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Nigel Farage’s party more popular than ruling Labour party and Conservative oppositionView the full article

Meta has introduced an expanded labeling system for advertisements created or significantly edited using its in-house generative AI tools. The company says this initiative is part of its ongoing effort to increase transparency and accountability in digital advertising. The labeling system applies to ads featuring images or videos that have been significantly modified by Meta’s AI-powered marketing tools. Depending on the level of AI involvement, labels will either appear in the three-dot menu of an ad or directly next to the “Sponsored” label. Meta outlined a multi-pronged approach to determining when to apply these AI labels: If an advertiser uses Meta’s generative AI tools but makes only minor modifications to an image or video, no label will be applied. If significant edits are made, a label will be placed in the three-dot menu or next to the “Sponsored” label. If the AI tools generate a photorealistic human, the AI label will always appear next to the “Sponsored” label. This labeling system was gradually introduced last year and will continue rolling out throughout 2025. Meta also plans to expand its transparency efforts by addressing ad images made or modified using non-Meta generative AI tools. The company says it will refine its approach in collaboration with experts and stakeholders as expectations and AI technologies evolve. Meta emphasized that this labeling initiative is only the beginning of its broader AI transparency strategy. Users will continue to have access to tools such as the “Why am I seeing this ad?” feature, which provides insights into ad targeting methods and allows users to adjust their ad preferences. As generative AI technology advances, Meta says it remains focused on ensuring responsible AI use while giving users greater visibility into how AI-generated content appears in their advertising experience. Image: Meta This article, "Meta Expands AI Transparency in Advertising with New Labeling System" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Meta has introduced an expanded labeling system for advertisements created or significantly edited using its in-house generative AI tools. The company says this initiative is part of its ongoing effort to increase transparency and accountability in digital advertising. The labeling system applies to ads featuring images or videos that have been significantly modified by Meta’s AI-powered marketing tools. Depending on the level of AI involvement, labels will either appear in the three-dot menu of an ad or directly next to the “Sponsored” label. Meta outlined a multi-pronged approach to determining when to apply these AI labels: If an advertiser uses Meta’s generative AI tools but makes only minor modifications to an image or video, no label will be applied. If significant edits are made, a label will be placed in the three-dot menu or next to the “Sponsored” label. If the AI tools generate a photorealistic human, the AI label will always appear next to the “Sponsored” label. This labeling system was gradually introduced last year and will continue rolling out throughout 2025. Meta also plans to expand its transparency efforts by addressing ad images made or modified using non-Meta generative AI tools. The company says it will refine its approach in collaboration with experts and stakeholders as expectations and AI technologies evolve. Meta emphasized that this labeling initiative is only the beginning of its broader AI transparency strategy. Users will continue to have access to tools such as the “Why am I seeing this ad?” feature, which provides insights into ad targeting methods and allows users to adjust their ad preferences. As generative AI technology advances, Meta says it remains focused on ensuring responsible AI use while giving users greater visibility into how AI-generated content appears in their advertising experience. Image: Meta This article, "Meta Expands AI Transparency in Advertising with New Labeling System" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The absence of guidance on what tech companies are buying as they raise their bets on AI begins to stretch credulityView the full article

Traders had expected Beijing to weaken its currency following a weeklong market holidayView the full article

Adobe has introduced new generative AI capabilities in Acrobat AI Assistant aimed at simplifying contract analysis for businesses and consumers. The enhancements allow users to quickly understand complex terms, compare multiple agreements, and verify contract details with greater efficiency. AI-Powered Contract Intelligence Contracts play a crucial role in daily business operations and consumer transactions, yet they often contain dense language that can be difficult to interpret. A survey conducted by Adobe Acrobat found that nearly 70% of consumers have signed contracts without fully understanding the terms, while 64% of small business owners have avoided signing agreements due to a lack of confidence in their comprehension. “Customers open billions of contracts in Adobe Acrobat each month and AI can be a game changer in helping simplify their experience,” said Abhigyan Modi, senior vice president of Adobe Document Cloud. “We are introducing new capabilities to deliver contract intelligence in Adobe AI Assistant, making it easier for customers to understand and compare these complex documents and providing citations to help them verify responses, all while keeping their data safe.” Key Features of Acrobat AI Assistant The new AI-driven contract intelligence features in Adobe Acrobat include: Automated contract recognition: The AI Assistant identifies contracts, including scanned documents, and generates summaries and highlights of key terms. Straightforward explanations with citations: AI-generated summaries include clickable citations for users to verify contract terms directly within their documents. Version comparisons: Users can analyze up to 10 different contracts simultaneously to detect discrepancies, inconsistencies, and critical changes. Secure sharing and e-signatures: Contracts can be reviewed and signed within the same platform, streamlining collaboration and approval workflows. Adobe emphasized that Acrobat AI Assistant adheres to strict data security protocols. The company does not train its AI models on customer data and prohibits third-party language models from using Adobe customer data for training purposes. The AI Assistant supplements large language models (LLMs) with proprietary AI and machine learning technologies, enhancing its ability to accurately interpret document structures and content. Acrobat AI Assistant, which launched in February 2024, has gained rapid adoption, with customer interactions in the app doubling quarter over quarter by the end of 2024. The contract intelligence capabilities are available across desktop, web, and mobile platforms in English, with support for additional languages forthcoming. The AI Assistant is available as an add-on for both free Adobe Reader and paid Acrobat users at a subscription price of $4.99 per month. Image: Adobe> This article, "Adobe Expands Acrobat AI Assistant with Contract Intelligence Features" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Adobe has introduced new generative AI capabilities in Acrobat AI Assistant aimed at simplifying contract analysis for businesses and consumers. The enhancements allow users to quickly understand complex terms, compare multiple agreements, and verify contract details with greater efficiency. AI-Powered Contract Intelligence Contracts play a crucial role in daily business operations and consumer transactions, yet they often contain dense language that can be difficult to interpret. A survey conducted by Adobe Acrobat found that nearly 70% of consumers have signed contracts without fully understanding the terms, while 64% of small business owners have avoided signing agreements due to a lack of confidence in their comprehension. “Customers open billions of contracts in Adobe Acrobat each month and AI can be a game changer in helping simplify their experience,” said Abhigyan Modi, senior vice president of Adobe Document Cloud. “We are introducing new capabilities to deliver contract intelligence in Adobe AI Assistant, making it easier for customers to understand and compare these complex documents and providing citations to help them verify responses, all while keeping their data safe.” Key Features of Acrobat AI Assistant The new AI-driven contract intelligence features in Adobe Acrobat include: Automated contract recognition: The AI Assistant identifies contracts, including scanned documents, and generates summaries and highlights of key terms. Straightforward explanations with citations: AI-generated summaries include clickable citations for users to verify contract terms directly within their documents. Version comparisons: Users can analyze up to 10 different contracts simultaneously to detect discrepancies, inconsistencies, and critical changes. Secure sharing and e-signatures: Contracts can be reviewed and signed within the same platform, streamlining collaboration and approval workflows. Adobe emphasized that Acrobat AI Assistant adheres to strict data security protocols. The company does not train its AI models on customer data and prohibits third-party language models from using Adobe customer data for training purposes. The AI Assistant supplements large language models (LLMs) with proprietary AI and machine learning technologies, enhancing its ability to accurately interpret document structures and content. Acrobat AI Assistant, which launched in February 2024, has gained rapid adoption, with customer interactions in the app doubling quarter over quarter by the end of 2024. The contract intelligence capabilities are available across desktop, web, and mobile platforms in English, with support for additional languages forthcoming. The AI Assistant is available as an add-on for both free Adobe Reader and paid Acrobat users at a subscription price of $4.99 per month. Image: Adobe> This article, "Adobe Expands Acrobat AI Assistant with Contract Intelligence Features" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Prince founded vast business development network focused on Africa and AsiaView the full article

Global leaders recently gathered at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, under the theme of “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.” What exactly is the “Intelligent Age” and, more importantly, how can we ensure that everyone can participate in this new age? WEF defines the Intelligent Age as a transition away from the Industrial Age to a new phase of human civilization. It’s a clear and compelling definition. But what is much less clear is the conversation about the importance of equity and how to approach it. There are many ways leaders can consider equity as they build and adopt AI and other frontier technologies: clear global policies, reaching new markets, financial incentives and disincentives, and the moral imperative. At UNICEF USA, we believe that the relatively simple ingredients of collaboration and information can drive better solutions for everyone in Intelligent Age. Deepening collaboration across business, government, and civil society can usher in more equitable approaches. The benefits of this type of collaboration will reach a wider range of people and create a more powerful and sustainable Fourth Industrial Revolution. Here are several ways that UNICEF is approaching these collaborations. Responsible tech development Companies play an essential role in responsible innovation. And many are already successfully embracing that role. For example, UNICEF cofounded the Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) project with the LEGO Group, supported by the LEGO Foundation. RITEC aims to make child rights and well-being a primary consideration in the design and development of digital technology. The project is delivered in partnership with university and child-focused organizations such as the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, the University of Sheffield, and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. We need to include children’s views on decisions that directly affect them; children disproportionately face opportunities and risks from emerging technologies. Think about it: Companies that cater to children and families need to consider their users. We know that consumers are paying attention as safety and inclusivity matter to them: 78% of consumers and 86% of teens believe digital experiences have a positive impact on their lives, but 64% said they would consider switching technology providers if an incident breached their trust. As part of the RITEC project, there is a free toolbox for the gaming industry to advise them on how to design digital play experiences with children’s well-being in mind. The toolbox builds on research with children in 18 countries and collaboration with designers from 35 online gaming companies of different sizes, and from 15 countries. Job-relevant skills Many of today’s youth are not able to keep up with skills, hindering social and economic progress. Passport to Earning, a global program developed by UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, includes support from cross-sector partners and founding members including consulting companies like Accenture and PwC, but also government and philanthropic organizations including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and Al Ghurair Foundation (supporting Arab and Emirati youth. The program runs on Microsoft’s Community Training, a cloud-based learning platform, so young people aged 15-24 can access content local to their communities, even in low-bandwidth areas. The next phase will partially focus on integrating an AI-skills curriculum onto the program’s offerings, to help ensure young people have the right skills to thrive in an AI-powered economy. It sounds simple but this is revolutionary because it means that young people—even those who are not in school, in any type of skills training programs, or can’t always access the internet—can still gain free and relevant skills that will position them for quality jobs. By 2027, Passport to Earning aims to train and certify 8 million youth in AI and digital skilling. AI has the potential to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030 and be a driver in finding new and innovative solutions to issues that have long prevented children from equitable access to resources. Other initiatives In education, we are working with philanthropic and finance partners to convene disability and AI experts to fast-track accessible digital textbooks development, bridging barriers to learning by including sign language, narration, interactivity, and translation for people with disabilities. We and our partners also work hard to make sure that technology’s benefits of don’t come at the expense of human rights, like privacy and equality. Sharing best practices on how to empower and protect children is critical to preventing harm today that would have life-long negative impacts. There is not only a responsibility for companies to ensure their policies and products respect children’s rights, but there also is an opportunity for more innovative collaboration between the private and public sectors. As the world navigates quickly evolving technologies, I encourage companies to collaborate with the public sector and civil society to ensure equity. At the same time, open the door to opportunities that foster innovation and collaboration, enhancing a competitive edge through global workforce development, and improving children’s lives and their futures. Michele Walsh is executive vice president and chief philanthropy officer of UNICEF USA. View the full article

Members of Congress told ‘Doge’ has been given limited ‘read-only’ access to the systemView the full article

There are times when fear is good. It must keep its watchful place at the heart’s controls. —Aeschylus MANY people view fear as a negative, crippling emotion. However, it can act as a potent stimulus that enhances performance if we take the time to understand – and modulate – its power. The Sweet Spot of Fear Table tennis Olympian Amy Wang has had plenty of practice performing in the face of fear. She’s won the US National Table Tennis Championships in age categories of nine, ten, eleven, and thirteen before winning multiple open women’s national titles. Wang does, indeed, get scared when playing before a large crowd or on a big international stage. “But I need some kind of fear to boost my adrenaline to help me get ready,” she explains. In fact, Wang has a preferred level of “nervousness” while playing a match. On a one-to-ten scale, “Five to seven is the best for me,” she says. “If I’m not feeling any nerves before the match, it means I don’t care. I relax and don’t focus properly.” Wang’s coaches can easily tell when she’s overly nervous during a match. Usually, it’s enough to remind her to loosen up and take one point at a time to bring her back down to her preferred range. And when she’s not nervous enough? A sort of self-correcting mechanism kicks in. “If I’m too chill during a match, my opponent will start catching up, which will eventually increase my nervousness level,” she says. “But it’s better to start off at the right place.” It’s Only Human Fear is a natural human emotion, and it exists for a reason. It causes adrenaline to surge through our bodies, increasing heart rate and flow to the brain and muscles to help us escape predators or defend ourselves against rivals. It’s in our DNA. Luckily, we don’t need to run from saber-toothed tigers in the twenty-first century. Nonetheless, we still encounter stressful situations, mental or physical. And yet, our hormonal stress response – pumping out adrenaline and cortisol – has not evolved. In fact, the human biological alert system can’t tell the difference between a saber-tooth tiger encounter, a critical table tennis match at the US Open, or a high-stakes sales presentation. So, denying fear or trying to block it out is futile. And unnecessary. Once we learn to harness the energy of fear and minimize its dark side, we can enhance our performance in the direst of times. Five Methods to Optimize Your Performance in the Face of Fear Throughout decades of intense competition and various business challenges, I’ve researched, collected, and experienced many ways of channeling fear. Here are some practical tips to not only perform, but excel, in fearsome situations. • De-fang fear. Preemptively tell it, Come in, fear. The door is open. I’ve been expecting you. This simple, welcoming stance can lessen fear’s sharp bite from the beginning. It sounds deceptively simple, but I’ve benefited from doing this for many years now. Without the heavy dread, fear loses its discomforting emotional grip, but still transfers its biochemical power to fuel clarity of thinking and quickness of movement. Throughout decades of intense competition and various business challenges, I’ve researched, collected, and experienced many ways of channeling fear. Here are some practical tips to not only perform, but excel, in fearsome situations. • Switch modes. When needed, remove yourself from primal fight-or-flight mode – where your sympathetic nervous system causes shallow chest breathing and elevates your heart rate and blood pressure. Calm your primal brain by literally looking to your right, and your left, and confirming that there is no threat from a predator. You are not being chased by a lion or getting threatened by a cave dweller with a club. Then take several deep belly breaths – imagine pulling a string tied to your belly button, straight out in front of you. This activates your parasympathetic nervous system, engaging a calming, “rest and digest” mode. As you exhale, tell yourself: I am safe, I am warm, I am relaxed… (repeat this until it sinks in). The reverse works, too: Pump up your excitement levels by puffing up your chest to breathe deeply and rapidly. Throughout decades of intense competition and various business challenges, I’ve researched, collected, and experienced many ways of channeling fear. Here are some practical tips to not only perform, but excel, in fearsome situations. • Create your own “reset” switch. Our brain can “change itself constantly by creating new neural pathways,” wrote neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart in Forbes. Rewiring the brain simply requires “practice of a new behavior which will sufficiently challenge the brain to think in a new way.” Focusing on a favorite word or mantra (e.g., “I’m just grateful to be here” or “I was born for this moment”) can instantly connect you with a certain empowering memory or confident mindset. Repeat this as needed before, during, and after stress-inducing situations. Throughout decades of intense competition and various business challenges, I’ve researched, collected, and experienced many ways of channeling fear. Here are some practical tips to not only perform, but excel, in fearsome situations. • Give yourself a “freak-out” period. A law school professor of mine once talked to us about the stress of final exams. Yes, there can be a lot riding on them. If you’re the type of test-taker who starts to sweat and freeze up from fear when the blank test lands on your desk, do the counter-intuitive: go ahead and (quietly) panic. Allow yourself one minute to imagine the worst, failing out of law school, fainting during the exam, whatever. Let the fear rush through your head and body for the full minute. Then let it wash away as you breathe deeply three times and relax. You’ve used up your immediate anxiety quotient, and can still tap into a deeper well of adrenaline to boost your mental activity. Now it’s time to simply start, calmly, on the first question of the test. And then the second, and third. Throughout decades of intense competition and various business challenges, I’ve researched, collected, and experienced many ways of channeling fear. Here are some practical tips to not only perform, but excel, in fearsome situations. • Finally, don’t worry about your zit – everyone else is worried about their own zit. That’s Gary Vaynerchuk’s advice, which I love. We all have an inner voice adept at pointing out our insecurities. Our blemish. Our accent. An unusual presentation style or unconventional backhand stroke. And when we’re consumed by self-consciousness, we operate at a fraction of our potential. But here’s the liberating truth: everyone else is too busy wrestling with their own demons to fixate on yours. Instead, shift from self-scrutiny to valuable service. Focus 100% on listening, contributing, and participating with others in the moment. The fear will start to fade, replaced by genuine confidence born of purpose. When you learn to accept fear as part of the success equation, you’ll stop spending energy trying to fight it. Then, you can leverage the super-power of focus and energy it brings. This leads you and others on the path to bravery and accomplishment. Justin Bookey is an award-winning marketing strategist, former lawyer, and competitive table tennis player who has won medals at the US Open and the US national championships. He has collaborated with leaders at prominent companies like Disney, Sony, Honda, Qualcomm, and XPRIZE. His accomplishments include Emmy-nominated feature documentaries and Telly, Viddy, and ADDY award-winning digital marketing campaigns. He also founded PongFit, a nonprofit promoting fitness and community through ping pong. His new book is Ping Pong Leadership: 18 Principles to Succeed at Any Table in Business, Sports, and Life (Amplify Publishing, 2024). Learn more at Ping Pong Leadership. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. * * * View the full article

US president makes comments as he holds talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu View the full article

This week, President Trump adviser Elon Musk’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) seems to have gained full access to the Department of Treasury’s payments system responsible for processing trillions of dollars of spending, and containing sensitive personal data about hundreds of millions of Americans including bank accounts, tax data, Social Security numbers, tax refunds, Medicare benefits, and home address. If this concerns you, you’re not alone. Judging from social media, many Americans are overwhelmed with the sheer volume of changes coming from the Trump administration, and are worried about what is happening with our federal government. In short, “people are creeped out,” according to Senator Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, who along with Senator Elizabeth Warren called on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent’s decision to grant Musk and DOGE access to sensitive government payment systems. “It is difficult to know all the things that Elon Musk is doing inside the Treasury Department because of a lack of transparency,” Barbara McQuade, who served as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan under President Barack Obama, told Fast Company. Now, DOGE, whose staff has largely operated in secret, communicating through encrypted messages on Signal, according to the Wall Street Journal, is starting to rack up legal challenges. On Monday, a coalition of labor unions and the Alliance for Retired Americans filed a lawsuit suing the Treasury Department, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service to halt the “unlawful ongoing, systematic, and continuous disclosure of personal and financial information” to Elon Musk and other members of DOGE, or to any other person. The lawsuit alleges all three defendants illegally allowed the coalition’s members’ records to be shared with Musk’s DOGE. The Alliance for Retired Americans and the labor unions, which include the American Federation of Government Employees and the Service Employees International Union, are represented by lawyers from Public Citizen Litigation Group and State Democracy Defenders Fund. What is DOGE and what kind of authority does it have? Trump created DOGE through an executive order on his first day in office, creating a temporary government organization with a mandate to “moderniz[e] Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” But there are many questions about who actually works for DOGE, if the agency is hiring existing government employees or employees from Musk’s various companies, and if DOGE staff are overstepping their legal authority. (Wired recently reported a 25-year-old engineer at DOGE now has administrative privileges over the code that controls Social Security payments, tax returns, and more.) DOGE was originally a joint project that Musk would run with Vivek Ramaswamy (who ran against Trump in the Republican presidential primary before endorsing him), along with Bill McGinley, who was named DOGE’s legal counsel. Both Ramaswamy and McGinley have since left, which some have suggested could signal infighting and perhaps a disagreement over how DOGE would function among the group. Musk, meanwhile, was recently classified as a “special government employee,” which basically allows him to work at the White House for some 130 days before he’s required to file the necessary financial disclosure forms required of White House employees. This is concerning for a number of reasons, as he hasn’t been properly vetted yet, and because as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, which both rely on government contracts, Musk potentially has a number of conflicts of interest. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Growing up, I was obsessed with helping my mom cook. Though she would dabble in making Italian food or try out popular boxed ingredients of the time, most nights featured what she knew best—giant pots of Thai comfort fare and heaping mounds of jasmine rice. My childhood of ad hoc cooking lessons taught me two things: Jasmine rice goes with everything, and anything can taste good with the help of one of five bottled Asian sauces. I'll assume you have the rice covered, so let me tell you about these sauces. Fish sauce This sauce gives you the most flavor bang for your buck. The thin, reddish-brown liquid is made by fermenting small fish, like anchovies, with salt for up to two years. The juice extracted from the mixture is a pungent sauce that brings a blast of umami to any and everything it touches. Add a few drops to fill out the flavor profile of your stir fry, or use it as a major ingredient, like in Thai som tum salad. For fish sauce newbies, just add a few drops to a hearty dish with many components. You’ll notice a difference in flavor, but you won’t be overwhelmed by fishy flavor. I don’t consider myself much of a fish-head, and this sauce really does taste like fermented fish, but somehow it just works. You can use fish sauce during cooking or as a finishing sauce while eating. I like to add a few dashes to hamburger meat, or make a nam jim with chili peppers and sliced garlic to drizzle it over eggs and rice; and Claire likes to use it to funk up butter, tuna, and chili. Whichever fish sauce you find will be the best one, but if you have a choice, I like: Squid Brand Fish Sauce Oyster sauceThe name might include another sea-faring friend, but oyster sauce is entirely different from fish sauce. There are a few sauces that might be described as “oyster sauce,” but in this case I’m talking about a dark brown sauce that’s so thick it’s almost gelatinous. Oyster sauce is often made with oyster extracts, soy sauce, and thickeners, and is both sweet and salty. Add a tablespoon of oyster sauce to deepen the flavors of a dish, or use a few tablespoons as the primary ingredient of a sweet and savory sauce. I add oyster sauce to beef stews in the winter, and use it to build the quintessential sticky glaze for chicken pad see ew. My favorite oyster sauce: Mae Krua Oyster Sauce I usually use a combination of two or three sauces in a noodle stir-fry like this one. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Mushroom soy sauce It might be easy to box-in soy sauce as a mere salty condiment, but this liquid gold is as nuanced as wine. I usually keep at least three different types of soy sauce on hand, because they all provide something different. And I need them. All of them. Mushroom soy sauce can range from thin and medium-brown in color, to slightly viscous and nearly black. Mushroom soy sauce is made using dried black mushrooms and a light soy sauce, and though it doesn’t taste exactly like the fungi, it does taste notably earthier than standard soy sauce. I use light brown mushroom soy sauce rather liberally in dishes, or as a replacement for “regular” soy sauce. If I’m making a pot of turkey chili and looking for a salty, earthy flavor, I’ll splash this in to add some depth to the tomato base. My fridge houses: Dek Som Boon, also called Healthy Boy Brand Mushroom Soy Sauce Black mushroom soy sauceSometimes, if you’re adding fish sauce and regular soy sauce to a dish already, you don’t necessarily need another salty component. A teaspoon of black mushroom soy sauce, however, gives an entire stir fry a beautiful dark brown color with a touch of sweet, earthy umami, and much less salt. This type of soy sauce still uses dried black mushrooms for added flavor, but the mushroom extracts are added to dark soy sauce, instead of a light one. Dark soy sauce is usually aged longer than the light variety, and some bottles might even include molasses. I like Pearl River Bridge superior black mushroom soy sauce for its dark color and sweet flavor. I splash it (lightly!) into my fried rice, along with regular soy sauce and Golden Mountain Sauce. My go-to: Pearl River Bridge mushroom flavored superior black soy sauce Golden Mountain SauceThe four products I’ve mentioned so far are types of sauces, and you could explore different brands to find your favorite, but Golden Mountain Sauce is a brand of very special seasoning sauce. The ingredient list consists of “soybean sauce,” made from soybeans, corn, water, sugar, and salt. The flavor is salty, malty, savory, and ever-so-slightly sweet. It’s incredibly flavorful, and it’s my favorite all-purpose sauce by a long shot. There's just something about it that tastes like nothing else around. It's perfect dashed upon leftover rice with an egg. (A little dose will do it, but when I was a kid I had to make sure every grain of rice had a pool of this sauce around it.) Golden Mountain Sauce is great in stir fries, as a dipping sauce for dumplings, and is an exceptional partner for eggs, but you can sprinkle it over anything to improve the flavor. If you can’t find Golden Mountain Sauce, you can try the very similar Maggi Seasoning, but keep your eyes peeled for the real deal with a green and yellow label at your local Asian grocery stores. Or you could order it, of course: Golden Mountain Sauce View the full article

The AI search firm Perplexity routinely lets users try out state-of-the-art large language models on its site, but the company moved quickly to put Chinese company DeepSeek’s new R1 model front and center in its user interface. That offers users a chance to find out what the buzz is all about, without sending their data through the DeepSeek app, which is hosted in China. While some AI thought leaders such as Thrive Capital’s Josh Kushner, Scale AI’s Alexander Wang, and Anduril’s Palmer Luckey hurried to debunk or downplay DeepSeek’s achievements, Perplexity’s CEO Aravind Srinivas believes the Chinese company’s models are something special. “In the past few years, there have been a handful of revolutionary moments in AI that have transformed the landscape,” Perplexity cofounder and CEO Aravind Srinivas wrote in a subscriber email Tuesday. “I wholeheartedly believe that this is yet another moment.” Users of Perplexity’s free and premium tiers can now choose to use DeepSeek via a menu button within the search bar. (Users can also select OpenAI’s o3 mini model.) “It’s one of the core models,” says Perplexity chief business officer Dmitry Shevelenko. “And what’s really neat about it is we’ve also developed a user interface . . . where you can actually see the chain of thought, so you can actually see how the model is thinking in real time, and that’s something that was never possible before.” Because DeepSeek operates within the People’s Republic of China’s regulatory framework, the company had to prevent its models from talking about politically sensitive topics, such as the Tiananmen Square protests. Perplexity was able to remove those guardrails from the open-source version of DeepSeek-R1. Perplexity also says any user data shared with the chatbot stays with the company’s servers in the U.S. and Canada; nothing is shared with DeepSeek or China. Of the models available on Perplexity, DeepSeek R1 is unique in that it shows the “chain of thought” the LLM followed to reach an answer. Some of the innovations the DeepSeek researchers put into its models were driven by a need to economize on computing power. The company said it trained its models, for example, using less-powerful Nvidia H800 chips after the U.S. chip bans cut off access to Nvidia’s most powerful GPUs. The end result was the creation of models that show state-of-the-art intelligence while requiring far less computing power than comparable models to run. That’s good for Perplexity. “There are efficiencies,” says Shevelenko. “I mean, I think we’re still too early to know the exact inference cost breakdown, but just the fact that it’s open-source and you’re not paying the private model provider, that’s already the major efficiency.” View the full article

A record $1.39 billion will be legally wagered in the United States on Sunday’s Super Bowl match-up between the two-times defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, the American Gaming Association said on Tuesday. In years past, the trade group representing the U.S. casino industry did not break out an estimate solely for legal bets but rather one for all wagers, including those placed online, with a sportsbook, unlicensed bookmaker or casually with friends. But with years of legal operations in several U.S. states, the AGA said it now analyzes historical revenue data and other trends to develop a legal wager estimate for major U.S. sports betting moments. The AGA’s estimate for Super Bowl bets is up 11.2% from the $1.25 billion that gambling and research firm Eilers & Krejcik predicted would be legally bet on last year’s NFL championship in Las Vegas between the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. “No single event unites sports fans like the Super Bowl, and that excitement extends to sports betting, with this year’s record legal handle reflecting its widespread appeal,” AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said in a news release. “This figure underscores the positive impact of the legal market—from protecting consumers to generating tax revenue that benefits communities across the country—while enhancing the game experience for all.” In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down federal ban on sports betting. Since the ruling, 38 states and the District of Columbia have now legalized sports betting in some form. The NFL’s championship game creates an annual betting bonanza and this year’s edition will be played in New Orleans for a record-tying 11th time. The Chiefs, appearing in the Super Bowl for the fifth time in six years and seeking an unprecedented third consecutive NFL championship, are slight favourites to beat the Eagles in a rematch of the February 2023 title clash. —Frank Pingue, Reuters View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Soon after Nvidia's new RTX 5080 and 5090 gaming GPUs went up for sale last week, they sold out pretty quickly—which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who has tried to buy one of its graphics cards before. According to PC parts seller Newegg, the company’s stock sold out “within minutes,” and none of the big-name retailers I’ve checked today have cards available. While that might sound like a success on Nvidia’s part, consumers and reviewers alike are responding to the short supply with ire, accusing Nvidia of a “paper launch,” a term for when a company only releases enough units to say that a product released on schedule, without actually making it readily available. Starting at $999 for the 5080, these products were always going to be for a premium market, but buying them now can mean going through resellers, which could cost you twice as much and means supporting the same scalpers that make stock so hard to find in the first place. Luckily, there are still a few steps you can take to get a new Nvidia graphics card through official means, although it will take some trial and error. But with enough diligence, you can be sure to get in line for a new card as soon as stock opens up. Sign up for notifications Credit: Best Buy It’s boring, I know, but major retailers including Newegg, Best Buy, Amazon, and B&H offer the opportunity to sign up for stock notifications when a product is in limited supply. (You’ll usually see this to the right of or underneath a grayed out buy button on the product page.) These will often be incorporated into a wish list feature, so you can quickly check in on all of your desired products and keep track of them—useful if you have a specific PC build in mind. Try visiting your local MicrocenterMicrocenter is a popular electronics store that sets itself apart by offering the majority of its goods only in-store. Currently, its stock is as sold out as everyone else’s, although a big banner at the top of the store’s website says it’s working hard to restock as soon as possible. Shopping at your local Microcenter drastically reduces your competition: rather than having to compete with the entire world, you only have to compete with your local community. Even better, you can still look products up online to ensure stock is available before making the trek to the brick-and-mortar location. Simply visit the product page, input your store (assuming your cookies don’t tip off your location for you), and you’ll know before visiting whether your visit will be fruitful. Some products will also let you reserve a unit for in-store pickup before arriving, although for new GPUs, Microcenter is more likely to take a first-come, first-served mentality. Follow the right social media accountsGetting notifications when a product comes into stock is well and good, but ideally, you’re getting prepped to click the “buy” button well before it’s even available. That’s where industry insiders come into account. These are social media users who, through protected sources, sometimes know when sales happen before they go live. There are entire publications and newsletters dedicated to this, although you sometimes have to use your best judgment when knowing who to believe. My favorite account for this purpose, personally, is @Wario64 on X and Bluesky. Down-to-earth with a good (but not overbearing) sense of humor, they haven’t let me down yet. In-Stock-Alerts-US has also proven reliable in the past, as has journalist Matt Swider. Unfortunately, many accounts that have been useful in the past have since stopped updating. Alternatively, you can also use a stock tracking website like NowInStock.net or TrackaLacker to track stock across various storefronts. Avoid resellers whenever possibleGoing through the above process might seem annoying, but trust me, buying through a reseller is only going to make things worse for everyone. Yes, eBay is where you’ll find the most stock, but it’s also going to cost you way more than going through official sources, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll end up getting the real deal, or a GPU that hasn’t been used. That said, when it comes to GPUs, Amazon can be as bad as eBay. Third-party sellers are abundant there, and it can be easy to confuse a legit seller with one that's a little more dubious. If you want to go through Amazon, be sure to check the “Sold by” tag underneath the buy button before you add anything to your cart. That will tell you who you're actually buying the product from. Just buy a pre-built PC Credit: Maingear It might sound like sacrilege to a hardcore PC builder, but if you’re looking to get your hands on a new GPU as soon as possible, it can be easier to bite the bullet and go with a pre-built model. That’s because manufacturers like Maingear and Cyberpower often get special stock earmarked for them, and because their PCs are customizable, more expensive than a GPU alone, and are just all-around harder to stack in a warehouse somewhere, they’re less attractive to scalpers. You’ll still pay a premium with this route, but you’ll get a whole PC alongside your GPU, plus save yourself the labor of construction. And if you price it right, you might actually still save money over what you’d pay for a resold card alone. View the full article

Alphabet's Q4 revenue rose 12%, driven by AI advancements, cloud growth, and infrastructure investments. The post Google’s Q4 Earnings Point To An AI-Focused Future appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

A’ja Wilson has come to realize what is delayed is not always denied. The two-time WNBA champion and three-time league MVP proudly released her long-awaited Nike signature shoe and athletic apparel collection in her hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, where she helped lead the South Carolina Gamecocks to their first national championship in 2017 and had her college jersey retired on Sunday. The release of the predominantly pink shoe and apparel collection — which she said reflects her “girly, girly side” — has been 10 months in the making since she signed the lucrative six-year contract with Nike. It’s a deal Wilson says signals the continued growth and interest in women’s sports. “It was just a matter of time, honestly,” Wilson said. “Because we are in it and we live it, we see how much we’re valued and worth. But now to see everyone in the basketball community finally catch up, it means the world. To say that I can put out a shoe, and to do this here at home, it’s truly special and I’m so excited to see what the future has to hold.” The price of the shoe will be $110 for adult sizes and $90 for youth sizes. It will be available for purchase in the spring. At 28, Wilson is one of the most recognizable faces in women’s sports. She won an ESPY in 2024 for Best Female Athlete and led the Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023. She has been named an All-Star six times since entering the league after being selected the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2018. Many in the women’s sports world wondered what has taken so long for Wilson to get her own shoe deal. Last year’s sensational WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark had a deal for a Nike signature shoe ahead of Wilson. The delay didn’t surprise A’ja’s father, Roscoe Wilson, who called his daughter a meticulous planner. “Ever since A’ja was a child, she’s been that way,” Roscoe Wilson said. “She would have toys and collectibles as a kid and she would line them up and look them and make sure they were lined up correctly, then change them around. So I always just took that as her way. She’s always been meticulous in her planning. She sees how she wants things to go before she finishes.” “So this is a product of her vision from a long time ago,” he proudly added. His daughter’s vision is not just a big deal for the Wilson family. Wilson’s “A-One” is important for women’s sports, but it’s also important for sports in general, said Joe Favorito, a longtime sports marketing executive and professor at Columbia University. “Companies have been cutting back on custom lines for years and you don’t see this very often anymore,” Favorito said. “They have to know there is going to be a big return. Companies have to be very selective. So this is impressive — and it is very rare.” Favorito believes the shoe will particularly appeal to young women and people of color. “It speaks to the diverse audience, not only for women but also people of color,” Favorito said. “They are creating a shoe that young women can wear, can feel comfortable in — and that is revolutionary.” Wilson’s shoe deal comes about after Clark signed the richest sponsorship contract for a women’s basketball player in history last April worth $28 million over eight years. Wilson said she loved the process of picking out the colors and helping design the shoe and collection, but acknowledged that the release is “a weight off her shoulders.” Among the many unique features in the design is a replica of the tattoos she wears on her arms —- a tribute to her parents for supporting her through the years — stitched onto the tongue of the shoes. “To see it finally go live, it’s fun and I could not wait,” Wilson said. “The jersey retirement was great, but to have people get answers to their questions about what this shoe is about, it makes my heart really happy.” Added her father Roscoe Wilson: “The platform she has and the space she is in I think she has used it brilliantly to make a statement about herself, which carries over to women’s sports. She relays her message through how she carries herself and how she plays.” —Steve Reed, AP sports writer View the full article

Donald Trump drew plenty of criticism by launching his own branded memecoin three days before his inauguration, including from the crypto community which argued he was making a mockery of the crypto world by tying himself to the memecoin world, which could damage efforts to make crypto reforms. And so, in the two-plus weeks since he has taken office, the value of the Trump coin has dropped precipitously. Trump’s $TRUMP coin, which can be used to buy his Trump-themed sneakers, watches, and fragrances, had lost another 6% of its value Tuesday afternoon, falling to $16.63 each. While that still gives the token a market cap of $3.3 billion, it’s nothing compared to where it stood on January 19. On the eve of his second term, Trump’s memecoin hit an all-time high of $75.35 per token and a market cap of $14.5 billion. Chainalysis data, as reported by Reuters, found that 29 large buyers each held more than $10 million-worth of the memecoins, with five holding more than $100 million each. The recent drop represents a loss of more than 75% of its value. A separate memecoin launched by Melania Trump, has suffered similar losses, falling from $13.73 per token on January 20 to $1.60 on Tuesday, an 88% plunge. The $MELANIA loss would have been even larger if it hadn’t been in rally mode Tuesday, gaining nearly 17% from 24 hours prior. (As with many memecoins, it’s unclear what’s driving the rally.) The sell-off of $TRUMP has been gaining momentum largely since he finished taking the oath of office. By the end of January 21, the coin had lost nearly half its value, falling to little more than $40. The recent declines have come amid Trump’s tariff threats and growing fears of a trade war. The memecoin was down another 15% Monday as the deadline for the tariffs loomed and last-minute deals were struck. The loss of gains is not restricted to $TRUMP. Most cryptocurrencies have surrendered any gains they’ve made since the first of the year, though Bitcoin is still up slightly. That’s due, in part, to ongoing threats to free trade, a position that many crypto owners support. The risk of higher prices on imported goods has also prompted investors to sell digital assets in order to lower risk and steer clear of volatility in their portfolios. Memecoins have been especially affected by the sell-off. Selling holdings like memecoins can also give owners access to cash, which could be handy if costs go up across the board. Tariffs aimed at goods from Mexico and China were suspended for at least 30 days Tuesday, but a 10% tariff on goods from China was enacted. China retaliated Tuesday, implementing a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas products from the U.S. and a 10% tariff on U.S. crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-engine cars. Officials in Beijing also announced an anti-trust investigation into Google and enacted export controls on critical components of high-tech products. While the value of the Trump memecoin has taken a significant dive in the past two weeks, that hasn’t stopped some parties from making a considerable amount of money from it. Reuters, on Monday, reported that trading fees alone for the $TRUMP token have added up to somewhere between $86 million and $100 million. One of the parties benefiting from those trade fees, CIC Digital, is an affiliate of the Trump Organization, but it was unclear how much of that total, if any, had gone to Trump personally. The ownership of other entities involved in trade fees could similarly not be determined. Trump was elected on a vow to be the “crypto president” and has filled his administration with several people who either hold crypto or have ties to the industry. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, for instance, who has previously expressed a belief that digital assets are a form of financial freedom, was named Monday as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which has previously set rules to protect consumers against fraud in crypto transactions. 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. You can get thousands of free e-books over the course of 2025 if you know where—and when—to look. All year long, Amazon is offering free Kindle e-books to readers, with new opportunities popping up every month. In February, Prime members can get two free Kindle e-books from Amazon's First Reads program. What is Amazon's First Reads?Amazon First Reads is a program aimed at Prime members that offers early access to new e-books across many genres, as curated by First Reads editors (one of your many Prime Member benefits). Prime members can choose to download one free e-book every month from a rotating list—though some months that number is bumped up to two—and non-members get them for a discounted price. These e-books can be read on any compatible Kindle device or via the free Kindle app. Amazon Kindle (16 GB) Display size: 6⁠″ glare-free, Resolution: 300 ppi, Storage: 16 GB, Battery life: Up to 6 weeks. $109.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $109.99 at Amazon How to get your free Amazon Kindle e-books in FebruaryGo to the First Reads landing page to see the full list of e-books available this month. Once you find a book that seems interesting, click the "Shop Now" button from the First Reads landing page. Make sure you’re not being redirected to the Kindle or Amazon mobile application, because you won't see the free book option there; instead, use your internet browser on your phone or computer. Make sure you’re not clicking the ”Pre-order for...” button, as that will direct you to pay; instead, click the “Read for Free” or the "Buy Now with 1-Click" button under the "First Reads" banner on the book's Amazon page (don't worry, you won't be charged). This will send the e-book directly to the Kindle linked to your Amazon account. You can see what it should look like from the screenshot below. Credit: Daniel Oropeza You’ll know you did it right when you see a “Thanks, [your name]!” order summary indicating the e-book is being auto-delivered to the Kindle Cloud Reader. Free Amazon Kindle e-books available in February 2025This month, you can choose one from eight new Kindle e-books plus a free short story, The Fall Risk. Amazon notes the genre for each of the books above the title, offering a quick way to narrow down your options. (If you hover over the "See Editor Notes" under the "Shop Now" button, you'll be able to read a short description from the First Reads editor who picked the book.) Here are your options for February 2025. You can choose one of these e-books, plus the short story The Fall Risk: Romance Short Story by Abby Jimenez. The Fall Risk: A Short Story $1.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $1.99 at Amazon Police Procedural by Andrew Mayne. Mr. Whisper: A Thriller (The Specialists Book 1) $5.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $5.99 at Amazon Women's Fiction by Julie Hatcher. Not Quite by the Book: A Novel $4.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $4.99 at Amazon Psychological Thriller by A.M. Strong and Sonya Sargent. Gravewater Lake: A Thriller $4.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $4.99 at Amazon A Coming of Age by Amy Lea. Something Like Fate: A Novel $4.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $4.99 at Amazon Action by Audrey J. Cole. Missing in Flight $4.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $4.99 at Amazon Romance by Ali Rosen. Unlikely Story $4.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $4.99 at Amazon Gothic by Sarah Beth Durst. The Warbler: A Novel $4.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $4.99 at Amazon Suspense by Madeleine Henry. Name Not Taken: A Novel $5.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $5.99 at Amazon SEE 6 MORE View the full article

LinkedIn video viewership is up 36% YoY. The platform adds new tools and free training courses to boost video creation. The post LinkedIn Video Views Up 36%, New Tools & Courses Available appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Robinhood said on Tuesday it is rolling back the event contracts that would let users bet on the result of the Super Bowl clash this weekend, after the online brokerage received a request from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The halt comes just a day after the launch of the product. Robinhood said it was “disappointed by the outcome.” “We are heeding their directive to cease offering these contracts despite the fact that the CFTC has not deemed Kalshi’s football championship contracts illegal,” said Lucas Moskowitz, Robinhood’s general counsel. Representatives for Kalshi and the CFTC did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. The products would have allowed the company to tap into the betting mania around one of the most iconic sporting events in the country, as Robinhood looks to expand into segments that are gaining traction with retail investors. The company had rolled out the contracts to 1% of its customers. Those who already placed the trades will get the option to close their positions or take them to resolution, Robinhood said. Event derivatives trading involves buying and selling contracts that let traders speculate on the outcomes of specific events, including elections, economic data releases and policy decisions. “Prediction markets and event contracts can be subject to complex regulatory landscapes,” said Michael Ashley Schulman, partner and chief investment officer at Running Point Capital Advisors. “The CFTC may be concerned that this could be perceived as an active retail betting platform disguised under an investment umbrella, especially since sporting events are much more frequent than presidential elections.” These products have enjoyed a warm reception, despite being relatively new and widely seen as high-risk, especially after a U.S. court struck down the CFTC’s efforts to block KalshiEX’s election betting contracts. Robinhood’s derivatives arm is planning to launch a “more comprehensive” event contracts platform later this year. —Niket Nishant and Manya Saini, Reuters View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. From viral hacks to your grandmother, someone or something has, at some point, told you to clean with baking soda and vinegar. Even I have told you to clean with baking soda and vinegar. Yesterday, sadly, I learned that this approach isn't all it's cracked up to be. Let's discuss. Why you shouldn't mix baking soda and vinegar to cleanThe good news is that this mixture isn't toxic or dangerous in any way. You're not poisoning yourself over time if you mix vinegar and baking soda to get a bubbly paste to scrub onto your walls, countertops, or tile. The bad news is that it just doesn't do much. See, yesterday, I wrote about the best methods for cleaning water stains off white walls. As I expected, I got better results when I cleaned the water stain with a mixture of lemon juice, baking soda, and vinegar than I did when I just went at it with soap and water. The famous combo won again—or so I thought. The reason it was so much more effective, though, is because the true cleaning power was likely coming from the lemon juice at best and the sheer wetness of the solution at worst, not the baking soda and vinegar. In fact, these two products cancel each other out, according to some pro cleaning websites I read and Reddit threads I browsed. Baking soda is a base, vinegar is an acid, and when bases and acids get together, they neutralize each other. The results are water, carbon dioxide (which escapes in the form of fizz), and a salt called sodium acetate. The vinegar and baking soda are reacting with each other, not with your dirty surface, which is why this combination is usually no better a cleaner than water. You're really just wetting and (hopefully) scrubbing, not cleaning. If that's all you want to do, fine. If you want to actually clean, you'll need soap or something else to make a difference. What to use instead of vinegar and baking sodaFirst of all, don't overlook the power of bubbles. The classic trick of pouring baking soda down the drain and following it up with vinegar produces a lot of them, for instance, and while that doesn't really do much to battle actual clogs deep in the pipes, it can bubble out some dirt closer to the surface, at least. Second of all, vinegar and baking soda do each have a purpose in your cleaning arsenal. Think of this like an amicable divorce: They work better separately, but they're both still great on their own. Vinegar's gentle acidity can sometimes loosen grime from surfaces when you aren't ready to reach for the big guns like, say, a hydrochloric acid-based toilet bowl cleaner. Baking soda makes a great scrub because of its rough, gritty texture, and is also a solid odor eliminator, which is why you probably have an open box in the back of your fridge already. If you're looking to replace what you thought were the cleaning effects of baking soda and vinegar mixtures, just opt for regular cleaner. I've had great results with the double-concentrated formulas of Fabuloso and Pine Sol and they're not very expensive. If you liked the feeling of scrubbing those abrasive, gritty bubbles into surfaces, consider plain soap and water on a sponge or, if the material can handle it, steel wool. View the full article

Smartsheet is a powerhouse for project management, reporting, and more, but few organizations depend on it entirely for all their workflows. That means you’ll need to work across tools at least a little bit for every project. Unless you’re willing to copy and paste data across them, you’ll need some way to integrate Smartsheet with these other tools. Here’s how that works. What are Smartsheet integrations? A Smartsheet integration transfers data between your sheets and other tools. These integrations range in capability from automatically creating new work items in other tools when you create Smartsheet rows to dynamically updating fields in those rows whenever changes are made in those other tools. That means you can work from Smartsheet with all the data your business processes need without checking in other tools or waiting on someone to send an update your way. Why integrate Smartsheet with other tools? There are three reasons why all teams can benefit from integrating Smartsheet with the rest of their tools: It saves you time. It saves you money. It unlocks new opportunities for collaboration between teams. The right integration completely eliminates the need to check back and forth between tools to ensure you have the most up-to-date information. That role, often falling to project managers and team leads, is time-consuming, sometimes taking more time than other mission-critical tasks. Integrations can also save you money on licenses (or seats) for your tools. For example, instead of having licenses for both Smartsheet and Asana for an entire team, with some of them only checking in on Asana once in while, you could have everyone only in Smartsheet and use an integration to get them the Asana data they need. What are your options for integrating Smartsheet? At their core, integrations push data between Smartsheet and other tools. The way they do that, however, varies on the type of integration you use. Built-in integrations You can integrate Smartsheet with over 100 tools without using any third-party apps. These integrations come in one of two forms: Data Shuttle integrations and Connectors. Data Shuttle integrations automatically create CSV or Excel files for data in other tools and import them into Smartsheet. Connectors sync data in one or both directions for tools like Jira and Salesforce, letting you use the Smartsheet features you’re used to with data from other platforms. Connectors create deeper relationships between tools, while Data Shuttle integrations can handle larger volumes of data with less depth. Automation tools An automation tool, like Zapier or Make.io, uses if-this-then-that logic to push data from Smartsheet to other tools (or vice-versa). They’re usually some of the simplest integrations to set up, though they can’t modify or update data as well as other solutions. For instance, a single Zapier automation might create new rows in Smartsheet to match new work items in another tool or update specific rows, but it won’t do both. That makes these automations well-suited to simple integration needs, but they need to be combined in complex chains 2-way sync tools A 2-way sync tool is an integration that builds a deep, two-way relationship between Smartsheet and other tools, allowing for both the creation of new work items and the updating of most (if not all) fields in one tool as changes happen in another. With these platforms, you can truly work from Smartsheet with data from other tools while trusting that it’s up-to-date. Setting these up is often as simple as with automation tools, but they offer more depth in their integrations, which makes them the best of both worlds for most organizations. Curious to learn more about how 2-way sync tools work? Check out our guides to integrating Smartsheet with other tools using Unito. The 5 best Smartsheet integrations If you aren’t using any integrations, you’ll need to prioritize which ones you deploy first. Project management tools Even though Smartsheet is a powerful project management platform, it might not be used by all teams in your organization. When that’s the case, any projects that involve multiple teams or departments inherently require some integration to happen without intense delays. Better yet, integrating all project management tools your organization relies on with Smartsheet creates a more holistic view of everything going on within it. That means leaders can create initiatives built on better data and project managers don’t have to worry about being blindsided by an important update happening in a different tool. Examples of these tools Jira Asana ClickUp Trello Spreadsheets While Smartsheet strikes a strong middle ground between project management tools and spreadsheets, many of your workflows likely still depend on spreadsheets. Important reports, databases, and even entire projects might be managed in a spreadsheet tool like Google Sheets or Excel. Alternatively, you might use spreadsheets to back up Smartsheet data regularly. Integrating spreadsheets with Smartsheet means your projects, reports, and more can have access to just about any necessary data. That leads to more informed decisions and better strategies. Examples of these tools Google Sheets Excel Software development tools If your organization relies on any sort of software development — whether you’re within the tech sector or not — you’re likely used to not having much visibility on what developers do. Even if you manage software projects, you need to dive into the tools they use to get important updates. With your most important projects, where updates need to be shared with multiple stakeholders across their own tools, this can seriously slow down your work. With an integration, you can get all the updates you need without leaving Smartsheet. Examples of these tools Azure DevOps GitHub GitLab Chat and meeting tools How many of your projects start as conversations in a chat app? Having to hop between a Slack channel and your Smartsheet sheets to get all the details you need to flesh out a project can make just getting started much heavier. Then, as progress is made in that project — and updates are shared in quick chat messages — more and more time needs to be spent keeping it up to date in Smartsheet. With the right integration, those messages can instantly populate your projects so everyone stays in the loop without any extra manual work. Examples of these tools Slack Microsoft Teams CRMs Your CRM (customer relationship management) tool is the beating heart of your customer-facing teams. Salespeople use it to hold the contact information they need to close deals and track the progress of those deals. Marketers use it in their campaigns and rely on its tracking features to judge the effectiveness of their initiatives. Customer success teams often house their entire service workflow within your CRM. Integrating your CRM with Smartsheet can put customer data at your fingertips whenever you need it, as well as make support ticket escalations much smoother. Examples of these tools HubSpot Salesforce Pipedrive Integrate Smartsheet with your tool stack using Unito Unito is a 2-way sync solution for Smartsheet and over 50 integrations that keep all your work items up-to-date no matter where your teams work from. With some of the deepest two-way integrations on the market, you’ll have all the data you need in Smartsheet with regular updates to more fields than any other platform. Curious to see how Unito’s Smartsheet integration works? Here’s a look at Unito’s Smartsheet-Salesforce integration. FAQ: Smartsheet integrations What apps integrate with Smartsheet? Smartsheet offers built-in integrations for over 140 apps, including favorite enterprise tools like: Jira Software Slack Power BI HubSpot Microsoft Excel What can you automate with Smartsheet? Smartsheet’s automations allow users to automate routine tasks throughout their projects. Examples of these automations include: Alerting a specific user when a row meets certain criteria. Moving a row to another sheet. Generating updates from each sheet. Sending messages when certain criteria are met. You can learn more about Smartsheet automations here. Is there a Jira-Smartsheet integration? You have a few options if you need to integrate Smartsheet with Jira: Use Smartsheet’s built-in Jira integration. Use a third-party automation tool like Zapier to automate some actions in Smartsheet. Use a 2-way sync platform like Unito to automatically sync data back and forth between Smartsheet and Jira. Can Smartsheet integrate with Excel? Yes, Smartsheet offers a built-in Excel integration that allows some automation. You can also use an app like Unito to automatically sync data back and forth between Smartsheet and Excel spreadsheets. You can find a guide comparing these two methods here. Does Smartsheet have an API? Yes, Smartsheet offers an API for building your own Smartsheet connectors. You can find all of Smartsheet’s API documentation here. View the full article