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New workflow systems are expected to cut labor problems and shore up profit margins. By CPA Trendlines Research Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

New workflow systems are expected to cut labor problems and shore up profit margins. By CPA Trendlines Research Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. 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. In the smart glasses era, the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer is known as one of the most natural-looking options—they blend into your daily style with ease, looking and feeling like normal glasses. They’re also the ultimate hands-free assistance with built-in AI. Plus, they reduce the need for phone dependence, which is a major convenience. Right now, the first-generation Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Smart Glasses are 25% off on Amazon, bringing them down to their lowest price ever of $224.25 (originally $299.00) Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Smart Glasses (Gen 1) $224.25 at Amazon $299.00 Save $74.75 Get Deal Get Deal $224.25 at Amazon $299.00 Save $74.75 Available in clear and green-tinted lenses, these AI glasses combine chic eyewear with open-ear headphones and a built-in camera. They let you capture photos and videos for social, listen to music, or take calls. Compared to their predecessor, the Ray-Ban Stories, they have a sharper 12MP camera, louder speakers, and an additional mic for a total of five. They’re also water-resistant, making them ideal for workouts or rainy days. The 12MP camera shoots video footage at 1080p resolution and frames both photos and videos vertically for a social-friendly format. That said, if you want to shoot horizontally, this may be a downside. Glasses are set up via the Meta View app on Android and iOS and sync easily with social media. According to PCMag, the frames hold around four hours of battery life with an additional eight charges in the case for a total of 36 hours. At 15%, users get an audible low charge warning. It’s worth noting that you can’t shoot video with less than 15% of a charge. If you want a natural way to take photos, record video, or answer calls without fumbling for your phone, the Meta Ray-Bans are a reliable option. While you can do some by tapping the button near your temple, you can take photos or record using the built-in AI voice assistant, which also translates text and identifies surroundings. One potential pitfall is that if you have longer hair, it may partially cover the lens during shots. They also don’t offer zoom or manual focus controls, so photography enthusiasts may want something more advanced. That said, if you want a general combination of useful features, the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Smart Glasses are the perfect choice for travelers and social media users, or anyone looking to be a bit less reliant on their phone. While they’re not built for serious photography, they’re a stylish and convenient upgrade that makes it easier to capture moments and stay connected while going hands-free. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00) Fire TV Stick 4K Plus Streaming Player With Remote (2025 Model) — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Amazon Fire TV Soundbar — $99.99 (List Price $119.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $35.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen, 2-pack, White) — $59.98 (List Price $79.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Everyone is talking about AI search as if it’s already universal — as if we’ve collectively moved on, users have shifted and discovery has changed for everyone. But the reality is far less straightforward. While AI search is growing fast, it isn’t being adopted evenly. The gap is increasingly shaped by something we don’t often discuss in search: household income. AI adoption isn’t equal — and the gap is widening My agency has been tracking how people search since early 2025. In our latest wave, we introduced a new lens: household income. What we found was a clear and significant divide. Overall, around 27% of people say they use ChatGPT regularly. But when you break that down by income, the picture changes dramatically. £25-30k households: ~18% usage £50-60k households: ~30% usage (average household income in the UK fits into this bracket based on fiscal year ending 2024) £70-80k households: ~49% £100k+ households: ~48–58% In other words, higher-income households are more than twice as likely to be using generative AI tools. This isn’t a small variation. It challenges one of the biggest assumptions shaping search strategy: that AI adoption is happening at the same pace for everyone. We’re seeing the emergence of a new kind of digital inequality in how people access information and make decisions. This divide doesn’t exist in isolation. Across the UK, FutureDotNow has found 52% of working-age adults can’t complete all essential digital tasks required for work. AI adoption is layering on top of an existing digital skills gap, one that already shapes who can confidently access, evaluate, and act on information. AI adoption depends on more than access to tools AI adoption isn’t just about access to tools. It’s shaped by human behavior, specifically: Access. Capability. Confidence. Access: Who is being exposed to AI in their daily lives? If you work in a digital, corporate, or knowledge-based role, you’re far more likely to be encouraged or expected to use AI. It becomes part of your workflow. This is reflected in our data, where sectors like IT and business consistently lead adoption, reinforcing how workplace exposure accelerates behavior. If you’re not, your exposure might be limited to headlines, media narratives, or second-hand experiences. That creates a very different starting point. Capability: Do you know how to use it? For those regularly using AI, prompting becomes second nature. You learn how to refine, challenge, and build on outputs. For others, that first interaction can feel unfamiliar, even intimidating. Without guidance, many simply don’t get started. Confidence: Do you trust it enough to rely on it? This is where things get particularly interesting. Trust varies not just by platform, but by mindset. In our research, platforms like Perplexity score highly on trust, but they’re still relatively niche. Which raises an important question: Are the users adopting these tools early also the ones most confident in navigating and validating AI outputs? It’s likely. It reinforces a bigger point: AI adoption isn’t just a technology curve, it’s a human one. As AI becomes embedded in how people search and decide, AI literacy risks becoming the next layer of the digital divide, amplifying the advantage of those who are already digitally confident. Search is fragmenting — and it has real commercial consequences Different audiences are building different behaviors: AI-first users → Delegating tasks, summarizing, shortlisting. AI-assisted users → Validating across platforms. AI-avoidant users → Relying on Google, retailers, and communities. These behaviors aren’t fixed. The same person might use AI to draft a legal letter, but still turn to Google when researching a product. Habits take time to form, and right now, people are experimenting. This means: We’re not moving from one search journey to another. We’re fragmenting into several. This fragmentation isn’t just a behavioral shift, it has direct commercial consequences. If you assume your audience behaves like early adopters, you risk making the wrong strategic calls. Over-investing in AI optimization can mean missing traditional users, while over-indexing on Google can mean missing AI-led users. Ignoring confidence gaps can also erode trust. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. The opportunity: Your most valuable audience may already be AI-first There’s a real upside to this divide. The audiences adopting AI fastest are often valued by many brands: decision-makers, professionals, and higher-income consumers. Our data shows these users often align with what we define as “digital explorers,” early adopters who are already delegating parts of their decision-making to AI by: Comparing options through AI. Summarizing information. Shortlisting before they ever visit a website. Behavior is only one layer. Underneath it sits confidence, which determines how far users are willing to go with AI. When you map behavior through this lens, three clear patterns emerge: High-confidence users → Able to delegate to AI. Mid-confidence users → Likely to cross-check across platforms. Low-confidence users → Rely on familiar environments. Different behaviors, journeys, expectations, and crucially, content needs. How to respond to fragmented search Because these high-value, AI-first users are delegating decisions earlier, the goal is now to be understood, surfaced, and recommended by AI tools — before a click ever happens. 1. Segment by behavior, not just demographics Age or income might explain who your audience is, but not how they decide. To get this right, you need to move beyond surface-level segmentation and build a behavioral understanding of discovery, combining both quantitative and qualitative insight. Quantitative data shows you patterns at scale: Which platforms are being used. How frequently. By which audience groups. Qualitative insight explains why: What people trust. Where they feel confident. What triggers them to switch between platforms. People aren’t loyal to a single search method. They’re adapting their behavior to the task at hand. Someone might turn to AI to summarize options, use Google to validate specifics, and go to TikTok or Reddit for real-world context, all within the same journey. Your segmentation needs to be mapped across the customer journey. Where does AI play a role? Where do people seek reassurance? Where do they need human proof? The same person can be AI-first at the start of a journey, and AI-avoidant at the point of decision. If you don’t understand those shifts, you risk designing a strategy that only works for part of the journey. That’s where brands lose relevance. 2. Design for multiple discovery journeys Once you understand how your audience behaves, the next step is designing a strategy that reflects it. In our research, 51% of users say they turn to social media for information in a format they prefer, such as images and video, while 40% value information coming from real people. That tells us how people want to experience information: through visual, digestible formats, with human perspectives and real-world context. AI is the tool for answers, while social remains the place for human context. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are key parts of the search journey, particularly in earlier stages of exploration. At the same time, AI is used to summarize and simplify, while traditional search engines are still relied on for validation and detail. It’s important to show up in the moments that matter, with the right content, in the right format, and from the right voice. 3. Optimize for clarity Users are now more specific, conversational, and complex in what they’re searching for, particularly in AI environments. This is why your content needs to be structured in a way that answers real, nuanced questions, surfacing information humans and machines can interpret. If your content isn’t clear, it may not be surfaced at all. 4. Build trust alongside efficiency AI doesn’t change the need for reassurance. People may use AI to narrow options quickly, but they still look for signals that help them feel confident in a decision. That includes: Reviews. Authority. Real-world validation. Brand credibility. We’re already seeing this reflected in AI-generated summaries of reviews and recommendations. Efficiency might get you shortlisted. Trust is what gets you chosen. The future of search is human AI will evolve and platforms will change, but the defining factor isn’t the technology — it’s how people use it. The future of search will be defined by human behavior. To win, don’t just optimize for platforms — understand the people behind them: how they think, search, and decide. View the full article

In relation to enhancing customer loyalty, selecting the right rewards program software is essential. The top seven solutions, including Capillary Technologies and Annex Cloud, utilize advanced technologies like AI to boost engagement and retention. They offer customizable structures, seamless integrations, and real-time analytics. Comprehending these features can help you make informed decisions. As you explore these options, consider how each one aligns with your business goals and customer needs. Key Takeaways Capillary Technologies: Offers AI-driven personalization and gamified tiering with its Loyalty+ platform, utilized by major brands like NASCAR and The Royal Caribbean. Annex Cloud: Combines flexible points programs and referrals, integrating seamlessly with Salesforce and ensuring compliance for regulated industries. Talon.One: Provides an API-based loyalty engine for hyper-personalized experiences, successfully used by Adidas and H&M for complex discounting strategies. SessionM: Focuses on Fortune 500 companies by leveraging transaction data to enhance customer engagement and drive loyalty. Zinrelo: Enhances omnichannel engagement through AI-driven analytics, achieving significant increases in member engagement for retail brands. Understanding Customer Loyalty Programs Understanding customer loyalty programs is essential for businesses looking to improve customer retention and drive revenue growth. These programs reward frequent purchases, making it easier for you to cultivate long-term relationships with your customers. It’s vital to recognize that acquiring new customers can cost up to five times more than retaining existing ones. With over 90% of U.S. adults online participating in at least one loyalty program, you can tap into their preferences using loyalty management software. Various types of programs exist, including points systems, tiered programs, cashback offers, and subscription models, which cater to different engagement strategies. Implementing point of sale loyalty programs can streamline customer interactions at checkout. Utilizing loyalty rewards program software allows you to incorporate real-time analytics and personalization features, enhancing customer experiences, driving repeat purchases, and eventually boosting your revenue growth. A well-designed program can yield a remarkable 4.8x return on investment. The Importance of Loyalty Software in Business Loyalty software plays a crucial role in modern business strategies, allowing companies to create and manage effective engagement programs that drive customer retention and improve overall value. By implementing a POS loyalty program, you’re not just enhancing customer experiences; you’re additionally tapping into a system that can yield a remarkable ROI of 4.8 times. This software often integrates advanced technologies, like AI and machine learning, to deliver personalized experiences that customers increasingly expect. Furthermore, businesses utilizing loyalty programs typically see a 2.5 times revenue growth compared to their peers, demonstrating the financial advantages of cultivating long-term relationships. The scalability of a POS system with loyalty program features guarantees your business can adapt and expand seamlessly across various channels, maintaining ongoing customer engagement and satisfaction. In today’s competitive market, having robust loyalty software isn’t just an option; it’s a requirement for sustained success. Key Features to Look for in Loyalty Software When you’re selecting loyalty software, consider key features that can improve your program’s effectiveness. Look for integration capabilities that connect seamlessly with your existing systems, in addition to AI-driven personalization features that tailor rewards to individual customer behaviors. Furthermore, guarantee the software offers scalability and flexible reward options to accommodate your business growth and cater to diverse customer preferences. Integration With Existing Systems Integrating loyalty software with your existing systems is essential for maximizing its effectiveness and guaranteeing a smooth customer experience. Seamless API integration connects Seamless loyalty software with your CRM, POS, and marketing automation tools, creating a unified customer engagement experience across platforms. Look for customizable rules engines that allow you to adapt reward structures to fit your unique operational needs and customer behaviors. Integration with cloud-based infrastructure guarantees your loyalty program can scale efficiently as customer engagement grows and expands across multiple locations. Eliminating data silos improves operational efficiency, providing better insights for targeted loyalty strategies. Finally, real-time analytics from integrated systems deliver actionable insights, helping you optimize your loyalty programs for maximum impact. AI-Driven Personalization Features To improve customer engagement and satisfaction, consider incorporating AI-driven personalization features into your loyalty software. These features analyze individual behaviors and preferences, allowing you to create customized experiences that resonate with your customers. Advanced segmentation capabilities help you categorize customers based on their purchasing patterns, enabling targeted offers and rewards. Predictive modeling uses historical data to forecast behaviors, guaranteeing timely promotions that improve retention and encourage repeat purchases. Furthermore, real-time analytics provide instant feedback on customer interactions and program performance, allowing you to adjust strategies as needed. Finally, integrating these features with existing CRM systems guarantees a consistent application across all customer touchpoints, nurturing a seamless and cohesive loyalty experience that meets your customers’ needs effectively. Scalability and Flexibility Options Scalability and flexibility are essential components of any loyalty software, especially as businesses grow and customer engagement increases. Look for cloud-based infrastructure, which allows your program to function seamlessly across multiple locations, even during peak seasons like Black Friday. A customizable rules engine improves flexibility, enabling you to adapt reward structures and campaigns based on specific customer behaviors. Furthermore, prioritize loyalty software with robust API integration capabilities; this will connect loyalty data with your existing CRM, POS, and marketing systems, eliminating data silos and boosting efficiency. Finally, choose modular solutions that allow you to activate features customized to your unique needs, ensuring the system remains both flexible and aligned with your business objectives. Overview of the Top 7 Loyalty Software Providers When considering loyalty software providers, it’s essential to grasp the top seven options available in the market today. Capillary Technologies stands out with its Loyalty+ platform, utilizing AI for personalization and serving brands like NASCAR. Annex Cloud offers a suite that combines points programs and referrals, integrating seamlessly with platforms like Salesforce. Talon.One provides an API-based loyalty engine, ideal for businesses needing hyper-personalized experiences. SessionM, part of Mastercard, focuses on Fortune 500 companies, unifying transaction data to improve customer engagement. Finally, Zinrelo boosts engagement through omnichannel experiences and AI-driven analytics, showing a significant increase in member engagement for its clients. Each of these providers brings unique features customized to different business needs, ensuring you have options that fit your specific loyalty program goals. Grasping these providers will help you make informed decisions when selecting the right software for your organization. Detailed Analysis of Each Software Solution Now, let’s take a closer look at each loyalty software solution to understand their key features and real-world implementations. You’ll see how tools like Capillary Loyalty+ and Annex Cloud stand out with their unique offerings, whereas others like Talon.One and SessionM cater to specific enterprise needs. Key Features Overview Loyalty rewards program software solutions offer various features intended to improve customer engagement and streamline operations for businesses. Capillary Technologies’ Loyalty+ platform stands out with its AI-led personalization and behavioral segmentation, enhancing customer experiences through gamified tiering. Annex Cloud provides a flexible, multi-product suite that integrates seamlessly with platforms like Salesforce and SAP, ensuring compliance in regulated sectors. Talon.One shines with its API-based engine, allowing for hyper-personalized loyalty experiences featuring complex discounting mechanics. SessionM, backed by Mastercard, leverages transaction data to create context-aware loyalty interventions for larger enterprises. Finally, Zinrelo promotes omnichannel experiences, utilizing AI-driven analytics to support diverse reward structures and gamification elements, in the end boosting customer engagement across various platforms. Real-World Implementations Comprehending how loyalty rewards program software solutions function in real-world scenarios can provide valuable insights into their effectiveness. For instance, Capillary Technologies’ Loyalty+ is employed by brands like NASCAR and The Royal Caribbean, utilizing AI for personalized, gamified experiences. Annex Cloud offers a multi-product suite integrated with platforms like Salesforce, aiding customization and reporting, as seen with Nu Skin and Harrods. Talon.One’s API enables companies like Adidas and H&M to craft hyper-personalized loyalty expeditions with complex discount options. SessionM, part of Mastercard, leverages transaction data for context-aware loyalty strategies, appealing to Fortune 500 firms. Finally, Zinrelo’s platform boosted engagement by 48% for a U.S. beauty retailer through activity-based rewards and AI-driven segmentation. Trends Shaping the Future of Loyalty Programs As consumer preferences evolve, businesses must adapt their loyalty programs to remain relevant and effective. The loyalty software market is set to grow considerably, emphasizing AI-driven personalization and omnichannel engagement. With 90% of U.S. adults enrolled in at least one loyalty program, it’s clear that effective design matters; studies show 64% of consumers let loyalty programs influence their shopping decisions. To capitalize on this trend, brands are shifting from basic models to gamified systems, enhancing engagement to meet rising consumer expectations. By 2025, expect more flexible reward structures that cater to emotional loyalty, not just transactional loyalty, as businesses aim for deeper connections with customers. Loyalty leaders already enjoy an average ROI of 4.8x, highlighting the financial benefits of well-structured initiatives. As these trends shape the future of loyalty programs, staying ahead of the curve will be essential for maintaining customer loyalty. How to Choose the Right Loyalty Program Software Selecting the right loyalty program software is a significant step in building a successful customer engagement strategy. Start by prioritizing features like omnichannel support and AI-driven personalization, as these improve customer engagement and retention. Evaluate how well the software integrates with your existing systems, such as CRM and POS, to guarantee seamless data flow and efficiency across all touchpoints. Scalability is vital; choose a platform that can grow with your business and handle increased customer engagement, especially during busy shopping seasons. Customizable reward structures are important, allowing you to adapt the program to diverse customer behaviors and encourage ongoing participation. Finally, assess the software’s real-time analytics capabilities, which provide actionable insights for data-driven decision-making. This flexibility enables you to adjust strategies as needed, making sure your loyalty program remains effective and relevant in today’s dynamic market. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Most Popular Loyalty Program? The most popular loyalty program in the U.S. is Starbucks Rewards, with over 30 million active members. Participants earn stars for their purchases, which can be redeemed for free items. Another notable program is Amazon Prime, boasting over 200 million global members who enjoy benefits like free shipping and streaming access. These programs highlight the effectiveness of loyalty initiatives, as they greatly influence shopping behaviors and improve customer retention in competitive markets. What Is the World’s Most Generous Rewards Program? The world’s most generous rewards program often features tiered structures, where you can earn more points as you reach higher spending thresholds. Many programs provide significant benefits, such as cash back or travel rewards. For instance, airline loyalty programs offer free flights and upgrades, whereas credit card rewards can translate to substantial bonuses. Retail loyalty programs improve your shopping experience with exclusive promotions and personalized rewards, making them highly appealing for frequent customers. What Is a Loyalty Program Software? A loyalty program software is a digital tool that helps businesses manage their customer engagement and retention efforts. It often integrates with existing CRM systems, allowing you to track customer interactions and preferences. Features typically include real-time analytics and AI-driven personalization, which tailor customer experiences. These platforms can support various reward structures, including gamification elements, making them adaptable to changing market conditions and customer behaviors as your business grows. What Are the 8 C’s of Customer Loyalty? The 8 C’s of customer loyalty are vital for creating lasting relationships. They include: Customer Satisfaction, ensuring your customers are happy; Consistency, providing a reliable experience; Communication, engaging in open dialogue; Community, nurturing belonging; Customization, personalizing interactions; Convenience, making it easy to engage; Credibility, building trust; and Commitment, developing loyalty programs. Conclusion In summary, selecting the right loyalty rewards program software is essential for enhancing customer engagement and driving business growth. By comprehending key features like customizable rewards and real-time analytics, you can make informed decisions. The top providers, including Capillary Technologies and Annex Cloud, offer robust solutions customized to various business needs. As trends evolve, staying updated on emerging technologies will further empower you to nurture customer loyalty and achieve long-term success in your industry. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Top 7 Loyalty Rewards Program Software Solutions" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

News publishers chasing SEO-driven clicks often sacrifice audience trust, and pay the price when rankings collapse. The post The Dangerous Seduction Of Click-Chasing appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

You spend a lot of time using the software keyboard on your phone, so it makes sense to make sure it's a keyboard you're comfortable with—one that suits both your aesthetic taste and your typing requirements. I've previously covered the best alternative keyboards if you want a change from the default one that comes with your phone, but if you're a Samsung Galaxy owner, there's another option to be aware of: You can create your own keyboard, too. This comes via the Keys Cafe app, part of the Good Lock utilities suite that Samsung develops to accompany One UI. It lets you build keyboards exactly to your needs—from the keys on show, to the animations that appear when you press them. Getting started with Keys CafeYou can access Keys Cafe by downloading Good Lock from the Google Play Store or the Samsung Galaxy Store. While Good Lock doesn't come preinstalled on One UI, it is an official Samsung add-on, and there's a lot to explore: There are tools here for tweaking volume settings, making 3D animated wallpapers, and adding extra processing options to the phone camera, for example. To design your own keyboards, find Keys Cafe on the Plugins screen. Tap the download icon to the right of the utility name to get it on your phone, and when the download is complete, tap on Keys Cafe at the top of the list to launch it. Keys Cafe will also be added as an app on your home screen and in the app drawer. Keys Cafe is part of Good Lock. Credit: Lifehacker Keys Cafe isn't just about creating keyboards. It will give you some interesting stats about your typing—including your typing speed for the day—and there are games you can play to improve your typing speed. If you don't want to make your own keyboard, there are a variety of preset themes you can apply. When you're ready to get creative with your own keyboard design, open the Keyboard tab and tap Make. You'll be given a selection of basic templates to start off with, based on the keyboards that are currently installed: Tap on the thumbnail you want to use as a starting point, then choose Edit to get to the creation screen. How to make your own keyboardI've never made my own phone keyboard before, but Keys Cafe makes the process simple and fun. The main editing screen shows a grid of all the available characters you've got to work with, and these can be dragged down to the keyboard design at the bottom. You can add keys for the special characters you use most often, for example, or for your favorite emojis. Tapping on keys that are already part of the keyboard lets you edit them in more detail. You're able to change the height and the width of each key individually (the others will shift around as needed)—so if you need a much wider space bar, go for it. Press and hold to select and edit multiple keys at the same time. Adjusting key height and width. Credit: Lifehacker The arrow-and-blocks icon just above the keyboard lets you add rows (if no keys are selected) and remove rows (if one or more keys are selected) There's also a green reset button in the top right corner if you need to go back to the beginning, as well as an undo button to take one step back. When you're happy, tap the purple check icon (top right) to save your new keyboard layout. To change colors and animations, you need to head to the Design part of the Keyboard tab in Keys Cafe, and tap the + (plus) button near the top right: The appearance of the keyboard is handled separately from the layout, so it's possible to create several different combinations of both, if you'd like to. Picking colors and styles. Credit: Lifehacker When you get into the design editor, there are three main sections: the main keyboard, the individual letter keys, and the animations that are overlaid on top (for swipe typing, for example). You can switch between these sections using the icons up in the top right corner, then make changes underneath—so for the individual keys, you can pick separate colors for the characters, the backgrounds, and the borders. On the main keyboard screen, you can change the background color and the keypress effects—there are several different animations to pick from, which can be customized as needed. There's also a Sound tab here to change the sound you hear when keys are tapped. Select Save, and your new keyboard theme is saved on top of the layout you've made, and the keyboard is ready to be used. View the full article

As you prepare for the upcoming tax season, it is vital to know the key dates related to the IRS opening and critical filing deadlines. During the exact opening date for 2026 hasn’t been confirmed, it is typically anticipated in late January, around January 27. Make sure you’re aware of important deadlines like the April 15 filing date and W-2 distribution by February 2. Comprehending these dates can greatly influence your tax preparation strategy. What else should you know to stay ahead? Key Takeaways The IRS typically opens in late January, with a historical date around January 27 for the tax filing season. W-2 forms from employers are due by February 2, 2026, marking an important date for taxpayers. Federal tax filing deadline is April 15, 2026, for the 2025 tax year, regardless of IRS opening delays. Estimated tax payments for the fourth quarter are due January 15, 2026, before the IRS opens. Extension filing deadline using Form 4868 is October 15, 2026, for those who need more time to file. Anticipated IRS Opening Date for 2026 Though the official opening date for the IRS in 2026 hasn’t been announced yet, you can typically expect it to occur in late January, similar to previous years. Historically, the IRS has opened for tax season around January 27, so keep an eye out for an announcement. If you’re wondering when the IRS will start accepting returns in 2025, that date will likely align with the 2026 timeline. Significant tax law changes or necessary system updates could delay the opening, impacting early filers. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to note that even if the IRS opening date is pushed back, the tax filing deadline usually remains April 15 for most taxpayers. You can prepare your returns in advance using TaxAct®, ensuring you’re ready to file as soon as the IRS opens. Stay informed, and you’ll be well-prepared for the upcoming tax season. Key Tax Filing Deadlines for Individuals As you prepare for the upcoming tax season, it is essential to stay on top of key tax filing deadlines that affect individual taxpayers. Missing these deadlines can lead to penalties, so here’s what you need to know. Deadline Type Date Notes Federal Tax Filing Deadline April 15, 2026 For 2025 tax year Extension Filing Deadline October 15, 2026 If you file Form 4868 W-2 Forms Distribution by Employers February 2, 2026 For 2025 tax year Additionally, keep in mind that Fourth Quarter estimated tax payments are due on January 15, 2026. If you’re turning 73 in 2025, make sure required minimum distributions are made by April 1, 2026. Staying organized will help you navigate these important dates smoothly. Important Tax Deadlines for Businesses When managing your business finances, comprehension of key tax deadlines is vital to guarantee compliance and avoid costly penalties. For Partnerships and S-Corporations, the deadline to file your tax returns is March 15, 2026, using Form 1065 or Form 1120S, respectively. C Corporations share this deadline, but they can extend it to September 15, 2026, by filing Form 7004. If your business operates on a fiscal year, your filing deadlines will depend on the 15th day of the third or fourth month after your fiscal year ends. Extended deadlines for partnerships and S corporations are September 15, whereas C corporations can extend to October 15, 2026. It’s imperative to meet all filing deadlines, as missing them can lead to penalties and interest, emphasizing the importance of timely submissions outlined in IRS guidelines. Potential Reasons for Delayed IRS Opening When the IRS faces budgetary constraints, it can slow down operations, leading to potential delays in opening. Staffing shortages likewise play a significant role, as the agency needs adequate personnel trained to handle the influx of tax returns. Furthermore, necessary technical system upgrades can further complicate the timeline, making it essential to stay informed about any announcements regarding the IRS opening. Budgetary Constraints Impacting Operations Budgetary constraints often hinder the IRS’s operational capabilities, leading to potential delays in the tax season opening. Limited funding affects various aspects of IRS operations, from hiring seasonal employees to implementing system upgrades. Insufficient resources can slow down tax return processing, whereas challenges in adapting to new tax laws may push back opening dates. Training staff adequately as well suffers, resulting in operational inefficiencies during peak periods. These issues have a historical precedent, as past funding challenges have consistently led to later opening announcements. Impact Area Potential Consequence Historical Trend Hiring Seasonal Employees Slower tax return processing Delayed openings in past seasons System Upgrades and Maintenance Inability to accept returns on time Previous operational delays Implementation of Tax Law Changes Increased complexity in operations Past delays because of budget issues Staff Training Longer processing times Inefficiencies in peak periods Staffing Shortages and Training Staffing shortages at the IRS can profoundly affect the agency’s ability to process tax returns and provide necessary support to taxpayers, often leading to delays in the opening date for the tax filing season. When the IRS lacks sufficient personnel, it struggles to meet the increased demand for services, causing operational bottlenecks. Furthermore, new or existing staff may require training on updated tax laws and systems, further extending the time needed before the agency is fully operational. Historical trends show that significant staffing shortages frequently coincide with postponed opening dates. Effective training programs are vital to guarantee compliance with regulations and efficient handling of inquiries, making it imperative for the IRS to address these issues swiftly to minimize delays in the tax season. Technical System Upgrades Needed As the IRS prepares for the tax filing season, it may face delays owing to necessary technical system upgrades aimed at improving efficiency and security. These upgrades are critical for the IRS to manage the intricacies of modern tax processing. Here are some key reasons for potential delays: Integrating new tax law changes requires thorough testing and validation. Improvements in technology infrastructure aim to boost taxpayer services and data security. Advancements to electronic filing systems focus on better user experiences and faster processing. New initiatives like the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) necessitate additional adjustments, complicating the timeline. These upgrades, although vital, can extend the IRS’s opening date as they work to implement them effectively. Impact of Late IRS Opening on Taxpayers When the IRS announces a delayed opening date for tax season, it can greatly impact your ability to file your tax return. Typically, the IRS opens for filings in late January, but a delay means you won’t be able to submit your return until the new date is set. This not only affects your filing schedule but also extends the timeline for processing and refunds. Meanwhile, the IRS usually issues refunds within 21 days of acceptance; a later opening can lead to longer wait times, especially for those who file early in the season. Even though the tax filing deadline remains April 15, the efficiency of your filing could suffer if you’re close to this date. Furthermore, since state tax agencies operate independently, differing state deadlines may complicate your planning, requiring you to stay informed about these variations to avoid any surprises. Early Filing Options and Resources Though the IRS may not open for submissions until late January, you can still take advantage of early filing options to prepare your tax return. Using software like TaxAct allows you to get a head start by entering your income, deductions, and credits before the official opening date. Here’s how you can make the most of early filing: Start Early: Begin preparing your return in early January. Use Tax Software: Enter all necessary information using reliable tax preparation software. Secure Submission: Once the IRS opens, you can transmit your completed return safely for processing. Know Your Deadline: Remember, the federal tax return is still due on April 15, regardless of when you file. Keep in mind that early preparation doesn’t guarantee immediate refunds, as the IRS processes returns starting from its official opening date. How to Prepare for Tax Season Ahead of Time To prepare for tax season effectively, start by gathering all necessary documents, like W-2s and 1099s, well ahead of time. Comprehending your filing options, including early submission through tax software, can streamline your process considerably. Furthermore, staying informed about key deadlines and any changes in tax laws will help you avoid penalties and guarantee a smooth filing experience. Gather Necessary Documents Gathering necessary documents is a crucial step in preparing for tax season, and starting this process early can save you time and stress. To guarantee a smooth filing experience, follow these steps: Collect W-2 forms from employers and 1099 forms for freelance or investment income by early January. Organize previous years’ tax returns, proof of identity, and Social Security numbers for yourself and dependents. Keep track of potential tax credits or deductions, like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or IRA contributions, to gather the necessary documentation. Utilize a checklist to confirm you have all required forms and documents ready before the IRS opening date, typically announced in January. Consider using tax software or consulting a professional for additional help. Understand Filing Options Once you’ve gathered the necessary documents, it’s important to understand the various filing options available to you as tax season approaches. You can utilize IRS Free File if you qualify, allowing you to file your federal tax return at no cost. In addition, consider tax preparation software that lets you draft your return ahead of time, making the process more manageable. Keep in mind the IRS usually starts accepting returns in late January, so aim to complete your forms early. Finally, keep key dates in mind, such as the April 15 deadline and the October 15 extension option, to strategize your filing effectively. Filing Option Benefits Considerations IRS Free File No cost Income eligibility Tax Software Draft and save Software costs may apply Professional Help Expert guidance Higher fees Frequently Asked Questions What Date Will the IRS Start Releasing Refunds? The IRS processes most refunds within 21 days after they receive your tax return. Nonetheless, if you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, expect your refund to be available by March 3 because of the PATH Act restrictions. To guarantee faster processing, opt for direct deposit rather than paper checks. You can track your refund’s status using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the IRS website after acceptance. When Did the IRS Open up in 2025? The IRS opened for the 2025 tax season on January 27, 2025. From that date, you could begin submitting your tax returns electronically. Typically, the IRS processes most returns within 21 days of acceptance, while early filers might face delays in receiving their refunds. It’s important to keep in mind that significant deadlines, like the tax filing deadline, remained unchanged for April 15, 2026, so plan your submissions accordingly. What Time Does the IRS Open for Tax Returns? The IRS usually doesn’t specify a time for opening tax returns. Instead, it announces the opening date in January, allowing you to begin e-filing afterward. You can prepare your tax return using software like TaxAct before the official opening. Keep in mind that even though refunds are typically processed within 21 days, early filers may face delays if the IRS opening is later than expected. State deadlines may differ, so check those as well. What Is Most Likely to Trigger an IRS Audit in 2025? In 2025, several factors could trigger an IRS audit for you. If you earn over $1 million, expect increased scrutiny. Claiming disproportionate deductions, like excessive business expenses or charitable contributions, can raise red flags. Furthermore, failing to report all income sources, including freelance work, may lead to audits. Consistently reporting significant losses and participating in questionable tax schemes can likewise attract attention. Staying accurate and transparent in your filings is essential to avoid issues. Conclusion To conclude, knowing the anticipated IRS opening date and key tax deadlines is essential for effective tax planning in 2026. By staying informed about W-2 distribution, estimated tax payments, and filing deadlines for both individuals and businesses, you can navigate the tax season more efficiently. Preparing in advance and utilizing available resources will help you meet your obligations and avoid potential penalties. Keeping track of these dates guarantees a smoother tax filing experience. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Key Dates for When the IRS Opens" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Measure PPC performance in 2026 with AI-driven auctions, smarter attribution, profit-based metrics, and reporting frameworks built for Google Ads automation and AI search. The post How To Measure PPC Performance When AI Controls The Auction appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Welcome to our trip inside the culture of young people. This week, we've got the usual slang definitions of phrases like "you the birthday," and "catch a fade," and we're also talking about AI. You might be about to lose your job to artificial intelligence, but younger generations are in danger of losing their reality to it. From viral "AI or animals" memes to the rise of AI detectives, the youth are engaged in a high-stakes game of "Spot the Bot" just to feel like they still have a grip on the truth. The meaning of "you the birthday"A new slang metaphor is blowing up TikTok this week. People are saying "you the birthday," a phrase that means "you're awesome" or "you're great" in the way a birthday is great: fun, exciting, extra, etc. It's usually meant in positive way, but it could be applied negatively to someone who is doing too much or trying to hard, like, "sure, you the birthday." The phrase seems to have originated in a song called "Birthday Girl" by Huncho. The song doesn't actually include the phrase, "you the birthday," but Huncho sings, "She eat, she the birthday—girl" and the pause was long enough that people started just saying, "you the birthday." "You the birthday" is inspiring a subgenre of birthday-related spin-off slang too. If you're dressed funny, you the birthday clown. If you have a point, you the birthday hat. If you're ugly, you the halloween. You get the idea. What "catch a fade" meansTo young people, "fade" means fight. To "catch a fade" means to have a fight. (If you'd like more definitions of slang words that kids use, check out Lifehacker's Gen Z and Gen A slang glossary.) Trend: fake Pizza Movie clips Last week, I predicted Hulu's Pizza Movie will be Generation Z's defining druggie-comedy movie. There's more evidence this week in the form of a growing trend online of making videos with random footage and labeling it "Pizza Movie (2026)." The joke is that the scenes presented in Pizza Movie's trailer are so without context and so strange that you can put any bizarre clips together and they might be from Pizza Movie. Here are a couple of examples: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What does "that's AI" mean?"That's AI" is rapidly emerging as a way of saying "I don't believe you" or "I doubt it" to members of Generations Alpha and Z. They obviously heard the phrase a lot in connection with videos and pictures online, so it only makes sense to apply it to anything. Jeremy Carrasco: AI detectiveSpeaking of "that's AI..." Bespectacled 30-something filmmaker Jeremy Carrasco is an unlikely hero to the teens and tweens of TikTok, but the videos he posts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok regularly rack up millions of views. Carrasco's calling is identifying synthetic media; he's an AI detective, and dude is great at separating the real from the phony. He calls out AI-generated influencers: discusses the difference between real and AI videos of animals on trampolines: explains the difference between "deep fakes" and "AI videos": and points out videos that people think are AI, but are actually real: The popularity of Carrasco's content speaks to young people's desperation to just know what's real—a challenge that no other generation has ever faced. Carrasco presents some great tools for spotting slop, but sadly, it's a Sisyphean task: AI content generation is only getting better, and the "tells" more subtle. Viral videos of the week: AI or animals?You might not be aware of the debate about AI going on among younger people online, because it's being conducted largely through "Animal or AI" meme videos. Videos dramatizing this choice have tens of millions of views on TikTok. Here's how they work: Over a music bed from Hamilton, these videos present competing clips of AI and animals, leading to an eventual conclusion where one is chosen over the other. Animal choosers are in the majority by huge numbers, both among the videos' creators and the commenters. The irony is that many of the clips that illustrate that animals are better seem to have actually been generated by AI. View the full article

U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV pushed back Monday on President Donald The President’s broadside against him over the U.S.-Israel war in Iran, telling reporters that the Vatican’s appeals for peace and reconciliation are rooted in the Gospel, and that he doesn’t fear the The President administration. “To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is,” Leo told The Associated Press aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria. “And I’m sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today.” History’s first U.S.-born pope stressed that he was not making a direct attack against The President or anyone else with his general appeal for peace and criticisms of the “delusion of omnipotence” that is fueling the Iran wars and other conflicts around the world. “I will not enter into debate. The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone. The message of the Gospel is very clear: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,'” Leo said. “I will not shy away from announcing the message of the Gospel and inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges of peace and reconciliation, and looking for ways to avoid war any time that’s possible” Speaking to other reporters, he added: “I’m not afraid of the The President administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for.” “We are not politicans. We do not look at foreign policy from the same perspective that he may have,” the pope said, adding, “I will continue to speak out strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems. “Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent people have been killed, and I believe someone must stand up and say that there is a better way,” he said. The President says Leo is not ‘doing a very good job’ The President delivered an extraordinary broadside against Leo on Sunday night, saying he didn’t think the U.S.-born global leader of the Catholic Church is “doing a very good job” and that “he’s a very liberal person,” while also suggesting the pontiff should “stop catering to the Radical Left.” Flying back to Washington from Florida, The President used a lengthy social media post to sharply criticize Leo, then kept it up after deplaning, in comments on the tarmac to reporters. “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo,” he said. The President’s comments came after Leo suggested over the weekend that a “delusion of omnipotence” is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. While it’s not unusual for popes and presidents to be at cross purposes, it’s exceedingly rare for the pope to directly criticize a U.S. leader — and The President’s stinging response is equally uncommon, if not more so. “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” the president wrote in his post, adding, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.” Italian politicians across the spectrum showed their solidarity with Leo. Premier Giorgia Meloni sent a message of support for his peace mission while the leader of the main opposition party, Elly Schlein, was more direct, calling The President’s attacks “extremely serious.” The President repeated that sentiment in comments to reporters, saying, “We don’t like a pope who says it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon.” Later, The President posted a picture suggesting he had saint-like powers akin to those of Jesus Christ. Wearing a biblical-style robe, The President is seen laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers, while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman and a bearded man in a baseball cap all look on admiringly. The sky above is filled with eagles, an American flag and vaporous images. Leo’s opposition to war irked The President All of that came after Leo presided over an evening prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, the same day the United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan during a fragile ceasefire. The pope didn’t mention the United States or The President by name, but his tone and message appeared directed at The President and U.S. officials, who have boasted of U.S. military superiority and justified the war in religious terms. Leo, who is on an 11-day trip to Africa starting Monday — has previously said that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” He’s also referenced an Old Testament passage from Isaiah, saying that “even though you make many prayers, I will not listen — your hands are full of blood.” Before the ceasefire, when The President warned of mass strikes against Iranian power plants and other infrastructure and that “an entire civilization will die tonight,” Leo described such sentiments as “truly unacceptable.” In his social media post on Sunday night, however, The President went far beyond the war in Iran in criticizing Leo. The president wrote, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States.” That was a reference to the The President administration having ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. “I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do,” The President added, referencing his 2024 election victory. He also suggested in the post that Leo only got his position “because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. The President.” “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” The President wrote, adding, “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!” In his subsequent comments to reporters, The President remained highly critical, saying of Leo, “I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess” and adding, “He’s a very liberal person.” Bishops say the pope is not a politician Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement saying he was “disheartened” by The President’s comments. “Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls,” Coakley said. The Italian Bishops’ Conference expressed regret over The President’s words, and underlined that the pope “is not a political counterpart, but the successor of Peter, called to serve the Gospel, truth and peace.” In the 2024 election, The President won 55% of Catholic voters, according to AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of the electorate. But The President’s administration also has close ties to conservative evangelical Protestant leaders and has claimed heavenly endorsement for the war on Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Americans to pray for victory “in the name of Jesus Christ.” And, when The President was asked whether he thought God approved of the war, he said, “I do, because God is good — because God is good and God wants to see people taken care of.” —Will Weissert, Josh Boak and Nicole Winfield, Associated Press View the full article

Roblox is updating its child protection features again, rolling out restricted Kids accounts for users ages 5 through 8 and Roblox Select accounts for users 9 through 15, both with parental controls and other age-based restrictions. Users will be required to go through an age verification process, generally based on live selfies or a government-issued ID—or be effectively restricted to content approved for the youngest users. Since January, age verification has also been required to use the platform’s chat features, with users under 18 generally restricted to chatting people relatively near to them in age. “We’ll be going through a transition period where we’ll let all of our existing users know about the changes so that they can go through the age-check process, but it is not required,” says Matt Kaufman, the gaming platform’s chief safety officer. “If users are happy with the same games which are in Roblox Kids and they don’t want to chat, then age check is not required.” It’s the latest update to Roblox’s kid safety features after the company has repeatedly come under fire, and been named in dozens of lawsuits including some brought by state attorneys general, for allegedly exposing kids to child predators and explicit content. Roblox, which serves 144 million daily active users and has at least 2 million users creating content including games, remains massively popular with kids and teens, with nearly half of U.S. residents under 16 reportedly using the platform. Kids accounts, for those under age 9, will also now have a distinctive color, designed so parents can see at a glance if their kids are, in fact, using the correct account type. Those accounts will also have chat features turned off, unless enabled by a parent, and will be restricted to games rated “minimal” or “mild” under Roblox’s content maturity rating system. (The company plans to deploy industry-standard ratings, like the Entertainment Software Rating Board ratings used in the United States, in the near future). Chats on Roblox are already heavily moderated, with no ability to send photos or video, but malicious users have reportedly found ways to invite kids to chat with them on less-moderated platforms. Users between 9 and 15 with Roblox Select accounts will be able to additionally access games rated “moderate,” and they’ll gradually gain access to chat functionality at certain age milestones, but they’ll still be subject to parental controls. And users with Kids or Select accounts will be restricted from games featuring “sensitive issues, social hangouts, or freeform drawing” by default, according to the company. Once users turn 16, they’ll be able to use more full-fledged accounts, though some games with adult content—like “strong violence”, references to alcohol and gambling, and “romantic themes”—are still restricted to users 18 and up. “Knowing how old users are has a lot of benefits for the entire Roblox community,” Kaufman says. “We can deliver a safer and more civil experience to our users, and when we group users of like ages together when they’re communicating with each other, we know that that creates a more civil experience.” Age checks can generally be done through the Roblox app in a few seconds, with captured video data deleted after a user’s age is confirmed, though the company may ask users to repeat age checks if their behavior on the platform doesn’t match their recorded age. The company says about half of its 144 million daily active users have already gone through the age verification process, and it believes the system has an “average error of about plus or minus 1.4 years” for users under 18, Kaufman says. Parents can correct kids’ recorded ages if needed. Roblox games will also need to be released to users 16 and up before they can be approved for Kids or Select account access, says Eliza Jacobs, Roblox’s VP of safety product policy. That will give the platform time to collect any user reports of inappropriate content and monitor data from its real-time moderation system before a game is made available to younger users. “These signals will provide a higher degree of certainty that the content is appropriate for younger kids and teens,” she says. Roblox will also require creators of games intended for players under 16 to have an active Roblox Plus subscription, have two-factor authentication enabled to reduce the chance of account hacking, and go through ID verification—or be connected to a verified parent account if under 16. Parents will also be able to see what games their kids are playing and block specific games, and they will be able to approve their kids to access specific games that aren’t in the Kids or Select catalogs. But in general, the company hopes that age-based default settings will help to protect kids without their parents needing to set specific controls. The new settings are expected to be in place by early June. View the full article

A recent announcement by Google signals the start of a massive change in how the internet and search work. The post Google’s Task-Based Agentic Search Is Disrupting SEO Today, Not Tomorrow appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Research on language models reveals how brands win or lose in AI-generated recommendations based on association strength. The post How AI Chooses Which Brands To Recommend: From Relational Knowledge To Topical Presence appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

There is a persistent belief that food, fuel, and industrial uses compete for the same bushel. In practice, the opposite is increasingly true. Crops have always served multiple markets. What is changing is how intentionally we are designing agricultural and manufacturing systems to serve those markets together. In a previous article I wrote, I focused on how familiar crops like corn and soybeans are finding new life through new demand pathways and molecular innovation. What I see today goes a step further. The same acre is increasingly supporting food, industrial materials, energy applications, and emissions-reduction strategies simultaneously. That convergence is expanding how value is created in agriculture—without requiring more land. This shift is about how markets reinforce one another. When food, fuel, and industrial demand move together, they help keep the same facilities running steadily. Farmers gain more outlets for their crops. Manufacturing assets run more consistently, and supply chains are better positioned to manage volatility. HOW VALUE GETS STACKED At a molecular level, crops are remarkably versatile. Carbohydrates, oils, proteins, and fibers can move through different conversion pathways depending on market need. Advances in enzyme systems, catalytic processes, and fermentation now allow us to direct those pathways with greater precision and efficiency. In practice, a bushel of corn might become food ingredients, renewable fuel, industrial starches, fermentation feedstocks, and captured carbon—all within an integrated system. A soybean can move into meal for feed, oil for food, biodiesel for transportation, and then into glycerin and specialty chemicals used in personal care or cleaning products. Because these outputs share common upstream inputs, they reinforce one another. Materials once treated as byproducts are now starting points for new applications. When glycerin from biodiesel can be upgraded into higher value uses, or when fermentation byproducts can serve industrial markets, returns improve. That stacking effect strengthens the entire value chain. Companies are already doing this on a commercial scale. Demand in one sector can offset softness in another, keeping facilities operating efficiently and preserving the scale that helps keep costs in check. THE FOOD-FUEL-INDUSTRIAL BALANCE As these connections deepen, agriculture is becoming a critical component of industrial infrastructure. Developers originally built integrated ethanol facilities to produce fuel and little else. Today, in addition to fuel, they produce proteins for feed and concentrated carbon dioxide streams. When companies capture CO₂ and store or use it to reduce carbon intensity in regulated markets, the overall value of the system increases. Many facilities also recover methane from wastewater to produce renewable natural gas. Each additional outlet strengthens the economics of the whole system—and improves its long-term resilience. A similar shift is underway in materials. Manufacturers are incorporating soy-based inputs into asphalt formulations, improving flexibility and durability while partially displacing petroleum-derived binders. Manufacturers are also moving agricultural oils and fibers into drilling fluids and construction applications. These are practical, scalable uses that create steady domestic demand. When multiple markets draw from the same agricultural base, they support one another. Without more than one outlet for those crops, facilities may operate below capacity, costs could rise, and investment would slow. FROM CO-PRODUCTS TO CORE PRODUCTS Improved chemistry and process design are reshaping how we define value in agriculture. When producers convert soybean oil into biodiesel, glycerin emerges alongside it. With the right catalytic systems, manufacturers can transform glycerin into glycols and other intermediates used in cleaning products, home care, and industrial formulations. Carbohydrate streams can move through enzyme-enabled pathways to produce specialty acids and performance ingredients. Precision fermentation adds further flexibility. Existing fermentation assets, many originally built for food or feed, can produce bioindustrial molecules at commercial scale. That adaptability allows manufacturers to serve new markets without rebuilding supply chains from scratch. For farmers, this translates into more diversified demand tied to the same crop base. Value per acre can rise as new applications mature. For rural communities, expanding domestic industrial uses reduces dependence on any single export market and strengthens local manufacturing ecosystems. 3 TAKEAWAYS FOR INNOVATION LEADERS As these systems scale, the implications for how companies design and operate assets are becoming clearer. Three priorities stand out for innovation leaders. 1. Build systems for flexibility. Assets designed to serve multiple end markets will outperform those tied to a single demand stream, especially in volatile markets. Investment in adaptable conversion technologies creates options when markets shift. 2. Recognize agriculture as infrastructure. Crops are not just raw inputs. They are molecular building blocks for food, energy, materials, and carbon management, and they should be treated as such. Companies that understand those connections gain advantages in cost, carbon intensity, and supply continuity. 3. Protect scale to protect resilience. Diverse demand keeps infrastructure operating efficiently. That efficiency supports affordability and enables continued investment in lower-carbon fuels and materials at scale. Multi-use crops are expanding how value is created because the same agricultural base now serves more parts of the economy. Food, fuel, and industrial applications increasingly reinforce one another. The next phase of agricultural growth will depend less on the number of acres and more in value per acre—and in how effectively we design systems that unlock that value. Chris Cuddy is the president of Carbohydrate Solutions and president, North America at ADM. View the full article

As an SEO professional, you’re often asked to solve what appears to be a technical problem: organic traffic is declining. Standard procedure is a deep dive into technical performance, algorithm updates, technical debt, or content gaps. You review logs, crawl the site, and check Google Search Console. But what happens when the data reveals that the root cause isn’t found in the sitemap, the content, or the backlink profile — but is instead located in the boardroom, the warehouse, and the customer service department? Not long ago, I audited a portfolio of ecommerce properties in a highly regulated niche. These brands were pandemic-era superstars. They had performed exceptionally well prior to the pandemic and their subsequent acquisition, and they skyrocketed during the global shift to online shopping. However, by early 2022, they were in a freefall. The mandate from the new ownership was blunt: “Fix our SEO.” The diagnosis, however, showed SEO wasn’t the issue. It was the symptom of a deeper, systemic operational failure. SEO as an organization-wide requirement SEO isn’t a technical layer you add at the end of a sprint. It’s the connective tissue between your offline operations and your online reputation. When they’re misaligned, search engines are usually the first to notice. Decisions across your organization shape organic search performance, often by people who’ve never heard the term “canonical tag.” Consider the impact of these departments: Logistics and operations When a warehouse fails to ship products on time or inventory tracking breaks, it creates a wave of negative reviews. These PR problems are data points Google uses to evaluate trust. Legal and executive Decisions to remove “About Us” pages to streamline sites or hide contact info to reduce support overhead directly devalue the brand’s E-E-A-T. Merchandising and product Inventory strategies that orphan thousands of URLs overnight to manage pricing can break technical crawl equity and destroy years of ranking stability in a single deploy. Search engines are designed to mirror human reliability. If the business’s physical or operational reality is in decay, no amount of technical wizardry will prevent search engines from reflecting that reality to users. Dig deeper: Why most SEO failures are organizational, not technical See the complete picture of your search visibility. Track, optimize, and win in Google and AI search from one platform. Start Free Trial Get started with The diagnosis: A foundational E-E-A-T collapse in YMYL In regulated spaces — often referred to by Google as YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) — the bar for trust is significantly higher. In these niches, E-E-A-T is a filter. While our team saw the writing on the wall, the organization largely ignored the shift toward quality-centric ranking. They failed to meet the standards set by Google’s Search Quality Raters Guidelines. Our audit uncovered four efficiency measures that essentially dismantled the brands’ organic foundations. 1. The reputation deficit Tens of thousands of scathing customer reviews sat unresolved across Trustpilot, Reddit, and the BBB. These weren’t isolated incidents. They were a consistent pattern of complaints regarding non-delivery and poor product quality. When contact pages were removed to cut costs, Google’s algorithms responded to the lack of safety by devaluing the domain. 2. The 70% brand search collapse Post-acquisition, leadership ceased all social media, video content, and digital PR. They retreated into a shell of one-way communication: a single social or blog post per week. The result was a 70% drop in brand-related search volume. By silencing the brand’s voice, they essentially stopped the high-intent, “buy-ready” traffic that historically drove their highest profit margins. 3. Orphaned inventory: The loyalty program fallout To support a new loyalty program initiative, a top-down repricing strategy was implemented. To avoid showing “incorrect” prices during the transition, leadership hid more than 10,000 products overnight. This wasn’t communicated to the SEO team. Overnight, these pages became orphaned, causing an immediate crash in traffic that was initially blamed on SEO issues until we discovered the massive product removal in a technical audit. 4. Product homogenization In an effort to streamline, every brand in the portfolio was shifted to the exact same inventory, pricing, and product descriptions. This created an internal duplicate content nightmare. It stripped each brand of its unique value proposition and forced them to compete against one another for the same keywords, effectively cannibalizing their own market share. Dig deeper: Why governance maturity is a competitive advantage for SEO Why platform and control matter Technical infrastructure played a significant role in proving our diagnosis. Most of the portfolio sat on Shopify, where inherent platform limitations — specifically canonical issues and restricted server-side control — made it difficult to meet aggressive Core Web Vitals (CWV) targets or fix deep-seated architectural issues. However, the portfolio included one Magento site. Because we had the freedom on Magento to implement custom canonical logic and direct server-side performance optimizations, that site met every CWV benchmark. It implemented a sophisticated interlinking strategy that flowed authority from expert-led content to commercial pages. The result? The Magento site dramatically outperformed its eight Shopify counterparts. This was the smoking gun: it proved the strategy worked, but the business and platform constraints on the other sites were the actual bottlenecks. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. The vanity metric trap: Shifting from volume to intent Whether you’re a SaaS organization or an ecommerce giant, we have to educate leadership that traffic is a vanity metric. A drop in organic traffic isn’t always a sign of financial loss. Some of the most effective SEO strategies involve intentionally reducing traffic to increase profitability by focusing on buy-ready intent. Strategic pruning Pruning thin or irrelevant content might drop your session count by 30%, but if your clicks to high-intent “money” pages increase, your bottom line wins. You’re removing “noise” and clearing the path for users further down the purchase funnel. Content consolidation Merging overlapping pages into a single, authoritative “power page” creates a better experience for ready-to-convert shoppers. You may have fewer rankings, but the ones you keep will convert, improving your overall conversion rate (CVR). The executive alignment framework: Speaking the language of the P&L To get buy-in, stop talking about rankings. To an executive, a ranking is a technical detail. Revenue is a reality. Start with the profit and loss (P&L) statement. Every SEO activity must be anchored against revenue, customer acquisition cost (CAC), and gross merchandise value (GMV). This moves the SEO department from a cost center to a revenue protector. SEO operational actionThe operational impactThe executive metric (KPI)Reputation triageHigh trust = Higher conversion rate.CAC and LTVRestore brand voiceReversing the 70% brand drop captures high-margin intent.Contribution marginProduct differentiationUnique data removes internal competition/cannibalization.Unique session growthPerformance (CWV)Faster sites lower friction and abandonment.Site-wide conversion rateIntent-based pruningFocuses authority on the 20% of pages that drive 80% of revenue.Profitability per visit The agency shopping trap: Buying validation, not results When organic traffic crashes and the diagnosis is uncomfortable, leadership often shifts into denial. In this case, your CMO went on a global shopping spree, commissioning audits from nine agencies across the UK, the U.S., and India. Nine separate agencies gave the same diagnosis: the problem was operational and required fundamental business changes. It wasn’t until the 10th agency was engaged — one that provided a simple, tactical content-only fix to tell the CMO what they wanted to hear — that leadership felt validated. They chose the answer that required the least internal change, even though it was the only one that ignored the data. This is a dangerous financial trap: spending corporate capital on a tactical cure while the patient refuses to stop the behavior causing the illness. Dig deeper: Your SEO maturity score doesn’t measure what you think it does Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with The professional roadmap: Recovery in phases It’s never enough to point out technical issues. You must provide a solution with a clear timeline and measurable business outcomes. Phase 1: Recovery (0-90 days) Reintegrate hidden inventory and triage the reputation crisis. Target: 15-20% increase in GMV. Phase 2: Stabilization (3-6 months) Re-establish the brand pulse through social/PR and transparency signals (E-E-A-T). Target: 10% decrease in blended CAC. Phase 3: Growth (6-12 months) Scale topical authority through content experts and aggressive interlinking to money pages. Target: Increased market share in high-intent search. You aren’t just a technical custodian. You’re a business strategist and the keeper of the bridge between your company’s actions and its public perception. Your duty is to tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. By anchoring your findings to revenue, CAC, and GMV, you turn SEO from a technical luxury into a business-critical function. If you’re in this position, remember: you can provide the best roadmap in the world, but you can’t force your organization to save itself. You must connect the dots to the bottom line — then it’s up to leadership to decide if they’re willing to put out the fire. Before you audit keywords, audit the warehouse. If the house is on fire, no amount of paint on the front door will save the sale. Dig deeper: What 15 years in enterprise SEO taught me about people, power, and progress View the full article

The NY Times commissioned a study that says AI Overviews have holes in both grounding and accuracy. View the full article

Google announced that on August 20, 2026 it will experiment with an updated set of commonly used ad technology partners. If the experiments go well, Google will switch it "on or after June 5, 2026."View the full article

It looks like Google is testing a new report within Google Search Console named AI contribution. I have no clue what it looks like but I suspect it is a lot like the Bing Webmaster Tools AI performance reports.View the full article

Equities traders powered bank’s earnings, while fixed-income, currencies and commodities business fell well shortView the full article

Google was asked if it is possible to add a new status to the XML sitemap statuses for "still processing." John Mueller from Google responded on Blueshy saying, "I've chatted with the teams involved about this on & off, I've seen that it can be annoying." But he added he has nothing to announce.View the full article

Google's John Mueller reconfirmed that Google Search may simply ignore outbound links from sites that violate its search spam policies. This is not new, Google has been doing this manually and algorithmically for years now but he reiterated this on Bluesky.View the full article

Every year, Duane Brown’s PPC Salary Survey gives our industry one of the few honest looks at what practitioners are actually earning. The 2026 edition, with 445 responses across 50+ countries, is no different. This year, one pattern stands out above the rest: the middle of the salary curve is getting squeezed from both ends. PPC salaries aren’t falling, at least not uniformly. The gap between practitioners commanding top-end pay and those stuck at the baseline is wider than it’s ever been, and the trajectory of the two groups is now clearly diverging. AI is acting as an accelerant here, but the underlying shift runs deeper and has been building for years. What four years of salary data actually show The salary survey has tracked U.S. median pay by experience since 2018. When you line up four consecutive years of data, a clear pattern emerges: Experience202220232024202520263-5 years$80,000$80,016$80,000$75,000$87,5006-9 years$100,000$110,000$108,000$110,000$100,00010-15 years$125,000$150,000$136,000$133,500$135,00015+ years$150,000$134,000$144,000$140,000$150,000 Two things stand out. The 3-5 year band bounced back sharply in 2026 to $87,500, the highest it has been in five years, after dipping to $75,000 in 2025. This suggests that junior-to-mid practitioners who do find work are being paid reasonably well. The 6-9 year band has slipped back to $100,000 after holding at $108,000-$110,000 for three years. And the 10-15 year band, the cohort that should be commanding senior-level pay, has flatlined between $133,500 and $136,000 for three consecutive years. For practitioners with a decade of experience, pay has stagnated or declined after inflation adjustment. The discrepancy becomes even sharper when you look at the extremes. The survey’s U.S. data shows maximum salaries well above $300,000 for the 10-15 years cohort, and a freelance median for practitioners with 10-15 years of experience sitting at $202,895, compared to an agency median of $123,545 for the same range. That’s a $79,000 premium for going independent, but only if you’ve built something worth paying that premium for. Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with In-house vs. agency: Where the real divergence lives The 2026 survey data reveal another split worth careful examination: the growing gap between in-house and agency salaries at mid-career levels. ExperienceAgency (median)In-house (median)Difference3-5 years$80,000$89,000+$9,0006-9 years$90,000$170,000+$80,00010-15 years$123,545$140,000+$16,45515+ years$120,000$140,000+$20,000 The 6-9 year in-house figure is striking, and partly skewed by a small sample with significant outliers. But the signal is consistent across all experience ranges: in-house practitioners are out-earning their agency counterparts, sometimes substantially. For a practitioner with 10-15 years of experience, choosing in-house over agency represents a $16,000 annual premium on the median. That gap has been widening year on year. This matters for how you think about the salary discrepancy story. It’s not just about individual skill development, it’s also about which side of the table you sit on. Agency work, for all its variety, isn’t being rewarded at the rate in-house strategy roles are. As platforms automate more execution work, the strategic advisory value of agency practitioners becomes harder to justify at current billing rates, which may be suppressing salaries from the top down. The gender pay gap: Mixed signals The 2026 survey shows a more nuanced gender pay picture than in previous years, and it’s worth addressing directly rather than glossing over. At the 3-5 years level, female practitioners in the U.S. are actually earning a higher median than male counterparts ($87,500 vs. $85,000). At the 10-15 year band, the female median ($135,000) also slightly exceeds the male median ($130,000). But the gap opens dramatically at the senior end: practitioners with 15+ years of experience show a $150,000 male median against a $120,000 female median, a 25% gap. This pattern is consistent with broader compensation research: gender pay gaps in knowledge work tend to compress at mid-career and widen significantly at senior levels, where negotiation, visibility, and access to high-value client relationships play a larger role than raw technical competence. For a profession that’s becoming more strategic, and where those factors matter more, not less, this is something the industry needs to take seriously. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. The U.K. and Europe picture: Stagnation at the top Outside the U.S., the salary trends are more concerning. In the U.K., the 5-year survey trend shows the 10-15 year band median bouncing between £48,800 and £60,000 with no clear upward trajectory, and in 2026 it sits at £50,000, down from £60,000 the year prior. For practitioners at the peak of their careers in the U.K., real-terms pay has effectively declined. In Europe, the pattern is more positive at senior levels, the 10-15 year band EU median has grown from €50,000 in 2024 to €65,625 in 2026, a meaningful step up. But the 3-5 year band has slipped back to €37,200, below where it was in 2022. Entry-level and early-career pay in Europe isn’t keeping pace with the increasing demands of the role. For German practitioners specifically, Berlin data from the 2026 survey shows a 10-15 year band median of approximately €76,000, meaningfully above the broader EU figure, and a sign that the Berlin market continues to reward senior experience more than the European average. This isn’t just about AI tools Here’s the argument I want to make, and it’s one the salary tables alone won’t tell you: the PPC salary divergence isn’t primarily about AI skills versus no AI skills. AI has dropped from No. 1 to No. 3 among PPC professionals’ priorities, the State of PPC 2026 report found. Not because adoption declined, but because it became table stakes. AI saves practitioners an average of 5.2 hours per week. Genuinely useful, but not a salary lever on its own. The discrepancy is about positioning. Payscale’s 2026 Compensation Best Practices Report found that 55% of companies offer no premium, bonus, raise, or equity for employees who have built out their AI skill set, despite 61% of those same organizations rewriting job descriptions to require those competencies. AI fluency is becoming an expectation, not a differentiator. The practitioners pulling away from the pack have repositioned from campaign operators to business outcome owners. They: Speak in revenue contribution and margin impact, not ROAS and CTR. Sit closer to the CFO than to the media buyer. Have made that expertise visible, through the way they communicate, the frameworks they bring to client conversations, and the questions they ask in board meetings. The salary data tells you what happened. The positioning question determines which part of the distribution you end up in. See the complete picture of your search visibility. Track, optimize, and win in Google and AI search from one platform. Start Free Trial Get started with The question to ask yourself The PPC salary curve isn’t collapsing. But it branches out. The 3-5 years cohort is actually doing reasonably well. Freelancers with 10+ years of experience and strong positioning are commanding $200,000+ in the U.S. Senior in-house strategists are clearing $140,000-$170,000. What’s stagnating is the middle: the agency practitioner with 6-15 years of experience who has become good at running campaigns but hasn’t repositioned what they bring to the table. That cohort is being squeezed from below by automation absorbing execution work, and from above by a narrowing set of senior roles that require something more than campaign competence. Stop asking “am I using AI?” and start asking a harder question: am I still the most important person in the room when the AI report lands? If the honest answer is no, or you’re not sure, that’s not a tooling problem. It’s a positioning problem. And the salary data suggests the time to address it is now, before the gap between the two sides of this curve becomes impossible to close. View the full article

Chipotle, like almost every other fast casual restaurant, has been battling an ongoing period of increased inflation and lower consumer spending. Last year, the company saw what its CEO Scott Boatwright described to investors as a “broad-based pullback in frequency” of customer visits, especially among low- to middle-income customers and younger consumers, due to concerns about the economy. But the burrito chain has a master plan to address that, and it’s currently moving into its next phase: making earning rewards feel more like a game. The company’s fourth quarter report showed a revenue increase of 5.4% to $11.9 billion. But those gains were partially offset by a 1.7% drop year-over-year in comparable restaurant sales, or the number of total sales at an existing store—a small decline, but a concerning one for investors after the company saw two blockbuster sales years in 2023 and 2024. Boatwright has laid out a multi-part plan to boost sales, including increasing Chipotle’s “menu innovation cadence” through limited time offerings, doubling down on protein, and relaunching the rewards program. The company has already hit on those first two goals with its Chicken Al Pastor launch and new protein menu. Now, it’s checking off the third item with its rewards program is getting a facelift to encourage more frequent ordering. It entices users with more opportunities to earn points and score free food—and makes ordering a burrito feel like part of a quest. The reworked platform introduces several new features, revives fan-favorite activations like Freepotle, and includes a tweaked app interface that makes earning rewards feel more like a game. It’s a major part of the chain’s plan to convince the American public to get back into their burrito-buying habits. How Chipotle Rewards notched 21 million active users Chipotle’s rewards program first launched in 2019, long after most other food chains had joined the rewards game. Since then, rewards have become one of the most lucrative parts of Chipotle’s business: Today, Chipotle Rewards hosts more than 21 million active members and drives roughly 30% of total sales, the majority of which are made through the app rather than on the web. By comparison, all digital transactions accounted for only 10% of the chain’s total sales back in 2018. Curt Garner, Chipotle’s chief strategy and technology officer (and the mastermind behind the brand’s app), says that when rewards launched, they functioned mainly as an “affinity program”—a simple way to recognize the brand’s most loyal fans. Over the past few years, though, as rewards have become more central to Chipotle’s business model, his team has invested in more experimentation to find out what kind of features and activations are really motivating users. They looked to other brands—including non-restaurant brands, like Peloton—to see where innovative rewards programs were headed. “They’ve got rewards tiers for walking or running a certain amount of miles in a month or having a certain amount of workouts in a week, and then they layer in cool, culturally relevant moments as well as specific, curated workouts,” Garner explains. “We saw what some other brands were doing in places that lead culture and thought, ‘Let’s experiment with things that are similar.’” In 2023, the brand tested out “Freepotle,” an activation that gave rewards members access to up to 10 free food drops. And in the summer of 2025, the brand launched a three-month promotion called the “Summer of Extras,” which let rewards members earn extra points and special in-app badges for accomplishing certain milestones, like visiting multiple Chipotles in different states. An online leaderboard tracked how different superfans compared. Garner says the leaderboard became this “very immersive, competitive game for people,” resulting in a flood of mail to his inbox from customers participating in the challenge. It demonstrated what people—especially younger consumers—are increasingly looking for in rewards programs: not just an earn-and-burn system, but a gamified experience that felt like a quest. “As younger consumers are coming into the platform, that’s where we’re seeing a lot of the engagement,” Garner says. “That’s how we maintain that playful voice in Chipotle, still reward people, and make it fun, immersive, and active.” Burrito quests and taco challenges Based on those insights, the brand’s new rewards platform turns up the dial on gamification. Whereas navigating to different elements of the rewards program used to be scattered in various places through Chipotle’s app, the whole platform is now located under one central tab. The first statistic that displays used to be a set number of points next to Chipotle’s logo. Now, it’s a progress bar that counts down to the user’s next reward (a tiny animation of sparkles appears when that quota is filled). “Extras,” which let users earn points and celebratory badges by completing specific challenges, were once only visible if users scrolled down the page. Now, they’ve been moved up above the fold so that users can immediately see which are active, and completed badges move to a colorful display at the bottom of the page. Rather than being available occasionally, extras will now be an always-on feature. Garner says his team has been working on perfecting an AI algorithm that uses customers’ order history and interests to personalize their extras, badges, and homescreen offers—similar to a video game that presents new options based on past choices, so your recent orders open up new paths to future rewards. “For instance, the double protein badge isn’t something that we would just present to somebody that’s never tried double protein before,” Garner says. “It’s a very effective way to say thank you to a guest that gets double protein all the time. It’s not just about building sales, it’s about building that affinity and engagement with the brand over time.” The changes are simple, but, together, they make Chipotle’s rewards page feel less like a corporate exchange, and more like a personal burrito stat dashboard. “We’re adding features and benefits across the board” Beyond its new game-esque UX, the rewards update comes with quite a few new features that are getting to the core of Chipotle’s latest sales stagnation: cash-strapped customers. For starters, more wallet-friendly, high-protein options (like the $3.50 single taco and the new protein cup) will feature more prominently on the app’s homescreen. “We understand that people are price point sensitive, so the app is an example of giving folks the understanding that you can get a taco with 15 grams of protein in it for $3.50,” Garner says. Given Chipotle’s streamlined in-store menu design, he explains, customers might not even be aware that these smaller items are available. The app makes it possible to spotlight them without changing physical menus. To further incentivize repeat visits, all new users will now get free chips and guac when they first join, and the number of points needed to redeem some items, like quesadillas and 50%-off entrees, will be lowered. Freepotle will return with monthly food drops, and points will expire after a full year rather than just six months. The whole relaunch is clearly designed to make Chipotle feel less like a luxury and more like a steal. For other restaurants in the fast-casual space, it’s a signal that reward program design is becoming a differentiator for customers who want to get the most out of their expendable income. “Oftentimes, brands use a relaunch to rebalance points and take some things away from guests,” Garner says. “We’re taking nothing away in this relaunch. We’re adding features and benefits across the board, but there’s no takeback anywhere in the program.” View the full article

Hello and welcome to Modern CEO! I’m Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures. Each week this newsletter explores inclusive approaches to leadership drawn from conversations with executives and entrepreneurs, and from the pages of Inc. and Fast Company. If you received this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up to get it yourself every Monday morning. CEOs, do you know what the public is saying about AI? New polling shared exclusively with Modern CEO by Just Capital, the nonprofit that tracks what the American public expects from business, finds that 66% expect AI will be a net positive for society within the next five years. That’s up eight points from Just Capital’s polling in the fall of 2025 but shows far more caution than the business class. Nine out of 10 (90%) corporate leaders and 94% of investors surveyed are bullish on AI’s societal impact. Attitudes about job losses amplify the public-corporate gap: About a third of Americans surveyed expect AI to usher in large-scale job losses across industries over the next two to three years, whereas only 13% of corporate leaders and 10% of investors see layoffs as the most likely outcome of AI on the workforce. Instead, 68% of investors and 55% of executives say AI will mean fewer entry-level positions and “higher skill requirements” for those who stay employed. Martin Whittaker, CEO of Just Capital, says the organization’s surveys can provide corporate leaders with another layer of data that can inform AI strategy and investment. “If you’re a CEO, you’re asking: ‘How do we pursue those opportunities, knowing that the pace of change is so rapid, and how are we managing some of the risks?’” he says. “That’s where this polling can come in as a starting point for an AI playbook.” Attitudes about AI What else is the public saying? The recent Just Capital poll shows large swaths of Americans want companies to provide advance notice and transparency about AI-driven workforce changes (66%), help employees transition after AI-driven layoffs (57%), and even contribute to a new fund to support or train workers displaced by AI (51%). The public, investors, and corporate leaders are aligned on AI safety risks, with misinformation and malicious use by bad actors topping the list of concerns. The public also ranks protecting personal data and privacy as priorities. Whittaker notes that companies have work to do on this front. A separate Just Capital analysis of 933 public American companies finds that 234 companies in 2025 said they won’t sell user data in any context, down 3.5% from 2024; 62 companies say they will not use data for advertising, down 3% from 2024. Whittaker says that companies that fail to listen to Main Street do so at their peril. When Just Capital started in 2014, Whittaker says he had leaders privately dismiss the idea of asking the public what they expect of companies. “They’d pull me aside and say, ‘They don’t know anything; they can’t agree on anything.’” But the polling, which consistently showed the public prioritizing wages and benefits over boardroom issues such as climate change, has proven prescient. His advice to CEOs? “I think our polling can [show] what your stakeholders care about,” he says. “If you’re looking for some kind of a pulse on ‘What should I prioritize?’ it’s investing in [your] workforce.” Your AI questions answered Next month, Modern CEO subscribers will have an opportunity to join me in conversation with Matt Fitzpatrick, CEO of Invisible Technologies, discussing the most urgent AI issues of the day. Register here and submit your burning questions to stephaniemehta@mansueto.com, and we’ll try to tackle as many as possible in the live session on May 18 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. Read more: AI and jobs Meta plans “sweeping layoffs” as AI woes mount AI is displacing workers without college degrees These four graphs show where AI is already impacting jobs This tool helps you understand if your job is AI-proof View the full article