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When OpenAI first announced GPT-5.2 last month, it quietly disclosed a new safety feature it called "age prediction." Considering ChatGPT proper isn't exactly an "all ages" kind of tool, it makes sense that users under the age of 18 should have protections in place to shield them from harmful content. The company says that users who indicate they're under 18 already receive an altered experience to "reduce exposure to sensitive or potentially harmful content," but if the user doesn't voluntarily share how old they are with OpenAI, how does the company enforce these protections? Here's where age prediction comes in. How age prediction for ChatGPT worksOn Tuesday, OpenAI officially announced its new age prediction policy, which, like other age verification systems being used by the likes of Roblox, uses AI to guess how old a user is. If the system decides that a particular user is under the age of 18, OpenAI will adjust the experience accordingly, with the goal of keeping all interactions age-appropriate. Here's how it works: The new age prediction model looks at both the user's behaviors within the app, as well as the general account data. That includes things like how old the account is, what times of day the user is accessing ChatGPT, usage patterns, as well as, of course, the age the user says they are. Looking at all this data, the model determines how old the user likely is. If the model thinks they're over 18, they'll get the full experience; if the model thinks they're under 18, they'll get the "safer experience." If the model isn't confident, it defaults to that safer experience. What's restricted in the "safer" version of ChatGPTThat limited experience means that someone the model thinks is under 18 will try to reduce the following content types: Graphic violence or gore Viral challenges that might inspire "risky or harmful behaviors" Role play that is sexual, romantic, or violent in nature Self-harm descriptions Content promoting "extreme" beauty standards, unhealthy dieting, or body shaming The company says that its approach is informed by "expert input" as well as literature discussing child development science. (It's not clear whether how much of that input is from direct interviews and coordination with experts, and how much, if any, is from independent research.) The company also acknowledges "known teen differences in risk perception, impulse control, peer influence, and emotional regulation" when compared to adults. AI isn't always great at age predictionThe biggest risk with any of these age prediction models is that they'll sometimes get it wrong—hallucination is an unfortunate habit AI models all share. That goes both ways: You don't want someone too young accessing inappropriate content in ChatGPT, but you also don't want someone older than 18 getting stuck with a limited account for no reason. If you experience the latter situation, OpenAI has a solution for you: direct age verification through Persona. This is the same third-party Roblox uses for its age verification, which hasn't gone very well thus far. That doesn't necessarily spell doom for OpenAI. Roblox tried overhauling their age verification system for a massive user base all used to a certain type of multiplayer experience, which led to users not being able to chat with other users in newly-assigned age categories, which were often incorrect. Meanwhile, ChatGPT's age prediction is only controlling the experience of one user at a time. To that end, OpenAI will let you upload a selfie as an added verification step if the prediction model alone isn't enough. Interestingly, OpenAI doesn't say anything about the option to upload an ID for verification, which other companies, like Google, have provided. I'm not necessarily a fan of age prediction models, as I think they often sacrifice user privacy in the name of creating age-appropriate experiences. But there's little doubt that OpenAI has to do something to limit the full ChatGPT experience for younger users. Many of ChatGPT's users are under 18, and much of the content they experience is wildly inappropriate, whether it be instructions on getting high, or advice on writing suicide notes. In some tragic cases, minors have taken their own lives after discussions with ChatGPT, leading to lawsuits against OpenAI. I don't have any great answers here. We'll just have to see how this new age prediction model affects the user experience for minors and adults alike, and whether it actually manages to create a safer experience for younger, more impressionable users. View the full article

Below, Chris Duffy shares five key insights from his new book, Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy. Chris is a comedian, television writer, and the host of TED’s award-winning How to Be a Better Human podcast. Chris wrote for both seasons of Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas on HBO, executive-produced by John Oliver. He is both a former fifth-grade teacher and a former fifth-grade student. What’s the big idea? Humor isn’t just about being funny. When we notice, share, and even save the small absurdities of everyday life, laughter can make us more relatable, more curious, and better able to connect, think, and work together. Listen to the audio version of this Book Bite—read by Chris himself—below, or in the Next Big Idea App. 1. People like you more if you’re a little bit of a mess. Many of us spend so much energy and stress trying to get things to be perfect. I know I do. I’ve wasted countless hours trying to hide my flaws from other people, especially strangers. But it turns out that not only is that a battle I’m never going to win, but it’s counterproductive. One of my favorite studies had study subjects rate potential job candidates (who were secretly in on the experiment). When asked to rate high-performing candidates and average candidates, study participants preferred the high performers. No surprise there. But the highest-rated candidates of all were the high performers who had also just spilled coffee all over themselves before walking in the door. In other words, we want you to be able to do your job, but we don’t mind if you’re kind of a mess. In fact, we prefer it! You’re relatable. Now, I’m not suggesting that you dump scalding hot coffee on yourself before your next high-stakes interview. But I am suggesting that being willing to openly acknowledge and laugh at your flaws and imperfections won’t undermine your success, it will enhance it. Nobody likes a perfect goody two-shoes; everyone loves a person who’s a bit of a mess but trying their best. 2. Looking for laughs can lead to big, serious ideas. Millions of people are alive today because of the discovery of penicillin. But when Alexander Fleming walked into the lab and saw penicillin for the first time, he didn’t shout “Eureka!” Instead, he walked up to a dirty petri dish that had been left out overnight and said, “That’s funny,” before taking a culture of the mold. The idea of seeing something odd and funny and then investigating it has led to many breakthroughs. In fact, every year, hundreds of the world’s most brilliant thinkers converge in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for the Ig Nobel Prizes. If you’re not already familiar with the Ig Nobels, they’re a lot like the Nobel Prizes. But instead of recognizing the most world-changing achievements in physics, chemistry, and peace, the Ig Nobels recognize the most hilarious discoveries of the year. Their slogan is “Research that makes people laugh, then think.” “The idea of seeing something odd and funny and then investigating it has led to many breakthroughs.” The winners are people who have published papers on things like constipated scorpions or what happens if you use a crash test dummy that’s shaped like a moose. An international team won the Ig Nobel Prize in Literature for studying the sensations people feel “when they repeat a single word many, many, many, many, many, many, many times.” Or Georgia Tech scientists were awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering a “universal urination duration.” Using fluid dynamics, they demonstrated that all mammals weighing over three kilograms take about twenty-one seconds to completely empty a full bladder.” So why would actual Nobel Laureates and celebrated geniuses from around the world make time in their busy schedules to attend an event like this? For one, it’s fun. I attended the 2024 Ig Nobels, and it was hilarious and an absolute blast. But the Ig Nobels attract such a distinguished crowd for another reason as well! These people are smart enough to know that when it comes to big ideas, a laugh is never just a laugh. Following your sense of humor makes you pay more attention and be intellectually open to new, surprising insights and observations. 3. You don’t have to be the center of attention to have a great sense of humor. I am a glutton for attention. I love talking to strangers, and I have built my career around happily getting up in front of crowds to share my thoughts. I’m a tried-and-true extrovert. My wife, Mollie, on the other hand, is an introvert who would much rather be curled up at home with a good book than chatting with a neighbor on the bus. But here’s the thing: Mollie has an incredible sense of humor! People often make the mistake of thinking that a sense of humor means you’re at a party, in the middle of a large group, loudly telling a joke. In fact, it could just as easily be that you are on a walk alone when you notice an extremely chubby squirrel going to town on an acorn. The point is that you’re bringing laughter into your daily life and enjoying the delightful absurdity of the world that you might otherwise have missed. “People often make the mistake of thinking that a sense of humor means you’re at a party, in the middle of a large group, loudly telling a joke.” And if you’re curious, Mollie really did see that jumbo squirrel having the time of its life. Even just hearing her report secondhand later in the day, I was clutching my sides too at that little squirrel feast. 4. If you want a group to work well together, try being like Abraham Lincoln. When Abraham Lincoln assembled his famous “team of rivals,” he had a cabinet full of brilliant statesmen. There was only one problem: They mostly hated each other, and they didn’t particularly like him. So how did Honest Abe turn the group of rival politicians into a team? Lincoln’s answer was, in part, to laugh with them. To create a group identity with inside jokes, folksy anecdotes, and shared humor. Everyone who knew Lincoln knew he had no shortage of jokes. One contemporary said Lincoln’s jokes were as “plenty as blackberries.” And if there’s one thing we know about blackberries, it’s that there are lots of them. Modern portrayals of Lincoln tend to paint him as a serious and tragic figure, for understandable reasons. But much of Lincoln’s skill as a politician and leader was his ability to connect with people by getting them laughing. Benjamin P. Thomas, a Lincoln scholar, wrote that Lincoln was “ready with an instant witticism or retort under almost any circumstances.” One excellent example of Lincoln’s humor is a joke he made about himself being ugly. During the Lincoln-Douglas debates, when he was accused of being two-faced, Lincoln responded, “Honestly, if I were two-faced, would I be showing you this one?” A very solid self-burn! Bob Mankoff, the former cartoon editor for The New Yorker, has long been interested in Lincoln’s humor. In an essay, he wrote that “Lincoln was much more about ‘laughing with’ than ‘laughing at.’ And when ‘laughing at,’ it was often himself he was mocking.” “Much of Lincoln’s skill as a politician and leader was his ability to connect with people by getting them laughing.” That Lincoln-style congeniality and empathy can help disarm detractors and create a more comfortable space for positive group dynamics to form. There are evolutionary reasons to suspect that this may be one of the earliest and most important functions of humor. Animal behavior experts have long observed that chimpanzees and other primates engage in an equivalent of human laughter. After laughing together, primates are often more relaxed and less aggressive. If it works for chimps, it might work for your colleagues at the office, too! 5. You can stockpile laughter in a file folder. If you’re anything like me, you can instantly recall humiliating and embarrassing moments from decades ago. I will often be in the shower minding my own business when all of a sudden I have a vivid recollection of something horrifying, like the time I had a phone conversation with my crush in high school and it ended with her saying “I don’t think I have a crush on you anymore because you talk too much.” Or when I was in one of my first ever big deal meetings with a TV executive, I told her I hated reality TV and then turned around to see a giant poster for the show Jersey Shore with her name listed as one of the producers. It’s no challenge for me to give a vivid play-by-play of any one of thousands of cringeworthy interactions. But ask me to give you an equivalent retelling of the funniest jokes and best laughs I’ve had, and it takes a lot more effort. We tend to forget the laughs and retain the skin-crawling mortification. But you can change that! Every time you find something that makes you laugh uncontrollably, write it down or find a way to experience it again. Maybe it’s a list on your computer of the online videos that make you cry tears of laughter, a jar full of Post-it notes with inside jokes from your marriage, or an album of the most hilariously bad photos you’ve ever taken of your kids or your friends. The form it takes isn’t particularly important, but your ability to re-access a good laugh when you need it is. “Every time you find something that makes you laugh uncontrollably, write it down or find a way to experience it again.” When I interviewed the care team at a Hong Kong nursing home about the wildly successful humor program they had implemented, they told me that residents in the program had needed less pain medicine, felt more connected, and experienced an increase in life satisfaction. One of the biggest parts of their program was simply keeping a folder of writing, cartoons, images, and jokes that made them laugh and then sharing it with others. That’s a prescription that any of us can try, and there’s no copay. Enjoy our full library of Book Bites—read by the authors!—in the Next Big Idea App. This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission. View the full article

Anthropic is undoubtedly having a moment right now. First came Claude Code, an AI-powered coding tool for developers, in early 2025, which quickly gained a cult following among that community. “You spent your holidays with your family? That’s nice I spent my holidays with Claude Code,” recently posted one tech-policy expert. But most people aren’t developers, let alone know their way around a command-line interface. So last week, Anthropic launched Claude Cowork, which the company calls “Claude Code for the rest of your work.” Available now as a research preview on Anthropic’s $100-per-month Max plan, Cowork is the best example of what “vibe coding“—an AI-powered approach where people use natural language prompts to bring their software ideas to life—can do. Designed for non-developers, it’s a desktop app that aims to help regular workers with all kinds of tasks, like organizing files or crunching data. Case in point: Anthropic’s new working agent was largely built by Claude itself, in just a week and a half. The memes write themselves. “Claude, here is a picture of my bank account. claude, make that number go up to $1 billion. make no mistakes,” one X user prompted. “Claude here is my life. all of it. down to the last detail. make me happy. beautiful. successful. make no mistakes,” another posted. “Claude, here are my notes where I keep all of my passwords. here are my bank account details and phone number for 2fa. run my life and make money,” wrote another. “Make no mistakes.” While Claude might not be able to satisfy those demands (yet), AI is undoubtedly turning the workforce on its head. Research shows that 85% of employees globally are saving one to seven hours a week with AI. Yet, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned that we could be “sleepwalking into a white-collar bloodbath,” with AI wiping out huge swathes of entry-level jobs in just one update. Software engineers in particular, have found themselves directly in the impact zone. “Yea I’m a full-stack engineer”, one X user posted. Their stack: Claude, Terminal, and Cursor. But they aren’t alone. “Bankers, lawyers, and consultants looking at everyone else joining them in the unemployment line after the Claude Cowork release,” quipped another. In fact, no one is marked safe. “I’m assembling a team,” wrote one X user alongside an image of a company leadership team with Claude in every C-suite role. A follow-up post read “just got kicked out of my own company.” “Got told I was ‘slowing everyone down.'” Despite the discourse, data currently shows that there’s little evidence for actual AI-caused displacement in the job market. For now, we’ll at least have the popcorn ready for the memes that just won’t quit. View the full article

Representatives of both insurers and policyholders point out multiple flaws in the new laws and additional proposed bills. View the full article

Eighteen months ago, it was plausible that artificial intelligence might take a different path than social media. Back then, AI’s development hadn’t consolidated under a small number of big tech firms. Nor had it capitalized on consumer attention, surveilling users, and delivering ads. Unfortunately, the AI industry is now taking a page from the social media playbook and has set its sights on monetizing consumer attention. When OpenAI launched its ChatGPT Search feature in late 2024 and its browser, ChatGPT Atlas, in October 2025, it kicked off a race to capture online behavioral data to power advertising. It’s part of a yearslong turnabout by OpenAI, whose CEO Sam Altman once called the combination of ads and AI “unsettling” and now promises that ads can be deployed in AI apps while preserving trust. The rampant speculation among OpenAI users who believe they see paid placements in ChatGPT responses suggests they are not convinced. In 2024, AI search company Perplexity started experimenting with ads in its offerings. A few months after that, Microsoft introduced ads to its Copilot AI. Google’s AI Mode for search now increasingly features ads, as does Amazon’s Rufus chatbot. As a security expert and data scientist, we see these examples as harbingers of a future where AI companies profit from manipulating their users’ behavior for the benefit of their advertisers and investors. It’s also a reminder that time to steer the direction of AI development away from private exploitation and toward public benefit is quickly running out. The functionality of ChatGPT Search and its Atlas browser is not really new. Meta, commercial AI competitor Perplexity, and even ChatGPT itself have had similar AI search features for years, and both Google and Microsoft beat OpenAI to the punch by integrating AI with their browsers. But OpenAI’s business positioning signals a shift. We believe the ChatGPT Search and Atlas announcements are worrisome because there is really only one way to make money on search: the advertising model pioneered ruthlessly by Google. Advertising model Ruled a monopolist in U.S. federal court, Google has earned more than US$1.6 trillion in advertising revenue since 2001. You may think of Google as a web search company, or a streaming video company (YouTube), or an email company (Gmail), or a mobile phone company (Android, Pixel), or maybe even an AI company (Gemini). But those products are ancillary to Google’s bottom line. The advertising segment typically accounts for 80% to 90% of its total revenue. Everything else is there to collect users’ data and direct users’ attention to its advertising revenue stream. After two decades in this monopoly position, Google’s search product is much more tuned to the company’s needs than those of its users. When Google Search first arrived decades ago, it was revelatory in its ability to instantly find useful information across the still-nascent web. In 2025, its search result pages are dominated by low-quality and often AI-generated content, spam sites that exist solely to drive traffic to Amazon sales—a tactic known as affiliate marketing—and paid ad placements, which at times are indistinguishable from organic results. Plenty of advertisers and observers seem to think AI-powered advertising is the future of the ad business. Big Tech’s AI advertising plans are shaking up the industry. Highly persuasive Paid advertising in AI search, and AI models generally, could look very different from traditional web search. It has the potential to influence your thinking, spending patterns, and even personal beliefs in much more subtle ways. Because AI can engage in active dialogue, addressing your specific questions, concerns, and ideas rather than just filtering static content, its potential for influence is much greater. It’s like the difference between reading a textbook and having a conversation with its author. Imagine you’re conversing with your AI agent about an upcoming vacation. Did it recommend a particular airline or hotel chain because they really are best for you, or does the company get a kickback for every mention? If you ask about a political issue, does the model bias its answer based on which political party has paid the company a fee, or based on the bias of the model’s corporate owners? There is mounting evidence that AI models are at least as effective as people at persuading users to do things. A December 2023 meta-analysis of 121 randomized trials reported that AI models are as good as humans at shifting people’s perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. A more recent meta-analysis of eight studies similarly concluded there was “no significant overall difference in persuasive performance between (large language models) and humans.” This influence may go well beyond shaping what products you buy or who you vote for. As with the field of search engine optimization, the incentive for humans to perform for AI models might shape the way people write and communicate with each other. How we express ourselves online is likely to be increasingly directed to win the attention of AIs and earn placement in the responses they return to users. A different way forward Much of this is discouraging, but there is much that can be done to change it. First, it’s important to recognize that today’s AI is fundamentally untrustworthy, for the same reasons that search engines and social media platforms are. The problem is not the technology itself; fast ways to find information and communicate with friends and family can be wonderful capabilities. The problem is the priorities of the corporations who own these platforms and for whose benefit they are operated. Recognize that you don’t have control over what data is fed to the AI, who it is shared with and how it is used. It’s important to keep that in mind when you connect devices and services to AI platforms, ask them questions, or consider buying or doing the things they suggest. There is also a lot that people can demand of governments to restrain harmful corporate uses of AI. In the U.S., Congress could enshrine consumers’ rights to control their own personal data, as the EU already has. It could also create a data protection enforcement agency, as essentially every other developed nation has. Governments worldwide could invest in Public AI—models built by public agencies offered universally for public benefit and transparently under public oversight. They could also restrict how corporations can collude to exploit people using AI, for example, by barring advertisements for dangerous products such as cigarettes and requiring disclosure of paid endorsements. Every technology company seeks to differentiate itself from competitors, particularly in an era when yesterday’s groundbreaking AI quickly becomes a commodity that will run on any kid’s phone. One differentiator is in building a trustworthy service. It remains to be seen whether companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic can sustain profitable businesses on the back of subscription AI services like the premium editions of ChatGPT, Plus, and Pro, and Claude Pro. If they are going to continue convincing consumers and businesses to pay for these premium services, they will need to build trust. That will require making real commitments to consumers on transparency, privacy, reliability, and security that are followed through consistently and verifiably. And while no one knows what the future business models for AI will be, we can be certain that consumers do not want to be exploited by AI, secretly or otherwise. Bruce Schneier is an adjunct lecturer in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School. Nathan Sanders is an affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

On January 20, Netflix is bringing back the popular talent competition Star Search, with a twist: For the first time in its history, Netflix will let its audience decide the outcome of a show with live voting. However, unlike how shows have done this in the past, audiences won’t have to send text messages or call a special number to make their votes count. Instead, viewers will vote with their TV’s remote control, or right within the Netflix app if they watch the show on their phones. Netflix hopes that this level of simplicity will help to make live programs like Star Search a lot more exciting, and offer its audience a chance to experience shared watercooler moments that tend to be missing from today’s world of hyper-personalized streaming. “You can influence the outcome [together with] everyone at the same time,” says Netflix member product VP Elmar Nubbemeyer. “You’re part of the Zeitgeist at that moment.” To bring real-time voting to Star Search, Netflix relied on work it previously did for interactive narrative shows. It also snuck voting tests into David Chang’s Netflix show, and showed focus groups segments from two fake shows it cooked up for testing purposes. The company even built internal tools that will help it to repurpose live voting and polling for other live events and shows in the future. “We are planning more of these types of moments,” says Netflix product designer Navin Iyengar. “Star Search is really the big unveiling of it.” From ‘Bandersnatch’ to Star Search When Star Search debuts Tuesday evening, viewers will have two distinct opportunities to make their voices heard. Once a singer or comedian is done with their performance, a graphic will pop up on screen, encouraging each viewer to give it a rating ranging from one to five stars. “We knew early on that giving a star rating as an interaction was really important,” says Iyengar. “It’s core to the Star Search IP.” Later on, they’ll also get the chance to choose their personal champion of the night out of four choices presented next to each other on screen. Each voting graphic will remain on screen for about 60 seconds, and the show’s host—Anthony Anderson, best known for the ABC sitcom Blackish—will respond to the incoming vote tally in real time. Chrissy Teigen, Jelly Roll, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Anthony Anderson It’s the first time Netflix has done real-time voting like this, but the company has been experimenting with getting viewers more actively involved for almost a decade. In 2017, the streaming service released its first interactive TV shows, which prompted viewers to choose their own adventure through branched narratives. In one scene of “Bandersnatch,” an interactive episode of the dystopian sci-fi show Black Mirror, the viewer has to decide whether the main character should take his medication by pressing left or right buttons on their remote control, with different choices leading to vastly varying outcomes. Even in those early days, Netflix engineers and designers already thought about ways to bring the same kind of interactivity to live content. “We always felt that interactive experiences should go live, because members could actually interact in the moment and impact the story as it’s happening in real time instead of filming all the different potential outcomes,” recalls Iyengar. Netflix eventually discontinued branched narrative shows because they did not take off with consumers, but the company kept pursuing the idea to marry live content with interactivity. And when Star Search came along, it quickly became clear that this was a perfect opportunity to bring back some of that interactive tech first built for titles like Bandersnatch, and use it to improve the way audience participation is usually done. Talent shows like American Idol used to rely heavily on phone calls to register votes, but nowadays use a mix of online and text message voting. Shows often allow participants to vote multiple times, leading to massive vote counts, which often dwarf the number of voters. “It’s a surprisingly low share of viewers who actually reach out and vote,” Iyengar says, adding that industry estimates put that number somewhere between five and ten percent. “Voting has always been difficult for these shows,” he adds. Netflix employees believed that the tech first built for Bandersnatch, which allowed viewers to send feedback with their TV remote, would already go a long way towards making it easier to participate. But they quickly realized that great tech alone wasn’t enough. Keeping voting fair, even for Star Search Netflix began testing prototypes for live voting with focus groups nearly a year ago. To do so, the company repurposed two existing titles—a dating show and a talent competition. “We basically made fake shows,” Iyengar says. “We edited them down to make them feel live and make it feel like your vote was really important.” Then, it put select viewers into a lab designed to look like a living room, with a double-sided mirror to observe how they reacted. “We put our prototypes on a TV,” Iyengar says. “We had a TV remote that could control it. People were sitting on a couch, and we would actually just leave them alone.” Netflix researchers just told test participants that they get to take a peek at a prototype, without explaining that the show would allow them to vote. “People really got it,” Iyengar recalls. “Almost everyone, without prompting from us, would pick up the remote in these moments, and interact.” In fact, people didn’t just get it—they got hooked. “We found that they got really invested in the stakes of the show, even though it was fake,” Iyengar says. “They wanted to know what their vote was going to do. Did the person I voted for win? Show me the math for how you actually calculated the vote. People just took the idea of voting and fairness seriously.” Netflix built its voting tech to only allow one vote per Netflix profile. But those early tests showed that fairness was as much about the way different options were presented, and that long held beliefs about UI design could introduce perceived biases. One example: Designers like Iyengar like to direct the eye to simplify smart TV interfaces. When you open up the Netflix app on your TV, you’ll find that one title is always pre-selected, which helps to understand what to do if you want to navigate to the title right next to it, or perhaps one in a row below. “On TV, you should always have something in focus,” he says. “Otherwise people don’t understand where the focus state is.” When Iyengar’s team built the interface people will use to award stars to Star Search performers, they initially followed that same principle, and highlighted the third star to direct the eye. Test audiences immediately pushed back. “People did not like that we were filling up the stars for them,” he says. “They were like: why are you voting for me?” Voting on tuna sandwiches … and sports competitions? In addition to the interface, Netflix also built a dedicated tool called Pollster that allows producers to integrate voting into their shows, then trigger each round in real time. To test Pollster and the backend tech for voting ahead of this week’s Star Search premiere, the streamer snuck a few test votes into Diner Time Live, a live cooking show hosted by celebrity chef David Chang. Diner Time Live is not a competition, so testing star ratings didn’t really make sense. David Chang’s team nonetheless embraced the idea, and let the show’s audience rate different kinds of sandwiches. “It wasn’t something high stakes,” Iyengar says. Audience participation was nonetheless high. “I’m really glad we did it,” he says. “We learned a lot.” The streamer is now ready to put those lessons learned to the test with the premiere of Star Search on Tuesday – and already has plans to bring it to additional live entertainment formats in the future. “We have many other ideas where we could apply this technology,” Nubbemeyer says. “One of the things we’re [considering] is polling.” Netflix may, for instance, use its voting tech to ask viewers of a sports event to decide who the most impactful player is. “All these things could enrich the entertainment experience by making it more participatory,” Nubbemeyer says. View the full article

Organic search traffic is down just 2.5% year over year — nowhere near the 25% to 60% drops often cited in industry commentary. That’s one big takeaway from a new large-scale analysis by Graphite using Similarweb data from more than 40,000 of the largest U.S. websites. This finding challenges the idea that generative AI tools like ChatGPT are rapidly replacing traditional search and gutting SEO. What’s happening. Surveys, anecdotes, and case studies have fueled claims that organic traffic has collapsed and large language models are pulling demand away from search engines. Graphite’s data tells a different story. Using Similarweb visit data, the study compared organic search traffic to the top 40,000 U.S. sites from February to December 2024 and January to November 2025. The result was a modest decline, not a dramatic one. Google’s statements support this view. In August 2025, the company said total organic click volume from Google Search was “relatively stable year over year.” By the numbers. Traffic trends vary by site size. The largest sites, including the top 10, grew organic traffic by about 1.6%. Declines were concentrated among mid-sized publishers ranked roughly between the top 100 and 10,000. Organic SEO traffic: -2.5% YoY Search engine traffic overall (2025): +0.4% Google traffic (2025): +0.8% Organic vs. paid clicks: ~90% organic, ~10% ads AI Overview CTR impact: -35% when present AI Overview prevalence: ~30% of SERPs AI Overviews: impact, not collapse. AI Overviews do reduce click-through rates when they appear, but their reach is smaller than many assume. AI Overviews appear in about 30% of queries, mostly informational ones. Commercial and transactional keywords are far less affected. Google ads aren’t “stealing” organic clicks. Another common claim is that Google is shifting traffic from organic results to paid ads. The data shows only a modest change. The share of clicks going to ads rose by about two percentage points. Organic results still generate roughly 10 times more clicks than paid placements. Why we care. SEO is still a massive channel. AI is changing how results appear and how users interact with information, but demand for search hasn’t collapsed. The real shift is that SEO is fragmenting. There are more SERP features, more AI-driven answers, and more competition for fewer clicks on informational queries. Strategy now matters more than ever. About the data. The analysis uses Similarweb traffic estimates for more than 40,000 of the largest U.S. websites. These estimates combine opt-in user panels, ISP and mobile carrier data, public web signals, and direct measurement from participating sites to model visits and traffic sources at scale. To validate accuracy, Graphite compared Similarweb trends with first-party Google Search Console and Google Analytics data across multiple sites and found a median correlation of 0.86. The analysis. Debunking The Myth That Search Is Dying View the full article

The average American checks their phone over 140 times a day, clocking an average of 4.5 hours of daily use, with 57% of people admitting they’re “addicted” to their phone. Tech companies, influencers, and other content creators compete for all that attention, which has incentivized the rise of misinformation. Considering this challenging information landscape, strong critical reading skills are as relevant and necessary as they’ve ever been. Unfortunately, literacy continues to be a serious concern. Reading comprehension scores have continued to decline. The majority of Gen Z parents are not reading aloud to their young children because they view it as a chore. Many college students cannot make it through an entire book. With their endless scrolling and easy reposting and sharing of content, social media platforms are designed to encourage passive engagement that people use to relieve boredom and escape stress. As a cognitive scientist and a literacy expert, we research the ways people process information through reading. Based on our work, we believe that deep reading can be an effective way to counter misinformation as well as reduce stress and loneliness. It can be tough to go deeper than a speedy skim, but there are strategies you can use to strengthen important reading skills. Deep reading versus doomscrolling People use smartphones and social media for a variety of reasons, such as to relieve boredom, seek attention, make connections and share news. The infinite amount of information available at your fingertips can lead to information overload, interfering with how you pay attention and make decisions. Research from cognitive science helps to explain how scrolling trains your brain to think passively. To keep people engaged, social media algorithms feed people content similar to what they’ve already engaged with, reinforcing users’ beliefs with similar posts. Repeated exposure to information increases its believability, especially if different sources repeat the information, an effect known as illusory truth. Deep reading, on the other hand, refers to the intentional process of engaging with information in critical, analytical and empathetic ways. It involves making inferences, drawing connections, engaging with different perspectives and questioning possible interpretations. Deep reading does require effort. It can trigger negative feelings like irritation or confusion, and it can very often feel unpleasant. The important question, then: Why would anyone choose the hard work of deep reading when they can just scroll and skim? Motivating mental effort Mindless scrolling may come with unintended consequences. Smartphone and social media use is associated with increased boredom and loneliness. And doomscrolling is related to higher levels of existential anxiety and misanthropy. In contrast, attention and effort, despite being exhausting, can deepen your sense of purpose and strengthen social connection. People also feel motivated to complete tasks that help them pursue personal goals, especially when these tasks are recognized by others. For these reasons, sharing books may be one tool to promote deep reading. One example is a teacher who guides students through longer texts, like novels, paired with active discussions about the books to reinforce comprehension and interpretation. While the debate over the ongoing practice of assigning excerpts over full books in schools continues, evidence does suggest that sustained reading in social settings can promote lifelong enjoyment in reading. With social connection in mind, social media can actually be used as a positive tool. BookTok is a popular online community of people who use TikTok to discuss and recommend books. Fans post in-depth analyses of “K-Pop Demon Hunters” and other movies or shows, demonstrating that close analysis still has a place in the endless scroll of social media. Slowing yourself down to read deeply There are steps you can take to meaningfully engage with the constant stream of information you encounter. Of course, this process can be taxing, and people only have so much effort and attention to expend. It’s important to both recognize your limited cognitive resources and be intentional about how you direct those resources. Simply being aware of how digital reading practices shape your brain can encourage new attitudes and habits toward how you consume information. Just pausing can reduce susceptibility to misinformation. Taking a few extra seconds to consciously judge information can counteract illusory truth, indicating that intentionally slowing down even just a bit can be beneficial. Reading deeply means being able to intentionally choose when to read at different speeds, slowing down as needed to wrestle with difficult passages, savor striking prose, critically evaluate information, and reflect on the meaning of a text. It involves entering into a dialogue with the text rather than gleaning information. Awareness does not mean that you never doomscroll at the end of a long day. But it does mean becoming conscious of the need to also stick with a single text more frequently and to engage with different perspectives. You can start small, perhaps with poems, short stories or essays, before moving up to longer texts. Partner with a friend or family member and set a goal to read a full-length novel or nonfiction book. Accomplish that goal in small chunks, such as reading one chapter a day and discussing what you read with your reading buddy. Practicing deep reading, such as reading novels, can open you up to new perspectives and ideas that you can explore in conversation with others, in person, or even on TikTok. JT Torres is a director of the Harte Center for Teaching and Learning at Washington and Lee University. Jeff Saerys-Foy is an associate professor of psychology at Quinnipiac University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

What's said in the online video, which replicates the president's voice with his permission, may be as important to lenders as how the message is delivered. View the full article

The northern lights have been viewable from locations you don’t normally see them on a number of recent occasions, and on the evening of January 20, the same will be true. On Tuesday night, the aurora borealis may be visible in parts of more than half of all U.S. states. That’s a few more than the usual six or so Northern states that are used to seeing the lit up skies. That’s because solar storms can change visibility, making the spectacle visible to more locations in times of heightened geomagnetic activity. According to an announcement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric’s Space Weather Prediction Center, that’s precisely what’s in the forecast this evening as geomagnetic activity has been strengthening, reaching G4 (severe) levels early this morning at around 3:23 EST. Essentially, when it comes to hopeful viewers, that could mean some amazing visuals, as the heightened activity will make for a stronger aurora. Just yesterday, the Northern Lights were visible in more states than usual, too, with the aurora making an appearance in Southern states like Alabama and New Mexico. However, tonight, far more individuals across the country will be able to catch a glimpse of the event. According to the SWPC’s projected view line, the lights will are predicted to be visible in: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, Washington, and Wisconsin. Of course, nothing is set in stone. The view line is just a prediction that could change as the storm shifts, the agency says. When it comes to having your best shot at seeing the Northern Lights, NOAA says that close to midnight (within an hour or two before or after) is wise. “These hours of active aurora expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases,” the page explains. “There may be aurora in the evening and morning but it is usually not as active and therefore, not as visually appealing.” If you’re wondering why the Northern Lights have been visible to more locations more often recently, it’s not all in your head. According to astronomers at BBC Weather, it has to do with the sun, which hit the peak of its 11-year solar cycle in 2025. Still, solar activity will remain high throughout 2026. That means: more shots at seeing the Northern Lights. View the full article

Business review management online involves actively overseeing and responding to customer feedback across various digital platforms. This practice is crucial since a substantial majority of consumers rely on online reviews when deciding on purchases. By managing your reviews effectively, you can improve your business’s credibility and better customer relationships. Comprehending how to implement strategies for review management can greatly influence your brand’s visibility and customer loyalty. So, what are the best ways to optimize this process? Key Takeaways Business review management involves monitoring and responding to online customer reviews to enhance brand reputation and visibility. 98% of consumers read local reviews, making effective review management crucial for influencing purchasing decisions. Engaging with customer feedback can improve ratings, with 63% of unhappy reviewers likely to change their opinions positively after a response. Utilizing review management tools streamlines the process of tracking and analyzing customer feedback for better insights. Positive reviews boost credibility, increase trust among consumers, and enhance local SEO, driving more traffic to the business. Understanding Business Review Management Grasping Business Review Management is vital for any organization looking to thrive in today’s digital environment. Business review management online involves systematically monitoring, responding to, and leveraging customer reviews across various digital platforms. This practice greatly influences purchasing decisions, as 98% of consumers read local business reviews before making a choice. By actively engaging with customer feedback, you can improve your ratings; research shows that 63% of unhappy reviewers change their opinions positively after receiving effective responses. Implementing review management tools can streamline your workflows, allowing you to efficiently track and analyze customer feedback. This ultimately improves your service quality. Furthermore, a robust review management strategy boosts your brand visibility and enhances local SEO, ensuring your business ranks higher in search results. The Importance of Online Reviews Online reviews play a pivotal role in shaping consumer behavior and decision-making processes. With 99.5% of consumers researching purchases online, it’s clear that reviews influence their choices considerably. In fact, 93% of shoppers consider customer ratings fundamental when deciding what to buy. Statistic Importance 84% find online reviews trustworthy They value peer feedback as reliable 98% read local business reviews Positive presence is critical for locals Google favors businesses with positive reviews Boosts visibility in search results Reviews influence 93% of purchase choices Key factor in the buying process For businesses, effective business review management is essential, as it not only builds trust but likewise improves search engine rankings. Maintaining a strong online presence helps attract and retain customers, reinforcing the significance of online reviews in today’s digital environment. Key Benefits of Effective Review Management Effective review management offers several key benefits that can greatly impact your business’s success. By focusing on your presence on online review platforms, you can improve your brand’s credibility and visibility. Here are three key benefits: Increased Trust: With 84% of internet users trusting online reviews as much as personal recommendations, managing these reviews can greatly boost customer confidence in your brand. Influenced Purchasing Decisions: Since 93% of shoppers check consumer feedback before buying, effective review management guarantees positive feedback is highlighted, swaying potential customers in your favor. Improved Customer Relationships: Timely responses to reviews can lead to 33% of customers raising their ratings, nurturing loyalty and trust in your business. Strategies for Managing Customer Feedback To successfully manage customer feedback, it’s vital to implement targeted strategies that encourage engagement and improve your online reputation. Start by leveraging review generation tools to automate requests for new reviews right after positive interactions, as 70% of customers will respond when prompted. It’s additionally important to quickly reply to both positive and negative reviews; 85% of consumers consider responses when making purchase decisions, enhancing your brand’s accountability. Regularly monitor reviews on key platforms like Google and Facebook to guarantee timely engagement with customer feedback, helping you maintain a positive online presence. Implement sentiment analysis tools to identify recurring customer concerns, enabling you to address issues proactively. Finally, showcase positive reviews on your business website and social media, as 93% of consumers read online reviews before purchasing, markedly boosting your credibility and attracting more customers. Leveraging Technology for Review Optimization As businesses increasingly recognize the importance of customer feedback, leveraging technology for review optimization has become essential. By utilizing web review tools, you can streamline your review management processes and improve customer engagement. Here are three key benefits of adopting these technologies: Automation: Review management tools automate solicitation and provide centralized dashboards, making it easier to manage feedback across various platforms. Real-Time Insights: Features like real-time notifications and sentiment analysis allow you to quickly identify and address customer concerns, enhancing your responsiveness. Data Integration: Integrating review management software with your existing CRM or POS systems guarantees seamless data flow, boosting overall efficiency. Additionally, automated campaigns via SMS and email can greatly increase review generation. With 70% of customers likely to review shortly after an interaction, leveraging AI-powered text analytics can uncover valuable patterns in feedback, enabling data-driven improvements in your services and marketing strategies. Frequently Asked Questions What Is Business Management and Why Is It Important? Business management involves planning, organizing, and overseeing resources to achieve specific goals efficiently. It’s crucial since it guarantees that a company operates smoothly, adapts to market changes, and maximizes profitability. Effective management helps streamline processes, improves employee performance, and boosts customer satisfaction. By implementing strategic decisions, you can identify opportunities for growth and innovation, leading to a competitive edge in the marketplace. In the end, strong management is important for long-term success and sustainability. Why Is Management Review Important? Management reviews are crucial since they help you assess your business’s performance and identify areas needing improvement. By regularly reviewing operations, you can guarantee alignment with goals and adapt to changes in the market. This process additionally promotes accountability among team members, as it highlights successes and challenges. Moreover, it enables informed decision-making based on data and feedback, finally driving growth and enhancing overall efficiency in your organization. Why Is Managing Online Reputation Important for a Business? Managing your online reputation is crucial for attracting customers. Since 99.5% of consumers research purchases online, a positive digital presence can influence their decisions. With 93% of shoppers relying on customer reviews, maintaining favorable feedback is fundamental. Positive reviews not just improve your Google search rankings but additionally increase visibility. Engaging with customer feedback nurtures loyalty, as 83% of customers prefer brands that effectively address their concerns, making reputation management a key business strategy. What Is the Purpose of a Business Review? The purpose of a business review is to provide potential customers with insights from previous buyers, influencing their decisions. Since 93% of shoppers value customer ratings, these reviews act as trust signals. They improve your business’s visibility in search engines, attracting more customers. Furthermore, collecting and analyzing reviews helps you gather feedback for product improvement and identify trends. Engaging with reviews shows your commitment to customer satisfaction, nurturing loyalty and repeat business. Conclusion In conclusion, effective business review management online is crucial for any company aiming to thrive in a competitive market. By actively monitoring and responding to customer feedback, you not just improve your brand’s credibility but additionally cultivate stronger relationships with your audience. Implementing strategic review management practices can lead to improved visibility in search results and in the end influence consumer purchasing decisions. Embracing technology can further refine your approach, ensuring your business remains responsive to customer needs and preferences. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is Business Review Management Online and Why It Matters?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Business review management online involves actively overseeing and responding to customer feedback across various digital platforms. This practice is crucial since a substantial majority of consumers rely on online reviews when deciding on purchases. By managing your reviews effectively, you can improve your business’s credibility and better customer relationships. Comprehending how to implement strategies for review management can greatly influence your brand’s visibility and customer loyalty. So, what are the best ways to optimize this process? Key Takeaways Business review management involves monitoring and responding to online customer reviews to enhance brand reputation and visibility. 98% of consumers read local reviews, making effective review management crucial for influencing purchasing decisions. Engaging with customer feedback can improve ratings, with 63% of unhappy reviewers likely to change their opinions positively after a response. Utilizing review management tools streamlines the process of tracking and analyzing customer feedback for better insights. Positive reviews boost credibility, increase trust among consumers, and enhance local SEO, driving more traffic to the business. Understanding Business Review Management Grasping Business Review Management is vital for any organization looking to thrive in today’s digital environment. Business review management online involves systematically monitoring, responding to, and leveraging customer reviews across various digital platforms. This practice greatly influences purchasing decisions, as 98% of consumers read local business reviews before making a choice. By actively engaging with customer feedback, you can improve your ratings; research shows that 63% of unhappy reviewers change their opinions positively after receiving effective responses. Implementing review management tools can streamline your workflows, allowing you to efficiently track and analyze customer feedback. This ultimately improves your service quality. Furthermore, a robust review management strategy boosts your brand visibility and enhances local SEO, ensuring your business ranks higher in search results. The Importance of Online Reviews Online reviews play a pivotal role in shaping consumer behavior and decision-making processes. With 99.5% of consumers researching purchases online, it’s clear that reviews influence their choices considerably. In fact, 93% of shoppers consider customer ratings fundamental when deciding what to buy. Statistic Importance 84% find online reviews trustworthy They value peer feedback as reliable 98% read local business reviews Positive presence is critical for locals Google favors businesses with positive reviews Boosts visibility in search results Reviews influence 93% of purchase choices Key factor in the buying process For businesses, effective business review management is essential, as it not only builds trust but likewise improves search engine rankings. Maintaining a strong online presence helps attract and retain customers, reinforcing the significance of online reviews in today’s digital environment. Key Benefits of Effective Review Management Effective review management offers several key benefits that can greatly impact your business’s success. By focusing on your presence on online review platforms, you can improve your brand’s credibility and visibility. Here are three key benefits: Increased Trust: With 84% of internet users trusting online reviews as much as personal recommendations, managing these reviews can greatly boost customer confidence in your brand. Influenced Purchasing Decisions: Since 93% of shoppers check consumer feedback before buying, effective review management guarantees positive feedback is highlighted, swaying potential customers in your favor. Improved Customer Relationships: Timely responses to reviews can lead to 33% of customers raising their ratings, nurturing loyalty and trust in your business. Strategies for Managing Customer Feedback To successfully manage customer feedback, it’s vital to implement targeted strategies that encourage engagement and improve your online reputation. Start by leveraging review generation tools to automate requests for new reviews right after positive interactions, as 70% of customers will respond when prompted. It’s additionally important to quickly reply to both positive and negative reviews; 85% of consumers consider responses when making purchase decisions, enhancing your brand’s accountability. Regularly monitor reviews on key platforms like Google and Facebook to guarantee timely engagement with customer feedback, helping you maintain a positive online presence. Implement sentiment analysis tools to identify recurring customer concerns, enabling you to address issues proactively. Finally, showcase positive reviews on your business website and social media, as 93% of consumers read online reviews before purchasing, markedly boosting your credibility and attracting more customers. Leveraging Technology for Review Optimization As businesses increasingly recognize the importance of customer feedback, leveraging technology for review optimization has become essential. By utilizing web review tools, you can streamline your review management processes and improve customer engagement. Here are three key benefits of adopting these technologies: Automation: Review management tools automate solicitation and provide centralized dashboards, making it easier to manage feedback across various platforms. Real-Time Insights: Features like real-time notifications and sentiment analysis allow you to quickly identify and address customer concerns, enhancing your responsiveness. Data Integration: Integrating review management software with your existing CRM or POS systems guarantees seamless data flow, boosting overall efficiency. Additionally, automated campaigns via SMS and email can greatly increase review generation. With 70% of customers likely to review shortly after an interaction, leveraging AI-powered text analytics can uncover valuable patterns in feedback, enabling data-driven improvements in your services and marketing strategies. Frequently Asked Questions What Is Business Management and Why Is It Important? Business management involves planning, organizing, and overseeing resources to achieve specific goals efficiently. It’s crucial since it guarantees that a company operates smoothly, adapts to market changes, and maximizes profitability. Effective management helps streamline processes, improves employee performance, and boosts customer satisfaction. By implementing strategic decisions, you can identify opportunities for growth and innovation, leading to a competitive edge in the marketplace. In the end, strong management is important for long-term success and sustainability. Why Is Management Review Important? Management reviews are crucial since they help you assess your business’s performance and identify areas needing improvement. By regularly reviewing operations, you can guarantee alignment with goals and adapt to changes in the market. This process additionally promotes accountability among team members, as it highlights successes and challenges. Moreover, it enables informed decision-making based on data and feedback, finally driving growth and enhancing overall efficiency in your organization. Why Is Managing Online Reputation Important for a Business? Managing your online reputation is crucial for attracting customers. Since 99.5% of consumers research purchases online, a positive digital presence can influence their decisions. With 93% of shoppers relying on customer reviews, maintaining favorable feedback is fundamental. Positive reviews not just improve your Google search rankings but additionally increase visibility. Engaging with customer feedback nurtures loyalty, as 83% of customers prefer brands that effectively address their concerns, making reputation management a key business strategy. What Is the Purpose of a Business Review? The purpose of a business review is to provide potential customers with insights from previous buyers, influencing their decisions. Since 93% of shoppers value customer ratings, these reviews act as trust signals. They improve your business’s visibility in search engines, attracting more customers. Furthermore, collecting and analyzing reviews helps you gather feedback for product improvement and identify trends. Engaging with reviews shows your commitment to customer satisfaction, nurturing loyalty and repeat business. Conclusion In conclusion, effective business review management online is crucial for any company aiming to thrive in a competitive market. By actively monitoring and responding to customer feedback, you not just improve your brand’s credibility but additionally cultivate stronger relationships with your audience. Implementing strategic review management practices can lead to improved visibility in search results and in the end influence consumer purchasing decisions. Embracing technology can further refine your approach, ensuring your business remains responsive to customer needs and preferences. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is Business Review Management Online and Why It Matters?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Health benefits administration companies play a vital role in managing group health insurance plans for both employers and employees. They handle fundamental tasks like enrollment, billing, and claims processing, ensuring everything runs smoothly. These companies likewise verify employee eligibility and maintain compliance with regulations such as HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act. By analyzing claims data, they help organizations optimize costs and promote preventive health measures. Comprehending their functions can provide valuable insights into how they contribute to effective benefits management. Key Takeaways Manages group health insurance plans, ensuring efficient enrollment, billing, and claims processing for employers and employees. Verifies employee eligibility and assists in selecting appropriate health plans tailored to individual needs. Ensures compliance with healthcare regulations, like HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act, to mitigate legal risks. Analyzes claims data to identify health trends and implement cost containment strategies, optimizing expenses. Provides user-friendly portals for employees to access and manage their benefits independently, enhancing engagement. Understanding Health Benefits Administration Comprehending health benefits administration is vital for both employers and employees, as it involves the effective management of group health insurance plans. A health benefits administration company plays a significant role in this process, overseeing employee benefits administration to guarantee that plans run smoothly. They manage tasks like enrollment, billing, and claims processing, making it easier for employees to access their benefits. Furthermore, these companies verify the accuracy of medical claims and guarantee compliance with healthcare laws such as HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act. Key Responsibilities of Health Benefits Administration Companies Health benefits administration companies take on several key responsibilities that guarantee the effective management of employee health plans. As an Aetna employee benefits insurance company, they manage group health insurance plans, assuring accurate processing and reimbursement of medical claims during adherence to healthcare laws. They support enrollment, billing, claims, and reporting, generating consolidated premium invoices and reconciling payments for both employers and employees. These benefit administration companies analyze claims data, offering insights for program adjustments to optimize health plan costs and improve employee experiences. They additionally assure compliance with complex regulations, such as HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act, mitigating legal risks for organizations. By leveraging technology, health benefits administration companies streamline processes, reduce administrative burdens, and boost communication and service for all stakeholders. The Importance of Compliance in Benefits Administration Grasping the significance of compliance in benefits administration is vital for organizations aiming to navigate the intricacies of employee health plans. Compliance guarantees adherence to federal regulations like the HIPAA and Affordable Care Act (ACA), protecting employee health information and access to benefits. Failure to comply can lead to severe financial penalties, with the Department of Labor imposing fines for violations. Regularly monitoring regulatory changes is important, as over 80% of companies face increased administrative burdens because of compliance challenges. This can impact overall operational efficiency negatively. Effective compliance governance not only mitigates legal risks but also cultivates employee trust and satisfaction. When employees know their benefits are well-managed and compliant, they feel secure. Benefits of Compliance Consequences of Non-Compliance Improved employee trust Financial penalties Enhanced operational efficiency Increased administrative burdens Legal risk mitigation Potential lawsuits Better employee satisfaction Loss of employee confidence Managing Enrollment and Claims Processing When managing enrollment and claims processing, effective organization is key to guaranteeing that employees receive the benefits they need without unnecessary hassle. Health benefits administration companies start by verifying employee eligibility and helping them select health plans that suit their individual needs. Once enrolled, they process claims efficiently, making sure that medical insurance claims are accurate and reimbursed swiftly as they adhere to healthcare regulations. These companies furthermore generate consolidated premium invoices for employers and reconcile payments to maintain accurate billing records. By analyzing claims data, they provide insights that allow organizations to adjust their health programs and manage costs effectively. In addition, health benefits administration companies support employees by issuing medical ID cards and responding to inquiries related to their health benefits. This thorough approach guarantees a smooth experience for both employers and employees, enhancing overall satisfaction with the benefits offered. The Role of Technology in Benefits Administration Technology plays an essential role in benefits administration by automating administrative tasks, which helps you reduce the workload on your HR team. With improved employee engagement tools, employees can easily access and manage their benefits, leading to a more satisfying experience. Furthermore, technology streamlines compliance management processes, ensuring you stay updated with changing regulations and avoid potential penalties. Automation of Administrative Tasks As organizations endeavor to improve efficiency in their operations, automating administrative tasks in benefits administration has become increasingly crucial. Technology streamlines repetitive tasks like enrollment processing, greatly reducing the administrative burden on HR teams and minimizing human error. Automated workflows improve communication between employees and benefits providers, ensuring timely access to important information. Moreover, benefits administration software tracks compliance with evolving regulations across various states, helping you avoid costly penalties. By integrating technology, HR professionals can analyze claims data and employee feedback more efficiently, leading to better customization of benefits packages. User-friendly portals empower employees to manage their benefits independently, resulting in greater engagement and satisfaction with the benefits offered. Embracing automation is key to a more efficient benefits administration process. Enhancing Employee Engagement Tools How can organizations effectively improve employee engagement in their benefits administration processes? By leveraging technology, you can enhance the tools available to your employees, making it easier for them to navigate their benefits. Consider implementing: Online portals that provide easy access to benefits information. Mobile applications that allow employees to manage their benefits on-the-go. Data analytics tools that help identify employee preferences and trends. Self-service capabilities enabling employees to enroll, view, and modify their benefits independently. These innovations not just streamline the administration for HR but also promote ownership among employees. When individuals have the tools to understand and manage their benefits, it leads to greater satisfaction and higher utilization rates, eventually benefiting your organization. Streamlining Compliance Management Processes As enhancing employee engagement tools sets a solid foundation for benefits administration, streamlining compliance management processes takes it a step further by minimizing the risk of regulatory issues. Technology automates compliance tracking, ensuring you stay current with changing federal and state regulations, which reduces the risk of costly penalties. Integrated HR software solutions provide real-time updates on compliance changes, enabling you to proactively adjust policies and processes. Automated workflows simplify enrollment and documentation management, minimizing human error. Advanced Analytics tools allow you to monitor utilization patterns and compliance adherence, so you can make data-driven decisions. Furthermore, self-service portals empower employees to access and manage their benefits as well as ensuring necessary compliance documentation is submitted and tracked correctly. Enhancing Employee Communication and Support Effective employee communication and support are crucial for maximizing the benefits of health benefits administration. Companies in this field focus on providing clear, accessible information about available options, ensuring you understand and can effectively utilize your benefits. They elevate your experience through various support channels, making it easy to address inquiries and resolve issues. Here are some key ways these Microsoft companies improve communication and support: Self-service tools that empower you to manage your benefits independently. Responsive support available via phone, email, and online portals. Regular educational sessions and webinars to keep you informed about changes in benefits and wellness initiatives. Data analytics tools to gather feedback on your satisfaction, helping improve future communication strategies. Cost Containment Strategies in Health Benefits Administration In cost containment strategies for health benefits administration, you’ll find that data-driven decision making plays a vital role in optimizing expenses. By analyzing claims data, you can identify trends and implement preventive health initiatives that encourage employees to engage in healthier behaviors, eventually reducing overall healthcare costs. Furthermore, focusing on education around benefits and cost-effective options empowers employees to make informed choices, further driving down unnecessary expenditures. Data-Driven Decision Making Data-driven decision making plays a crucial role in cost containment strategies within health benefits administration. By leveraging data analytics, you can track claims data and identify trends that inform effective strategies. Here are some key benefits of using data-driven approaches: Monitor employee health outcomes and adjust benefit offerings to emphasize preventive care. Negotiate better rates with providers using evidence-based insights into health needs. Implement predictive analytics to forecast future healthcare costs and allocate resources effectively. Regularly analyze employee feedback to improve benefits packages, ensuring they meet needs during cost management. Through these methods, you can optimize the overall benefits budget, improve program efficiency, and contribute to a more sustainable health benefits administration. Preventive Health Initiatives Preventive health initiatives are essential components of cost containment strategies in health benefits administration, as they aim to proactively manage employee health and reduce overall healthcare expenses. By encouraging participation in wellness programs, organizations can achieve a reported 30% reduction in healthcare costs. These initiatives often include regular health screenings, vaccinations, and wellness challenges, which can increase employee engagement in health programs by up to 50%. Promoting healthier lifestyles leads to decreased absenteeism, with studies showing that participants miss 25% fewer workdays. Health benefits administration companies additionally collaborate with healthcare providers to offer incentives like reduced premiums for completing preventive measures. Utilizing data analytics helps identify health trends, allowing customized initiatives that potentially save $3 for every $1 invested in wellness programs. Evaluating Health Benefits Administrators Evaluating health benefits administrators involves a careful analysis of various key factors that can profoundly impact your organization’s overall efficiency and employee satisfaction. To make an informed decision, consider these crucial aspects: Administration Costs and Fees: Verify the costs align with your budget and expected ROI. Technology Capabilities: Assess their ability to streamline processes through automation and self-service tools. Compliance and Audit Results: Review their track record in adhering to healthcare regulations, especially HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act. Claim Processing Speed and Accuracy: Analyze their efficiency in managing claims and customer service ratings to evaluate support for employees. Partnering With Insurance Providers When you partner with insurance providers, you’re not just securing coverage; you’re further shaping the healthcare experience for your employees. Health benefits administration companies play an essential role in customizing medical benefits solutions that fit your organization’s unique needs. They evaluate various insurance carriers, negotiating competitive rates and extensive options for you and your team. To guarantee a smooth process, these companies facilitate seamless enrollment and provide educational resources, so employees understand their benefits fully. They likewise monitor compliance with regulations like HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act, making sure your partnerships adhere to legal requirements. Here’s a simple breakdown of what you can expect from this partnership: Service Description Custom Solutions Customized medical benefits for your workforce Rate Negotiation Securing competitive rates from insurance carriers Enrollment Facilitation Streamlined processes for employee participation Educational Support Resources to help employees understand their benefits Compliance Monitoring Making sure adherence to federal and state regulations Trends and Challenges in Benefits Administration As the scenery of employee benefits evolves, staying informed about the latest trends and challenges in benefits administration is fundamental for organizations. You’ll notice that personalized benefits solutions are gaining traction, with 94% of companies enhancing their mental health support initiatives. Moreover, technology is becoming significant to reduce the administrative burden on HR professionals, with automated workflows simplifying enrollment processes. Here are some key trends and challenges: Steering through complex regulatory environments because of the rise of remote work. Continuous monitoring of compliance with federal regulations to avoid penalties. A demand for flexible benefits packages, as 80% of employees prefer better benefits over salary increases. Increased emphasis on employee well-being, reshaping how benefits are viewed and implemented. Understanding these factors is critical for crafting effective benefits strategies that meet both organizational goals and employee needs. Best Practices for Effective Benefits Management When managing employee benefits, streamlining enrollment processes is crucial for improving participation and reducing confusion. Implementing compliance monitoring strategies helps guarantee that your benefits offerings meet regulatory requirements, minimizing the risk of penalties. Streamlined Enrollment Processes Effective benefits management relies heavily on streamlined enrollment processes, which greatly improve the experience for both employees and HR teams. By leveraging automated workflows, you can simplify sign-ups and reduce administrative time and errors. Implementing user-friendly HR software allows employees to easily compare and select benefits packages, boosting engagement. Here are some best practices to reflect on: Regular training for HR staff on the latest technology tools Utilizing self-service portals for employee-managed enrollment Tracking enrollment data to adjust benefits offerings Guaranteeing compliance with evolving regulations These strategies improve efficiency, empower employees, and guarantee your benefits package remains competitive and appealing. Compliance Monitoring Strategies Managing employee benefits effectively requires a strong focus on compliance monitoring strategies that guarantee adherence to various regulations. Health benefits administration companies regularly audit benefit plans to ascertain compliance with federal regulations like HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act. They utilize technology tools to track legal changes across states, adjusting benefits packages for remote workers accordingly. Regular training sessions keep staff updated on compliance requirements, minimizing risks associated with non-compliance and protecting employee health information. Automated systems monitor claims processing and reporting, ensuring deadlines are met and reducing penalties for missed obligations. Proactive communication with employees about their rights and benefits nurtures a culture of compliance, enabling timely feedback and adjustments based on employee usage and satisfaction. Frequently Asked Questions What Does a Benefits Administration Company Do? A benefits administration company manages employee benefits packages, guaranteeing they’re designed and implemented effectively. You’ll find they streamline the enrollment process and provide resources that help employees understand their options. They likewise guarantee compliance with regulations, reducing the risk of penalties for your organization. What Is a Health Benefits Administrator? A health benefits administrator oversees the management of health insurance plans for organizations. You’ll handle enrollment, billing, claims processing, and guarantee compliance with regulations like HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act. Your role includes verifying employee eligibility and assisting in selecting suitable health plans. How Much Does a Benefits Admin Make? A benefits administrator typically earns between $50,000 and $75,000 per year in the U.S., depending on experience, location, and organization size. In urban areas or high-demand industries, salaries can exceed $90,000, especially with advanced certifications. Hourly wages range from $25 to $36. Furthermore, many benefits administrators receive bonuses or profit-sharing, which can increase overall compensation. With a projected 7% job growth rate, demand for these roles remains steady through 2031. Is Being a Benefits Administrator Hard? Yes, being a benefits administrator can be challenging. You’ll navigate complex regulations like HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act, requiring strong organizational skills for tasks such as enrollment and claims processing. Staying updated on changing laws is vital to avoid penalties and guarantee competitive offerings. The role additionally demands effective communication to address employee inquiries, and the administrative burden can lead to missed deadlines, so using technology to streamline processes is fundamental. Conclusion In conclusion, health benefits administration companies play an essential role in managing group health insurance plans for employers and employees. They guarantee compliance with regulations, streamline enrollment and claims processing, and leverage technology for efficient benefits management. By partnering with insurance providers and analyzing claims data, they help optimize costs and improve employee engagement. Comprehending these functions can aid employers in selecting the right administrator, eventually enhancing the overall effectiveness of their health benefits programs. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What Does a Health Benefits Administration Company Do?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Health benefits administration companies play a vital role in managing group health insurance plans for both employers and employees. They handle fundamental tasks like enrollment, billing, and claims processing, ensuring everything runs smoothly. These companies likewise verify employee eligibility and maintain compliance with regulations such as HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act. By analyzing claims data, they help organizations optimize costs and promote preventive health measures. Comprehending their functions can provide valuable insights into how they contribute to effective benefits management. Key Takeaways Manages group health insurance plans, ensuring efficient enrollment, billing, and claims processing for employers and employees. Verifies employee eligibility and assists in selecting appropriate health plans tailored to individual needs. Ensures compliance with healthcare regulations, like HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act, to mitigate legal risks. Analyzes claims data to identify health trends and implement cost containment strategies, optimizing expenses. Provides user-friendly portals for employees to access and manage their benefits independently, enhancing engagement. Understanding Health Benefits Administration Comprehending health benefits administration is vital for both employers and employees, as it involves the effective management of group health insurance plans. A health benefits administration company plays a significant role in this process, overseeing employee benefits administration to guarantee that plans run smoothly. They manage tasks like enrollment, billing, and claims processing, making it easier for employees to access their benefits. Furthermore, these companies verify the accuracy of medical claims and guarantee compliance with healthcare laws such as HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act. Key Responsibilities of Health Benefits Administration Companies Health benefits administration companies take on several key responsibilities that guarantee the effective management of employee health plans. As an Aetna employee benefits insurance company, they manage group health insurance plans, assuring accurate processing and reimbursement of medical claims during adherence to healthcare laws. They support enrollment, billing, claims, and reporting, generating consolidated premium invoices and reconciling payments for both employers and employees. These benefit administration companies analyze claims data, offering insights for program adjustments to optimize health plan costs and improve employee experiences. They additionally assure compliance with complex regulations, such as HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act, mitigating legal risks for organizations. By leveraging technology, health benefits administration companies streamline processes, reduce administrative burdens, and boost communication and service for all stakeholders. The Importance of Compliance in Benefits Administration Grasping the significance of compliance in benefits administration is vital for organizations aiming to navigate the intricacies of employee health plans. Compliance guarantees adherence to federal regulations like the HIPAA and Affordable Care Act (ACA), protecting employee health information and access to benefits. Failure to comply can lead to severe financial penalties, with the Department of Labor imposing fines for violations. Regularly monitoring regulatory changes is important, as over 80% of companies face increased administrative burdens because of compliance challenges. This can impact overall operational efficiency negatively. Effective compliance governance not only mitigates legal risks but also cultivates employee trust and satisfaction. When employees know their benefits are well-managed and compliant, they feel secure. Benefits of Compliance Consequences of Non-Compliance Improved employee trust Financial penalties Enhanced operational efficiency Increased administrative burdens Legal risk mitigation Potential lawsuits Better employee satisfaction Loss of employee confidence Managing Enrollment and Claims Processing When managing enrollment and claims processing, effective organization is key to guaranteeing that employees receive the benefits they need without unnecessary hassle. Health benefits administration companies start by verifying employee eligibility and helping them select health plans that suit their individual needs. Once enrolled, they process claims efficiently, making sure that medical insurance claims are accurate and reimbursed swiftly as they adhere to healthcare regulations. These companies furthermore generate consolidated premium invoices for employers and reconcile payments to maintain accurate billing records. By analyzing claims data, they provide insights that allow organizations to adjust their health programs and manage costs effectively. In addition, health benefits administration companies support employees by issuing medical ID cards and responding to inquiries related to their health benefits. This thorough approach guarantees a smooth experience for both employers and employees, enhancing overall satisfaction with the benefits offered. The Role of Technology in Benefits Administration Technology plays an essential role in benefits administration by automating administrative tasks, which helps you reduce the workload on your HR team. With improved employee engagement tools, employees can easily access and manage their benefits, leading to a more satisfying experience. Furthermore, technology streamlines compliance management processes, ensuring you stay updated with changing regulations and avoid potential penalties. Automation of Administrative Tasks As organizations endeavor to improve efficiency in their operations, automating administrative tasks in benefits administration has become increasingly crucial. Technology streamlines repetitive tasks like enrollment processing, greatly reducing the administrative burden on HR teams and minimizing human error. Automated workflows improve communication between employees and benefits providers, ensuring timely access to important information. Moreover, benefits administration software tracks compliance with evolving regulations across various states, helping you avoid costly penalties. By integrating technology, HR professionals can analyze claims data and employee feedback more efficiently, leading to better customization of benefits packages. User-friendly portals empower employees to manage their benefits independently, resulting in greater engagement and satisfaction with the benefits offered. Embracing automation is key to a more efficient benefits administration process. Enhancing Employee Engagement Tools How can organizations effectively improve employee engagement in their benefits administration processes? By leveraging technology, you can enhance the tools available to your employees, making it easier for them to navigate their benefits. Consider implementing: Online portals that provide easy access to benefits information. Mobile applications that allow employees to manage their benefits on-the-go. Data analytics tools that help identify employee preferences and trends. Self-service capabilities enabling employees to enroll, view, and modify their benefits independently. These innovations not just streamline the administration for HR but also promote ownership among employees. When individuals have the tools to understand and manage their benefits, it leads to greater satisfaction and higher utilization rates, eventually benefiting your organization. Streamlining Compliance Management Processes As enhancing employee engagement tools sets a solid foundation for benefits administration, streamlining compliance management processes takes it a step further by minimizing the risk of regulatory issues. Technology automates compliance tracking, ensuring you stay current with changing federal and state regulations, which reduces the risk of costly penalties. Integrated HR software solutions provide real-time updates on compliance changes, enabling you to proactively adjust policies and processes. Automated workflows simplify enrollment and documentation management, minimizing human error. Advanced Analytics tools allow you to monitor utilization patterns and compliance adherence, so you can make data-driven decisions. Furthermore, self-service portals empower employees to access and manage their benefits as well as ensuring necessary compliance documentation is submitted and tracked correctly. Enhancing Employee Communication and Support Effective employee communication and support are crucial for maximizing the benefits of health benefits administration. Companies in this field focus on providing clear, accessible information about available options, ensuring you understand and can effectively utilize your benefits. They elevate your experience through various support channels, making it easy to address inquiries and resolve issues. Here are some key ways these Microsoft companies improve communication and support: Self-service tools that empower you to manage your benefits independently. Responsive support available via phone, email, and online portals. Regular educational sessions and webinars to keep you informed about changes in benefits and wellness initiatives. Data analytics tools to gather feedback on your satisfaction, helping improve future communication strategies. Cost Containment Strategies in Health Benefits Administration In cost containment strategies for health benefits administration, you’ll find that data-driven decision making plays a vital role in optimizing expenses. By analyzing claims data, you can identify trends and implement preventive health initiatives that encourage employees to engage in healthier behaviors, eventually reducing overall healthcare costs. Furthermore, focusing on education around benefits and cost-effective options empowers employees to make informed choices, further driving down unnecessary expenditures. Data-Driven Decision Making Data-driven decision making plays a crucial role in cost containment strategies within health benefits administration. By leveraging data analytics, you can track claims data and identify trends that inform effective strategies. Here are some key benefits of using data-driven approaches: Monitor employee health outcomes and adjust benefit offerings to emphasize preventive care. Negotiate better rates with providers using evidence-based insights into health needs. Implement predictive analytics to forecast future healthcare costs and allocate resources effectively. Regularly analyze employee feedback to improve benefits packages, ensuring they meet needs during cost management. Through these methods, you can optimize the overall benefits budget, improve program efficiency, and contribute to a more sustainable health benefits administration. Preventive Health Initiatives Preventive health initiatives are essential components of cost containment strategies in health benefits administration, as they aim to proactively manage employee health and reduce overall healthcare expenses. By encouraging participation in wellness programs, organizations can achieve a reported 30% reduction in healthcare costs. These initiatives often include regular health screenings, vaccinations, and wellness challenges, which can increase employee engagement in health programs by up to 50%. Promoting healthier lifestyles leads to decreased absenteeism, with studies showing that participants miss 25% fewer workdays. Health benefits administration companies additionally collaborate with healthcare providers to offer incentives like reduced premiums for completing preventive measures. Utilizing data analytics helps identify health trends, allowing customized initiatives that potentially save $3 for every $1 invested in wellness programs. Evaluating Health Benefits Administrators Evaluating health benefits administrators involves a careful analysis of various key factors that can profoundly impact your organization’s overall efficiency and employee satisfaction. To make an informed decision, consider these crucial aspects: Administration Costs and Fees: Verify the costs align with your budget and expected ROI. Technology Capabilities: Assess their ability to streamline processes through automation and self-service tools. Compliance and Audit Results: Review their track record in adhering to healthcare regulations, especially HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act. Claim Processing Speed and Accuracy: Analyze their efficiency in managing claims and customer service ratings to evaluate support for employees. Partnering With Insurance Providers When you partner with insurance providers, you’re not just securing coverage; you’re further shaping the healthcare experience for your employees. Health benefits administration companies play an essential role in customizing medical benefits solutions that fit your organization’s unique needs. They evaluate various insurance carriers, negotiating competitive rates and extensive options for you and your team. To guarantee a smooth process, these companies facilitate seamless enrollment and provide educational resources, so employees understand their benefits fully. They likewise monitor compliance with regulations like HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act, making sure your partnerships adhere to legal requirements. Here’s a simple breakdown of what you can expect from this partnership: Service Description Custom Solutions Customized medical benefits for your workforce Rate Negotiation Securing competitive rates from insurance carriers Enrollment Facilitation Streamlined processes for employee participation Educational Support Resources to help employees understand their benefits Compliance Monitoring Making sure adherence to federal and state regulations Trends and Challenges in Benefits Administration As the scenery of employee benefits evolves, staying informed about the latest trends and challenges in benefits administration is fundamental for organizations. You’ll notice that personalized benefits solutions are gaining traction, with 94% of companies enhancing their mental health support initiatives. Moreover, technology is becoming significant to reduce the administrative burden on HR professionals, with automated workflows simplifying enrollment processes. Here are some key trends and challenges: Steering through complex regulatory environments because of the rise of remote work. Continuous monitoring of compliance with federal regulations to avoid penalties. A demand for flexible benefits packages, as 80% of employees prefer better benefits over salary increases. Increased emphasis on employee well-being, reshaping how benefits are viewed and implemented. Understanding these factors is critical for crafting effective benefits strategies that meet both organizational goals and employee needs. Best Practices for Effective Benefits Management When managing employee benefits, streamlining enrollment processes is crucial for improving participation and reducing confusion. Implementing compliance monitoring strategies helps guarantee that your benefits offerings meet regulatory requirements, minimizing the risk of penalties. Streamlined Enrollment Processes Effective benefits management relies heavily on streamlined enrollment processes, which greatly improve the experience for both employees and HR teams. By leveraging automated workflows, you can simplify sign-ups and reduce administrative time and errors. Implementing user-friendly HR software allows employees to easily compare and select benefits packages, boosting engagement. Here are some best practices to reflect on: Regular training for HR staff on the latest technology tools Utilizing self-service portals for employee-managed enrollment Tracking enrollment data to adjust benefits offerings Guaranteeing compliance with evolving regulations These strategies improve efficiency, empower employees, and guarantee your benefits package remains competitive and appealing. Compliance Monitoring Strategies Managing employee benefits effectively requires a strong focus on compliance monitoring strategies that guarantee adherence to various regulations. Health benefits administration companies regularly audit benefit plans to ascertain compliance with federal regulations like HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act. They utilize technology tools to track legal changes across states, adjusting benefits packages for remote workers accordingly. Regular training sessions keep staff updated on compliance requirements, minimizing risks associated with non-compliance and protecting employee health information. Automated systems monitor claims processing and reporting, ensuring deadlines are met and reducing penalties for missed obligations. Proactive communication with employees about their rights and benefits nurtures a culture of compliance, enabling timely feedback and adjustments based on employee usage and satisfaction. Frequently Asked Questions What Does a Benefits Administration Company Do? A benefits administration company manages employee benefits packages, guaranteeing they’re designed and implemented effectively. You’ll find they streamline the enrollment process and provide resources that help employees understand their options. They likewise guarantee compliance with regulations, reducing the risk of penalties for your organization. What Is a Health Benefits Administrator? A health benefits administrator oversees the management of health insurance plans for organizations. You’ll handle enrollment, billing, claims processing, and guarantee compliance with regulations like HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act. Your role includes verifying employee eligibility and assisting in selecting suitable health plans. How Much Does a Benefits Admin Make? A benefits administrator typically earns between $50,000 and $75,000 per year in the U.S., depending on experience, location, and organization size. In urban areas or high-demand industries, salaries can exceed $90,000, especially with advanced certifications. Hourly wages range from $25 to $36. Furthermore, many benefits administrators receive bonuses or profit-sharing, which can increase overall compensation. With a projected 7% job growth rate, demand for these roles remains steady through 2031. Is Being a Benefits Administrator Hard? Yes, being a benefits administrator can be challenging. You’ll navigate complex regulations like HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act, requiring strong organizational skills for tasks such as enrollment and claims processing. Staying updated on changing laws is vital to avoid penalties and guarantee competitive offerings. The role additionally demands effective communication to address employee inquiries, and the administrative burden can lead to missed deadlines, so using technology to streamline processes is fundamental. Conclusion In conclusion, health benefits administration companies play an essential role in managing group health insurance plans for employers and employees. They guarantee compliance with regulations, streamline enrollment and claims processing, and leverage technology for efficient benefits management. By partnering with insurance providers and analyzing claims data, they help optimize costs and improve employee engagement. Comprehending these functions can aid employers in selecting the right administrator, eventually enhancing the overall effectiveness of their health benefits programs. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What Does a Health Benefits Administration Company Do?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Hot securitization sectors such as non-qualified mortgages and home equity are set to expand further amid market shifts this year, recent forecasts suggest. View the full article

As the official celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence culminate on July 4, a well-financed, privately funded initiative will kick off to try to connect hundreds of millions of Americans with efforts to solve local problems. The “Be The People” campaign aspires to change the perception that the U.S. is hopelessly divided and that individuals have little power to overcome problems like poverty, addiction, violence, and stalled economic mobility. It also wants to move people to take action to solve those problems. Brian Hooks, chairman and CEO of the nonprofit network Stand Together, said the 250th anniversary is a unique moment “to show people that they matter, that they have a part to play, and that the future is unwritten, but it depends on each one of us stepping up to play our part.” Funded by a mix of 50 philanthropic foundations and individual donors, Be The People builds on research that indicates many people want to contribute to their communities but don’t know how. The initiative is targeting more than $200 million for its first year’s budget. Founding members range from nonprofits, including GivingTuesday, Goodwill Industries, and Habitat for Humanity, and businesses like Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment and the National Basketball Association, to funders like the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and More Perfect. Hooks said this is a 10-year commitment toward trying to achieve what would be a profound shift in behavior and culture. He referenced a 2024 Pew Research Center survey that found most Americans in 2023 and 2024 did not believe that the U.S. could solve its most important problems, saying it was a “red alert” for the country. Hooks said the initiative envisions actions far beyond volunteering or service that people could do in their free time. He pointed to a role for businesses and schools and said the initiative would launch a major data collection effort to track whether people are actually more engaged and whether problems are actually getting solved. Stand Together, which was founded by the billionaire Charles Koch, works across a broad range of issues and communities in the U.S. and has carved out a role for itself as a convener that can bring coalitions together across ideological lines. “Be The People,” will not incorporate as a new nonprofit, but act more like a banner for groups to organize under and use to connect to resources. As an example, at the Atlanta Hawks game on Monday, Martin Luther King III and his wife, Arndrea Waters King, linked a program they launched last year, Realize the Dream, which aims to increase acts of service, to the new campaign. “Our vision is that ‘Be The People’ helps lift up what is already happening in communities across the country and reminds people that service and shared responsibility are defining parts of the American story,” the Kings said in a written statement. Asha Curran, the CEO of the nonprofit GivingTuesday, said small actions can build on each other like exercising a muscle. “Our experience with GivingTuesday is that when people volunteer together, when people work together on something to do with positive social impact, they find it harder and harder to demonize each other,” said Asha Curran, its CEO. The initiative comes against a backdrop of deep polarization, economic inequality, and the degradation of democratic norms and institutions in the U.S. Hahrie Han, a political scientist at Johns Hopkins University, has studied civic engagement and said people need more opportunities to authentically participate as problem-solvers when connecting with local organizations. “They’re more likely to be invited into things where people are asked to let professional staff do most of the problem-solving and they show up and give their time or their money,” she said. The result is that people feel less committed and don’t see their participation as helping to achieve their interests or goals. A growing number of private foundations have started funding issues related to the health of U.S. democracy, said Kristin Goss, a professor who directs the Center for the Study of Philanthropy and Voluntarism at Duke University. While foundations cannot participate in elections, Goss said they can influence policy or public opinion in other ways. “Funders are getting more concerned about of the health of American democracy, the future of the democratic experiment and pluralism and inclusion,” Goss said. Another group of funders, including the Freedom Together Foundation, launched a project last year to recognize people and groups who stand up for their communities, which they called a “civic bravery” award. In a November report, they issued a similar call for funders to invest in helping individuals organize together in response to a rise in authoritarianism. Hooks and the other leaders of “Be The People” have also convened major communications teams to help tell these stories, which they think are lost in the current information ecosystem. “What we’re doing is we’re helping to lift up the story of Americans that is unfolding at the local level, but is not breaking through,” Hooks said. “So we’re holding up a mirror and a microphone to Americans to reveal to each other who we truly are.” ___ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. —By Thalia Beaty, Associated Press View the full article

In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping commerce, Shopify is stepping up to the plate with an ambitious new initiative. The company recently unveiled the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), co-developed with Google, designed to bring a new dimension to online shopping. This development signals a significant shift in how consumers interact with brands, making it vital for small business owners to understand and leverage these changes. AI is increasingly influencing consumer behavior, with millions turning to AI chats for everything from discovering new products to making purchases. Understanding this trend will position savvy entrepreneurs ahead of the curve. Shopify’s UCP streamlines this experience and empowers businesses to connect with customers in more seamless and engaging ways. Key benefits of the Universal Commerce Protocol include: Direct Sales through AI Channels: One of the most significant offerings is the ability for Shopify merchants to sell directly through AI-powered environments, like Google Search and the Gemini app. This means businesses can meet customers where they are, enabling a smoother transition from browsing to purchasing. Open to All Brands: With the launch of the Agentic plan, brands not currently using Shopify as their online store can now utilize Shopify’s extensive catalog and infrastructure to sell on AI channels. This opens up a new revenue stream for countless businesses, allowing them to reach larger audiences without the need for a dedicated Shopify store. Flexible Integration: The UCP serves as a scalable standard across various platforms, accommodating a range of checkout experiences tailored to different retailer needs. This flexibility can cater to businesses that require specific customer interactions during the shopping process. Embedded Checkout Experiences: The recent update to Shopify’s integration with Microsoft introduces a new embedded checkout feature, allowing users to make purchases directly in Microsoft Copilot. This feature can enhance customer convenience, potentially resulting in higher conversion rates for businesses. Vanessa Lee, VP of Shopify, emphasized the protocol’s potential to “redefine shopping,” highlighting the robust solutions tailored for millions of unique businesses. For entrepreneurs, this presents an opportunity to enhance customer experience while reducing friction in the purchasing process. Equally important are the implications this shift poses for small businesses. Transitioning to agentic commerce means adapting to new technologies and customer expectations. For some, this could require an investment in training or upgrading existing IT systems to integrate with AI channels effectively. Furthermore, as consumer interactions become more centered around AI, businesses will need to ensure their products stand out, which could mean enhancing product descriptions or marketing strategies to use data-driven insights effectively. Nayna Sheth, Head of Product for Agentic Payments at Microsoft, underscores the urgency for businesses to adapt. “Today’s shoppers expect to go from search to purchase in a single conversation,” she notes, reinforcing the importance of being responsive and agile in this changing landscape. Moreover, while the benefits are promising, small business owners must remain vigilant about the challenges of implementing AI-driven sales channels. While the technology is designed to simplify the selling process, integrating new systems can be complex and requires careful planning. Businesses may face obstacles surrounding data management, security concerns, and the necessity to keep pace with competitors who quickly adopt these innovations. Real-world examples illustrate these new changes in action. Companies like Monos and Gymshark are at the forefront of the AI shopping transformation, taking advantage of the new capabilities of selling directly in AI environments. Monos’ CEO, Victor Tam, highlighted how this new approach allows brands to engage customers at moments of high intent. By enabling all brands, not just those on Shopify, to sell on AI channels through the Agentic plan, Shopify is democratizing access to these new selling methods. This shift may not only broaden market access for many entrepreneurs but also enhance overall consumer choice, ultimately benefiting everyone involved in the commerce ecosystem. For small business owners, staying attuned to these developments and embracing AI-driven commerce will be critical in navigating the future landscape of retail. As AI technologies continue to evolve, those who proactively adapt will likely find a wealth of opportunities to connect with customers and drive sales. To read more about Shopify’s latest initiatives, you can view the original press release here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Shopify and Google Launch Universal Commerce Protocol to Transform AI Shopping" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping commerce, Shopify is stepping up to the plate with an ambitious new initiative. The company recently unveiled the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), co-developed with Google, designed to bring a new dimension to online shopping. This development signals a significant shift in how consumers interact with brands, making it vital for small business owners to understand and leverage these changes. AI is increasingly influencing consumer behavior, with millions turning to AI chats for everything from discovering new products to making purchases. Understanding this trend will position savvy entrepreneurs ahead of the curve. Shopify’s UCP streamlines this experience and empowers businesses to connect with customers in more seamless and engaging ways. Key benefits of the Universal Commerce Protocol include: Direct Sales through AI Channels: One of the most significant offerings is the ability for Shopify merchants to sell directly through AI-powered environments, like Google Search and the Gemini app. This means businesses can meet customers where they are, enabling a smoother transition from browsing to purchasing. Open to All Brands: With the launch of the Agentic plan, brands not currently using Shopify as their online store can now utilize Shopify’s extensive catalog and infrastructure to sell on AI channels. This opens up a new revenue stream for countless businesses, allowing them to reach larger audiences without the need for a dedicated Shopify store. Flexible Integration: The UCP serves as a scalable standard across various platforms, accommodating a range of checkout experiences tailored to different retailer needs. This flexibility can cater to businesses that require specific customer interactions during the shopping process. Embedded Checkout Experiences: The recent update to Shopify’s integration with Microsoft introduces a new embedded checkout feature, allowing users to make purchases directly in Microsoft Copilot. This feature can enhance customer convenience, potentially resulting in higher conversion rates for businesses. Vanessa Lee, VP of Shopify, emphasized the protocol’s potential to “redefine shopping,” highlighting the robust solutions tailored for millions of unique businesses. For entrepreneurs, this presents an opportunity to enhance customer experience while reducing friction in the purchasing process. Equally important are the implications this shift poses for small businesses. Transitioning to agentic commerce means adapting to new technologies and customer expectations. For some, this could require an investment in training or upgrading existing IT systems to integrate with AI channels effectively. Furthermore, as consumer interactions become more centered around AI, businesses will need to ensure their products stand out, which could mean enhancing product descriptions or marketing strategies to use data-driven insights effectively. Nayna Sheth, Head of Product for Agentic Payments at Microsoft, underscores the urgency for businesses to adapt. “Today’s shoppers expect to go from search to purchase in a single conversation,” she notes, reinforcing the importance of being responsive and agile in this changing landscape. Moreover, while the benefits are promising, small business owners must remain vigilant about the challenges of implementing AI-driven sales channels. While the technology is designed to simplify the selling process, integrating new systems can be complex and requires careful planning. Businesses may face obstacles surrounding data management, security concerns, and the necessity to keep pace with competitors who quickly adopt these innovations. Real-world examples illustrate these new changes in action. Companies like Monos and Gymshark are at the forefront of the AI shopping transformation, taking advantage of the new capabilities of selling directly in AI environments. Monos’ CEO, Victor Tam, highlighted how this new approach allows brands to engage customers at moments of high intent. By enabling all brands, not just those on Shopify, to sell on AI channels through the Agentic plan, Shopify is democratizing access to these new selling methods. This shift may not only broaden market access for many entrepreneurs but also enhance overall consumer choice, ultimately benefiting everyone involved in the commerce ecosystem. For small business owners, staying attuned to these developments and embracing AI-driven commerce will be critical in navigating the future landscape of retail. As AI technologies continue to evolve, those who proactively adapt will likely find a wealth of opportunities to connect with customers and drive sales. To read more about Shopify’s latest initiatives, you can view the original press release here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Shopify and Google Launch Universal Commerce Protocol to Transform AI Shopping" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

All eyes are on Netflix, which is set to report fourth-quarter earnings after Tuesday’s closing bell. In the ongoing saga over whether will Netflix will acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, the streaming giant is now offering to pay all cash for the deal, revising a previous bid that included a mix of stock with cash, according to filing from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On Tuesday, Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery announced the amended agreement, which simplifies the deal for investors who no longer have to worry about Netflix’s fluctuating stock price. The news comes as Netflix continues to stave off a hostile takeover bid from rival Skydance-owned Paramount, led by chief executive, David Ellison, who has tried to blow up the deal, which includes the movie studio, along with HBO and HBO Max, a natural fit for Netflix. (Paramount had been offering an all-cash deal). The saga started about six weeks ago in early December, when Netflix initially offered to buy Warner Bros. Discovery’s assets in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $27.75 per WBD share ($23.25 per share in cash, $4.50 in Netflix stock) which comes out to about $72 billion stock, totaling $82.7 billion in enterprise value. Warner has repeatedly rebuffed Paramount’s offer. “The WBD Board continues to support and unanimously recommend our transaction, and we are confident that it will deliver the best outcome for stockholders, consumers, creators and the broader entertainment community,” Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, said in a statement. The large scope of the mega-merger “would reshape the entertainment industry,” according to CNN. And the back-and-forth developments has had both Wall Street and investors in the stocks closely watching their share prices. Netflix (NDLX) was trading up nearly 1%, while Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) was up .58% to $28.74., midday on Tuesday, at the time of this writing. Analysts are expecting Netflix will report a solid fourth quarter, with the success of shows like “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game,” but investors are concerned about the high price tag for the Warner Bros. Discovery deal, which would incur debt, per Yahoo Finance. The company has had a string of solid quarters, but missed estimates in the third-quarter of 2025, and Netflix stock price has decreased 30% since October, when rumors of the Warner Bros. Discovery deal first surfaced, CNBC reported. The financial news channel also said Wall Street has focused on Netflix’s ad revenue and whether price hikes are impacting subscribe numbers; and reported analysts polled by LSEG expect earnings-per-share to come in at 55 cents, with revenue of around $11.97 billion. View the full article

A reader writes: Twice in the past year, I’ve been asked to provide a reference for a former report, “Enid.” I hired Enid in mid-2019 and she reported to me until mid-2021 when my role changed. I think she left the organization at the end of 2022. She was an incredible employee: shining in the position and tapped on the shoulder for extra projects that highlighted her skills. Absolute pleasure to work with in every way. In February 2024, Enid asked if I could be a reference for her, and I was happy to oblige. I did so, provided a positive reference, and let her know afterwards. We’ve not had contact since. Just last month, I received a voicemail saying that Enid has listed me as a reference, and could we arrange a time to talk. Different organization, different position. This one had an added layer of security questions, as well as standard interview questions. As Enid was a great employee, I was happy to oblige, but … she never asked me about this. I’ve had zero contact with her since she asked for the reference in 2024 and I confirmed it had happened. This new reference had a very high security clearance attached to it, and one of the first comments the interviewer made was to please keep this confidential from Enid. I should have asked if it was the content or the entire discussion, but I am erring on the side of caution and not reaching out to her at all. I did not tell them that she had not contacted me about this; they may have been able to read between the lines, however (“I am on medical leave, so I don’t have access to specific dates …” “I haven’t connected with Enid very recently …” “My leave started before Enid left so I don’t know her exact reason for leaving …”). So, now to my questions. • Am I wrong to expect a courtesy heads-up before being used as a potential reference for each round of job applications? Enid has shared my personal phone and email, as I am on medical leave — I told her this in February 2024. My medical situation could have worsened in the interim and made it impossible for me to provide a reference now. However, ignoring that, I am still a little put out that I had no warning. • Just to sound incredibly old, “in my day” we would have sent a quick thank-you after somebody told us “I gave you a positive reference” and I was mildly put out when Enid didn’t do that in February 2024. Do I need to update my etiquette expectations to this century? • Is it appropriate to reach out to Enid about this? And if so, how should I word it, considering how infrequently this occurs, and that the most recent occurrence was confidential for security reasons? She was an amazing employee and I will always be able to give that reference positively, but to me this gap in alerting me to the possibility of somebody reaching out feels like a misstep she should know about. It’s happened a few times over the years where I’ve been used as a reference without being asked. It surprises me each time, and I guess I would appreciate some general guidance around if it’s ever appropriate to bring that fact to the attention of the caller. If it matches the working patterns of the individual, I have less qualms mentioning it. Yes, ideally people would give you a heads-up when they’re offering you as a reference — but there are reference checks that go outside of the list provided by the candidate and contact previous managers whether they were suggested as an “official” reference or not. That’s especially true of jobs with a heavy security clearance component. So first and foremost, Enid may not have had any idea that this job was going to contact you, and you should not penalize her for it. If she was amazing employee, you should give her an amazing reference and be happy to do it, end of story. It’s also true that people do sometimes offer references without alerting the reference that it’s coming … and honestly, that’s not something to hold against them either! It’s in the candidate’s best interests to alert you — so they know you’re available, and so you have time to organize and refresh your thoughts and don’t sound confused or taken off-guard when you get the call — but that doesn’t mean that they’re wronging you if they don’t do it. It is considered a professional nicety to give references a heads-up — but many people job-search so infrequently or don’t go delving deeply into job-search advice that they don’t even realize that’s expected. Or they think that the initial “yes, of course you can put my name down” covers them permanently. The convention that it’s best to alert references on every fresh round of job-searching is just a convention, and it’s not one everyone is aware of. So it’s a really mild faux pas at most, not a significant misstep. If you prefer that people handle it differently, you can of course tell them that! It’s fine to say, “By the way, I wasn’t expecting the call — I’m always happy to give you a reference, but I can do a better job if you let me know if might be coming so I have time to organize my thoughts.” (You can’t say that in this case because you were asked to keep the reference check confidential — although frankly you may or may not truly be bound by that — but you can say it generally.) And yes, Enid should have thanked you for the earlier positive reference — it’s smart for her to do that just from a basic relationship maintenance perspective — but I don’t think that’s a huge misstep either. It’s a social/business nicety that she skipped — but ultimately, she was an excellent employee and part of your job as the manager of an excellent employee is to continue to attest to that even if she forgets to thank you. I think something that’s muddling your thinking here is that you’re conflating “things that are smart for a candidate to do” with “things that a candidate must do.” It’s smart for Enid to check in with you before listing you as a reference, and it’s smart for her to thank you when you tell her you gave her a glowing reference (because relationship maintenance with people who give her glowing references is beneficial to her) … but her not doing those things just means she’s skipping some relatively minor stuff that would be in her best interests, not that she’s slighting you in any way. The post am I wrong to be put off that my former employee didn’t tell me she was listing me as a reference? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Google Shopping API migration deadlines are approaching, and advertisers who don’t act risk disrupted Shopping and Performance Max campaigns. What’s happening. Google is sunsetting older API versions and pushing all merchants toward the Merchant API as the single source of truth for Shopping Ads. Advertisers can confirm which API they’re using in Merchant Center Next by checking the “Source” column under Settings > Data sources, where any listing marked “Content API” requires action. Why we care. Google is actively reminding advertisers to migrate to the new Merchant API, with beta users required to complete the switch by Feb. 28th, and Content API users by Aug. 18th. If feeds aren’t properly reconnected, campaigns that rely on product data — especially those using feed labels — may stop serving altogether. The risk. Feed labels don’t automatically carry over during migration. If advertisers don’t update their campaign and feed configurations in Google Ads, Shopping and Performance Max setups that depend on those labels for structure or bidding logic can quietly break. What to do now. Google recommends completing the migration well ahead of the deadline, reviewing feed labels, and validating campaign delivery after reconnecting feeds. The transition was first outlined in mid-2024, but enforcement is now imminent as Google moves closer to fully retiring legacy APIs. Bottom line. This isn’t a cosmetic backend change — it’s a technical cutoff that can directly impact revenue if ignored. First seen. This update was spotted by Google Shopping Specialist Emmanuel Flossie, who shared the warnings he received on LinkedIn. View the full article

Efficiency dominates conversations about AI. We celebrate its ability to automate and optimize so businesses can move faster and people can work smarter. But AI is becoming more integrated into people’s lives in ways that go far beyond productivity. In a world obsessed with speed and efficiency, the future of AI isn’t just intelligent—it’s beautiful. AI is now a force that enhances creativity, self-expression, and confidence. AI does not just optimize life—it elevates it. Consumers are embracing AI for everything from recipe creation and travel planning to interior design and fitness regimens. They are turning to AI for recommendations on shows, movies, music, restaurants, and, of course, beauty and fashion. In these contexts, AI is enhancing experiences and sparking creativity. Because consumers are using AI to explore and have fun, companies can encourage broader adoption by focusing on building AI products designed to inspire. Brands have more opportunities than ever to build AI into their experiences as access to generative AI and specialized APIs broadens. However, that shift requires rethinking how we design and deploy AI so that it serves as a partner in expression and discovery. BUILD AI THAT DELIGHTS To build AI experiences that consumers genuinely enjoy, we need to understand what makes technology beautiful and inspirational in the first place. Fundamentally, it’s about aligning how systems function with how people naturally behave, think, and learn. We gravitate toward systems that show cause and effect, where we can see how our unique inputs shape the results. Visual feedback, confidence scores, or small cues that acknowledge uncertainty all make the interaction more collaborative. For example, Neutrogena’s Skin360 helps consumers identify their individual skin concerns and goals, and then suggests products, tips, and ingredients to help them achieve their desired outcomes. The experience gives consumers personalized assistance that makes them feel confident about the products and encourages them to purchase. Inspirational AI also encourages curiosity. AI assistants allow users to try different inputs and discover new outcomes on their own terms. As an example, Hopper’s AI travel planner lets users play with different dates, destinations, and budgets, surfacing alternative routes or seasons to encourage experimentation. That experimentation works best when users maintain creative control. AI that provides suggestions rather than conclusions empowers people to make choices that feel personal. This approach transforms digital moments, such as shopping and content creation, into expressive experiences. Similarly, Grammarly and Shopify’s AI suggest edits or design options, but leave final decisions to users. APIs HELP BRANDS OF ALL SIZES UNLEASH CREATIVITY One of the most exciting developments in consumer AI is its accessibility. The proliferation of APIs and generative frameworks now makes it possible for companies of all sizes to experiment, prototype, and deploy creative AI experiences quickly, affordably, and with less risk. These tools allow brands to plug advanced models into existing platforms, test new ideas, and learn from user behavior in real time. A small direct-to-consumer (DTC) brand can integrate a virtual try-on experience or an AI-powered stylist without specialized expertise. They can test whether a feature resonates with users, gather feedback, and deploy updates within days or weeks rather than months. The proliferation of consumer AI APIs also unlocks entirely new categories of creative experiences. Take cultural recommendation engine Qloo, which offers an API that can predict correlations across music, dining, fashion, and film. Brands can explore creative pairings that surprise and delight users. Imagine a fashion brand suggesting a playlist to match a look—these connections create moments of discovery that feel magical. What makes these experiences particularly powerful is how they reimagine the relationship between users and recommendations. Generative tools shift the paradigm from delivering static recommendations to enabling co-creation. Brands can now offer generative AI tools that let users actively participate in creating something new rather than showing them what they might like based on past behavior—designing personalized products, generating new looks, or expressing preferences interactively. This transforms passive consumption into active exploration. With this transformation, the metrics of success change. Brands should think of these APIs as creative building blocks to test emotional responses and track indicators of enjoyment that may include time spent experimenting, frequency of sharing, or the likelihood of a consumer returning. New metrics for a beauty brand might look like a consumer spending ten minutes playing with different virtual makeup looks, trying bold colors they had never considered before. With access to this technology once reserved for large enterprises, DTC brands and small-to-medium-sized businesses can compete with brand and retail giants in delivering sophisticated AI experiences. A boutique cosmetics shop can offer the same caliber of consumer AI technology as a multinational beauty company. This democratization gives consumers wider access to inspirational AI experiences across products and services they care about. DESIGN FOR WHAT COMES NEXT Consumer AI is at a turning point. The underlying technology will continue to improve, but adoption depends on how well it understands and serves human emotion. To design AI rooted in inspiration and discovery is to design for trust and for delight, giving users space to explore and create technology that stops feeling like automation and starts feeling like play. Alice Chang is the CEO and founder of Perfect Corp. View the full article

Chancellor defends UK decision not to threaten retaliation over Greenland disputeView the full article

Acumatica Summit 2026 is the flagship annual conference for the Acumatica ecosystem, bringing together customers, partners and product experts. This quick guide explains what the event is, what attendees typically learn and what to expect from the 2026 program. What Is the Acumatica Summit 2026? Acumatica Summits are annual conferences where customers, partners and industry experts gather to learn about Acumatica cloud ERP. They feature keynotes, breakout sessions, product updates, hands-on training and networking designed to help organizations improve processes and get more value from the platform. Acumatica Summit 2026 will cover product direction, new capabilities and practical guidance for implementing and optimizing Acumatica across departments. Expect keynote announcements, roadmap sessions, customer case studies, partner showcases and role-based breakouts for finance, operations, IT and developers, plus workshops on integrations, reporting, automation and emerging technologies. ProjectManager Will Be At Acumatica Summit 2026 ProjectManager integrates with Acumatica to connect ERP financial and operational data with powerful project planning, resource management and project portfolio management capabilities. This integration enables teams to plan, schedule and track work with greater visibility and control over resources, timelines and budgets. Plus, it’s included in Acumatica’s Professional Services edition. To learn more, visit ProjectManager’s booth #622 at the Acumatica Summit 2026! When Will the Acumatica Summit 2026 Take Place? Acumatica Summit 2026 will take place from January 25 to January 28, 2026, at the Seattle Convention Center in Seattle, Washington. The centrally located venue will host keynote sessions, breakout tracks, hands-on workshops and networking events across multiple days. Acumatica Summit 2026 Registration Costs and Pricing Registration for Acumatica Summit 2026 follows a tiered pricing structure based on registration timing and attendee type. Early registration typically offers discounted rates, while standard pricing applies closer to the event. Summit passes generally include access to sessions, meals, expo hall activities and official networking events. Early Bird Pass – $1,595, available for attendees who register before the early deadline. Standard Summit Pass – $1,895, applied after early bird registration closes. Group Registration Pricing – Discounted rates available for teams registering multiple attendees together. Partner and Sponsor Passes – Custom pricing or bundled passes based on sponsorship level. Complimentary or Sponsored Passes – Limited passes occasionally provided through participating partners or promotions. Important Acumatica Summit 2026 Dates These key dates help attendees plan travel, registration, sessions and networking opportunities throughout the Acumatica Summit 2026 experience. December 5, 2025 – Estimated early-bird registration deadline with discounted summit pricing. January 15, 2026 – Pre-summit “What to Know Before You Go” webinar for first-time and returning attendees. January 15, 2026 – Business intelligence and reporting webinar previewing analytics topics covered at the summit. January 24, 2026 – Hackathon kickoff focused on innovation, integrations and AI-driven Acumatica solutions. January 25, 2026 – Acumatica Summit 2026 officially begins at the Seattle Convention Center. January 25, 2026 – Opening keynote outlining product vision, roadmap direction and ecosystem strategy. January 25, 2026 – Evening welcome reception designed for partner and customer networking. January 26, 2026 – First full day of breakout sessions, hands-on training and role-based workshops. January 26, 2026 – Community events, including industry meetups and Women in Tech networking sessions. January 27, 2026 – Customer success stories, advanced product deep dives and partner solution showcases. January 27, 2026 – Celebration party featuring live entertainment and informal networking opportunities. January 28, 2026 – Final sessions, closing keynote and official conclusion of Acumatica Summit 2026. Who Should Attend the Acumatica Summit 2026? Acumatica Summit 2026 is designed for executives, finance leaders, operations managers, IT professionals, developers and ERP administrators. It delivers value to decision-makers evaluating cloud ERP, teams responsible for system optimization and professionals seeking practical guidance, peer insights and direct access to Acumatica experts. Manufacturing organizations benefit from sessions on production planning, inventory control, supply chain visibility and ERP-driven process optimization. Distribution and wholesale companies gain insights into demand forecasting, order management, logistics efficiency and scaling operations with cloud-based ERP tools. Construction and engineering firms learn how to manage job costing, project tracking, compliance and financial controls within complex, project-driven environments. Retail and e-commerce businesses explore omnichannel operations, inventory synchronization, customer data management and integrations that support growth and operational flexibility. Professional services firms benefit from guidance on resource planning, time tracking, billing automation and improving financial visibility across client-driven engagements. Technology and software companies gain value from sessions on API integrations, customization, automation and aligning ERP systems with product development workflows. Healthcare and life sciences organizations learn how to manage regulatory requirements, financial reporting, inventory traceability and operational efficiency using cloud ERP. Key Acumatica Summit Participants The Acumatica Summit brings together technology partners, solution providers and industry experts who extend the Acumatica ecosystem. These participants showcase integrations, best practices and complementary tools that help organizations maximize the value of their ERP investment. 1. ProjectManager/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ProjectManager-logo.png ProjectManager is a cloud-based project and work management platform that adds value to Acumatica by extending its ERP features into a robust project management software platform that allows teams across industries such as professional services, construction and manufacturing to manage their strategic initiatives, programs and portfolios. Some of its key features include: AI Project Management Tools Project budgeting and cost tracking Project scheduling and portfolio roadmapping Resource management Project portfolio management Project monitoring and reporting Workload balancing Project time tracking Online collaboration and document management See what SolarStone has to say about ProjectManager’s Acumatica integration. To learn more, visit ProjectManager’s booth #622! /wp-content/uploads/2025/10/solarstone-featured-image-600x338.jpg Our live demos will show you how to streamline operations for professional services, construction and manufacturing businesses: Track, manage and optimize projects within Acumatica for real-time insights and control Understand the financial impact of projects and make data-driven decisions Automate accounting and reporting tasks to save time and boost accuracy Check out our Acumatica Marketplace Listing for more details. 2. Amazon Amazon is a global e-commerce and cloud services leader that enables businesses to sell products online at massive scale through its marketplace and fulfillment ecosystem. Amazon adds value to Acumatica through native commerce connectors that synchronize orders, inventory, customers and financial data. This integration eliminates manual entry, improves fulfillment accuracy and gives businesses real-time ERP visibility into high-volume online sales activity. 3. Shopify Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that allows businesses to create, manage and scale online stores across multiple digital sales channels. Shopify integrates with Acumatica to connect storefront activity with ERP financials and inventory. This enables accurate stock levels, faster order processing, unified customer data and streamlined fulfillment for growing omnichannel businesses. 4. BigCommerce BigCommerce is an enterprise-grade e-commerce platform designed for fast-growing and established businesses selling across digital channels. BigCommerce extends Acumatica by syncing orders, pricing, inventory and customer records in real time. This unified data flow supports scalable e-commerce operations while maintaining strong financial controls and operational visibility. 5. Avalara Avalara provides automated tax compliance solutions that simplify sales tax, VAT and transaction-based tax calculations for businesses worldwide. Avalara enhances Acumatica by embedding real-time tax calculation and compliance directly into ERP workflows. This reduces errors, supports multi-jurisdiction compliance, accelerates invoicing and lowers risk for finance teams managing complex tax obligations. 6. SPS Commerce SPS Commerce delivers cloud-based EDI and retail network solutions that connect suppliers, retailers and logistics partners. SPS Commerce adds value to Acumatica by automating EDI transactions and synchronizing orders, shipments and inventory data. This reduces manual processing, improves supply chain accuracy and strengthens trading partner relationships. 7. Tipalti Tipalti is a global payables automation platform that manages supplier onboarding, payments, tax compliance and reconciliation. Tipalti extends Acumatica’s financial capabilities by automating end-to-end accounts payable workflows. This helps organizations scale payment operations, ensure regulatory compliance, reduce manual workload and improve vendor experiences. 8. AvidXchange AvidXchange automates accounts payable invoice processing and electronic payments for mid-market organizations. AvidXchange integrates with Acumatica to digitize invoice capture, approvals and payments. This improves cash flow visibility, strengthens audit trails, reduces paper-based processes and accelerates financial close cycles. 9. Crestwood Associates Crestwood Associates provides consulting, implementation and customization services for organizations using Acumatica ERP. Crestwood Associates enhances Acumatica by delivering tailored implementations, integrations and process optimizations. Their expertise helps businesses reduce implementation risk, improve adoption and translate ERP capabilities into measurable operational improvements. 10. ClickLearn ClickLearn offers a digital adoption and training platform that captures business processes and creates guided learning content. ClickLearn integrates with Acumatica to automate user training and documentation. By generating step-by-step guides from real workflows, it accelerates ERP adoption, lowers training costs and reduces ongoing support requirements. ProjectManager is online software that helps teams organize their work no matter where they are or how they work. Get real-time data for better decision-making while connecting teams and fostering collaboration. Deliver products on time, within your budget and with the level of quality that your customers expect. Try ProjectManager for free today! The post Acumatica Summit 2026: Quick Guide appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Key Takeaways Retail business programs provide essential tools and strategies to thrive in today’s competitive retail environment. Key focus areas include inventory management, customer engagement, and effective marketing strategies, allowing businesses to streamline operations and understand market trends. Options range from certificate programs for specialized training to degree programs for comprehensive education in retail management. Online courses offer flexible learning opportunities for busy entrepreneurs, covering vital topics like e-commerce and digital marketing. Networking opportunities through these programs facilitate connections with industry experts and fellow entrepreneurs, promoting collaboration and guidance. Choosing accredited programs with a robust curriculum and flexible learning formats enhances the learning experience and supports business success. In today’s fast-paced retail environment, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for success. Retail business programs offer you the tools and strategies needed to thrive, whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out. These programs cover everything from inventory management to customer engagement, helping you build a solid foundation for your business. With the right retail program, you can unlock new opportunities and streamline your operations. You’ll learn how to analyze market trends, enhance your marketing efforts, and improve overall customer satisfaction. Embracing these educational resources can be the game-changer your retail business needs to reach new heights. Overview of Retail Business Programs Retail business programs offer vital resources for small businesses, enhancing your ability to compete effectively in the marketplace. These programs focus on critical areas such as inventory management, customer engagement, and marketing strategies. By leveraging these tools, you can streamline operations, better understand market trends, and satisfy customer needs. Successful retail programs provide insights into inventory control techniques, helping you optimize stock levels and reduce overhead costs. Programs also prioritize customer engagement by teaching best practices for fostering relationships and building loyalty, key components for any successful storefront. Additionally, these programs often include training on digital marketing methods. You’ll learn how to harness online platforms to reach broader audiences and boost sales. With the right retail business program, you can gain a competitive edge, driving growth and ensuring sustainable success for your small business. Types of Retail Business Programs Various retail business programs exist to support your small business’s growth and efficiency. These programs encompass structured learning options suited for different needs and goals. Certificate Programs Certificate programs offer specialized training focused on specific aspects of retail management. These programs can cover topics like inventory control, customer service strategies, and sales techniques. Typically lasting a few months, certificate programs enhance your skills and provide practical knowledge that can be immediately applied to your storefront operations. Many institutions offer these programs online or in-person, making them accessible regardless of your location. Degree Programs Degree programs, such as an Associate’s or Bachelor’s in Retail Management or Business Administration, provide in-depth education on various retail functions. These programs equip you with comprehensive skills in areas such as finance, marketing, and human resources. With a longer time commitment, usually ranging from two to four years, degree programs prepare you for leadership roles within the retail industry. Obtaining a degree can strengthen your business acumen, making you better prepared to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Online Courses Online courses deliver flexible learning tailored to busy small business owners. Topics can range from e-commerce strategies to digital marketing and customer engagement techniques. Online courses often allow you to learn at your own pace, fitting education seamlessly into your daily routine. Platforms offering these courses often include interactive elements, quizzes, and resources that further enhance your understanding of modern retail practices. Utilizing online courses can empower you to adapt to evolving market trends and improve overall performance for your business. Benefits of Retail Business Programs Retail business programs offer valuable advantages for small businesses, enhancing your ability to succeed in a competitive marketplace. These programs equip you with essential knowledge and resources, ensuring your storefront operates efficiently. Enhanced Knowledge and Skills Enhanced knowledge and skills form the foundation of effective retail management. You’ll gain insights into crucial areas such as inventory management, customer engagement, and marketing strategies. Programs tailor training to small business needs, enabling you to understand market trends and consumer behavior. You’ll learn effective techniques for managing stock levels, optimizing pricing, and creating marketing campaigns that resonate. With these skills, you can streamline operations and improve overall performance, ensuring your small business thrives. Networking Opportunities Networking opportunities frequently arise from retail business programs. You’ll connect with fellow entrepreneurs, industry experts, and potential mentors, fostering relationships that can support your business. These connections often lead to collaborations, partnerships, and valuable advice tailored to the retail sector. By expanding your network, you increase your chances of discovering new avenues for growth, enhancing your business’s visibility in the marketplace. Key Features to Consider Choosing the right retail business program can greatly impact your storefront’s success. Consider the following key features that enhance your learning experience and business results. Curriculum Curriculum design plays a crucial role in equipping you with relevant skills. Look for programs with comprehensive courses covering inventory management, customer engagement, and marketing strategies tailored for small businesses. A strong curriculum includes hands-on projects, real-world case studies, and modules on emerging trends like e-commerce and digital marketing, ensuring you gain practical knowledge applicable to your retail environment. Accreditation Accreditation signifies program quality and reliability. Select programs recognized by industry standards or educational associations, as these credentials enhance your credibility and can positively influence potential customers and partners. Accredited programs often provide a well-structured educational path, leading to more effective learning outcomes and better preparation for the challenges of running a successful small business. Flexibility and Accessibility Flexibility is paramount for busy entrepreneurs. Opt for programs that offer various learning formats, such as online courses or evening classes, allowing you to balance education with your business responsibilities. Accessibility ensures you can study anytime, from anywhere, making it easier to integrate learning into your daily routine. Programs that accommodate your schedule can enhance your understanding, ultimately benefiting your storefront’s performance. Popular Retail Business Programs Several retail business programs cater to small business owners and their unique needs. These programs focus on crucial areas such as inventory management, customer engagement, and marketing strategies. Certificate Programs: These offer targeted training in retail aspects like inventory control and customer service best practices. Completing a certificate can enhance your skills and enable you to manage your storefront more effectively. Degree Programs: These comprehensive programs cover various topics, including finance, marketing, and operations. Pursuing a degree can prepare you for leadership roles in your small business or the broader retail landscape. Online Courses: Flexible online courses allow you to learn at your pace. Topics often include e-commerce strategies and digital marketing techniques crucial for reaching wider audiences and boosting sales. Workshops and Seminars: These short-term programs often feature industry experts. They provide hands-on training and insights that can help you implement new strategies in your retail environment immediately. Networking Events: Participating in networking events linked to retail programs can connect you with fellow entrepreneurs and industry professionals. These relationships can lead to valuable collaborations and mentorship opportunities that support your small business growth. Investing in any of these popular retail programs can provide you with the tools and insights needed to thrive in a competitive market, ensuring your storefront is well-positioned for success. Conclusion Embracing retail business programs can transform your entrepreneurial journey. By equipping you with vital skills and insights, these programs empower you to navigate the complexities of the retail landscape. Whether you choose certificate courses, degree programs, or online workshops, each option offers unique advantages tailored to your needs. As you explore these educational opportunities, remember that the right program can enhance your understanding of market dynamics and customer behavior. You’ll not only optimize operations but also build lasting relationships with your clientele. Investing in your education today paves the way for a successful and sustainable retail business tomorrow. Frequently Asked Questions What are retail business programs? Retail business programs are educational resources designed to equip entrepreneurs with essential skills and strategies for running successful retail operations. They cover areas such as inventory management, customer engagement, and effective marketing tactics. How can retail business programs benefit small businesses? These programs help small businesses gain a competitive edge by providing knowledge of market trends, improving customer satisfaction, and optimizing inventory. They also offer networking opportunities with industry professionals, fostering potential collaborations. What types of retail business programs are available? Available programs include certificate courses, degree programs, online courses, workshops, and seminars. Each is tailored to provide specific skills, ranging from e-commerce strategies to customer engagement techniques. Why is inventory management important in retail? Effective inventory management minimizes overhead costs and ensures that stock levels meet customer demand. Retail business programs teach techniques that help optimize stock control, thereby reducing waste and improving profitability. How do retail programs enhance customer engagement? Retail programs focus on best practices for building customer relationships and loyalty. They provide strategies to enhance customer interactions, ensuring businesses can create memorable experiences that encourage repeat visits. What features should I look for in a retail business program? When choosing a program, consider curriculum design, accreditation, and flexibility. A strong curriculum should include real-world projects, while accreditation enhances credibility. Flexibility in learning formats is crucial for busy entrepreneurs. Are online retail business programs effective? Yes, online retail business programs offer flexible learning that fits into busy schedules. They provide access to valuable content covering important topics like digital marketing and e-commerce at the participant’s convenience. Can networking opportunities arise from retail business programs? Absolutely! Retail business programs often include networking events that connect entrepreneurs with industry experts and peers. These relationships can lead to mentorship, collaboration, and new business opportunities. How do retail business programs help with marketing strategies? These programs teach businesses how to analyze market trends and implement effective marketing campaigns. Participants learn digital marketing techniques that can significantly broaden their audience reach and boost sales. What is the return on investment for retail business programs? Investing in retail business programs provides entrepreneurs with essential tools and insights, leading to improved business performance. The skills acquired can increase profitability, streamline operations, and position businesses for long-term success. Image Via Envato This article, "Maximize Success with Effective Retail Business Programs Strategies" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article