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House lawmakers scrapped a ban on big-money investors from purchasing single-family homes, opting for a path that clears the bill's legislative hurdles. View the full article

A reader writes: I’ve been working with a report who has had some troubles with organization — he would have dropped a few balls if I hadn’t spotted that he was missing things. I’ve given him some very direct feedback which he agreed with. He’s been working on some better organizational systems, but now I’m wondering if there’s more to the issues. We’re all remote and have an online chat system that shows if you’re away from your desk for more than five minutes. And he is away … a lot. I hate that I’ve noticed this, because I don’t want to be micromanaging my team’s hours, but frequently I go to message him and find he’s been away for 20-30 minutes. We work 9-5 and it’s reasonably flexible. If you have a doctor’s appointment or want to take a longer lunch, the expectation is that you mark it in your calendar and make the time up later. I also have no problem with people stepping away from their desk occasionally to deal with life or to get some thinking time. But there is a limit and I think he’s exceeding it. As an example, he logged on 20 minutes late yesterday, took a 90+ minute lunch break and at least another half hour break that I noticed — and I’m obviously not monitoring him all the time. As far as I can tell, he’s not making the time up later, and he hasn’t mentioned any of this or put it in his calendar. If he was a strong performer, I wouldn’t care! And I don’t want people to think they can’t flex their hours sensibly because they absolutely can. But this could be playing into the organizational issues if he’s missing things because he’s not spending enough time on them. Should it be part of the conversation? How do I raise it without sounding like I’m micromanaging his hours? Yeah, I’d raise it — because while ultimately his work quality (meeting deadlines, not letting balls drop, etc.) is the issue, this sounds likely enough to be playing a role in what’s happening that it’s silly not to name it when it might speed up the whole process of figuring out if he’s going to work out in this job or not. Plus, he sounds pretty far over the line in terms of what kind of flexibility is appropriate for him to be taking. It’s not like you’re calling him out for his lunch running over by 10 minutes; you’re seeing significant and regular chunks of time missing from his work hours. I would say it this way: “I’ve noticed that you’re away from your desk a lot more frequently than I’d expect. We do have some flexibility with hours, but the expectation is that if you have an appointment or take an extra long lunch, you’ll mark it in your calendar and make the time up later (or take PTO if you can’t or don’t want to make up the time). Generally, though, I’d expect you to be working 9-5 with a half hour for lunch. I don’t want to micromanage your time — but when you’ve been dropping balls and working to get better organized, it makes me concerned that this is playing a role. So I want to ask you to look at that as well.” Or you could skip those last two sentences and just end with, “Can you be sure you’re doing that going forward?” There are times when it makes sense to just keep the focus on the ultimate outcomes you need from an employee (in this case, that he gets better organized and stops dropping balls) and figure that it’s up to him how he gets there, and that the pressure from you to do that should naturally push him to change those habits — and that if he doesn’t get there, he’s not well suited for the job. But in this case I think you’ll save some time by just naming what you’re seeing and telling him he needs to rein it in. And you’re not required to look the other way when he’s abusing the job’s flexibility … in any case, but especially when where you’re actively coaching him to fix problems. The post how much should I monitor a struggling employee’s work hours? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

While Freddie Mac's weekly data found the 30-year average inching lower, 10-year Treasurys swung in the other direction after this week's economic release. View the full article

New subsidiary pivots to energy storage batteries for AI after disastrous electric vehicle writedown View the full article

We are facing our generation’s digital divide: the AI Acumen Gap. According to our latest Brand Expectations Index, trust in AI is not a baseline; it’s a spectrum defined by professional proximity and generational sentiment. On one side, you have knowledge workers and younger generations who use these tools daily and largely trust the trajectory of big tech and AI startups. Within the general population and older generations, however, only a small fraction trusts AI companies, while nearly half view the technology as a harbinger of a more dangerous future. This divide creates a communication paradox. If you speak to everyone, you resonate with no one. To survive this divided landscape, leaders must pivot from a universal AI narrative to a segmented credibility strategy. AUDIT YOUR AUDIENCE’S COMFORT CEILING Before issuing any communications, you must first understand your audience’s boundaries for AI use. The comfort levels are not just different; they are opposed. The insiders (Millennials and knowledge workers): These two groups have higher levels of trust, with 78% of knowledge workers and 71% of Millennials comfortable with AI-driven personalization of products and recommendations. 60% of Millennials are comfortable with AI-generated executive avatars. They value efficiency and innovation. The skeptics (Boomers and general population): In the general population, 38% are uncomfortable with AI-driven product or recommendation personalization, and a staggering 80% of Boomers reject the idea of automated executive messaging. They value humanity and oversight. The playbook shift: If you are a B2B tech company, lean into the future of work with AI. Consumer brands should put the bot in the background and keep their human leadership in the foreground. TECH LEADERS MUST MOVE FROM HYPE TO GOVERNANCE For companies whose primary audience is knowledge workers, the challenge isn’t proving that AI works; it’s proving that you are a responsible steward of it. The data: knowledge workers prioritize showing the work—63% want to see you consulting outside experts, and 66% rank a leader’s long-term reputation as a primary trust driver. Despite this group’s comfort level with AI, uneasiness remains around about AI’s use in automating critical business functions: 52% are not comfortable with AI generating legal or policy documents, and 58% resist using AI to make HR decisions. The tactical shift: Stop talking about how AI will change the world. Start talking about your governance frameworks. Use explanatory channels like LinkedIn and technical whitepapers to detail your data protection and ethical guardrails. For this high-acumen group, process transparency is the most durable currency. CONSUMER BRANDS: SHIFT FROM FEATURES TO FEELINGS If your primary audience is the general population, take note. When they hear companies talking about AI, they don’t hear innovation; they hear a loss of control over their privacy, their jobs, and their information. While tech insiders see a tool, the general public sees a threat. The fear factor: Nearly half (47%) of the general population views AI as leading to a more dangerous future. This skepticism is rooted in a perceived lack of accountability. The trust floor: Only 28% of the general public trusts AI companies and startups, compared to 58% of knowledge workers. What restores control: Trust isn’t built by a visionary CEO; it’s built on safety. More than half (66%) of the general population say protecting customer data is the top driver of trust, followed closely by admitting mistakes and outlining corrective steps (66%). The tactical shift: Use AI to solve consumer pain points, but don’t lead with the AI label. Your strategy should be AI-powered and human-led. For the general public, especially women and Gen Z, trust increases when they see a brand responding to concerns rather than just broadcasting features. Meet skeptics where they are. Use YouTube and TikTok/Reels to demonstrate accountability and human impact. Show the people behind the machine and emphasize the guardrails you’ve put in place to protect the user. RESPECT THE TRANSPARENCY TAX Regardless of acumen, there is one area where the divide disappears: the penalty for deception. Most (73%) of the general public and 67% of knowledge workers will penalize a brand for undisclosed AI messaging. In a divided landscape, disclosure is the great equalizer. Whether you are selling enterprise software or laundry detergent, if a machine helps write the message, the human must sign off on it and tell the audience. We are entering an age where Silicon Valley is rewriting business as usual, but trust is still defined by the human heart. The acumen gap will eventually close as the technology matures, but the scars left by deceptive or tone-deaf communication will linger. By choosing to lead with empathy for the skeptic and governance for the insider, you’re defining the new rules of trust for the AI era. The divide is real, but for the leaders willing to show their work, it is far from insurmountable. Tyler Perry is the co-CEO of Mission North. View the full article

The U.S. stock market is rising toward more records Thursday after Cisco Systems joined the parade of U.S. companies reporting fatter profits for the start of 2026 than analysts expected. The S&P 500 added 0.9% to its all-time high set the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 386 points, or 0.8%, and is on track to finish a day above the 50,000 level for the first time since the war with Iran began. The Nasdaq composite was 1% higher and adding to its own record, as of 11:45 a.m. Eastern time. Cisco helped lead the market after jumping 15.5% in what could be its best day in nearly 15 years. The tech giant reported better profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, and CEO Chuck Robbins said it saw “very strong, broad-based demand for our products.” Big Tech behemoths in particular are pouring cash into artificial-intelligence technology, and Cisco gave a forecast for profit in the current quarter that easily topped analysts’ expectations. Such voracious demand for AI, and the big profits it’s producing, have been major reasons the U.S. stock market has set records throughout this year. Cerebras Systems, an AI processor company, raised $5.55 billion after selling its stock in an initial public offering, and its shares are set to begin trading on the Nasdaq later in the day. Corporate earnings reported so far this season have “reinforced that this is still an AI-led market, but one where the impact is broadening quickly,” according to Gargi Pal Chaudhuri, chief investment and portfolio strategist at BlackRock. “What started with a handful of companies is now driving earnings growth across semiconductors, infrastructure, and even parts of the industrial economy,” she said. Outside of AI, other stocks rallying after delivering better-than-expected profit reports included StubHub Holdings, up 18.2%, Viking Holdings, up 7% and Yeti Holdings, up 4.7%. All three companies sell products that aren’t day-to-day essentials, such as concert tickets, river cruises and insulated water bottles. Strong results from them could be an indicator that customers are still willing to spend even though U.S. consumers have been telling surveys they’re feeling discouraged about the economy. Whether U.S. households will keep spending and support the economy is a big question because pressure has been rising on them due to high oil prices and inflation created by the Iran war. A report released Thursday said that shoppers overall spent less at U.S. retailers last month than economists expected. But the deceleration after factoring out gasoline and automobile sales wasn’t quite as bad as economists thought it would be. A separate report, meanwhile, said more U.S. workers filed for unemployment benefits last week, which could be an indication of more layoffs. The number, though, remains relatively low compared with history. Treasury yields flitted up and down in the bond market immediately after the reports, but they largely remained steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged down to 4.45% from 4.46% late Wednesday. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose in Europe following a mixed finish in Asia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1%, while South Korea’s Kospi jumped 1.8% to another record thanks to gains for AI-related stocks. Stocks were nearly flat in Hong Kong and down 1.5% in Shanghai as Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with U.S. President Donald The President in Beijing. Some investors hope The President could encourage Xi to use China’s close economic ties with Iran to get it to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The strait’s closure because of the war has kept oil tankers pent up in the Persian Gulf instead of delivering crude to customers worldwide, which has driven up crude prices. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, fell 0.6% to $104.97 Thursday, but it remains well above its price of roughly $70 from before the war. —Stan Choe, AP business writer AP Business Writers Chan Ho-him and Matt Ott contributed to this report. View the full article

What Is Procore? Procore is a construction management software platform used to plan, coordinate and monitor construction projects. It is commonly used by general contractors, subcontractors, owners and construction managers to manage drawings, schedules, RFIs, submittals, budgets and field collaboration across commercial and residential projects. Unlike general-purpose project management tools, Procore is built specifically for construction workflows. The platform combines document management, cost tracking, scheduling, quality and safety tools, communication features and mobile field reporting into a centralized cloud-based system that connects office and jobsite teams in real time. ProjectManager is award-winning construction project management software that gives construction companies tools to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget and within scope. It allows project managers to create detailed construction schedules, estimate costs, allocate resources, set budgets, track progress and compare estimated versus actual project outcomes using real-time dashboards and reports to quickly identify delays or cost overruns. Get started with ProjectManager for free today. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/critical-path-light-mode-gantt-construction-CTA.pngLearn more Is Procore Project Management Software? Procore can be considered a project management software, but it’s primarily a construction management platform. The software offers tools for construction scheduling, budget tracking, document management, progress monitoring and team collaboration, but its strongest functionality is centered around construction-specific features such as RFIs, submittals, punch lists, inspections, drawing management and field coordination, rather than traditional project planning, scheduling and tracking tools. As a result, Procore is designed more for managing construction workflows than for serving as a complete all-purpose project management system. Because of that, many companies still rely on additional software to handle broader project management activities such as advanced resource capacity planning, workload management, portfolio planning and long-term project forecasting. It’s common for contractors to use Procore alongside tools like Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project when they need more control over project timelines, dependencies, resource allocation and project controls. Procore Project Management Features Beyond its construction-specific tools such as RFIs, submittals, punch lists, inspections and drawing management, Procore also includes several features that support project planning, coordination and project tracking activities. The sections below take a closer look at the project management capabilities Procore offers and how construction teams use them to manage schedules, costs, communication and day-to-day execution. Project scheduling: Procore allows teams to manage project schedules, track milestones and monitor task progress through integrations with scheduling tools like Microsoft Project and Primavera P6, along with built-in schedule viewing and updating features. Budget management: Users can create budgets, monitor committed costs, track actual expenses and compare financial performance against the original project budget throughout the project lifecycle. Document management: Centralized document storage helps teams organize contracts, drawings, specifications, reports and other project files while maintaining version control and field accessibility. Team collaboration: Built-in communication tools allow office and field teams to share updates, assign responsibilities, track conversations and coordinate project activities in real time. Progress tracking: Construction teams can monitor daily activities, production progress, open issues and project performance through logs, reports and field updates. Workflow automation: Approval workflows, notifications and project status tracking features help standardize repetitive project processes and reduce delays caused by manual coordination. Reporting and dashboards: Procore provides dashboards and customizable reports that give stakeholders visibility into schedule performance, project costs, outstanding items and overall project status. Resource coordination: Workforce planning and labor tracking tools help project teams coordinate crews, subcontractors and field activities across active construction projects. Pros of Procore for Project Management Despite leaning heavily toward construction operations, Procore still provides several capabilities that help teams plan work, coordinate stakeholders and monitor project performance. Below are some of the strongest advantages Procore offers from a project management perspective. Centralized project information: Procore keeps schedules, budgets, documents, reports and communication records in one platform, making it easier for teams to access current project data without switching between multiple systems. Strong team collaboration tools: Real-time communication features help office staff, field teams, subcontractors and stakeholders stay aligned on project updates, responsibilities and ongoing issues. Real-time project visibility: Dashboards and reporting tools give project managers quick insight into project costs, schedule progress, open items and field activity as work moves forward. Mobile accessibility: Procore’s mobile app allows project teams to review project information, submit updates and track progress directly from the jobsite, improving coordination between field and office teams. Integration with scheduling and financial tools: The platform connects with software like Primavera P6, Microsoft Project and accounting systems, allowing teams to extend Procore’s project management functionality through integrations. Cons of Procore for Project Management Although Procore performs well for construction coordination and field management, its project management capabilities are more limited compared to dedicated project management software platforms. The following drawbacks become more noticeable on large, complex or portfolio-level projects. Limited advanced scheduling functionality: Procore does not offer the same level of scheduling depth found in dedicated planning tools such as Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project, especially for dependency management, critical path analysis and schedule optimization. Weak portfolio management capabilities: Organizations managing multiple projects may find Procore lacking in portfolio planning, cross-project prioritization, strategic roadmap management and enterprise-wide workload balancing. Limited resource management tools: Resource allocation, workforce capacity planning and long-term workload forecasting are not as advanced as what specialized project management platforms provide. Heavy focus on construction workflows: Many areas of the platform are built around RFIs, submittals, drawings and field coordination, which can make the software feel less effective for broader project management needs outside construction operations. Dependence on integrations for deeper project controls: Teams frequently need external scheduling, reporting or financial tools to handle advanced project controls and detailed planning requirements. Less flexible for non-construction projects: The platform is highly specialized for construction environments, making it difficult to adapt for IT, product development, manufacturing or other industries that require different project workflows. Complex implementation for enterprise teams: Larger organizations often face longer onboarding periods, process standardization challenges and additional configuration work before Procore fully supports their project management processes. ProjectManager Is the Best Procore Alternative for Construction Project Management Although Procore performs well for construction-specific processes like RFIs, submittals, inspections and drawing management, its project planning and scheduling functionality is more limited than what dedicated project management software such as ProjectManager. Related: 10 Best Procore Alternatives of 2025 (Free + Paid) ProjectManager offers a more comprehensive construction project management solution with advanced Gantt charts, critical path tracking, workload management, resource scheduling, portfolio roadmaps, real-time dashboards, kanban boards, timesheets and automated reports in a single platform. Compared to Procore’s enterprise-oriented pricing structure, ProjectManager is easier to deploy and more affordable for contractors that need powerful project planning, tracking and resource management tools without excessive complexity. In addition to traditional construction scheduling capabilities, ProjectManager includes AI-powered project insights, workflow automation and live performance tracking that help teams identify delays, manage risks and improve decision-making. The platform also supports an open API and more than 1,000 integrations with tools like Acumatica, QuickBooks, Microsoft Project, Slack and Google Workspace, allowing construction companies to connect operational and project data across their existing systems. Watch the video below to learn more! ProjectManager is online construction project management software that empowers teams to plan, manage and track their projects in real time. We connect architects and engineers in the office with your work crew on the job site so they can share files and comments to foster better collaboration. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Procore for Project Management: Features, Pros and Cons appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Just renewed for a second season, Margo's Got Money Troubles stars Elle Fanning as the title's Margo, an 20-year-old aspiring writer who becomes pregnant following a brief an affair with her married English professor. Her mom, Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer), is supportive but pretty negative about Margo's future prospects, while her estranged father, Jinx (Nick Offerman), is willing to pitch in and help out now that he's out of rehab. Still, she needs money if she's going to manage it all, and so takes to OnlyFans (and, at this point, who amongst us hasn't?). Stream Margo's Got Money Troubles on Apple TV, and then check out these other shows following women who make bold choices in the face of upheaval. Sex Education (2019 – 2023) There’s a fair bit of sex on TV (having migrated from the now largely sexless big screen), but that’s not the same thing as sex positivity. In this British comedy-drama, Asa Butterfield and Gillian Anderson star as an insecure, shy teenager named Otis and his mother, Jean, a frank and sometimes painfully honest sex therapist. When a school bully needs some sex advice, Otis dispenses some of the wisdom he’s picked up from mom, eventually making a name for himself around school by selling his knowledge as expertise. It’s a funny and charmingly raunchy show, treating sex with humor and positivity, and it features a great will-they-or-won't they couple in awkward Otis and the more fearless Maeve (Emma Mackey). The tone is similar to that of Margo, as is the sense that sex is simultaneously funny and fine. Stream Sex Education on Netflix. Sex Education (2019 – 2023) at netflix Learn More Learn More at netflix Single Drunk Female (2022 – 2023) Samantha Fink (Sofia Black-D’Elia) is a 28-year-old alcoholic who hits absolute rock bottom in the form of an embarrassing public meltdown. Committing to sobriety, she moves back to Boston with her strict and controlling mother (Ally Sheedy) and reconnects with her best friend, Brit (Sasha Compère). Of course, for all of that sounding like a good idea, it also puts her right back in the environment that contributed to her drinking in the first place. Funny and humane, this is another show about a messy, complicated young woman trying to get a fresh start following a life-changing event. Stream Single Drunk Female on Tubi. Single Drunk Female (2022 – 2023) at Tubi Learn More Learn More at Tubi Weeds (2005 – 2012) A classic of the crime-in-the-suburbs genre, Weeds finds a single mom making herself a success in a business that the broader society might frown upon. Mary-Louise Parker stars as Nancy Botwin, a recently widowed mom who's desperate to maintain the upper-middle-class lifestyle once provided by her husband. She can't really handle the idea of giving up the conspicuous consumption to which she's become accustomed, so she decides to make some bank for herself. And what better way to do that, particularly in the LA 'burbs, than by selling weed? (Obviously, the show was made and is set before the drug was legalized for recreational use in 2016.) Like Jon Hamm's Coop, Nancy is just not ready for her family to give up on nice things. Stream Weeds on Prime Video. Weeds (2005 – 2012) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Fleabag (2016 – 2019) This critical favorite stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the title character (she's only ever referred to as "Fleabag") in a comedy-drama about a free-spirited, deeply angry single young woman living in London and sharing her romantic ups and downs via confessional asides to us, the audience. She falls, rather reluctantly, for "The Priest" (Andrew Scott)—she's a confirmed atheist and he's, obviously, not, so the relationship is appropriately messy. Like Margo, Fleabag definitely has money troubles, going from art theft to running a struggling (you won't be surprised to learn) Guinea pig-themed café. Waller-Bridge won separate Emmys as the star, creator, and writer of the series. Stream Fleabag on Prime Video. Fleabag (2016 – 2019) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017 – 2023) Mrs. Maisel was one of Prime’s first and buzziest original series, a comedy-drama from Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls) about the title’s Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), a New York housewife of the late 1950s who discovers a talent for stand-up comedy. Inspired by the real-life careers of comedians like Totie Fields and Joan Rivers, the show is both warm and funny, with great performances and dialogue; it also achieves something rare in being a show about comedy that’s actually funny. Mrs. Maisel and her milieu are obviously far different from that of Margo, but there are similar themes involving funny, complicated women saying "fuck it" to life and career expectations. Stream The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Prime Video. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017 – 2023) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video A Virtuous Business (2024) This charming South Korean comedy-drama show takes us to a rural village in the impossibly long-ago 1990s, where four women from different backgrounds decide to make a go of selling sex toys and other adult-type products door-to-door. None of the women is in a particularly desperate situation, which, here, makes things even more interesting: They're all engaged in an entirely taboo (certainly at the time) industry to make a few extra dollars, or for a bit of fun on the side—a solid reminder that sex-adjacent work isn't only for those in dire straits. Stream A Virtuous Business on Netflix. A Virtuous Business (2024) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix P-Valley (2020 – ) A soap opera in southern-gothic style set at a strip club in a Mississippi backwater? In terms of tone, this drama is leagues away from Margo. And yet, there's connective tissue in the stories of women who have strayed well outside the confines of polite society, and don't much care if you like it or not. P-Valley follows the lives (and dramas) of the people working at the titular strip club in the Mississippi Delta, the secret ingredient being creator and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall, who very deftly blends juicy soap opera elements with an appreciation for the talents of these dancers, as well as deft commentary on the struggles of poor and Black Americans in the South. A long-awaited third season is coming later this year. Stream P-Valley on Prime Video and Starz. P-Valley (2020 – ) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Vida (2018 – 2020) Two very different Mexican-American sisters move back to their childhood home in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles following the death of their mother (the "Vida" of the title)—who they soon discover had been married to a woman. Mom left the daughters controlling shares of the bar she owned, but also a big chunk to her wife, forcing Lyn and Emma (Melissa Melissa Barrera and Mishel Prada) to make nice with a woman they didn't know existed. The comedy-drama explores the intersections of queer and Latinx identities from the perspective of women, with a not-disproportionate emphasis on the importance of sexuality (the show is as horny as it is smart). Stream Vida on Hulu and Prime Video. Vida (2018 – 2020) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu I May Destroy You (2020) Series creator/writer/co-director and star Michaela Cole plays a social media influencer turned novelist struggling to reclaim and rebuild her life after she is raped. It’s a meaningful, but frequently very funny comedy-drama about the darkness that threatens to overwhelm a woman’s life, and the long road back. Stream I May Destroy You on HBO Max. I May Destroy You (2020) at HBO Max Learn More Learn More at HBO Max Casual (2015 – 2018) Valerie Meyers (Michaela Watkins) is recently divorced, so she takes her daughter and moves in with her single brother, Alex (Tommy Dewey). Reconnecting with family is always fun so, ya know...definitely uncomplicated. He's the founder of a dating site, and helps her get back into the dating scene while she helps him find some meaning in his relatively untethered life. Like Margo, Valerie is picking up her life after a significant upheaval and figuring out what she wants from life. Stream Casual on Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, and Tubi. Casual (2015 – 2018) Learn More Learn More View the full article

Rocket Mortgage pointed to United Wholesale Mortgage's refinance promotions and comments by Mat Ishbia to induce brokers to breach non-solicitation agreements. View the full article

Microsoft Advertising is bringing LinkedIn profile targeting to connected TV campaigns, giving advertisers a new way to blend professional audience data with streaming inventory. The announcement was made by Product Liaison Navah Hopkins during the SEM Stories event on May 14. Why we care. Microsoft has long differentiated itself through access to LinkedIn audience data. Bringing that targeting capability into connected TV extends those signals into a fast-growing upper funnel format that has historically lacked precise professional targeting. For B2B advertisers especially, the move could help bridge the gap between brand awareness and performance measurement. What’s new. According to Hopkins, advertisers can now target connected TV audiences using LinkedIn profile attributes tied to a user’s profession. That means marketers may be able to reach viewers based on professional characteristics such as: Industry Job function Company category Professional identity signals Hopkins framed the feature as a way to build “really meaningful” audience lists that are less dependent on click-based intent signals. The bigger picture. The announcement fits into Microsoft’s broader push toward AI-powered and audience-first advertising experiences. During the session, Hopkins repeatedly emphasized the convergence of brand and performance marketing, arguing that AI-driven journeys are collapsing traditional funnels. Connected TV sits squarely in that conversation. Historically, CTV has been treated as a brand-heavy channel with weaker attribution than search or shopping campaigns. LinkedIn-powered audience targeting could make those campaigns more actionable for performance-minded marketers who need tighter audience controls. The update also strengthens Microsoft’s positioning against competitors in both the streaming and B2B advertising markets. What to watch. Key questions remain around, available markets, measurement and attribution capabilities, how granular LinkedIn audience segmentation will become in CTV campaigns and privacy and compliance controls for professional audience targeting. Still, the announcement gives Microsoft another differentiator in a crowded CTV market where advertisers increasingly want stronger audience precision without sacrificing scale. View the full article

Visa is stepping up its game in the blockchain space, marking a significant milestone for small businesses interested in innovative payment solutions. The company announced an expansion of its stablecoin settlement pilot program, now incorporating five additional blockchains. This initiative allows businesses to navigate a rapidly evolving financial landscape more effectively. As stablecoins increasingly become integrated into regular transactions, small business owners might find this move particularly beneficial. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, Visa’s stablecoin settlement capabilities reached an impressive $7 billion in annualized volume, marking a 50% growth quarter-over-quarter. This signals a growing acceptance of stablecoins as a viable option for everyday transactions. “Our partners are building in a multi-chain world, and they expect their options to reflect that reality,” said Rubail Birwadker, Visa’s Global Head of Growth Products and Strategic Partnerships. By opening the door to multiple blockchains, Visa empowers partners to choose the networks that best align with their business needs while relying on Visa’s proven infrastructure for settlement. Using stablecoins for transaction settlements has several practical advantages for small business owners. For one, the speed of transactions can significantly enhance cash flow management. Unlike traditional payment methods that may take several days to process, stablecoins can enable near-instant transactions. Furthermore, the low transaction fees associated with stablecoin transfers can be economical for small businesses that heavily rely on digital transactions, enhancing their profit margins. The new blockchains included in Visa’s pilot program—such as Arc, Base, Canton, Polygon, and Tempo—each bring unique functionalities that cater to diverse business needs. For instance, Arc focuses on integrating programmable money with real-world economic activities, while Base emphasizes low-cost, efficient settlements. This variety allows businesses to select platforms that fit their specific requirements, potentially driving innovation and improving operational efficiencies. Yet, transitioning to stablecoin payments isn’t without its challenges. Small business owners should consider regulatory concerns and technological barriers associated with adopting blockchain solutions. The evolving legal landscape around cryptocurrencies may pose risks, particularly for businesses in sectors that face stringent compliance regulations. Adopting a multi-chain approach requires a certain level of technical aptitude and may involve additional costs related to training staff on new systems, integrating these solutions into existing infrastructures, and ensuring cyber-security measures are robust. Furthermore, volatility remains a concern with cryptocurrencies. While stablecoins are designed to maintain their value, business owners must stay informed about market conditions that could affect these digital assets. Understanding these risks and having a sound strategy will be essential for businesses as they explore integrating stablecoin payments into their operations. The industry response to Visa’s expanded stablecoin capabilities indicates widespread support for these solutions. Nikhil Chandhok, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Circle, emphasized that their collaboration with Visa is fueled by the need for real-time settlement at a global scale. Jesse Pollak, Founder of Base, pointed out that Visa’s expansion is a pivotal step toward making stablecoin payments a daily reality, ultimately fostering a financial system that is faster, cheaper, and more accessible for everyone. Marc Boiron, CEO of Polygon Labs, highlighted the significance of this partnership in moving stablecoins into real-world payments, combining Visa’s global reach with Polygon’s efficient infrastructure to provide reliability and accessibility to partners worldwide. Visa’s move signifies an adaptive response to a growing multi-chain ecosystem, reflecting a robust trend in the usage of blockchain technology in commerce. By broadening its stablecoin settlement program, Visa not only caters to the immediate needs of its partners but also reinforces its commitment to enhancing the long-term viability of blockchain solutions in mainstream finance. In this climate of rapid technological advancement, small businesses have an opportunity to leverage these developments for competitive advantage. The integration of stablecoins and blockchain technology into payment systems will continue to evolve, presenting a landscape rich with potential for those willing to embrace it. For more details, you can view the original press release from Visa here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Visa Expands Stablecoin Pilot to Support Nine Blockchains Amid Rapid Growth" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old mayor of New York City, who campaigned on making the city more affordable, is facing one of the hardest tests of leadership: delivering on ambitious promises despite facing a challenging landscape. After inheriting a $12 billion gap in the budget—the largest since the Great Recession—Mamdani just released his $124.7 billion budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal year. It includes important measures like funding for childcare, worker protections, and greater access to mental health care. It also includes some entirely new investments that focus on creating more affordable housing opportunities for low-income New Yorkers. In a video posted to social media, the mayor said that while critics claimed the only possible way to balance NYC’s budget would be to raise property taxes or slash city services, his team “rejected that idea” and still managed to bring the deficit down to zero. “We didn’t close the gap on the backs of working people,” Mamdani said in the video’s caption. “We closed it while funding parks, libraries, safer streets and making historic investments in public housing.” Where will the $124.7 billion budget come from? The balancing act is impressive, but how will it actually work? First, Mamdani and New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul worked together on assistance for NYC from the state. On Tuesday, they announced another $4 billion in financial assistance would be directed to NYC, increasing the amount to $8 billion over the next two years. “Today, we are fulfilling the promise to make free universal child care a reality, making significant investments in education, public safety, and infrastructure while providing the city the resources they need to continue to fund critical services for New Yorkers,”Hochul said in a statement on the increase in funds. While aid is a major piece of the puzzle, Mamdani has also been focused on reducing costs to the city. In order “to restore fiscal transparency,” the mayor ordered government agencies to appoint a Chief Savings Officer, which resulted in $1.77 billion in savings. Likewise, Mamdani is working to reduce the UBT (Unincorporated Business Tax) credit, a tax break for residents, estates, or trusts who pay the 4% UBT. That’s because the credit overwhelmingly benefits millionaires as it allows high-net-worth individuals to pay a lower tax rate than average workers. “Reducing the UBT tax credit will raise an additional $68 million,” the proposal explains. In addition to taxing the richest New Yorkers, Mamdani has also pitched major tax hikes on high-value properties. No shortage of critics While Mamdani seems to be appealing to his base by seeking to deliver on the affordability promises he campaigned on, he has no shortage of critics who say his proposals are anti-business. That tension reveals another major leadership challenge: making decisions that reinforce long-term priorities, even when they create resistance from influential groups. One of which is Citadel’s CEO Ken Griffin, who says he’s shifting expansion plans from NYC to Miami over the mayor’s “pied-à-terre” luxury tax, an annual surcharge on residential properties that are second homes (not the primary residence) and are valued at $5 million or more. Griffin says the firm is reconsidering its $6 billion development of 350 Park Avenue due to the proposed tax hike. Even Kathy Hochul weighed in on the debate recently, saying that rich New Yorkers leaving the city is not a good thing. “I need people who are high net worth to support the generous social programs that we want to have in our state,” she said at a forum in March. Still, while the mayor has received pushback on some campaign promises, specifically his plan to tax the rich at a higher rate, increasing the tax rate by two percentage points for those who earn $1 million per year or more could raise around $3 billion annually for New York City. So, while Mamdani might be ramping up his haters, he’s also doing exactly what he said he would do. Which may be a leadership lesson in itself. View the full article

Greater Manchester mayor has earned public respect by going from insider to outsider, but economic doubts could undermine his bid for Downing StreetView the full article

If you’re a small business owner facing challenges because of COVID-19, comprehending SBA 1201 Payments is vital. These payments can help alleviate financial strain, but not all businesses qualify. You’ll need to know which loan types are eligible and the specific criteria that apply. Furthermore, timely communication with your lender is fundamental for managing this process. Let’s take a closer look at who truly qualifies and how to maximize your benefits. Key Takeaways SBA 1201 Payments are available for small businesses with loans disbursed before September 27, 2020. Eligible loan types include 7(a) loans, 504 loans, and Microloans. Private nonprofits and 501(c)(19) veterans’ organizations qualify for SBA 1201 Payments. Larger businesses may qualify under specific SBA guidelines, but Paycheck Protection Program loans are excluded. Borrowers do not need to take action; lenders are automatically notified of eligibility by the SBA. Overview of SBA 1201 Payments When small businesses face financial challenges, the SBA 1201 payments offer crucial relief through a structured debt relief program designed to support those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These payments cover six months of principal, interest, and associated fees on qualifying loans, providing vital support during tough times. To benefit from SBA 1201 payments, your business must have a qualifying loan disbursed before September 27, 2020, and typically have fewer than 500 employees. Eligible loans include 7(a) loans, 504 loans, and microloans, but the program doesn’t extend to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Automatic notifications are sent to lenders regarding borrower eligibility for SBA 1201 payments, eliminating the need for any action on your part. Nevertheless, keep in mind that interest continues to accrue during this six-month relief period, which could affect your total repayment amount once regular borrower payments resume. Eligibility Criteria for SBA 1201 Payments To qualify for SBA 1201 payments, you need to meet specific eligibility criteria related to business size, loan type, and disbursement date. Primarily, your business should have fewer than 500 employees and hold a qualifying SBA loan disbursed before September 27, 2020. Comprehending these requirements will help you determine if you’re eligible for the relief payments covering principal, interest, and fees. Business Size Requirements Comprehending the business size requirements for SBA 1201 payments is vital for ensuring eligibility. Typically, your business must have fewer than 500 employees, following the SBA’s size standards based on employee count and annual revenue. Private nonprofits and 501(c)(19) veterans’ organizations likewise qualify, widening the pool of eligible entities. If your company has more than 500 employees, you might still qualify under specific SBA guidelines that evaluate your unique circumstances. Remember, only businesses with qualifying loans disbursed before September 27, 2020, are eligible for these payments. Furthermore, keep in mind that grasping how to wipe SBA debt after borrower dies is significant if you’re maneuvering through these requirements. Finally, don’t forget to make a 1201 borrower payment when eligible. Loan Type Eligibility Comprehension of loan type eligibility is crucial for accessing SBA 1201 payments. To qualify, your business must have an existing 7(a), 504, or Microloan that was disbursed before September 27, 2020. Moreover, you’ll need to meet the SBA size standards, which typically require having fewer than 500 employees. It’s significant to acknowledge that certain private nonprofits and 501(c)(19) veterans’ organizations can likewise qualify, even if they exceed the employee limit. If your company has over 500 employees, you might still be eligible under specific SBA guidelines. The good news is that you don’t need to apply; lenders automatically notify eligible borrowers, ensuring you receive six months of coverage on principal, interest, and fees. Disbursement Date Criteria Comprehending the disbursement date criteria is crucial for determining eligibility for SBA 1201 payments. To qualify, your business must have a qualifying loan disbursed before September 27, 2020. This includes existing SBA loans, such as 7(a), 504, and Microloans, but significantly excludes Paycheck Protection Program loans. Moreover, you should have fewer than 500 employees; yet, larger businesses might still qualify under specific SBA guidelines. If you’re a private nonprofit or a 501(c)(19) veterans’ organization, you can likewise be eligible, provided you meet the other requirements. It’s vital to recognize that lenders will automatically notify you about your eligibility and payment deferral, simplifying the process for accessing these payments. Qualifying Loan Types for SBA 1201 Payments To qualify for SBA 1201 payments, you’ll need to have existing loans under specific programs that meet certain criteria. These loans must be under the SBA 7(a), 504, or microloan programs and disbursed before September 27, 2020. Eligible businesses typically have fewer than 500 employees, which includes private nonprofits and 501(c)(19) veterans’ organizations. The SBA will cover six months of principal, interest, and associated fees for qualifying loans under this debt relief program. It’s crucial to note that during you won’t need to take any action to receive these payments, interest will continue to accrue on your loans during the six-month coverage period. Your lender will automatically receive notifications regarding your eligibility, so you can focus on your business without extra paperwork. Comprehending these loan types and criteria is vital for making the most of the SBA 1201 payments available to you. Automatic Deferral Explained Automatic deferral provides eligible borrowers with a significant relief option for their qualifying SBA loans, as it allows for six months of deferred payments on principal, interest, and associated fees without requiring any action from you. The SBA will automatically notify your lender about your eligibility for deferral, meaning you won’t need to initiate the process. Payments will resume on the next due date after the deferment period ends. It’s crucial to recognize that interest on your loan will continue to accrue during these six months, which can increase your overall repayment amount once regular payments start again. Although you’ll receive monthly payment notices during the deferral period, lenders must stop collecting payments during this time. You do have the option to continue making payments if you choose, but it’s wise to discuss with your lender how to shift back to regular payments after the deferment concludes. Process for Obtaining SBA 1201 Payments After experiencing the relief of automatic deferral, many borrowers may wonder how to obtain SBA 1201 payments. Fortunately, the process is straightforward for those with eligible loans. Here’s what you need to know: You must have a qualifying 7(a), 504, or Microloan disbursed before September 27, 2020. The SBA automatically grants six months of principal, interest, and fee payments without additional action required from you. Lenders will be notified automatically by the SBA about your eligibility for the relief program. Payments will start on your next due date after the deferment period, so keep that in mind. It’s important to communicate directly with your lender for specific details regarding your loan status and the SBA 1201 payments. Financial Management Tips for Small Businesses Effective financial management is vital for small businesses, especially when maneuvering through the intricacies of loan repayment and potential deferrals. Start by maintaining clear communication with your lenders to fully understand the status of your SBA loans and any available deferral options. Tracking your loan payments and deferment periods is important, as interest continues to accrue during deferral, which affects your overall repayment. Implement a financial management strategy that includes budgeting for resumed payments after the six-month deferment to prevent cash flow issues. Consulting with a financial advisor can help you navigate the challenges of loan management and guarantee compliance with SBA guidelines regarding payment obligations and interest accrual. Furthermore, utilize resources like the SBA’s financial management tools to aid in planning for future expenses and securing necessary funding to thrive once deferments end. This proactive approach will better position your business for financial stability. Additional Resources for Small Business Owners When you’re running a small business, knowing where to find reliable resources can make a significant difference in your success. Fortunately, various organizations offer support customized to your needs. Here are some valuable resources you can tap into: SBA’s Official Website: Discover extensive information on loan options, eligibility, and application processes. Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): Access free counseling and training to navigate funding opportunities and develop business plans. SCORE: Get free mentoring and workshops from experienced business mentors who provide guidance on critical business aspects. SBA’s Resource Partners: Utilize Women’s Business Centers and Veteran Business Outreach Centers for specialized support in starting and growing your business. Lender Match Tool: Connect with participating lenders to streamline your financing options. Importance of Timely Applications for Debt Relief Timely applications for SBA debt relief are vital for small businesses seeking immediate financial support, especially since the program covers six months of principal, interest, and fees for loans disbursed before September 27, 2020. Delays in applying may lead to missed opportunities for automatic loan payment deferrals, which can ease cash flow challenges during uncertain times. Action Required Deadline Impact Submit Application As soon as possible Access to debt relief funds Communicate with Lender Regularly Confirm eligibility Monitor Updates Weekly Stay informed on application status SBA debt relief targets small businesses with fewer than 500 employees, so acting swiftly is vital to qualify. The automatic notification process for lenders further underscores the need for timely action, ensuring debt relief starts without unnecessary delays. Frequently Asked Questions Who Is Eligible for SBA Payments? To determine eligibility for SBA payments, you need to have a qualifying loan, like a 7(a), 504, or Microloan, that was disbursed before September 27, 2020. Your business should have fewer than 500 employees, even though some larger businesses might qualify under specific guidelines. Furthermore, private nonprofits and 501(c)(19) veterans’ organizations are eligible. If you qualify, your lender will automatically notify you about your eligibility and the payment deferral process. What Disqualifies You From an SBA Disaster Loan? Several factors can disqualify you from an SBA disaster loan. If your business isn’t located in a declared disaster zone, you’re ineligible. A credit score below the SBA’s minimum requirement can likewise disqualify you. Furthermore, if you can’t demonstrate the ability to repay the loan or lack sufficient collateral for larger amounts, you may be disqualified. Ultimately, if your business is engaged in illegal activities or doesn’t meet size standards, you won’t qualify. What Are the Eligibility Requirements for an SBA Grant? To qualify for an SBA grant, you must be a small business or eligible nonprofit operating in a declared disaster area. Your business should typically have fewer than 500 employees or meet specific revenue limits. You’ll need to demonstrate economic injury because of the disaster and provide supporting documents, like financial statements and tax returns. Furthermore, your organization might need to show that it was operational at the time of the disaster declaration. Who Is Not Eligible for an SBA Loan? You’re not eligible for an SBA loan if your business exceeds 500 employees or engages in illegal activities. Nonprofits, aside from specific veterans’ organizations, typically can’t apply. If you’ve defaulted on previous SBA loans or have a felony conviction, you’ll likely be disqualified. Furthermore, businesses focused mainly on speculative activities, like real estate investment without a clear operational purpose, likewise don’t meet the eligibility criteria for SBA loans. Conclusion In conclusion, SBA 1201 Payments provide vital financial relief to small businesses impacted by COVID-19, particularly those with qualifying loans. To take advantage of this program, you must meet specific eligibility criteria and guarantee your loans were disbursed before September 27, 2020. Staying in close contact with your lender is crucial for a smooth application process. By comprehending these guidelines and acting quickly, you can navigate the path to securing the assistance your business needs. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "SBA 1201 Payments: Who Qualifies?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

It’s hard to think of another time in modern history where workplace trends have changed as quickly and as dramatically as they have in the last five years. From the enormous increase in remote work, to employees grappling with careers that look quite different than what they might have been told to expect, to rapidly growing discontent with income inequality and stagnant wages and disillusioned employees reassessing their trust in their employers, to young workers launching pandemic-era careers without the same set of work and academic experiences that previous generations benefitted from, work is just a very different place than it used to be. I wrote a short piece for Inc. about how managing needs to be different these days, and it’s accompanied by a round-up of 10 of Inc.’s favorite Ask a Manager Q&A’s. You can read it here. The post work is weirder now appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

What Is Microsoft Teams? Microsoft Teams is a collaboration and communication platform used to organize conversations, meetings, file sharing and team collaboration in one workspace. It is commonly used in IT, construction, marketing and remote work environments to help teams communicate faster and coordinate daily work activities. Built as part of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, the platform combines chat channels, video conferencing, document collaboration and app integrations so employees can work together without constantly switching between tools. Many organizations also connect the platform with Microsoft Planner, OneDrive, SharePoint and third-party applications to centralize operational communication. Is Microsoft Teams a Project Management Software? Microsoft Teams is not a true project management software platform. While the platform helps project teams communicate, share files and collaborate in real time, it lacks core project management features such as Gantt charts, resource management, workload balancing, cost tracking and advanced project scheduling. Most organizations use it as a collaboration hub that supports project execution rather than a complete system for planning and controlling projects. If you need a project management tool that integrates with Microsoft Teams, try ProjectManager. ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that gives teams across industries the tools they need to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget and within scope. It allows project managers to create detailed project schedules, estimate costs, allocate resources, set budgets, track progress and compare estimated versus actual project outcomes using real-time dashboards and reports to identify delays or cost overruns quickly. Get started with ProjectManager for free today. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Construction-Gantt-light-mode-task-info-general-CTA-BUTTON-1.jpgLearn more Can You Use Microsoft Teams for Project Management? Even though MS Teams is not a project management software, that limitation does not make the software useless for project work. Even without advanced project planning and tracking capabilities, many organizations still rely on Microsoft Teams to improve coordination, centralize communication and reduce the operational friction that slows projects down. Team communication: Project managers can create dedicated channels for departments, workstreams, clients or project phases to keep discussions organized and searchable. Project meetings: Built-in video conferencing makes it easier to run status meetings, stakeholder reviews, sprint planning sessions and virtual workshops. Document collaboration: Team members can edit spreadsheets, reports, contracts and project documentation simultaneously without downloading files or emailing multiple versions. Task coordination: Integrations with Microsoft Planner and Microsoft To Do allow teams to assign basic tasks, monitor progress and manage simple work queues. Cross-functional collaboration: Engineering, procurement, finance and operations teams can communicate inside a shared workspace instead of relying on fragmented email chains. Remote project management: Distributed teams can use chat, calls, screen sharing and notifications to maintain visibility across ongoing projects and operational activities. File storage and access: Connections with SharePoint and OneDrive keep project files centralized and accessible from multiple devices. Workflow notifications: Managers often integrate the platform with tools like Power BI, Jira, Trello or project management software to receive automated alerts and project updates. Pros of Using Microsoft Teams for Project Management For organizations already using Microsoft 365, the platform can improve day-to-day project coordination without requiring a major software rollout. Communication becomes more centralized, meetings are easier to manage and project conversations remain connected to files, tasks and team discussions. Centralized communication: Project discussions, meetings, shared files and team updates remain in one workspace instead of being scattered across email threads and messaging apps. Strong Microsoft 365 integration: Native connections with SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Microsoft Planner and Power BI simplify collaboration across existing business tools. Improved remote collaboration: Video conferencing, screen sharing and persistent chat channels help distributed project teams stay aligned across locations and time zones. Real-time document editing: Multiple users can review and update spreadsheets, reports, schedules and project documentation simultaneously. Faster information sharing: Notifications, mentions and channel-based communication reduce delays when teams need approvals, status updates or quick operational decisions. Cons of Using Microsoft Teams for Project Management Despite its collaboration strengths, the platform was not designed to replace dedicated project management software. As projects become more complex, many teams discover important planning, scheduling and tracking limitations that require additional tools or manual workarounds. No project scheduling tools: Microsoft Teams does not include native Gantt charts, dependency management, baseline tracking or critical path analysis. Limited resource management: Project managers cannot effectively balance workloads, allocate resources or monitor team capacity across multiple projects. Weak project reporting: The platform lacks robust dashboards, portfolio reporting and advanced project performance analytics without external integrations. Task management limitations: Basic task tracking through Microsoft Planner works for simple workflows but becomes difficult to manage in large or highly structured projects. Information overload: Busy channels, constant notifications and overlapping conversations can make it difficult to locate important project updates. Heavy reliance on integrations: Many organizations need additional software for scheduling, budgeting, risk management, resource planning and time tracking. Difficult to standardize projects: Without dedicated project controls and structured workflows, teams may manage projects inconsistently across departments. ProjectManager Is the Best Alternative to Microsoft Teams for Project Management ProjectManager is an online project management solution that provides a complete set of work planning, scheduling and tracking tools, including Gantt charts, kanban boards, task lists and real-time dashboards and reports. With these features, teams across industries can build detailed schedules, assign resources and monitor progress, costs and timelines. ProjectManager also delivers AI-powered project insights to support better decision-making and connects with over 100 tools like Microsoft Project, Acumatica and Power BI. With its open API and wide range of integrations, organizations can seamlessly link ProjectManager to their existing systems. Watch the video below to learn more! ProjectManager Also Integrates with Microsoft Teams Organizations already using Microsoft Teams do not need to abandon their existing communication workflows. ProjectManager integrates with Microsoft Teams so users can share updates, collaborate on tasks and improve visibility between project execution and team communication. This allows organizations to combine structured project management tools with the collaboration features employees already use daily. /wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Microsoft-MS-Teams-integration-page-featured-image-600x338.jpg More Alternatives to Microsoft Teams for Project Management Organizations searching for stronger microsoft project management tools often discover that collaboration platforms alone are not enough to manage complex schedules, resources, budgets and workloads. That is why many teams evaluate alternatives that offer more structured planning, tracking and reporting capabilities. Microsoft Project Microsoft Project is a dedicated project management software platform built for planning, scheduling and controlling complex projects. Compared to Microsoft Teams, it offers significantly more advanced capabilities such as Gantt charts, resource allocation, dependency tracking, critical path analysis and project baselines. Related: 20 Best Microsoft Project Alternatives for 2026 (Free & Paid) Large organizations and experienced project managers often rely on it to manage detailed project schedules and resource-heavy initiatives. However, the software has a reputation for being difficult to learn, especially for teams without formal project management experience. Cost is another major drawback. Microsoft Project can become expensive for growing teams, particularly when organizations need multiple licenses and additional Microsoft integrations. Its Project Professional and Project Standard editions are also desktop-based, which creates collaboration limitations compared to modern cloud-based project management software platforms. Microsoft Planner Microsoft Planner sits somewhere between Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Project in terms of functionality. While Microsoft Teams focuses primarily on communication and collaboration, Microsoft Planner introduces lightweight project management features that help teams organize and monitor day-to-day work. Related: 11 Best Microsoft Planner Alternatives of 2026 (Free & Paid) The platform includes kanban boards, task assignments, due dates, progress tracking and simple workload visibility. Those features make it useful for operational teams managing small projects, recurring tasks or departmental workflows. Even so, Microsoft Planner is still limited when projects become more complex. It does not provide advanced scheduling tools, resource management, cost tracking, portfolio reporting or detailed project controls. For that reason, most project management teams cannot rely on it to plan and manage projects from initiation through execution and closure. ProjectManager offers a more complete alternative that outperforms both Microsoft Project and Microsoft Planner for many organizations. Its cloud-based platform combines a modern interface with advanced project management features such as Gantt charts, resource management, workload tracking, dashboards and portfolio roadmaps. Teams can manage projects from start to finish while also overseeing multiple projects through built-in PPM capabilities. Related Microsoft Project Management Content 10 Top Microsoft Project Management Software, Apps & Tools 7 Microsoft Project Templates (Free MPP Files) Microsoft Planner vs. ProjectManager Microsoft Planner vs. Project: In-Depth Software Comparison If you need a tool to help you manage projects, then sign up for our software now at ProjectManager. Our online software helps teams across industries plan, track and oversee projects as they unfold. Sign up for a free 30-day trial today! The post Microsoft Teams for Project Management: Pros & Cons appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

The US is ill prepared to make decisions that will shape geopolitics for the foreseeable futureView the full article

Make a PE displacement window calendar work for you. By Hitendra Patil Go PRO for members-only access to more Hitendra Patil. View the full article

Make a PE displacement window calendar work for you. By Hitendra Patil Go PRO for members-only access to more Hitendra Patil. View the full article

Two world powers are in an arms race to develop the most advanced AI systems, and neither of them trusts each other—but each relies on the other’s compliance to proceed. This contradiction lies at the core of a dangerous standoff for our time. President The President’s meetings with President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week are a crucial moment for the U.S.-China relationship. U.S. officials made clear their intentions to initiate the discussion of setting up a dedicated communication channel regarding AI matters This means they’re worried that the technology could become a source of conflict between the two nations. I’ve been working in the tech world for decades, and I’m confident that this situation is unprecedented. Washington and Beijing both see the importance of advanced AI technology for purposes of intelligence and as a potential means of cyber warfare. It has thus become extremely important to coordinate and cooperate, even while remaining rivals. The U.S. has relied significantly on export control of technologies and equipment to impede AI development in China. At the same time, it has become increasingly obvious that blocking China from importing chips alone does not solve the problem. Even if you slow your rivals’ AI development, there will remain a scenario where both sides employ it in the context of offense without any set regulations. Chinese AI models such as DeepSeek compete on the global market as worthy contenders to American products. Additionally, according to recent accusations by the White House, Beijing launched industrial-scale operations aimed at extracting and copying American AI models. The irony is that both nations have experimented with using AI as an instrument of offensive cyber attacks. It’s become evident that the U.S. and China are simultaneously developing offensive tactics based on AI models, which makes any call for restraint in such matters hypocritical. Yet that is quite logical under current conditions. In a security dilemma, it is difficult to trust your adversary. Domestic issues complicate this matter There are also internal problems. The American companies working with AI find themselves at odds with U.S. regulators, who have not come up with reasonable guidelines for releasing new models. The discussions have been ongoing for several months now, and American companies have been opposed to government regulation for years. This lack of clarity on domestic grounds weakens American positions during negotiations with Chinese authorities. According to Melanie Hart, a former official with the State Department working for the Atlantic Council, AI is too significant to leave China out of the discussion. However, it should be mentioned that previously, Beijing officials used AI security discussions held under the Biden administration to gather information rather than discuss possible restrictions. They even employed foreign ministry representatives who lacked technical AI knowledge. This information shows that there might be some reason for suspicion, but does not warrant stopping all negotiations. While the summit cannot become the event where U.S. AI policy takes a revolutionary turn, it can help figure out whether further discussions on the safety of AI technology will be substantial or merely ceremonial. That distinction has become important because of rapid technological advancements. Advanced AI that can detect software vulnerabilities has become a threat to everyone. Systems of this sort cannot be controlled by governments yet. The situation is getting out of hand. The AI arms race is a reality, and it’s impossible to stop it at this point. However, the problem here is whether it is possible to be rivals and partners simultaneously and compete fiercely while still being able to talk to each other about this critical issue. View the full article

Welcome to AI Decoded, Fast Company’s weekly newsletter that breaks down the most important news in the world of AI. You can sign up to receive this newsletter every week via email here. A look at the AI landscape for small businesses So much of the conversation around the great AI transformation of business has centered on enterprises, meaning companies with more than 500 employees. That makes sense: For AI and cloud companies, landing a large enterprise customer can mean securing a significant stream of recurring revenue. But if we’re really talking about AI reinventing work and making everyone more productive, small and medium-sized businesses should be a much bigger part of the conversation. According to the Small Business Administration, around 36 million small businesses operate in the U.S., employing 46% of private-sector workers. Most of those companies are very small. Federal data shows that about 88% have fewer than 20 employees. Universities and consultancies have, of course, studied how and to what extent small businesses are using AI tools. Research from 2024 formed a consensus on the idea that relatively few small businesses had meaningfully begun adopting them. But surveys conducted in 2026 paint a more complicated picture. A recent Goldman Sachs study of 10,000 small businesses found that three-quarters are now using AI, with 84% citing productivity and efficiency gains. Still, only 14% said they had integrated AI into their core operations. Another study, from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), found that only a quarter of small businesses reported using AI tools at all. (NFIB typically surveys very small traditional businesses like plumbers and caterers while Goldman may capture more digitally engaged firms, like e-commerce retailers). Many small business owners are probably aware of the growing ecosystem of AI products designed for smaller operations. Intuit, Zapier, HubSpot, Lindy, and Microsoft all compete in this space. Many software companies that have long served small businesses, such as Intuit, have gradually folded AI copilots and automations into products customers already know well—products like accounting platforms, CRM systems, office suites, customer support software, and workflow automation tools. Microsoft did exactly that when it integrated Copilot into its productivity suite. Google, meanwhile, is weaving its Gemini model into its Google Workspace suite. And the big AI labs are increasingly targeting smaller businesses. OpenAI offers ChatGPT for Business/Teams, which can help draft marketing copy and analyze spreadsheets. It also offers a set of “skills,” which it defines as “reusable, shareable workflows” that bundle instructions, examples, and code. Anthropic went a step further this week, launching a package of AI workflows, skills, and integrations built specifically to manage business functions common to small businesses. The product is called Claude for Small Business. In its go-to-market effort Anthropic thinks in two ways about barriers to AI adoption by small and medium-sized businesses. “What our research shows is that around 32% of SMB employees don’t really know how or when to use AI,” Anthropic’s small business go-to-market lead Lina Ochman tells me. They feel blocked because they just don’t have enough experience with AI in general, certainly not far beyond basic chatbots. “And then 64% tell us they want to move beyond the chat and … actually have agents that help them run their workflows,” Ochman says. But even when they get some experience with AI agents that can reason and handle more complex tasks, they aren’t sure how to apply them to their own businesses. That’s exactly why Anthropic took a sort of plug-and-play approach to its small business product. How well the company’s set of pre-baked workflows can be adapted and customized for unique business functions is yet to be seen. The alternative approach—custom building and managing highly customized AI tools—could be daunting for many small business owners. For example, an Austin-based vegan cheese-maker called Rebel Cheese went deep into that world to solve a problem costing the company $50,000 a month in excess shipping charges. Rebel Cheese used Anthropic’s Claude to investigate the issue and map out a solution, then turned to the agentic orchestration tool Manus to build a system that automatically disputes suspected carrier overcharges. But the company’s cofounder, Kirsten Maitland, says the process took months, requiring her to test multiple AI agents and spend long nights developing and refining the system. Over time, it’s likely we’ll see small business AI tools from Anthropic and OpenAI evolve to make more specialized and customized builds far less demanding. For now, though, most small businesses will continue using AI in less sophisticated ways than their larger counterparts. Still, the Rebel Cheese case hints at what becomes possible when a small business gains access to the same tools as the biggest players. AI models’ reasoning on ethical dilemmas may be just performative, says a new study Leading AI models often give the appearance of deliberating over moral complexities without actually doing so, according to a new paper published in the journal AI and Ethics by researchers at Harvard Kennedy School’s Allen Lab. Rather than actually reasoning their way to a nuanced answer to tough questions, they appear to just default to a hidden “value hierarchy” that’s already been trained into them, the researchers say. The study is titled “Crocodile Tears: Can the Ethical-Moral Intelligence of AI Models Be Trusted?” It tested four models—Claude, GPT, Llama, and DeepSeek—on ethical dilemmas drawn from moral psychology, including scenarios where both available options carry genuine moral costs. In 87% of so-called tragic tradeoff trials, all four models converged on the same choices, and the choices often didn’t follow from their reasoning. The researchers describe the AI behavior as “shedding crocodile tears,” performing moral anguish while executing what they characterize as an implicit, opaque value hierarchy. That could raise some real trust issues with users. “People are increasingly turning to these tools for guidance on hard decisions,” says the lead author, Sarah Hubbard, in a statement. “If a model appears to grapple with an ethical dilemma while actually reducing it to a predetermined answer, it may be earning users’ trust under false pretenses.” Are AI benchmarks functionally useless? In the world of AI research, the most common way to measure the intelligence of a model is by submitting it to a benchmark test. Hundreds of the tests exist, each focusing on a different aspect of intelligence. One might focus on writing code while another might focus on instruction-following or reasoning. But there’s a big problem. AI labs can game the benchmarks. “As soon as the first training runs after [a] benchmark has been released I think it stops being a good measure of intelligence because suddenly the models have been trained on it, and it happens to all of them,” the former OpenAI researcher Jerry Tworek said during a recent podcast appearance. Sample test questions and answers quickly appear online. AI labs can train their models on that data to score better on the tests. “People will target it in training, they will solve it for any benchmark,” Tworek said. Then the researchers can write an algorithm that tells the model how to answer the test questions. Tworek, who was one of the main brains behind OpenAI’s breakthrough o1 and o3 reasoning models, says that in order for a benchmark to be meaningful, it has to have a way to generate new questions or scenarios for every new test, so that the model being tested has never seen them before. That was the main idea behind the recently released ARC-AGI-3 benchmark from the influential researcher François Chollet. That benchmark generates and presents novel gaming environments to an AI agent, then challenges it to figure out the point of the game and how to win. This forces the agent to draw on past experience and make judgments about how to apply it in new situations that it’s not been trained on. More AI coverage from Fast Company: You can put a data center at your house—but who really pays? This tiny Maine town used AI to make a new logo. Its residents had other ideas ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott: Silicon Valley is getting enterprise AI wrong The Demi Moore-AI debate is missing the point Want exclusive reporting and trend analysis on technology, business innovation, future of work, and design? Sign up for Fast Company Premium. View the full article

Ian Yang saw a business opportunity sitting on the table of a restaurant. In the darkness of the room, a small portable light meant to make it easier to read a menu jumped out to him as just the kind of product his lighting company, Gantri, should be making. The challenge was that these common restaurant lights are all wireless. “They’re very dim, they’re very small, they’re not really fully fledged, like residential full-power products,” Yang says. But, he thought, they could be. That instinct led to three new wireless lighting product lines being released this week by Gantri, alongside a new digital manufacturing platform that will make it easier for other designers to create their own take on the wireless light. Designed in collaboration with the design studio Ammunition, the three product lines are the first wireless lights to use Gantri’s Helia system, a modular approach to the components inside a wireless light. Also designed by Ammunition, this system consists of a battery, customizable LED modules, a touch-sensitive control, and a charging puck. The guts of the system can be tucked inside almost any shell a designer can imagine. “All these components get assembled into a 3D printed enclosure, and everything is routed where it needs to be,” says Achille Biteau, director of industrial design at Ammunition. “It simplifies things a lot because all of a sudden you have that same platform that can be used on a range of designs. It could be in the hundreds or the thousands of designs.” Gantri and Ammunition have worked together since about 2018, and first started thinking about wireless lighting design three years ago. “We were just talking a lot about mobility and portable lighting and this idea that, well, people are very used to mobile things and charging has become just part of lifestyle,” says Robert Brunner, founding partner of Ammunition. Lighting, on the other hand, has been stubbornly stuck in place, tethered by a cord or wired directly into walls and ceilings. “What if you allowed lighting to go where you need it, and then take the friction out of the idea of having to maintain and charge these things in a way you normally don’t do with lighting,” says Brunner. “As we dove into it more and more, it became more compelling as a product concept.” Ammunition’s design team started prototyping, and eventually came up with the modular Helia system that can be slotted into the kinds of 3D printed designs Gantri has specialized in for the past decade. To stress test the concept, Ammunition developed 10 lamps in three product lines that show the flexibility of the system, from task lamps to reading lamps to a taller floor lamp to, yes, a restaurant-style tabletop lamp for reading menus in the dark. One key element of the system is how the wireless lights get their charge. Rather than relying on USB-C or other plug-in formats, Ammunition used a pin-based contact approach that allows for the battery part of the Helia system to be placed directly on top of a small puck-shaped charging interface, like putting a glass on a coaster. With up to 10 hours of battery life, the idea is that a lamp could be moved around the house throughout a day or evening before settling back into its charging place overnight. The Helia system is being made available to other designers through Gantri Made, its newly launched digital manufacturing platform, where the specs for the system can be integrated into new designs that Gantri can manufacture on behalf of their designers. “It creates this sort of very flexible, fluid, and unique platform for people to create around,” says Brunner. “A lot of the preliminary work’s done.” Gantri Made charges designers a flat fee for using the service, and takes a cut from every sale. For many small designers, the cost may be worth it. Using Gantri’s established manufacturing approach, new designs can quickly translate into products. “The time from conception to having an actual product is of course dramatically less,” Brunner says. “So now you can literally turn out lights in a few months rather than spending a year.” “The whole purpose of Gantri as a company is really all about making design relevant to every person and helping designers and design brands realize their ideas,” says Yang. “In order for that to happen, we need a lot of product innovation, we need a lot of different types of design ideas that can be created and manifested in a very short amount of time at minimal cost.” View the full article

Google released version 24.1 of the Google Ads API, introducing deeper reporting segmentation, expanded experiment support, and new security features as advertisers continue adapting to increasingly automated campaign environments. The update also prepares developers for Google’s upcoming data retention policy changes, which take effect next year. Why we care. The release focuses on three areas that have become increasingly important for advertisers: visibility into performance, creative control, and testing automation. The update also gives brands more control over how creatives appear in Demand Gen campaigns, an area where automation has often limited customization. Advertisers and developers that rely heavily on reporting infrastructure will also need to prepare for Google’s upcoming 37-month data retention limit before it starts affecting historical performance analysis in 2026. Mobile reporting gets more granular. One of the biggest additions is a new mobile device platform segment that lets advertisers break out reporting by operating system. Using the new segments.mobile_device_platform field, developers can now isolate campaign and customer-level performance across iOS and Android traffic. That matters because user behavior often varies significantly between operating systems, particularly for app marketers, ecommerce advertisers, and brands optimizing conversion value. Demand Gen adds classic image support. Google is also giving advertisers more creative control inside Demand Gen campaigns. The release adds support for static image ads through the classic_display_images field in DemandGenMultiAssetAd, allowing brands to upload creatives that run on the Google Display Network exactly as designed, without AI-generated asset combinations. The feature appears targeted at advertisers that want stricter control over branding and asset presentation. Passkeys come to Google Ads. Security is another major focus in v24.1. Google introduced a new passkey_enabled field that indicates whether a user has enabled passkey authentication for their Google Ads account. The update follows Google’s broader push toward passwordless authentication and increased protection around sensitive account actions. Experiment support expands. Google is significantly expanding support for Experiments, one of the platform’s core testing frameworks. Advertisers can now run and compare experiments across: AI Max campaigns Video campaigns Demand Gen campaigns Performance Max campaigns The release also adds more transparent reporting across experimental arms, including metrics such as clicks, conversions, and impressions, making side-by-side analysis easier. The move reflects Google’s broader strategy of standardizing experimentation across its AI-driven campaign products. A major data retention change is coming. Google also reiterated that beginning June 1st, Google Ads and related measurement APIs will move to a 37-month retention limit for granular reporting data, including daily, weekly, and hourly statistics. To support the transition, v24.1 introduces a new error code: DateRangeError.REQUESTED_DATE_GRANULARITY_NOT_SUPPORTED. Developers querying older granular datasets will need to update reporting workflows before the policy change takes effect. What’s next. Google says updated client libraries and code samples for v24.1 are already available. The company is also hosting a live walkthrough of the release across Discord, YouTube Live, and LinkedIn Live. View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “What level of detail should I go into during my first meeting with a prospective client?” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “What level of detail should I go into during my first meeting with a prospective client?” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article