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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 wireless over-ear ANC headphones are currently down to $279 (from $479) on Woot, marking their lowest price so far (according to price trackers), with free shipping for Prime members and a $6 fee for others. The deal is expected to run for about a week or until it sells out, so availability could shift quickly depending on demand. The mix of fabric, aluminum, and synthetic leather gives these headphones a more premium touch than most all-plastic alternatives in this range, and their updated headband and thicker cushions make a difference over time—you can sit through long work sessions or a full flight without feeling like you need to take them off. It also gives you 30 hours of playback with active noise cancellation on (your mileage may vary), and the quick charge feature gets you about seven hours in 15 minutes, which is enough to get you through a day if you forget to plug them in overnight. Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 $279.00 at Woot $479.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Get Deal $279.00 at Woot $479.00 Save $200.00 Sound-wise—as compared to the previous Px7 S2—music feels more open, with better separation between vocals and instruments. Bass has presence but doesn’t take over, and the highs have more energy than before without becoming harsh. And you don’t need the best Bluetooth setup to notice the difference, either. Even on standard AAC or SBC, the improvement comes through. If you do have a compatible Android phone, aptX Adaptive and Lossless support are available, or you can also plug in via USB-C for higher-resolution audio, which is still rare in this category. You also get a proper five-band EQ in the companion app, so you can fine-tune the sound instead of relying on basic presets (as was the case before). That said, while its active noise cancellation has improved, it still falls short of industry leaders like the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, especially in environments like flights or heavy traffic. Transparency mode, on the other hand, is much better than before and works well for conversations, but the controls can feel a bit limiting—you still have to cycle through ANC modes instead of choosing directly, and the button layout takes some getting used to. There’s also no support for newer Bluetooth features like LE Audio or Auracast, which could matter down the line. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 128GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Gray) — $202.00 (List Price $249.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $298.00 (List Price $399.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Agentic AI shopping may not be good for SEO. But there's a reason why SEOs won't need to worry about it. The post Why Agentic AI Shopping Feels Unnatural And May Not Threaten SEO appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

In October 2024, two entrepreneurs launched a tech news podcast. Eighteen months later, OpenAI just bought it. The ChatGPT maker announced Thursday it has purchased TBPN (Technology Business Programming Network) for an undisclosed sum, bringing the tech world’s buzziest podcast into the AI company’s fold. TBPN is run by Jordi Hays and John Coogan, founder of VC party and cofounder of Soylent, respectively. Here’s what to know about the deal: How will this arrangement be structured? The announcement makes a big claim, stating that TBPN will maintain “editorial independence.” This separation will give the podcasters space to make editorial decisions, run their programming, and choose their guests. Open AI CEO Sam Altman has previously appeared on the show. “TBPN is my favorite tech show,” Altman wrote on X following the news. “We want them to keep that going and for them to do what they do so well. “I don’t expect them to go any easier on us, am sure I’ll do my part to help enable that with occasional stupid decisions.” However, TBPN will be part of OpenAI’s strategy department, reporting to chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane. OpenAI plans to use their “amazing comms and marketing instincts” and “leverage their talent outside the show.” Sure, TBPN is allowed to talk openly about OpenAI. But, from the sound of it, that will mean talking honestly about an employer of sorts. “​​While we’ve been critical of the industry at times, after getting to know Sam and the OpenAI team, what stood out most was their openness to feedback and commitment to getting this right,” Hays said in a statement. “Moving from commentary to real impact in how this technology is distributed and understood globally is incredibly important to us.” What is TBPN? An episode of TBPN can span topics such as buyout deals, gossip about AI talent wars, and startup culture—to name a few areas. Hays and Coogan often cover 50 to 100 topics an episode, Hays told Fast Company last month. The show’s livestream can sometimes attract upwards of 130,000 simultaneous viewers, with millions more watching clips and listening to the podcast after the fact. “We basically leverage the algorithms,” Hays continued. “Love them or hate them, they do a really good job of sorting what people are interested in.” In March, TBPN was named No. 2 on Fast Company‘s Most Innovative Companies list for news and media. Hays and Coogan cohost TBPN for three hours a day, five days a week, talking about all things tech and business. As Fast Company staff editor Connie Lin put it, “The pair tackle business news like sports commentators.” In December, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) announced a deal to become TBPN’s exclusive exchange partner. View the full article

Paid search is often the highest-leverage ecommerce growth channel, delivering strong conversion rates and efficient spend when structured effectively. Google Shopping and Amazon Ads capture high-intent demand while generating the data needed to scale it. These platforms connect search queries directly to revenue, enabling you to identify which terms drive sales and allocate budget accordingly. The real challenge is organizing campaigns to act on that signal. Why paid search works so well for ecommerce Paid search performs differently from other channels because it combines two advantages: intent and data. Intent: Google and Amazon are search-driven environments. When someone searches for a product, they’re signaling exactly what they want. There’s no inference required, no audience modeling, and no interrupting someone mid-scroll. You’re providing the answer to a question the customer is already asking. Data: Both Google Shopping and Amazon Ads provide keyword-level revenue data that most other advertising platforms can’t. You can see which search terms generated sales, at what conversion rate, and at what cost. Amazon goes further, offering clearer and more direct revenue visibility at the product and category level. Together, these create a powerful feedback loop. Search terms tied to revenue let you shift spend toward higher-converting queries, improving ROAS over time. On Amazon, this loop extends further—stronger conversion rates can improve organic rankings, lowering future acquisition costs. Success in search campaigns depends on building multi-funnel structures. The concept is consistent across platforms, but implementation varies by campaign types, settings, and bidding strategies. The architectures outlined below use wide-net, low-cost discovery campaigns to map the full search landscape, then funnel high-intent, proven converters into dedicated performance campaigns with appropriate bids. The result: stronger ROAS, improved rankings, and more scalable growth. Dig deeper: Ecommerce PPC: 4 takeaways that shape how campaigns perform Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with Google Shopping: The priority sculpting method The priority sculpting method is based on Martin Roettgerding‘s approach, with adaptations over the years. It uses a three-layer campaign structure to route keywords into different campaigns based on performance. This lets you control spend on discovery keywords and maximize investment in high-performing, high-intent terms. The key is Google Shopping priority settings — “high-priority” campaigns serve first at lower bids. Layer 1: Brand The goal is to capture branded search traffic. This layer uses a Performance Max campaign and can also use standard Shopping. It remains assetless to keep it focused on Shopping inventory and prevent bleed into Display and YouTube. It’s set with a high ROAS target, as PMax tends to go after brand traffic naturally, especially when set with a high target ROAS. Alpha terms are negatived in this campaign, as they may also have high ROAS. Layer 2: Catch-all The goal is to cast a wide net, test search terms cheaply, and generate conversion data. This layer uses standard Shopping with a high-priority setting to catch non-branded traffic. Bids are kept low to control costs. Brand terms and alpha terms are negatived using a negative list. Over time, low-performing terms are also negatived once they’ve been tested and failed. Layer 3: Alpha The goal is to dedicate budget to best-performing terms and generate strong ROAS. This layer uses standard Shopping with a low-priority setting and high-ROAS bidding settings. By negating converted terms, or alpha terms, in the catch-all campaign, those queries fall through to this campaign, where you bid aggressively on what’s already working. Brand terms can also be negatived if needed. Dig deeper: 6 Google Ads mistakes that hurt ecommerce campaigns The key considerations in this structure include the following: Routing logic using negatives The system relies on routing logic: Google’s priority settings determine which campaign serves a query first. Negative keywords in the catch-all push proven converters into the alpha, where bids are higher and budget is protected. At the same time, non-alpha terms run through high-priority campaigns at the lowest possible bids. The method lives or dies on weekly search term negation. Two actions are done regularly: Negate non-converting terms in the catch-all. A good rule of thumb is over 20 clicks and zero conversions, these terms are negated. We’ve tested them, and removing them frees up the budget for other search terms. Note that this requires consideration before negating. If a keyword is highly relevant, you might want to let it run longer. Negate converted terms (alphas) from the catch-all so they fall through to the alpha campaign. Over time, the alpha accumulates a curated list of proven terms bid on aggressively, while the catch-all keeps finding new ones cheaply. It’s a compounding system. Shared budgets Shared budgets are critical. Layers 2 and 3 should work on a shared budget. The system works only if they run together, because each query needs to be sculpted through the system. It won’t work with separate budgets because if the budget on the catch-all high priority runs out, then the alpha would be the first contact, and the query would likely show on the alpha (at a higher bid), even though it’s not an alpha. SKU separation The system is designed to run across a unique set of SKUs. All three layers should target the same set of SKUs. It’s recommended to start with all SKUs to begin with and then build out from there. Products that get buried in the main campaigns or operate at a different margin tier can be peeled off into their own mirrored catch-all/alpha pair, ring-fencing their budget. Only do this when there’s a clear reason. More campaigns mean more overhead and more fragmented data. Feed quality It’s important to optimize the feed, as Google heavily relies on titles mainly for understanding the context of the product and which keywords to serve it. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. Amazon Ads: The multi-tier campaign architecture Amazon’s campaign structure is more advanced than Google Ads and offers several advantages. Amazon typically delivers higher conversion rates and more conversion data. Ad spend also drives both conversion rates and rankings, with a clear, measurable link between ad spend and organic ranking. Ads drive traffic, traffic drives conversions, and conversion rate drives organic rank. That makes Amazon Ads an investment in organic search. Google Ads campaigns run across the whole catalog. On Amazon, you build campaigns at the SKU level, typically one SKU per campaign. The structure uses three campaign tiers: research, ranking, and performance. Each has a distinct goal and is managed by adjusting advertising cost of sale (ACOS) targets to reflect different profitability goals. Tier 1: Research Campaigns use broad and phrase match keywords, along with automatic targeting. The goal is to cast a wide net and generate keyword ideas and variations. ACOS tolerance is relatively high, since the goal is data, not profit. Tier 2: Performance Campaigns use exact match keyword targeting. The goal is profit, with a competitive ACOS target below break-even. Move proven converters from the research tier into exact match campaigns. Run your best keywords at efficient bids to maximize returns on what’s already working. This mirrors the alpha campaign in Google Ads. Tier 3: Ranking or exposure Use single-keyword campaigns (SKCs) with exact match—one keyword per campaign. The goal is usually ranking, though it can shift over time. For ranking, set aggressive bids with high ACOS tolerance (often 50%+). Push volume through high-value keywords to drive top organic positions. Once you reach positions 1–3 organically, pause those keywords. Ranking campaigns are debated. If you’re already ranking, there’s no need to pay for visibility you get for free. This layer doesn’t exist in Google Ads, where ad spend doesn’t influence rankings. Dig deeper: Why your Amazon Ads aren’t delivering: 6 critical issues to fix The key considerations in this structure include: Bidding to an ACOS lever With Amazon Ads, we bid toward an ACOS target. ACOS is the advertising spend as a percentage of revenue. Because Amazon data is so clean and conversion rates are high, we can calculate our bids to drive a certain ACOS. The ACOS-based bidding formula: Target bid = (Revenue per click) x Target ACOS Implementing ACOS bidding can be automated using software like Scale Insights. Different campaign tiers can be assigned different ACOS targets, and CPCs can be adjusted daily by the software. Keyword routing Similar to Google Ads, keywords are funneled through from research campaigns into performance or alpha campaigns. This can be done manually or automatically with Scale Insights using an import rule. The concept is very similar in that keywords that shine get imported down the funnel, while non-performing keywords are phased out through testing. The conversion rate signal If a product’s conversion rate is below the market average on a given keyword, more spend will not likely improve its rank. Amazon usually surfaces the better-converting product. The correct response is to fix the underlying issue: price, listing quality, imagery, or the product itself. Most advertisers skip this step and keep spending into a hole. The ranking cannibalization rule There are two strong views on ranking and cannibalization. Some argue that once your product ranks highly for a keyword on Amazon, you should reduce or stop ad spend. If you’re ranking organically, you can save on ads. On the other hand, if a keyword performs well with strong ROAS, having two listings can outperform one. It increases your chances of a click. Ads also typically appear above organic listings, giving you higher placement. Whichever view you take, the three-tier method lets you drive rankings through SKCs, then reduce or stop ad spend once you rank, if you choose. How Google Shopping and Amazon Ads compare for ecommerce The underlying logic for advanced campaign setup is the same across Google Shopping and Amazon Ads, with key differences beyond the core structure. Google Shopping (Priority sculpting)Amazon Ads (Multi-tier architecture)Similarities– Route queries to campaigns via priority and negatives. – Discover converting terms in a catch-all at a low cost. – Graduate proven terms to alpha with high tROAS. – Regular search term reviews, negatives, and alphas.– Route keywords across research → ranking → performance. – Discover new keywords in broad, phrase, and auto campaigns. – Graduate proven terms to exact match for profitability. – Regular search term reviews, negatives, and imports to lower funnel.Differences– Run across the whole feed, separate high-margin products for ring-fenced budgets. – ROAS-based bidding. – Product feed determines search term targeting, and the advertiser is unable to select.– Campaigns built at the SKU level rather than across the whole catalog. – ACOS-based bidding. – Search terms selected by advertiser. – Ads drive rankings, and you can save budget by monitoring organic rankings. Dig deeper: 5 reasons Amazon Ads is better than Google Ads for ecommerce See the complete picture of your search visibility. Track, optimize, and win in Google and AI search from one platform. Start Free Trial Get started with Which platform is right for your ecommerce strategy Like all good answers, it depends heavily on your business and your goals. Both have advantages and disadvantages. We can say that: Amazon Ads often perform better, delivering higher conversion rates and faster ranking and sales when intent is strong. Google Ads is better for long-term brand building. It offers broader reach, potentially lower costs, and drives traffic to your own website, where you retain customer data. The ideal is to run these together. Many brands may launch on Amazon and grow over to their own platforms and utilize Google Ads. Paid search for ecommerce is probably the most effective advertising avenue you can explore. Both platforms offer significant opportunities when implemented properly. Each platform has pros and cons, and I would recommend further exploring the details in these campaign structures and deciding on the right implementation for your business. View the full article

Figure signals improvement in the labour market after string of bleak data releasesView the full article

Google's March core update is rolling out. Illyes explains Googlebot's crawling architecture, and Gemini referral traffic doubles. The post Google Core Update, Crawl Limits & Gemini Traffic Data – SEO Pulse appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The Garmin Forerunner 970 is the newest and best Forerunner watch (aka Garmin's flagship running watch line). It’s an improved version of the Forerunner 965, though it does come with a shorter battery life and a higher price tag. Whether that tradeoff is worth it depends on what you're looking for. For data-driven racers and endurance athletes who want to track, analyze, and optimize every aspect of their performance, the 970 is one of the best watches out there. My full in-depth review is still in the works, but a few standout features are already making a strong impression. Garmin Forerunner 970 $749.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $749.99 at Amazon Bright AMOLED display (plus a sapphire lens and titanium bezel)Right out of the box, the Forerunner 970's display feels high-end. The AMOLED screen is vivid, sharp, and easy to read at a glance—whether you're mid-run or just checking your stats on the couch. The sapphire lens and titanium bezel give the watch a durable feel, making it fit for serious training. Perfectly visible display, even in the bright sun. Credit: Meredith Dietz Full-color maps with enhanced navigationThe full-color maps on the 970 hold up impressively well even in signal-challenged environments, including, notably, inside my New York City walk-up apartment, where GPS signals go to die. Whether you're exploring a new route or just trying to get your bearings in a dense urban environment, the enhanced navigation on this watch delivers right out the box. Here is where I'd normally place a photo of said GPS working from inside my apartment, but then you'd be able to find me. Nice try, readers! Running tolerance and training readiness scoresThis might be the feature I've been most excited to dig into. The Forerunner 970 introduces running tolerance scores that help you better understand the cumulative impact each run has on your body, along with a recommended weekly maximum mileage, so you can keep building fitness without tipping into overtraining territory. On top of that, training readiness scores greet you from the moment you wake up, pulling together data on sleep quality, recovery, training load, and more to give you a clear signal: go hard today, or dial it back? "Recovery in progress" isn't totally accurate, since I will be running right after taking this photo. Credit: Meredith Dietz Sort of a no-brainer, but will do! Credit: Meredith Dietz The thing is, I can already tell I’ll need to override some of Garmin’s recommendations to rest. As I've written before, Garmin tends to err on the conservative side for distance runners. That said, I love having this data in front of me, even if I occasionally choose to ignore it. Projected race timesProjected race time isn't a brand-new concept, but the 970's version feels more meaningful thanks to the deeper training metrics backing it up. This prediction shows what your race time and pace could be if you keep training consistently all the way to your goal race date—and with more nuanced inputs like running tolerance factored in, the expectation (and hope) is that these projections will be more accurate than ever. I have a race in May that will serve as the real litmus test. Stay tuned. Built-in LED flashlightLast but absolutely not least: the flashlight. A quick double-press of the upper-left button turns it on or off, and it is powerful. In fact, I accidentally shone it directly into my eyes and spent the next several seconds blinking stars out of my vision while trying to type this very sentence. Beyond my momentary blindness, the flashlight rocks. More importantly, it makes running at night feel a little safer—as long as I’m willing to let the battery drain fast. For anyone logging early-morning or after-dark miles, this is the kind of small feature that could end up mattering a lot. View the full article

Why right now seems like the right time for me to move out of cashView the full article

Across the U.S., the realities of healthcare affordability are reaching a breaking point, with premiums and out-of-pocket costs straining household budgets and forcing some families to consider going without coverage or delaying care, simply because they cannot pay. This isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about everyday decisions: skipping preventive visits, postponing prescriptions, or weighing health needs against rent and groceries. As healthcare costs grow while federal funds and subsidies shift, our systems are under duress, and people are being forced to make impossible choices. In this context, the question for business leaders, in healthcare and beyond, is clear: How do we design operating models that are resilient to these pressures, and genuinely responsive for the people they serve? THE BUSINESS CASE IS STRAIGHTFORWARD Dignity is efficient. We see this every day in community health, where centering dignity over efficiency alone transforms bottom lines. When patients feel seen and respected, they show up, they trust, and they return. Chronic illness gets managed through preventative care rather than acute intervention. Emergency room visits drop. Families stay working and contributing. Health becomes a stabilizing force that strengthens neighborhoods and local economies. The return on investment isn’t abstract. Research has shown us that, because community healthcare keeps people connected to preventive care and early treatment, that contributes to lower hospital and emergency department use, and lower total system costs—a powerful proof point that dignity-centered care can be both humane and efficient. The formula works. Yet, most businesses still optimize for the wrong things, chasing scale and speed while treating community rootedness as a constraint that limits growth. Our own organization’s experience has shown that the opposite is true. THREE PRACTICAL SHIFTS TO IMPLEMENT Implementing dignity-centered care and optimizing for the right things isn’t difficult. Here are three ways to do that. 1. Design with, not for. Don’t treat communities as problems to solve or markets to penetrate. Restructure the organization so its operating model is intentionally shaped around the specific needs, lived realities, and priorities of the communities it serves. This can look like language access, hiring from local talent pools, awarding contracts to small and minority-owned businesses, and partnerships with education systems that create new career pipelines. The same principle applies whether you’re designing financial services, educational programs, or retail experiences. 2. Measure what matters to people, not just what’s easy to count. Standard metrics of success like customer growth, processing time, and cost per transaction can be counter to dignity-rooted experiences. How can we measure trust, belonging, and sustained engagement? Are people coming back? Are they bringing family or friends? Are they accessing services earlier in a problem cycle rather than waiting until crisis? These indicators can predict long-term sustainability better than sales and quarterly gains. 3. Root accountability locally. Community-grounded institutions are more resilient because they answer to something beyond distant shareholders. Create structures where the people your business serves directly impact how it operates. This can mean representation on boards, local hiring requirements, or transparent feedback mechanisms. When institutions can be held accountable by the communities they serve, trust builds—and in an era of institutional mistrust, this kind of credibility is capital. WHY THIS WORKS WHEN TRADITIONAL APPROACHES FAIL When you genuinely understand and honor the cultural context and lived experience of the people you serve, you unlock engagement that top-down, one-size-fits-all approaches miss entirely. This extends beyond healthcare into education, housing, financial services, civic infrastructure, and other industries. Any system serious about resilience must move closer to the people it serves. The institutions that will weather the next decade aren’t those with the most aggressive growth targets or the most streamlined processes. They’re the ones that people trust. The ones that show up consistently, speak their language, understand their context, and honor their complexity. THE STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE Too many companies still treat dignity as a compliance exercise or a values statement in a deck. What if it became the literal structure of how you operate? What if every major business decision was filtered through the question: Does this center the dignity of the communities we serve? When institutions build trust through dignity, they: Generate not only customer loyalty, but competitive advantages Attract and retain talent who want their work to mean something Build resilience that weathers economic shocks and policy change Dignity, it turns out, has an excellent business model when it’s recognized as a structural advantage and not just a soft value. It just requires measuring success differently—not by speed of scale alone, but by depth of engagement and trust. Not by how efficiently you process people, but by how effectively you serve them. Not by how uniform your offering is, but by how well it meets people where they are. The organizations that design for dignity today will outperform on retention, resilience, and relevance tomorrow. Cástulo de la Rocha is president and CEO of AltaMed Health Services. View the full article

Volatility and rising accountability are reshaping every industry. Philanthropy isn’t immune. In moments like this, leadership drives meaningful progress. As chief philanthropy officer at UNICEF USA, I work with C-suite leaders and philanthropists to turn bold commitments into lasting impact. Carol J. Hamilton has spent four decades in the C-suite at L’Oréal USA and continues to serve across corporate and nonprofit boards. Between us, we’ve seen philanthropy evolve and adapt. We came together to talk about what leadership requires in this moment. Michele Walsh: You played a key role in shaping a global company’s philanthropic efforts. Since leaving L’Oréal USA, you seem busier than ever, serving on several boards and continuing to make a difference. As you think about this next chapter, what feels different for you in this moment? How has your career shaped it? Carol J. Hamilton: What feels different is ownership. In my corporate career, I had the leadership platform of a global company to align business and purpose. Now, I had to pivot to something more personal. I knew what mattered to me was continuing my passion for helping women and girls. The harder question was: How would I make a difference on my own? I shifted gears and needed new advisors. Just as in business, I surrounded myself with people who could challenge my thinking and help shape a strategy. Philanthropy deserves the same discipline. Walsh: You have always been an energizer, someone who makes things happen. What does mobilizing look like for you in practice now? Hamilton: It starts with personal commitment. Significant gifts matter. They fund proven solutions. Before I invited anyone else to join me, I pushed myself to give at a level that reflected how strongly I believed in the work. From there, it’s about passion. I care deeply about the issues I support, and I let that show. When something matters to me, I share that openly. If it sparks interest, I bring people closer. Sometimes that’s as simple as hosting a dinner and creating space for a conversation. There’s something powerful about being together. When personal commitment meets shared passion, momentum builds. It’s the same in business. When you lead with shared values, you can turn purpose into collective action. Hamilton: Michele, you work with C-suite leaders across sectors and generous philanthropists every day. With funding pressures and fluctuating markets, how do you see business leaders approaching philanthropy differently? Walsh: I’m seeing both urgency and evolution. Giving toward tangible solutions like vaccines, therapeutic food, and emergency supplies is compelling and critical. Increasingly, leaders are also asking how to deliver lasting change at scale. That may mean investing in training, supply chains, financing mechanisms, or the infrastructure that allows organizations to respond faster and scale responsibly. It’s less visible, more complex, and often where the strongest leverage lives. Hamilton: That feels bigger than traditional philanthropy or even workplace giving. What’s behind that shift? Walsh: In my work with business leaders, the conversation centers on alignment and durability: How do we ensure bold commitments endure? Almost 90% of leaders now say their impact strategies are future-proofing their business, a clear sign that philanthropy is no longer a feel-good option, but strategic. Capital unlocks possibility. Leadership sets direction at scale. Systems make impact scalable and sustainable. Walsh: From the C-suite to the boardroom to personal giving, you’ve seen philanthropy from every angle. What should leaders do differently now? Hamilton: Don’t wait. The environment will always evolve. Expectations will shift. But the need doesn’t pause. Be clear about what matters to you. Surround yourself with the right expertise and commit boldly. And if you can, bring others along. Philanthropy has more tools than ever, even as needs continue to outpace resources. The question isn’t whether we can give. It’s how we lead. Michele Walsh is the executive vice president and chief philanthropy officer at UNICEF USA. View the full article

We last saw Copenhagen planks in our rundown of the best bodyweight exercises that actually build strength. But it’s an under-appreciated exercise, and deserves a spotlight of its own. The Copenhagen plank looks a bit like a side plank: You’re leaning on your hand or elbow, other arm away from the ground, trying to hold your body in a rigid position. But what makes the Copenhagen special is that you do not rest your feet or knees on the ground. No, you place one leg (your top leg) on a bench. This means you need to use the inner thigh muscle on that top leg to hold yourself up. It is a killer leg exercise, and it has benefits beyond just adding variety to your routine. What are the benefits of the Copenhagen plank?This exercise got its name (and its mild popularity) from research out of Denmark that showed it helps to prevent groin pull injuries in athletes. Our inner thigh muscles, called the hip adductors, are responsible for pulling our legs in toward each other. These muscles also act as stabilizers in running and other actions we take during sports. Since adductors are thin muscles and can be prone to tears or strains (“pulls”), the researchers used Copenhagen planks to strengthen the adductors. It worked: Programs including this “Copenhagen adductor exercise” made male soccer players’ adductors stronger, and while it’s not a silver bullet for preventing groin strains, it seems to help. In addition to strengthening the adductors, the Copenhagen plank also contains the elements of a normal side plank, meaning it has a side effect of strengthening a variety of core muscles, including your obliques. Even your abductors, the muscles on the outsides of your hips, seem to get a little bit of a boost from training this exercise. (And yes, those two words are very similar. Abductors bring your leg away from your body, just like an alien abduction takes a person away from Earth. Adductors bring your legs in toward your midline; the two letter D’s in the middle may help you remember that they bring the legs together.) How exactly do I do a Copenhagen plank? The basic idea is to support your upper body on your forearm or hand, while your leg is supported on a bench or another object. In team practices, a partner can stand up and hold your leg while you’re doing the exercise. Start with as much of your leg on the support as possible. In order of easiest to hardest, the progression goes: Knee or thigh on the bench Shin or foot on the bench Dipping the hips toward the ground and back up, repeatedly. (This can be done in either position.) While planks are often done for increasingly long periods of time, you don’t have to take that approach to get the benefits of the Copenhagen plank. Try a 10-second hold, repeated three times with rest in between as needed. When that gets easy, try a harder variation. What if I can’t do a Copenhagen plank?If you can’t do any of the versions above, even the one with your knee on the bench, one way to modify is to keep your free leg on the ground. Lift your hips mostly with the top leg, but use some support from the bottom leg to help. If you’re still not comfortable with that, you may need to do side planks (from the knees is fine) to build up your core strength, and look elsewhere for adductor exercises. This banded adductor exercise is a good place to start, and you can also do single-leg movements like step-ups to work the adductors alongside other leg muscles. View the full article

The U.S. Navy spent at least six months resurrecting a high-energy laser weapon that previously graced the bow of a warship for a new military exercise last year, the service recently revealed. The Navy’s Directed Energy Systems Integration Laboratory (DESIL)—the dedicated facility for evaluating laser weapons in a maritime environment located at Naval Base Ventura County in Point Mugu, California—“ramped up efforts to restore critical functions” to the service’s “one-of-a-kind” 150 kilowatt Solid State Laser Technology Maturation (SSL-TM) demonstrator starting in early March 2025, according to recently published ‘year in review’ bulletin from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). Initiated in 2012 and officially known as the Laser Weapon System Demonstrator Mk 2 Mod 0, the SSL-TM demonstrator was originally installed aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Portland in 2019. The system, described as the successor to the 30 kw AN/SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System (also known as the XN-1 LaWS) that was mounted on the Austin-class amphibious transport dock USS Ponce in 2014, was designed to “provide a new capability to the Fleet to address known capability gaps against asymmetric threats” like now-ubiquitous aerial drones and small boats laden with explosives, as well as “inform future acquisition strategies, system designs integration architectures, and fielding plans for laser weapon systems,” according to Navy budget documents. The SSL-TM demonstrator appears to have performed as advertised. The system successfully destroyed a drone target during at-sea testing in the Gulf of Aden in May 2020—an engagement that yielded one of the most vivid representations of a real-world laser weapon in action to date—as well as neutralized a small surface target during additional testing in December 2021. But while prime contractor Northrop Grumman had specifically designed the SSL-TM demonstrator for installation “with minimal modification or additional costs” aboard the Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, the service initiated the system’s deinstallation from the Portland in fiscal year 2023 after spending nearly $50 million on the effort, the budget documents say. The U.S. Defense Department’s final report on the initiative has not yet been made public. Following the deinstallation, the SSL-TM demonstrator was presumably mothballed until the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) requested the laser weapon “play a role” in the Pentagon’s new Crimson Dragon military exercise the following September, the NAVSEA bulletin says. Described as a weeklong, multi-unit DESIL test event, Crimson Dragon convened 20 defense contractors “in a simulated combat environment” to test the effectiveness of their drones, counter-drone systems, and sensors “in scenarios that simulated military base defense, long-range fires and integrated [ballistic missile defense],” according to the bulletin. The SSL-TM demonstrator successfully shot down four drone targets during the exercise, the bulletin says. While it’s unclear which scenarios the SSL-TM demonstrator participated in during Crimson Dragon, an annual assessment of U.S. military weapon systems from the Pentagon’s Director, Operational Test & Evaluation released on March 16 states that part of the exercise “focused on the sea point of departure defense venues against all-domain maritime air-and-sea threats,” which suggests the system may have provided air defense for a simulated port or staging area where troops and equipment embark onto ships. But beyond these brief mentions in recent U.S. military publications, no additional information is available regarding the current status of the SSL-TM demonstrator, its performance during Crimson Dragon, and the Navy’s future plans for the system. NAVSEA, OUSD(R&E), and the Office of Naval Research did not respond to requests for more details. Without more context, it’s difficult to infer where the return of the SSL-TM demonstrator fits into the U.S. military’s expanding directed energy ambitions. The Pentagon has not indicated whether OUSD(R&E)’s request was driven by the urgency of real-world threats—the demonstrator was first tested in the very waters where Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen had spent more than a year targeting U.S. warships and commercial shipping—or simply an opportunistic use of a capable system sitting in storage. But the system’s restoration for Crimson Dragon potentially points to a broader challenge: despite years of testing and high-profile demonstrations, relatively few high-energy laser weapons are actually available for the kind of realistic, large-scale exercises needed to refine tactics and validate how these weapons are used in combat. Indeed, it’s not like the Pentagon has bunch of spare laser weapons floating around to play with. The U.S. Army’s four 50 kw Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) systems have been completely demilitarized, while the service’s Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) systems are preoccupied downing drones on the US-Mexico border. The Marine Corps returned its five Compact Laser Weapon System (CLaWS) to Boeing. The Navy’s AN/SEQ-4 Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy (ODIN) laser weapons are all installed aboard active warships at sea; meanwhile, the service’s 60 kw High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system has had a challenging year on its own. As a result, it appears that previously retired prototypes that might otherwise remain museum pieces are being called back into service to keep the U.S. military’s counter-drone experimentation moving forward. The Pentagon may be racing to field laser weapons at scale, but for now it’s still relying on yesterday’s prototypes to figure out how they’ll actually fight tomorrow’s wars. This article is republished with permission from Laser Wars, a newsletter about military laser weapons and other futuristic defense technology. View the full article

At SXSW 2026, the creator economy moved firmly into the spotlight as a defining force in modern marketing. Creators are no longer viewed as content producers alone. They are business owners, cultural drivers, and trusted voices with direct relationships to engaged communities. SXSW’s creator-first approach reflects a broader evolution across marketing. Creators aren’t just a marketing channel; they’re becoming the primary way brands build relevance and connection. As the SXSW Creator Economy track made clear, creators now sit at the intersection of culture and commerce, shaping what people buy and how they discover and engage. For brands, this means moving beyond one-off campaigns toward sustained, long-term partnerships with creators who genuinely understand and represent their values. 5 LESSONS FROM SXSW Coming out of SXSW, the future of the creator economy feels less speculative and more defined, with a new wave of trends beginning to take hold. Here are five things I learned: 1. AI will flood the internet with content. The response will be a premium on humanity. AI is going to dramatically increase the supply of content. That’s obvious. But the interesting counter-trend everyone was talking about is that as AI content becomes infinite, human-made content becomes more valuable. The scarcity won’t be production anymore. The scarcity will be trust. Creators with real audiences, real opinions, and real communities will become the new “verified sources” of culture. 2. The next filter in social feeds might literally be “human made.” A slightly provocative idea that came up in several conversations: Platforms may eventually need a “human-made content” signal in feeds. Not because AI content is bad—it’s actually getting very good—but because the volume of generated content will make discovery harder and trust weaker. Platforms make money from trusted discovery. So maintaining that trust will become a commercial priority. 3. The biggest shift in marketing: audiences → communities. People are tired of being treated like an audience. An audience is something you broadcast to. A community is something you belong to. Creators build communities. Brands historically built audiences. The future of marketing is brands learning how to participate inside communities instead of interrupting them. 4. The future of discovery is creator video, especially in search. One fascinating shift discussed by both brand and platform teams: Creator videos are increasingly showing up in search results. For travel, food, beauty, and lifestyle categories in particular, creator content is becoming the front door to discovery. In many cases, a creator video is now the first thing you see when searching a destination, a product, or an experience. 5. The counter-trend to digital overload: real life experiences. Interestingly, the more digital the world becomes, the more people crave real-world experiences. Travel. Events. Pop-ups. IRL communities. Creators are becoming the bridge between the online world and those real-world moments. The future of the creator economy is already taking shape. It will reward those who prioritize trust, community, and real connection. The brands that adapt now will not just keep up, they’ll help define what comes next. Ben Jeffries is cofounder and CEO of Influencer. View the full article

On a recent call with a major sports organization to discuss experiential communications, a marketing leader pushed back with a familiar argument, “Why wouldn’t I just take a few million dollars and do an ad buy instead? I can reach the same number of people.” But reach isn’t the problem for today’s brand leader. With marketing teams facing a 54% increase in content production demands, generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Sora, HeyGen, and OpusPro have made it easier or cheaper to produce content at scale to saturate feeds and timelines with ad-ready messaging. Yet, the biggest mistake in doing so is believing that speed and volume equal impact. When reach and efficiency aren’t prioritized, nuance and complexity take precedence. When this occurs, audiences tune out. Far too many brands have chosen to ignore the erosion of trust and AI fatigue currently taking shape. From cultural forces to an overreliance on influencer marketing, audiences have become increasingly skeptical of what they consume. The rise of deepfakes and AI-generated influencers like Lil Miquela or viral personas like Granny Spills, each with millions of followers, has only accelerated that distrust. So when audiences no longer trust what they see, sensory marketing, a deeper and more integrated approach to experiential marketing, must step up to capture and retain their attention. OUR 5 SENSES ARE INTEGRAL TO BRAND STRATEGY There’s a shift happening within the realm of communications, marketing, and authentic storytelling. Brands leading the way are designing experiences that encourage audiences to immerse themselves within their world. From the sounds or scents that evoke nostalgia to the tastes of a once forgotten meal, each creates connections that become part of their brand strategy. This is experiential communications—the intersection where strategic storytelling, edutainment (education and entertainment), and community convene through the use of our senses. WHAT WE SMELL, WE REMEMBER While working with the Monell Chemical Senses Center 15 years ago, research revealed how the brain enables smell to trigger powerful memories. When paired with taste, retention increases even further and anchors meaning. That recall is important for reinforcing the emotional connection between a brand and its audience. Research from the Sense of Smell Institute shows people remember smells with about 65% accuracy after a year, while visual recall falls to about 50% after just three months. CEO of Scent Marketing, Caroline Fabrigas, calls scent an “invisible influencer,” much like the feeling of entering a hotel lobby, like 1 Hotel, and immediately wanting to bottle up the smell to take it home. That response is not only by design, it’s clearly working. SENSORY MOMENTS TURN FEELING INTO ACTION Experiential marketing has become shorthand for brand activation, and that’s where we’ve gotten it wrong. Some of the most effective brands operating in this space don’t label themselves “experiential.” Instead, they rely on sensorial visuals and immersive experiences to translate emotional resonance into buying behaviors. Companies like We Are Ona describe their work as curated culinary experiences. Through food, they tell stories, create memories, and build connections, using taste as a channel to communicate with their audience. Hailey Bieber used strategic creative direction to develop product design visuals for her beauty brand, Rhode, reframing skincare as craveable treats; the move saw the brand generate over $200 million in net sales from just 10 products. The multisensory experience of food activations and edible-inspired marketing creates a sense of relatability, nostalgia, community, and luxury, thus improving brand value while stimulating subsequent purchase decisions. WHY SENSORY EXPERIENCES WORK Experience is the most credible distribution channel. In a time where content is abundant but recall is scarce, in-person connection and sensory principles are powerful. When I hosted a manifestation party for a group of journalists, I knew the safest choice would’ve been a polished dinner, but chose, instead, to double down on experience. We passed out magic wands, concocted a fictitious drink called “magic bubbles,” and played board games all night long. Seven years later, I’m still told by media executives that it was one of the best brand events they’ve ever attended. Bringing a multi-sensory event of this nature to life requires human design. Its effectiveness, beyond the fun, interactive experience, was because it was deeply rooted in research, science, and sensory marketing. This same level of intentional, audience-led design is infused into my collaboration with Ohai.ai for the curated experiential series called, “Care To Gather.” There, a multidisciplinary team, from linguists to copywriters, pressure-tested every detail, including scripts and the run-of-show. The results proved that events that convert must be engineered around audience psychology and behavioral response. SENSORY EXPERIENCES DRIVE PURCHASING DECISIONS Marketing leaders can continue feeding the content machine or invest in experiences that audiences will remember, talk about, and return to. In a trust-fragmented world, experiential communications converts skeptical audiences into buyers ready to click, buy, and repeat. Rakia Reynolds is a partner at Actum. View the full article

Over the last decade, we have been perfecting the algorithms of convenience, and in doing so we have inadvertently moved away from the frequent human interactions that sustain our communities and our workplaces. Throughout my 25-year career in philanthropy, I have worked on challenges like climate change, gun violence prevention, chronic disease prevention, and closing the opportunity gap for workers. While these issues are undeniably critical, I truly believe we cannot solve them in a vacuum of social isolation. We have created a world of unprecedented digital convenience—we use grocery delivery apps, self-checkout lines, streaming services, and text messages, versus phone calls. We are now hyperconnected online, and yet experiencing the highest reported rates of both loneliness and anxiety in recorded history. The World Health Organization Commission on Social Connection has determined that loneliness affects nearly one in six people globally. The rise of generative AI and AI companions is the next significant shift in this journey. With more than 800 million people using just ChatGPT every week, there is truly a fundamental shift in how we seek information and communicate with others. We are at a time where advances in AI technology could actually serve as a bridge to deepen our understanding of one another and our relationships. However, if we allow digital interactions to replace real-world ones, do we risk losing the human art of caring for one another? This issue goes unnamed in boardrooms, but the erosion of human connection could pose a material business risk if it goes unnoticed and unattended to. As we move deeper into the era of artificial intelligence, we need to pay very close attention to investing in human connection, to prevent our relationships at work from atrophying. WORK ACROSS DIFFERENCES We know that trust in institutions and the ability to solve global and local issues depends on our ability to work together and across differences. That’s why the Workday Foundation is doubling down on human connection as a primary pillar in our grantmaking strategy. Today, only 34% of Americans believe that most people can be trusted. Building trust back requires intentional interactions with one another—talking to our neighbors, sharing meals, and attending civic events. The urgent challenge now is to begin creating opportunities for increased human connection. Let’s begin to treat social connection as a measurable social good, one that requires the same level of planning and investment as any other critical infrastructure. This means moving beyond the trap of simply using AI to do more work. A portion of the time we gain from using AI should be a dividend that we invest back into our real-life relationships with our colleagues, neighbors, friends, and family. COLLECTIVE SOCIAL COHESION Rebuilding our collective social cohesion will require a cross-sector movement. Ideally, tech innovators should prioritize pro-social design that accelerates human flourishing. Simultaneously, nonprofits and community leaders need resources to scale local initiatives that help repair our social fabric, like intergenerational programs that build understanding, or neighborhood projects that transform proximity into genuine belonging. For example, at the Workday Foundation, we have launched a pilot program with our partners at the U.S. Chamber of Connection called “Connection as a Cause,” to help our employees become social connectors in their own local communities. It expands our definition of volunteer service—inviting us not just to do things for our neighbors, but to actively build real relationships with them. When we design for connection, we aren’t just making people feel better. We are building the trust and cohesion necessary for a functioning community and thriving economy. As leaders, I hope we can recognize that human connection is no longer a “soft” benefit, it’s a business imperative. A bright future depends on our ability to prioritize the human algorithm—the messy, friction-filled, and rewarding process of connecting with one another. I invite you to join us in this movement. Carrie Varoquiers is chief impact officer at Workday. View the full article

It used to be that Google searches opened up a world of questions. You searched, sifted through links, and came to your own conclusion. Today, AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other AI platforms compress multiple sources into a single, synthesized response. In the process, nuance is flattened, and certain viewpoints can be overrepresented. This marks a fundamental shift in online reputation management. Search engines now shape the information they surface. The result is a rise in zero-click behavior, where users accept AI-generated answers without visiting underlying sources. For brands, that changes the stakes. Visibility no longer guarantees influence. Even a No. 1 ranking can be bypassed if the narrative tells a different story. AI narrative formation: How AI systems deliver users their answers AI search engines now follow a new pattern for delivering answers. For the sake of this article, we’ll call it AI narrative formation. Here’s how it works. Source pooling AI systems pull from a wide range of sources. While you might expect trusted, peer-reviewed content, they often draw from Reddit, YouTube, review platforms, complaint forums, and social media sites like Instagram and TikTok. Signal weighting Not all sources carry equal weight. A single trusted source can be outweighed by a large volume of lower-quality content. For example, a highly active Reddit thread filled with negative reviews may outperform a fact-checked source like Wikipedia. Narrative compression AI condenses dozens of inputs into a short, digestible summary. In the process, nuance is lost, and fringe cases can become dominant themes. A complex reputation may be reduced to: “Users say this company is not trustworthy.” Continued reinforcement These summaries don’t stay contained. They’re screenshotted, shared, and repeated across platforms. Those repetitions become new inputs, reinforcing the same narrative in future AI outputs. Dig deeper: The authority era: How AI is reshaping what ranks in search See the complete picture of your search visibility. Track, optimize, and win in Google and AI search from one platform. Start Free Trial Get started with How a finance company’s solid reputation unraveled in AI search To see how AI narrative formation works in action, let’s look at a use case. My company recently worked with a finance organization to repair its online reputation. For this example, we’ll call it Company X. Problems emerged for Company X with the rise of Google AI Overview. Previously, under traditional SERPs, Company X had a solid reputation. Users searching Google for reviews would find a 4.2 rating on Trustpilot, a strong company website with employee bios, and numerous positive blog reviews from trusted sources. Google AI Overview changed that. How? By resurfacing an old Reddit forum centered on negative complaints about Company X. When users asked Google, “What are opinions like about Company X?” AI Overview delivered a clear answer: “Company X has mixed reviews, with specific complaints regarding customer service.” But those customer service issues were resolved nearly a decade ago. AI Overview pulled multiple reviews from that Reddit thread, combined them with strong negative phrasing, and factored in the lack of structured positive content to form a semi-negative impression. A new perception of Company X was created. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. Why AI search amplifies reputational risk We can dig deeper into how AI impacts reputational risk. Consider the following: How negative AI narratives spread: In traditional search, users had to dig for negative results. With LLMs, those results can surface instantly, even when they’re defamatory or incorrect. Hallucinations and misinformation: Most users are now aware of AI hallucinations, but they aren’t always easy to spot. Making matters worse, LLMs can present incorrect claims or factual inconsistencies with confidence. The snowball effect: As discussed in narrative reinforcement, AI-generated answers get screenshotted, shared, and repeated across platforms. That repetition builds momentum, creating challenges ORM firms now have to manage. A hard truth has emerged in ORM: The most accurate claim doesn’t rise to the top. The most repeated claim does. Dig deeper: Generative AI and defamation: What the new reputation threats look like A step-by-step guide to auditing AI-generated narrative formation Let’s walk through another case to see how an AI-generated narrative can be audited. CEO X is the founder of a SaaS company. He has an ongoing thought leadership presence and a strong reputation in his industry. On a recent podcast appearance, one quote was taken out of context and aggregated across several platforms. The quote was framed as an opinion rather than a fact. Blog posts were written, and Instagram Live reactions spread online. In no time, ChatGPT and Google AI Overview turned CEO X into a controversial figure. Here’s a step-by-step guide to approaching that reputation management crisis. Step 1: Mapping queries We begin by identifying what search engines are saying about CEO X. We ask ChatGPT and Google AI Overview questions such as “What did CEO X say?” and “What is CEO X’s current reputation?” This helps us analyze the issues. Step 2: Capturing outputs We identify the claims associated with CEO X. Google AI Overview and ChatGPT describe CEO X as a controversial figure who recently made comments in poor taste. The narrative formed across both platforms is trending negative. Step 3: Delving through sources Next, we analyze the sources AI Overviews and ChatGPT rely on. We look for whether they’re outdated, repetitive, or low quality. (In the case of Company X, the latter two apply.) Step 4: Analyzing the narrative gap We identify the gap between AI’s narrative and reality. What are CEO X’s actual views? What was the context of the quote? And what has their reputation been up to this point? Step 5: Correcting and replacing sources The final step is to replace or respond to those negative sources. Claims can be addressed directly on Reddit, Instagram, or other platforms spreading the narrative. Structured explanations should also be published through FAQs and policies, while strengthening third-party validation. Dig deeper: How AI changes how we respond to negative reviews and comments A new mindset: Reputation is now an output Focusing solely on SEO rankings is no longer enough. We need to think in terms of narrative shifts and framing. That also means thinking in terms of inputs and outputs. Users aren’t evaluating individual pages. They’re engaging with AI-generated answers. Rather than managing what users find, we need to manage the answers AI systems deliver. That means strengthening what those systems rely on: Publishing high-quality first-party content. Earning credible third-party mentions. Reinforcing positive customer reviews. Addressing misinformation directly. Improving structured data. Maintaining accurate Wikipedia or Wikidata entries where applicable. View the full article

Today, April 3, 2026, is Good Friday. It is an important day to Christians in the United States and around the world. But unlike in many other countries, Good Friday, in many U.S. states, isn’t an official holiday. When it comes to institutions and businesses, some observe the holiday, while others don’t. That can make it confusing for people to know exactly what is open and what is closed on Good Friday. Here’s what you need to know. Is Good Friday a national holiday? No, the federal government does not recognize Good Friday as a national holiday. This means that many federal institutions that are typically closed on public holidays remain open on Good Friday, including agencies such as the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For those keeping track, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management notes that there are 11 federal holidays in 2026. The last one was Washington’s Birthday on February 16, and the next one will be Memorial Day on May 25. Is Good Friday a state holiday? While Good Friday isn’t a federal holiday, a number of states recognize the day as a state holiday. According to TimeandDate, 10 states observe Good Friday as a state holiday or partial holiday. Those states include: Connecticut Delaware Hawaii Indiana Louisiana North Carolina North Dakota New Jersey Tennessee Texas In these states, state agencies and institutions, such as DMVs and state licensing boards, are likely to be closed. Is the stock market open on Good Friday? No, U.S. stock markets are closed today. America’s stock exchanges recognize their own holiday schedules, not the federal government’s. Both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq observe Good Friday as a holiday, and thus their markets are closed. Are banks open on Good Friday? You may think that since stock markets are closed on Good Friday, other financial institutions, such as banks, must also be closed. But actually, that’s not the case. All of America’s major national banks’ retail locations are open today, which includes JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America (BoA), Wells Fargo, and Citibank. Keep in mind, however, that smaller regional banks or banks located in states where Good Friday is observed as a state holiday may choose to close today. Are ATMs open on Good Friday? Yep, it’s rare that an ATM ever “closes”—except when it runs out of cash or breaks. But actually, that’s more likely to happen on long holiday weekends like the Easter weekend than on Good Friday. During holidays, people typically go out and engage in more activities, so ATM usage increases, which can cause the ATM to run out of cash faster than it normally would. Is the post office open on Good Friday? Yes, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is operating today. USPS branches are open—even in states where Good Friday is a state holiday. This is because the USPS is a federal agency, not a state agency, so it is closed only on federally observed holidays. Is mail delivered on Good Friday? Yes. U.S. post offices will deliver mail as normal on Good Friday, so you can expect to see the mail truck drive past your house sometime today. Are FedEx and UPS operating on Good Friday? UPS says that its pickup and delivery services are available today. It also says that UPS store locations remain open on Good Friday. As for FedEx, the delivery company says its FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, and FedEx Logistics are all open today. However, it lists its FedEx and FedEx Freight services as having “modified service” today. Are schools open on Good Friday? This is a complicated one to answer because, for many schools, holidays are decided at the local level, not the state or federal level. For public schools, this means that some will be open and some will be closed. The only way to know for sure is to contact the school or view its calendar online. When it comes to private schools, particularly Christian or Catholic ones, many may be closed on Good Friday due to the holiday’s religious significance. However, the only way to know for sure is if you contact the school in question directly. Are retail stores open on Good Friday? Yeah, you can count on nearly every major big box retailer being open today. They know many people may have the day off work and so go out shopping. Major retailers that should be open today include Walmart, Target, Sam’s Club, Costco, Best Buy, Kohl’s, and more. Are restaurants open on Good Friday? Most fast food and restaurant chains should be open today. This includes most of the popular chains, such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Starbucks, Subway, Taco Bell, and Chipotle. However, note that many popular fast-food chains operate on a franchise model, which means specific locations may be owned by individuals rather than the company. Individually owned franchise locations usually have the authority to set their own hours and days open and closed. So it is possible some specific locations may be closed today. Are grocery stores open on Good Friday? Yep, nearly every major grocery store chain will be open today. This includes Kroger, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Safeway, Aldi, Costco, and more. Are pharmacies open on Good Friday? Yeah, most chain pharmacies should be open today, including Walgreens and CVS. The only caveat here is that local independent pharmacies may be closed if the owners observe Good Friday as a holiday. View the full article

Most travel is extractive and passive. You show up somewhere, take photos of the same landmarks everyone else takes photos of, eat at a restaurant the guidebook recommended, and hit up some bars. You take some tours to learn about the place and, if you’re lucky, get to meet some locals on your trip. You don’t really go deep. Even long-term travelers who talk about how they “aren’t tourists” do the same – just at a slower pace and while trying to spend less money. And there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s just the nature of travel. While we all imagine dropping into a place, befriending locals, and having this crazy time like we’re in some movies. But that doesn’t happen. Because we’re just passing through and, for the most part, locals don’t want to become friends with tourists. In fact, most locals don’t interact with tourists. (I mean it does happen but it’s not the norm.) If you really want a deep travel experience, you need to stay. If you want to understand a place, you need to stay. The most transformative travel experiences I’ve ever had involved contributing something and staying somewhere long enough to build real relationships. It was being embedded in a place rather than just passing through. I think that more travelers should give back when they travel. In the old days, it was hard to find out what organizations and opportunities were legit, vetted, and actually made the lives of locals better. Now, there’s a ton of companies that can help you not only find meaningful volunteer jobs when you travel but also paid jobs when you travel and one of the best ones is Global Work & Travel. Use code NOMADICMATT to unlock a discount on your next trip. What Global Work & Travel Does Global Work & Travel is the world’s largest gap year company and has been placing people on working holidays, volunteer programs, teaching positions, internships, and more for nearly 2 decades. They’ve helped over 116,000 people and they cover destinations across, the UK and Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. Even for experienced travelers, moving abroad can be difficult. Finding employment as a traveler, securing permanent accommodation or getting stuck in shared rooms for months on end, transport costs in a new city, interview after interview competing against locals… This is just the beginning of what long term travelers need to consider. Fortunately, companies like Global Work & Travel provide the scaffolding or safety net that makes working abroad possible for people who don’t want to figure everything out themselves. They handle job matching, pre-departure support, visa guidance, placement, and ongoing assistance through their gWorld portal, a personal trip management app that keeps everything organized in one place. For first-timers especially, having that support structure can be the difference between actually going and endlessly deliberating. The programs they offer span a wide range: Working Holidays – Get paid job matches in countries like Australia, Canada, UK, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan before you even leave home. Global Work & Travel also helps you set up necessary bank accounts, tax numbers, accommodation assistance, visa support and more. Duration: 4+ months. Ages 18–35 depending on nationality. Volunteer Abroad – Work with exotic wildlife, immerse into incredible cultures, teaching, community work, construction and more across many countries. Open to ages 18–85, from as little as 1 week. Teach Abroad – Gain an internationally recognized TEFL certification and paid job match. Included is accommodation, cultural activities, visa application support, bank and tax set up assistance to ensure everything goes smoothly. Teach English in Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Mexico and more. Ages 18–80. Au Pair – Become a local by living with a host family in Europe, UK, Australia, New Zealand, or North America. Accommodation, and most living expenses are usually covered. Summer Camp – Ever seen the movie Parent Trap? Well, this is pretty much it. Work as a guide, camp counsellor or otherwise at camps in the USA, France, Canada or the UK for 3–6 months. Accommodation and meals included. Internships – Real-world placements in international firms. Give your career a head start with specialized international work experience. Why I Think Working Holiday Makers Are the New “Digital Nomads” For the past decade, “digital nomad” has been the aspirational version of long term travel. Work remotely, earn in a strong currency, live somewhere cheaper, repeat. But that model only really works for a small subset of people. You need a remote job, a certain income level, and often a level of career stability that most younger travelers simply don’t have yet. Working holidays flip that. Instead of bringing a job with you, you get one when you arrive. You integrate into the local economy instead of floating above it. You meet people through work, not just coworking spaces or short-term hostels. And you build a life somewhere, not just a temporary routine. In a lot of ways, working holiday makers are having a more grounded and accessible version of what people think digital nomad life is. You’re not just passing through, you’re actually living there. You have coworkers, a schedule, a reason to stay longer than a week, and a chance to build real lifetime connections. It’s also far more realistic for most people. You don’t need a remote business or years of experience. You just need the willingness to go and the right setup to make it happen. That’s why I think we’re seeing a shift. Less “how do I work remotely?” and more “how do I actually live and work abroad for a year?” And that’s exactly where structured programs like Global Work & Travel come in. They remove the biggest barriers, finding a job, navigating visas, getting set up, so people can actually make that shift from idea to reality. For a lot of travelers, this isn’t just an alternative to digital nomad life. It’s a more sustainable, accessible, and realistic way to actually live and work abroad. Why I think Volunteering Matters Volunteering abroad has a complicated reputation, and it’s worth being honest about that. There are lots of bad volunteer programs out there in the world. Programs that don’t really give back and are designed to make travelers “feel” like they did something but really are just profit driven campaigns. Global Work & Travel’s vets programs in the areas such as wildlife conservation, community development, education, and healthcare in the locations and countries it operates so you know the program you sign up for is legit. The case for ethical, well-structured volunteering is genuinely strong. When you work alongside local Zanzibar communities on problems they’ve defined as priorities, or with wildlife and conservation in South Africa or Elephant rehabilitation in Thailand — something shifts in how you understand the world. Not only are you helping to give back to a place but you also understand the true needs of a the people and ecosystems living there, but also helping overcome the struggles they go through. It opens your mind and shifts your perspective. Their Global Animal Welfare Fund also channels resources directly into conservation projects at their partner sites, so the impact extends beyond individual placements. What I Love About Working Holidays Working holidays let you truly experience a country instead of just visiting it. You immerse yourself in the culture by living like a local every day. You meet more people both locals and fellow travellers while building real friendships. Best of all, you get paid to travel, so you can stay much longer instead of rushing through in a few weeks. This lets you experience local life deeply, discover hidden spots, and understand how people really live in different places. You also build valuable skills, boost your resume with international experience, and make long-term travel more affordable since your income covers the costs. Plus, you gain a real cultural understanding that no short holiday can match. All that while stil getting paid? Not bad right?! Working holidays turn travel into a true lifestyle, not just another 2 week vacation. What I Like About How Global Work & Travel Operates Global Work & Travel are the world leaders in long term travel and offer a ton of options for travelers looking to volunteer, work, or spend extended time in a destination. Some things I like about them. Their lifetime deposit policy is genuinely unusual: if your plans change, your deposit doesn’t disappear. It stays on your account indefinitely and can be transferred to a different program or destination The gWorld portal is genuinely useful. This pre-departure tool that helps you with your visa application, access exclusive deals, connect with others on your program, and even begin language learning before you arrive. They have transparent 24/5 worldwide human support. When something goes wrong abroad, being able to reach a human in local time is worth more than any amount of pre-trip planning. With over 619k followers on Instagram, it’s easy to connect with and make friends with people before you go. A structured start to your trip is the best way to save money, time and stress. The Global network and support are there to help and guide you from start to finish. Use code NOMADICMATT for a discount on your trip. Frequently Asked Questions Do I need prior experience to work abroad with Global Work & Travel? For most trips, generally nothing more than basic work experience is required. Teaching programs include TEFL training, and volunteering can be started from no experience. What’s the minimum age? Most programs are open from age 18. Working holiday visas typically cap at 35 depending on the destination country but volunteer and teach programs are open to ages 18–80. How long does the whole process take? It varies by programs and destination. Most people book their trips 6-12 months in advance for proper planning, job matching and visa quotas. You can get started for as little as $1 here. Is my money safe if things change? Global Work & Travel and their lifetime deposit policy means your initial payment doesn’t expire. They are also members of many consumer protection services to further support travelers. Can I go as a solo traveler? Yes, and this is actually one of the most common scenarios. The gWorld Community and programs group connections mean you’ll be meeting others in the same position quickly. *** Travel has always been best when it’s been more than tourism. The moments that stay with you — that you actually tell people about five years later — are never the ones where you queued to see a famous landmark. They’re the ones where you connect with people. They are the moments where you did something. Global Work & Travel makes doing something deep accessible in a way that genuinely wasn’t available a decade ago. If you’ve been thinking about doing something like this but the logistics have felt too complicated, check them out and use code NOMADICMATT to unlock a $100 discount on your trip. How to Travel the World on $75 a DayMy New York Times best-selling book to travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you’ll get off save money, always find deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.” Click here to learn more and start reading it today! Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are: SafetyWing (best for budget travelers) World Nomads (best for mid-range travelers) InsureMyTrip (for those 70 and over) Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage) Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals. Need a Rental Car? Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip! Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more. Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip. The post Why This Company is One of the Best for Finding Work appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site. View the full article

OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT Ads and launching self-serve access. Here’s what PPC managers should know before deciding whether it deserves real budget. The post ChatGPT Ads: New Acquisition Channel Or Just Another Brand Tax? appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Hello again, and welcome back to Fast Company’s Plugged In. More than 15 months ago, I wrote about Surf, a discovery engine for the social web from Flipboard—itself an earlier twist on the same concept dating to the early days of the iPad. At the time, it was still a rough draft, and in private beta. Rather than rushing it out to a broader audience, Flipboard took its time. The app went through a series of revisions that were both numerous and substantial, ending up significantly different than the intriguing prototype I tried in December 2024. This week, the company finally deemed Surf ready for prime time. It’s now live in web form at Surf.social; a beta Android version is in the Google Play store. (The iPhone and iPad versions still have a waitlist.) If you’ve grown jaded about social networking or the web in general, I recommend taking a look. Surf’s sheer ambition makes it a challenge to describe coherently. It weaves together material from Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads—along with YouTube videos, podcasts, blog posts, and articles—and yet it isn’t really a substitute for those services’ own apps. It’s a way to create and share custom feeds about your interests that run on autopilot once you’ve set them up, but that’s optional—you can also just lurk and peruse other people’s feeds. And even though it runs inside a web browser, it feels a little like what browsers themselves might have become if they hadn’t largely stopped evolving almost 20 years ago. All I know for sure is that using Surf leaves me feeling better about the state of the internet. I am aware that the net is rapidly filling up with AI-generated slop, and that, furthermore, the technology’s impact on search and advertising threatens to disincentivize humans from bothering with the medium at all. But for now, there’s still lots of great stuff out there—and Surf is a refreshingly inventive way to find it. It would be inaccurate to describe Surf as an algorithm-free zone. Like Flipboard before it, it uses computer science to help identify what individual pieces of content are about so they can be woven together thematically. Unlike Facebook or TikTok, however, it isn’t a giant machine designed, above all, to keep you scrolling. Flipboard worked with individuals and outlets such as The Verge, 404 Media, and Rolling Stone to ensure that the app launched with a bevy of feeds worth following. The result feels curated, not stuffed to capacity. Even though Surf is decidedly human, it’s organized around interests and passions, not friendships or followers. It’s possible to skim individual Bluesky and Mastodon accounts, but that’s secondary to subscribing to topic-based feeds. Not surprisingly, politics and current events are available in great supply. But so are quieter pursuits that can get drowned out in the din of social networking in its more conventional form: books, cooking, hobbies, and fandoms of all kinds. The other thing about Surf that it has in common with Flipboard—and darn few other ways to consume digital content—is that it tries to present everything to its best advantage. Much of the rest of the field has a stunted feel, as if the highest possible aspiration was to rekindle the aesthetic of early Twitter. Surf, by contrast, complements its Posts tab with ones called Watch, Read, Listen, and Look, each optimized for a different sort of media. In Look, for example, photos are so downright expansive that they make the ones in other social apps look like postage stamps. Surf lets you sign in with your Bluesky and/or Mastodon accounts, allowing you to comment, like, and share on those networks. Some of its feeds are set up as communities unto themselves, letting you post items with a hashtag to pipe them into the flow. Overall, though, it has a magazine-y vibe that’s conducive to leaning back and enjoying what other people are sharing. If all those Twitter-style apps have the spirit of talk radio, this one feels more like a Sunday newspaper. Even after well over a year of incubation, Surf is clearly a first pass at a bigger idea. I occasionally found the way it intermingles multiple social networks befuddling, especially when I was thinking about liking or sharing something and couldn’t quite tell if that involved Bluesky or Mastodon. The long-term goal, Flipboard CEO Mike McCue told me recently, is not only to make that cross-pollination smoother, but to render it irrelevant for many users. “Some people have a Bluesky account, some people have a Mastodon account, some people don’t have either of those,” he explained. “In fact, most people don’t even know what those things are. So what we want to do is make it all about the community, not about joining the social web.” Participating in Surf, McCue said, should be as easy as joining Substack and easier than joining Discord, regardless of where items of interest originated. Given the temptation to give in to dark thoughts about where the internet is headed, I am excited to see where this bright spot could take us. You’ve been reading Plugged In, Fast Company’s weekly tech newsletter from me, global technology editor Harry McCracken. If a friend or colleague forwarded this edition to you—or if you’re reading it on fastcompany.com—you can check out previous issues and sign up to get it yourself every Friday morning. I love hearing from you: Ping me at hmccracken@fastcompany.com with your feedback and ideas for future newsletters. I’m also on Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads, and you can follow Plugged In on Flipboard. More top tech stories from Fast Company How Disney Imagineers are using AI and robotics to reshape the company’s theme parks From robotic Olaf to reinforcement learning, the company is rethinking how its attractions come to life. Read More → Y Combinator’s CEO says he ships 37,000 lines of AI code per day. A developer looked under the hood After Garry Tan touted his agentic coding output, a developer found inefficiencies, code bloat, and rookie mistakes lurking in production. Read More → I ate lab-grown salmon. It was nothing like I expected A San Francisco startup is trying to make ‘cultivated’ fish a thing. Read More → OpenAI’s gigantic new funding round renews fears about the company’s profitability and cash burn The stakes of Big AI’s bet that it will transform business and personal life seem to be growing by leaps and bounds. Read More → The AI industry loves token inflation. Your company shouldn’t The brute-force model is starting to look less like technological inevitability and more like lazy architecture. Read More → Apple at 50: The tech giant’s best, worst, and weirdest ideas Over five decades, Apple has built some of the most influential tech ever made—and some genuinely strange flops. These are the highs, lows, and oddities. Read More → View the full article

When you’re looking to conduct a business background check, it’s vital to follow a structured approach. Start by verifying the business’s registration and physical address, which establishes its legitimacy. Next, assess financial records to comprehend its economic health. Investigating funding sources can reveal potential risks, whereas evaluating compliance with regulatory standards guarantees adherence to legal requirements. Finally, a thorough risk assessment will help you identify various types of risks associated with the business. Grasping these steps is fundamental for making well-informed decisions. Key Takeaways Verify the business’s registration status and physical address through official state or country registries. Assess financial records, including profit and loss statements and tax returns, for compliance and health. Investigate funding sources to confirm legal backing and identify any high-risk associations. Evaluate compliance with regulatory standards, including Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and global regulations. Perform a comprehensive risk assessment focusing on financial, operational, reputational, legal, and ownership risks. Verify Business Registration and Addresses When you’re conducting a business background check, one of the first steps is to verify business registration and addresses. This involves checking the official state or country registry to confirm that the business is legally recognized and compliant with local laws. You can often find online databases where you can search for businesses by name or registration number, making this process more accessible. Address verification is equally important, as it guarantees the business operates from a legitimate physical location, minimizing the risk of fraud associated with virtual or unregistered addresses. Accurate address information helps you assess the legitimacy of the company background and can reveal any discrepancies in claims made during your due diligence. Regularly updating and verifying business registration and addresses is vital for maintaining compliance and guaranteeing ongoing transparency in corporate relationships, helping you make informed decisions in the background check on a business. Assess Financial Records After confirming a business’s registration and address, the next step is to evaluate its financial records. This evaluation is vital for comprehending the company’s financial health. Review profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to get a clear picture of its performance. Look for any irregularities or discrepancies that could signal potential fraud or mismanagement. Examine tax returns for the past three to five years to guarantee compliance with regulations and gauge financial stability. Grasping the company’s credit history, including credit scores and outstanding debts, is likewise fundamental for appraising its ability to meet financial obligations. These records can reveal financial red flags, such as patterns that might indicate money laundering or tax evasion. By thoroughly evaluating these documents, you’ll gain valuable insights into the business’s financial practices and overall reliability. Investigate Funding Sources How can you confirm that a business’s funding sources are legitimate and transparent? Investigating funding sources is crucial for protecting yourself from hidden liabilities or financial instability. Start by verifying the origins of capital investments, such as bank statements and investment agreements, to guarantee funds come from reputable avenues. This process can reveal associations with high-risk entities, potentially flagging illegal activities like money laundering. Utilizing thorough Know Your Business (KYB) solutions provides access to billions of data points, facilitating an in-depth evaluation of the company’s financial history and stakeholders involved. Step Action Purpose Verify Capital Sources Examine Example Bank statements Confirm legitimacy of funding Review Investment Docs Analyze agreements Guarantee proper legal backing Assess Risk Associations Identify high-risk entities Prevent association with illegal activities Utilize KYB Solutions Access extensive data points Conduct a thorough background check Monitor Fraud Trends Stay updated on industry fraud rates Make informed partnership decisions Evaluate Compliance With Regulatory Standards Evaluating compliance with regulatory standards involves a careful review of a business’s adherence to legal requirements that govern its operations. This step is crucial to mitigate risks and protect your organization. Here are key areas to focus on: Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Regulations: Confirm the business performs due diligence to prevent financial crimes, considering that nearly 70% of companies report an increase in fraud incidents. Know Your Business (KYB) Process: Verify the legitimacy of corporate entities, including checks on registration, ownership structure, and funding sources. Mergers and Acquisitions: Conduct thorough background checks to uncover potential risks and confirm transparency, safeguarding against legal liabilities. Global Regulations: Adhere to guidelines from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to enforce due diligence in partnerships, combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Perform a Comprehensive Risk Assessment When you’re considering a new business partner or vendor, performing a thorough risk assessment is essential to safeguard your organization from potential pitfalls. This assessment should evaluate financial, operational, and reputational risks linked to the entity. Start with a detailed analysis of their financial history, including profitability and debt levels. Investigate the ownership structure to uncover any potential conflicts of interest. Utilizing various tools can help you gather vital data. Here’s a table to outline key components of your risk assessment: Risk Category Evaluation Focus Financial Risks Profitability, debt levels, bankruptcies Operational Risks Business processes, supply chain issues Reputational Risks Public perception, past scandals Legal Risks Regulatory violations, lawsuits Ownership Risks Conflicts of interest, key individuals Conducting a thorough risk assessment can greatly reduce unexpected challenges and protect your organization. Frequently Asked Questions What Information Does a Company Need to Do a Background Check? To conduct a background check, a company needs several key pieces of information. You’ll typically provide your full legal name, Social Security number, and date of birth for accurate identification. Previous addresses are essential for verifying your criminal and employment history. The organization likewise requires your consent through a signed authorization, ensuring compliance with legal standards. Depending on the role, additional details like employment history or educational background may be necessary for verification. How to Open a Background Check for a Business? To open a background check for a business, start by collecting key details like the business name, registration number, and address. Next, use a reputable Know Your Business (KYB) solution to access extensive databases for verification. Conduct thorough due diligence by verifying the business structure, evaluating funding sources, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Finally, perform risk evaluations and compile your findings into a clear report for stakeholders, highlighting any risks or discrepancies identified. What Are the Steps You Should Take to Properly Prepare for a Background Check? To prepare for a background check, start by obtaining written consent from the candidate, which guarantees compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Clearly communicate the specific checks being conducted, such as criminal history or employment verification. Collect detailed candidate information, including their full name and previous addresses, to facilitate accurate checks. Finally, select a reliable background check service that adheres to FCRA regulations, assuring thorough and accurate reporting throughout the process. What Kind of Background Check Do Most Companies Run? Most companies typically run several types of background checks to guarantee candidates are suitable for the role. These often include criminal background checks, which identify any violent crimes or fraud, and employment history verification, confirming previous job roles and dates. Educational checks validate degrees claimed, whereas credit checks assess financial reliability for positions with monetary responsibilities. Furthermore, reference checks provide insights into a candidate’s work ethic and performance from past employers. Conclusion To sum up, conducting a business background check is essential for making informed decisions. By verifying registration and addresses, evaluating financial records, investigating funding sources, reviewing compliance with regulations, and performing a thorough risk assessment, you can identify potential risks and validate a business’s legitimacy. These steps not only safeguard your interests but likewise improve your grasp of the company’s overall health and stability, allowing for more strategic and informed business dealings. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "5 Essential Steps for a Business Background Check" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When you’re looking to conduct a business background check, it’s vital to follow a structured approach. Start by verifying the business’s registration and physical address, which establishes its legitimacy. Next, assess financial records to comprehend its economic health. Investigating funding sources can reveal potential risks, whereas evaluating compliance with regulatory standards guarantees adherence to legal requirements. Finally, a thorough risk assessment will help you identify various types of risks associated with the business. Grasping these steps is fundamental for making well-informed decisions. Key Takeaways Verify the business’s registration status and physical address through official state or country registries. Assess financial records, including profit and loss statements and tax returns, for compliance and health. Investigate funding sources to confirm legal backing and identify any high-risk associations. Evaluate compliance with regulatory standards, including Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and global regulations. Perform a comprehensive risk assessment focusing on financial, operational, reputational, legal, and ownership risks. Verify Business Registration and Addresses When you’re conducting a business background check, one of the first steps is to verify business registration and addresses. This involves checking the official state or country registry to confirm that the business is legally recognized and compliant with local laws. You can often find online databases where you can search for businesses by name or registration number, making this process more accessible. Address verification is equally important, as it guarantees the business operates from a legitimate physical location, minimizing the risk of fraud associated with virtual or unregistered addresses. Accurate address information helps you assess the legitimacy of the company background and can reveal any discrepancies in claims made during your due diligence. Regularly updating and verifying business registration and addresses is vital for maintaining compliance and guaranteeing ongoing transparency in corporate relationships, helping you make informed decisions in the background check on a business. Assess Financial Records After confirming a business’s registration and address, the next step is to evaluate its financial records. This evaluation is vital for comprehending the company’s financial health. Review profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to get a clear picture of its performance. Look for any irregularities or discrepancies that could signal potential fraud or mismanagement. Examine tax returns for the past three to five years to guarantee compliance with regulations and gauge financial stability. Grasping the company’s credit history, including credit scores and outstanding debts, is likewise fundamental for appraising its ability to meet financial obligations. These records can reveal financial red flags, such as patterns that might indicate money laundering or tax evasion. By thoroughly evaluating these documents, you’ll gain valuable insights into the business’s financial practices and overall reliability. Investigate Funding Sources How can you confirm that a business’s funding sources are legitimate and transparent? Investigating funding sources is crucial for protecting yourself from hidden liabilities or financial instability. Start by verifying the origins of capital investments, such as bank statements and investment agreements, to guarantee funds come from reputable avenues. This process can reveal associations with high-risk entities, potentially flagging illegal activities like money laundering. Utilizing thorough Know Your Business (KYB) solutions provides access to billions of data points, facilitating an in-depth evaluation of the company’s financial history and stakeholders involved. Step Action Purpose Verify Capital Sources Examine Example Bank statements Confirm legitimacy of funding Review Investment Docs Analyze agreements Guarantee proper legal backing Assess Risk Associations Identify high-risk entities Prevent association with illegal activities Utilize KYB Solutions Access extensive data points Conduct a thorough background check Monitor Fraud Trends Stay updated on industry fraud rates Make informed partnership decisions Evaluate Compliance With Regulatory Standards Evaluating compliance with regulatory standards involves a careful review of a business’s adherence to legal requirements that govern its operations. This step is crucial to mitigate risks and protect your organization. Here are key areas to focus on: Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Regulations: Confirm the business performs due diligence to prevent financial crimes, considering that nearly 70% of companies report an increase in fraud incidents. Know Your Business (KYB) Process: Verify the legitimacy of corporate entities, including checks on registration, ownership structure, and funding sources. Mergers and Acquisitions: Conduct thorough background checks to uncover potential risks and confirm transparency, safeguarding against legal liabilities. Global Regulations: Adhere to guidelines from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to enforce due diligence in partnerships, combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Perform a Comprehensive Risk Assessment When you’re considering a new business partner or vendor, performing a thorough risk assessment is essential to safeguard your organization from potential pitfalls. This assessment should evaluate financial, operational, and reputational risks linked to the entity. Start with a detailed analysis of their financial history, including profitability and debt levels. Investigate the ownership structure to uncover any potential conflicts of interest. Utilizing various tools can help you gather vital data. Here’s a table to outline key components of your risk assessment: Risk Category Evaluation Focus Financial Risks Profitability, debt levels, bankruptcies Operational Risks Business processes, supply chain issues Reputational Risks Public perception, past scandals Legal Risks Regulatory violations, lawsuits Ownership Risks Conflicts of interest, key individuals Conducting a thorough risk assessment can greatly reduce unexpected challenges and protect your organization. Frequently Asked Questions What Information Does a Company Need to Do a Background Check? To conduct a background check, a company needs several key pieces of information. You’ll typically provide your full legal name, Social Security number, and date of birth for accurate identification. Previous addresses are essential for verifying your criminal and employment history. The organization likewise requires your consent through a signed authorization, ensuring compliance with legal standards. Depending on the role, additional details like employment history or educational background may be necessary for verification. How to Open a Background Check for a Business? To open a background check for a business, start by collecting key details like the business name, registration number, and address. Next, use a reputable Know Your Business (KYB) solution to access extensive databases for verification. Conduct thorough due diligence by verifying the business structure, evaluating funding sources, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Finally, perform risk evaluations and compile your findings into a clear report for stakeholders, highlighting any risks or discrepancies identified. What Are the Steps You Should Take to Properly Prepare for a Background Check? To prepare for a background check, start by obtaining written consent from the candidate, which guarantees compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Clearly communicate the specific checks being conducted, such as criminal history or employment verification. Collect detailed candidate information, including their full name and previous addresses, to facilitate accurate checks. Finally, select a reliable background check service that adheres to FCRA regulations, assuring thorough and accurate reporting throughout the process. What Kind of Background Check Do Most Companies Run? Most companies typically run several types of background checks to guarantee candidates are suitable for the role. These often include criminal background checks, which identify any violent crimes or fraud, and employment history verification, confirming previous job roles and dates. Educational checks validate degrees claimed, whereas credit checks assess financial reliability for positions with monetary responsibilities. Furthermore, reference checks provide insights into a candidate’s work ethic and performance from past employers. Conclusion To sum up, conducting a business background check is essential for making informed decisions. By verifying registration and addresses, evaluating financial records, investigating funding sources, reviewing compliance with regulations, and performing a thorough risk assessment, you can identify potential risks and validate a business’s legitimacy. These steps not only safeguard your interests but likewise improve your grasp of the company’s overall health and stability, allowing for more strategic and informed business dealings. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "5 Essential Steps for a Business Background Check" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In February I shared how Grokipedia started dropping heavily in Google after initially surging. It became yet another example of what I call "Mt. AI". That's when sites scaling heavily with AI-generated content initially surge in Google, but then drop heavily as Google's systems...View the full article

Baltimore, known for being a leader in medicine and technology as well as for its fiercely community-driven residents, is one of many cities trying to determine how to grapple with some of AI’s most pressing issues. And recently, the city has been sounding the alarm. Artificial intelligence is changing the way we live and work. In many ways, the tools are wildly helpful—solving business problems, advancing medicine, and even helping solopreneurs thrive without a team. However, the technology comes with some worrisome drawbacks and, given the lack of federal oversight, the risks are beginning to reshape local politics. That seems especially true in Baltimore, where just last week the city sued Elon Musk’s company xAI over its chatbot Grok. SpaceX, the parent company of xAI, along with the X social network, are also named as defendants. Filed in the Baltimore City Circuit Court, the lawsuit argues that both the xAI platform and Grok have already been used to generate 3 million sexualized images between December 29, 2025, and January 8, 2026; 23,000 of those images appeared to have depicted children, according to researchers at the Center for Countering Digital Hate. “Baltimore residents have a reasonable expectation that they will not be exposed to this illegal content on X, and that X will not harass its own customers with Grok-generated deepfakes,” the complaint read. Prior to the lawsuit, other smaller suits have been filed. In March, three Tennessee teenagers sued xAI, alleging that the tools were used to turn their likenesses into explicitly sexual images. The plaintiffs alleged that their mental health has suffered as a result of the images, which also have their name and school attached to the files. In a post on X, the platform contended: “We remain committed to making X a safe platform for everyone and continue to have zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content.” Fast Company reached out to X but did not hear back by the time of publication. In a statement, per NBC News, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott said that this kind of technology has the ability to destroy lives. “Our city will not stand by and allow this to continue,” Scott said. “[It’s] a threat to privacy, dignity, and public safety, and those responsible must be held accountable.” Charm city offensive The suit makes Baltimore the first city to sue Musk’s companies over their AI capabilities. But it’s not the only fight over AI woes happening within city lines. Baltimore is already the 44th-largest data center hub in the nation, with 17 current data centers. Now concerns over energy consumption, water shortages, and environmental issues have residents pushing back on new data center construction. At Johns Hopkins University, construction of its new Data Science and AI (DSAI) institute, which is not exactly a data center but a hub of AI research, education, and advancement, is already underway. Given that Baltimore has long been a hub for pioneering medical and technology research—with JHU at the heart of those efforts—it makes sense that the university would be focused on technology advancements. Founded in 1876 as the first research institution in the U.S., it’s credited with a number of majorly influential developments, from introducing rubber surgical gloves in 1889 to developing the first rechargeable pacemaker in the 1970s, as well as the widely used COVID-19 tracking map in 2020. With JHU and Johns Hopkins Hospital attracting top talent, it also has long led the nation in terms of the federal funding it receives—by a long shot. In 2024, the university acquired a record-breaking $3.4 billion, about $1.6 billion more than the second-place university. However, the following year, due to President Donald The President’s federal funding cuts, it experienced a sharp decline in financial research support. Still, JHU’s long and inspirational history of innovation hasn’t insulated it from criticism over its AI ventures. The new project, which is expected to be complete in 2029, has unsettled locals, to say the least. Prior to its start, petitions circulated around the city, protestors took to the streets, and a cease-and-desist letter was sent to the university. On the day construction began, which included cutting down the neighborhood’s beloved northern red oak trees that lined the street, residents came out to make their feelings known. Presently, signs that read “Shame on JHU” appear on the street across from the construction site. Fast Company reached out to JHU for comment and was directed to a public statement, which explained that the project is not a data center but a space for “classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and collaborative workspaces.” The statement also noted that an estimated 4,490 jobs will be created during the preconstruction and construction phases and that the project is set to generate “$505 million in net new economic impact within Baltimore City alone and more than $800 million across Maryland.” “Residents across our city have had enough” While JHU’s project is proceeding as planned, others are facing greater obstacles. Earlier this month, City Council President Zeke Cohen introduced a bill that could place a one-year moratorium on Baltimore data centers. The legislation cites major environmental concerns, which some say disproportionately impact minority communities who live in underserved neighborhoods—given that’s where the centers are typically placed. “Baltimore is one of the most environmentally degraded cities in our country,” Cohen said, per The Baltimore Sun. “The legacy of redlining, racial housing covenants, and disinvestment means that majority Black neighborhoods have substantially worse air quality than white neighborhoods.” Cohen also cited the halting of the Baltimore Peninsula transmission project by the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) in March amid criticism from Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson over skyrocketing energy costs. Those energy costs are something that Baltimoreans have, sadly, grown extraordinarily accustomed to. Since 2010, BGE’s gas delivery rates have increased by 246%. Its electric delivery rates increased by 92%. And just this year, rates have already risen twice. Cohen said the cost of energy is driving an affordability crisis in the city, noting, “BGE bills have skyrocketed and residents across our city have had enough. People are choosing between paying for gas and electricity or their rent or mortgage.” As residents struggle to pay their bills amid already staggering energy costs, new data center construction has become an even bigger concern. Those worries have prompted growing support for a Baltimore Public Power campaign, led by Councilmember Mark Conway, who represents the city’s 4th District. Shelby Averys, an organizer who updates Baltimore Public Power’s social media accounts, said data centers will undoubtedly drive up costs even further for Baltimore residents. “Big Tech is forcing regular people like us to fund their polluting and unwanted data centers through our skyrocketing utility bills so that a handful of executives can get even richer,” she told Fast Company, adding, “By moving to a public utility, Baltimore can take control over how its energy is used and ensure that we prioritize affordable, clean, and reliable energy for Baltimoreans, not diverting our energy to data centers that nobody wants.” From energy to deepfakes, the AI battles facing Baltimore and other cities across the country aren’t likely to be solved overnight, or anytime soon for that matter. AI’s big gains also mean big downsides—and more complicated battles. But Baltimore, known for its scrappiness, vibrant city life, and extraordinarily dedicated community members, isn’t likely to fold to Big Tech without a fight. View the full article

The experience of past tech revolutions suggests savvy incumbents might muddle through and even thrive View the full article