All Activity

This guide walks you through how to break down tasks in a project to improve clarity, planning, and execution. You'll learn practical steps, see real examples, and explore proven methods like chunking, timeboxing, and the Eisenhower Matrix. The post How To Break Down Tasks In Projects Like A Pro appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

I was recently having lunch with a couple friends and their 7-year-old and we ordered a giant soft pretzel with beer cheese. As we mindlessly broke off pieces of the pretzel during our chatter, I noticed how the small human was silently eating her pretzel piece—salt first—and I saw a bit of myself in her. I have a vivid memory of being in middle school at a friend’s house and eating seasoned salt straight off of a plate. Eating salt so voraciously isn't wrong, per se, but sadly, the love affair can’t last forever. While my love for sodium chloride crystals has hardly faded, I am of an age where I need to chill on my salt intake as I am interested in longevity. Am I perfect? Hardly. I still love deli meats and the occasional fast food, but I am improving. It’s a work in progress. To reduce my salt intake, I’m using MSG and soy sauce to help me on my journey. Salt isn’t everythingTo other salt fans, this is blasphemy, but truly there are four other flavors we should give equal attention to: bitter, sour, umami, and sweet. If you find yourself constantly reaching for the salt cellar when you’re cooking because “something” is missing, it might be one of those other flavors. After you’ve added that first measurement of salt, try to tap into striking a balance with those other flavors. Squeeze in some fresh lemon or lime juice; even a spoonful of tomato sauce could bring in much needed acidity. Add chopped nuts, or keep the peels on your vegetables for bitterness. A teaspoon of sugar, maple syrup, or a handful of raisins can add surprisingly welcome sweetness. But salt’s sister seasonings are certainly those that exhibit umami. Seasonings like MSG and soy sauce might be the “something” you’ve been seeking. How MSG and soy sauce can help you cut down on saltFor context, in an equal measurement comparison, salt contains considerably more sodium than both soy sauce and MSG. A teaspoon of table salt contains about 2,300 mg of sodium. A teaspoon of soy sauce has about 300 and a teaspoon of MSG has about 500. My regular Kikkoman soy sauce, not low sodium, has 320 mg of sodium per teaspoon. (A teaspoon is 1/3 of a tablespoon.) Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Aside from just the quantity of sodium, it’s important to keep in mind that each flavoring agent has different potency, too. A quarter-teaspoon of MSG can adequately flavor about two cups of soup broth, while you might use ¾ of a teaspoon of salt for the same volume of liquid. I rarely use more than an eighth of a teaspoon of MSG when I make a personal serving of vegetables for example. For some other ways I use MSG in cooking and baking, read here. How I cook to reduce saltYou can see how by adding a pinch of MSG and a teaspoon of soy sauce (which also contains the building blocks of MSG) you’re still getting that salty flavor but with so much more. With these two seasonings you activate your glutamate receptors, which stimulate that mouth watering response, along with building a well-rounded savory flavor. Despite my history of really leaning into salt, I’m learning that umami and a smidge of salt is often enough. Whereas in the past I would add another pinch of salt, and then another, never really hitting the perfect note. To reduce salt, I’ve switched around my cooking style slightly by using a “salt last” seasoning method when I can. I sautée, braise, or make soup as usual, but I add a portion of MSG or soy sauce first. Then I’ll taste the finished dish. If it needs some salt then I’ll add some and taste it again. This way I can use MSG and soy sauce in combination with salt or as a complete replacement for salt when it works. Granted, sometimes I prefer to add salt earlier in the cooking process, like if I’m roasting vegetables or dry brining a chicken. For roasted veggies, I’ve simply taken to cutting the usual salt in half and adding a splash of soy sauce after it’s finished cooking. For dry brining, I’ll cut the salt in half again, and replace it with MSG. Holy cow, what a chicken. Do not sleep on adding MSG to your brines, whether dry or wet. Luckily, soy sauce and MSG go well with pretty much everything so you don’t have to spend much brain power wondering if it pairs well with what you’re cooking. If you need some inspiration, here are some unexpected ways to use MSG, and an excellent cookbook, Salt, Sugar, MSG, for flavorful recipes that include these seasoning heroes. Note that these are my tricks for reducing salt simply because I'd like to, but if you have a medical requirement to reduce your salt intake, be sure to check with your doctor as you make changes to your diet. View the full article

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. Back in the housing frenzy of 2021, homeowners were bombarded with inquiries from eager investors looking to see if they were open to selling. The outreach came in all forms—text messages, postcards, phone calls—and often felt relentless. Redfin data shows that in Q4 2021, investors scooped up 94,715 U.S. homes, a 51% jump from the 62,581 homes they purchased in Q4 2019. But that investor-driven surge—powered by rock-bottom interest rates, pandemic stimulus, and the remote work boom—began to fade as the Federal Reserve pivoted to fighting inflation. Mortgage rates climbed from 3% to over 6% in 2022, putting pressure on capital markets. The higher borrowing costs squeezed a wide range of housing players—from small landlords and short-term rental operators to house flippers and big institutional buyers—making it tougher to make the numbers work for new rental acquisitions. In Q4 2024, investors purchased 47,004 homes—that’s 50% below the level of investor purchases made in Q4 2021 (94,715) during the pandemic housing boom and 25% below pre-pandemic Q4 2019 (62,581). To better understand what rental property owners plan to do in the housing market over the next year, ResiClub partnered on a survey with Flock Homes, a startup backed by Andreessen Horowitz that provides services to help landlords transition their properties into a professionally managed pool while preserving tax advantages. The Flock Homes–ResiClub Real Estate Investor Survey was conducted between March 31 and April 7, 2025. It surveyed 245 real estate investors who own rental properties. Here are some of the big takeaways. (Note: Due to rounding, some totals will exceed 100%.) Housing market conditions The majority of housing investors aren’t focused on expanding right now. Of the U.S. real estate investors surveyed, 65% say they are focused on maintaining their portfolio size (56%) or exiting/selling it off (9%). Only 36% say they are focused on growing their portfolio. Among investors surveyed, 45% say that “purchase price relative to the market” has had the greatest impact on long-term performance when acquiring properties. Even so, 41% of U.S. real estate investors say their real estate investment returns are “far better” than what they believe they would have earned in the stock market, while 6% say their returns are “far worse.” Rising costs More than 20% of U.S. real estate investors surveyed say their home insurance costs have risen by more than 50% over the past five years. Maintenance costs are also a concern: 32% of U.S. real estate investors say “unexpected maintenance costs” are “the most underestimated risk in rental property investing,” followed by 26% who cite “tenant-related issues.” You can find the full results below: Methodology: Among the 245 real estate investors who participated in the ResiClub Real Estate Investor Survey, here’s how many rental/investment properties they own: 1-4 units: 55.9% 5-19 units: 26.9% 20-99 units: 11.8% 100+ units: 5.3% Here’s how we grouped the regions by state in the survey: Midwest: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, and WI Northeast: CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT Southeast: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, and WV Southwest: AZ, NM, OK, and TX West: AK, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, and WY View the full article

The bloc wants people under 30 from member states to be able to spend up to three years in the UK and vice versa View the full article

When you're selling your home, many factors can influence whether it sits on the market for weeks or gets multiple offers right away. Everything from its location to its condition can affect the speed of the sale and the final price, and you don’t always have control over all of them. One thing you can control—at least to a degree—is the your home's lighting. “In my experience, buyers aren't just buying square footage; they're buying a feeling,” says Jonathan Ayala, a real estate agent at Hudson Condos in New Jersey. “And lighting is a subtle but powerful way to exert that influence. It's the difference between a buyer perceiving ‘this space needs work’ and ‘I can see myself living here.’ How your house is lit can have a big impact on how fast your house sells—and the price you get for it. Here’s are five factors to think about to improve your home's lighting. Choose the right bulbsEvery lightbulb in your home is defined by three measurements: Watts (the amount of energy it uses), lumens (its brightness), and kelvin (its color temperature). When it comes to making an impression on home buyers, you should concentrate mainly on lumens and kelvin. Bulbs with a lumens rating of at least 800 are best to give the house a bright, open feeling—and you can go as high as 2,000 lumens if your home lacks natural light or simply feels dark. Color temperature is just as important. For reference, the sun at noon on a clear day has a color temperature of about 5,000-6,000k. “Lighting affects both how large and how welcoming a home feels,” notes Ayala. “I put up a three-bedroom ranch about two or three years ago where the insides looked thick and dated. The original owner had [installed] heavy drapes and low-wattage bulbs. Even before putting up a sign in the front yard for sale, I had the seller replace all the bulbs with daylight LEDs, (about 5000k). The change was dramatic: From a dark living room that felt cave-like, the home [became] bright, clean, and modern." The home wound up receiving multiple offers in a week and sold for more than $25,000 above asking. "I do not think that it would have happened without those simple lighting upgrades,” Alaya said. In general, it’s best to choose bulbs that offer higher color temperatures in the “public” areas of the house, like the kitchen or living room, and warmer, lower temperatures in bedrooms, to give them a cozier feel. Temperatures in the 2400-2700k range can have a yellowing effect on white kitchens or furniture that can make a space feel old and worn, so choose carefully. You should also consider lighting direction, Ayala notes. “Uplighting can highlight architectural features, accent lights would draw attention to art, and ambient lighting would warm up a room—every small thing matters when preparing a home for market.” “Great lighting makes a space more functional,” adds Bo Belmont, a real estate investor and founder and CEO of Belwood Investments. “For example, lighting over the sink or kitchen counter can make these areas easier to work in. A well-lit entryway can also make buyers feel safer and more secure.” Keep the style consistent Lighting isn’t just about light—it’s also about the fixtures. Old fixtures that are showing their age will make a space look dated, even if the light itself is on point. Simply upgrading the fixtures without considering the overall style of the house won’t be effective: If your house has a modern, minimalist vibe and you install ornate brass fixtures, they might appear old to buyers due to the contrast, while slapping modern fixtures in a house with a country chic vibe might look cheap. First impressions matterOmer Reiner, a Realtor at FL Cash Buyer’s in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, cautions that you can't forget the exterior lighting. “If a potential buyer pulls up and can’t make out the house number because lights are dim, they are immediately on alert before they even step inside.” Make sure exterior lights are installed, in working condition, and are bright enough and aimed properly. This extends to the foyer or entryway. Having a bright exterior feels welcoming—unless the front door opens to a dark, shadowy space. Lighting can elevate buyers’ moods as they enter the house or give them a sense of foreboding, so make sure they make it inside without having to use their phone as a flashlight. Emphasize natural lightWhen thinking about your home’s lighting, don’t forget about the most obvious aspect: Natural light. “Natural light is the most appreciated,” says Alexei Morgado, a Florida Realtor and CEO and Founder of Lexawise Real Estate Exam Preparation. “It helps make spaces feel larger and more inviting. Maximizing natural lighting in a home can require expensive renovations, but there are some simple tricks: Opening curtains and blinds before and during showings, making sure windows are clean to allow light to penetrate, and trimming any exterior foliage that may block sunlight.” You should also consider your window treatments: While opening up the curtains or blinds can let light in, heavy, light-blocking treatments will always darken a room a little. Lighter materials will let more light in and will contribute to a sense of lightness in terms of weight and style as well. Keep them maintainedFinally, all the right decisions will be for naught if you don’t conduct proper maintenance and upkeep on your lighting. If you’re planning to show your home to prospective buyers, inspect the house and: Look for burnt-out bulbs. Dead bulbs aren’t always obvious when you’re living in the home (especially when they’re part of track lighting or back-lit decorations). Dead bulbs convey a sense of disrepair while also subtly darkening the space, directly contradicting your efforts. Check for broken fixtures. Cracked, stained, or crooked fixtures will draw the eye and will make buyers think there are other, less obvious problems with the house. Flickering lights or fixtures that spark will need to be repaired immediately, for obvious reasons). Make sure everything is aligned. If you have aimed your lighting to accentuate certain features, make sure they haven’t “drifted.” View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: The last time I was searching for jobs was pre-Covid, and while the job market and world have changed in many ways, one of the ways I’m most concerned about in my current search is the rise of employee monitoring technologies. I work in a field that has been primarily remote since well before the pandemic and has not been subjected my recent waves of return-to-office for that reason. I also live with a number of serious but very well-managed mental health issues that would quickly spiral out of “very well-managed” under the pressure of surveillance technologies. This isn’t just a preference not to work in an environment that uses these technologies but rather a real risk of triggering a psychotic episode. The combination of highly obsessive performance anxiety and the paranoia of surveillance is untenable for me given my particular slate of mental health conditions. I have been and will remain in the regular care of a mental health team that I am confident would provide whatever I need to get accommodations in place if it came to that, but I’d prefer not to be in an environment where accommodations are even needed for this particular struggle. Is there a way to ask about whether or not an organization uses employee monitoring technology during an interview without either disclosing mental health conditions that I would rather not disclose or flagging myself as a potential slacker who doesn’t want supervisors catching on through monitoring software? To be clear, I do NOT believe that people who don’t want to work under surveillance are “slackers,” but I worry that emphasizing the point too strongly in interviews might give hiring committees that impression and hurt my chances. I generally don’t think employers should monitor their workers to the extent that current technology allows for, but I also understand why making a big deal of that point might not look great to potential employers. But I worry, too, that handling this via accommodations would force me to reveal more than I would like about my mental health in the workplace. Is there a graceful way to raise the question in interviews? Would it be better raised at the stage of an offer being made? Or is this something that I’d be best served just waiting out and then getting accommodations in place if the need arises? I welcome any advice that you or your readers might have for how to handle this! Yeah, this is a rough thing to raise in an interview without coming across strangely. In theory, it shouldn’t be that way! There are loads of reasons for people not to be interested in companies that surveil their every keystroke — such as believing that it reflects a culture and management style not aligned with how they want to work — but it’s still going to be very difficult to raise it in an interview without seeming oddly and inordinately focused on it. The same goes for asking about things like drug testing; there are plenty of good reasons not to want to work somewhere that drug tests, even if you’re not a drug user yourself, but asking about it in the interview will Create An Impression. You should be able to ask in an interview about anything that’s important to you without worrying about what subtext interviewers will read into it … but in reality, you can’t. Of course, the reverse is true, too — there are questions an interviewer could ask that would really turn off candidates — but the power dynamics are so different that it’s not the same thing. You could of course ask what they’ve found effective in managing a remote team and where the challenges have been, and that could lead to an interesting discussion that reveals something relevant about their philosophy … but it’s very unlikely that they’ll announce, “Oh, and we use keystroke loggers and take screenshots of your monitor every 10 minutes.” So unfortunately, the best time to raise it is after you have a job offer — when they’ve already decided they want to hire you and have extended you an offer, because at that point the hiring decision can’t be influenced by the question and they can’t pull your offer over you merely asking the question without violating the Americans with Disability Act. Even then, I’m struggling with how to word it, since it’s an unusual request. It might be useful to talk with your medical team about the best way to frame it so that you don’t reveal more than you need to. (And if they’re no help, an employment lawyer should be able to advise on the right way to word it.) View the full article

While the 30-year rate landed near its level of a week ago, it ended up there only after political developments led to up-and-down swings in Treasurys. View the full article

YouTube is testing a new AI Overviews carousel. It will appear in search results for select queries. The feature uses AI to highlight the most relevant clips from videos tied to a user’s search. Why we care. Google AI Overviews have reduced visibility and traffic to websites. If this experiment is rolled out, could YouTube’s version of AI Overviews end up reducing visibility and video views for brands and creators? How it works. When a user enters an certain type of query, YouTube will use AI to scan relevant videos and surface highlight clips that it deems most informative or useful. These clips appear in a carousel within the search results, giving users a quick snapshot of what they might want to watch. YouTube said AI Overviews are designed to help searchers with: Product research (e.g., [best noise cancelling headphones]) Travel and local discovery (e.g., [museums to visit in San Francisco]) Who can see AI Overviews. The feature is available as a limited test. Only a small subset of U.S. YouTube Premium members will see the feature. It applies only to some English-language search queries. What’s next. YouTube will collect user feedback (via a thumbs-up or thumbs-down). Insights from this test will determine the future of YouTube’s AI Overviews or a broader rollout. The announcement. Testing New AI Overviews in Search Results View the full article

Key Takeaways Local Mobile Marketing is Crucial: It helps small businesses reach consumers in real-time, boosting visibility, foot traffic, and customer engagement. Optimize for Local SEO: Prioritize your Google My Business listing and use relevant local keywords to enhance online presence and search rankings. Leverage Geolocation: Utilize geotargeting and location-based ads to attract local customers, offering exclusive promotions or discounts to drive visits. Utilize Mobile Marketing Tools: Implement SMS marketing apps and CRM solutions to manage customer relationships, enhance communication, and track engagement effectively. Measure Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Regularly analyze metrics like local search visibility, click-through rates, foot traffic, and customer feedback to evaluate and refine your marketing strategies. Engage with the Community: Build local partnerships and participate in community events to strengthen brand awareness and customer loyalty. In today’s fast-paced world, local mobile marketing is a game changer for small businesses. With more people relying on their smartphones for everything from shopping to finding services, tapping into this trend can put your business on the map—literally. Imagine your customers discovering your products or services just when they need them, right in their neighborhood. Harnessing the power of local mobile marketing isn’t just smart; it’s essential for growth. You can reach your target audience in real-time, boost foot traffic, and enhance customer engagement. Whether you’re a café, a boutique, or a service provider, understanding how to leverage mobile strategies can set you apart from the competition. Let’s explore how you can effectively connect with your local community through mobile marketing. Understanding Local Mobile Marketing Local mobile marketing focuses on reaching consumers through their mobile devices within a specific geographic area. This form of marketing leverages location-based technologies, allowing your small business to connect directly with your target market. Definition of Local Mobile Marketing Local mobile marketing involves strategies designed to engage audiences based on their location. It includes tools like geotargeting, which delivers ads to users based on their current or recent locations. Tactics may include location-based ads, local promotions, and online listings on platforms like Google My Business and Yelp. These approaches help to make your brand accessible to potential customers when they’re most likely to need your products or services. Importance for Small Businesses For small businesses, local mobile marketing proves vital in several ways: Increased Visibility: Being present in local search results ensures potential customers find your business easily. Enhanced Engagement: Using social media marketing platforms, such as Facebook Ads and Instagram for business, helps you engage with your community directly. Community Connection: Building local partnerships or sponsoring neighborhood events strengthens your ties to the community and boosts brand awareness. Boosting Customer Loyalty: Implementing loyalty programs and sending personalized local coupons via mobile can enhance customer retention. Influencer Opportunities: Collaborating with local influencers can increase your reach and credibility within the community. By embracing local mobile marketing, you position your small business effectively to capture the attention of potential customers, enhancing your overall marketing strategy. Strategies for Effective Local Mobile Marketing Local mobile marketing can significantly boost your small business’s visibility and engagement. Implementing effective strategies helps you connect with your target market in your community. Optimizing for Local SEO To improve your online presence, prioritize local SEO. Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing, ensuring that all information—like your address, phone number, and operational hours—is accurate. Use relevant keywords related to your business within your website content and local listings on platforms like Yelp. Encourage satisfied customers to leave Google reviews, as positive feedback enhances your reputation and boosts your rankings in local searches. Utilizing Geolocation and Targeting Take advantage of geotargeting and location-based ads to reach customers nearby. When potential customers search for services “near me,” your business must appear prominently. Use platforms like Facebook Ads and Instagram for Business to run targeted campaigns focused on local audiences. Combine this with local promotions, such as exclusive mobile coupons or special offers that encourage customers to visit your store or website. Engaging with local events or creating sponsorships increases your visibility and helps build community connections while promoting your small business. Tools and Platforms for Small Businesses Utilizing effective tools and platforms is essential for small businesses engaged in local mobile marketing. These resources not only help you connect with your target market but also enhance your online presence. Mobile Marketing Apps Mobile marketing apps play a crucial role in reaching customers where they are. SMS marketing apps, like Constant Contact and Emitrr, allow you to send personalized promotions, discounts, and event reminders directly to customers’ mobile devices. High open rates ensure your messages get seen. You can also enhance community engagement and promote local events through targeted mobile coupons, generating foot traffic to your storefront. CRM Solutions for Local Marketing CRM solutions provide vital support for local marketing efforts. Platforms like HubSpot and Salesforce enable you to track customer interactions, segment your audience, and tailor your marketing strategies. By utilizing these tools, you can effectively manage customer relationships, boost loyalty programs, and encourage positive online reviews, like those on Google My Business or Yelp. A solid CRM strategy allows you to create tailored campaigns based on customer data, maximizing your marketing effectiveness and driving local search visibility. Measuring Success in Local Mobile Marketing Measuring success in local mobile marketing involves tracking specific metrics to assess effectiveness and engagement. Focus on gathering relevant data to refine your strategies and maximize results in your community. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to Track Local Search Visibility: Monitor your rankings in local search results on platforms like Google and Yelp. High rankings indicate effective local SEO and visibility in your target market. Click-Through Rates (CTR): Track the percentage of users who click on your local ads or listings. Higher CTRs reflect successful local advertising and engaging content. Foot Traffic: Use geolocation tools to measure the increase in customers visiting your business after targeted promotions. Effective local promotions lead to higher foot traffic. Conversion Rates: Analyze how many users take desired actions, such as making a purchase or signing up for loyalty programs. Improved conversion rates indicate successful marketing strategies. Customer Feedback: Regularly assess online reviews and ratings on platforms like Google My Business and Yelp. Positive feedback enhances your reputation and encourages community engagement. Analyzing Customer Engagement Social Media Interactions: Monitor engagement levels on platforms like Facebook and Instagram for Business. Evaluate likes, comments, and shares to gauge your audience’s interest and responsiveness. Email Marketing Metrics: Track open and click rates for your local promotions sent via email marketing. High engagement rates signal effective messaging and relevance to your target market. Event Participation: Assess attendance at local events and community engagement initiatives. Increased participation reflects successful grassroots marketing efforts. Local Feedback and Surveys: Collect insights from customer surveys to understand preferences and satisfaction. Tailoring your strategies based on feedback strengthens community involvement. Partnership Success: Evaluate the impact of local partnerships and sponsorships on your brand awareness and customer reach. Successful collaborations can enhance your marketing strategy and extend your audience. Conclusion Embracing local mobile marketing can transform your small business. By leveraging the right tools and strategies you can connect with your community in meaningful ways. Optimizing your online presence and utilizing location-based technologies will help you reach customers where they are. As you implement these tactics don’t forget to track your success. Monitoring KPIs will provide insights into what’s working and where you can improve. With a focused approach you’ll not only increase visibility but also foster loyalty among local customers. Take charge of your local mobile marketing efforts today and watch your business thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Frequently Asked Questions What is local mobile marketing? Local mobile marketing refers to marketing strategies that target consumers based on their geographic location through their mobile devices. This includes using tactics like geotargeting, location-based ads, and local promotions to connect with nearby customers in real-time. Why is local mobile marketing important for small businesses? Local mobile marketing is crucial for small businesses because it enhances visibility in search results, increases foot traffic, and fosters customer engagement. It enables businesses to reach their target audience effectively and compete better in the local market. How can small businesses optimize for local SEO? Small businesses can optimize for local SEO by claiming and optimizing their Google My Business listing, ensuring business information is accurate, and encouraging positive customer reviews. This improves search rankings and attracts local customers. What tools can help with local mobile marketing? Effective tools for local mobile marketing include apps like Constant Contact and Emitrr for sending promotions directly to customers. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions like HubSpot and Salesforce help manage interactions, segment audiences, and tailor strategies. How can businesses measure success in local mobile marketing? Businesses can measure success by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as local search visibility, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Analyzing customer engagement through social media interactions and feedback also provides insights into effectiveness. Image Via Envato This article, "Boost Your Small Business with Effective Local Mobile Marketing Strategies" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

It is quite likely March's drop in the Purchase Application Payment Index will be transitory as mortgage rates have increased since the start of April. View the full article

Washington is trying to force on Kyiv a peace deal on Russia’s termsView the full article

Every week, millions of Americans toss their recyclables into a single bin, trusting that their plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and cardboard boxes will be given a new life. But what really happens after the truck picks them up? Single-stream recycling makes participating in recycling easy, but behind the scenes, complex sorting systems and contamination mean a large percentage of that material never gets a second life. Reports in recent years have found 15% to 25% of all the materials picked up from recycle bins ends up in landfills instead. Plastics are among the biggest challenges. Only about 9% of the plastic generated in the U.S. actually gets recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Some plastic is incinerated to produce energy, but most of the rest ends up in landfills instead. So, what makes plastic recycling so difficult? As an engineer whose work focuses on reprocessing plastics, I have been exploring potential solutions. How does single-stream recycling work? In cities that use single-stream recycling, consumers put all of their recyclable materials—paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal—into a single bin. Once collected, the mixed recyclables are taken to a materials recovery facility, where they are sorted. First, the mixed recyclables are shredded and crushed into smaller fragments, enabling more effective separation. The mixed fragments pass over rotating screens that remove cardboard and paper, allowing heavier materials, including plastics, metals and glass, to continue along the sorting line. Magnets are used to pick out ferrous metals, such as steel. A magnetic field that produces an electrical current with eddies sends nonferrous metals, such as aluminum, into a separate stream, leaving behind plastics and glass. The glass fragments are removed from the remaining mix using gravity or vibrating screens. That leaves plastics as the primary remaining material. While single-stream recycling is convenient, it has downsides. Contamination, such as food residue, plastic bags, and items that can’t be recycled, can degrade the quality of the remaining material, making it more difficult to reuse. That lowers its value. Having to remove that contamination raises processing costs and can force recovery centers to reject entire batches. Which plastics typically can’t be recycled? Each recycling program has rules for which items it will and won’t take. You can check which items can and cannot be recycled for your specific program on your municipal page. Often, that means checking the recycling code stamped on the plastic next to the recycling icon. These are the toughest plastics to recycle and most likely to be excluded in your local recycling program: Symbol 3 – Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, found in pipes, shower curtains and some food packaging. It may contain harmful additives such as phthalates and heavy metals. PVC also degrades easily, and melting can release toxic fumes during recycling, contaminating other materials and making it unsafe to process in standard recycling facilities. Symbol 4 – Low-density polyethylene, or LDPE, is often used in plastic bags and shrink-wrap. Because it’s flexible and lightweight, it’s prone to getting tangled in sorting machinery at recycling plants. Symbol 6 – Polystyrene, often used in foam cups, takeout containers and packing peanuts. Because it’s lightweight and brittle, it’s difficult to collect and process and easily contaminates recycling streams. Which plastics to include That leaves three plastics that can be recycled in many facilities: Symbol 1 – Polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, widely used in soda bottles. Symbol 2 – High-density polyethylene, or HDPE, commonly used in milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles. Symbol 5 – Polypropylene, PP, used in products such as pill bottles, yogurt cups, and plastic utensils. However, these aren’t accepted in some facilities for reasons I’ll explain. Taking apart plastics, bead by bead Some plastics can be chemically recycled or ground up for reprocessing, but not all plastics play well together. Simple separation methods, such as placing ground-up plastics in water, can easily remove your soda bottle plastic (PET) from the mixture. The ground-up PET sinks in water due to the plastic’s density. However, HDPE, used in milk jugs, and PP, found in yogurt cups, both float, and they can’t be recycled together. So, more advanced and expensive technology, such as infrared spectroscopy, is often required to separate those two materials. Once separated, the plastic from your soda bottle can be chemically recycled through a process called solvolysis. It works like this: Plastic materials are formed from polymers. A polymer is a molecule with many repeating units, called monomers. Picture a pearl necklace. The individual pearls are the repeating monomer units. The string that runs through the pearls is the chemical bond that joins the monomer units together. The entire necklace can then be thought of as a single molecule. During solvolysis, chemists break down that necklace by cutting the string holding the pearls together until they are individual pearls. Then, they string those pearls together again to create new necklaces. Other chemical recycling methods, such as pyrolysis and gasification, have drawn environmental and health concerns because the plastic is heated, which can release toxic fumes. But chemical recycling also holds the potential to reduce both plastic waste and the need for new plastics, while generating energy. The problem of yogurt cups and milk jugs The other two common types of recycled plastics—items such as yogurt cups (PP) and milk jugs (HDPE)—are like oil and water: Each can be recycled through reprocessing, but they don’t mix. If polyethylene and polypropylene aren’t completely separated during recycling, the resulting mix can be brittle and generally unusable for creating new products. Chemists are working on solutions that could increase the quality of recycled plastics through mechanical reprocessing, typically done at separate facilities. One promising mechanical method for recycling mixed plastics is to incorporate a chemical called a compatibilizer. Compatibilizers contain the chemical structure of multiple different polymers in the same molecule. It’s like how lecithin, commonly found in egg yolks, can help mix oil and water to make mayonnaise—part of the lecithin molecule is in the oil phase and part is in the water phase. In the case of yogurt cups and milk jugs, recently developed block copolymers are able to produce recycled plastic materials with the flexibility of polyethylene and the strength of polypropylene. Improving recycling Research like this can make recycled materials more versatile and valuable and move products closer to a goal of a circular economy without waste. However, improving recycling also requires better recycling habits. You can help the recycling process by taking a few minutes to wash off food waste, avoiding putting plastic bags in your recycling bin and, importantly, paying attention to what can and cannot be recycled in your area. Alex Jordan is an associate professor of plastics engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

Could ChatGPT launch an advertising product within the next year? The answer seems to be yes, based on internal OpenAI documents. OpenAI appears to forecast a billion dollars in new revenue from “free user monetization” in 2026. That figure is forecast to grow to nearly $25 billion by 2029 of OpenAI’s total $125 billion projection. The chart. Here’s a chart (shared by Juan González Villa on X) of OpenAI’s projection of rising revenues that includes “new products (including free user monetization).” Yes, that means ads: Why we care. ChatGPT has an estimated 600 million monthly users. The ability for advertisers to reach ChatGPT’s users represents a significant new opportunity. But converting ChatGPT into an ad-supported product will also be a huge shift. Yes, but. This seems like a reversal from past statements made by Open AI executives. In December, OpenAI’s Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar said: “Our current business is experiencing rapid growth and we see significant opportunities within our existing business model. While we’re open to exploring other revenue streams in the future, we have no active plans to pursue advertising.” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also previously said during a podcast interview with Lex Fridman, “I kind of hate ads,” adding that he believed OpenAI could pay for its computational needs without resorting to ads: “I kind of hate ads just as an aesthetic choice. I think ads needed to happen on the internet for a bunch of reasons, to get it going, but it’s a momentary industry. The world is richer now. I like that people pay for ChatGPT and know that the answers they’re getting are not influenced by advertisers. I’m sure there’s an ad unit that makes sense for LLMs, and I’m sure there’s a way to participate in the transaction stream in an unbiased way that is okay to do, but it’s also easy to think about the dystopic visions of the future where you ask ChatGPT something and it says, ‘Oh, you should think about buying this product,’ or, ‘You should think about going here for your vacation,’ or whatever.” “And I don’t know, we have a very simple business model and I like it, and I know that I’m not the product. I know I’m paying and that’s how the business model works. And when I go use Twitter or Facebook or Google or any other great product but ad-supported great product, I don’t love that, and I think it gets worse, not better, in a world with AI.” “…it feels like there should be many more leaps forward in advertisement that doesn’t interfere with the consumption of the content and doesn’t interfere in a big, fundamental way, which is like what you were saying, like it will manipulate the truth to suit the advertisers.” The report. The data comes from internal data obtained by The Information (subscription required). View the full article

Jack in the Box announced Wednesday that it will close between 150 and 200 underperforming restaurants as part of a broad restructuring effort, with approximately 80 to 120 restaurants shuttering by December 31, 2025. The remainder will close over time, based on the termination dates of their respective franchise agreements. Fast Company reached out to Jack in the Box for a list of locations it will be closing, but did not hear back by time of publishing. The initiative is part of the company’s “JACK on Track” strategy—a comprehensive plan aimed at improving long-term financial performance across its restaurant system, strengthening its balance sheet, and reaffirming its commitment to an asset-light business model, all in pursuit of sustainable growth, according to a company press release. As part of the strategy, Jack in the Box has also retained BofA Securities to explore strategic alternatives for the Del Taco brand, including the potential sale of the business. “Our actions today focus on three main areas: addressing our balance sheet to accelerate cash flow and pay down debt, while preserving growth-oriented capital investments related to technology and restaurant reimage; closing underperforming restaurants to position ourselves for consistent net unit growth and competitive unit economics; and, an overall return to simplicity for the Jack in the Box business model and investor story,” said Lance Tucker, chief executive officer at Jack in the Box. The company also released select preliminary results in the press release for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, which ended April 13. Same-store sales declined 4.4% for the Jack in the Box brand, while Del Taco saw a 3.6% decrease. Jack in the Box said in the press release that it will no longer provide financial guidance for Del Taco as it explores a sale. One of the largest hamburger chains in the U.S., Jack in the Box operates approximately 2,200 restaurants across 22 states, with a strong presence on the West Coast. Del Taco has approximately 600 restaurants across 17 states. Shares were down around 13% on Thursday morning. Over the past year, the stock has lost more than half its value. View the full article

Many, but far from all, otherwise mobile-only applications are available on the Mac App Store for Macs with an Apple silicon processor. Such Macs can hypothetically run any iPhone or iPad application, though individual developers can choose whether or not to offer that functionality. There are multiple reasons why a company might not offer their iPhone app on Mac—maybe they don't want to optimize it for a bigger display, maybe it's broken in some way, or maybe they just aren't interested in supporting another platform. You might disagree with that decision, though, and wondering whether it's possible to use those apps on your Mac anyway. And it is, sort of: PlayCover is an app capable of running any iPhone application you can think of, at least in theory. The problem is, there's no straightforward way to get versions of the applications that will work with it. The iOS encryption problemApple encrypts the applications offered in the App Store, meaning you can't just download and install them directly—you have to go through the storefront. The main workaround requires you to jailbreak an iPhone and use software designed to decrypt applications. In this way, you can create .ips files from the apps you've downloaded or purchased that you can open in PlayCover. You could also, in theory, download the .ips files from a third party—there are a few websites out there that offer them. The issue there is that this method requires trusting software from internet strangers that you're then installing on your computer, which is hard to recommend for a bunch of security reasons. (You never know what malicious software may be hidden in those files.) There's also the question of piracy, as these sites let you bypass the App Store encryption, which is typically a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. PlayCover works, to a pointWith all of these caveats in mind, I did manage to get the iPhone version of Duolingo running on my Mac. This is ideal, because the web version is missing all kinds of features, but it still isn't a like for like experience, as I won't get automatic updates like I would on an actual iPhone. Beyond Duolingo, a few other iPhone applications and games I tried to open on my Mac either wouldn't launch, or couldn't reach the login screen. And because the games you're playing are effectively outside the Apple ecosystem, you won't have access to any of your in-app purchases, or even the ability to make new ones. It's an imperfect solution in many ways, with one main upside—running software you otherwise couldn't—and lots of potential downsides. Credit: Justin Pot All of these points aside, I have to say that PlayCover has some clever features built in that allow you to control games optimized for touch. You can use your keyboard to emulate a gamepad, for example, making it possible to play supported games using your keyboard. If that doesn't work, you can assign keys to simulate screen taps, so your key presses select the corresponding on-screen buttons to control games. It takes a little bit of work on your part, but it makes it possible to play games designed for a touchscreen using keyboards. Thanks to Apple silicon, the iPhone, iPad, and Mac truly are related platforms. There's nothing stopping you from running any iPhone application on your Mac, at least in theory. But for most people, it's probably a good idea to stick to the iPad applications you can find in the Mac App Store. View the full article

‘Not optimistic to say the least’: world’s biggest food companies slash forecasts in expectation of slower spendingView the full article

Meta’s text-based social platform is now monetizing its 300 million monthly active users Meta’s standalone app Threads is beginning a global rollout of advertisements within its feed starting Wednesday, expanding beyond the limited testing that began in January. What’s happening: Image-based ads will appear between content in users’ Threads feeds. All eligible advertisers will gain access to Meta’s inventory filler. Ad placement on Threads will be a default for new campaigns using Advantage+ or manual placements. Advertisers can opt out through manual placement settings. Why we care. The move signals Meta’s confidence in Threads’ growth and viability as an advertising platform almost two years after its July 2023 launch as a competitor to X (formerly Twitter). Threads also inherits Meta’s sophisticated targeting capabilities while providing a fresh opportunity to reach text-focused audiences who may have migrated from Twitter/X. The platform’s growth trajectory and integration with existing Meta ad systems make it a potentially valuable addition to social media marketing strategies, with minimal additional effort required for brands already advertising on Facebook or Instagram. Between the lines. Meta will implement its brand safety standards and controls on Threads, addressing a key concern for advertisers wary of some competitors in the text-based social media space. “People come to Meta’s apps for a personalized experience that helps them discover business and content they love, and ads are an essential part of enabling this,” Meta said in a statement. The rollout plan. The company is taking a phased approach, testing ads in more than 30 countries, including the U.S., according to Meta spokesperson Matthew Tye. Users can identify ads by looking for posts with a gray Sponsored label next to account usernames. The early adopters. Fast-food chain Wendy’s and media-buying group GroupM participated in the initial testing phase in January. “We’ve been active on Threads since day one, and believe it provides a space to build community and bring our brand persona to life,” said Russ Mischner, VP of integrated marketing at Wendy’s. Jim Kensicki, COO at GroupM Nexus North America, noted that early testing on Threads helped inform their clients’ media investment strategies. These are two mega brands in their respective fields, so advertisers of all sizes should still approach cautiously. Bottom line. Threads represents a significant new revenue stream for Meta, which has been clear about its monetization intentions despite initial user concerns. As Instagram and Threads head Adam Mosseri stated earlier this year: “At the end of the day we’re a business and Threads needs to make enough money to pay for the people and servers that it takes to run the service and provide it to people for free.” View the full article

Several hit Paramount+ shows are returning with new seasons in May. The seventh installment of The Chi, Lena Waithe's drama about life on the South Side of Chicago, will premiere on May 16. Original crime series Criminal Minds: Evolution (May 8) is returning for its 18th season, along with season three of medical drama SkyMed (May 15), which follows medics and pilots flying air ambulances in Northern Canada, and season 10 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (May 9). Paramount+ will also broadcast the American Music Awards (AMAs)—hosted by Jennifer Lopez—on May 26, along with a live studio show hosted by football star David Beckham. Beckham & Friends Live is an altcast of CBS Sports' coverage of UEFA Champions League semi-final games on May 6 and 7 and the final on May 31. Here’s everything else coming to the service in May. Note that titles with an asterisk are exclusive to Paramount+ With Showtime; everything else is also available to subscribers on the ad-supported plan. Those with two asterisks are available to Paramount+ With Showtime users streaming live on CBS and to all subscribers the following day. Paramount+ Originals and premieres coming in May 2025Available May 1The Comeback Trail* Available May 6Beckham & Friends Live, premiere Available May 8Criminal Minds: Evolution, season 18 premiere Available May 9RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, season 10 premiere RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked, new episodes Available May 12Hard Truths* Available May 15SkyMed, season 3 premiere Available May 16The Chi,* season 7 premiere Available May 23Couples Therapy,* season 4 new episodes Available May 26American Music Awards** hosted by Jennifer Lopez TV shows coming to Paramount+ in May 2025Available May 7PAW Patrol: Aqua Pups special Everybody Still Hates Chris (season 1) Available May 14Air Disasters (season 21) First Wives Club (season 1 and 2) The Family Business (seasons 1-3) Tyler Perry's Sistas (season 4) Tyler Perry's The Oval (season 4) Available May 21Dora the Explorer: Mermaid Adventures! special American Gangster: Trap Queens (season 1 and 2) Tyler Perry's Zatima (season 1 and 2) Available May 28Rock Paper Scissors (season 1) Movies coming to Paramount+ in May 2025Available May 1A Very Brady Sequel Addams Family Values (1993) Aeon Flux Atlantic City Awake* Black Rain Book Club* Bound Bride & Prejudice Bruce Lee, The Legend Charlotte's Web (2006) Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) Clueless Crocodile Dundee Crocodile Dundee II Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Cursed Days of Thunder Dreamland* Drillbit Taylor Duplex Erin Brockovich Extraordinary Measures* Finding Neverland Flight Of The Intruder Frank Miller's Sin City Freedom Writers G.I. Jane* Gandhi Green Book* Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle Hostage Hotel for Dogs I.Q. In Her Skin* In The Bedroom Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Just Friends Just Like Heaven Kate & Leopold Kingpin Last Vegas Life of Pi Memoirs of a Geisha Mercy* Minari Monster Trucks Nebraska Norbit Oldboy Once Upon a Time in America Once Upon a Time in The West Parasite Patriots Day* Paycheck Pride Private Parts Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown Rango Rio Grande Romeo Must Die Sahara Scary Movie 2 Scary Movie 3 Some Kind of Wonderful Son of Rambow Southside of You Spell Stardust Terminator: Dark Fate Texas Rangers The Addams Family (2019) The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl The Brady Bunch Movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button The Edge of Seventeen* The Four Feathers The Ghost and the Darkness The Last Airbender (2010) The Last Castle The Mist* The Prince and Me The Queen The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie The Two Jakes The Weather Man Things We Lost In The Fire Top Five Trading Places We Were Soldiers Yours, Mine & Ours Available May 14Assassin Club View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I read Ask a Manager every day and have a suggestion for the site. I’m always delighted when I click on a post and it turns out to have a bunch of updates — those are the most fun to read! I think readers would enjoy a category on the Topics page that’s specifically for posts with more than one update. Maybe you could call it “Sagas” or something like that? Sometimes I want a solid distraction and the multiple updates always deliver, but as far as I’m aware there’s no way to specifically pull up a list of posts that have them. Just something to think about if you ever add new categories. Thanks! Excellent idea, and there is now a “sagas” tag. I didn’t get them all, but I got a lot. If I missed any of your favorites, let me know! 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 here. Coming soon: The one-person, billion-dollar startup We’re beginning to see a new kind of lean startup company, enabled in large part by new AI agents. Since these companies rely far less on people power, some of them—the ones addressing real market needs—are achieving extraordinary revenue-per-employee numbers. AI coding tools could become major enablers of these lightly staffed AI startups, simply because they’re starting to automate software development tasks that once required a human designer or engineer. The makers of these coding tools provide early examples of such startups. “We are seeing the rise of the ‘AI-first company,’ where tech companies use AI and agents to complete tasks before hiring employees,” says Jeremiah Owyang, general partner at Blitzscaling Ventures. A few notable examples: Anysphere, the company behind the Cursor AI coding tool, has only about 20 employees. By the end of 2024, its annual recurring revenue (ARR) had reached $100 million—roughly $5 million per employee. Now, TechCrunch reports that its ARR has surged to $300 million in 2025, bringing its per-employee revenue to $15 million. (Anysphere was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in the Applied AI category.) The company has reportedly turned down several buyout offers, including one from OpenAI, to remain independent. Another AI coding tool maker, Windsurf (formerly known as Codeium) has reached $40 million in ARR, up from $12 million at the end of 2024. With around 170 employees, this implies a revenue-per-employee figure of approximately $235,000. OpenAI is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Windsurf for around $3 billion, or about $17 million per employee. A South Korean startup called Nari Labs, with just two employees, recently unveiled a new text-to-speech model called Dia that may outperform category leaders ElevenLabs and Sesame in terms of voice authenticity. Voice samples posted to X by the company appear to support this claim. Nari Labs has shared its model on GitHub and could potentially build a business around licensing future models. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Midjourney, the creator of the well-known text-to-image AI tool, has kept a lean profile, with only about 10 employees. PitchBook estimates that by the end of 2024, the company was generating approximately $200 million in annual recurring revenue—around $20 million per employee. A lesser-known AI company, Nexad, which develops and deploys AI-native advertising within AI applications, has just six employees but has already reached 30 million users through its chat app partnerships. Founded in 2024, the startup has secured $6 million in seed funding in a round co-led by Andreessen Horowitz’s Speedrun accelerator and Prosus Ventures. “This trend will only continue as companies realize they can gain efficiencies by using software for repeatable tasks,” says Blitzscaling Ventures’ Owyang, “while reserving human talent for strategy, innovation, creativity, leadership, and community.” These AI-first companies are becoming more viable as AI models improve. The generative AI boom began with models that could string words together in useful ways, but only recently have models gained the ability to “reason” independently and work through processes with a degree of autonomy and agency. The place where this ability is having the greatest impact today is in AI coding assistants, but many expect AI “agents” to take over other tasks, like invoicing and customer support, that were formerly the sole province of humans. In the future, when Company A wants to buy from Company B, it could be a matter of two AI agents working together to open the business relationship. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speculated in early 2024 that because of AI agents, a billion-dollar company employing one individual might be created. In fact, Altman said he has a running bet with some of his peers on when such a unicorn might appear. That day might be coming sooner than we think. It might even go further than Altman envisions, Owyang says: “In a future that once seemed like science fiction—but may be just a few years away—we could see companies comprised entirely of AI agents, with no clear indication of whether any humans are at the helm.” Why OpenAI buying Chrome could face antitrust headwinds A federal court ruled last August that Google holds a monopoly on internet search. This week, the court is working to determine a list of remedies to address that antitrust issue. Federal antitrust officials are urging Judge Amit Mehta to order Google to sell its Chrome browser, which acts as a major funnel of user traffic to Google Search. Google earns the majority of its revenue by selling ads around search results and referring users to brands when they search for products. Depending on the buyer, selling Chrome might fix one monopoly only to create another a few years down the line. OpenAI’s head of ChatGPT, Nick Turley, testified that his company would be willing to purchase the popular browser, which could fetch as much as $20 billion, according to Bloomberg. That would place the browser in the hands of a company currently building its own internet search business. OpenAI licenses Bing search data and is developing its own search index. The company reportedly tried to license Google’s search data—the most complete inventory of the web’s contents—but was denied. The Justice Department has also proposed requiring Google to license its search index to other search competitors. “To grow further, OpenAI needs to move beyond supplying models and start owning the customer connection,” says Info-Tech principal research director Brian Jackson. “Gaining control over a major browser like Chrome would expand its reach and create new data opportunities, while helping it better compete with Google and its Gemini platform.” OpenAI is among the first companies to offer an alternative to the classic Google search that’s become almost reflexive for many web users. Instead of returning a list of most relevant links, ChatGPT, Perplexity and other chatbots return a direct answer to a user’s question, in narrative form (Google has its own AI search format called AI Overviews). Instead of doing searches from Chrome (by either using the URL bar or right-clicking on search terms) I’ve found that using a chatbot desktop app, which typically display a handy little prompt window triggered by a keyboard shortcut, is just as easy and often yields more useful results, depending on the type of search. A ChatGPT-optimized Chrome could provide another easy entry point—one that far more people would likely use. In that experience you might highlight something in the browser, right-click, and see a “search with ChatGPT” menu item where “search with Google” used to be. Of course, that would create a major advantage for OpenAI in search, while other AI search providers such as Google, Perplexity, and Anthropic could be put at a disadvantage. If AI search continues to grow in popularity, there’s a real chance that it becomes the dominant way of searching the web at some point in the future. Does that make OpenAI the next “search giant”? Meta rolls out new AI features in its Ray-Ban AR glasses I’m excited about Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, both because of their stylish design (they’re not bulky or awkward), and their potential to integrate useful AI features. Meta has chosen a great feature to lead with: On Wednesday, the company began rolling out its “live translation” capability to smart glasses users in all markets. (The feature was first teased back in October.) In effect, people will be able to travel abroad and hold reasonably smooth—if occasionally clunky—conversations with speakers of different languages. When the microphones on the glasses hear a different language, the words are sent to an AI server in the cloud, which then sends the translated words back down and through the glasses’ earphones. And, in a nod to on-device AI, Meta allows users to download language packs directly to the glasses, enabling offline translation without a network connection. For now, live translation supports English, French, Italian, and Spanish, with more languages on the way. Meta also seemed to move up the timeline for another AI feature—Live AI, in which the AI continually watches the live view from the device’s cameras in order to assist the user in things they may be doing. If it sees food preparation, the Meta assistant might offer recipes from the web or substitutes for missing ingredients, or if the user is exploring a new neighborhood it might supply mapping or navigation features. Meta now says Live AI is “coming soon to general availability in the U.S. and Canada.” Live AI gives a feel for how Meta has hoped AI would enhance the user experience in its smart glasses. More AI coverage from Fast Company: Microsoft thinks AI colleagues are coming soon The President is reportedly drafting an executive order to integrate AI into public schools Broadcom is betting big on ethernet to disrupt AI workloads and data centers This startup wants to reprogram the mind of AI—and just got $50 million to do it 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

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Pixel 9 is the latest series of the Google Pixel phone lineup. They were released late last summer along with the 9 Pro and Pro XL, while the budget Pixel 9a came out earlier this year. If you're looking for the latest middle-of-the-pack Pixel, the 128 GB unlocked Pixel 9 is just $639.99 (originally $799) after a $160 discount, the second-lowest price it has been since its release, according to price-tracking tools. Google Pixel 9 (128 GB) Storage: 128 GB, Battery: 24 hours, Display: 6.3", RAM: 12 GB, Refresh Rate: 120 Hz. $639.99 at Amazon $799.00 Save $159.01 Get Deal Get Deal $639.99 at Amazon $799.00 Save $159.01 The Pixel 9 comes with 12GB of RAM, starts with 128GB of memory storage, a maximum 120 HZ refresh rate, and the Android 14 operating system. Lifehacker's associate tech editor Michelle Ehrhardt deemed the Pixel 9 so good that you likely won't miss the Pro. It's important to note that the AI features still had hiccups, but AI features will keep improving over time; the most important thing to get right is the hardware, and Michelle says this is the best smartphone Google has made so far. The battery life can last almost 12 hours, according to PCMag's "excellent" review. The main camera has a 50MP shooter, a 48MP ultra-wide camera with a 123-degree field of view, same as the Pro models, but it has a single-zone laser detect autofocus (LDAF) sensor (the pro has multi-zone LDAF). If you have the Pixel 8, you might not notice a huge upgrade in this model. However, if you're upgrading from an older version or doing a switch from a non-Pixel phone, the 9 has a lot to offer. One of my favorite things about Pixel phones is the ongoing support for many years. My Pixel 6A still gets all of the updates and tons of AI features that make the phone feel fresh many years later, with the latest ones dropping last month (if you have a GoPro, you can control it with your Pixel). With the Pixel 9, you'll be getting a quality phone with software updates for quite a while—as long as seven years. View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “There’s always something on the horizon with the potential to negatively impact the economy.” 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: “There’s always something on the horizon with the potential to negatively impact the economy.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Key Takeaways Inclusive Franchise Model: Planet Fitness promotes a welcoming atmosphere and no-judgment philosophy, making it a desirable choice for both franchisees and members from diverse backgrounds. Strong Brand Recognition: With over 2,000 locations, Planet Fitness has established significant brand recognition, simplifying marketing efforts for franchise owners. Initial Investment Insight: Starting a Planet Fitness franchise typically requires an investment ranging from $1 million to $4 million, including franchise fees, equipment, and setup costs. Comprehensive Support and Training: Franchisees benefit from extensive operational support, marketing assistance, and tailored training programs to enhance their chances of success. Diverse Membership Options: Flexible membership plans cater to varying fitness needs and budgets, driving revenue and attracting a broad customer base. Multi-Unit Franchising Opportunities: The franchise offers options for multi-unit ownership, allowing franchisees to increase efficiency and profitability across multiple locations. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a gym that prioritizes inclusivity and affordability, the Planet Fitness franchise might be your perfect match. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and no-judgment philosophy, Planet Fitness has carved out a unique niche in the fitness industry. With over 2,000 locations across the U.S., it’s not just a popular choice for fitness enthusiasts but also a lucrative opportunity for aspiring franchise owners. Investing in a Planet Fitness franchise means tapping into a growing market of health-conscious individuals who value both quality and cost-effective options. As more people seek accessible fitness solutions, you can be part of a brand that’s redefining what it means to get fit. Let’s explore what it takes to join this dynamic franchise and how you can start your journey toward success in the booming fitness world. Overview of Planet Fitness Franchise Planet Fitness operates as a compelling franchise opportunity, particularly appealing to those entering the small business sector. The franchise model prioritizes inclusivity and affordability, attracting a diverse clientele while also benefitting franchisees. Operating over 2,000 locations in the U.S., Planet Fitness fosters a no-judgment environment, making it an attractive choice for fitness enthusiasts and potential franchise owners alike. As a franchisee, you gain access to a robust franchise system that offers extensive support and training. Initial investments typically range from $1 million to $4 million, depending on location and facility size, which includes costs such as franchise fees and royalty fees. Franchise agreements outline these financial commitments and details about the ongoing obligations to the brand. Franchise marketing plays a crucial role in driving local engagement and brand recognition. Planet Fitness provides franchisees with a comprehensive franchise marketing strategy tailored to boost visibility within exclusive territories. By participating in franchise recruitment efforts, you can strengthen your franchise network and capitalize on franchise growth opportunities. Franchise support includes ongoing assistance with operations through a curated operations manual and continual franchise compliance checks. This structured approach ensures that franchisees meet industry standards and maintain the brand’s high-quality reputation. Additionally, options like multi-unit franchising and master franchise opportunities allow for further expansion within the franchise development landscape. Benefits of Joining the Planet Fitness Franchise Joining the Planet Fitness franchise offers powerful advantages for franchisees in the small business sector. With a commitment to inclusivity and affordability, Planet Fitness operates a successful franchise model that appeals to various demographics. Brand Recognition Planet Fitness boasts strong brand recognition within the fitness industry. Its reputation for creating a welcoming environment and a “no judgment” philosophy attracts a diverse clientele, enhancing your franchise’s customer base. This established branding simplifies your marketing efforts. Leveraging Planet Fitness’s national advertising and local campaigns enhances your visibility and drives membership growth. Membership Options Planet Fitness provides flexible membership options that cater to different fitness needs and budgets. Membership tiers range from basic access to premium packages, accommodating various preferences. This variety attracts a wide range of customers, ensuring a steady stream of revenue. Additionally, the franchise supports franchisees with tailored franchise marketing plans to effectively promote these membership choices, optimizing your sales potential. Joining the Planet Fitness franchise equips you with the tools needed for success in the competitive fitness industry. Initial Investment and Costs Opening a Planet Fitness franchise involves various initial investments and costs. These investments can fluctuate based on your location and facility type, which impacts overall financing and profitability. Franchise Fees The initial franchise fee for a Planet Fitness location is $20,000. This fee provides you with the rights to use the Planet Fitness brand and logo, enhancing your franchise’s marketability and brand recognition. This fee is standard across the franchise system and plays a key role in initial investment calculations. Equipment and Setup Costs The costs related to equipment and setup can significantly impact your total investment. Leasehold Improvements: Expect to pay between $1,250,000 and $2,221,000 depending on your facility’s layout and location. This investment comprises construction and interior build-out costs, aligning with the franchise operations manual and compliance requirements. Your total investment typically ranges from $1,504,600 to $5,158,500, covering essential areas like inventory and initial operating expenses. Factors affecting these numbers include whether you lease or purchase your property and the specifications of your chosen franchise model. Support and Training Offered Planet Fitness provides extensive support and training to its franchisees, enhancing your chances of success within the franchise model. Operational Support Planet Fitness franchisees benefit from various operational support measures. You’ll receive a comprehensive operations manual that outlines essential procedures and best practices. You’ll also have access to a dedicated phone line for immediate assistance and guidance on safety procedures. Ongoing support includes regular meetings and newsletters that keep you informed about industry trends and franchise compliance requirements. Consistency in service quality and operational efficiency contributes to your franchise’s overall success. Marketing Assistance Planet Fitness offers robust marketing assistance to franchisees through tailored franchise marketing strategies. You’ll receive guidance on local marketing to boost brand recognition and customer engagement, vital for attracting and retaining members. The franchise marketing plan is designed to highlight the unique features of your location while reflecting the core values of the Planet Fitness brand. Furthermore, support for multi-unit franchising opportunities is available, allowing you to expand your footprint and enhance your franchise growth through effective marketing initiatives. Real-Life Success Stories Planet Fitness showcases numerous success stories within its franchise network. Franchisees benefit from a strong brand recognition and an inclusive fitness environment, aligning with modern trends in the franchise industry that emphasize accessibility and affordability. Founding and Early Success In 1992, Michael and Marc Grondahl founded Planet Fitness in Dover, New Hampshire. Initially, they adopted a traditional gym model. As they realized the demand for a more welcoming fitness space, they transformed their gym into a “Judgment Free Zone®.” This innovative approach, characterized by a $10 per month membership fee, attracted a broader audience and laid the groundwork for franchise growth across the U.S. Pandemic Resilience During the COVID-19 pandemic, Planet Fitness exemplified resilience within the small business landscape. Despite mandated closures in all 50 states in March 2020, the franchise system maintained its operations and even expanded its footprint. The brand’s commitment to the health and safety of its members showcased the strength of its operations manual and franchise support during challenging times. Success Through Franchise Opportunities Investing in a Planet Fitness franchise presents a lucrative opportunity for potential franchisees. Initial investments typically range from $1 million to $4 million, covering franchise fees, equipment, and leasehold improvements. The comprehensive franchise disclosure document outlines essential details, helping franchisees make informed decisions. Tailored franchise training programs provide necessary tools for effective franchise management, empowering you to navigate the competitive fitness market. Effective Franchise Marketing Strategies Franchise marketing strategies enhance brand visibility and member engagement. Planet Fitness offers a structured approach to franchise marketing plans, ensuring franchisees can effectively promote their unique offerings. This support, combined with brand collaboration, enables franchisees to attract a diverse clientele, boost membership sales, and create a loyal customer base in exclusive territories. Growth Potential in Multi-Unit Franchising The option for multi-unit franchising further accelerates franchise success. By managing multiple locations, you gain leverage in operation efficiency and cost reduction. Planet Fitness franchise consultants assist in location analysis and territory management, equipping you to maximize profitability and minimize operational risks. These real-life examples of Planet Fitness franchisees highlight the opportunities present in the franchise model and its commitment to supporting your journey in the fitness industry. Conclusion Owning a Planet Fitness franchise opens doors to a thriving business in the fitness industry. With its strong brand reputation and commitment to inclusivity you can attract a diverse clientele eager for affordable fitness solutions. The extensive support and training provided ensure you’re well-equipped to navigate the challenges of running a franchise. This opportunity not only allows you to make a positive impact on your community but also positions you for financial success. Embrace the chance to be part of a growing movement that prioritizes health and wellness. If you’re ready to take the leap into franchise ownership Planet Fitness could be the perfect fit for you. Frequently Asked Questions What are the main benefits of owning a Planet Fitness franchise? Owning a Planet Fitness franchise offers numerous benefits, including a strong brand recognition, inclusive environment, and flexible membership options. The no-judgment philosophy attracts a diverse clientele while extensive training and support from the franchise ensures that franchisees can effectively run their business and engage with the community. How much does it cost to open a Planet Fitness franchise? The initial investment for a Planet Fitness franchise typically ranges from $1,504,600 to $5,158,500. This includes a franchise fee of $20,000, equipment and setup costs, and leasehold improvements that can vary depending on location and facility layout. What kind of support do franchisees receive? Franchisees receive extensive support, including an operations manual, dedicated assistance lines, and ongoing training. They also benefit from tailored marketing strategies to boost brand recognition and member engagement, ensuring they feel equipped to succeed in the competitive fitness market. Is multi-unit franchising an option with Planet Fitness? Yes, multi-unit franchising is available with Planet Fitness, allowing franchisees to own and manage multiple locations. This option can lead to increased operational efficiency and profitability, as well as enhanced growth potential within the franchise model. How does Planet Fitness attract and retain members? Planet Fitness attracts members through affordable membership options and a welcoming, inclusive environment. The franchise’s unique marketing plans and community-focused initiatives help to engage potential members while fostering loyalty among existing clientele. Image Via Envato This article, "Unlocking Success with a Planet Fitness Franchise: Your Path to Fitness Entrepreneurship" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Inclusive Franchise Model: Planet Fitness promotes a welcoming atmosphere and no-judgment philosophy, making it a desirable choice for both franchisees and members from diverse backgrounds. Strong Brand Recognition: With over 2,000 locations, Planet Fitness has established significant brand recognition, simplifying marketing efforts for franchise owners. Initial Investment Insight: Starting a Planet Fitness franchise typically requires an investment ranging from $1 million to $4 million, including franchise fees, equipment, and setup costs. Comprehensive Support and Training: Franchisees benefit from extensive operational support, marketing assistance, and tailored training programs to enhance their chances of success. Diverse Membership Options: Flexible membership plans cater to varying fitness needs and budgets, driving revenue and attracting a broad customer base. Multi-Unit Franchising Opportunities: The franchise offers options for multi-unit ownership, allowing franchisees to increase efficiency and profitability across multiple locations. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a gym that prioritizes inclusivity and affordability, the Planet Fitness franchise might be your perfect match. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and no-judgment philosophy, Planet Fitness has carved out a unique niche in the fitness industry. With over 2,000 locations across the U.S., it’s not just a popular choice for fitness enthusiasts but also a lucrative opportunity for aspiring franchise owners. Investing in a Planet Fitness franchise means tapping into a growing market of health-conscious individuals who value both quality and cost-effective options. As more people seek accessible fitness solutions, you can be part of a brand that’s redefining what it means to get fit. Let’s explore what it takes to join this dynamic franchise and how you can start your journey toward success in the booming fitness world. Overview of Planet Fitness Franchise Planet Fitness operates as a compelling franchise opportunity, particularly appealing to those entering the small business sector. The franchise model prioritizes inclusivity and affordability, attracting a diverse clientele while also benefitting franchisees. Operating over 2,000 locations in the U.S., Planet Fitness fosters a no-judgment environment, making it an attractive choice for fitness enthusiasts and potential franchise owners alike. As a franchisee, you gain access to a robust franchise system that offers extensive support and training. Initial investments typically range from $1 million to $4 million, depending on location and facility size, which includes costs such as franchise fees and royalty fees. Franchise agreements outline these financial commitments and details about the ongoing obligations to the brand. Franchise marketing plays a crucial role in driving local engagement and brand recognition. Planet Fitness provides franchisees with a comprehensive franchise marketing strategy tailored to boost visibility within exclusive territories. By participating in franchise recruitment efforts, you can strengthen your franchise network and capitalize on franchise growth opportunities. Franchise support includes ongoing assistance with operations through a curated operations manual and continual franchise compliance checks. This structured approach ensures that franchisees meet industry standards and maintain the brand’s high-quality reputation. Additionally, options like multi-unit franchising and master franchise opportunities allow for further expansion within the franchise development landscape. Benefits of Joining the Planet Fitness Franchise Joining the Planet Fitness franchise offers powerful advantages for franchisees in the small business sector. With a commitment to inclusivity and affordability, Planet Fitness operates a successful franchise model that appeals to various demographics. Brand Recognition Planet Fitness boasts strong brand recognition within the fitness industry. Its reputation for creating a welcoming environment and a “no judgment” philosophy attracts a diverse clientele, enhancing your franchise’s customer base. This established branding simplifies your marketing efforts. Leveraging Planet Fitness’s national advertising and local campaigns enhances your visibility and drives membership growth. Membership Options Planet Fitness provides flexible membership options that cater to different fitness needs and budgets. Membership tiers range from basic access to premium packages, accommodating various preferences. This variety attracts a wide range of customers, ensuring a steady stream of revenue. Additionally, the franchise supports franchisees with tailored franchise marketing plans to effectively promote these membership choices, optimizing your sales potential. Joining the Planet Fitness franchise equips you with the tools needed for success in the competitive fitness industry. Initial Investment and Costs Opening a Planet Fitness franchise involves various initial investments and costs. These investments can fluctuate based on your location and facility type, which impacts overall financing and profitability. Franchise Fees The initial franchise fee for a Planet Fitness location is $20,000. This fee provides you with the rights to use the Planet Fitness brand and logo, enhancing your franchise’s marketability and brand recognition. This fee is standard across the franchise system and plays a key role in initial investment calculations. Equipment and Setup Costs The costs related to equipment and setup can significantly impact your total investment. Leasehold Improvements: Expect to pay between $1,250,000 and $2,221,000 depending on your facility’s layout and location. This investment comprises construction and interior build-out costs, aligning with the franchise operations manual and compliance requirements. Your total investment typically ranges from $1,504,600 to $5,158,500, covering essential areas like inventory and initial operating expenses. Factors affecting these numbers include whether you lease or purchase your property and the specifications of your chosen franchise model. Support and Training Offered Planet Fitness provides extensive support and training to its franchisees, enhancing your chances of success within the franchise model. Operational Support Planet Fitness franchisees benefit from various operational support measures. You’ll receive a comprehensive operations manual that outlines essential procedures and best practices. You’ll also have access to a dedicated phone line for immediate assistance and guidance on safety procedures. Ongoing support includes regular meetings and newsletters that keep you informed about industry trends and franchise compliance requirements. Consistency in service quality and operational efficiency contributes to your franchise’s overall success. Marketing Assistance Planet Fitness offers robust marketing assistance to franchisees through tailored franchise marketing strategies. You’ll receive guidance on local marketing to boost brand recognition and customer engagement, vital for attracting and retaining members. The franchise marketing plan is designed to highlight the unique features of your location while reflecting the core values of the Planet Fitness brand. Furthermore, support for multi-unit franchising opportunities is available, allowing you to expand your footprint and enhance your franchise growth through effective marketing initiatives. Real-Life Success Stories Planet Fitness showcases numerous success stories within its franchise network. Franchisees benefit from a strong brand recognition and an inclusive fitness environment, aligning with modern trends in the franchise industry that emphasize accessibility and affordability. Founding and Early Success In 1992, Michael and Marc Grondahl founded Planet Fitness in Dover, New Hampshire. Initially, they adopted a traditional gym model. As they realized the demand for a more welcoming fitness space, they transformed their gym into a “Judgment Free Zone®.” This innovative approach, characterized by a $10 per month membership fee, attracted a broader audience and laid the groundwork for franchise growth across the U.S. Pandemic Resilience During the COVID-19 pandemic, Planet Fitness exemplified resilience within the small business landscape. Despite mandated closures in all 50 states in March 2020, the franchise system maintained its operations and even expanded its footprint. The brand’s commitment to the health and safety of its members showcased the strength of its operations manual and franchise support during challenging times. Success Through Franchise Opportunities Investing in a Planet Fitness franchise presents a lucrative opportunity for potential franchisees. Initial investments typically range from $1 million to $4 million, covering franchise fees, equipment, and leasehold improvements. The comprehensive franchise disclosure document outlines essential details, helping franchisees make informed decisions. Tailored franchise training programs provide necessary tools for effective franchise management, empowering you to navigate the competitive fitness market. Effective Franchise Marketing Strategies Franchise marketing strategies enhance brand visibility and member engagement. Planet Fitness offers a structured approach to franchise marketing plans, ensuring franchisees can effectively promote their unique offerings. This support, combined with brand collaboration, enables franchisees to attract a diverse clientele, boost membership sales, and create a loyal customer base in exclusive territories. Growth Potential in Multi-Unit Franchising The option for multi-unit franchising further accelerates franchise success. By managing multiple locations, you gain leverage in operation efficiency and cost reduction. Planet Fitness franchise consultants assist in location analysis and territory management, equipping you to maximize profitability and minimize operational risks. These real-life examples of Planet Fitness franchisees highlight the opportunities present in the franchise model and its commitment to supporting your journey in the fitness industry. Conclusion Owning a Planet Fitness franchise opens doors to a thriving business in the fitness industry. With its strong brand reputation and commitment to inclusivity you can attract a diverse clientele eager for affordable fitness solutions. The extensive support and training provided ensure you’re well-equipped to navigate the challenges of running a franchise. This opportunity not only allows you to make a positive impact on your community but also positions you for financial success. Embrace the chance to be part of a growing movement that prioritizes health and wellness. If you’re ready to take the leap into franchise ownership Planet Fitness could be the perfect fit for you. Frequently Asked Questions What are the main benefits of owning a Planet Fitness franchise? Owning a Planet Fitness franchise offers numerous benefits, including a strong brand recognition, inclusive environment, and flexible membership options. The no-judgment philosophy attracts a diverse clientele while extensive training and support from the franchise ensures that franchisees can effectively run their business and engage with the community. How much does it cost to open a Planet Fitness franchise? The initial investment for a Planet Fitness franchise typically ranges from $1,504,600 to $5,158,500. This includes a franchise fee of $20,000, equipment and setup costs, and leasehold improvements that can vary depending on location and facility layout. What kind of support do franchisees receive? Franchisees receive extensive support, including an operations manual, dedicated assistance lines, and ongoing training. They also benefit from tailored marketing strategies to boost brand recognition and member engagement, ensuring they feel equipped to succeed in the competitive fitness market. Is multi-unit franchising an option with Planet Fitness? Yes, multi-unit franchising is available with Planet Fitness, allowing franchisees to own and manage multiple locations. This option can lead to increased operational efficiency and profitability, as well as enhanced growth potential within the franchise model. How does Planet Fitness attract and retain members? Planet Fitness attracts members through affordable membership options and a welcoming, inclusive environment. The franchise’s unique marketing plans and community-focused initiatives help to engage potential members while fostering loyalty among existing clientele. Image Via Envato This article, "Unlocking Success with a Planet Fitness Franchise: Your Path to Fitness Entrepreneurship" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article