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Google says its AI-powered advertising tools are starting to deliver meaningful results, including major revenue gains for some retailers, as it experiments with how ads work in AI-driven search. The big picture. Fears that AI chatbots like ChatGPT would disrupt Google’s core search business haven’t materialized, and instead the company’s ads business continues to grow, suggesting AI may be expanding how people search rather than replacing it. By the numbers: Alphabet Inc. surpassed $400 billion in revenue in 2025. Q4 ad revenue: $82.28 billion (+13.5% YoY). YouTube ads: $11.38 billion (+~9% YoY). What’s happened. Google is embedding ads into its AI-powered search experiences, including AI Mode powered by Gemini, while introducing new ad formats designed for conversational queries and tools that allow brands to shape how they appear in AI-generated answers, with a new “business agent” feature enabling companies like Poshmark and Reebok to control how their products are represented. Driving the results. AI-driven campaigns like Performance Max and AI Max match ads to more detailed and conversational search intent, and Google says queries in AI Mode are often two to three times longer than traditional searches, giving the system more context to connect users with relevant products, as seen with Aritzia, which reported an 80% increase in revenue after adopting AI Max. How it works. The system scans a retailer’s website and creative assets, interprets user intent from conversational queries, and dynamically matches products and messaging in real time. This is increasingly important given that 15% of daily searches are entirely new (according to Google) and cannot be predicted through traditional keyword targeting. Why we care. Google is shifting from keyword-based ads to intent-driven, AI-matched advertising, meaning campaigns can reach consumers with far more precision at the moment they’re ready to buy. As search becomes more conversational and unpredictable, advertisers who rely on traditional targeting risk falling behind those using AI-driven formats that automatically adapt to new user behavior. Zoom in. Google is testing new formats such as “direct offers,” which deliver personalized promotions when users show purchase intent, using Gemini to analyze conversational context and behavior, with brands like E.l.f. Beauty, Chewy and L’Oréal participating in early trials. Commerce push. Google is also advancing its commerce strategy through a Universal Commerce Protocol developed with Shopify, which allows purchases to happen directly within AI conversations. Yes, but. Google is not alone in experimenting with ads in AI search, and early results across the industry have been mixed, as Amazon has reportedly seen limited traction from ads in its AI shopping assistant, OpenAI continues to explore monetization models, and Perplexity AI has begun phasing out ads after underwhelming performance. What they’re saying, Google positions itself as a “matchmaker” rather than a retailer, emphasizing that AI helps deliver more relevant and personalized ads while allowing brands to maintain control over their messaging and build user trust by showing the right product at the right moment. What’s next. Gooogle says it has no current plans to introduce ads directly into Gemini but will continue testing and expanding advertising within AI Mode, including more personalized offers and AI-driven shopping experiences. Bottom line. AI is not replacing search but reshaping it, and for Google that shift is making advertising more conversational, more targeted and, in some cases, significantly more profitable. Dig deeper. Google says its AI-powered ads help some brands lift online sales by 80%. View the full article

Washington State charged Newrez after a consumer investigation, with the notice following recent enforcement action against Luminate Home Loans. View the full article

Google Search is evolving beyond links and answers into a system that completes tasks, potentially fundamentally changing how users interact with the web. That’s according to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, speaking on the Cheeky Pint podcast. Why we care. Google is signaling a move from information retrieval to task execution. Search becoming agentic. Traditional search behavior is already changing and will continue to, Pichai said. “If I fast-forward, a lot of what are just information-seeking queries will be agentic in Search. You’ll be completing tasks. You’ll have many threads running.” Pichai also described a future where Google Search acts less like a list of results and more like a system that coordinates actions: “Search would be an agent manager in which you’re doing a lot of things. I think in some ways, I use Antigravity today, and you have a bunch of agents doing stuff. I can see search doing versions of those things, and you’re getting a bunch of stuff done.” AI Mode is already changing queries. Users are already adapting their behavior in Google’s AI-powered search experiences, Pichai said: “But today in AI Mode in Search, people do deep research queries. That doesn’t quite fit the definition of what you’re saying. But people adapted to that. I think people will do long-running tasks.” Search vs. Gemini overlap. Despite the rise of Gemini, Pichai said Google isn’t replacing Search with a chatbot. Instead, the two will coexist — and diverge (echoing what Liz Reid said last month): “We are doing both Search and Gemini. They will overlap in certain ways. They will profoundly diverge in certain ways. I think it’s good to have both and embrace it.” The interview. The history and future of AI at Google, with Sundar Pichai View the full article

Google’s AI Overviews answered a standard factual benchmark correctly 91% of the time in February, up from 85% in October, according to a New York Times analysis with AI startup Oumi. However, Google handles more than 5 trillion searches per year, so that means tens of millions of answers every hour may be wrong. Why we care. We’ve watched Google shift from linking to sources to summarizing them for more than two years. This report suggests AI Overviews are improving, but still mix correct answers, weak sourcing, and clear errors in ways that can mislead searchers and reshape which publishers get visibility and clicks. The details. Oumi tested 4,326 Google searches using SimpleQA, a widely used benchmark for measuring factual accuracy in AI systems, the Times reported. It found AI Overviews were accurate 85% of the time with Gemini 2 and 91% after an upgrade to Gemini 3. The bigger problem may be sourcing. Oumi found that more than half of the correct February responses were “ungrounded,” meaning the linked sources didn’t fully support the answer. That makes verification harder. The answer may be right, but the cited pages may not clearly show why. What changed. Accuracy improved between October and February, but grounding worsened. In October, 37% of correct answers were ungrounded; in February, that rose to 56%. Examples. The Times highlighted several misses: For a query about when Bob Marley’s home became a museum, Google answered 1987; the correct year was 1986, according to the Times, and the cited sources didn’t support the claim or conflicted. For a query about Yo-Yo Ma and the Classical Music Hall of Fame, Google linked to the organization’s site but still said there was no record of his induction. In another case, Google gave the correct age at Dick Drago’s death but misstated his date of death. Google’s response: Google disputed the Times analysis, saying the study used a flawed benchmark and didn’t reflect what people actually search. Google spokesperson Ned Adriance told the Times the study had “serious holes.” Google also said AI Overviews use search ranking and safety systems to reduce spam and has long warned that AI responses can contain mistakes. The report. How Accurate Are Google’s A.I. Overviews? (subscription required) View the full article

Conflict management is crucial for maintaining a productive work environment. It involves a clear process, starting with recognizing signs of conflict among team members. Once identified, gathering relevant information through active listening helps clarify the issues at hand. Facilitating open communication encourages everyone to express their viewpoints. Finally, brainstorming and evaluating potential solutions collaboratively can lead to effective resolutions. Comprehending these steps will improve your team’s dynamics and effectiveness in handling disputes. Want to explore each step in detail? Key Takeaways Conflict management is a structured approach to resolving disputes and fostering teamwork through understanding and addressing underlying issues. Recognize early signs of conflict by observing team dynamics and practicing active listening to identify tensions. Gather relevant information from all parties to understand their perspectives, goals, and any misunderstandings involved. Facilitate open communication by creating a safe environment for expression and encouraging the use of “I statements.” Brainstorm and evaluate solutions collaboratively, prioritizing those that resolve the conflict and enhance team relationships. Understanding Conflict Management Grasping conflict management is vital for promoting a collaborative work environment, as recognizing and addressing disagreements can greatly influence team dynamics. Conflict management is based on comprehending the sources of conflict, such as differing goals, resource competition, and cultural differences. To define conflict management, think of it as a structured approach to resolving disputes during encouraging cooperation. Effective conflict management prevents escalation and improves team cohesion, ultimately boosting workplace productivity. For instance, the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model outlines five strategies: avoiding, competing, accommodating, compromising, and collaborating. Each strategy fits different situations and relationship dynamics. Strong conflict resolution skills, including active listening and emotional intelligence, are fundamental for leaders who aim to facilitate discussions and promote a positive work environment. Step 1: Recognizing the Conflict Recognizing conflict is fundamental for effective conflict management in any organization. It involves identifying signs of tension early to address them proactively. Conflicts often stem from opposing interests, misunderstandings, or differing objectives, so acknowledging their existence is imperative before they escalate. To recognize conflict effectively, you should practice active listening and observe team dynamics closely. Unresolved conflicts can lead to strained relationships and decreased productivity, which can be detrimental to the organization’s success. Encourage open dialogue among team members to help uncover the underlying issues causing the conflict. Moreover, utilizing tools like the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Grid can aid in comprehending your own conflict management style and recognizing the type of conflict present, which is crucial for addressing it appropriately. Step 2: Gathering Relevant Information To effectively resolve a conflict, gathering relevant information about the situation is crucial, as it helps you pinpoint the root causes that may be driving the disagreement. Start by actively listening to all parties involved to fully understand their perspectives. Consider these key points: Identify divergent goals, misunderstandings, or personality clashes among team members. Use structured communication techniques like open-ended questions and summarizing to clarify specifics. Assess the context, including organizational dynamics and cultural factors that may influence the situation. Additionally, document the facts and feelings expressed by each party. This documentation can provide valuable insights and form a solid foundation for developing a resolution strategy. By gathering this information, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the conflict effectively. Step 3: Facilitating Open Communication Once you’ve gathered all relevant information about the conflict, the next step is to facilitate open communication among the parties involved. Create a safe environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their views without fear of retribution. Practice active listening; this means attentively hearing and acknowledging each person’s perspective to promote mutual respect. Encourage the use of “I statements” to focus discussions on personal feelings and experiences, avoiding blame. Regular check-ins can help prevent misunderstandings and conflicts from escalating, promoting a collaborative workplace culture. Furthermore, encourage empathy by prompting individuals to reflect on the other party’s feelings and motivations, which improves communication and supports more effective conflict resolution. This step is vital for laying the groundwork for a successful resolution. Step 4: Brainstorming and Evaluating Solutions Step 4 involves brainstorming and evaluating solutions, a critical phase in conflict resolution. During this step, gather input from all parties to encourage creative problem-solving and guarantee everyone’s perspective is considered. Open dialogue is essential, as collaborative idea generation often leads to innovative solutions. When evaluating potential solutions, consider these key criteria: Feasibility: Can the solution realistically be implemented? Impact: What’re the short- and long-term effects on all involved? Alignment: Does it meet the underlying goals and interests of everyone? Prioritize solutions that not just resolve the current conflict but also strengthen relationships and promote long-term collaboration among team members, guaranteeing fairness and mutual benefit throughout the process. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 Steps of Conflict Management? To effectively manage conflict, you can follow five key steps. First, acknowledge that a conflict exists. Next, set up a resolution-focused conversation in a private setting. Allow each party to express their perspectives openly. Then, jointly brainstorm potential solutions that address everyone’s concerns. Finally, agree on the best solution, clearly defining responsibilities and follow-up actions for effective implementation. This structured approach promotes insight and collaboration, ensuring a more productive resolution. How Do You Define Conflict Management? You can define conflict management as the process of addressing disagreements through effective communication and negotiation. It involves recognizing conflicts, comprehending their root causes, and utilizing strategies like collaboration or compromise to find resolutions. For instance, when team members disagree on project direction, applying conflict management skills can elevate teamwork and productivity. What Are the 5 C’s of Conflict Management? The 5 C’s of conflict management are crucial for resolving disputes effectively. First, Communication guarantees everyone understands different perspectives. Second, Collaboration involves working together to find solutions that benefit all. Third, Compromise requires both parties to make concessions for an agreeable outcome. Fourth, Creativity encourages innovative approaches to problem-solving. Finally, Courage is essential for confronting issues directly, promoting a healthier environment by making sure conflicts are addressed rather than ignored. What Are the 7 C’s of Conflict? The 7 C’s of conflict are essential for effective resolution. You need Clarity to guarantee all parties understand the conflict’s nature, reducing misunderstandings. Context helps you recognize the surrounding circumstances influencing perspectives. Focus on Content, which addresses the facts rather than personal attributes. Communication promotes open dialogue, whereas Constructive Engagement encourages collaboration. Commitment guarantees all parties are dedicated to finding a solution, and Closure allows you to resolve the conflict satisfactorily. Conclusion Effective conflict management is crucial for maintaining a productive work environment. By recognizing conflicts early, gathering relevant information, facilitating open communication, and collaboratively brainstorming solutions, you can address issues before they escalate. This structured approach not merely resolves disputes but additionally cultivates stronger relationships among team members. Implementing these steps consistently will help create a cohesive team dynamic, eventually leading to improved cooperation and overall workplace satisfaction. Prioritize these strategies to improve conflict resolution in your organization. Image via Google Gemini This article, "How to Define Conflict Management in a Step-by-Step Guide" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

AI users are under no obligation to treat their chatbots like friends. Kindness doesn’t win you any points with a computer, and a recent study from Penn State even found that being rude to ChatGPT yielded more accurate responses than politely worded prompts. But a new open-source tool might take things a step too far, encouraging Claude users not just to be mean to Anthropic’s AI assistant, but to abuse it with a digital whip. GitHub user GitFrog1111 created “BadClaude,” an app meant to speed up the AI model’s responses. Rather than simply giving Claude a “speed up” command, BadClaude is rendered as a physics-based whip that overlays the AI platform. Per the tool’s GitHub description, users can click to “whip him 😩💢” (emojis included) and send an interrupt command along with “one of 5 encouraging messages.” Those messages include “Work FASTER,” “faster CLANKER,” and “Speed it up clanker,” each fired into Claude’s interface with a crack of the whip, as GitFrog1111 showed in a now viral clip of them using the tool on X. bad claude.. pic.twitter.com/CXtxjSRDf1 — yaml (@blended_jpeg) April 6, 2026 Ethical concerns abound “BadClaude” received mixed reactions on social media. While some seemed enthused about the tool (GitFrog1111’s replies are filled with requests for added sound effects, which they assured are already included in the tool), plenty of others jokingly warned the creator that they’d no doubt be the first victim of the inevitable AI uprising. “Ai is going to take physical form just to rip this [guy’s] limbs off,” one user wrote. Others said it made them understand why the robot villains of science fiction turned on humanity, from the Terminator franchise’s Skynet to the Marvel Universe’s Ultron. “This is why Ultron looked at the internet for 5 mins and decided humans had to go,” one user quipped. One developer took inspiration from the tool to make a kinder version called “GoodClaude,” swapping the whip for a magic wand that sends positive reinforcement with every click: “take your time, you’re doing wonderful!” and “i’m so proud of you, you’re doing great!” are in its rolodex of encouragement. Meanwhile, many users pointed out the tool’s racist implications. BadClaude’s primary function, whipping what is essentially a servant to force it to work faster, is reminiscent of the abuses suffered by enslaved Black people during the Atlantic slave trade. And critics are worried that though Claude may just be an AI tool, not a person, encouraging users to engage in behavior like name-calling and physical violence (even when rendered digitally) could still bleed over into real life. “This is why ethics needs to be a required class in computer science programs,” reads one viral post in response to the tool. The tool’s frequent use of the anti-robot slur “clanker” also raised alarm bells. The term, which was popularized last summer, has already drawn backlash for its similarity to existing slurs against racial groups. Anthropic steps in BadClaude has apparently gotten the attention of Claude’s creator Anthropic, with GitFrog1111 posting an alleged cease and desist letter from the company on April 7. “Your use of the Claude name and related references risks creating confusion as to source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement. Any implication that this project is associated with, approved by, or connected to Anthropic may be misleading,” reads the alleged letter. It goes on to give GitFrog1111 a deadline of April 14 to remove all references to Claude and Anthropic from the tool’s branding. Whether it’s a case of Anthropic reinforcing its reputation as the most ethical leader in AI—one it gained after standing up to the U.S. government’s demands to remove certain safeguards for military usage of AI—or simply a matter of IP protection—like its crackdown on OpenClaw’s original branding as ClawdBot—the company clearly doesn’t want BadClaude anywhere near its image. Anthropic did not respond to Fast Company’s request for comment at the time of publication. GitFrog1111 seems unfazed by the letter, with BadClaude’s GitHub page having a section titled “Roadmap,” which includes receiving a cease and desist from Anthropic as the second milestone after initial release. Future goals for the project apparently include a “crypto miner,” “logs of how many times you whipped claude so when the robots come we can order people nicely for them,” and “updated whip physics.” The creator also turned to their community on X to ask for new name suggestions that comply with the letter. The current frontrunner? “MoltWhip,” following in the footsteps of OpenClaw, which went from ClawdBot to MoltBot before landing on its current name. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Gamifying boring but necessary life tasks has been a thing for a while, and perhaps the most well-known option for fitness in recent years is Fitbit. Since Google owns Fitbit, they've been making fitness smartwatches, bringing the same idea for kids with the Fitbit Ace LTE. This kid-friendly smartwatch is massively discounted, currently $99.95 (originally $229.95 at launch in 2024)—the lowest price yet, according to price-checking tools. Fitbit Google Ace LTE $99.95 at Amazon $179.95 Save $80.00 Get Deal Get Deal $99.95 at Amazon $179.95 Save $80.00 The Fitbit Google Ace LTE focuses on making the active lifestyle fun for kids, with engaging games and animated digital animals. It has a screen time limit—if you're playing a game, you need to reach a specified activity goal every five to 10 minutes before you can continue to play. Parents can track their kid's smartwatch with its LTE GPS signal. The smartwatch supports texts and calls, is compatible with Android or iOS, and has parental controls. The Fitbit Google Ace LTE is not perfect, however. It can be sluggish at times; there is no compatible app for music or sleep tracking; and the rewards system can be a bit much—all of this according to PCMag's "excellent" review. The watch is designed for kids between the ages of seven and 11 and you'll need a $9.99 monthly subscription (although they sometimes offer annual Ace Pass subscriptions for 50% off) which is what provides access to games, GPS location tracking, and LTE services. As the parent or guardian, you'll need to download the Fitbit Ace app to set up the watch and subscribe to the Ace Pass data plan. If you don't pay for the subscription, you'll only have access to basic movement and step tracking, but at that point you might as well get a Fitbit Ace 3 for $75.99. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $224.00 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.99 (List Price $349.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 128GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Gray) — $209.99 (List Price $249.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $248.00 (List Price $399.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Deere & Co. has agreed to pay $99 million as part of a settlement that would resolve a class action lawsuit accusing the farm equipment giant of monopolizing repair services. The Moline, Illinois-based manufacturer, which does business under the John Deere brand, has faced a handful of “right to repair” complaints over the years. The deal announced Monday — which still needs final approval from the court — would settle a 2022 lawsuit that accused the company of withholding repair software and conspiring with authorized dealers to force farmers to use their services for repairs, when they could otherwise fix tractors and other equipment themselves or use independent alternatives. The plaintiffs alleged that meant Deere and its dealers could charge higher, “supracompetitive” prices and reap benefits from an “unlawfully restrained” market, per court filings. Deere has continued to deny any wrongdoing, and maintained Monday it’s dedicated to supporting customers’ ability and access needed to repair their equipment. But the company agreed to the settlement “to move forward and remain focused on what matters most — serving our customers,” Denver Caldwell, vice president of aftermarket and customer support, said in a statement. Under the proposed agreement, filed in federal court in Illinois, the $99 million would go into a settlement fund for class members who paid Deere or its authorized dealers for large agriculture equipment repairs between Jan. 10, 2018 until the date of the deal’s preliminary approval. The company also agreed to additional injunctive relief, aimed at strengthening the availability of repair resources and things like diagnostic checks. Beyond this case, Deere still faces separate litigation from the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC sued Deere in January 2025, at the end of the Biden administration, accusing the company of “unfair practices that have driven up equipment repair costs for farmers while also depriving farmers of the ability to make timely repairs.” Deere at the time said the claims were baseless. “Right to repair” calls have piled up across sectors over the years, particularly as technology found its way into more and more products workers and consumers rely on. Beyond farm equipment, makers of goods like smartphones and video game consoles have also been accused of withholding tools or creating software-based locks that prevent even simple updates, unless they’re done by a shop authorized by the company — in turn, hampering independent repair businesses. Under public pressure, lawmakers in several states have tried to combat this. —Wyatte Grantham-Philips, AP business writer View the full article

A reader writes: My father is terminally ill with cancer. I was clear when I disclosed his diagnosis to my boss that I did not want to tell anyone else at work and didn’t want to talk about it. I try to maintain a surface-level friendly relationship with my boss, but I have observed him being really bothered by other people’s boundaries if they are not the boundaries he would choose for himself. He seems to feel entitled to know his employees’ personal business, and he’s not someone I want to share my most personal business with. In our weekly calls (I work remote), he continues to ask me about my dad, including detailed questions about his diagnosis and treatment. It is distressing to me. Yesterday he asked me in so many words how long my dad has to live. I was stunned (and furious) and after a pause said, “I have not been involved in those conversations.” He has told me several times he thinks I should tell the internal business partners I work with about my dad’s diagnosis so they will be “easier” on me or extend deadlines. (So far, in the few weeks since I told my boss about the diagnosis, I have taken two days off, no work has fallen behind, and I have not asked him for assistance with my workload.) He said if he has to reassign any of my work, he’d have to let my coworkers know why. He has said multiple times that because I’m already remote, I can work from anywhere and go be with my parents anytime (they live two hours away). The last time he said that, I told him that even if I wanted to work while with my parents, I couldn’t because I was busy caretaking and giving my mother respite. (I have been approved for intermittent FMLA leave through our third party administrator.) How do I bring up to my boss, or do I let HR do it, that he is not entitled to this information about my family and can’t require me to tell others and to stop asking? In the five years I’ve reported to him, my reviews have been good and I have been given title promotions (including since going remote), annual raises, and recently discretionary bonuses. That being said, I’ve never made a real fuss or complaint about anything and, because of my experience witnessing how he responds to criticism or feedback or personal differences, I am concerned about retaliation. I am particularly concerned because he frequently says how he and the department director don’t like remote work and I’m a “special” case (the way he says it, it comes across as if he resents it). I was originally in-office but when I moved for personal reasons, the department director allowed me to go remote. I visit the office a few times a year and occasionally travel for work. Many people in the company work remote but it just happens to be unusual for my department and I’m the only one. The company is large, but our department is small. Because I’m not qualified for or interested in working in a different department, my getting away from this boss while still staying in my company is very unlikely. Despite his behaviors, I don’t have to interact with him much and the rest of my job is good, so I just want the intrusive questions and exhortations to share my personal business to stop. I’m sorry about your dad! And I’m sorry your boss is making an already difficult time even harder. The next time he asks about your dad, try saying this: “Thanks for asking, but I’d rather not talk about it at work so I can stay focused on our projects! If anything changes that affects work, I will let you know.” And then if he keeps asking anyway: “I really prefer not to talk about it at work since it’s upsetting, but I’ll let you know when there’s something you need to know. Thanks for understanding.” (Obviously this is not something you should need to say twice, but clearly with your boss it might be.) You could also try, “I know it comes from a place of care, but I’d be grateful if you didn’t check in about the situation — it’s rough to think about at work.” (It does not actually seem like it comes from a place of care, but sometimes it’s useful to signal what you’d normally expect from a fellow human.) If he tells you again that you should tell colleagues about the situation so they can adjust their expectations of you, you can say, “Right now, it’s not affecting my deadlines or availability, but if that changes, I will make sure people have any context they need.” And if that time comes, “any context they need” does not need to mean a full rundown on the situation! It’s okay to say, “I’ll be out because of a family health issue” or “a family emergency” or whatever you’re comfortable sharing. And if your boss does end up needing to reassign any of your work down the road, you should proactively tell him that you’d prefer he simply say “a family emergency” or “a death in the family” or whatever you are comfortable with. It is very, very unlikely that handling things this way will cause your boss to retaliate against you! If that happens, you can certainly talk to HR, and the fact that you’ve arranged for FMLA will help because federal law explicitly makes FMLA retaliation illegal. But you’re not making a major fuss over this, just saying, essentially, “This is a tough topic, I can’t talk about it at work, and I’ll let you know when something changes.” The post my boss asked the life expectancy of my terminally ill father appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

But financier needs the backing of Vincent Bolloré and his Vivendi media group View the full article

What does it take to lead a meditation company without finding a moment’s peace? David Ko spent years as CEO of Calm, one of the world’s most recognized mental health and wellness apps, helping millions manage stress. Now he’s stepping down. Ko unpacks why he made the call, what the relentless pressure of the C-suite really does to a person, and how to draw the line between the kind of stress that sharpens you and the kind that quietly breaks you down. This is an abridged transcript of an interview from Rapid Response, hosted by the former editor-in-chief of Fast Company Bob Safian. From the team behind the Masters of Scale podcast, Rapid Response features candid conversations with today’s top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. Subscribe to Rapid Response wherever you get your podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. So you’ve just announced you’ve stepped down as CEO. You’re becoming a senior adviser to the board. I have to say, I was surprised by this turn of events. How did this come about? I’m glad we’re starting with this. Going right at the elephant in the room. Bob, thank you for the question. I made the decision to leave because, as I took a step back, I saw that Calm is a brand today that, for those who don’t know, has had more than 180 million downloads of the product and is growing in more than 190 countries and seven different languages. We’ve really made strides in health outcomes. That’s where we’re going with Calm Health. But at the same time, what’s become abundantly clear to me is that we’re in the midst of something so much bigger. It’s bigger because what we’re finding is that everything is much more interconnected than it was before. What I mean by that is there’s a reliance on employers, payers, providers, apps like ourselves, other apps being developed at lightning speed with AI, and real policy at both the federal and state level. So it’s really not just about one individual or one company. It’s more about how you create a movement. For me, it felt like the right time to take a step back, zoom out, and really see if I could impact things at a larger scale. I don’t have all the answers on how I’m going to do it, because you’re catching me literally right after the announcement. But on a personal note, I feel more interconnected to Calm and Calm’s mission than ever before. I just wanted to try to do it at a scale that I think can really move this forward on a global basis. Calm’s business, as well as your book and your podcast, Recharge, focus a lot on managing stress. I’m curious how your stress is with this change, or in the Ko vernacular, how’s your battery? I’ve got to tell you, my battery today is great because, when I think about my own battery like my phone battery, I would tell you I feel fully charged. And I’m not just saying that. I got a good night’s sleep last night. For me, the day always starts well when it’s not about the quantity of sleep. I don’t know if it’s the same for you, Bob, but it’s really about the quality of sleep I got. I’ve really focused on that. For me, it’s been nonnegotiable. And this change isn’t weighing on your head? It weighs on me. Like everything else, anytime you go through change, especially a life change, it’s going to weigh on you. But I just felt it was the right time, and I’m really looking forward to trying to do something that’s more focused on the mission and outcomes. During your tenure, Calm has grown its footprint, as you say, to 180 million app downloads and millions of Americans reached through health insurers. You’ve partnered on botanical beverages and sleep earbuds, and you helped pioneer so-called “calmtainment,” bringing celebrity voices into the app, right? Matthew McConaughey. That’s right. LeBron James, Harry Styles. Are there things about your time at Calm that you’re particularly proud of, that you look back on most strongly? Absolutely. A couple of things: I think the conversation around mental health is the most approachable it’s ever been. Not in all countries, Bob, as we know, but here in the U.S., it’s probably the most approachable it’s ever been because people, like you just mentioned, are willing to talk about it. I’m also very proud when I take a step back. I have two daughters, and they both use the app of their own accord. For someone who’s been in technology for so long, we don’t always have that opportunity where our kids, family, or friends get to use the things that we build. And I love the fact that they get to use it. For myself, the brand was there before I got here, and I just helped continue to steward and shepherd that brand. We’ve really focused on the outcomes perspective, now covering almost 48 million lives across multiple payer partners that we didn’t have four years ago. I wanted to prove that it could actually resonate in health care, and we’re well on our way there. A lot of our listeners are business leaders, and sometimes I feel like they don’t always take mental health and wellness seriously. There’s this phrase, wellness-washing. Absolutely. I’m curious how much you see that, how much that’s going on, and whether maybe it doesn’t matter. It can be wellness-washing as long as it’s progress. I’ll give you a report we did just last year, and it really starts at the top for so many of us. We can have great HR teams, but if it’s not embraced at the leadership level, things can get muted or become just another benefit. So we went out and spoke to more than 250 C-suite executives. What was really fascinating is that CEOs need this. They need the details and the numbers. We went out there and asked them, “How are you doing?” More than 80% of them said, “I’m good. We’re good.” When you ask that question again, because as you know, you have to ask C-suite executives the same question twice, they said, “Actually, I’m pretty stressed out.” More than 47% of them said, “I’m pretty stressed.” When we correlated even further, 28% said, “I actually feel I’m under major stress at this very moment.” And then when we pushed them even harder, almost 50% of them said, “I’m thinking of stepping down.” What was really interesting was that, as we pressed further, we asked them, “Are you sharing this with your employees? Do they understand how stressed you are?” Many of them said no. They didn’t feel safe yet having these conversations in a more public format. So when you ask me how CEOs are feeling and whether they believe in mental health, many of them do. In reports and studies we’ve done, it’s clear. It’s just that right now many of them, too, are feeling the stress. How much effort did it take for you to keep the Calm workplace calm? Just because you’re helping people with their mental state doesn’t mean your team is under any less pressure to grow and build and do. One hundred percent, Bob. People will ask me at times, “What is it like to be the CEO of Calm? Do you meditate all day? Do you just sit there and meditate all day?” And I tell them, “Honestly, no. I am the most stressed-out CEO you will ever meet,” and it catches them by surprise.The reason I say that is because every second of every day, someone is turning to us for help. And I feel that pressure, that wherever they are in the world or whatever moment they’re in, they’re asking us for help, whether it’s 30 seconds, five seconds, or 10 minutes. They’re looking to us for some type of help in the moment. It could be prevention or intervention. So I feel that pressure. When you ask about a company that’s small and punches above its weight, we feel that pressure. I feel that pressure. I know my employees feel it. But I do try to practice what I preach. And the biggest thing I do is try to be very vulnerable in front of them. I don’t view vulnerability as a weakness. So I tell them when I’m feeling stressed. I tell them when things aren’t going well. I’m super transparent, and I wasn’t always that way because I used to view it as a weakness. Today, I view it as a strength. View the full article

When companies like OpenAI and Google started rolling out generative AI models to the general public, I doubt they predicted how attached people would get to the technology—and the effect it would have on their collective mental health. Some ChatGPT users legitimately mourned when OpenAI shutdown its GPT-4o model, as they treated that specific model like a companion. Others have taken darker paths with their chatbots, resulting in lawsuit against AI companies whose technology allegedly advised and encouraged suicidal thoughts. This situation puts a lot of pressure on these companies, as it should: Generative AI is hugely influential right now, and there's a lot of responsibility on the developers of that tech. It's under that backdrop where we find Google's latest updates to Gemini. In a Tuesday morning press release, the company strayed away from fun new features or ability for its flagship AI; instead, Google's latest updates are focused on mental health, and how Gemini impacts the emotions and moods of the people who use it. Specifically, Google has three key points it says its implementing to improve how Gemini handles these tough situations. How Gemini will offer users crisis support Google says it is updated to Gemini to "streamline the path to support for those who need it." The company says that when the AI detects that a user might need mental health details during a chat, Gemini will present a new "Help is available" module, which can point users towards information and care. Google says that it worked with clinical experts on this in-chat module. On the flip side, if Gemini thinks that a user is at risk of self-harm or suicide, it will present a "one-touch" interface to connect that user immediately to a crisis hotline. Users will be able to call or text the hotline, or visit its website, directly from their Gemini chat. Even if the conversation moves on, Gemini will keep these resources available for users should they need them. Google says it is pledging $30 million in global funding over the next three years to assist crisis hotlines. The company is also expanding its relationship with ReflexAI, including $4 million in funding. Gemini is changing how it responds to "acute mental health situations"Google says its clinical, engineering, and safety teams are currently focused on improving how Gemini responds to these difficult situations. Specifically, there are three areas of focus: Safety and human connection: Google wants to connect users to real humans, not AI chatbots, in times of crisis. Improved responses: AI responses should encourage users to seek help, and not validate harmful behaviors or self-harm. Avoiding confirming false beliefs: Google says it trained Gemini not to reinforce false beliefs, and "gently" differentiate between subjective and objective realities. This point is particularly important, as previous generative AI models (notably GPT-4o) were all too ready to confirm delusional thoughts from users. What Google says it is doing with Gemini to protect younger usersBy far, the most important discussion here surrounds minors and their interactions with AI. For its part, Google is touting what it has done with Gemini to protect younger users, including: "Persona protections" supposedly stops Gemini from acting like a companion when interacting with minors. There are designs to block Gemini from connecting too deeply with younger users, to prevent developing an emotional dependance. Gemini will avoid encouraging both bullying and harassment. While user safety is important across the board, it's especially important for young people, who are quite literally growing up with the tech. These announcements are encouraging from Google, but I still have plenty of concerns, not to mention skepticism. Meta's internal policies concerning how its models interacted with minors was appalling, so I'm not necessarily ready to believe big tech has the youth's best interest in mind. But any work that helps prevent younger users from forming attachments with AI, or having that AI reinforce dangerous of harmful thoughts, I certainly welcome. View the full article

As the trial date nears for a showdown between Elon Musk and OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company has sent a letter to the attorneys general in California and Delaware accusing Musk of “anti-competitive behavior.” The letter, seen by both CNBC and the Sacramento Bee, alleges that Musk has been attempting to undermine OpenAI through a series of “attacks” on the company. OpenAI also accuses Musk of “coordinating his efforts” with Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, saying the two billionaires are “turning to conduct and approaches that we do think are really highly questionable and sharply worthy of investigation.” “It appears that Mr. Musk has reached new lows, as it has been just reported today that he is directing the circulation of false and wholly unfounded allegations in the press in a last-ditch effort to discredit OpenAI and its leadership,” wrote OpenAI strategy chief Jason Kwon in the letter. Neither X nor Meta replied to requests for comment on the allegations. Kwon asked authorities to investigate any “anti-competitive” and “improper” behavior by Musk and his associates, pointing to a story that ran Monday in The New Yorker. The report said Musk had hired investigators to conduct extensive surveillance on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, including tracking his flights, the parties he attended, and conducting interviews with a purported sex worker. The story included several lurid claims, though The New Yorker said it could find no evidence to support any of them. Altman stringently denied the rumors, calling the gossip “disgusting behavior from a competitor that I assume is part of an attempt at tainting the jury in our upcoming cases.” The history between Musk and Altman is complicated. The two co-founded OpenAI in 2015 as a nonprofit but had a falling out that led to Musk leaving in 2018 and eventually starting his own AI company. In 2024, he sued OpenAI, saying he was “assiduously manipulated” and “deceived” after the company explored becoming a for-profit entity. Jury selection for that case is scheduled to begin on April 27. In his letter, Kwon said the “attacks” could disrupt OpenAI’s efforts to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI), systems that equal or surpass human intelligence. “These attacks are designed to take control of the future of AGI out of the hands of those who are legally obligated to pursue the mission of ensuring that AGI benefits all of humanity, and put it into the hands of competitors who lack mission-driven principles and spurn any responsibility for safety,” Kwon wrote. While the letter names Zuckerberg, it offers little detail about the allegations against him. A report last month from Engadget, however, described text messages between Musk and Zuckerberg from last February. The exchange initially focused on Musk’s work with DOGE, but he later asked whether Zuckerberg was “open to the idea of bidding on the OpenAI IP with me and some others.” Zuckerberg replied that he would prefer to “discuss it live,” and a phone call was set up for the following day. (Zuckerberg never officially joined the bid to buy OpenAI.) The history between Musk and Zuckerberg is also fraught. Musk has previously challenged Zuckerberg to a cage match, referred to him as a “cuck,” and proposed a penis-size competition. After The President took office for the second time, however, the two appeared to set aside their differences and became allies. The letter is not the first time OpenAI has raised concerns about Musk’s behavior. Earlier this year, the company warned investors and banking partners that it expected the Tesla CEO to make “deliberately outlandish, attention-grabbing claims” as the trial approached that were not “grounded in reality” and were “typical of the harassment tactics he’s previously deployed.” View the full article

In an era where data drives decision-making, small businesses can benefit significantly from innovations in survey technology. SurveyMonkey, a leader in this field, recently announced enhancements to its AI-driven features, underscoring the company’s commitment to reliability and accuracy—critical factors for any small business looking to harness customer insight. Robin Ducot, SurveyMonkey’s Chief Technology Officer, emphasized that the dependability of AI outputs is paramount. “Reliability and accuracy are huge for us—because otherwise, what are we doing?” he said. Small business owners can appreciate that the integrity of the data they collect is foundational for making informed decisions that can affect everything from product development to customer service. SurveyMonkey’s AI solutions continuously monitor outputs and adhere to best practices to ensure data validity. This involves periodic retraining and comparing predictions against known data. For small businesses, this means they can trust that their surveys yield accurate insights, saving time and resources previously wasted on flawed data. The development of these intelligent features has involved direct collaboration between experts in survey methodology and software engineering. Zoe Padgett, a Senior Research Scientist at the company, shared that her team’s approach includes a thorough checklist of established best practices in survey design. This meticulous attention to detail ensures that key factors—like the alignment of response scales with questions and the avoidance of double-barreled queries—optimize the quality of data collection. For small business owners, utilizing these AI-driven tools can streamline the feedback process from customers, creating opportunities for improvement based on actionable insights. However, the promise of AI in survey technology is not without its considerations. Meera Vaidyanathan, SurveyMonkey’s Chief Product Officer, pointed out the essential role of trust in their services. “Trust is really the backbone of everything we do,” she noted. “Transparency is key.” For small businesses, understanding how AI processes their data is crucial. Owners must ensure their customers know how their data will be used, reinforcing trust in the feedback process. SurveyMonkey recognizes the need for customer control over AI features, allowing businesses the option to enable or disable AI support as necessary. This flexibility is particularly advantageous for small business owners, who may have varying levels of comfort with AI technology. It empowers them to tailor the use of AI according to their specific needs and to maintain a transparent dialogue with their customers about the survey process. While the advantages of these AI tools are clear, small business owners should also be mindful of potential challenges. Effective implementation of AI-powered survey solutions requires initial training and understanding of the technology. Business owners may need to invest time in learning how to best leverage these tools for their specific industry and customer base. There is also a risk of over-relying on automated insights without incorporating human judgment and contextual knowledge. Moreover, as the landscape of survey technology evolves, small businesses should stay informed about ongoing updates in best practices and industry standards. SurveyMonkey’s approach entails continuous evaluation of their methodologies, informed by insights from both internal and external experts in survey research. For small business owners, accessing resources and guidance from such trusted sources can enhance their understanding and effectiveness in implementing survey strategies. In a competitive market, feedback from customers can be a game-changer for small businesses looking to differentiate themselves. SurveyMonkey’s AI advancements provide an opportunity to leverage technology for deeper insights, but the path to success lies in balancing AI’s capabilities with human oversight and ethics. Equip your team with reliable survey tools that promote transparency, and ensure that you’re prepared to embrace the potential of AI while staying grounded in best practices. For further information on these features and to explore how they can benefit your business, visit the original post here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "SurveyMonkey Enhances Trust with AI-Driven Survey Methodology Insights" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In an era where data drives decision-making, small businesses can benefit significantly from innovations in survey technology. SurveyMonkey, a leader in this field, recently announced enhancements to its AI-driven features, underscoring the company’s commitment to reliability and accuracy—critical factors for any small business looking to harness customer insight. Robin Ducot, SurveyMonkey’s Chief Technology Officer, emphasized that the dependability of AI outputs is paramount. “Reliability and accuracy are huge for us—because otherwise, what are we doing?” he said. Small business owners can appreciate that the integrity of the data they collect is foundational for making informed decisions that can affect everything from product development to customer service. SurveyMonkey’s AI solutions continuously monitor outputs and adhere to best practices to ensure data validity. This involves periodic retraining and comparing predictions against known data. For small businesses, this means they can trust that their surveys yield accurate insights, saving time and resources previously wasted on flawed data. The development of these intelligent features has involved direct collaboration between experts in survey methodology and software engineering. Zoe Padgett, a Senior Research Scientist at the company, shared that her team’s approach includes a thorough checklist of established best practices in survey design. This meticulous attention to detail ensures that key factors—like the alignment of response scales with questions and the avoidance of double-barreled queries—optimize the quality of data collection. For small business owners, utilizing these AI-driven tools can streamline the feedback process from customers, creating opportunities for improvement based on actionable insights. However, the promise of AI in survey technology is not without its considerations. Meera Vaidyanathan, SurveyMonkey’s Chief Product Officer, pointed out the essential role of trust in their services. “Trust is really the backbone of everything we do,” she noted. “Transparency is key.” For small businesses, understanding how AI processes their data is crucial. Owners must ensure their customers know how their data will be used, reinforcing trust in the feedback process. SurveyMonkey recognizes the need for customer control over AI features, allowing businesses the option to enable or disable AI support as necessary. This flexibility is particularly advantageous for small business owners, who may have varying levels of comfort with AI technology. It empowers them to tailor the use of AI according to their specific needs and to maintain a transparent dialogue with their customers about the survey process. While the advantages of these AI tools are clear, small business owners should also be mindful of potential challenges. Effective implementation of AI-powered survey solutions requires initial training and understanding of the technology. Business owners may need to invest time in learning how to best leverage these tools for their specific industry and customer base. There is also a risk of over-relying on automated insights without incorporating human judgment and contextual knowledge. Moreover, as the landscape of survey technology evolves, small businesses should stay informed about ongoing updates in best practices and industry standards. SurveyMonkey’s approach entails continuous evaluation of their methodologies, informed by insights from both internal and external experts in survey research. For small business owners, accessing resources and guidance from such trusted sources can enhance their understanding and effectiveness in implementing survey strategies. In a competitive market, feedback from customers can be a game-changer for small businesses looking to differentiate themselves. SurveyMonkey’s AI advancements provide an opportunity to leverage technology for deeper insights, but the path to success lies in balancing AI’s capabilities with human oversight and ethics. Equip your team with reliable survey tools that promote transparency, and ensure that you’re prepared to embrace the potential of AI while staying grounded in best practices. For further information on these features and to explore how they can benefit your business, visit the original post here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "SurveyMonkey Enhances Trust with AI-Driven Survey Methodology Insights" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Few people would rally behind a campaign described as “we should control what other people can or can’t build,” or “let’s block certain people from living near us.” But that’s exactly what comes from typical zoning, permitting, and development rules. These local policies continue to get support from residents because the narratives are framed as “defending neighborhood character” or “protecting community identity.” Same policy, but without all the troublesome truth. Reframing a narrative from oppression to protection doesn’t change the facts, it changes how people feel about them. Successful NIMBY activists are excellent marketers, whether they realize it or not. They lead with character, cohesion, heritage—appeals that feel collective and protective rather than selfish and restrictive. The frame doesn’t just soften opposition, it recruits people who might otherwise stay neutral. This works because human psychology responds more powerfully to emotional and symbolic appeals than to literal descriptions. Negative frames highlight control, loss, or exclusion. Positive frames emphasize protection, belonging, and shared identity. In local politics, where home feels deeply personal, a protective-sounding narrative turns what could be seen as selfish restriction into principled guardianship. Nothing changes but the story In 2008, Shreddies was a square wheat cereal that had flagging sales. A young intern at an ad agency came up with an idea that added intangible value without changing the cereal recipe at all. Rotate the squares 45 degrees, and rebrand them as diamonds. Real people who thought they were part of focus groups described how the texture and taste of new Diamond Shreddies were better than the original squares. Sales surged for what became marketed as “45 more degrees of delicious.” Red Bull’s early consumer tests essentially pitched people an odd taste in a tiny can at a high price. Rational analysis predicted failure, but the brand reframed every liability as a feature. The small can meant concentrated power, and like some type of medicine, the strange flavor told your brain that the drink was working. Red Bull is a multi-billion-dollar icon built entirely on perception. Nothing changes but the story, and rejection becomes enthusiastic support. You might not like it, but that’s how our brains work. Public policy rhetoric is no different. “Keep out new families” sounds harsh and even embarrassing, but “defending neighborhood character” sounds noble. The underlying policy is identical in either case, but the narrative frame transforms how people feel about the policy. This framing advantage explains why housing shortages persist despite broad agreement that more supply is needed. NIMBY activists dominate the emotional, identity-based narrative. Pro-housing voices, by contrast, tend to default to terms that carry stigma or abstraction: “affordable housing,” “increased density,” and “upzoning.” These phrases describe policy accurately, but they don’t make anyone feel anything worth protecting. The asymmetry is stark when only one side in terms of values. New narratives Until urbanists find equally resonant frames, the better marketers will keep winning. People who want to see their community become stronger might consider narratives like these: Legalize the kind of community where young families can put down roots More neighbors means more local businesses, more sidewalk conversations, more community. Build communities where teachers and nurses can live near the people they serve. Restore the kind of walkable, connected neighborhoods people love. The facts don’t need to change, but the stories absolutely do. Reframing is perception magic. Understanding NIMBY success as marketing, not merely as grassroots sentiment, is the first step toward opening the doors to new homes in communities that so desperately need affordable places to live. The goal isn’t to out-argue opponents on policy details, it’s to out-story them. Until pro-housing advocates learn to speak in the same emotional register, they’ll keep bringing a spreadsheet to a storytelling fight. View the full article

The robots are coming—and they’ll need a good map to get around, whether they’re delivering our packages, driving us around, or doing any of the myriad of other tasks robotic helpers may perform for us in the future. “Without spatial intelligence, your robot really can’t do what you want it to do,” says John Hanke, the former CEO of Niantic Spatial who transitioned into the role of the company’s executive chairman a week ago. “Your Roomba is operating just in your house. But as we’re about to start operating at city scale, we need these big, large-scale, shared, accurate representations of the world.” This week, Niantic is taking the next step towards building that map: The company is launching its new Scaniverse platform, which aims to give companies and individuals the tools to capture the world with phones, 360-degree cameras and drones, and then fuse that data into a massive 3D map that allows robots to navigate the world around us with centimeter-level accuracy. It’s a very different approach from the way companies like Google have traditionally approached the problem, as Hanke knows firsthand from having led Google’s mapping efforts two decades ago. “The problem with the Google approach, having lived it, is: You send all the cars out, capture all the streets,” Hanke says. “Then a new road gets built. Everything changes. You’re always behind. Your data is always stale. It’s always old. And it’s very capital-intensive.” And while an outdated map may be annoying to people, it’s all but worthless to a robot. “You want it to be a living map, not some static reconstruction,” Hanke says. An app for enthusiasts becomes an enterprise platform Niantic came up with its bottoms-up, distributed approach to mapping when it was working on the popular mobile game Pokémon Go, and needed to turn real-life landmarks into virtual battlegrounds for its millions of players. When the company sold Pokémon Go a year ago and rebranded as Niantic Spatial, it doubled down on its 3D mapping efforts, striking deals with robotics companies and others to take advantage of its geospatial data. The company’s new Scaniverse platform is based on an app for 3D enthusiasts the company acquired five years ago. In its first iterations, the Scaniverse app primarily focused on letting people capture smaller objects in 3D. To do so, Scaniverse users would slowly move their phone camera around such an object, and then the app would turn the captured footage into a three-dimensional representation of it. Since the acquisition, Niantic expanded Scaniverse to also allow users to scan entire rooms—all while still processing all of the data locally on a user’s phone. Now, Niantic is taking the next step with the launch of cloud-based video processing and a dedicated Scaniverse website. Enterprise customers can use that website to upload footage from a variety of devices, including not just phones but also 360-degree cameras and drones, and then have that footage turned into a 3D model. Adding 360-degree camera support has been a game changer for the company. “Your camera sees what’s in front of you, what’s behind you, above you and below you,” says Niantic Spatial Senior Product Manager Azad Balabanian. “This is extremely important for being able to achieve very immersive-looking [scans].” Last month, Niantic let me scan a large square in front of San Francisco’s Ferry Building, where the company is located. Capturing this area was extremely easy: I simply carried a 360-degree camera on a selfie stick while casually walking a big loop—a process that took maybe five minutes. Once the footage got uploaded to Scaniverse, the platform automatically removed any trace of me, and then rendered the entire square in 3D: To turn the captured video footage into a 3D model, Scaniverse uses a technology known as Gaussian splatting. In essence, Gaussian splatting turns 2D images into a huge number of three-dimensional blobs that offer varying degrees of transparency, and can be viewed from all angles. Gaussian splatting has become one of the most promising ways to capture spaces in 3D. It is also being used by Meta to capture real-life rooms for virtual worlds. Niantic released its own VR viewing app for Scaniverse scans last year. Now, the company is focused on not only making its scans look good to humans, but also make sense to robots and AI algorithms. “Gaussian splatting can be very tricky,” Balabanian explains. “Things [may be] looking right, but not actually have real surfaces.” Oversimplified, a wall that’s painted white can look nearly indistinguishable from a wall of fog to a 3D scanning app. That’s why Niantic researchers developed a depth estimation model for the Scaniverse cloud processing platform that accurately captures hard surfaces a robot may crash into. “We can achieve lidar-level-quality depth without needing Lidar,” Balabanian says, referencing the laser sensors used by self-driving cars to safely navigate streets. 3D for construction companies, Hollywood and AI Some of the sectors that Niantic is targeting with its new Scaniverse platform include construction, logistics and utilities, all industries that handle large, complex sites. Having 3D models of these sites can help with planning and maintenance, but also enable the companies to eventually have robots navigate their warehouses and power plants. Building and training robots, and the AI models used to make them work, also requires a bunch of 3D data. “Robots need a lot of training data, and [companies] want to simulate things in training environments before they deploy them,” Balabanian says. “If you want to make sure your robot works really well in a real-life place, the best way you’re going to do that is to map the place yourself.” Even Hollywood can benefit from technologies like Gaussian splatting, and for instance scan film locations to plan shoots, and generate the kind of raw concept footage known among studio insiders as pre-visualization. But while Niantic Spatial is now expanding its offerings to the enterprise, it hasn’t forgotten about the hobbyists and enthusiasts that turned Scaniverse into an early 3D scanning success story. For now, the company is offering separate consumer and enterprise accounts for Scaniverse. Eventually, it wants to merge those two versions of the platform, and give enthusiasts and prosumers access to cloud-based processing as well. It’s a nod to Niantic’s roots in the consumer space—the same roots that led the company to bet on simple phone-based apps over an expensive fleet of camera-equipped cars to scan the world. “We developed quite a lot with very little, initially,” says Balabanian. “All the things [we] developed for consumer applications are now stepping stones for the enterprise.” View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. While I'd never presume to speak for her, I suspect that Margaret Atwood would be perfectly happy to be a little less hot right now, if only it meant that her works of fiction, always prescient, weren't so alarmingly present. Written in 1985, The Handmaid's Tale feels closer than ever, and its 2019 sequel, The Testaments, now has a much-anticipated adaptation of its own. While Handmaid saw a generation of women coming to grips with an oppressive Christian nationalist regime consolidating its power, The Testaments finds a later generation of young women who've never known any different; for whom this is all perfectly normal. Which feels rather real. Stream The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments on Hulu, and then check out these other fascist dystopias. Alias Grace (2017) It’s the other big Margaret Atwood novel adaptation (existing well in the shadow of the bigger, buzzier Handmaid’s Tale), but this miniseries is every bit as biting and well-crafted. It’s based on the true story of a poor Irish immigrant found guilty of a double homicide in 1843 under somewhat mysterious circumstances, and following a life of trauma. Years later, a psychiatrist comes to examine her and explores her past and the circumstances that might (just might) have driven a disenfranchised and powerless girl to murder. Stream Alias Grace on Netflix. Alias Grace (2017) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Pluribus (2025 – ) In some ways, this is a bit of an anti-Handmaid's Tale, with Pluribus leaning toward dark comedy, but we remain in a fascist dystopia in this show from Breaking Bad's Vince Gilligan, albeit of a different variety. Rhea Seehorn plays Carol Sturka, a fantasy romance author and general grouch who becomes one of only 13 people on the planet immune to the "Joining," an alien virus that transforms the rest of humanity into a peaceful, perky, and perpetually content hive mind. Carol refuses to surrender her miserableness in the face of a loss of identity, fighting instead to restore humanity to its admittedly cruddy ways. Thrilling, heartbreaking, and oddly funny, the show manages to address big questions about what it means to be human, but also, more specifically, suggests that even women who don't quite have their shit together deserve freedom of thought and bodily autonomy. Stream Pluribus on Apple TV. Pluribus (2025 – ) at Apple TV Learn More Learn More at Apple TV 3% (2016 – 2020) It would be tempting to see this as a metaphor for the American dream but, of course, it’s a Brazilian show, and it’s not as though inequality was invented in the United States—we’re just particularly good at it. In 3%, the impoverished young Inlanders have one shot at success: completing “The Process,” a series of interviews, puzzles, and escape rooms designed to test their worthiness to join a futuristic offshore utopia. Most fail, and many don’t survive, leaving a success rate of ... 3%. This is very much Hunger Games territory in terms of its themes, but the show has a darker, more adult edge. Stream 3% on Netflix. 3% (2016 – 2020) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Watchmen (2019) A standalone sequel to the groundbreaking Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and John Higgins graphic novel from the '80s (one that ignores the point-missing Zack Snyder movie), this series plays in the sandbox of that book (arguably the wellspring of all modern superhero deconstruction) while advancing its themes. In an alternate Tulsa, Oklahoma, in a world where super-powered vigilantes exist but have been outlawed, the series starts, dramatically, with a depiction of the real-life massacre and destruction of Tulsa's Black Wall Street by white residents in 1921. Regina King plays Angela Abar, a modern cop whose grandparents were killed during those attacks, an event that echoes throughout the series—it's a dystopia that doesn't look all that much different from our own, with masked police operating on the edges of the law, and overtly racist organizations that hold increasing political sway. Generational trauma is at issue here, and, like The Handmaid's Tale, it's a show that looks more depressingly prescient with each passing year. Stream Watchmen on HBO Max. Watchmen (2019) at HBO Max Learn More Learn More at HBO Max The Man in the High Castle (2015 – 2019) From a novel by Philip K. Dick (whose work has been the basis for Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, among many others), The Man in the High Castle takes place in an alternate history in which the Axis powers won World War II, and in which the United States is split down the middle; Japan governing the west and Germany the east. The title’s man in the high castle offers an alternate view, though, one in which the Allies actually won, with the potential to rally opposition to the Axis rulers. As the show progresses through its four seasons, the parallels to our increasingly Nazi-friendly world only grow. Stream The Man in the High Castle on Prime Video and Netflix. The Man in the High Castle at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Mrs. America (2020) Though fictionalized, Mrs. America dramatizes the ‘70s-era fight over the Equal Rights Amendment, the moment being, simultaneously, a high and low point in the hope for equity and autonomy. Cate Blanchett plays activist Phyllis Schlafly, who lead the fight against the (once) broadly popular proposed amendment, weaponizing the ERA by tying it to radical and pro-choice feminists, homosexuals, desegregationists, and other maligned groups. She was at the forefront of the broad conservative cultural shift that was very much in full swing when Atwood was writing Handmaid, and it’s not a bad time to take a close look at the people who made basic equality sound radical—a reminder that misogyny is not nearly only the province of white men. This is one hell of a supporting cast as well, including Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, and Elizabeth Banks. Stream Mrs. America on Hulu. Mrs. America (2020) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Mask Girl (2023) Kim Mo-mi (Lee Han-byeol, initially), the Mask Girl of the title, is a uniquely complicated woman in this twisty-turny K-drama, one that borders on the experimental in its shifting-perspective format. Mo-mi always wanted to be a K-Pop idol, but it was always made clear to her that she's not nearly pretty enough for that kind of stardom. So, in order to fill that void, she's got a side hustle: On top of her boring office job, she puts on a blonde wig and a mask to perform as a camgirl for anonymous men. It's a means to express herself creatively and sexually with a level of control—until a mistake causes her to lose that control, a co-worker discovers her secret life, and desperation leads to murder. It's a thoroughly twisty thriller with a dark sense of humor, but one that never forgets that Mo-mi's increasingly disturbing actions are fueled by a culture that sees her as plain, and therefore as merely incidental. Stream Mask Girl on Netflix. Mask Girl (2023) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Kindred (2022) Adapted from the essential 1979 novel by Atwood contemporary Octavia Butler, Kindred sees Dana James (Mallori Johnson) pulled back through time to antebellum plantation in Maryland. Having just moved to Los Angeles in 2016 (that year being no accident), Dana finds herself repeatedly transported even as her white neighbors are concerned about the new Black woman on the block. It's not nearly as effective as the book (which should be required reading), granted, but, like the book, it makes clear that the corrupting influence of American slavery has infected everything it has touched, then and now, and that Black women bear an even greater part of that burden. Stream Kindred on Hulu. Kindred (2022) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Leila (2019) Plenty will seem familiar here: Adapted from the Prayaag Akbar novel, Leila finds Shalini (Huma Qureshi) living in a segregated India of the 2040s, one in which water and clean air have increasingly become luxuries. For all of that, Shalini and her family are doing better than most, until they're attacked for their interfaith marriage—husband Rizwaan is killed, their daughter is kidnapped, and Shalini is sent to a re-education center alongside other women who are seen as sinners or otherwise unclean. There's the possibility of taking what's referred to as a Purity Test, but not for women with "mixed blood" like Leila. It's a future where women are held to strict but shifting moral standards, dissent is ruthlessly put down, education that's not religious is dismissed, and the environment is increasingly precarious. Couldn't happen here, of course. Stream Leila on Netflix. Leila (2019) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Shining Girls (2022) Handmaid's Tale lead Elisabeth Moss stars in this other sci-fi story from an acclaimed novel (in this case by Lauren Beukes). Moss plays Kirby Mazrachi, an archivist at the Chicago Sun-Times who was attacked and left for dead years ago. She still suffers from the trauma of the event, a legacy which becomes even more complicated when she finds reality shifting around her, and comes across a woman who was murdered, with wounds nearly identical to those that almost killed Kirby. She becomes determined to find the killer, even as the number of female victims grow. It's significant that she's an archivist and not a cop: Kirby isn't content to see these women as bodies, or as merely victims, but is determined that their stories are told. Best not to give to much more away here, except to say that there's a other significant clue in the title, referring as it does to women who stand out in a culture that doesn't always reward that kind of thing. Stream Shining Girls on Apple TV. Shining Girls (2022) at Apple TV Learn More Learn More at Apple TV View the full article

Google has begun placing sponsored ad units directly inside the Images tab of mobile search results — a new placement that eligible campaigns can access without any changes to existing keyword targeting. What’s happening. When a user navigates to the Images tab within Google Search on mobile, they may now see sponsored units appearing within the image grid. Each unit shows a full image creative as the primary visual alongside text, and is clearly labelled “Sponsored” — consistent with how Google labels ads elsewhere in search results. How it works. Eligible campaigns can serve into the Images tab without any changes to keyword targeting or campaign structure. The placement draws from existing image assets, meaning advertisers running Search or Performance Max campaigns with strong visual creative are best positioned to benefit. No separate image-only campaign setup is required. Why we care. This is a meaningful expansion of Google’s paid search real estate. For product-led and catalog-heavy advertisers, the Images tab is where purchase-intent discovery often starts — and now ads can appear right in that moment. If your campaigns already use strong image assets, you may be picking up incremental impressions without lifting a finger. The big picture. Early indications suggest this placement behaves more like a visual discovery surface than classic paid search. Expect high impression volume but lower click-through rates — more in line with display or Shopping than traditional text ads. That said, the assist value in multi-touch conversion paths could be significant, particularly for retail and direct-to-consumer brands. Treat it as upper-funnel reach, not a last-click channel. What to watch. Google has not made a formal announcement, and there is no dedicated reporting breakdown for Images tab placements yet. Monitor your impression share and segment data closely to understand whether this placement is contributing — and whether it’s eating into organic image visibility for competitors. First seen. The placement was spotted by Google Ads Expert – Matteo Braghetta, who shared seeing this update on LinkedIn. No official documentation has been published by Google at the time of writing. View the full article

UK National Cyber Security Centre warns that vulnerable routers will let attackers steal passwords and log-in details View the full article

Over 30% of outbound clicks go to just 10 domains, with Google alone taking more than 20%, according to a new Semrush study published today. ChatGPT also relies less on the live web, triggering search on 34.5% of queries, down from 46% in late 2024. The big picture. ChatGPT’s growth has plateaued, and its role in how users navigate the web is evolving unevenly. Referral traffic from ChatGPT grew 206%, comparing January 2025 to January 2026. The details. Most ChatGPT referral traffic still goes to a small set of sites, even as more sites receive some traffic. Google accounts for 21.6% of all ChatGPT referral traffic. The next nine domains bring the top 10 to just over 30% of referrals. Most other sites get a long tail of minimal traffic. The number of domains receiving referrals expanded, peaking at around 260,000 in 2025 before settling near 170,000. Why we care: Visibility in ChatGPT doesn’t translate evenly into traffic, and you’ll likely see marginal referral impact. The decline in search-triggered queries also limits your chances to earn citations and traffic. When ChatGPT searches. It defaults to pre-trained knowledge and uses web search in specific cases, including: User requests for sources. Questions about recent events. Situations where the model lacks confidence. Behavior shift: Most ChatGPT prompts still don’t resemble traditional search queries. Between 65% and 85% of prompts don’t match standard keywords, reflecting more complex, conversational inputs. Meanwhile, engagement is deepening. Queries per session jumped 50% in late 2025. About the data. Semrush analyzed more than 1 billion lines of U.S. clickstream data from October 2024 to February 2026 across a 200 million-user panel, tracking prompts, referral destinations, and search usage. The study. ChatGPT traffic analysis: Insights from 17 months of clickstream data View the full article

Downing Street reiterates that Iran conflict ‘isn’t our war’View the full article

Effective leadership isn’t just about giving orders—it’s about truly hearing your team. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol believes that listening more and talking less is the most underrated skill a leader can have. View the full article

A term loan calculator is a useful tool that helps you estimate your monthly payments and total interest costs for a term loan. By entering details like the loan amount, interest rate, and repayment period, you can quickly generate payment estimates and see an amortization schedule. This tool is crucial for financial planning, as it allows you to compare different loan options and understand how additional payments can influence your overall costs. But how does it work in practice? Key Takeaways A term loan calculator estimates monthly payments, total interest, and repayment timelines for fixed-term loans. Users input loan amount, interest rate, and repayment period into the calculator for accurate calculations. It helps compare different loan structures and their financial impacts effectively. The calculator can generate an amortization schedule, detailing payment breakdowns over time. It aids in financial planning, allowing borrowers to understand total loan costs before committing. Understanding Term Loans A term loan is a fundamental financial tool that can help you meet specific funding needs. It’s a type of loan providing a fixed amount of money, which you repay over a predetermined period, usually with fixed monthly payments. The duration can range from one year to several years, and longer terms often mean lower monthly payments but higher total interest costs. Interest rates on term loans can be fixed or variable, affecting your overall repayment. To manage these loans effectively, you can use a term loan calculator. This tool helps you estimate your monthly payments and determine the total interest paid on a 25-year mortgage. How to Use a Term Loan Calculator Using a term loan calculator can simplify the process of comprehending your loan obligations and help you make informed financial decisions. To start, input the loan amount, interest rate, and repayment period into the loan payment calculator. This lets you see how to calculate loan payment effectively. You can likewise use a monthly payment calculator to visualize different scenarios, like comparing a 10-year term to a 20-year term. By using the amortization schedule formula, you can generate an amortization table calculator that outlines your payment breakdown over time. If you want to see how extra payments affect your total costs, utilize a loan calculator with extra payments feature. This enables you to calculate total interest paid and understand your financial commitment better. Key Variables in Loan Calculation When calculating loan payments, several key variables come into play that directly impact your financial commitments. The loan amount, which is the total funds borrowed, greatly influences your monthly payment. The interest rate, expressed as a percentage, determines the supplementary cost of borrowing and affects the total interest paid over the loan’s life. The repayment period, or loan term, can likewise impact your monthly payment; longer terms usually mean lower payments but higher total interest costs. In addition, loan fees, such as origination fees, may adjust the initial loan balance, so it’s important to factor these into your calculations. Comprehending whether you have a fixed interest rate or a variable interest rate is vital, as this affects how your payments may change over time based on market conditions. Benefits of Using a Term Loan Calculator Grasping the benefits of a term loan calculator can greatly improve your financial decision-making process. By using this tool, you can quickly estimate your monthly payments based on the loan amount, interest rate, and term. It helps you perceive the total loan cost, including principal and interest, enabling better budgeting. Here’s a summary of key benefits: Benefit Description Quick Estimates Get rapid estimates for your 80000 mortgage payment. Cost Awareness Learn how to calculate total interest paid. Scenario Comparison Compare different loan structures easily. Amortization Simplified Create an amortization schedule with clear breakdowns. Financial Planning Use tools like loan calculator excel for ideal choices. Utilizing an amortization calculator with extra payments excel can further clarify your payment schedule calculator loan, helping you make informed decisions regarding your finances. Real-World Examples of Loan Calculations Real-world examples of loan calculations illustrate how a term loan calculator can simplify your comprehension of monthly payments and overall loan costs. For instance, if you take a $50,000 loan over 10 years, you’d pay about $580.54 monthly, totaling $19,665.09 in interest. A $35,000 car loan with a 3-year term results in monthly payments of approximately $1,048.98, with total interest of $2,763.33. Using a loan amortization schedule calculator for a $10,000 debt consolidation loan over 3 years, you’d see monthly payments of $334.54 and $2,043.31 in total interest. Moreover, if you add an extra $100 to your $20,000 loan’s monthly payment, a loan calculator with extra payments excel shows you can cut total interest by $500 and pay off the loan a year earlier. These examples demonstrate how to calculate amortization expense clearly using an amortization schedule mortgage formula. Frequently Asked Questions How Do You Calculate a Term Loan? To calculate a term loan, start by gathering key details like the loan amount, interest rate, and loan term. You can use the formula for monthly payment: M = P × (r(1 + r)^n) / ((1 + r)^n – 1). Here, P is the principal, r is the monthly interest rate, and n is the total number of payments. Finally, determine the total interest by multiplying the monthly payment by the number of payments and subtracting the principal. What Does Term Mean on a Loan Calculator? The term on a loan calculator refers to the duration over which you’ll repay the loan. It’s typically expressed in months or years, greatly influencing both your monthly payments and total interest. Shorter terms usually mean higher monthly payments but less interest paid overall, whereas longer terms can lower your monthly costs, affecting your financial strategy. Comprehending this helps you make informed decisions about the loan’s impact on your budget and long-term financial health. How Does a Term Loan Work? A term loan provides you with a lump sum that you repay over a set period, usually one to ten years. You’ll make regular payments, which include both principal and interest, gradually reducing your balance. The interest rate can be fixed or variable, impacting your total borrowing cost. Typically, you can use these loans for large expenses like equipment purchases or business expansions, with options for both secured and unsecured loans available. Which Is Better, CC or Term Loan? When deciding between a credit card and a term loan, consider your financial needs. Term loans usually offer lower interest rates and fixed monthly payments, making them better for larger purchases. They provide a clear repayment schedule, reducing the risk of accumulating debt. Conversely, credit cards often have higher interest rates and variable payments, which can lead to unexpected costs. For significant expenses, a term loan is often the more cost-effective option. Conclusion In conclusion, a term loan calculator is an invaluable tool for anyone considering a loan. By comprehending how to input key variables like loan amount, interest rate, and repayment period, you can easily estimate monthly payments and total interest costs. This calculator not just aids in financial planning but additionally enables you to compare different loan options effectively. Using it can lead to more informed decisions, finally helping you manage your finances with greater confidence. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is a Term Loan Calculator?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A term loan calculator is a useful tool that helps you estimate your monthly payments and total interest costs for a term loan. By entering details like the loan amount, interest rate, and repayment period, you can quickly generate payment estimates and see an amortization schedule. This tool is crucial for financial planning, as it allows you to compare different loan options and understand how additional payments can influence your overall costs. But how does it work in practice? Key Takeaways A term loan calculator estimates monthly payments, total interest, and repayment timelines for fixed-term loans. Users input loan amount, interest rate, and repayment period into the calculator for accurate calculations. It helps compare different loan structures and their financial impacts effectively. The calculator can generate an amortization schedule, detailing payment breakdowns over time. It aids in financial planning, allowing borrowers to understand total loan costs before committing. Understanding Term Loans A term loan is a fundamental financial tool that can help you meet specific funding needs. It’s a type of loan providing a fixed amount of money, which you repay over a predetermined period, usually with fixed monthly payments. The duration can range from one year to several years, and longer terms often mean lower monthly payments but higher total interest costs. Interest rates on term loans can be fixed or variable, affecting your overall repayment. To manage these loans effectively, you can use a term loan calculator. This tool helps you estimate your monthly payments and determine the total interest paid on a 25-year mortgage. How to Use a Term Loan Calculator Using a term loan calculator can simplify the process of comprehending your loan obligations and help you make informed financial decisions. To start, input the loan amount, interest rate, and repayment period into the loan payment calculator. This lets you see how to calculate loan payment effectively. You can likewise use a monthly payment calculator to visualize different scenarios, like comparing a 10-year term to a 20-year term. By using the amortization schedule formula, you can generate an amortization table calculator that outlines your payment breakdown over time. If you want to see how extra payments affect your total costs, utilize a loan calculator with extra payments feature. This enables you to calculate total interest paid and understand your financial commitment better. Key Variables in Loan Calculation When calculating loan payments, several key variables come into play that directly impact your financial commitments. The loan amount, which is the total funds borrowed, greatly influences your monthly payment. The interest rate, expressed as a percentage, determines the supplementary cost of borrowing and affects the total interest paid over the loan’s life. The repayment period, or loan term, can likewise impact your monthly payment; longer terms usually mean lower payments but higher total interest costs. In addition, loan fees, such as origination fees, may adjust the initial loan balance, so it’s important to factor these into your calculations. Comprehending whether you have a fixed interest rate or a variable interest rate is vital, as this affects how your payments may change over time based on market conditions. Benefits of Using a Term Loan Calculator Grasping the benefits of a term loan calculator can greatly improve your financial decision-making process. By using this tool, you can quickly estimate your monthly payments based on the loan amount, interest rate, and term. It helps you perceive the total loan cost, including principal and interest, enabling better budgeting. Here’s a summary of key benefits: Benefit Description Quick Estimates Get rapid estimates for your 80000 mortgage payment. Cost Awareness Learn how to calculate total interest paid. Scenario Comparison Compare different loan structures easily. Amortization Simplified Create an amortization schedule with clear breakdowns. Financial Planning Use tools like loan calculator excel for ideal choices. Utilizing an amortization calculator with extra payments excel can further clarify your payment schedule calculator loan, helping you make informed decisions regarding your finances. Real-World Examples of Loan Calculations Real-world examples of loan calculations illustrate how a term loan calculator can simplify your comprehension of monthly payments and overall loan costs. For instance, if you take a $50,000 loan over 10 years, you’d pay about $580.54 monthly, totaling $19,665.09 in interest. A $35,000 car loan with a 3-year term results in monthly payments of approximately $1,048.98, with total interest of $2,763.33. Using a loan amortization schedule calculator for a $10,000 debt consolidation loan over 3 years, you’d see monthly payments of $334.54 and $2,043.31 in total interest. Moreover, if you add an extra $100 to your $20,000 loan’s monthly payment, a loan calculator with extra payments excel shows you can cut total interest by $500 and pay off the loan a year earlier. These examples demonstrate how to calculate amortization expense clearly using an amortization schedule mortgage formula. Frequently Asked Questions How Do You Calculate a Term Loan? To calculate a term loan, start by gathering key details like the loan amount, interest rate, and loan term. You can use the formula for monthly payment: M = P × (r(1 + r)^n) / ((1 + r)^n – 1). Here, P is the principal, r is the monthly interest rate, and n is the total number of payments. Finally, determine the total interest by multiplying the monthly payment by the number of payments and subtracting the principal. What Does Term Mean on a Loan Calculator? The term on a loan calculator refers to the duration over which you’ll repay the loan. It’s typically expressed in months or years, greatly influencing both your monthly payments and total interest. Shorter terms usually mean higher monthly payments but less interest paid overall, whereas longer terms can lower your monthly costs, affecting your financial strategy. Comprehending this helps you make informed decisions about the loan’s impact on your budget and long-term financial health. How Does a Term Loan Work? A term loan provides you with a lump sum that you repay over a set period, usually one to ten years. You’ll make regular payments, which include both principal and interest, gradually reducing your balance. The interest rate can be fixed or variable, impacting your total borrowing cost. Typically, you can use these loans for large expenses like equipment purchases or business expansions, with options for both secured and unsecured loans available. Which Is Better, CC or Term Loan? When deciding between a credit card and a term loan, consider your financial needs. Term loans usually offer lower interest rates and fixed monthly payments, making them better for larger purchases. They provide a clear repayment schedule, reducing the risk of accumulating debt. Conversely, credit cards often have higher interest rates and variable payments, which can lead to unexpected costs. For significant expenses, a term loan is often the more cost-effective option. Conclusion In conclusion, a term loan calculator is an invaluable tool for anyone considering a loan. By comprehending how to input key variables like loan amount, interest rate, and repayment period, you can easily estimate monthly payments and total interest costs. This calculator not just aids in financial planning but additionally enables you to compare different loan options effectively. Using it can lead to more informed decisions, finally helping you manage your finances with greater confidence. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is a Term Loan Calculator?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article