happen, what happens in this great home that we call the White House,” he said. But he said he sees a silver lining from the “jarring” images: they have piqued public interest in White House history. “What has happened since then is so amazing in that in the past two weeks, more people have been talking about White House history, focused on White House history, learning what is an East Wing, what is the West Wing … what are these spaces in this building that we simply call the White House,” McLaurin said. The President demolishes the East Wing The general public became aware of the demolition work on Oct. 20 after photos of construction equipment ripping into the building began to circulate online, prompting an outcry from Democrats, preservationists and others. In a matter of days, the entire two-story East Wing — the traditional base of operations for first ladies and their staffs — was gone. The demolition included a covered walkway between the White House, the family movie theater and a garden dedicated to first lady Jacqueline Kennedy. The President had talked about building a ballroom for years, and pushed ahead with his vision when he returned to office in January. His proposal calls for a 90,000-square-foot structure, almost twice the size of the 55,000-square-foot White House itself and able to accommodate 1,000 people. The plan also includes building a more modern East Wing, officials have said. The Republican president ordered the demolition despite not yet having sign-off for the ballroom construction from the National Capital Planning Commission, one of several entities with a role in approving additions to federal buildings and property. The White House has yet to submit the ballroom plans for the commission’s review because it is closed during the government shutdown. The President appointed loyalists to the planning commission in July. On Tuesday, he also fired the six members of the Commission of Fine Arts, a group of architectural experts that advises the federal government on historic preservation and public buildings. A new slate of members who are more aligned with The President’s policies will be named, a White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on personnel decisions. The Washington Post was first to report the firings. East Wing art and furnishings preserved It was the job of the White House curator and their staff to carefully remove, catalog and store the art, the official portraits of former first ladies, and furnishings from the East Wing, McLaurin said. The White House Historical Association does not have a decision-making role in the construction. But it has been working with the White House to prepare for the changes. “We had known since late summer that the staff of the East Wing had moved out. I actually made my last visit on the last day of tours on August the 28th,” McLaurin said. Working with the curator and chief usher, the association used 3D scanning technology “so that every room, space, nook and cranny of the East Wing, whether it was molding or hinges or door knobs or whatever it was, was captured to the -nth degree” to be digitally recreated as an exhibit or to teach the history of that space, McLaurin said. A photographer also documented the building as it was being taken apart. It will be a while before any images are available, but McLaurin said items were found when flooring was pulled up and when wall coverings were pulled back that “no living person remembered were there. So those will be lessons in history.” White House has grown over the years The President’s aides have responded to criticism of the demolition by arguing that other presidents have made changes to the White House, too. The President has said the White House needs a bigger entertaining space. McLaurin said the building continues to evolve from what it looked like when it was built in 1792. “There is a need to modernize and to grow,” he said, noting that White House social secretaries for generations have chafed at the space limitations for entertaining. “But how it’s done and how it’s accomplished and what results is really the vision of the president who undertakes that project.” What the White House Historical Association does Jacqueline Kennedy created the historical association in 1961 to help preserve the museum quality of the interior of the White House and educate the public. It receives no government funding and raises money mostly through private donations and sales of retail merchandise. It is not the mission of the association to take a position on construction, McLaurin said. Its primary mandate is preserving the State Floor and some of the historic bedrooms upstairs in the private living quarters, and teaching the history of the White House, which is an accredited museum. The State Floor is made up of the Green, Blue and Red Rooms, the East Room and State Dining Room, the Cross Hall and Grand Foyer. “Ours is not to support — or to not support,” McLaurin said. “Ours is to understand, to get the details.” Since the demolition, McLaurin said he has seen attendance spike at a free-of-charge educational center the association opened in September 2024 a block from the White House. “The People’s House: A White House Experience” is open seven days a week — including during the current government shutdown. The educational center saw its busiest days the weekend of Oct. 17-19, with about 1,500 daily visitors, up from a previous average of 900, he said. —Darlene Superville, Associated Press View the full article

Proposed carve-out of Everllence has also attracted preliminary interest from private equity firms including EQTView the full article

At Adobe MAX, the annual creativity conference, Adobe unveiled the findings of its inaugural Creators’ Toolkit Report, which reveals that a staggering 86 percent of global creators are now using creative generative AI in their work. This shift marks a significant change in how small business owners and content creators leverage technology to enhance their operations and reach broader audiences. The report, which surveyed over 16,000 creators across various countries, paints a picture of a vibrant creator economy where artificial intelligence is not just a passing trend but an essential part of the creative workflow. “Creators today aren’t passively using creative generative AI, they’re intentionally curating the tools they trust,” said Mike Polner, Vice President & Head of Product Marketing for Creators at Adobe. This sentiment reflects a growing trend among small business owners to adopt AI tools that empower their creative processes and business growth. Key findings from the report highlight the transformative impact of creative generative AI on the creator economy. A significant 76 percent of respondents noted that AI has accelerated their business growth or follower base, while 81 percent indicated that it enables them to produce content they otherwise couldn’t have. Moreover, 85 percent believe that AI positively influences the creator economy, underscoring its potential to help small businesses thrive in a competitive landscape. Small business owners can harness creative generative AI in several practical ways. The top applications identified in the report include editing and enhancing existing content (55 percent), generating new assets like images and videos (52 percent), and brainstorming ideas (48 percent). With 60 percent of creators employing multiple AI tools to enhance their output, the message is clear: diversifying toolsets can lead to improved quality and creativity. However, the integration of AI tools does not come without its challenges. The report reveals that 69 percent of creators harbor concerns about their content being used to train AI without permission, highlighting the importance of trust and transparency in AI applications. Furthermore, barriers to adoption include high costs (reported by 38 percent), unreliable output quality (34 percent), and uncertainties about AI training methods (28 percent). Small business owners should weigh these factors carefully when considering the adoption of AI tools. Looking ahead, the report introduces the concept of “agentic AI,” which refers to AI systems that proactively assist users by suggesting actions and automating tasks. While 70 percent of creators express excitement about this next evolution of AI, they emphasize the necessity of maintaining creative control. Specifically, 85 percent would consider using AI that learns their unique creative style, indicating a preference for personalized tools that enhance rather than replace human creativity. Interestingly, mobile devices have emerged as essential creative studios for creators. The report reveals that 72 percent of respondents frequently create content on mobile devices, and 75 percent anticipate producing even more mobile content in the coming year. For small business owners, this trend opens up new avenues for content creation on the go, allowing for flexibility and spontaneity in capturing and sharing marketing materials. The methodology behind the report adds credibility to its findings. Conducted in partnership with The Harris Poll, the survey focused on emerging and semi-professional creators—primarily Gen Z and Millennials—who are increasingly shaping the digital landscape. This demographic shift suggests that small business owners should be mindful of the preferences and behaviors of younger creators as they adapt their marketing strategies. As the creator economy continues to evolve, small business owners must stay informed about the capabilities and implications of creative generative AI. By embracing these technologies, they can elevate their content creation processes, engage more effectively with their audiences, and ultimately drive growth in their businesses. The insights from Adobe’s Creators’ Toolkit Report provide a roadmap for navigating this dynamic landscape, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Image via Envanto This article, "86% of Creators Embrace AI Tools, Revolutionizing Content Creation" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

At Adobe MAX, the annual creativity conference, Adobe unveiled the findings of its inaugural Creators’ Toolkit Report, which reveals that a staggering 86 percent of global creators are now using creative generative AI in their work. This shift marks a significant change in how small business owners and content creators leverage technology to enhance their operations and reach broader audiences. The report, which surveyed over 16,000 creators across various countries, paints a picture of a vibrant creator economy where artificial intelligence is not just a passing trend but an essential part of the creative workflow. “Creators today aren’t passively using creative generative AI, they’re intentionally curating the tools they trust,” said Mike Polner, Vice President & Head of Product Marketing for Creators at Adobe. This sentiment reflects a growing trend among small business owners to adopt AI tools that empower their creative processes and business growth. Key findings from the report highlight the transformative impact of creative generative AI on the creator economy. A significant 76 percent of respondents noted that AI has accelerated their business growth or follower base, while 81 percent indicated that it enables them to produce content they otherwise couldn’t have. Moreover, 85 percent believe that AI positively influences the creator economy, underscoring its potential to help small businesses thrive in a competitive landscape. Small business owners can harness creative generative AI in several practical ways. The top applications identified in the report include editing and enhancing existing content (55 percent), generating new assets like images and videos (52 percent), and brainstorming ideas (48 percent). With 60 percent of creators employing multiple AI tools to enhance their output, the message is clear: diversifying toolsets can lead to improved quality and creativity. However, the integration of AI tools does not come without its challenges. The report reveals that 69 percent of creators harbor concerns about their content being used to train AI without permission, highlighting the importance of trust and transparency in AI applications. Furthermore, barriers to adoption include high costs (reported by 38 percent), unreliable output quality (34 percent), and uncertainties about AI training methods (28 percent). Small business owners should weigh these factors carefully when considering the adoption of AI tools. Looking ahead, the report introduces the concept of “agentic AI,” which refers to AI systems that proactively assist users by suggesting actions and automating tasks. While 70 percent of creators express excitement about this next evolution of AI, they emphasize the necessity of maintaining creative control. Specifically, 85 percent would consider using AI that learns their unique creative style, indicating a preference for personalized tools that enhance rather than replace human creativity. Interestingly, mobile devices have emerged as essential creative studios for creators. The report reveals that 72 percent of respondents frequently create content on mobile devices, and 75 percent anticipate producing even more mobile content in the coming year. For small business owners, this trend opens up new avenues for content creation on the go, allowing for flexibility and spontaneity in capturing and sharing marketing materials. The methodology behind the report adds credibility to its findings. Conducted in partnership with The Harris Poll, the survey focused on emerging and semi-professional creators—primarily Gen Z and Millennials—who are increasingly shaping the digital landscape. This demographic shift suggests that small business owners should be mindful of the preferences and behaviors of younger creators as they adapt their marketing strategies. As the creator economy continues to evolve, small business owners must stay informed about the capabilities and implications of creative generative AI. By embracing these technologies, they can elevate their content creation processes, engage more effectively with their audiences, and ultimately drive growth in their businesses. The insights from Adobe’s Creators’ Toolkit Report provide a roadmap for navigating this dynamic landscape, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Image via Envanto This article, "86% of Creators Embrace AI Tools, Revolutionizing Content Creation" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

As Hurricane Melissa battered the Caribbean this week, social media became awash with AI-generated content that blurs the line between reality and fiction. Described by CBS News as “one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic,” Melissa reached Category 5 intensity as it made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday. CNN reports that it has already caused seven deaths in the northern Caribbean, and is the most powerful storm to hit the basin since 2019’s Hurricane Dorian. Amid a crisis, social media is flooded Over the last few days, major social media platforms have been saturated with AI-generated videos—depicting a wide range of content supposedly related to the hurricane, from towering waves battering coastal towns to sharks gliding through floodwaters, destroyed airports, and an aerial view of the storm’s eye that reached over 17,000 views. Much of this content was made possible by Sora 2—OpenAI’s new text-to-video app—released less than a month ago, which allows users to generate lifelike videos simply by typing a description. The app, free on iPhones, has proven to be as mesmerizing as it is disturbing—quickly taking over social media feeds in the weeks since its release. But it’s also caused alarm among people who worry about its potential to spread misinformation. “It’s as if deepfakes got a publicist and a distribution deal,” Daisy Soderberg-Rivkin, a former trust and safety manager at TikTok, told NPR earlier this month. “It’s an amplification of something that has been scary for a while, but now it has a whole new platform.” As it turns out, it’s now becoming increasingly harder to trust what you see on screen. Turning a catastrophe into clickbait The proliferation of misleading content regarding natural disasters poses a real threat, well beyond the trivial AI-generated slop that typically clogs social feeds. “This storm is a huge storm that will likely cause catastrophic damage, and fake content undermines the seriousness of the message from the government to be prepared,” Amy McGovern, a University of Oklahoma meteorology professor, told the news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP). In a report on Monday, AFP said it identified numerous AI-generated clips—many, but not all, marked with OpenAI’s Sora watermark—spreading across social media feeds. The videos ranged from dramatic newscasts and scenes of severe flooding to fabricated human suffering. Other videos seemed to show locals—often speaking with exaggerated Jamaican accents that reinforced stereotypes—partying, boating, jet skiing, swimming, or otherwise downplaying the severity of what forecasters have warned could be the island’s most violent storm on record. After AFP flagged the clips, TikTok reportedly removed over two dozen videos and multiple accounts sharing them. Reached for comment, TikTok told Fast Company that its community guidelines require AI-generated or heavily edited content depicting realistic people or events to be labeled. It said unlabeled content may be removed, restricted, or relabeled. The platform prohibits material that “misleads on matters of public importance or harms individuals,” even if labeled. In Jamaica, users seeking updates on Hurricane Melissa are encouraged to consult official sources, including the Jamaica Information Service and TikTok’s event guides. Similar content appeared on Facebook and Instagram, despite Meta’s policies requiring labels for AI-generated videos. OpenAI and Meta did not respond to requests for comment. Experts worry that AI-generated content can overshadow critical safety warnings. Jamaica’s information minister, Senator Dana Morris Dixon, urged the public to rely on official sources, according to AFP. The risks extend far beyond natural disasters In the Sora era, anyone can generate nearly any scene imaginable with a single prompt, but experts have long raised concerns about generative AI and misinformation. For instance, studies indicate that warning labels alone may not suffice to combat AI-generated falsehoods and can sometimes have unintended effects on users’ perception of credibility. Aaron Rodericks, head of trust and safety at Bluesky, noted in an interview with NPR that the public is unprepared for such a collapse between reality and fabrication. “In a polarized world, it is easy to create fabricated evidence targeting identity groups or individuals, or to conduct large-scale scams. What once existed as a rumor—like a fabricated story about an immigrant or politician—can now be turned into seemingly credible video proof,” Rodericks said. And this is only the beginning OpenAI’s Sora 2 app, where many of these recent clips surfaced, is just the newest player in the expanding world of increasingly powerful video creation tools. This year alone has brought a wave of AI-driven innovations across platforms. As of May, users could chat with AI personas on Instagram, and TikTok’s “AI Alive” tool enabled still images to be turned into videos with a single command. By September, Meta introduced its new “Vibes” app, featuring a TikTok-style AI-generated feed. Together, they signal a new race to shape the future of the internet. View the full article