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The company formerly known as Ocwen confirmed that a deferred tax asset valuation helped boost net income to common shareholders despite servicing challenges. View the full article

Over the years, we’ve had many letters about animals at work. Here are some of them. my employee doesn’t think we’re doing enough about bears at work (and the update) people only ask me about the ducks I work with (with a video in the update!) the pumpkin-eating cat my office got us turtles to take care of and bring home on weekends my office is infested with wasps our building is full of bats, sewer smells, moths, and more an unexpected office bird how much can I pet my cat on video calls? (and the update) my colleague is allergic to me because of my cats actual llamas head of HR is waging a pressure campaign to make me adopt a puppy my VP of HR says my service dog is too small (and the update) I bring my dog to work — but an anonymous note asked me not to my company wants to sponsor me for a service dog, but I’m not sure I should accept (and the update) my boss’s dog rampages through our work gatherings the secret goat, the geese vs the CEO, and other stories of animals at work here are animals taking over home offices here are your animal coworkers (and part 2) the cats of AAM And we’ve had so many letters involving dogs at work (not all included above) that I created a whole new tag just for them. The post animals at work appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Gold and silver also drop while US Treasuries rallyView the full article

In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, Oracle is setting the stage for a groundbreaking shift in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure that could significantly benefit small businesses across the United States. Marking a pivotal year in 2026, Oracle aims to create AI data centers that not only drive scientific and economic advancements but also promise to enrich local communities involved in these initiatives. Oracle’s partnership with OpenAI has already commenced with infrastructure projects at two Texas campuses and additional sites in New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Michigan. These efforts position communities like Abilene, Shackelford County, and others at the forefront of America’s AI ambitions, reinforcing the nation’s leadership in this vital sector for generations to come. Oracle’s innovative approach is designed to minimize the environmental impact often associated with data centers. As the demand for AI capabilities grows, the company acknowledges the heightened energy requirements of such facilities. To address this, Oracle’s AI data centers will incorporate on-site power generation and contribute to local utility upgrades. “Oracle is committed to paying our own way on energy,” a company representative stated, emphasizing the firm’s responsibility in mitigating energy costs for local residents. Small business owners may find the implications of these developments particularly compelling. The advancements in energy reliability are poised to benefit local economies. By investing in infrastructure improvements, Oracle is setting a precedent that could inspire other tech companies, leading to better utilities and more stable energy supplies in the region. This stability is crucial for small businesses that depend on consistent power sources, enabling them to operate efficiently and reduce unexpected costs. Moreover, Oracle’s commitment to sustainability includes the introduction of closed-loop non-evaporative cooling systems at their data centers. These systems will lead to significantly reduced water usage, aligning the operations of these centers with the consumption levels typical of regular office buildings. This could alleviate one of the main concerns small business owners have regarding resource scarcity, particularly in regions where water availability is already a pressing issue. Oracle’s initiatives to create AI infrastructure also emphasize job creation. The corporation plans to source and hire locally, with thousands of construction jobs and permanent positions anticipated as data centers become operational. On average, a site utilizing around 1 gigawatt of energy will require over 1,000 permanent staff members. This shift could invigorate local job markets, presenting an exciting opportunity for small enterprises to tap into a new talent pool. “Providing technical skills training and workforce development, supporting local charities, and engaging in the life of the community are all commitments we make and take seriously,” Oracle representatives stressed. This sentiment underscores the potential for symbiotic relationships between Oracle and small businesses, as increased local employment can lead to enhanced community engagement and economic resilience. While the prospects are promising, small business owners might consider potential challenges as well. The sheer scale of these developments can lead to increased traffic and changes in local infrastructure, potentially disrupting day-to-day operations. Business owners may need to proactively engage with local authorities to stay informed and prepared for any infrastructural changes that could impact accessibility. The extensive landscape screening around Oracle’s data centers aims to address concerns regarding noise and visual disruption. With measures in place to ensure that noise levels approximate those of normal farming operations, there seems to be a concerted effort to minimize any adverse impacts on surrounding communities. As Oracle builds out its AI infrastructure in 2026, small businesses have many reasons to pay attention. The advancements in energy reliability, local job creation, and sustainable practices promise to foster an environment conducive to growth. However, it will be essential for small business owners to stay vigilant, engage with their communities, and explore how they can leverage the new opportunities emerging from these developments. For more information about Oracle’s initiatives and their impact on local communities, you can visit the original post here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Oracle Pioneers AI Infrastructure Projects to Transform Local Communities" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “It’s often a controversial point but some partners in our firms don’t want to learn how to sell.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “It’s often a controversial point but some partners in our firms don’t want to learn how to sell.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Welcome to AI Decoded, Fast Company’s weekly newsletter that breaks down the most important news in the world of AI. You can sign up to receive this newsletter every week via email here. Is ‘AI slop’ code here to stay? A few months ago I wrote about the dark side of vibe coding tools: they often generate code that introduces bugs or security vulnerabilities that surface later. They can solve an immediate problem while making a codebase harder to maintain over time. It’s true that more developers are using AI coding assistants, and using them more frequently and for more tasks. But many seem to be weighing the time saved today against the cleanup they may face tomorrow. When human engineers build projects with lots of moving parts and dependencies, they have to hold a vast amount of information in their heads and then find the simplest, most elegant way to execute their plan. AI models face a similar challenge. Developers have told me candidly that AI coding tools, including Claude Code and Codex, still struggle when they need to account for large amounts of context in complex projects. The models can lose track of key details, misinterpret the meaning or implications of project data, or make planning mistakes that lead to inconsistencies in the code—all things that an experienced software engineer would catch. The most advanced AI coding tools are only now beginning to add testing and validation features that can proactively surface problematic code. When I asked OpenAI CEO Sam Altman during a recent press call whether Codex is improving at testing and validating generated code, he became visibly excited. Altman said OpenAI likes the idea of deploying agents to work behind developers, validating code and sniffing out potential problems. Indeed, Codex can run tests on code it generates or modifies, executing test suites in a sandboxed environment and iterating until the code passes or meets acceptance criteria defined by the developer. Claude Code, meanwhile, has its own set of validation and security features. Anthropic has built testing and validation routines into its Claude Code product, too. Some developers say Claude is stronger at higher-level planning and understanding intent, while Codex is better at following specific instructions and matching an existing codebase. The real question may be what developers should expect from these AI coding tools. Should they be held to the standard of a junior engineer whose work may contain errors and requires careful review? Or should the bar be higher? Perhaps the goal should be not only to avoid generating “slop” code but also to act as a kind of internal auditor, catching and fixing bad code written by humans. Altman likes that idea. But judging by comments from another OpenAI executive, Greg Brockman, it’s not clear the company believes that standard is fully attainable. Brockman, OpenAI’s president, suggests in a recently posted set of AI coding guidelines that AI “slop” code isn’t something to eliminate so much as a reality to manage. “Managing AI generated code at scale is an emerging problem, and will require new processes and conventions to keep code quality high,” Brockman wrote on X. Saas stocks still smarting from last week’s ‘SaaSpocalypse’ Last week, shares of several major software companies tumbled amid growing anxiety about AI. The share prices of ServiceNow, Oracle, Salesforce, AppLovin, Workday, Intuit, CrowdStrike, Factset Research, and Thompson Reuters fell so sharply that Wall Street types began to refer to the event as the “SaaSpocalypse.” The stocks fell sharply on two pieces of news. First, late in the day on Friday, January 30, Anthropic announced a slate of new AI plugins for its Cowork AI tool aimed at information workers, including capabilities for legal, product management, marketing, and other functions. Then, on February 4, the company unveiled its most powerful model yet, Claude Opus 4.6, which now powers the Claude chatbot, Claude Code, and Cowork. For investors, Anthropic’s releases raised a scary question: How will old-school SaaS companies survive when their products are already being challenged by AI-native tools? Although software shares rebounded somewhat later in the week, as analysts circulated reassurances that many of these companies are integrating new AI capabilities into their products, the unease lingers. In fact, many of the stocks mentioned above have yet to recover to their late-January levels. (Some SaaS players, like ServiceNow, are now even using Anthropic’s models to power their AI features.) But it’s a sign of the times, and investors will continue to watch carefully for signs that enterprises are moving on from traditional SaaS solutions to newer AI apps or autonomous agents. China is flexing its video models This week, some new entrants in the race for best model are very hard to miss. X is awash with posts showcasing video generated by new Chinese video generation models—Seedance 2.0 from ByteDance and Kling 3.0 from Kuaishou. The video is impressive. Many of the clips are difficult to distinguish from traditionally shot footage, and both tools make it easier to edit and steer the look and feel of a scene. AI-generated video is getting scary-good, its main limitation being that the generated videos are still pretty short. Sample videos from Kling 3.0, which range from 3 seconds to 15 seconds, feature smooth scene transitions and a variety of camera angles. The characters and objects look consistent from scene to scene, a quality that video models have struggled with. The improvements are owed in part to the model’s ability to glean the creator’s intent from the prompts, which can include reference images and videos. Kling also includes native audio generation, meaning it can generate speech, sound effects, ambient audio, lip-sync, and multi-character dialogue in a number of languages, dialects, and accents. ByteDance’s Seedance 2.0, like Kling 3.0, generates video with multiple scenes and multiple camera angles, even from a single prompt. One video featured a shot from within a Learjet in flight to a shot from outside the aircraft. The video motion looks smooth and realistic, with good character consistency across frames and scenes, so that it can handle complex high-motion scenes like fights, dances, and action sequences. Seedance can be prompted with text, images, reference videos, and audio. And like Kling, Seedance can generate synchronized audio including voices, sound effects, and lip-sync in multiple languages. More AI coverage from Fast Company: We’re entering the era of ‘AI unless proven otherwise’ A Palantir cofounder is backing a group attacking Alex Bores over his work with . . . Palantir Why a Korean film exec is betting big on AI Mozilla’s new AI strategy marks a return to its ‘rebel alliance’ roots Want exclusive reporting and trend analysis on technology, business innovation, future of work, and design? Sign up for Fast Company Premium. View the full article

Some discipline will make your practice better. By Sandi Leyva The Complete Guide to Marketing for Tax & Accounting Firms Go PRO for members-only access to more Sandi Smith Leyva. View the full article

Some discipline will make your practice better. By Sandi Leyva The Complete Guide to Marketing for Tax & Accounting Firms Go PRO for members-only access to more Sandi Smith Leyva. View the full article

Starmer’s restive MPs should acknowledge that Britain’s fortunes are shaped abroadView the full article

Russia has attempted to fully block WhatsApp in the country, the company said, the latest move in an ongoing government effort to tighten control over the internet. A WhatsApp spokesperson said late Wednesday that the Russian authorities’ action was intended to “drive users to a state-owned surveillance app,” a reference to Russia’s own state-supported MAX messaging app that’s seen by critics as a surveillance tool. “Trying to isolate over 100 million people from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia,” the WhatsApp spokesperson said. “We continue to do everything we can to keep people connected.” Russia’s government has already blocked major social media like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and ramped up other online restrictions since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms should comply with Russian law to see it unblocked, according to the state Tass news agency. Earlier this week, Russian communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said it will introduce new restrictions on the Telegram messaging app after accusing it of refusing to abide by the law. The move triggered widespread criticism from military bloggers, who warned that Telegram was widely used by Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and its throttling would derail military communications. Despite the announcement, Telegram has largely been working normally. Some experts say it’s a more difficult target, compared with WhatsApp. Some Russian experts said that blocking WhatsApp would free up technological resources and allow authorities to fully focus on Telegram, their priority target. Authorities had previously restricted access to WhatsApp before moving to finally ban it Wednesday. Under President Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in deliberate and multipronged efforts to rein in the internet. They have adopted restrictive laws and banned websites and platforms that don’t comply, and focused on improving technology to monitor and manipulate online traffic. Russian authorities have throttled YouTube and methodically ramped up restrictions against popular messaging platforms, blocking Signal and Viber and banning online calls on WhatsApp and Telegram. In December, they imposed restrictions on Apple’s video calling service FaceTime. While it’s still possible to circumvent some of the restrictions by using virtual private network services, many of them are routinely blocked, too. At the same time, authorities actively promoted the “national” messaging app called MAX, which critics say could be used for surveillance. The platform, touted by developers and officials as a one-stop shop for messaging, online government services, making payments and more, openly declares it will share user data with authorities upon request. Experts also say it doesn’t use end-to-end encryption. —Associated Press View the full article

Daniel Kokotajlo predicted the end of the world would happen in April 2027. In “AI 2027” — a document outlining the impending impacts of AI, published in April 2025 — the former OpenAI employee and several peers announced that by April 2027, unchecked AI development would lead to superintelligence and consequently destroy humanity. The authors, however are going back on their predictions. Now, Kokotajlo forecasts superintelligence will land in 2034, but he doesn’t know if and when AI will destroy humanity. In “AI 2027,” Kokotajlo argued that superintelligence will emerge through “fully autonomous coding,” enabling AI systems to drive their own development. The release of ChatGPT in 2022 accelerated predictions around artificial general intelligence, with some forecasting its arrival within years rather than decades. These predictions accrued widespread attention. Notably, JD Vance, U.S. vice president, reportedly read “AI 2027” and later urged Pope Leo XIV — who underscored AI as a main challenge facing humanity — to provide international leadership to avoid outcomes listed in the document. On the other hand, people like Gary Marcus, emeritus professor of neuroscience at New York University, disregarded “AI 2027” as a “work of fiction,” even calling various predictions “pure science fiction mumbo jumbo.” As researchers and the public alike begin to reckon with “how jagged AI performance is,” AGI timelines are starting to stretch again, according to Malcolm Murray, an AI risk management expert and one of the authors of the “International AI Safety Report.” “For a scenario like ‘AI 2027’ to happen, [AI] would need a lot of more practical skills that are useful in real-world complexities,” Murray said. Still, developing AI models that can train themselves remains a steady goal for leading AI companies. Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, set internal goals for “a true automated AI researcher by March of 2028.” However, he’s not entirely confident in the company’s capabilities to develop superintelligence. “We may totally fail at this goal,” he admitted on X, “but given the extraordinary potential impacts we think it is in the public interest to be transparent about this.” And so, superintelligence may still be possible, but when it arrives and what it will be capable of remains far murkier than “AI 2027” once suggested. —Leila Sheridan This article originally appeared on Fast Company‘s sister publication, Inc. Inc. is the voice of the American entrepreneur. We inspire, inform, and document the most fascinating people in business: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters that represent the most dynamic force in the American economy. View the full article

Contract closings decreased 8.4%, the biggest drop since February 2022, to a 3.91 million annualized pace in January, according to National Association of Realtors data released Thursday. View the full article

Reward for taking extra credit risk falls to lowest in decades as investors hunt for yieldView the full article

If you’re considering an SBA 7(a) loan, grasping the requirements is vital. These loans are designed for for-profit businesses in the U.S. and have specific eligibility criteria, including size standards based on employee count and revenue. You’ll need a personal guarantee if you own over 20% of the business, a decent credit score, and an extensive set of documents to support your application. Let’s explore the details of what you need to qualify. Key Takeaways The business must be a for-profit entity located in the U.S. or its territories and meet SBA size standards. Owners with over a 20% stake must provide personal guarantees, and a minimum credit score of around 680 is typically required. Comprehensive financial statements, projections, and a detailed business plan outlining loan usage must be submitted. Tax returns for the previous three years and personal financial statements for all owners are necessary for assessment. Documentation of collateral, including tangible and intangible assets, must be provided to support the loan application. Overview of SBA 7(a) Loans When you’re considering financing options for your small business, the SBA 7(a) loan program offers a viable solution that’s worth exploring. So, what’s a 7(a) loan? It’s a loan backed by the Small Business Administration, designed to help businesses with various financing needs, such as purchasing real estate, working capital, or refinancing debt. You can secure funding ranging from $10,000 to $5 million, often at lower interest rates than conventional loans. The SBA guarantees a significant portion of these loans, which reduces risk for lenders, making it easier for you to obtain financing that might otherwise be unavailable. You’ll likewise find flexible repayment terms, extending up to 10 years, or 25 years if you use more than half for real estate. Nevertheless, you’ll need to meet specific SBA 7(a) loan requirements, including demonstrating the minimum credit score needed for an SBA loan and operating for profit. Eligibility Criteria for SBA 7(a) Loans To qualify for an SBA 7(a) loan, your business must meet several specific eligibility criteria. First, your business needs to be a for-profit entity located in the U.S. or its territories. If you own more than a 20% stake, you’ll have to provide a personal guarantee for the loan. Furthermore, you must meet the SBA’s size standards, which are based on employee count and annual revenue. It’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to repay the loan through financial statements and projections. Keep in mind that the minimum credit score for an SBA 7(a) loan typically falls around 680, so a strong credit score is needed for an SBA loan. Finally, certain businesses, like nonprofits and those engaged in illegal activities, are ineligible, so verify your business aligns with the lending terms and conditions established by the SBA. Business Requirements for Loan Approval Securing an SBA 7(a) loan requires your business to meet several specific requirements that guarantee it’s positioned for success. First, your business must operate for profit and be located in the U.S. or its territories. If you own more than 20% of the business, you’ll need to provide personal guarantees during the application process. Furthermore, your business must comply with the SBA’s size standards, which are based on employee count and annual revenue to qualify for this worldwide loan. To demonstrate your ability to repay the loan, you’ll need to submit thorough financial statements and projections. Finally, you must include documentation outlining how the loan proceeds will be utilized, ensuring that finance providers understand your business’s funding needs. Meeting these requirements is essential for a smooth application process within the 7(a) program, positioning your business for potential success. Ineligibility Factors for SBA Loans Even though many businesses seek the benefits of SBA loans to fuel their growth, several factors can render them ineligible for this funding. Comprehending these ineligibility factors is essential for your loan application process. Ineligibility Factors Details Nonprofit Organizations SBA loans are designed particularly for profit-generating businesses. Lending Businesses Businesses primarily engaged in lending money, like banks, can’t apply. Life Insurance Companies These entities are excluded from receiving SBA loan funding. Location Outside the U.S. Any business located outside the U.S. or its territories does not qualify. Additionally, industries involved in illegal activities, adult entertainment, or lobbying are deemed ineligible for SBA financing. Acquainting yourself with these factors can save time and help you navigate your funding options more effectively. Documentation Needed for Application When applying for an SBA 7(a) loan, having the right documentation is crucial for a successful application. You’ll need to start with a thorough business plan that outlines how you plan to use the loan proceeds and includes projections for future financial performance. In addition, personal financial statements for all business owners, along with credit histories, are necessary to demonstrate your creditworthiness and ability to repay the loan. It’s important to submit tax returns for the previous three years, which provide insight into your financial stability and profitability. You’ll need to include financial statements, such as balance sheets and income statements, to illustrate your current financial position and cash flow. Finally, documentation of collateral, which may include both tangible and intangible assets, is required to secure the loan and meet lender requirements. Having these documents ready will streamline your application process. Common Uses of SBA 7(a) Loans SBA 7(a) loans serve various purposes that can greatly benefit your business. You can use these loans to cover startup costs, purchase crucial equipment and supplies, or refinance existing debt, allowing you to improve your financial standing. Comprehending these common uses can help you determine how to leverage this financing option effectively for your needs. Startup Costs Financing Starting a business often requires significant financial investment, and the SBA 7(a) loan program is designed to help you cover those vital startup costs. You can use these loans for important expenses like inventory and payroll, providing the necessary capital to get your business off the ground. If you’re looking to acquire an existing business, SBA 7(a) loans finance up to 100% of the purchase price, minimizing your upfront costs. Furthermore, you can refinance high-interest debt related to startup expenses, improving your financial stability. The loans likewise support tenant improvements, allowing you to adapt leased spaces to suit your operational needs. With flexible terms and down payments starting at just 10%, accessing funds for your startup becomes more manageable. Equipment and Supplies Purchases Acquiring the right equipment and supplies is crucial for any business looking to thrive and expand. SBA 7(a) loans enable you to finance these purchases, allowing up to 100% financing for both tangible and intangible assets. This means you can invest in machinery, vehicles, or software without hefty upfront costs. With repayment terms extending up to 10 years, you have a manageable timeline to pay off these expenditures. Nonetheless, you must demonstrate a clear plan detailing how you’ll use the loan proceeds. Here’s a quick overview of eligible purchases: Type of Equipment Examples Tangible Assets Machinery, vehicles Intangible Assets Software, licenses Refinancing Existing Debt When businesses find themselves burdened by high-interest debt, refinancing through the SBA 7(a) loan program can provide a viable solution. This program allows you to consolidate existing loans, potentially covering up to 100% of your current debt. By securing a loan with more favorable terms, you can considerably reduce your overall financing costs and improve cash flow. To qualify, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to repay the new loan with financial statements and projections, as required by the SBA. This option is especially beneficial if you’re facing unreasonable terms from previous lenders. Remember, you must meet general eligibility requirements, including operating for profit and being located in the U.S., to take advantage of this refinancing opportunity. Understanding the Application Process To start the application process for an SBA 7(a) loan, you must first confirm your eligibility by ensuring your business operates for profit and is based in the U.S. Next, gather all required documentation, including tax returns, financial statements, and a detailed business plan, to submit a complete application. This preparation will help you navigate the steps smoothly and increase your chances of approval. Confirm Eligibility Criteria How can you guarantee your business meets the eligibility criteria for an SBA 7(a) loan? First, make sure your business operates for profit and is located in the U.S. or its territories. You must additionally comply with the SBA’s size standards regarding employee count and annual revenue. If you own more than 20% of the business, be prepared to provide a personal guarantee. Demonstrating your ability to repay the loan is vital, so have financial statements and projections ready, along with documentation explaining how you’ll use the loan proceeds. Finally, confirm you’re not part of any excluded business types, such as nonprofits or illegal operations, to avoid complications during the application process. Gather Required Documentation Gathering the right documentation is a vital step in the application process for an SBA 7(a) loan. You’ll need to compile important documents to create a complete application. Here’s a quick reference table to help you: Document Type Purpose Examples Tax Returns Verify income and financial history Personal and business tax returns Financial Statements Show ability to repay the loan Profit and loss statements, balance sheets Business Plan Outline loan usage and business strategy Thorough business plan In addition, provide personal financial information to demonstrate good credit. Confirm you document how the loan proceeds will be utilized, as this is vital for your application. Grasping the SBA 7(a) checklist will help you meet all requirements effectively. Submit Complete Application Once you’ve gathered the necessary documentation, submitting a complete application for an SBA 7(a) loan becomes the next significant step in the process. Make sure your application includes crucial documents like tax returns, financial statements, and a detailed business plan. It’s important to confirm your eligibility and provide accurate, complete information to avoid delays in processing. An experienced lender can guide you through this process, making certain all forms meet the SBA’s requirements. Expect a soft credit pull from NewtekOne, which won’t affect your credit score, followed by a hard credit pull after qualification determination. Be ready to demonstrate your ability to repay the loan through financial statements and projections as part of your application submission. Frequently Asked Questions What Qualifies You for an SBA 7A Loan? To qualify for an SBA 7(a) loan, you must run a for-profit business located in the U.S. or its territories, meeting the SBA’s specific size standards. If you own over 20% of the business, you’ll need to provide a personal guarantee. You must demonstrate your ability to repay through financial statements and projections, specify how you’ll use the loan proceeds, and show that you can’t obtain credit elsewhere. Can a New LLC Get an SBA Loan? Yes, a new LLC can get an SBA loan, but it must meet specific criteria. Your business needs to operate for profit and adhere to SBA size standards regarding employee count and revenue. You’ll have to provide personal guarantees if you own over 20% of the LLC, and your business plan must outline how you’ll use the loan and repay it. Strong credit history or relevant experience can improve your chances of approval. What Are the 5 SBA Requirements of a Small Business? To qualify for an SBA loan, you must meet five key requirements. First, your business needs to be for-profit and located in the U.S. Second, you must adhere to SBA size standards regarding revenue and employee count. Third, owners with over 20% ownership must provide personal guarantees. Fourth, you should demonstrate repayment ability through financial statements. Finally, you need to detail how you’ll use the loan funds, ensuring compliance with SBA guidelines. Does an SBA 7A Loan Require a Down Payment? Yes, an SBA 7(a) loan does require a down payment, typically starting at 10%. Nevertheless, this percentage can increase based on the perceived risk of your business or the specific purpose of the loan. You can cover this down payment using personal funds, gifts, or other acceptable sources as long as they align with SBA guidelines. Lower down payments make SBA loans more accessible than conventional loans, which often demand larger initial investments. Conclusion In conclusion, qualifying for an SBA 7(a) loan requires meeting specific eligibility criteria and providing thorough documentation. Confirm your for-profit business is located in the U.S., meets size standards, and has a solid credit score. Prepare your financial statements, tax returns, and a detailed business plan, during which you grasp the various uses of the loan. By following these guidelines and addressing any ineligibility factors, you can increase your chances of securing the funding you need for your business. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Are SBA 7(a) Loan Requirements?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

For most of modern finance, one number has quietly dictated who gets ahead and who gets left out: the credit score. It was a breakthrough when it arrived in the 1950s, becoming an elegant shortcut for a complex decision. But shortcuts age. And in a world driven by data, digital behavior, and real-time signals, the score is increasingly misaligned with how people actually live and manage money. We’re now at a turning point. A foundational system, long considered untouchable, is finally being reconstructed by using AI—specifically, advanced machine learning models built for risk prediction—to extract more intelligence from existing data. These are rigorously tested, well-governed systems that help lenders see risk with greater nuance and clarity. And the results are reshaping core economics for lenders. THE CREDIT SCORE WASN’T BUILT FOR MODERN CONSUMERS Legacy credit scores rely on a narrow slice of information updated at a pace that reflects the black-and-white television era. A single late payment can overshadow years of financial discipline. Data updates lag behind real behavior. And lenders are forced to make million-dollar decisions using a tool that can’t see volatility, nuance, or context. A single, generic credit score is a compromise by design. National credit scores are designed to work reasonably well across thousands of institutions, but not optimally for any specific one. That becomes clear when you compare regional differences. A lender in an agricultural region may see very different income seasonality and cash-flow patterns than a lender in a major metro area—differences that a universal score was never designed to capture. Financial institutions need models built around their actual membership that can adjust to different financial histories and behaviors. That rigidity has created the gap we’re now seeing across the economy. Consumers feel squeezed, lenders feel exposed, and businesses struggle to grow in a risk environment that looks nothing like the one their scoring tools were built for. Modern machine-learning models give lenders something the score never could—a panoramic view instead of a narrow window. HOW AI CHANGES THE GAME The data in credit files has long been there. What’s changed is the modeling—modern machine learning systems that can finally make full use of those signals. These models can evaluate thousands of factors inside bureau files, not just the static inputs, but the patterns behind them: How payment behavior changes over time Which fluctuations are warning signs versus temporary noise How multiple variables interact in ways a traditional score can’t measure This lets lenders differentiate between someone who is truly risky and someone who is momentarily out of rhythm. The impact is profound: more approvals without more losses, stronger compliance without more overhead, and decisions that align with how people actually manage their finances today. For leadership teams, this also means making intentional choices about who to serve and how to allocate capital. Tailored models let institutions focus their resources on the customers they actually want to reach, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all score. AI FIXES SOMETHING WE DON’T TALK ABOUT ENOUGH There’s widespread concern about AI bias, and rightly so. When algorithms aren’t trained on a representative set of data or aren’t monitored after deployment, this can create biased results. In lending, these models aren’t deployed on faith; they’re validated, back-tested, and monitored over time, with clear documentation of the factors driving each decision. Modern explainability techniques, now well-established in credit risk, can give regulators and consumers a clearer view into how and why decisions are made. Business leaders should also consider that there is bias embedded in manual underwriting. Human decisions—especially in high-volume, time-pressured environments—vary from reviewer to reviewer, case to case, hour to hour. Machine learning models that use representative data, are regularly monitored, and make explainable, transparent decisions, giving humans a dependable baseline. This allows them to focus on exceptions, tough cases, and strategy. THE NEW ADVANTAGE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS The next era of lending will be defined by companies that operationalize AI with discipline, building in strong governance, clear guardrails, and transparency. Those who do will see higher approval rates, lower losses, faster decisions with fewer manual bottlenecks, and fairer outcomes that reflect real behavior, not outdated shortcuts. For the first time in 70 years, we’re able to bring real, impactful change to one of the most influential drivers in the economy. THE FUTURE ISN’T A SCORE, IT’S UNDERSTANDING If the last century of lending was defined by a single, blunt number, the next century will be defined by intelligence. By the ability to interpret risk with nuance, adapt to fast-moving economic signals, and extend opportunity to people who have long been underestimated by the system. AI won’t make lending flawless. But it gives us the clearest path we’ve ever had toward a credit ecosystem that is more accurate, more resilient, and far fairer than the one we inherited. And for leaders focused on growth, innovation, and long-term competitiveness, that shift is transformational. Sean Kamkar is CTO of Zest AI. View the full article

Departure comes after months of turmoil in Pam Bondi’s justice departmentView the full article

The income needed to afford a home had been rising on an annual basis nearly every month for five years, but affordability has been improving since the summer. View the full article

Perusing the grocery aisle in the Westside Market on 23rd Street in Manhattan, you might not even notice the screens. They look just like paper price labels and, alongside a bar code, use a handwriting-style font we’ve come to associate with a certain merchant folksiness. They’re not particularly bright or showy. The only clues that they’re not ordinary sticky shelf labels are a barely distinguishable light bulb and, on some, a small QR code. These are electronic shelf labels, chip-enabled screens that some stores are now using to display product prices. Unlike their paper predecessors, the prices aren’t printed in ink but rendered in pixels, and they can change instantaneously, at any time. The labels also come with additional features. An LED light can switch on to flag something, perhaps a product that needs restocking, explains Vusion, the company that made the labels Westside Market is now using. The QR codes are designed to help customers find more information about a product, or integrate with a personalized shopping list someone might have. Of course, these labels aren’t just labels, but end-points of a much larger effort to digitize every way we now interface with products. “You have a network in the store. You send the information that you want to transmit to the labels, and there you go,” says Finn Wikander, the chief product officer at Pricer, another company that’s manufacturing ESLs with the hope of making them a fixture of 21st century shopping. Unsurprisingly, electronic shelf labels have become a flashpoint for consumer anxiety. The companies selling the devices, and the stores buying them, say the technology isn’t about screwing people over but about making their businesses easier to run. Automating price changes eliminates hours spent replacing labels. It also makes it simpler to respond to new tariffs or account for rising inflation. But in a world spooked by dynamic pricing, electronic shelf labels can look to some like a goblin of digitization—a symptom of late-stage Silicon Valley campaigns to streamline and optimize seemingly all elements of commerce. Even members of Congress have raised suspicions about the technology, arguing that it enables price gouging and discrimination, particularly as it becomes more common in the United States. “Historically, when we thought about brick and mortar stores, prices were relatively stable,” Vicki Morwitz, a Columbia Business School professor who focuses on marketing and consumer behavior, tells Fast Company. “These electronic shelf tags break that assumption which makes pricing feel less stable. Even if average prices aren’t necessarily going up, that shelf instability can become a psychological flash point.” Screenified everything A handful of companies sell this technology as part of broader enterprise software packages. There’s Pricer, a Swedish firm, and Vusion, headquartered in France. Solum operates out of South Korea, and Opticon, known for barcode scanners, is also in the mix. Electronic shelf labels can also be bought, ahem, off the shelf and integrated into a store’s Bluetooth network—no enterprise startup required. The pitch for these devices is exactly what unsettles so many shoppers: Electronic shelf labels make it much easier for stores to change prices dynamically and more frequently. The companies that manufacture and deploy these tools say there are legitimate reasons to do so. For example, a store might raise prices if suppliers increase costs, or cut them quickly when a product is nearing its expiration date. ESLs also allow chains to keep prices consistent across locations and respond more quickly to competitors (especially valuable at a time when shoppers are already carrying smartphones to compare prices between stores). “Most consumers today are used to either doing their own scanning or use ChatGPT or Gemini to find the best offer or use price comparison sites,” says Pricer’s Wikander. Then there’s labor. Employees might spend hours replacing labels for a price surge or sale. ”The idea is to liberate people from very tedious tasks in a store. Changing prices could be one. Launching promotions could be one,” argues Loïc Oumier, a marketing executive with Vusion. There are also regulatory considerations: France, for instance, passed a law mandating that prices at checkout match advertised prices on aisles, which pushed stores in that country to adopt the technology, says Wikander. They are now rolling out more broadly in the United States, especially at large chains. Vusion says its labels are in use at Fresh Market, Mattress Firm, and Leon’s in Canada. Walmart, which declined to comment for this story, announced in 2024 that it would begin installing electronic shelf labels, with plans to bring Vusion’s technology to more than 2,000 stores by the end of 2026. Tests or deployments have appeared in Whole Foods, Schnucks, and even smaller retailers like Westside Market. The reception can be frosty. While there are some scenarios, like from Uber rides and airline tickets, where consumers have come to accept rapidly changing costs, the practice often feels jarring. That tension was evident in 2024, when Wendy’s faced backlash after announcing plans to install digital menu boards and later promised it wouldn’t introduce surge pricing for burgers. Shoppers also worry about price gouging, where retailers spike prices during emergencies. “Exploiting consumers when they have no real alternatives or limited alternatives,” says Columbia’s Morwitz. “The problem is consumers may feel exploited long before an economist would say they are.” There is also the understandable anxiety that the technology is designed to cut jobs. Some workers, as reported in The Nation, say the labels do not simplify their work but replace one kind of labor with another form of algorithmic babysitting. Unlike paper tags, screens can break, and computer programs fall victim to bugs and internet outages. Employees at one chain store operated by Kroger, which has also deployed the tech, have apparently complained that the labels “heat” up stores. (Kroger did not respond to Fast Company‘s request for comment.) Concerns reach D.C. Lawmakers have taken notice. Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania wrote to Kroger after the company announced it would introduce the technology, amid accusations that it was using facial recognition to show different customers different prices. In a letter of response obtained by Fast Company, Kroger defended the rollout, saying ESLs helped it manage the 1.3 billion price changes it implements each year and freed up associates to assist customers. Paula Walsh, Kroger’s director of retail operations, denied in the letter that the company was using facial recognition or collecting personal information from customers through the tags. “Kroger dodged my questions but confirmed my key concerns: It’s using electronic shelf labels to change grocery prices in real-time and collect data that could be used to jack up grocery prices for Americans,” Warren tells Fast Company. ”I’ll keep pushing to make sure consumers aren’t being exploited while they work hard to put food on the table.” Wikander, for his part, dismisses the idea that retailers would use the technology that way. “Just because you have the possibility of screwing your customers doesn’t mean that retailers will do that,” he says. “I don’t think retailers would typically do it, because the consumers are smarter than that.” Wikander says it takes a typical business around a year or two and that, while the investment upfront is big, the labels last for many years. Indeed, for all the eeriness surrounding the labels, research shows that it might not be much of a change, price wise, for either consumers or businesses. Ioannis Stamatopoulos, a business professor at the University of Texas at Austin, says there is little evidence that digital shelf labels lead to significant price swings. He pointed to a 2025 study involving an American grocery store that found no evidence of the practice, and another involving an international grocery store that showed that prices tended to decline, particularly for items with short shelf lives. Much of his research, at least, suggests that the labels are most effective at stopping food waste, since it makes it easier for stores to offer sales on products like bananas and strawberries when they’re about to go bad. For now, the future of grocery shopping may look almost exactly like the past—except the price tag is oh-so-faintly glowing. View the full article

Mortgage tech's speed is undermined by flawed credit data, causing costly fallout. Lenders must treat data accuracy as a pipeline risk, not a peripheral issue, according to the founder of Consumer Attorneys View the full article

More than half of respondents in a National Mortgage News survey predict AI-backed underwriting will fundamentally change mortgage processes in 2026. View the full article

James Van Der Beek was one of the biggest stars of the late 1990s and early 2000s. His family still couldn’t afford the cost of cancer. The actor, 48, best known for his portrayal of Dawson Leery in the ’90s hit Dawson’s Creek, died Wednesday. Van Der Beek’s passing comes a little more than a year after he announced on social media that he was battling colorectal cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2023. And while the actor and father’s untimely death is undeniably tragic, there’s another heartbreaking piece of the story to be told. His family was desperately struggling to afford the cost of his cancer treatment. Despite Van Der Beek’s successful career, which included hits like Varsity Blues (1999) and The Rules of Attraction (2002), as well as playing the lead role in a popular TV drama for six seasons, the actor still spent the final years of his life struggling financially. Last year, he teamed up with the auction house Propstore to sell his personal collection of memorabilia, wardrobe items, and set pieces from Dawson’s Creek and his most notable films to raise money for his treatment. “I’ve been storing these treasures for years, waiting for the right time to do something with them, and with all of the recent unexpected twists and turns life has presented recently, it’s clear that the time is now,” Van Der Beek told People magazine at the time. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the auction raised around $47,000. His plight begs the question: If one of the most successful actors of the late 1990s and early 2000s can’t afford cancer treatment in the United States, who can? According to a 2022 survey from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), almost no one. Per the survey, more than 70% of respondents said they made significant lifestyle changes in order to afford their care. And more than half (51%) went into medical debt due to treatment. The statistics were worse for certain groups, with women more likely to report medical debt than men (57% versus 36%), and Black Americans were more likely to go into debt than white Americans (62% as opposed to 52%). Likewise states with fewer people enrolled in Medicaid had higher rates of medical debt due to cancer (58% compared to 49% in states with expanded Medicaid offerings). But overall, almost three-quarters of the cancer patients surveyed were worried about being able to afford the cost of their current care, or the costs which may stack up in the future (73%). On Wednesday, amid the tributes and heartfelt words, a GoFundMe page dedicated to the actor’s family, also showed up online. The page, which GoFundMe told Fast Company has been verified, explained that the family has been under “significant financial strain” due to Van Der Beek’s medical expenses. “In the wake of this loss, Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future,” it said. “The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds. They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time.” At present, the page has raised over $1.4 million for the family. The efforts being made for the actor’s family may be touching. They are happening, in part, because the actor was well-loved. Shortly after his passing was made public, the tributes from friends and colleagues began pouring in. One belief, which seemed to be shared by those who knew him, was how deeply genuine and kind he was, with many describing him as the antithesis to everything Hollywood actors are known to be. “There are people in this industry who are talented. Some who are charismatic. A few who are generous,” wrote actress Alyssa Milano. “And then there were the rare ones — the truly kind and thoughtful. James was the rare kind. He showed up for his people. He listened. He cared.” She went on to call him a “unicorn of a man.” The sentiments were echoed by other actors he grew up alongside, like Katie Holmes, Melissa Joan Hart, and countless others. In the end, the outpouring of love for Van Der Beek underscores both how deeply he was valued and how precarious illness remains in the United States, even for those who seem outwardly successful. That his family needed to rely on auctions and crowdfunding to survive a cancer diagnosis is not an anomaly, but a reflection of a system where serious illness often comes with financial ruin attached. View the full article

Meta announced on February 10 that it’s introducing a new AI animation feature that lets users turn their still profile photos into AI-generated looping videos. It reads like an uncanny valley version of yesteryear’s Boomerang. The option to animate appears when users click “Animate profile picture” on their Facebook avatars, and the feature gives a limited set of animation options, including party hat, confetti, wave, and heart, in which a photo’s subject makes a heart shape with their hands. Meta says there will be additional options in the future for “seasonal moments and special events.” The tech is imperfect and can only work with what it’s got. Meta says for best results, photos should show a single person with their face clearly visible and holding no other objects. Some users may find it too uncanny valley to see a fake video of themselves, but there are other options, too. The company also launched the ability to restyle photos with Meta AI by filtering posts with aesthetics like “anime,” “illustrated,” or “glowy,” or by generating artificial backdrops on pictures. Text posts can also receive animated backdrops under the new updates. Response online to the idea of AI-animated Facebook avatars ranged from indifference to eye rolls over more AI content no one asked for. Some listeners have responded similarly to AI-generated animations applied to album artwork on Apple Music. For apps looking to integrate AI into their products, animating pre-existing content is low-hanging fruit, but whether or not it takes off remains in question. The new AI features, however, do fit in with CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for AI as laid out on last month’s earnings call. In short, he wants more of it. “Today our apps feel like algorithms that recommend content,” Zuckerberg said. “Soon, you’ll open our apps and you’ll have an AI that understands you, and also happens to be able to show you great content or even generate great personalized content for you.” Meta, which is now along with Google’s YouTube in a landmark trial over accusations their apps are engineered to be addictive for children, has integrated Meta AI into its apps through AI search bars and chatbots. Last year it launched a stand-alone app called Vibes that’s designed with an all-AI content feed. By adding an easy preset way to animate profile photos with AI, it’s bringing the technology to one of the most public-facing personal spaces for users on the platform. View the full article

It’s Valentine’s Day on Saturday so let’s talk about workplace romance. Did you spot coworkers having a secret affair without realizing how obvious they were being? Did your boss date your dad and try to get you to go to couples therapy with them? Did you spend a ton of time mediating between two employees who hated each other and then they ended up dating? Was your coworker always making out with his girlfriend at work? Did your colleague leave a rambling, drunken message for his secret office girlfriend — but accidentally leave it on the boss’s voicemail instead? Let’s discuss workplace romance gone both wrong and right. The post let’s discuss workplace romance gone wrong … and right appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Google clarifies campaign consolidation guidance, saying performance and business logic matter more than legacy granularity in AI-driven Google Ads accounts. The post Google Clarifies Its Stance On Campaign Consolidation appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article