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NASA wants to reopen competition on its moon lander, a multi-billion-dollar contract for a new space vehicle that will help support one of America’s most ambitious missions yet: going back to the moon — and for good. The space agency’s decision to reopen the contract for the Artemis mission moon lander renews competition between SpaceX, which had previously won the award, and Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’s space startup. But it also sets off a competition between Texas and Washington, the two companies’ respective home states. Politicians long fought over American space spending, as Fast Company explained a while back. But it’s not clear where they stand, at least for now. Several congressional offices that would be impacted by the space agency opening up the contract did not respond to a request for comment, including the office of Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn (the Texas delegation), as well as the Republican and Democratic sides of the Commerce Committee, whose portfolio includes space issues. A spokesperson for Rep. Vincente Gonzalez, the congressman who represents Starbase, Texas— where SpaceX is testing its heavy launch vehicle Starship— didn’t respond to a request for comment. The office of Sen. Maria Cantwell, who represents Washington and frequently touts Blue Origin, also did not respond. Congressional delegations have previously advocated for Artemis contracts to come to their states. Back when SpaceX first won the lunar lander contract, Cantwell pushed for NASA to give a second company a lunar contract, including through legislation. Even amid doubts with SpaceX, Cruz, who represents SpaceX homestate Texas, has said it’s too late for the U.S. to leave Starship behind. The size of a small building, Starship is the platform that Elon Musk thinks will bring humanity to Mars. It’s also the vehicle that, for several years, NASA has been planning to use for an earlier phase of the Artemis program. (The Artemis 3 mission that SpaceX is supposed to work on, currently scheduled for late 2027, will involve a weekslong stay on the lunar surface, though NASA has ambitions for returning to the moon in later years, including to build a lunar base camp). The challenge is that Starship – a key part of this plan – has suffered failures during several recent test flights. And now, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is complaining that SpaceX is behind schedule. A NASA panel said as much in September. Blue Origin still has a lot catching up to do. The company has yet to build a similarly large low Earth orbit satellite network, or to send manned space missions into orbit. (The company has accomplished suborbital flights). But Blue Origin has also won lunar lander work from NASA for the Artemis V mission, a later phase of the new moon program. In the past, NASA has expressed interest in maintaining at least two options in order to ensure “a regular cadence of Moon landings,” a NASA official said when the government announced an award for Blue Origin’s lunar platform, which the company calls Blue Moon. There’s also Lockheed Martin, which might also put its hat in the ring. Of course, it’s unclear what might be going on between policymakers privately, or whether the rift between Elon Musk and the The President administration has settled. Another factor is growing concern that the U.S. is falling behind China on lunar ambitions. Secretary Duffy has also said that The President wants some kind of lunar accomplishment before he leaves office. In the meantime, much of NASA is closed because of the government shutdown. View the full article

Wikipedia is a treasured online resource that, despite massive changes across the web, has managed to remained truly great to this day. I, alongside millions of other users, visit the site daily to learn something new or double-check existing knowledge. In an age of non-stop AI slop, Wikipedia is something of an antidote. If you look at Wikipedia and think "this is alright, but an AI version would be a lot better," you might just be Elon Musk. Musk's AI company, xAI, just launched Grokipedia—yes, that really is its name—an online encyclopedia that closely resembles Wikipedia in name and surface-level appearance. But under the hood, the two could hardly be any more different. Though it's early days for the new "encyclopedia," I'd say it's not worth using, at least not for anything real. The Grokipedia experienceWhen you load up the Grokipedia website, it looks fairly standard. You see the Grokipedia name, alongside the version number (v0.1, at the time of writing), alongside a search bar and an "Articles Available" counter (885,279). Searching for an article too is basic: You type in a query, and a list of available articles appears for you to select from. Once you pull up an article, it looks like Wikipedia, only extremely basic: There are no images, only text, though you can use the sidebar to jump between sections of the article. You'll also find sources, noted by numbers, which correspond to the References portion at the bottom of each article. The key difference between Grokipedia and a simple version of Wikipedia, however, is that these articles are not written and edited by real people. Instead, each article is generated and "fact-checked" by Grok, xAI's large language model (LLM). LLMs are able to generate large amounts of text in short periods of time, and include sources for where they pull their information, which might make the pitch for Grokipedia sound great to some. However, LLMs also have a tendency to hallucinate, or, in other words, make things up. Sometimes, the sources the AI is pulling from are unreliable or facetious; other times, the AI takes it upon itself to "lie," and generate text that simply isn't true. In both cases, the information cannot be trusted, especially not at face value, which is why it's troubling to see much of the experience is entirely powered by Grok, without human intervention. Grokipedia vs. WikipediaMusk is pitching Grokipedia as a "massive improvement" over Wikipedia, which he has criticized for pushing propaganda, particularly towards left-leaning ideas and politics. It's ironic, then, that some of these Grokipedia entries are themselves pulling from Wikipedia. As The Verge's Jay Peters highlights, articles like MacBook Air note the following at the bottom: "The content is adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License." What's more, Peters found that some Grokipedia articles, such as PlayStation 5 and the Lincoln Mark VIII, are almost one-to-one copies of the corresponding articles on Wikipedia. If you've followed Musk's politics and political activities in recent years, it won't surprise you to learn he falls on the right-wing side of the political spectrum. That might give pause to anyone who considers using Grokipedia as an unbiased source of information, especially as Musk has continuously retooled Grok to generate responses more favorable to right-wing opinions. Critics like Musk claim Wikipedia is biased towards the left, but Grokipedia is entirely produced by an AI model with an abject bias. You'll see that you have very different experiences when reading certain topics across Wikipedia and Grokipedia. Wikipedia's Tylenol article, for example, reads the following: In 2025, Donald The President made several statements about a controversial and unproven connection between autism and Tylenol. These statements, about the connection between Tylenol during pregnancy and autism, are based on unreliable sources without scientific evidence. Compare that to Grokipedia, which devotes three paragraphs to the subject, the first of which begins: Multiple observational studies and meta-analyses have identified associations between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) and increased risks of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in offspring, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). That said, the second paragraph highlights some of the issues with those studies, while the third highlights that certain agencies suggest the "benefits outweigh unproven risks." Similarly, as spotted by WIRED, Grokipedia's article, Transgender, highlights the belief that social media may have acted as a "contagion" to the rise in transgender identification. Not only is that a common right-wing assertion, that particular word could have been plucked from a post from a right-wing X account. Wikipedia's article, as you might expect, does not entertain the claim at all. Grokipedia is also favorable to unproven, controversial, or flat-out absurd claims. As Rolling Stone highlights, it refers to "Pizzagate," a conspiracy theory that lead to a real-life shooting, as “allegations,” a “hypothesis,” and a “narrative.” Grokipedia gives credence to “Great Replacement," a racist theory floated by white supremacists. Should you use Grokipedia?Here's the short answer: no. The issue I have with Grokipedia is two-fold: First, no encyclopedia is going to be reliable when it is almost entirely created by AI models. Sure, some of the information may be accurate, and it's great you can see the sources the bot is using, but when the risk of hallucination is baked into the technology with no way around it, choosing to avoid human intervention en masse all but ensures inaccuracies will plague much of Grokipedia's knowledge base. As if that wasn't enough, this Grokipedia is built on an LLM that Musk is openly tinkering with to generate results that more closely align with his worldview, and the worldview of one particular political ideology. Hallucination and bias—just the ingredients you need for an encyclopedia. The thing about Wikipedia is it's written and edited by humans. Those humans can hold other human writers accountable, adding new information when it becomes available and correcting mistakes when they encounter them. Perhaps it's frustrating to read that your favorite health and human services secretary "promoted vaccine misinformation and public-health conspiracy theories," but that's the objective, scientific reality. Removing these objective descriptions, and reframing the discussion in a way that fits a warped worldview doesn't make Grokipedia better than Wikipedia—it makes it useless. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Google has launched its "Personal Health Agent," an AI coach available in the Fitbit app. Currently it’s in a “preview” mode, and limited to Android users in the U.S. who have a Fitbit Premium subscription. That group includes me, so I tried it, and it gave me some decent workouts. It also told me that the Pixel Watch 4, which Google makes, and which I reviewed, and which am currently wearing, does not exist. So, par for the course when it comes to AI. How to enable the Fitbit app’s personal health coachThe “public preview” of this new coaching bot is available starting today for Fitbit Premium users in the U.S., provided they use Android. (Support for iOS is coming soon, Google says.) I’m a little unclear on what to call this bot—an email I got from Google calls it their "Personal Health Agent" and describes it as "Google Health’s AI coach." A Google blog post calls it Fitbit’s "personal health coach." In any case, it lives in the Fitbit app. When the AI coach became available for me, I received a message at the top of my Today screen asking if I’d like to “try new Fitbit features before they’re available to everyone.” If you missed that prompt, you can go to your profile pic at the top right corner of the app and select Public Preview from the menu that appears. Joining the public preview launches you into an entirely different version—dare I call it a beta?—of the Fitbit app. It doesn’t yet include menstrual health, mindfulness, nutrition, or community features, so to access those, you'll need to switch back to the old version of the app. You can swap between versions at any time from the menu under your profile icon. Setting up my fitness goalsGoogle says the new chatbot can answer general questions about health...but so can a web search, so I wasn't too excited about that. What I did want to see was how well the bot could set up a coherent exercise plan for me—that's the big feature Google is touting. It did pretty well, at first. The coach asked the same kinds of questions I would expect a personal trainer to cover when putting together a plan. It seemed to have a nicely structured approach, and gathered this information: My main goal (I told it I'd like to get back into a consistent habit after time off) My biggest challenge (I said something about motivation and time) How much exercise I was used to doing, including my running mileage and paces (it pulled this from my exercise data but let me make corrections) What activities I like to do When I like to do them (it noticed that my strength sessions tend to fall on Tuesdays and Thursdays) What equipment I have available (it deduced I have space to run outdoors, and strength training equipment) How many days each week I’d like to exercise It responded well to my adjustments during the conversation. I told it I’d like to alternate strength training and running (with Saturdays off), starting today with a strength training session. It suggested a lower body focus to support my running, which I declined. I named some of my favorite lifts and asked if it could build the strength program around those. We were agreed—a six-day plan with strength and running was coming right up. The bot told me it would take up to 10 minutes to generate my plan, but it only took about two. My workouts for the week matched what we’d discussed, with a few discrepancies. For example, I asked for pull-ups and it gave me assisted pull-ups. I also didn’t like the six-rep sets of squat and bench press, since I was hoping for heavier lifts with fewer reps. But there is an “adjust plan” button, and with some more back-and-forth, I was able to get it to tweak the workouts to my liking. It has trouble planning for the long termI was excited to look over my plan—to me, a plan sets out the steps to accomplish a goal. For a training plan, that would involve building toward that goal over a matter of weeks or months. For example, a marathon training plan would increase your mileage over time until you can run a strong 26 miles. In my case, with a goal of consistency, almost anything would fit the bill. This is easy mode for a trainer, AI or otherwise. But what I got in the app was not what I would call a plan. It was four workouts, taking me from today to my rest day on Saturday. There was no way to view next week, or the week after that, or to see how many weeks were even in this alleged plan. I didn’t even have a way to see the last two days of my six-day plan. I asked the bot what was coming up next, and it said it wasn’t able to tell me anything about next week. What about the end of this week? (We agreed on six days, after all.) It told me that the week is Tuesday through Saturday. I began to feel like those bodybuilders arguing over how many days are in a week. After some back-and-forth, it delivered me text descriptions of what Sunday and Monday’s workouts might look like, but they were incomplete, not even naming what lifts I’d be doing on the strength day. When I exited the conversation and looked at the workouts in the app, I only had the original four. I tried asking another way, and the coach was able to give a broad overview of what the next few weeks might contain. Unfortunately the adjustments we’d previously discussed weren’t factored in, so it described how the second week would build on the originally programmed first week, not how it would build on the workouts that were actually on my calendar. If I were comparing this chatbot's plan to something from, say, the Reddit fitness wiki, pretty much anything on the wiki would have been more comprehensive. There’s no good way to follow the workoutsI’ve written before about the Pixel Watch’s barebones fitness tracking. (This applies to Fitbits like the Charge 6 as well.) You can turn on a strength training mode on the watch, but you can’t track rest times or note what exercises you did, though there is some ability to create and follow running workouts. With that in mind, I didn’t expect to be able to follow the strength workouts from my watch, but I figured it was worth asking. The bot told me to just track a basic strength workout from the watch (which records heart rate and total time, nothing else) and follow the exercises from my phone. Fair enough. But wait! The app just shows each exercise with a checkbox next to it. If you’re supposed to do three sets of six reps, you only get one checkbox, not three. And there’s no way to note how much weight you used so you can build on it next time. The bot told me we’d be doing some progressive overload, but how to progress if we’re not tracking how much weight I’m using? OK, maybe strength is hard for a simple bot to track, but running workouts should be straightforward, right? The old version of the Fitbit app (which you can still access if you quit the preview) could recommend personalized running workouts and load them onto your watch, so that the watch coaches you through the different paces and intervals. I tried one out when writing my Pixel Watch 4 review, so I know the device can do it. I was hoping for a similar experience here. But when I asked the bot about how to follow the running workouts, things got weird. It gave me step-by-step instructions to find the workouts on my Pixel watch, but the instructions were wrong. For example, it told me to swipe up to access the app list, but that’s not how you access the app list. And it told me that my workout should appear on a certain screen, but there were no workouts on that screen. I let the bot talk me through a troubleshooting process, which derailed when I mentioned that my device was a Pixel Watch 4. That watch doesn’t exist, it told me. There is only a Pixel Watch 1 and a Pixel Watch 2. What? The Pixel Watch 3 was released more than a year ago. The Pixel Watch 4 is the current model. I am wearing one right now. I asked the bot where it was getting its information about Pixel Watch models, and it responded by admitting to hallucinating the “nonexistent ‘Pixel Watch 4.’” Hmm. The bottom line: Promising tech, if it ever worksAs with many AI products these days, the best conclusion I can offer is that this would be a cool feature if it worked well—but it currently doesn’t. Here are a few things that it does handle competently at the moment: The onboarding conversation is well structured and gathers the right information (or at least it did for my fairly simple situation). The bot understood what I meant when I used lingo like “heavy singles with some back-offs.” It was able to pull data from my workout history, like my running mileage and the types of equipment I’m likely to have access to. But there’s so much it can’t do, including some really basic, fundamental things. It can’t plan for the long term, which is the whole point of a plan. It also can’t give me a way to follow the workouts it comes up with. This brings me back to the question of why somebody would want to use this AI coach in the first place. Sure, it can come up with an idea for a workout, but so can anybody who has ever typed a query into a search engine. Finding simple workout ideas on the internet is like searching for grains of sand on a beach. Adding another to the pile isn’t innovative. But if the AI could convert the workout it generated into a format I could follow with Google's tech (be it their app or watch), that function would be useful, and it wouldn't duplicate something I can find in a million other places. The ability to track your progress over time would also be useful, but that means the app would have to record your weights so it can actually program progressive overload, not just talk about progressive overload. Things like that are what a personal fitness coach really needs to provide, and this chatbot just isn't right now. View the full article

Adobe, the company behind big creative programs like Photoshop and Premiere, just wrapped up its 2025 Adobe Max keynote, and you know what that means. That's right: more AI. Over the course of the three-hour presentation, the company went big on automating creativity, introducing new generative AI tools for Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, and other Creative Cloud apps. Some of these are expansions of tools that already exist, like better generative fill, while other are all new—like Firefly's new AI audio generation. Adobe Express can design based on vibes Credit: Adobe Before getting into the meatier stuff, let's start with Adobe's entry-level apps. While Adobe is known for professional-level programs like Photoshop, the company also has its own free basic web editor (although there's also a mobile app) to help it compete with alternatives like Canva. Called Adobe Express, the tool's been getting a steady stream of upgrades since its debut in 2015, and with the introduction of generative AI, has been quick to jump onto the trend to try to make itself easier to use. Enter today's "AI Assistant in Adobe Express." When toggled on through a switch in the app's top-left corner, the assistant will replace your tools with a chatbox where you can instruct it to either make a new design from scratch or edit an existing one. Should you need your tools again, you can bring them back by toggling the assistant off, although Adobe's demos for the feature also show the assistant bringing up contextual sliders when needed, like one for resizing. While this is not Adobe Express' first venture into generative AI, the idea is to make getting started or quickly editing a piece less intimidating, by having inexperienced users spend most of their time in a chatbox rather than having to click through a toolbar. Adobe says, like its other AI tools, it pulls from a number of "commercially safe" sources, including the company's font and stock image libraries and its Firefly AI models. The tool will start rolling out in public beta today, so you should be able to try it out shortly. Adobe Premiere is getting built into YouTube Shorts Credit: Adobe Shorts are the next big thing over on YouTube, and to encourage more people to make them, YouTube is teaming up with Adobe. As an update to both the Premiere iPhone app and YouTube itself, Adobe's new Create for YouTube Shorts feature allows you to upload your footage and instantly make it publish-ready with Adobe's font overlays and a number of "exclusive" effects, transitions, and stickers. Or you can directly plug your footage into templates that already have transitions and effects included. The feature is currently listed as "coming soon," so it'll be a bit before you can try it. But once it's live, Adobe and YouTube say you'll be able to access it either through the Premiere iPhone app or directly though YouTube, via an "Edit in Adobe Premiere" icon in YouTube shorts. There is no word yet on an Android or desktop release. Adobe will add sound to your videos for you Credit: Adobe Sound is easy to overlook when making a new video, and I've had to scramble to find a decent soundtrack to add to my videos at the last second more than once. Adobe's new Firefly AI audio features are looking to save you from that fate, by making it easy to add music and even narration to an otherwise silent video. Rolling out in public beta today, Firefly's new "Generate Soundtrack" and "Generate Speech" buttons use AI and a Mad Libs style prompting system to help you quickly score your content from a number of options. For "Generate Soundtrack," you'll upload your video, press the appropriate button, and the app will suggest a prompt for you and give you a palette of adjectives, genre types, and and content types to refine it with. Drag your chosen terms into the prompt box, hit generate, and you'll get four options, each cutting out at a maximum of five minutes. It's a bit odd that you can't just enter your own terms into the prompt box, although Adobe generative AI head Alexandru Costin told The Verge that's because AI audio is "a new muscle we need to develop" and that the current approach is "easier and more accessible." Like other Firefly generations, audio will be generated using Adobe's own licensed content, so users won't have to worry about copyright strikes on videos made using the feature. "Generate Speech," meanwhile, gives users access to 50+ text-to-speech voices, either from Adobe Firefly or licensed via ElevenLabs. There's no Mad Libs prompting here, with Adobe instead allowing for fine-tune control over factors like speed, pitch, tone, and even pronunciation. Currently, over 20 languages are supported. Taken together, the updates seem to me like an attempt to keep up with platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which have licensed music libraries and text-to-speech built in. Whether a purely AI-powered version can keep up remains to be seen, although putting it into the editor rather than the platform does give creators more choice about where to upload. Updates inside Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere Credit: Adobe Finally, for the more hardcore Adobe users, updates are coming to the company's core apps as well. First, Photoshop is also getting its own AI assistant, which will be able to use prompts to edit for you. However, unlike Adobe Express, it's currently in a private beta, so it'll be some time before most users see it. It's also limited to the web version of the app for now. However, not in beta is the ability to choose which AI models the app works with. Previously, Generative Fill, which uses AI to fill in blank spots in backgrounds (or just generate whole canvases from nothing), were limited to Adobe's Firefly models. Now, users will also be able to use them with Google's Gemini 2.5 Flash model, or Black Forest's Flux.1 Kontext model. Given how popular 2.5 Flash has gotten on social media under the name "nano banana," that's a big get for Adobe. Still, Firefly isn't getting left behind. Adobe says it's upgraded the model with the ability to generate in a native four-megapixel resolution, and to better render people. It's also integrating it into a new "Layered Image Editing" tool that can make contextual changes for you across layers, like futzing with shadows after you move an image. Outside of Photoshop, Lightroom has its own private beta feature called "Assisted Culling." I'll admit Lightroom is probably where I have the least experience when it comes to Adobe, but the company says it'll be able to filter through uploaded photos for you and find the most edit-friendly ones. Finally, Premiere Pro has its own beta feature, but one that's graciously public. Called "AI Object Mask," it'll automatically detect and track people and objects in your video's background, so you can more easily add effects like blurs or color grading. It could be useful if, say, you're shooting in a crowded area where you need to blur a lot of faces. A little something for everyoneOverall, it was a fairly balanced Max, with a number of features for both pros and beginners. That said, I can't ignore the focus on AI and automatic generation. On one hand, I get that photoshop's a bit intimidating. On the other, the more Adobe handles your edits for you, the more it runs the risk of competing with existing easy-edit apps and platforms. I'm curious to see how the industry giant will compete as platforms like TikTok and Instagram continue to offer their own built-in editing tools. 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. While wireless earbuds can be convenient and allow for greater freedom of movement, Bluetooth earbuds connected by a wire are harder to misplace and are significantly more affordable. The Beats Flex earbuds are Apple’s budget-friendly wired neckband earphones, and right now, they’re just $30.01 (originally $69.95) in black at Walmart—about 57% off the usual price. Beats Flex Earbuds $30.01 at Walmart $69.95 Save $39.94 Get Deal Get Deal $30.01 at Walmart $69.95 Save $39.94 If you’re prone to losing your wireless earbuds, the Flex’s earpieces magnetically snap together when you’re not wearing them, allowing you to keep them securely around your neck. When they snap together, audio automatically pauses, saving your battery life. The tangle-free neckband design houses a charging port, microphones, and volume controls. According to PCMag's review, which rates them as “Excellent,” they feature a secure in-ear fit with a design that eliminates cable tug and provide balanced sound with powerful bass with 8.2mm drivers. Battery life is around 12 hours on a full charge, and 10 minutes of "Fast Fuel" charging will give you about 90 minutes of listening time. The earbuds use Class 1 Bluetooth for extended range and Apple’s W1 chip for seamless pairing. Two pairs of Flex can share the same sound source; when a second pair is nearby, you’ll get an onscreen prompt to connect. They’re compatible with Bluetooth 5.0 and support AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs, but not AptX. Charging is via USB-C. They do lack an official IP rating, so you'll want to be mindful when wearing them in heavy rain. If you don’t need active noise cancellation, don’t need water resistance, and are fine with USB-C charging, the Beats Flex earbuds are an affordable option with a bass-heavy sound and Apple's W1 chip, making them a particularly good option for budget-conscious iOS users. 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 — $299.99 (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

While Rocket Mortgage's satisfaction score improved by 4% versus 2024, the industry as a whole dropped 1%, with credit unions outpacing banks and IMBs. View the full article

Late-stage mortgage delinquencies hit the highest level since January 2020 in September, a new report from VantageScore found. View the full article

Bilt members will be able to earn benefits through Venmo use, with the agreement coming after the company recently added mortgage payments to its points mix. View the full article

Most climate reports are bleak. Temperatures are soaring. Sea levels are rising. Companies are missing—or abandoning—their emissions targets. But a new report from the nonprofit Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit looks at the surprising amount of progress that’s happened since the Paris climate agreement 10 years ago. Renewable energy has grown faster than every major forecast predicted in 2015. There’s now four times as much solar power as the International Energy Agency expected 10 years ago. Last year alone, the world installed 553 gigawatts of solar power—roughly as much as 100 million U.S. homes use—which is 1,500% more than the IEA had projected. Investors are now pouring twice as much into renewables as into fossil fuels. One out of every five new cars sold is now an EV; a decade ago, that was one in 100. Even if growth flatlined now, the world is on track to reach 100 million EVs by 2028. Dozens of countries have net zero goals that are legally mandated, and comprehensive climate laws. Out of the world’s largest 2,000 companies, nearly 1,300 now have net zero goals in place. Ten years ago, the world was on track to hit a catastrophic 4 degrees of global warming by the end of the century. Now, projections have dropped to 2.6 degrees—not nearly enough, but a major step in the right direction. Typical climate reports, like the U.N.’s Emissions Gap Report, focus on how far off track the world is. “They say the same thing every time, basically: that we’re not doing enough,” says John Lang, net zero tracker lead at the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit. “That’s one side of the coin. The other side of the coin is that we have made unbelievable progress, and we’ve laid the foundations for structural, sustained emissions declines over the next few decades.” Ten years ago, projections about the growth of renewable energy were wrong in part because modelers underestimated how the scale of manufacturing in China could help drive costs down. Solar is now 66% cheaper than it was just a decade ago. In 2024, the cost of lithium-ion batteries fell by 20% in a single year. Globally, 91% of renewable energy projects are cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives. There are obvious challenges now, particularly the The President administration’s anti-climate push and supply chain bottlenecks from increased protectionism. Still, “the market’s more powerful than a man,” Lang says. Renewable energy will continue to grow. In China, emissions have been dropping since March of last year. China is also exporting clean energy technology to other countries. In the U.S., 19 states representing half of the country’s GDP still have net zero targets in place. “The story since 2015 is essentially around innovation, and through constraints, we’re going to see more innovation,” he says. “So despite the protectionism, I don’t see this unstoppable momentum slowing down.” The world still has a very long way to go. The planet has already heated up by 1.3 degrees Celsius, and we’re seeing the catastrophic impacts, from more severe hurricanes and wildfires to dying coral reefs. There’s little chance that we can avoid heating up more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, one of the goals of the Paris agreement. But every tenth of a degree of warming matters, and there’s still time to change the trajectory. “This decade was always going to be about laying foundations,” says Lang. “It’s not as quick as the IPCC would like us to go. But the reality is that this is hard. I always think of Emmanuel Kant’s quote, ‘From the crooked timber of humanity, nothing straight has ever been made.’ This is difficult stuff politically and culturally, and it is the biggest energy transition that humans may ever go through.” View the full article

After Zohran Mamdani’s campaign aired a commercial that used a Knicks-style campaign logo that wrote out “Zohran” over an image of a basketball, the NBA team asked them to take it down. The Mamdani ad, which aired during the New York Knicks’s opening game last week, shows black-and-white footage of a pick-up basketball game in a park as the narrator says “New York, this is our year.” There’s shots of Mamdani campaigning interspersed with the pick-up game, and the narrator says “Things can be different. Hope is back,” before the Knicks-style logo flashes on the screen over the sound of drums. The Knicks, whose owner donated last year to Mayor Eric Adams, weren’t happy with the knock-off logo and sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Mamdani campaign asking them to knock it off, according to The New York Post, which first reported the letter. The campaign says it will comply and pulled the ads on Friday. The Mamdani campaign said it was adjusting the ad, and “while the Knicks might not be able to publicly support our campaign, we’re proud to publicly support our NY Knicks,” campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec said in a statement. But it’s not the first campaign to lean on the visual tropes of beloved brand to attempt to say something about hometown pride or a candidate’s values in a single image. Before Mamdani’s Knicks logo, there’s been a history of branding knock-offs In 2022, Tim Short, a Republican state legislative candidate used a logo designed to look like the Fox News logo, searchlights and all, but the searchlights were later taken off without explanation. That same year, Matt Jenkins, a Democrat and U.S. House candidate in New Jersey, was hit with a cease-and-desist letter from Wawa, after the convenience store chain noticed the similarities between the bird in his campaign’s logo and theirs. Jenkins said in a social media post at the time that the design was intentional. “For a lot of people in our district, Wawa represents them. When we launched this race to replace Chris Smith, I wanted our logo to feel instantly familiar,” he wrote. And that’s what these knock-off logos are meant to signal. By leaning on a familiar logo, they visually convey that a candidate is “one of us,” as if to say, this candidate is a Knicks/Fox News/Wawa/[enter brand name here] fan, just like you. Visual parody doesn’t equal a winning brand Brands, though, are quick to distance themselves. After a U.S. House candidate in Michigan with the last name Campbell refused to comply with a cease-and-desist letter from the Campbell’s Company over the candidate’s logo designed like one of its soup cans, the company filed suit this month. Claiming her actions “are not innocent parody but are designed to capitalize on Campbell’s iconic brand and associate one of the country’s most famous and enduring brands with her political campaign,” the company said her rip-off logo confused customers. While campaigns can’t use knock-off logos without inviting potential legal action, that doesn’t mean some won’t try. By designing logos based on popular brands, campaigns hope some of that brand magic will rub off at the ballot box. But would-be copycats, take note: While Mamdani, with his own distinctive campaign logo may well be an exception, other recent candidates who’ve used major brand logos haven’t fared well. In Georgia, Short’s short-lived Fox News logo didn’t help him win the Republican primary. Jenkins rebranded to a bird-less logo and lost. Sometimes it’s better to come up with your own idea. View the full article

Lenders and investors say the new rules will increase the cost of financing and limit homeowners' access to equity by curbing the enforceability of contracts. View the full article

United Parcel Service posted third-quarter results that handily beat Wall Street’s expectations and gave details about its turnaround efforts, including approximately 48,000 job cuts. Shares rose more than 7% in afternoon trading on Tuesday. UPS earned $1.31 billion, or $1.55 per share, for the three months ended Sept. 30. The Atlanta-based company earned $1.99 billion, or $1.80 per share, a year earlier. Removing one-time costs, earnings were $1.74 per share. That easily topped the $1.31 per share that analyst polled by Zacks Investment Research were calling for. Revenue totaled $21.42 billion, surpassing Wall Street’s estimate of $20.84 billion. UPS said in a regulatory filing that it has cut about 34,000 operational positions and closed daily operations at 93 leased and owned buildings during the first nine months of this year as part of its turnaround plan. The company also announced approximately 14,000 job cuts, mostly within management. It said that it is still looking to identify additional buildings to close. In April, UPS announced that it was looking to slash about 20,000 jobs and close more than 70 facilities as it drastically reduces the number of Amazon shipments it handles. At the time, the company said that it anticipated closing 73 leased and owned buildings by the end of June. The company noted that it was still reviewing its network and might identify more buildings to be shuttered. In January, UPS announced that it had reached a deal with Amazon, its biggest customer, to lower its volume by more than 50% by the second half of 2026. During UPS’ fourth-quarter earnings conference call in January, CEO Carol Tomé said that the company had partnered with Amazon for almost 30 years and that when its contract came up this year, UPS decided to reassess the relationship. UPS has realized cost savings of approximately $2.2 billion as of Sept. 30. It anticipates achieving $3.5 billion total year over year cost savings in 2025. —Michelle Chapman, 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. If you've been considering getting one of Peloton's new Bikes, Treads, or Rows, this might be the time—as long as you know someone who is already an All-Access Member. Until Nov. 11, referral codes from existing members get you more money off your hardware purchases. The discount detailsLast month, Peloton rolled out upgraded versions of its fleet, including the Bike, Bike+, Tread+, Tread+, and Row. The new devices are known as the Cross Training series and, as such, are named the Cross Training Bike, Crosstraining Tread+, etc. If you want to know how they differ from the old models, I wrote an explainer here, but the basic gist is that the proprietary touchscreens on which you follow guided classes now swivel around, making it easier to hop off your machine and do, say, a strength or yoga class. The Plus line also comes with a movement-tracking camera that uses AI to correct your form, suggest when it's time to add more weights or reps, and monitor your workouts. As you can assume, these are pricier than their predecessors, which is why the current referral promotion might be of interest to you. If you get a referral code from an existing All-Access Member, here's what you can get off at checkout: $300 (instead of the usual $250) off your cart when you purchase a new Peloton Cross Training Bike $700 off your cart (instead of $500) when you purchase a new Peloton Cross Training Bike+ $500 off (instead of $300) when you get a Peloton Cross Training Tread $1,200 off (instead of $600) a purchase of a new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ $200 off a new Peloton Cross Training Row+ All the discounts will return to normal after Nov. 11. (Note: This probably isn't the best time to get a Cross Training Row+, as the typical referral discount on that is $300.) Your referrer has to be an All Access Member, not someone who uses one of the less-expensive, app-only versions of Peloton's digital offerings. The referrer can't be renting their machine, their membership can't be paused, and they can't be a Peloton employee. Notice, too, that this specifically applies to new devices. That means you can't use the referral code to get money off a purchase on Peloton's resale platform, Repowered, although that's always a solid option if you're looking for equipment on a budget. You don't have to have the Cross Training series to get a good workout (although I enjoyed my demos of those devices); I have been using the same Peloton Bike for nearly five years and love it—I ride it every day. You can redeem your code on the Peloton website or at Peloton stores. Bear in mind, however, you have to be a new customer. How to find a referral codeIf you want to be the referrer, not the referee, here's how to generate the code that will get you some brownie points with your fitness-focused friends. The easiest way is to go to this link and log into your Peloton account. Otherwise, head to members.onepeloton.com and select the hamburger menu in the top right corner, then hit Refer friends. If you're not seeing that or the link above didn't work, you're not eligible to share a code. You can also do this on your mobile app by tapping the Community tab, then Add Friends on the upper right, then Refer Friends. Remember how I said you'll get brownie points with the people you refer? You get something else, too: You can give out up to $1,200 in referrals, but you also get a free month of your All Access Membership for every person you refer. Once someone makes a purchase with your code, you'll get en email containing a code of your own, plus instructions on how to redeem it, after three to five business days. The voucher codes are valid for three months after their issue date. View the full article

Apple suppliers Skyworks Solutions and Qorvo will merge in a cash-and-stock deal to create a radio chip company with an enterprise value of $22 billion. Qorvo shareholders will receive $32.50 in cash and 0.96 of a Skyworks common share for each Qorvo share held at the close of the transaction, which is expected in early 2027, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals. Activist investor Starboard Value, which owns about 8% of Qorvo, has already signed off on the deal. On a conference call with investors Tuesday, Skyworks said its biggest customers also expressed approval of the merger. After closing, Skyworks shareholders will own roughly 63% of the combined company, with Qorvo shareholders owning the remaining 37%. The companies which make radio frequency components and semiconductors for a broad array of technology including mobile phones, said that with demand growing, they will be better able compete with larger rivals as a single company. Skyworks CEO Phil Brace will take the chief executive job at the combined company, while Qorvo CEO Bob Bruggeworth will join the board. Upon closing, the company’s board will have eight directors from Skyworks and three from Qorvo. Skyworks specializes in high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, while Qorvo provides connectivity and power solutions. The companies say combining will create a $5.1 billion mobile business. Skyworks, based in Irvine, California, released its preliminary fourth-quarter results on Tuesday, beating Wall Street revenue and profit expectations. Qorvo, based in Greensboro, North Carolina, posted preliminary results from its most recent quarter as well, which also came in ahead of Wall Street’s projections. View the full article

ChatGPT wants to be your personal shopper. PayPal announced Tuesday that its digital payment system will be integrated into ChatGPT, inviting anyone who uses it to shop directly from the chatbot. Starting next year, ChatGPT users will be able to check out with a click through a PayPal account and connect directly with the tens of millions of sellers who rely on PayPal’s payments system. “By partnering with OpenAI and adopting the Agentic Commerce Protocol, PayPal will power payments and commerce experiences that help people go from chat to checkout in just a few taps for our joint customer bases,” PayPal CEO Alex Chriss said in a press release. PayPal’s shares rose on the news, which was announced on the same day as the company’s quarterly earnings report. PayPal is all-in on an AI-focused future of online retail. Beyond the new ChatGPT plans, the company is “collaborating to create new AI shopping experiences” with Google and partnering on free premium trials with AI search engine Perplexity. Chriss said on Tuesday’s earnings call, adding that the company was better positioned than it was two years ago. “With differentiated competitive advantages, clear strategic direction and building execution momentum, we believe we are exceptionally well-placed to win into the future.” OpenAI’s shopping mall PayPal is the latest partner to join OpenAI’s e-commerce vision, but it isn’t the first. In September, ChatGPT’s parent company revealed that it would integrate Shopify and Etsy directly in what it described as “first steps toward agentic commerce” through an instant checkout platform built with Stripe. “ChatGPT doesn’t just help you find what to buy, it also helps you buy it,” OpenAI wrote in a blog post on the announcement. The Etsy integration is already live, surfacing U.S. Etsy sellers directly in response to prompts in chat, like “Find me blue and white teacups under $50.” The Shopify partnership will bring major retailers into the mix, with products from brands like Glossier, SKIMS and Vuori woven into the chat. Earlier this month, it struck a similar deal with Walmart. For OpenAI, aggressively gobbling up the market with ChatGPT has been the name of the game, not monetization. The “build first, profit later” method – a Silicon Valley special – has gone swimmingly for the AI company so far and it boasts more than 700 million weekly active users. OpenAI shot out of the gate with a buzzy free product, collecting loyal customers and funneling power users toward tiered premium subscriptions, though it actually loses money on some of those paid plans. For OpenAI, e-commerce is a logical next step for revenue. It’s also a direction that opens the door wide for advertising, which the company was one staunchly against but seems to be gravitating toward with recent hiring and its new corporate structure which was finalized this week. On the consumer side, the plunge into AI-powered shopping is poised to steer people away from Google as a first port of call and toward tailored results shaped by AI queries. That behavior shift is just one more way that AI continues to creep into every aspect of digital life, reshaping every interaction – and transaction – we make in the process. View the full article

Adobe and YouTube have announced a groundbreaking partnership aimed at revolutionizing content creation for video creators around the globe. This collaboration merges Adobe’s industry-leading video editing capabilities with YouTube Shorts, a platform that has rapidly gained popularity among content creators. The new feature, called Create for YouTube Shorts, will soon be integrated into the Adobe Premiere mobile app, providing creators with enhanced tools to produce high-quality, engaging short videos. The partnership was revealed during Adobe MAX, the world’s largest creativity conference, where Adobe and YouTube executives emphasized their commitment to empowering creators. “We’re excited to partner with YouTube to give creators the power to produce, share, and grow on the world’s biggest stage, YouTube,” said Ely Greenfield, Adobe’s chief technology officer and senior vice president of digital media. This sentiment was echoed by YouTube’s Scott Silver, who remarked, “This partnership with Adobe to integrate YouTube Shorts into Premiere mobile will give creators even more choice and access to more editing features.” For small business owners and independent creators, this partnership presents significant opportunities to enhance video marketing strategies. The Create for YouTube Shorts feature will allow users to leverage Adobe’s powerful video editing tools, including exclusive effects, transitions, and templates designed specifically for short-form content. This is particularly relevant as businesses increasingly turn to video as a primary means of engaging customers and promoting products. Creators will benefit from the ease of use that Premiere mobile will offer. They can utilize ready-made templates with professional transitions, allowing even those with limited video editing experience to produce polished content. In a world where attention spans are fleeting, the ability to create eye-catching videos quickly and efficiently can be a game-changer for small businesses looking to capture the interest of potential customers. Moreover, the integration allows for seamless sharing directly to YouTube Shorts with just one tap, streamlining the process of getting content in front of audiences. This is crucial for small business owners who may not have extensive resources for content distribution. By simplifying the production and sharing process, Adobe and YouTube are effectively lowering the barrier to entry for quality content creation. However, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. While the tools are designed to be user-friendly, there may still be a learning curve associated with mastering Adobe’s video editing software, especially for those unfamiliar with its features. Additionally, staying on top of trends in short-form video content will require continuous learning and adaptation. To fully utilize these tools, businesses will need to invest time into understanding what resonates with their target audience on platforms like YouTube Shorts. The collaboration also underscores the importance of embracing innovation in the digital landscape. As video content continues to dominate social media, small businesses that leverage these new tools can differentiate themselves from competitors. The ability to create engaging, trend-driven content can significantly enhance brand visibility and customer engagement. As Adobe prepares to roll out this new content creation space within Premiere mobile, small business owners should be ready to explore these capabilities. The ability to create customized templates and use Adobe’s advanced editing features presents an exciting opportunity to elevate marketing strategies and connect more deeply with audiences. This integration marks a significant step forward in the democratization of video content creation. With the combined power of Adobe’s editing tools and YouTube’s expansive reach, small business owners have a unique opportunity to harness the potential of short-form video and transform their marketing efforts. As the digital landscape evolves, those who adapt and leverage these new tools will be well-positioned to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment. This article, "Adobe and YouTube Unite to Elevate Content Creation for Creators" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Adobe and YouTube have announced a groundbreaking partnership aimed at revolutionizing content creation for video creators around the globe. This collaboration merges Adobe’s industry-leading video editing capabilities with YouTube Shorts, a platform that has rapidly gained popularity among content creators. The new feature, called Create for YouTube Shorts, will soon be integrated into the Adobe Premiere mobile app, providing creators with enhanced tools to produce high-quality, engaging short videos. The partnership was revealed during Adobe MAX, the world’s largest creativity conference, where Adobe and YouTube executives emphasized their commitment to empowering creators. “We’re excited to partner with YouTube to give creators the power to produce, share, and grow on the world’s biggest stage, YouTube,” said Ely Greenfield, Adobe’s chief technology officer and senior vice president of digital media. This sentiment was echoed by YouTube’s Scott Silver, who remarked, “This partnership with Adobe to integrate YouTube Shorts into Premiere mobile will give creators even more choice and access to more editing features.” For small business owners and independent creators, this partnership presents significant opportunities to enhance video marketing strategies. The Create for YouTube Shorts feature will allow users to leverage Adobe’s powerful video editing tools, including exclusive effects, transitions, and templates designed specifically for short-form content. This is particularly relevant as businesses increasingly turn to video as a primary means of engaging customers and promoting products. Creators will benefit from the ease of use that Premiere mobile will offer. They can utilize ready-made templates with professional transitions, allowing even those with limited video editing experience to produce polished content. In a world where attention spans are fleeting, the ability to create eye-catching videos quickly and efficiently can be a game-changer for small businesses looking to capture the interest of potential customers. Moreover, the integration allows for seamless sharing directly to YouTube Shorts with just one tap, streamlining the process of getting content in front of audiences. This is crucial for small business owners who may not have extensive resources for content distribution. By simplifying the production and sharing process, Adobe and YouTube are effectively lowering the barrier to entry for quality content creation. However, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. While the tools are designed to be user-friendly, there may still be a learning curve associated with mastering Adobe’s video editing software, especially for those unfamiliar with its features. Additionally, staying on top of trends in short-form video content will require continuous learning and adaptation. To fully utilize these tools, businesses will need to invest time into understanding what resonates with their target audience on platforms like YouTube Shorts. The collaboration also underscores the importance of embracing innovation in the digital landscape. As video content continues to dominate social media, small businesses that leverage these new tools can differentiate themselves from competitors. The ability to create engaging, trend-driven content can significantly enhance brand visibility and customer engagement. As Adobe prepares to roll out this new content creation space within Premiere mobile, small business owners should be ready to explore these capabilities. The ability to create customized templates and use Adobe’s advanced editing features presents an exciting opportunity to elevate marketing strategies and connect more deeply with audiences. This integration marks a significant step forward in the democratization of video content creation. With the combined power of Adobe’s editing tools and YouTube’s expansive reach, small business owners have a unique opportunity to harness the potential of short-form video and transform their marketing efforts. As the digital landscape evolves, those who adapt and leverage these new tools will be well-positioned to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment. This article, "Adobe and YouTube Unite to Elevate Content Creation for Creators" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Adobe has unveiled a suite of new AI innovations designed to enhance the creative workflow for professionals using its Creative Cloud applications. Announced at Adobe MAX, the world’s largest creativity conference, these features aim to provide small business owners and creative professionals with tools that boost efficiency, precision, and ultimately, the quality of their creative output. The newly introduced AI capabilities are set to transform how creative teams approach their projects. With features like one-click tools for compositing and masking, Adobe’s updates allow users to save significant time at each stage of the creative process. This could be especially beneficial for small businesses facing increased competition and demand for high-quality creative content. Deepa Subramaniam, Adobe’s vice president of product marketing for creative professionals, emphasized the importance of these innovations: “We’re delivering several groundbreaking AI tools and models into creative professionals’ go-to apps, so they can harness the tremendous economic and creative opportunities presented by the rising global demand for creative content.” Key benefits of the new features include: – Generative Fill and Upscale: In Photoshop, users can now utilize enhanced Generative Fill and Generative Upscale tools, which allow for precise content modification and resolution enhancements. This is particularly useful for small businesses that may not have large libraries of high-resolution images, enabling them to create stunning visuals from lower-quality assets. – AI Object Mask and Advanced Masking Tools in Premiere: The introduction of the AI Object Mask tool means that video editors can automatically identify and isolate subjects in video frames, streamlining the editing process significantly. This feature, along with new precision masking tools, can help small video production companies save hours of manual editing work. – Assisted Culling in Lightroom: This feature helps users quickly sift through large photo collections to identify the best images based on focus and sharpness. For small photography businesses, this could mean a more efficient way to manage and present portfolios. – Firefly Creative Production: This new AI-powered batch editing tool allows users to edit thousands of images simultaneously, applying consistent color grading and cropping without coding knowledge. Such capabilities can dramatically reduce turnaround time for marketing materials or social media content, making it easier for small businesses to maintain a steady output of fresh visuals. While the advantages are clear, small business owners should consider a few potential challenges. As with any new technology, there is a learning curve involved. Adapting to AI tools may require time and training, which could be a hurdle for businesses with limited resources. Additionally, while AI can enhance creativity, it is essential for users to ensure that the final output maintains a personal touch, as over-reliance on automation might risk diluting unique brand identities. Moreover, the integration of advanced AI tools into existing workflows may require an initial investment in time and possibly training. Small business owners might need to allocate resources to educate their teams on maximizing these new capabilities, ensuring that they leverage the full potential of these innovations. Pricing and availability of these new features are also noteworthy. Many of the tools, including Photoshop’s Generative Fill and Lightroom’s Assisted Culling, are already available, while others are set to roll out in the coming months. For small business owners, taking advantage of the current promotional offers—such as unlimited image generations for Firefly and Creative Cloud Pro subscribers until December 1—could provide a cost-effective way to explore these tools. Adobe’s approach to AI emphasizes that these innovations are meant to complement human creativity, not replace it. As AI continues to evolve, small businesses can expect more tools that not only enhance productivity but also enrich the creative process. In an era where visual content is paramount, Adobe’s latest features present an opportunity for small businesses to elevate their creative capabilities, allowing them to compete more effectively in a crowded marketplace. Embracing these advancements could be the key to unlocking new levels of creativity and efficiency. This article, "Adobe Unveils Game-Changing AI Tools to Elevate Creative Workflows" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Adobe has unveiled a suite of new AI innovations designed to enhance the creative workflow for professionals using its Creative Cloud applications. Announced at Adobe MAX, the world’s largest creativity conference, these features aim to provide small business owners and creative professionals with tools that boost efficiency, precision, and ultimately, the quality of their creative output. The newly introduced AI capabilities are set to transform how creative teams approach their projects. With features like one-click tools for compositing and masking, Adobe’s updates allow users to save significant time at each stage of the creative process. This could be especially beneficial for small businesses facing increased competition and demand for high-quality creative content. Deepa Subramaniam, Adobe’s vice president of product marketing for creative professionals, emphasized the importance of these innovations: “We’re delivering several groundbreaking AI tools and models into creative professionals’ go-to apps, so they can harness the tremendous economic and creative opportunities presented by the rising global demand for creative content.” Key benefits of the new features include: – Generative Fill and Upscale: In Photoshop, users can now utilize enhanced Generative Fill and Generative Upscale tools, which allow for precise content modification and resolution enhancements. This is particularly useful for small businesses that may not have large libraries of high-resolution images, enabling them to create stunning visuals from lower-quality assets. – AI Object Mask and Advanced Masking Tools in Premiere: The introduction of the AI Object Mask tool means that video editors can automatically identify and isolate subjects in video frames, streamlining the editing process significantly. This feature, along with new precision masking tools, can help small video production companies save hours of manual editing work. – Assisted Culling in Lightroom: This feature helps users quickly sift through large photo collections to identify the best images based on focus and sharpness. For small photography businesses, this could mean a more efficient way to manage and present portfolios. – Firefly Creative Production: This new AI-powered batch editing tool allows users to edit thousands of images simultaneously, applying consistent color grading and cropping without coding knowledge. Such capabilities can dramatically reduce turnaround time for marketing materials or social media content, making it easier for small businesses to maintain a steady output of fresh visuals. While the advantages are clear, small business owners should consider a few potential challenges. As with any new technology, there is a learning curve involved. Adapting to AI tools may require time and training, which could be a hurdle for businesses with limited resources. Additionally, while AI can enhance creativity, it is essential for users to ensure that the final output maintains a personal touch, as over-reliance on automation might risk diluting unique brand identities. Moreover, the integration of advanced AI tools into existing workflows may require an initial investment in time and possibly training. Small business owners might need to allocate resources to educate their teams on maximizing these new capabilities, ensuring that they leverage the full potential of these innovations. Pricing and availability of these new features are also noteworthy. Many of the tools, including Photoshop’s Generative Fill and Lightroom’s Assisted Culling, are already available, while others are set to roll out in the coming months. For small business owners, taking advantage of the current promotional offers—such as unlimited image generations for Firefly and Creative Cloud Pro subscribers until December 1—could provide a cost-effective way to explore these tools. Adobe’s approach to AI emphasizes that these innovations are meant to complement human creativity, not replace it. As AI continues to evolve, small businesses can expect more tools that not only enhance productivity but also enrich the creative process. In an era where visual content is paramount, Adobe’s latest features present an opportunity for small businesses to elevate their creative capabilities, allowing them to compete more effectively in a crowded marketplace. Embracing these advancements could be the key to unlocking new levels of creativity and efficiency. This article, "Adobe Unveils Game-Changing AI Tools to Elevate Creative Workflows" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Two decades after a Republican-controlled Congress gave gun manufacturers immunity from being sued over crimes committed with their firearms, blue state Democrats upset about gun violence think they’ve found a way to penetrate that legal shield. Since 2021, 10 states have passed laws intended to make it easier to sue gunmakers and sellers. The newest such law, in Connecticut, took effect this month. It opens firearms manufacturers and retailers up to lawsuits if they don’t take steps to prevent guns from getting into the hands of people banned from owning them, or who should be suspected of intending to use them to hurt themselves or others. Other states have allowed lawsuits against companies deemed to have created a “public nuisance” through the sale or marketing of firearms. The legislation — and flurry of lawsuits against gun companies that followed — has outraged gun rights advocates, who accuse the states of trying to skirt the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. That law, which blocked a wave of similar lawsuits two decades ago, says gun companies operating legally cannot be held liable for violent acts committed by people misusing weapons. “They know these laws are unconstitutional. They know these laws violate the PLCAA,” said Lawrence G. Keane, senior vice president for government and public affairs at the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “They don’t care,” he said, adding that the real goal of the lawsuits was to harass the industry and drain it financially. Gun control groups say the states have simply set clearer requirements for gun companies to ensure their products aren’t sold or used illegally. “These laws don’t just open the courthouse doors to survivors. They also force the gun industry to operate more responsibly and, most importantly, can help prevent future tragedies,” said Po Murray, chair of the Newtown Action Alliance, a gun-violence prevention group founded after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Two decades of federal immunity Congress adopted protections for the gun industry after lawsuits filed in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and elsewhere attempted to hold the firearms industry responsible for violent crime. Many of those suits argued that gun companies had knowingly oversupplied certain markets with cheap handguns and ignored signs that those weapons were being trafficked to places with strict gun controls. The firearms industry and the National Rifle Association saw the lawsuits as unfair. As long as gun companies weren’t breaking rules around sales, they shouldn’t be held responsible for violence, they said. President George W. Bush, a Republican, agreed and signed the shield law in 2005, saying it helped stem “frivolous lawsuits.” “Our laws should punish criminals who use guns to commit crimes, not law-abiding manufacturers of lawful products,” Bush said at the time. A new approach The legal protections Congress gave the gun industry aren’t absolute. For example, a gunmaker that sells a faulty firearm can still be sued over dangerous defects. Another exception allows lawsuits against companies that knowingly violate laws regulating how firearms are sold and marketed. When Congress drafted that exception, it cited the example of a shop that knowingly sold a gun to someone banned from owning one, such as a convicted felon. The new state laws have sought to expand potential liability for gun companies by creating new rules for the industry. New York passed a law in 2021 requiring gun companies to create controls to prevent unlawful possession or use of their products. It also says they cannot knowingly or recklessly “contribute to a condition” that endangers public safety. “Any business operating in New York must adhere to our laws — and if they don’t, they are held accountable,” said Democratic state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, the law’s chief proponent. Several states and cities have used the new liability laws to sue Glock over the design of its pistols, saying it is too easy to convert them into automatic weapons. Many of the new laws follow legal theories from a lawsuit filed against gunmaker Remington by families of Sandy Hook victims. The suit, which was settled for $73 million in 2022, argued that Remington’s marketing violated state consumer protection law. What’s next? It’s too soon to say if courts will uphold the new state laws. A panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in July that New York’s law wasn’t expressly barred by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, but that decision is not expected to be the last word. One of the judges, Dennis Jacobs, made it clear he believes the law is vulnerable to future legal challenges, calling it “nothing short of an attempt to end-run PLCAA.” The U.S. Supreme Court, which is controlled 6-3 by Republican-nominated justices, hasn’t yet considered the state liability laws, but the gun industry was encouraged when the justices unanimously agreed in June to toss out a $10 billion lawsuit Mexico filed against top firearms manufacturers claiming their business practices fuel cartel violence. Justice Elena Kagan, a Democratic nominee, wrote in her opinion how Congress passed PLCAA to halt lawsuits similar to the one filed by Mexico. She said Mexico had made no plausible argument that the companies knowingly helped gun trafficking. “The Court doubts Congress intended to draft such a capacious way out of PLCAA, and in fact it did not,” she wrote. —Susan Haigh, Associated Press Associated Press Writer Dave Collins contributed to this report. View the full article

A new internet theory about American politics and society just dropped. From anti-vaxxers to AI slop, everything can be explained by one simple idea: Everyone is twelve now. In September, Bluesky user and musician Patrick Cosmos (@veryimportant.lawyer) posted, “working on a new unified theory of american reality i’m calling ‘everyone is twelve now.'” He continued: “‘I’m strong and I want to have like fifty kids and a farm’ of course you do. You’re twelve. ‘I don’t want to eat vegetables I think steak and French fries is the only meal’ hell yeah homie you’re twelve. ‘Maybe if there’s crime we should just send the army’ bless your heart my twelve year old buddy.” It’s funny, but it also feels depressingly accurate. It’s already being called “the most important political thread of our time.” Or as another user wrote: “making a pilgrimage to a post that will one day be studied in history books”. It took a few weeks for the theory to spread to X, Twitter, Reddit, TikTok, and other platforms, but once it did, it became the go-to comeback under conservative posts and government propaganda alike. “You wanna do a ride-along in the backseat of a big plane and cosplay being a pilot? Of course you do, you’re twelve,” user @jjellisart said in response to a video of Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, in a fighter jet. “You wanna dress up like a knight and play swords? Of course you do, you’re twelve,” he also posted to a Homeland Security propaganda post of medieval knights. The meme even made its way into the political press corps after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt replied to a HuffPost reporter’s question about the location of Donald The President’s upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin with: “Your mom did.” One user quote-tweeted the exchange with: “The ‘Everyone is Twelve Now’ theory is rapidly gaining credibility, I fear.” So what’s behind the apparent sudden collective regression? According to the National Literacy Institute, 54% of U.S. adults read below a sixth-grade level. That limited literacy makes it harder to understand complex and nuanced issues and easier to fall for oversimplified narratives peddled on social media. As one Reddit user suggested: “an ideology specially crafted to appeal to nostalgia kinda has to be childish. the world was never perfect, so to pretend it was you have to appeal to childlike innocence.” Case in point: a glass bottle of Coca Cola balanced on the hood of a red Bronco as marketing material for the Department of Homeland Security. It might also explain why government agencies like the DHS have leaned into childhood classic Pokémon references and viral TikTok trends as part of their social media strategy. In the context of the “everyone is twelve” theory, it suddenly makes a lot of sense And once you’ve seen it, you’ll start spotting examples everywhere you look. Unless, of course, you’re twelve. 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 Nintendo Switch 2 is out, and it might not be worth the upgrade yet if you already own the original Nintendo Switch (especially at its $450 to $500 price point). If you don't, you can still get one and enjoy it before the Switch 2 really kicks off. Walmart is currently selling the Nintendo Switch Gray Joy-Con for $294.99 (originally $361.40). No other reputable seller has this version new on sale. If you're okay with a used console, GameStop has a pre-owned version for $209.99, a great price for the gray Joy-Con version. Nintendo Switch Console with Gray Joy-Con. $294.99 at Walmart $361.40 Save $66.41 Get Deal Get Deal $294.99 at Walmart $361.40 Save $66.41 (Pre-owned) Nintendo Switch Gray Joy-Con $209.99 Shop Now Shop Now $209.99 SEE -1 MORE With tariffs affecting Nintendo and the Nintendo Switch 2 already out, it's hard to gauge if this is a fair historical price. However, considering the Switch 2 can easily go for double the price, it makes the decision to get the original console much easier. What might be a harder decision is whether to get the OLED version or not. To help you decide which Switch is better for you, check out our breakdown. Keep in mind, there are also other costs to owning a Nintendo Switch. At this point, the Nintendo Switch already has an incredible library of games to choose from, but the same cannot be said about the Switch 2. This specific model comes with gray Joy-Con, which is a more mature-looking version than the original blue and red version. You can expect between 4.5 and 9 hours per charge depending on your use and the game you're playing. It has a 6.2-inch screen, 32GB of data storage, and online gaming if you pay for the Nintendo Switch Online plan, which starts at $19.99 a year. I've personally been enjoying the classic Nintendo 64 games that are available to play with the online membership. It's a nice nostalgic feeling that I get to relive with my brothers and friends. View the full article

With one sweeping gesture, Dar Sleeper hoists the humanoid robot off the ground. Bracing its back with one arm and its legs with the other, he gently carries it across the room and lowers it onto a sofa, where it lies in repose as if catching a quick nap. It’s a slightly surreal scene, but it has a serious point. I am visiting the Palo Alto headquarters of 1X Technologies, and Sleeper, the company’s VP of growth, is demonstrating that Neo, its home robot, is a lightweight at a mere 66 pounds. That’s a crucial design feature, given that a weighty domestic bot could prove hazardous if it toppled over in the vicinity of a human, a pet, or just a pricey vase. Soon, Neo will take on the ultimate proving ground for a home robot: actual homes. 1X is announcing that it’s taking preorders and plans to ship units to its earliest customers next year. The price is $20,000, or $499 per month as a subscription service, with a six-month minimum. Like a smartphone, the robot will come in multiple color options—tan, gray, and dark brown. Wait, $20,000? There isn’t much precedent for mainstream consumer products in that price range. Cars, of course. (The average price for a new one just topped $50,000.) Maybe boats? Even if you can come up with another example or two, it’s a short list. Then again, 1X founder and CEO Bernd Børnich’s goals for his robots involve attaining a degree of utility that few inventions ever have. He wants to teach Neo to handle every household task that people perform because they need to, not because they want to. Even if the time saved came in bits and pieces—five minutes of dishwasher unloading here, 15 minutes of laundry folding there—it would add up to many hours newly available for more rewarding pursuits. Now multiply that by hundreds of thousands of Neos, which is the quantity Børnich talks about when outlining 1X’s long-term plans for manufacturing capacity. “Potentially it’s the biggest thing ever, with respect to productivity increase across society,” he tells me when I catch up with him via Zoom after my visit to the company. Børnich is hardly the only entrepreneur spinning visions of a world in which humans coexist with teeming masses of robots modeled on them. Companies such as Agility Robotics, Apptronik, and Figure AI are all building humanoid bots of their own. So is Sleeper’s former employer, Tesla, whose Optimus robot has seemingly diverted much of Elon Musk’s attention away from boring old EVs. Most of the nascent category’s focus is on environments such as factories and warehouses, where robots might take on jobs that are dangerous or repetitive—no paychecks required. (1X is presently focused on the home but says it “plans to offer humanoids for the workplace at a later date.”) It’s not just robotics manufacturers that see a vast business in the making. Humanoid bots could fuel enormous growth in chips, foundational models, cloud services, and other elements of the AI economy—a wave of optimism 1X is already riding. In 2023, OpenAI led the company’s $23.5 million Series A2 funding round; its Series B round the following year raised another $100 million. The company also has a strategic alliance with Nvidia, whose CEO, Jensen Huang, accepted a custom leather jacket from Neo during an onstage appearance last March. By 2050, according to a May Morgan Stanley report, there could be more than a billion humanoid robots in service, with the vast majority in commercial and industrial settings. Only 80 million would be in homes, the report speculates. Still, that’s roughly 80 million more humanoid home robots than exist today. For all the grandeur of 1X’s plan to transform how we spend our time, the company is up front that Neo is not yet ready to handle all the drudgery you might want to offload to a home robot. Some of the things it can do are only possible under the control of remote 1X employees, who can orchestrate its actions as if it were a marionette. That human assistance might be a stopgap, but it will also provide 1X with AI training data it can use to make Neo more autonomous over time. My encounter with Neo at 1X’s office did as much to tamp down my impressions of its present form as ratchet them up. The robot gamely ambled about, with a gait that didn’t closely resemble that of a human but was more limber than you might expect. It showed off its strength by hefting a restaurant-sized sack of rice. It also presented me with a chilled bottle of water, though the feat involved a mix of autonomy (walking to the refrigerator) and remote control (opening the fridge and fishing out the bottle), and took much longer than if I’d simply grabbed the water myself. A demo of Neo’s sweeping skills went south when it turned out the cordless vacuum it was wielding had a dead battery. (A human house cleaner would have easily diagnosed and solved the problem.) And some uses 1X is citing for its robot—such as setting birthday reminders and managing grocery lists—do not seem to call for $20,000 of advanced machinery. For Neo to succeed, 1X won’t just need to finish building out the robot’s skill set. It will also have to live up to expectations long steeped in cultural touchstones such as The Jetsons and Star Wars. As Sleeper puts it, “The ultimate North Star, in a lot of people’s minds, is Rosie the robot.” Børnich emphasizes that 1X isn’t entirely sure how Neo will fit into homes, and the company is getting ready to sell them in part to help figure that out. ”I don’t think there’s any way we could be as creative as the full set of our customers,” he says. “That’s one of the beauties of actually developing this in public.” Robots come home Originally known as Halodi Robotics and founded by Børnich in Norway in 2014, 1X didn’t set out to build a home humanoid right away. Its first robot, Eve, was designed for industrial applications, had grippers instead of hands, and rolled on two wheels. It looked a little like it was riding a built-in Segway. As with anything dependent on generative AI, teaching robots to engage with the world requires vast amounts of training data. As 1X considered where to get that data, it came to see the home as rife with possibilities. That fact nudged it in the direction that eventually led to Neo. “A cup has the ability to give you more data than an entire industrial task,” says Sleeper. “Because that cup could be full. It could be empty. It could be half full. It could be on the kitchen table full, meaning you should leave it there because somebody’s probably drinking it. It can be empty on the coffee table, which means you should take it to the sink or put it in the dishwasher. It could be in the cupboard, meaning that that’s where you go to grab it to give it to somebody when they ask it for it.” Along with data, homes were also full of challenges that Eve had never been designed to overcome, such as climbing stairs to fetch a laundry basket. So when the company formally decided to pursue the home market, it realized it would need to build an all-new robot. ”Every lesson we’ve learned has moved us more and more in the direction of being very confident that the human form factor is the only form factor,” says Sleeper. Humanoids were hardly a new field of robotics research: Børnich says he drew inspiration from examples such as Honda’s Asimo, a staple of trade-show demos early in this century. But he adds that “The type of hardware that we’ve designed here, which is so lightweight and safe and capable, we couldn’t have done that 20 years ago.” Visiting 1X’s Palo Alto operation is certainly an evocative experience. Along with standard tech-company accoutrements such as HP 3-D printers cranking out prototype parts, it’s full of robots—from the Neo I watched in action to a row of decommissioned Eves sitting next to a staircase. One skinless Neo hangs from a hook in an area thrumming with human technicians: “It’s very Westworld in here,” says Sleeper. Much of Neo’s innovation lies underneath its knit turtleneck jumpsuit. 1X created its own motors, which it says have five times more torque than any other in the world and help the robot lift up to 154 pounds and carry up to 50 pounds. It equipped the robot with a tendon-drive transmission system, intended to reduce weight while increasing safety and affordability. It engineered hands with 22 degrees of freedom—only five less than human ones—and attached them to longer-than-human arms, since robots have no shoulder blades. The company even custom-designed its own batteries. Neo officially runs for four hours on a charge, though it can top off its own battery as necessary—“You’ll never really have to think about it,” promises Sleeper. At 5 feet 6 inches, Neo is 2.5 inches taller than the average American woman and 3 inches shorter than the average man. Its physique is intentionally neither feminine nor masculine: “It was important that nobody be sexually attracted to it,” says Sleeper, suggesting scenarios I prefer not to contemplate any further. Owners will, however, be able to choose between female and male speaking voices. (For the record, Sleeper referred to Neo as “he” during our conversation, but said that opinions on its gender, if any, vary.) Regardless of how capable Neo’s hardware may be, 1X’s AI platform will determine what it can actually do around a house. Its elements include machine vision, audio recognition, and an onboard LLM with memory that provides ongoing context. Melding all of them will allow the robot to listen for instructions, navigate its surroundings and the objects therein, and perform useful tasks. The LLM will also power Neo’s personality. That will come out as people talk to it, which 1X thinks they may do quite a lot. Rather than mimicking human companionship, the company is aiming to make the robot a lovable, pet-like sidekick—Hobbes to the owner’s Calvin, Sleeper says. All of this is where the experience that 1X plans to ship next year will be, at best, a first rough draft. The company’s examples of jobs Neo will be able to perform autonomously on day one are modest: fetching items, greeting guests at the door, switching off the lights at night. It will handle these and other responsibilities by breaking them down into 10-second “microtasks.” At the moment, things get tricky if much more than three microtasks are involved. 1X expects its first customers to understand that they’re buying into a long-term proposition. “As you continue to use your robot, you’ll get more updates, and your basic autonomy features will expand to be able to do more,” says Sleeper. “Your robot can always try something if you ask it to, like getting you a beer. And if it hasn’t learned how to do that yet efficiently, it will fail. Some people might hate it. But those aren’t the early users.” (Historical footnote: Delivering beer may be home robotics’ most enduring example of an exciting application. It’s what a bot called Androbot did for Atari cofounder Nolan Bushnell during an onstage demo at CES in 1983, to cheers from the audience.) From the beginning, Neo will be able to go beyond basic autonomy through its remote-assistance feature. Called Chores, it will enable California-based 1X employees to see through Neo’s eyes and steer the robot through more elaborate processes. The company has anticipated privacy concerns over its bot becoming a roaming window into its customers’ homes: Chores sessions are only initiated if users explicitly ask for them, and can be terminated at any time. When they’re active, the LED ring around Neo’s ears will change from white to blue. Remote-controlled robots made me think of the Tesla event held a year ago whose Optimus bartenders provoked amazement, at least at first. When it turned out they’d been puppeteered by off-site humans, the awe dissipated. Sleeper told me that 1X doesn’t consider Chores to violate the fundamental idea of a home robot: “We just think that there’s actually quite a lot of value to come from these expert operators being able to supplement and support your experience.” As they do, the training data they generate may redound to the benefit of future Neo owners. To err is humanoid Børnich, who has been living with Neo at home for “quite some time,” professes not to be overly concerned with any flaws in the current experience, cheerfully calling them “robotic slop.” Maybe Neo “didn’t put all of the glasses in the cabinet exactly in line, like this master Japanese butler, but it put them in there,” he says by way of example. “Okay, the shirt isn’t folded perfectly, but it’s folded pretty well, and I didn’t need to do it. I’m actually very happy.” But he also expects that Neo will quickly prove its worth to a fairly broad audience. How soon? By 2027, the purchase will be “a no-brainer,” he predicts. Comparing home robots to smartphones—which have tended to get more powerful over time rather than much cheaper—Børnich says that $20,000 may remain Neo’s price tag even after 1X can scale up production well beyond its current capacity of 25,000 U.S.-made robots a year. “You just want to keep expanding the capabilities until you can not only do what humans can do, but you can also do a lot of things that we can’t,” he explains. A lot has to go right for these ambitions to play out, including 1X having access to the necessary capital. Last month, The Information’s Wayne Ma, Natasha Mascarenhas, and Valida Pau reported that the company was seeking $1 billion in additional funding at a $10 billion valuation, dwarfing its previous numbers. For now, 1X is still working on teaching Neo to tackle work that humans can literally do with their eyes closed. But when I ask Børnich if he considers the company’s ultimate business model to lie in selling home robots or building services around them, he pushes back on the assumption that it’s a home robotics company at all. “Actually, I think of 1X mainly as an AGI company,” he says. “We want to solve intelligence and solve artificial labor across society. Digitally and physically—the entire substrate. And you’re not going get there without robots.” Now 1X has to prove that it will get there with them. View the full article

Adobe has unveiled significant updates to its GenStudio platform, designed to meet the growing demand for scalable content production among businesses. During the recent Adobe MAX conference, the company introduced features that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline content creation and enhance marketing efforts, targeting small business owners looking to optimize their operations in an increasingly competitive landscape. Adobe GenStudio addresses a pressing challenge for many businesses: the need for a continuous supply of engaging content. As Varun Parmar, general manager of Adobe GenStudio and Firefly Enterprise, stated, “GenStudio brings together best-in-class Adobe capabilities for businesses to remain competitive in an attention-based economy, dramatically shortening the time it takes to deliver on-brand experiences at scale.” This focus on efficiency is especially relevant for small businesses that often operate with limited resources. One of the standout features of GenStudio is Firefly Design Intelligence, a new AI-powered tool that allows businesses to produce compliant content at scale. This tool was developed in collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company and enables teams to move beyond traditional static brand guidelines. By creating “StyleIDs,” which codify complex design rules, small businesses can generate new layouts and copy while ensuring brand consistency across all marketing materials. Another notable addition is Firefly Creative Production for Enterprise, which enhances the existing web application by allowing users to resize and reframe thousands of assets quickly. The platform now includes advanced features such as a workflow builder for reusable production processes and seamless integration with Adobe Experience Manager Assets and Frame.io. This capability can significantly reduce the time small business teams spend managing content, enabling them to focus on strategy and engagement. For small business owners engaged in performance marketing, the introduction of Adobe’s Content Production Agent in GenStudio is particularly promising. This generative AI tool interprets marketing briefs and automatically generates tailored content for various channels, helping businesses align their messaging with campaign goals and brand guidelines. The automation of content creation can free up valuable time for marketing teams, allowing them to concentrate on other critical tasks. As part of its ongoing innovation, Adobe has also introduced Firefly Services APIs, which facilitate the automation of creative workflows. These APIs now support video reframing and object compositing, essential for businesses looking to produce high-quality visual content quickly. Additionally, the Content Authenticity API ensures that digital credentials are embedded in content, protecting brand integrity—a crucial consideration for small businesses eager to establish trust with their audience. Perhaps one of the most transformative offerings is Adobe Firefly Foundry, which enables businesses to create proprietary generative AI models unique to their brand. By training these models on existing intellectual property, small businesses can generate consistent content tailored to their specific marketing needs. This customization can enhance brand recognition and loyalty, as businesses deliver personalized experiences to their customers. Integration with major advertising platforms is another critical aspect of the new GenStudio features. Businesses can now activate and optimize campaigns across platforms such as Amazon Ads, Google, LinkedIn, and TikTok. For small business owners, this means the ability to manage multi-channel advertising efforts from a single platform, streamlining operations and enhancing performance tracking. While these innovations promise significant benefits, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. The reliance on AI for content production may raise concerns regarding the authenticity and originality of generated content. Businesses must ensure that they maintain a distinct voice and uphold their brand values amidst automation. Moreover, the integration of numerous advertising platforms, while convenient, may require small businesses to invest time in learning how to leverage these tools effectively. Training and adaptation will be essential to maximize the potential of these new capabilities. As Adobe continues to enhance its GenStudio platform with AI-driven solutions, small business owners stand to gain from increased efficiency, improved content quality, and streamlined marketing efforts. By embracing these innovations, businesses can not only keep pace with the demands of the digital landscape but also carve out a competitive edge in their respective markets. This article, "Adobe Unveils GenStudio: A Game-Changer for Scalable Content Production" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Adobe has unveiled significant updates to its GenStudio platform, designed to meet the growing demand for scalable content production among businesses. During the recent Adobe MAX conference, the company introduced features that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline content creation and enhance marketing efforts, targeting small business owners looking to optimize their operations in an increasingly competitive landscape. Adobe GenStudio addresses a pressing challenge for many businesses: the need for a continuous supply of engaging content. As Varun Parmar, general manager of Adobe GenStudio and Firefly Enterprise, stated, “GenStudio brings together best-in-class Adobe capabilities for businesses to remain competitive in an attention-based economy, dramatically shortening the time it takes to deliver on-brand experiences at scale.” This focus on efficiency is especially relevant for small businesses that often operate with limited resources. One of the standout features of GenStudio is Firefly Design Intelligence, a new AI-powered tool that allows businesses to produce compliant content at scale. This tool was developed in collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company and enables teams to move beyond traditional static brand guidelines. By creating “StyleIDs,” which codify complex design rules, small businesses can generate new layouts and copy while ensuring brand consistency across all marketing materials. Another notable addition is Firefly Creative Production for Enterprise, which enhances the existing web application by allowing users to resize and reframe thousands of assets quickly. The platform now includes advanced features such as a workflow builder for reusable production processes and seamless integration with Adobe Experience Manager Assets and Frame.io. This capability can significantly reduce the time small business teams spend managing content, enabling them to focus on strategy and engagement. For small business owners engaged in performance marketing, the introduction of Adobe’s Content Production Agent in GenStudio is particularly promising. This generative AI tool interprets marketing briefs and automatically generates tailored content for various channels, helping businesses align their messaging with campaign goals and brand guidelines. The automation of content creation can free up valuable time for marketing teams, allowing them to concentrate on other critical tasks. As part of its ongoing innovation, Adobe has also introduced Firefly Services APIs, which facilitate the automation of creative workflows. These APIs now support video reframing and object compositing, essential for businesses looking to produce high-quality visual content quickly. Additionally, the Content Authenticity API ensures that digital credentials are embedded in content, protecting brand integrity—a crucial consideration for small businesses eager to establish trust with their audience. Perhaps one of the most transformative offerings is Adobe Firefly Foundry, which enables businesses to create proprietary generative AI models unique to their brand. By training these models on existing intellectual property, small businesses can generate consistent content tailored to their specific marketing needs. This customization can enhance brand recognition and loyalty, as businesses deliver personalized experiences to their customers. Integration with major advertising platforms is another critical aspect of the new GenStudio features. Businesses can now activate and optimize campaigns across platforms such as Amazon Ads, Google, LinkedIn, and TikTok. For small business owners, this means the ability to manage multi-channel advertising efforts from a single platform, streamlining operations and enhancing performance tracking. While these innovations promise significant benefits, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. The reliance on AI for content production may raise concerns regarding the authenticity and originality of generated content. Businesses must ensure that they maintain a distinct voice and uphold their brand values amidst automation. Moreover, the integration of numerous advertising platforms, while convenient, may require small businesses to invest time in learning how to leverage these tools effectively. Training and adaptation will be essential to maximize the potential of these new capabilities. As Adobe continues to enhance its GenStudio platform with AI-driven solutions, small business owners stand to gain from increased efficiency, improved content quality, and streamlined marketing efforts. By embracing these innovations, businesses can not only keep pace with the demands of the digital landscape but also carve out a competitive edge in their respective markets. This article, "Adobe Unveils GenStudio: A Game-Changer for Scalable Content Production" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article