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Welcome to AI Decoded, Fast Company’s weekly newsletter that breaks down the most important news in the world of AI. I’m Mark Sullivan, a senior writer at Fast Company, covering emerging tech, AI, and tech policy. This week, I’m focusing on Big AI’s biggest sales pitch—the quest for AGI—and the idea that the industry should focus on more modest and achievable tasks for AI. I also look at Databricks’s new $4 billion-plus funding raise, and at Google’s new Gemini 3 Flash model. Sign up to receive this newsletter every week via email here. And if you have comments on this issue and/or ideas for future ones, drop me a line at sullivan@fastcompany.com, and follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @thesullivan. Yann LeCun calls BS on “artificial general intelligence” Big AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic like to talk about their bold quest for AGI, or artificial general intelligence. The definition of that grail has proved to be somewhat flexible, but in general it refers to AI systems that are as smart as human beings at a wide array of tasks. AI companies have used this “quest” narrative to win investment, fascinate the tech press, and charm policymakers. Now one of AI’s most important pioneers, Turing Award winner Yann LeCun, is calling the whole concept into question. LeCun, outgoing Meta’s chief AI scientist, argues that even human beings aren’t really generalists. They’re good at some physical tasks, and very good at social interactions, but can easily be defeated at chess by a computer and can’t perform math as fast and accurately as a calculator can. “There are tasks where many other animals are better than we are,” LeCun said on a recent Information Bottleneck webcast. “We think of ourselves as being general, but it’s simply an illusion because all of the problems that we can apprehend are the ones that we can think of—and vice versa,” LeCun said. “So we’re general in all of the problems that we can imagine, but there’s a lot of problems that we cannot imagine. And there are lots of mathematical arguments for this. So this concept of general intelligence is complete BS.” Lots of people in AI and neuroscience disagree with LeCun. Just because humans aren’t the best at all tasks, or tasks we can’t imagine, it doesn’t mean we’re not generalists—especially in comparison to machine savants like calculators, they argue. I don’t know who’s right, but LeCun is making a broader point. He believes that AI labs should focus on specific real-world things that AI can do—things that create value or reduce suffering, perhaps—and bring those solutions to market. LeCun says the transformer-based large language models of today are useful enough to be applied in some valuable ways, but also believes they aren’t likely to achieve the general or human-level intelligence needed to do high-value work tasks now reserved for human brains. In order to navigate real-world complexity like humans do, the AI would need a much-higher-bandwidth training regimen than just words, images, and computer code, LeCun argues, and a different architecture to structure all the data. Notably, The Financial Times reports that LeCun is raising $585 million at a $3-billion valuation for a new AI startup that will look to build “world models”—AI systems capable of learning from images, video, and spatial data, rather than only from text and large language models. Databricks pulls in another $4B+, evaluation rises to $134 billion Data and AI company Databricks raised more than $4 billion in a new Series L funding round led by Insight Partners, Fidelity, and J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with Andreessen Horowitz, BlackRock, and Blackstone kicking in. The company’s valuation rose to $134 billion with the new round. The valuation reflects Databricks’s positioning within the booming market for AI cloud services. For years the company’s primary offering was secure cloud storage for sensitive enterprise data, including data owned by companies in regulated industries such as healthcare and finance. Over the past five years, Databricks has gone deep on developing the AI side of its business. Its value proposition is allowing customers to run their data through powerful AI models hosted within the same secure cloud. More recently, the company has set up a secure platform for developing and deploying autonomous agents that can, for example, assemble complex business intelligence reports based on diverse datasets stored in the Databricks cloud. The company also enables customers to run their data through third-party models from OpenAI and Anthropic, among others, hosting those models natively within the secure cloud. Now Databricks says both its data-warehousing business and its AI business each have revenue run rates of more than $1 billion. The company reported a revenue run rate of $4.8 billion during the third quarter of 2025, representing growth of about 55% from the same period in 2024. Almost exactly a year ago, Databricks raised a massive $10 billion funding round, one of the largest ever for an AI company, and achieved a $62 billion valuation. (The valuation moved up to $100 billion when the company raised a $1 billion round in August.) The San Francisco-based company says it’ll use the new capital to develop new AI-driven applications, fund future acquisitions, support R&D, and pay employees (most likely including expensive AI research talent). With hundreds of customers each contributing more than $1 million in annual revenue, and a high customer retention rate, Databricks is considered a strong IPO candidate. The company may be waiting for the optimal market conditions in which to file. Google releases a Gemini 3 model, “Flash,” for the rest of us Now even people who can’t afford a monthly subscription can enjoy the magic of Google DeepMind’s new Gemini 3 model. Google released the first Gemini 3 model, Pro, in November, but it was available only to paid subscribers. Its new Gemini 3 Flash variant is now the default in the Gemini app, and is available globally in Google Search’s AI Mode. Flash is said to be three times faster at responding than Gemini 2.5 Pro, and almost as good at reasoning as the Gemini 3 Pro model. Flash is designed to be cost-effective, making it a great option for developers and businesses, according to Google. The new model shows some impressive marks on PhD-level reasoning and knowledge benchmarks such as GPQA Diamond (90.4%) and Humanity’s Last Exam (33.7% without tools). Those scores come close to those of larger models including Gemini 3 Pro and OpenAI’s GPT-5.2. Flash also achieved the highest score of any model—81.2%—on the MMMU Pro benchmark, which measures the ability to understand and reason over a mix of text and visual data. When processing at the highest thinking level, Gemini 3 Flash can “modulate” how much it “thinks,” Google says. For more complex questions it’ll spend more time processing the data it collects in its memory to get to an answer. But it also uses 30% fewer tokens (on average) than Gemini 2.5 Pro to complete simpler, everyday tasks. Researchers at Big AI labs have been working hard to make AI models store the (often voluminous) contextual data they collect in memory more efficiently, and use it more effectively. More AI coverage from Fast Company: Every AI founder thinks they want a mega investing round. Trust me, you don’t 5 predictions for AI’s growing role in the media in 2026 DOGE leader at Treasury is looking to buy thousands of ChatGPT licenses Who should pay for the power grid’s race to keep up with data centers? Want exclusive reporting and trend analysis on technology, business innovation, future of work, and design? Sign up for Fast Company Premium. View the full article

One hot new phone of 2025 has no screen, can’t send a text, and needs to be plugged into the wall. But to buyers of the Tin Can, that’s a definite plus. The Tin Can, from a Seattle startup of the same name, grew out of conversations cofounder and CEO Chet Kittleson had with fellow parents about the challenges of enabling kids to connect with friends and relatives without giving them full-fledged cellphones. While children of the 20th century could pick up the house landline to call a grandparent or schedule a sleepover, today’s kids are often left dependent on parents for scheduling playdates and connecting with family until they’re old enough to carry their own smartphones. “Our first social network was a landline, and our kids don’t have that,” Kittleson says. “We’re trying hard to keep them away from cellphones for as long as we can, but we’re not giving them anything in return, and so they’re sort of left in the lurch.” Starting in 2024, Kittleson and his Tin Can cofounders started working on a prototype that would deliver some of the same features of the old-school house phone without actually requiring landline service from the local phone or cable company. The result, which quickly proved a viral hit among Kittleson’s network of parents and kids, is a phone complete with handheld receiver and curly cord that lets kids call, and receive calls and voicemails from, parent-approved numbers. Chet KittlesonGraeme DaviesMax Blumen “It gives them the opportunity to be social and work out play dates without having to come to us and use our phone,” says Chelsea Miller, a Seattle parent of two whose family was quick to adopt the device. Her two children—a 10-year-old daughter and a son about to turn 8—also use the phone to connect with their grandparents, she says. The phones now come in two models. A white model called the Flashback is described by the company as “the phone of 80s childhood,” though it plugs via ethernet cable into a router instead of a wall-mounted phone jack. A second model, simply called the Tin Can, has an appropriately playful cylindrical design, and it only needs Wi-Fi to connect. But as a deliberate design choice backed by early user input, the phone lacks a battery and must be plugged into a power socket, meaning kids can only roam as far as the cord can reach. “A majority of people felt strongly that it should not have a battery,” Kittleson says. “That it needed to be a stationary, plug-in-the-wall phone where a kid was actually focused on their conversation and not running around the house while they were talking.” Kittleson declined to disclose how many phones the company has sold, though he says they’ve shipped the devices to all 50 states and “all across Canada.” The Flashback model is available for $75, and the Tin Can unit is available for preorder at the same price after a $25 discount, though the next batch won’t ship until around early February. Previous batches of the Tin Can phones quickly sold out. The company this week announced a $12-million round of seed funding led by Greylock Partners and including participation from Lateralus Holdings, as well as existing backers. A previous pre-seed round raised another $3.5 million. “In an age defined by digital noise, they’ve created a joyful alternative that redefines how we view modern connection,” says Mike Duboe, general partner at Greylock, in a statement. “We’re excited to support the team during this phase of incredible growth.” Kittleson says the new funds will help the company scale up distribution of the phone and the VoIP network that enables the devices to connect. Currently, calls between Tin Can-powered phones are free—and other Tin Cans can be reached by dialing a special short code in lieu of a full phone number—while calls to other numbers in the U.S. and Canada are included in an optional $9.99 per month plan. The phones have proven hits with kids as well as parents, with new users often making dozens of calls in their first weeks with the devices before tapering off to a more typical calling cadence. “Typically, over the course of a month or so, it starts to level out,” Kittleson says. “And then it becomes a utility where they use it a couple times a day or even a few times a week, and that’s kind of the behavior we want.” Of course, while the phones evoke the landline phones of the late 20th century, today’s kids are still growing up in a world of digital technology, so it’s likely many Tin Can kids will still want access to internet-enabled devices, video games, and social media as they get older. But Tin Can enables parents to limit screen time and internet access without leaving their children entirely unable to speak to friends and family. “I don’t want them to have internet or social media,” Miller says. “But I do want them to be socially connected.” Even some adults have started using the Tin Can, enamored with the device’s simplicity and the fact that it doesn’t receive spam calls, since callers from nonapproved numbers simply get a recorded message saying they’re not authorized to connect. And parents like Kittleson say they also appreciate being able to call a house phone to reach the family when they’re away from the house. While other companies offer kid-friendly cellphones, Kittleson says his company is essentially unique so far in offering a modern take on the house phone. And general-purpose VoIP phones are often more expensive and don’t have kid-friendly features built-in and easy to set up, he says. Of course, most adults can’t ditch their smartphones entirely. Even for getting the Tin Can connected to Wi-Fi and updating the list of permitted numbers and hours where the phone enters do-not-disturb mode, parents use a smartphone app to access their accounts, much like with other connected home electronics. It beats an early system, Kittleson says, where users of the first prototypes texted him personally to add authorized numbers to the company’s database. The devices and features may continue to evolve a bit in the future, but since Tin Can exists to encourage real-world communications and childhood hangouts unmediated by screens or digital games, Kittleson says customers shouldn’t expect a burst of new functionality. “We don’t think this is going to be a feature factory where we’re launching new things all the time,” he says. “That’s sort of by design not what we’re trying to do.” View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “When it comes to meeting with a prospective client for the first time, there is only one way to approach the conversation.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “When it comes to meeting with a prospective client for the first time, there is only one way to approach the conversation.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

When considering commercial construction loans, comprehension of the key factors that influence interest rates is vital. Your creditworthiness can greatly impact the rates lenders offer, as those with higher scores typically receive better terms. Moreover, the size of your loan and the project can affect costs, as larger projects may present more risks. In addition, the loan-to-value ratio, economic conditions, and duration of the loan likewise play critical roles. Let’s explore these factors in detail. Key Takeaways Borrower’s creditworthiness, including credit score and payment history, significantly affects loan terms and interest rates. Loan amount and project size influence perceived risk, with larger loans typically incurring higher interest rates. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio impacts rates, with lower ratios often leading to better terms for borrowers. Economic conditions, such as inflation and GDP growth, play a crucial role in determining borrowing costs and lender risk. The duration of the loan affects rates, with shorter terms generally offering lower interest due to reduced lender exposure. Borrower’s Creditworthiness In the matter of securing a commercial construction loan, a borrower’s creditworthiness plays a crucial role in determining the interest rates available. If your credit score is 680 or higher, you’re more likely to access favorable commercial construction loan rates, as lenders view you as less risky. A strong credit history, marked by timely payments and low debt-to-income ratios, can help you secure lower construction financing rates, potentially saving you thousands over time. Lenders examine your credit report for negative marks, like late payments or bankruptcy, which can raise borrowing costs. Furthermore, demonstrating consistent cash flow through financial statements further improves your creditworthiness, leading to better loan terms for a construction loan for shopping centers or other projects. Loan Amount and Project Size When considering a commercial construction loan, the loan amount and the size of your project greatly influence the terms and interest rates you’ll encounter. Larger projects often come with higher loan amounts, which can raise perceived risk for lenders, leading to increased construction interest rates. Typically, loan amounts range from $250,000 to $5 million; larger loans may attract more scrutiny regarding your financial stability and repayment capability. Moreover, extensive and complex projects often require more financial backing, which can likewise drive up interest rates. Conversely, if you’re working on a smaller construction project, you might benefit from lower interest rates, as they represent less risk for lenders and require smaller loan amounts compared to larger initiatives. Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV) Comprehending the Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV) is fundamental in the context of commercial construction loans, as it directly impacts your financing options and associated costs. The LTV ratio is calculated by dividing the total loan amount by the appraised value of the property, serving as a key metric for evaluating financing risk. Typically, LTV ratios for commercial construction loans range from 70% to 90%. A lower LTV usually indicates less risk for lenders, often resulting in better interest rates. Conversely, an LTV above 80% can lead to higher interest rates or additional collateral requirements. Economic Conditions Economic conditions play a crucial role in determining commercial construction loan rates, as fluctuations in various economic indicators can directly influence borrowing costs. Several factors contribute to this dynamic: Inflation rates: Higher inflation typically leads to increased borrowing costs. Federal Reserve policies: Changes in monetary policy can directly affect interest rates. GDP growth: Strong growth can boost demand for real estate, influencing loan rates. Unemployment rates: Higher unemployment may signal economic instability, prompting lenders to raise rates. Global events: Economic uncertainties can lead lenders to increase rates to mitigate risks. Understanding these factors helps you navigate the intricacies of securing favorable loan rates in commercial construction. Duration of the Loan Grasping the duration of your commercial construction loan is essential, as it greatly impacts both your interest rates and repayment structure. Typically, these loans range from six months to three years. Shorter terms often come with lower interest rates as they reduce risk for lenders. On the other hand, short-term loans (12-36 months) might carry higher rates owing to potential project delays. During construction, you’ll usually pay only interest, which affects your cash flow management. Conversely, longer durations may result in increased interest rates since lenders face greater exposure to risks. Furthermore, shorter terms may require lump-sum payments at the end, influencing the total interest paid throughout the loan’s life. Recognizing these nuances will help you make informed decisions. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 C’s of Commercial Lending? The 5 C’s of commercial lending are Character, Capacity, Capital, Collateral, and Conditions. Character assesses your credit history, showing lenders your reliability. Capacity looks at your cash flow, ensuring you can handle loan payments. Capital represents your equity in the project, where larger down payments reduce risk. Collateral involves assets you pledge, impacting loan terms. Finally, Conditions reflect the economic climate, influencing the overall viability of your project and loan approval. What Impacts Construction Loan Rates? Construction loan rates are impacted by several key factors. Your credit score plays a significant role; scores above 680 typically secure better rates. The loan amount and project size likewise matter, with larger loans often carrying higher rates because of increased risk. Furthermore, the loan-to-value ratio affects your interest; lower ratios typically lead to lower rates. Economic conditions, such as inflation, and the loan duration can further influence the costs associated with borrowing. How Are Commercial Loan Rates Determined? Commercial loan rates are determined by several factors. Your creditworthiness, particularly your credit score, plays a vital role, with scores above 680 typically securing better rates. The loan-to-cost ratio impacts perceived risk, affecting your interest rate. Economic conditions, like inflation and Federal Reserve policies, furthermore influence costs. Moreover, the loan duration matters; short-term loans often have higher rates because of increased perceived risk, whereas the size and complexity of the project further affect rates. What Are the Three Main Factors That Affect Interest Rates? Three main factors that affect interest rates are your creditworthiness, the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, and economic conditions. If your credit score is high, you’re likely to secure lower rates. A lower LTV ratio signals less risk to lenders, which can likewise lead to better terms. Furthermore, prevailing economic conditions, such as inflation and Federal Reserve policies, greatly influence borrowing costs, with stable economies typically offering more favorable interest rates. Conclusion In summary, comprehending the key factors that influence commercial construction loan rates can empower you to make informed decisions. By focusing on your creditworthiness, project size, LTV ratios, economic conditions, and loan duration, you can navigate the lending environment more effectively. For instance, improving your credit score or opting for a shorter loan term may lead to more favorable interest rates. By considering these elements, you can elevate your chances of securing a beneficial financing solution for your project. Image via Google Gemini This article, "5 Key Factors Influencing Rates for Commercial Construction Loans" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When considering commercial construction loans, comprehension of the key factors that influence interest rates is vital. Your creditworthiness can greatly impact the rates lenders offer, as those with higher scores typically receive better terms. Moreover, the size of your loan and the project can affect costs, as larger projects may present more risks. In addition, the loan-to-value ratio, economic conditions, and duration of the loan likewise play critical roles. Let’s explore these factors in detail. Key Takeaways Borrower’s creditworthiness, including credit score and payment history, significantly affects loan terms and interest rates. Loan amount and project size influence perceived risk, with larger loans typically incurring higher interest rates. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio impacts rates, with lower ratios often leading to better terms for borrowers. Economic conditions, such as inflation and GDP growth, play a crucial role in determining borrowing costs and lender risk. The duration of the loan affects rates, with shorter terms generally offering lower interest due to reduced lender exposure. Borrower’s Creditworthiness In the matter of securing a commercial construction loan, a borrower’s creditworthiness plays a crucial role in determining the interest rates available. If your credit score is 680 or higher, you’re more likely to access favorable commercial construction loan rates, as lenders view you as less risky. A strong credit history, marked by timely payments and low debt-to-income ratios, can help you secure lower construction financing rates, potentially saving you thousands over time. Lenders examine your credit report for negative marks, like late payments or bankruptcy, which can raise borrowing costs. Furthermore, demonstrating consistent cash flow through financial statements further improves your creditworthiness, leading to better loan terms for a construction loan for shopping centers or other projects. Loan Amount and Project Size When considering a commercial construction loan, the loan amount and the size of your project greatly influence the terms and interest rates you’ll encounter. Larger projects often come with higher loan amounts, which can raise perceived risk for lenders, leading to increased construction interest rates. Typically, loan amounts range from $250,000 to $5 million; larger loans may attract more scrutiny regarding your financial stability and repayment capability. Moreover, extensive and complex projects often require more financial backing, which can likewise drive up interest rates. Conversely, if you’re working on a smaller construction project, you might benefit from lower interest rates, as they represent less risk for lenders and require smaller loan amounts compared to larger initiatives. Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV) Comprehending the Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV) is fundamental in the context of commercial construction loans, as it directly impacts your financing options and associated costs. The LTV ratio is calculated by dividing the total loan amount by the appraised value of the property, serving as a key metric for evaluating financing risk. Typically, LTV ratios for commercial construction loans range from 70% to 90%. A lower LTV usually indicates less risk for lenders, often resulting in better interest rates. Conversely, an LTV above 80% can lead to higher interest rates or additional collateral requirements. Economic Conditions Economic conditions play a crucial role in determining commercial construction loan rates, as fluctuations in various economic indicators can directly influence borrowing costs. Several factors contribute to this dynamic: Inflation rates: Higher inflation typically leads to increased borrowing costs. Federal Reserve policies: Changes in monetary policy can directly affect interest rates. GDP growth: Strong growth can boost demand for real estate, influencing loan rates. Unemployment rates: Higher unemployment may signal economic instability, prompting lenders to raise rates. Global events: Economic uncertainties can lead lenders to increase rates to mitigate risks. Understanding these factors helps you navigate the intricacies of securing favorable loan rates in commercial construction. Duration of the Loan Grasping the duration of your commercial construction loan is essential, as it greatly impacts both your interest rates and repayment structure. Typically, these loans range from six months to three years. Shorter terms often come with lower interest rates as they reduce risk for lenders. On the other hand, short-term loans (12-36 months) might carry higher rates owing to potential project delays. During construction, you’ll usually pay only interest, which affects your cash flow management. Conversely, longer durations may result in increased interest rates since lenders face greater exposure to risks. Furthermore, shorter terms may require lump-sum payments at the end, influencing the total interest paid throughout the loan’s life. Recognizing these nuances will help you make informed decisions. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 C’s of Commercial Lending? The 5 C’s of commercial lending are Character, Capacity, Capital, Collateral, and Conditions. Character assesses your credit history, showing lenders your reliability. Capacity looks at your cash flow, ensuring you can handle loan payments. Capital represents your equity in the project, where larger down payments reduce risk. Collateral involves assets you pledge, impacting loan terms. Finally, Conditions reflect the economic climate, influencing the overall viability of your project and loan approval. What Impacts Construction Loan Rates? Construction loan rates are impacted by several key factors. Your credit score plays a significant role; scores above 680 typically secure better rates. The loan amount and project size likewise matter, with larger loans often carrying higher rates because of increased risk. Furthermore, the loan-to-value ratio affects your interest; lower ratios typically lead to lower rates. Economic conditions, such as inflation, and the loan duration can further influence the costs associated with borrowing. How Are Commercial Loan Rates Determined? Commercial loan rates are determined by several factors. Your creditworthiness, particularly your credit score, plays a vital role, with scores above 680 typically securing better rates. The loan-to-cost ratio impacts perceived risk, affecting your interest rate. Economic conditions, like inflation and Federal Reserve policies, furthermore influence costs. Moreover, the loan duration matters; short-term loans often have higher rates because of increased perceived risk, whereas the size and complexity of the project further affect rates. What Are the Three Main Factors That Affect Interest Rates? Three main factors that affect interest rates are your creditworthiness, the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, and economic conditions. If your credit score is high, you’re likely to secure lower rates. A lower LTV ratio signals less risk to lenders, which can likewise lead to better terms. Furthermore, prevailing economic conditions, such as inflation and Federal Reserve policies, greatly influence borrowing costs, with stable economies typically offering more favorable interest rates. Conclusion In summary, comprehending the key factors that influence commercial construction loan rates can empower you to make informed decisions. By focusing on your creditworthiness, project size, LTV ratios, economic conditions, and loan duration, you can navigate the lending environment more effectively. For instance, improving your credit score or opting for a shorter loan term may lead to more favorable interest rates. By considering these elements, you can elevate your chances of securing a beneficial financing solution for your project. Image via Google Gemini This article, "5 Key Factors Influencing Rates for Commercial Construction Loans" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Combination that would deliver 3,000-lawyer behemoth is latest transatlantic mergerView the full article

The The President administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion that includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, drawing an angry response from China. The State Department announced the sales late Wednesday during a nationally televised address by President Donald The President, who made scant mention of foreign policy issues and did not speak about China or Taiwan at all. U.S.-Chinese tensions have ebbed and flowed during The President’s second term, largely over trade and tariffs but also over China’s increasing aggressiveness toward Taiwan, which Beijing has said must reunify with the mainland. If approved by Congress, it would be the largest-ever U.S. weapons package to Taiwan, exceeding the total amount of $8.4 billion in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan during the Biden administration. The eight arms sales agreements announced Wednesday cover 82 high-mobility artillery rocket systems, or HIMARS, and 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS — similar to what the U.S. had been providing Ukraine during the Biden administration to defend itself from Russia — worth more than $4 billion. They also include 60 self-propelled howitzer systems and related equipment worth more than $4 billion and drones valued at more than $1 billion. Other sales in the package include military software valued at more than $1 billion, Javelin and TOW missiles worth more than $700 million, helicopter spare parts worth $96 million and refurbishment kits for Harpoon missiles worth $91 million. The eight sales agreements amount to $11.15 billion, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry. The State Department said the sales serve “U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability.” “The proposed sale(s) will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region,” the statements said. China’s Foreign Ministry attacked the move, saying it would violate diplomatic agreements between China and the U.S.; gravely harm China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity; and undermine regional stability. “The ‘Taiwan independence’ forces on the island seek independence through force and resist reunification through force, squandering the hard-earned money of the people to purchase weapons at the cost of turning Taiwan into a powder keg,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun. “This cannot save the doomed fate of ‘Taiwan independence’ but will only accelerate the push of the Taiwan Strait toward a dangerous situation of military confrontation and war. The U.S. support for ‘Taiwan Independence’ through arms will only end up backfiring. Using Taiwan to contain China will not succeed,” he added. Under federal law, the U.S. is obligated to assist Taiwan with its self-defense, a point that has become increasingly contentious with China, which has vowed to take Taiwan by force, if necessary. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry in a statement Thursday expressed gratitude to the U.S. over the arms sale, which it said would help Taiwan maintain “sufficient self-defense capabilities” and bring strong deterrent capabilities. Taiwan’s bolstering of its defense “is the foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability,” the ministry said. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung similarly thanked the U.S. for its “long-term support for regional security and Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities,” which he said are key for deterring a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, the body of water separating Taiwan from China’s mainland. The arms sale comes as Taiwan’s government has pledged to raise defense spending to 3.3% of the island’s gross domestic product next year and to reach 5% by 2030. The boost came after The President and the Pentagon requested that Taiwan spend as much as 10% of its GDP on its defense, a percentage well above what the U.S. or any of its major allies spend on defense. The demand has faced pushback from Taiwan’s opposition KMT party and some of its population. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te last month announced a special $40 billion budget for arms purchases, including to build an air defense system with high-level detection and interception capabilities called Taiwan Dome. The budget will be allocated over eight years, from 2026 to 2033. The U.S. boost in military assistance to Taiwan was previewed in legislation adopted by Congress that The President is expected to sign shortly. Last week, the Chinese embassy in Washington denounced the legislation, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, saying it unfairly targeted China as an aggressor. The U.S. Senate passed the bill Wednesday. Mistreanu reported from Beijing. AP video journalists Olivia Zhang in Beijing and Johnson Lai in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report. —Matthew Lee and Simina Mistreanu, Associated Press View the full article

Pages that rank for Google’s AI Overview “fan-out” queries are much more likely to be cited than those that rank only for the main search query, according to data from Surfer SEO. An analysis of 10,000 keywords found a strong correlation (Spearman 0.77) between how many fan-out queries a page ranks for and its likelihood of being cited in Google’s AI Overviews. By the numbers. Pages ranking for fan-out queries are 161% more likely to be cited than pages ranking only for the main query. Also: 76% of the sampled keywords triggered AI Overviews. 33,000 fan-out queries were extracted using Gemini. Pages ranking for both the main query and at least one fan-out accounted for 51% of AI Overview citations. Pages ranking only for the main query accounted for just under 20%. Fan-outs beat the main query. Ranking for fan-out queries is 49% more likely to earn a citation than ranking for the head term alone. When Google AI Overviews cited organic results: About 20% cited pages that ranked only for the main query. About 30% cited pages that ranked only for fan-out queries. Most AI Overview citations don’t rank. About 68% of cited pages didn’t rank in the top 10 of Google for either the main query or any fan-out query. Among the top three visible citations, that share drops to about 46%. Yes, but. As always, correlation is not causation. Also: Ranking for fan-out queries does not guarantee an AI Overview citation. Fan-outs vary by user context and personalization, with only about 27% remaining consistent across repeated runs. Traditional SEO alone does not fully explain how citations are selected. Why we care. If you want to be cited in Google AI Overviews, don’t chase fan-out queries. Own the topic. Surfer SEO recommends building deep topical coverage around core subjects, publishing content that naturally answers a wide range of related questions, and letting AI Overviews discover your relevance across different fan-outs. The report. Ranking for Multiple Fan-Out Queries Dramatically Increases Your Chances of Getting Cited in AIOs (173,902 URLs Studied) View the full article

Google made another change to the JavaScript SEO documentation help document to explain and clarify JavaScript execution on non-200 HTTP status codes. The change. Google wrote, “All pages with a 200 HTTP status code are sent to the rendering queue, no matter whether JavaScript is present on the page.” “If the HTTP status code is non-200 (for example, on error pages with 404 status code), rendering might be skipped,” Google added. Google also clarified that Googlebot queues all pages with a 200 HTTP status code for rendering. Here is the section that was updated: Google explained, “While pages with a 200 HTTP status code are sent to rendering, this might not be the case for pages with a non-200 HTTP status code.” Other changes. Google made a number of changes to the JavaScript SEO documentation this week including: Google clarifies canonicalization with JavaScript Google says don’t use JavaScript to generate a noindex tag in the original page code Why we care. This means you should ensure these pages return a 200 status code so Google does not skip rendering them. If Google skips rendering, it will likely lead to poor ranking of that page in Google Search. View the full article

Further mortgage payment reductions and other "aggressive" changes to federal policy impacting homeowners are on the roadmap for the coming year. View the full article

A new hotspot just opened in New York—and it’s in terminal 5 of John F. Kennedy International Airport. BlueHouse, a 9,000-square-foot space exclusively available to select JetBlue Airways customers, welcomed its first guests at 5 a.m. this morning as the airline’s first foray into the pitched battle for lucrative premium fliers. Designed by Gensler, BlueHouse is a smorgasbord of New York’s iconic and eclectic design heritage. From the Art Deco elevator indicator to black-and-white deli tile on the floor and the Grand Central Terminal-inspired ceiling mural, the space screams Big Apple while staying true to JetBlue’s quirky and, well, blue heritage. “It’s unquestionably a hip New York experience,” said Marty St. George, president of JetBlue, on a recent pre-opening tour of BlueHouse. His favorite feature is the 45 pieces of art that fill the space from artists around the city and three of the airline’s “crewmembers,” as it calls its staff, including a bespoke piece from New Yorker illustrator Matt Reuter. JetBlue goes premium BlueHouse is part of the larger premiumization trend sweeping air travel. Everyone from JetBlue to egalitarian stalwart Southwest Airlines and even discounter Spirit Airlines are unveiling more upscale offerings for their planes and at airports. The aim is two-fold: strengthen loyalty among top tier customers and wring more money from everyone all in the hope of improving their bottom lines. JetBlue’s effort, dubbed “JetForward,” includes BlueHouse locations at JFK and, in 2026, Boston Logan International Airport. It’s also introducing domestic first class on its fleet of Airbus planes, a new partnership with United Airlines, and changes to its TrueBlue loyalty program aimed to make customers even more loyal to the airline. The lounge is also an effort to counter JetBlue’s nemesis at JFK and Boston: Delta Air Lines. While St. George did not name the carrier, keeping JetBlue’s customers from leaving the fold and, maybe, wooing some widget fliers away from Delta is top of mind. “Our number one goal was to not repeat the mistakes our competitor made with lounges,” he said. Delta is known for overcrowded lounges and, at times, long waits to access its Sky Clubs. Access to BlueHouse is, for now, limited to only JetBlue’s most loyal frequent fliers, transatlantic Mint business class passengers, and holders of its premium credit card, which has an annual fee of $499. Delta has also upped its lounge game with the exclusive Delta One Lounges, the first of which opened at JFK in mid-2024. It now has four locations, including in Boston, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Inside BlueHouse Travelers enter through a foyer that can best be described as a quintessential New York apartment lobby: a “Just Ask” desk in the place of a doorman’s desk in front of a set of mailboxes (inside are keepsakes for visitors, just ask for a key), a stairway to the second level lined with art, an elevator with a Deco indicator and a blue tunnel leading to the lounge area of the lounge. Elsewhere across the lounge’s two floors, books curated by the Strand bookstore match JetBlue’s white-and-blue color palette line bookshelves and ledges. Bespoke wallpaper by Brooklyn’s Flavor Paper decorates the restrooms. And craft cocktails by Please Don’t Tell in the East Village are served at the bar. To be frank, it borders on New York cliché. “This isn’t about making fake luxury,” said Siobhan Barry, a design principal at Gensler who specializes in hospitality interiors and worked on BlueHouse. “We wanted to make it feel modern and playful, the way we all think of JetBlue, but allow there to be that irreverence.” Look closely at the Grand Central-inspired ceiling by Artists for Humanity and it is not the constellations of the night sky that greet you but icons of New York and other JetBlue destinations. A classic New York Checker taxicab. The Hollywood sign. A coquí frog for Puerto Rico. The team at Gensler sought to make BlueHouse something of a home—a house so to speak—amid the chaos of the airport, much like a New Yorker’s apartment is a refuge from the hubbub of the city. And it succeeds, to a degree. Downstairs is the lounge’s more active space with a game room, TVs, booths and the main bar. Upstairs is a quieter space with reading nooks, couches, and semiprivate phone booths. Grab-and-go food and drink options are available on both levels. The diversity of zones aims to meet the varied needs of travelers today, from the business traveler who wants a drink before their red-eye to London or a family on their way to the Caribbean who want a quiet nook to spend their layover. “This speaks to how people travel now,” said Barry. “We want our options.” View the full article

It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. There will be more posts than usual this week, so keep checking back throughout the day. Remember the letter-writer who thought one of their employees might be trans and was wondering how to signal support (#3 at the link)? Here’s the update. Thank you for publishing my letter in July. Your advice and the comment section were both very useful. Everyone was very kind and a lot of people had good advice. I decided to follow the advice of not saying anything to Jane or focusing particularly on her, instead turning my focus to making work a safe environment for anyone. I also didn’t go back to the YouTube channel, figuring that Jane had a right to keep her private and professional life separate. Not to mention, I didn’t feel comfortable going into the comments section to say “Hi this is your manager” and being a silent follower, or commenting without her knowing who I was, felt too close to stalking. At the end of the day, if I started to stream outside of work as a hobby, I don’t think I’d want anyone at work to watch, much less someone I report to. And if I want to watch streams of video games, I’ve got more than enough choice without having to watch this channel in particular. Jane didn’t end up coming out, but another employee did, about a month after I wrote — and, funnily enough, around a week after my letter was published. To keep with the Disney names theme, let’s say Eric came out as Ariel, a trans woman. I made it known publicly that I wouldn’t tolerate any discrimination towards her, and that anyone under my supervision who gave Ariel a hard time would answer to me. I also started educating myself on gender identity; I had started before this happened, but I can’t lie and say it didn’t motivate me to spend more time on it. What was a vague possibility — managing a trans person — was suddenly an immediate reality. The good news is, our team really was as open-minded as I hoped they would be. It took some time for everyone to get used to the new name and pronouns, but they were all gracious when Ariel corrected them if they slipped up, and at this point no team member is slipping up anymore. One person did try to ask, within my earshot, if Ariel was considering bottom surgery, then looked horrified when I asked if I’d heard them inquire about a coworker’s genitalia. I hope the question was born out of misplaced curiosity rather than actual malice, but either way I knew I had to shut that down. As I said in a comment on my first letter, as far as I’m concerned my coworkers might as well be Barbie and Ken dolls with no genitalia. I don’t want to know, and I won’t have my team trying to know either. Luckily, shutting it down once and mentioning that this could be grounds for a sexual harrassment complaint was enough, and it didn’t happen again. I made sure to mention to Ariel she shouldn’t feel obligated to answer such questions, and she was free to come to me if something like it happened. The bad news is, the rest of the company wasn’t so great. (And yes, I know several people said that even if my team was open-minded, everyone might not be; congratulations, or condolences, you were right about that.) Nothing was done that could give Ariel grounds to make an official complaint about discrimination, because the law was followed to the letter … but not so much to the spirit. We all wear company-issued uniforms, and despite a lot of push back, that uniform is still partly gendered. Women are allowed to wear skirts or trousers, but men have to wear trousers. They refused to give Ariel a skirt until she legally changed her name and gender. Until she did, they were (legally) allowed not to count her as a female employee. Similarly, she still had to introduce herself as “Mr Eric X” on the phone and in her signature, because they wouldn’t switch her info until the legal change was made (which, in our country, can take a month to over a year, depending on where you live). I pushed back against this as much as I could. I insisted the spirit of the law matters just as much, if not more, as the letter. I also offered a sympathetic ear to Ariel when she felt the need to vent about this whole process. Our team also rallied behind her and offered support. It took multiple complaints to HR, as well as people “casually” commenting in front of higher-ups that they didn’t think our company was so backwards, and they might have to consider looking for a new job that aligned more with their values, to make the process go smoothly. Ariel finally received her new uniform and was allowed to introduce herself as her real identity, as should have been the case from the beginning. Unfortunately, I can’t say the lesson was learned, since now the company is trying to use Ariel as an example of how inclusive they are, in a “look, we have an openly trans woman working for us” way. In fact, the former head of HR had the gall to say in their retirement speech, “I’m proud to have worked for a company that accepted Ariel, a trans woman, with open arms” or something to that effect. Everyone in the audience was extremely uncomfortable, none of us more than Ariel, of course. On another occasion, a new employee was being introduced to everyone and when it was Ariel’s turn, boss said, “And this is Ariel, our very own trans lady.” This was met by immediate outrage from the team, and I pointed out that one, people aren’t minority tokens (just like you wouldn’t say “this is our very own BIPOC employee”), two, this was objectifying as it implied Ariel belonged to us, and three, he had just outed her without consent or warning. While he made a show of apologizing, I later got informally reprimanded behind closed doors for undermining him. I still think calling him out on the spot was the right thing to do, and all the reprimand told me was that my boss didn’t actually get what he’d done wrong. I reported the incident to HR, but as far as I know nothing came out of it. It is, of course, possible that my boss got a talking to or a warning and I wasn’t told about it, but it doesn’t seem likely. It’s not a perfect update by any means (I’m not even sure it qualifies as a good update) and I know the entire situation has led Ariel to reconsider working for this company. If she does find a new job somewhere else, I’ll be sad to see her go as she’s a very competent worker and a very nice person to work with, but I can hardly hold it against her. I’ll be happy to provide her with a glowing recommendation if she ever needs one, and I’ve told her that. I’ve been updating my resume myself, though I won’t be looking to leave just yet; I want to be here to support Ariel as long as she stays with us. Thanks again to you, Alison, and to everyone who commented with advice on how to be more inclusive and handle my initial situation. The post update: I think one of my employees might be trans — how can I signal support? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Property experts say decision adds momentum to downward trajectory of lending costsView the full article

The latest data offered some relief to traders worried about more pronounced inflation that could keep a lid on rate cuts. View the full article

A Republican push to make drilling cheaper on federal land is creating new fiscal pressure for states that depend on oil and gas revenue, most notably in New Mexico as it expands early childhood education and saves for the future. The shift stems from the sweeping law President Donald The President signed in July that rolls back the minimum federal royalty rate to 12.5%. That rate — the share of production value companies must pay to the government — held steady for a century under the 1920 Mineral Leasing Act. It was raised to 16.7% under the Biden administration in 2022. The President and Republicans in Congress say the rate reset will boost energy production, jobs and affordability as the administration clears the way for expanded drilling and mining on public lands. States receive nearly half the money collected through federal royalties, depending on where production takes place. The environment and economics research group Resources for the Future estimates a roughly $6 billion drop in collections over the coming decade. The stakes are highest in New Mexico, the largest recipient of federal mineral lease payments. The state could could forgo $1.7 billion by 2035 and as much as $5.1 billion by 2050, according to calculations by economist Brian Prest at Resources for the Future. More than one-third of the general fund budget in the Democratically-led state is tied to the oil and gas industry. “New Mexico’s impact is way bigger than Wyoming or Colorado or North Dakota,” Prest said, “and that’s just because that’s where the action is on new development.” The effects will unfold gradually, since federal leases allow a 10-year window to begin drilling and production. Still, state officials say they’re already prepping for leaner years. “It all hurts when you’re losing revenues,” said Democratic state Sen. George Muñoz of Gallup, who said lawmakers still hope to invest more in mental health care and support Medicaid, even if federal royalty payments decline. “We’ve learned that until the chicken’s got feathers, we’re not even looking at it.” The higher federal royalty rate was in place for roughly three years while leasing activity was muted, Prest said. New Mexico budget forecasters never tallied the additional income. New Mexico’s nest-egg strategy A nearly five-fold surge in local oil production since 2017 on federal and state land in New Mexico delivered a financial windfall for state government, helping fund higher teacher salaries, tuition-free college, universal free school meals and more. The state set aside billions of dollars in investment trusts for future spending in case the world’s thirst for oil falters, including a early childhood education fund to help expand preschool, child care subsidies and home wellness visits for pregnancies and infants. The state’s investment nest egg has grown to $64 billion, second only to Alaska’s Permanent Fund. Earnings from the trusts are New Mexico’s second-biggest source for general fund spending. That sturdy financial footing shaped a defiant response to this year’s federal government shutdown, when lawmakers voted to subsidize the state’s Affordable Care Act exchange, cover food assistance and backfill cuts to public broadcasting. But lawmakers reviewing state finances last week learned that predictable income fell 1.6% — the first contraction since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Muñoz said matters would be worse if the state had not raised its own royalty rates this year to 25%, from 20%, for new leases on prime oil and gas tracts, while ending a sales moratorium, under legislation he co-sponsored this year. Universal free child care under scrutiny The slowdown has cast uncertainty over a universal free child care initiative launched by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham last month. Some fellow Democrats in the Legislature have balked at a proposed $160 million spending increase. State Rep. Meredith Dixon of Albuquerque said hundreds of families earning more than $320,000 annually could qualify for free child care despite not needing it. “Universal child care is a fantastic idea,” said Dixon, a Democrat. “I 100% don’t agree with this approach.” Lawmakers are also under court order to carry out a remedial plan to improve K-12 education for Native American students and others from low-income households. New Mexico has long ranked near the bottom nationally on education outcomes, with lagging test scores and low graduation rates. Encouraged in Alaska After New Mexico, the states receiving the most federal oil and gas royalties are Wyoming, Louisiana, North Dakota and Texas. Texas, the nation’s top oil producer, shares the bountiful Permian Basin with New Mexico but has far less federal land and therefore less exposure to changes in royalty policy. In Alaska, state officials say they are encouraged by the royalty cut, seeing potential for increased development in places like the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, where the massive Willow project — approved in 2023 and now under development — is viewed by some as a catalyst for further activity. The reserve is expected to hold its first lease sales since 2019. “If reduced federal royalty rates stimulate new leasing, exploration and production, that also could increase other kinds of revenue,” said Lorraine Henry, a spokesperson for Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources. In North Dakota, federal royalties are split evenly between the state and county governments where drilling occurs. State Office of Management and Budget Director Joe Morrissette said the industry’s future remains difficult to forecast. “There are so many variables, including timing, price, availability of desirable tracts, and federal policies regarding exploration activities,” Morrissette said. Associated Press writers Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska; and Jack Dura in Bismark, North Dakota, contributed. View the full article

Use social listening to analyze online conversations and get valuable insights to improve your strategy. View the full article

If you’re considering a franchise, it’s vital to follow five fundamental steps to increase your chances of success. Start with a self-assessment to confirm your personal and financial goals align with your franchise vision. Next, check your financial readiness to comprehend your capital needs. Research the industry to find franchises that match your interests and market demand. Then, review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for key details. Finally, secure a legal review to clarify your obligations and rights. Grasping these steps can set you on the right path. Key Takeaways Conduct a self-assessment to identify personal, financial goals, and risk tolerance before pursuing a franchise opportunity. Evaluate your financial readiness, ensuring you have sufficient liquid capital and a good credit score for financing options. Research the industry and specific franchises to identify strong market demand and assess potential franchisors. Review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) thoroughly to understand fees, obligations, and earnings potential. Seek a legal review from a franchise attorney to clarify terms, ensure compliance, and avoid common legal pitfalls. Self-Assessment and Goal Setting When considering franchise ownership, it’s crucial to start with a thorough self-assessment and goal setting, as these steps lay the foundation for your success. Begin by identifying your personal and financial goals to guarantee they align with your vision for owning a franchise. Reflect on your desired lifestyle and income expectations, which will influence the type of franchise you pursue. Assess your comfortable risk level to understand the financial and operational risks you’re willing to undertake. Clarify your expectations for future alignment with the franchise, focusing on how well the business model matches your values. Utilize tools like personality assessments and financial planning resources to guide your franchise research, helping you find an opportunity that fits your strengths and aspirations. Financial Readiness Check Before plunging into franchise ownership, it’s essential to conduct a financial readiness check to confirm you’re fully prepared for the investment and operational demands ahead. Start by evaluating your liquid capital and net worth to ascertain you can cover the initial costs, which typically range from $50,000 to $100,000. Check your credit score, as it greatly affects your financing options and borrowing capacity. Understand your borrowing potential by exploring financing avenues, such as SBA loans, known for their favorable terms. You might as well consider using retirement funds through a Rollover for Business Start-ups (ROBS) to avoid early withdrawal penalties. Finally, maintain cash reserves for initial operating expenses and unforeseen costs, confirming a solid financial foundation for your franchise expedition. Research the Industry and Franchises Researching the industry and potential franchises is crucial for anyone considering franchise ownership, as it lays the groundwork for informed decision-making. Start by identifying sectors with strong market demand; the franchise industry generates over $890 billion annually, highlighting significant growth opportunities. Assess potential franchisors by examining their brand reputation, operational support, and historical performance to guarantee they align with your personal and financial goals. Utilize federal and state data for market analysis to understand trends, competition levels, and customer preferences. When evaluating franchise options, consider initial investment, ongoing fees, and the franchisor’s growth potential for a sustainable business model. Finally, avoid impulsive decisions by gathering information from various sources, including expos and conversations with existing franchisees for unfiltered insights. Review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Grasping the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is essential for anyone considering franchise ownership, as it serves as an extensive guide to the franchise opportunity. The FDD includes 23 critical disclosure items that cover everything from fees to obligations. You’ll receive the FDD at least 14 days before signing any agreements, giving you ample time to review it. Significantly, Item 19 outlines potential earnings, whereas Item 20 lists current and former franchisees, allowing you to validate claims and gather experiences. Remember, the FDD is regularly updated to comply with federal and state laws and varies by registration state. Disclosure Item Importance Key Information Item 19 Financial Performance Potential earnings insights Item 20 Franchisee Experiences Current and former franchisees 23 Disclosure Items Thorough Information Covers agreements and obligations Professional Legal Review Once you’ve reviewed the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), the next step is to secure a professional legal review. Engaging a franchise-specialized attorney is vital to guarantee a thorough examination of the FDD and Franchise Agreement, safeguarding your interests. A franchise attorney will clarify key legal terms and obligations before you sign, guaranteeing you fully understand the commitments involved. It’s important to confirm that the review includes compliance checks with federal and state franchise laws, as missteps can lead to significant penalties. Additionally, the legal review should assess the franchise agreement’s rigidity or flexibility, allowing for potential negotiations. Consulting a franchise attorney helps you avoid common pitfalls, such as misclassifying a franchise as a license, which can result in legal complications and financial loss. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 4 P’s of Franchising? The 4 P’s of franchising are Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Product involves what you offer, focusing on quality and uniqueness. Price refers to competitive pricing strategies that guarantee profitability during attracting customers. Place emphasizes the importance of strategic locations for your franchise units to maximize visibility and accessibility. Finally, Promotion encompasses marketing efforts to build brand awareness and drive sales, including local marketing initiatives that involve franchisee participation for better community engagement. What Are the Steps to Franchising? To franchise your business, start by evaluating its profitability and market demand, and consider how much control you’re willing to give up. Next, prepare a compliant Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and create an operations manual detailing procedures and brand standards. Protect your intellectual property by registering trademarks. Finally, establish a legal entity to manage franchise operations, ensuring you comply with federal and state laws throughout the process. What Is the 7 Day Rule for Franchise? The 7-Day Rule in franchising requires that franchisors provide you with the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) at least 14 days before you sign any agreements or make payments. This rule gives you enough time to review the franchise’s obligations, fees, and legal commitments. It’s vital for you to understand what you’re entering into, ensuring transparency and allowing for due diligence, which helps protect your investment in the franchise. Why Is It Only $10,000 to Open a Chick-Fil-A? Opening a Chick-fil-A franchise costs only $10,000 because of the company’s unique business model. Chick-fil-A covers most startup expenses, including equipment and initial inventory, as you retain ownership of the land and building. This arrangement allows you to focus on running the restaurant without real estate costs. Nevertheless, you’ll pay a 15% royalty fee on sales, which supports marketing and training, ensuring you receive the necessary operational support for success. Conclusion In summary, following these five crucial steps can greatly improve your chances of success in the franchise world. Start with a self-assessment to align your goals, then confirm your financial readiness to invest. Conduct thorough research to find franchises that meet market demand, carefully review the FDD for obligations, and secure a legal review to understand the franchise agreement. By addressing each of these areas, you’ll be better equipped to make informed decisions and build a successful franchise. Image via Google Gemini This article, "5 Essential Steps in Your Franchise Guide" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you’re considering a franchise, it’s vital to follow five fundamental steps to increase your chances of success. Start with a self-assessment to confirm your personal and financial goals align with your franchise vision. Next, check your financial readiness to comprehend your capital needs. Research the industry to find franchises that match your interests and market demand. Then, review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for key details. Finally, secure a legal review to clarify your obligations and rights. Grasping these steps can set you on the right path. Key Takeaways Conduct a self-assessment to identify personal, financial goals, and risk tolerance before pursuing a franchise opportunity. Evaluate your financial readiness, ensuring you have sufficient liquid capital and a good credit score for financing options. Research the industry and specific franchises to identify strong market demand and assess potential franchisors. Review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) thoroughly to understand fees, obligations, and earnings potential. Seek a legal review from a franchise attorney to clarify terms, ensure compliance, and avoid common legal pitfalls. Self-Assessment and Goal Setting When considering franchise ownership, it’s crucial to start with a thorough self-assessment and goal setting, as these steps lay the foundation for your success. Begin by identifying your personal and financial goals to guarantee they align with your vision for owning a franchise. Reflect on your desired lifestyle and income expectations, which will influence the type of franchise you pursue. Assess your comfortable risk level to understand the financial and operational risks you’re willing to undertake. Clarify your expectations for future alignment with the franchise, focusing on how well the business model matches your values. Utilize tools like personality assessments and financial planning resources to guide your franchise research, helping you find an opportunity that fits your strengths and aspirations. Financial Readiness Check Before plunging into franchise ownership, it’s essential to conduct a financial readiness check to confirm you’re fully prepared for the investment and operational demands ahead. Start by evaluating your liquid capital and net worth to ascertain you can cover the initial costs, which typically range from $50,000 to $100,000. Check your credit score, as it greatly affects your financing options and borrowing capacity. Understand your borrowing potential by exploring financing avenues, such as SBA loans, known for their favorable terms. You might as well consider using retirement funds through a Rollover for Business Start-ups (ROBS) to avoid early withdrawal penalties. Finally, maintain cash reserves for initial operating expenses and unforeseen costs, confirming a solid financial foundation for your franchise expedition. Research the Industry and Franchises Researching the industry and potential franchises is crucial for anyone considering franchise ownership, as it lays the groundwork for informed decision-making. Start by identifying sectors with strong market demand; the franchise industry generates over $890 billion annually, highlighting significant growth opportunities. Assess potential franchisors by examining their brand reputation, operational support, and historical performance to guarantee they align with your personal and financial goals. Utilize federal and state data for market analysis to understand trends, competition levels, and customer preferences. When evaluating franchise options, consider initial investment, ongoing fees, and the franchisor’s growth potential for a sustainable business model. Finally, avoid impulsive decisions by gathering information from various sources, including expos and conversations with existing franchisees for unfiltered insights. Review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Grasping the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is essential for anyone considering franchise ownership, as it serves as an extensive guide to the franchise opportunity. The FDD includes 23 critical disclosure items that cover everything from fees to obligations. You’ll receive the FDD at least 14 days before signing any agreements, giving you ample time to review it. Significantly, Item 19 outlines potential earnings, whereas Item 20 lists current and former franchisees, allowing you to validate claims and gather experiences. Remember, the FDD is regularly updated to comply with federal and state laws and varies by registration state. Disclosure Item Importance Key Information Item 19 Financial Performance Potential earnings insights Item 20 Franchisee Experiences Current and former franchisees 23 Disclosure Items Thorough Information Covers agreements and obligations Professional Legal Review Once you’ve reviewed the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), the next step is to secure a professional legal review. Engaging a franchise-specialized attorney is vital to guarantee a thorough examination of the FDD and Franchise Agreement, safeguarding your interests. A franchise attorney will clarify key legal terms and obligations before you sign, guaranteeing you fully understand the commitments involved. It’s important to confirm that the review includes compliance checks with federal and state franchise laws, as missteps can lead to significant penalties. Additionally, the legal review should assess the franchise agreement’s rigidity or flexibility, allowing for potential negotiations. Consulting a franchise attorney helps you avoid common pitfalls, such as misclassifying a franchise as a license, which can result in legal complications and financial loss. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 4 P’s of Franchising? The 4 P’s of franchising are Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Product involves what you offer, focusing on quality and uniqueness. Price refers to competitive pricing strategies that guarantee profitability during attracting customers. Place emphasizes the importance of strategic locations for your franchise units to maximize visibility and accessibility. Finally, Promotion encompasses marketing efforts to build brand awareness and drive sales, including local marketing initiatives that involve franchisee participation for better community engagement. What Are the Steps to Franchising? To franchise your business, start by evaluating its profitability and market demand, and consider how much control you’re willing to give up. Next, prepare a compliant Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and create an operations manual detailing procedures and brand standards. Protect your intellectual property by registering trademarks. Finally, establish a legal entity to manage franchise operations, ensuring you comply with federal and state laws throughout the process. What Is the 7 Day Rule for Franchise? The 7-Day Rule in franchising requires that franchisors provide you with the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) at least 14 days before you sign any agreements or make payments. This rule gives you enough time to review the franchise’s obligations, fees, and legal commitments. It’s vital for you to understand what you’re entering into, ensuring transparency and allowing for due diligence, which helps protect your investment in the franchise. Why Is It Only $10,000 to Open a Chick-Fil-A? Opening a Chick-fil-A franchise costs only $10,000 because of the company’s unique business model. Chick-fil-A covers most startup expenses, including equipment and initial inventory, as you retain ownership of the land and building. This arrangement allows you to focus on running the restaurant without real estate costs. Nevertheless, you’ll pay a 15% royalty fee on sales, which supports marketing and training, ensuring you receive the necessary operational support for success. Conclusion In summary, following these five crucial steps can greatly improve your chances of success in the franchise world. Start with a self-assessment to align your goals, then confirm your financial readiness to invest. Conduct thorough research to find franchises that meet market demand, carefully review the FDD for obligations, and secure a legal review to understand the franchise agreement. By addressing each of these areas, you’ll be better equipped to make informed decisions and build a successful franchise. Image via Google Gemini This article, "5 Essential Steps in Your Franchise Guide" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Considering we're awaiting word of a (likely) sixth season renewal, it's undeniable that Emily in Paris has been an unqualified success for Netflix, a reliable hit that rivals the success of buzzier genre shows like Stranger Things. Lily Collins stars as the faux pas-prone Emily Cooper, who moves to Paris and lands a temporary job at a glitzy French marketing firm kind of by accident. She doesn't speak the language and doesn't get the culture, but slowly manages to ingratiate herself to the locals while juggling work and romance in a new country. The series hails from Darren Star, creator of Sex and the City, so her budding high-fashion sense and tendency to narrate adventures à la Carrie Bradshaw make perfect sense. While you wait for Emily's next round of misadventures, here are 15 other shows that offer similarly stylish coming-of-age vibes. The Bold Type (2017 – 2021) Inspired by the career of Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Joanna Coles, this show follows three young besties—Jane Sloan (Katie Stevens), Kat Edison (Aisha Dee), and Sutton Brady (Meghann Fahy)—working for the fictional women's magazine Scarlet in NYC. As with Emily's mentors Madeline and Sylvie, the three are never without the firm guiding hand of editor-in-chief, Jacqueline Carlyle (Melora Hardin), as they navigate life and careers in their dramatically stylish world. Stream The Bold Type on Hulu, HBO Max, and Tubi. The Bold Type at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Survival of the Thickest (2023 - ) No international travel here (or at least, not until the second season), but we do have a fashion-forward stylist who'd devoted herself to the wrong guy for way too long. As the series opens, Mavis (Beaumont (Michele Buteau, who also co-created the series) is ready for a fresh start, putting herself and career first—which does not preclude falling into a number of romantic entanglements. As she says more than once, she's going to take on the fashion world with a "body-positive attitude, cute v-neck, and some lip-gloss." Stream Survival of the Thickest on Netflix. Survival of the Thickest (2023 - ) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix The Carrie Diaries (2013 – 2014) Before Emily in Paris, creator Darren Star produced this two-season prequel to Sex and the City, and it's a good bet for fans of either show. Even as a 16-year-old living in Connecticut, Carrie Bradshaw (AnnaSophia Robb) is firmly on the road to becoming the iconic New York fashionista that we know she'll grow into. The high school junior takes an internship at a law firm in the Big Apple, only to moonlight from that pretty-darn-good gig by taking a second job at Interview magazine. The young Ms. Bradshaw has to balance school, family, a volatile relationship, a budding career, and a new and very outgoing bestie named Samantha (Lindsey Gort). Stream The Carrie Diaries on The CW or buy episodes from Prime Video and Apple TV The Carrie Diaries at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017 – 2023) The connection here is largely based on style, as in Mrs. Maisel's impeccable period 1950s pairs nicely with Emily's heightened modern Paris, but there's also the aspect of a young woman striking out on her own, and damn the consequences. Maisel was one of Prime’s first truly buzzy original series, a comedy-drama from Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls) about the title’s Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), a New York housewife of the late 1950s who discovers a talent for stand-up comedy. Inspired by the real-life careers of comedians like Totie Fields and Joan Rivers, the show is warm and welcoming, with great performances and dialogue; it also achieves something rare in being a show about comedy that’s actually funny. Stream The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Prime Video. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017 – 2023) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Étoile (2025) Amy Sherman-Palladino and David Palladino returned to TV, and to the ballet world (following Bunheads), for this series about two world-renowned ballet companies (one in NYC and one in Paris) that decide to spice things up by swapping their most talented dancers. Each company is on the brink of financial disaster, and so Jack McMillan (Luke Kirby), director of the Metropolitan Ballet, and Geneviève Lavigne (Charlotte Gainsbourg), director of of Le Ballet National, come up with the plan, and recruit an eccentric billionaire (Simon Callow) to pay for it. Much of the comedy comes from the mismatched natures of their swapped dancers, and there's a tangible love of ballet that keeps things light, despite the fancy title. The focus is a bit more on the dance directors than on the younger dancers, but there's still plenty of impeccable Parisian style on display. Stream Étoile on Prime Video. Étoile (2025) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video I Love LA (2025 – ) Rachel Sennott (Shiva Baby, Bottoms) created, produces, writes, and stars as Maia, who is 27, living in LA, and desperate for promotion in her job as an assistant talent manager. She's joined in town by Tallulah (Odessa A’zion), a former New York City influencer fallen on messy times, and an alternately fun and exhausting circle of friends that includes West Hollywood stylist Charlie (Jordan Firstman) and Maia's teacher boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hutcherson). It's a great looking show and, though tolerance for a coming-of-age comedy about twenty-ish-year-olds in LA will vary, it's smartly written and impressively acted. Stream I Love LA on HBO Max. I Love LA at HBO Max Learn More Learn More at HBO Max Fleabag (2016 – 2019) There’s no high concept hook here. This critical favorite stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the title character (only ever referred to as Fleabag) in a comedy drama about a free-spirited, but also deeply angry single young woman in living in London who shares her romantic ups and downs via confessional asides to us, the audience. So...Emily in Paris, but messier? Waller-Bridge won separate Emmys as the star, creator, and writer of the series (all in the same year), and co-stars Sian Clifford, Olivia Coleman, Fiona Shaw, and Kristin Scott Thomas were lauded as well. Stream Fleabag on Prime Video. Fleabag (2016 – 2019) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021 – 2025) Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet) is an endlessly naïve scholarship student; Bela (Amrit Kaur), is an aspiring comedy writer on the make for the hottest guys; Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott) is an overachieving athlete and senator’s daughter; Leighton (Reneé Rapp) is a closeted sorority girl. They're randomly assigned to room together as freshmen at the fictional Essex College in Vermont. Created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, this comedy-drama isn't nearly as salacious as its title suggests: There's sex, for sure, but like Sex and the City before it, the funny, queer-friendly show is more about female friendship. Stream The Sex Lives of College Girls on HBO Max. The Sex Lives of College Girls at HBO Max Learn More Learn More at HBO Max Spellbound (2023 – ) A young woman movies from the U.S. to France to pursue her dream of dancing. Oh, and also she's magic. A successor to Find Me in Paris, set at that show's same Paris Opera Ballet School, Spellbound introduces a new cast and, where the earlier series dealt with time travel, Spellbound is all about real magic: Fifteen-year-old American Cece Parker Jones travels to Paris to join the prestigious dance school, only to discover that she's an actual witch with a family history of spellcraft. She struggles to balance dance, magic, and her desire to be a normal teenager while dealing with the Mystics, natural enemies to Cece's type of witch. It's a solid and stylish coming-of-age drama. Stream Spellbound on Hulu. Spellbound (2023 – ) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Call My Agent! (2015 – 2020) There's no Chicago gal traveling overseas in this French series, so if you want your Parisian marketing industry workplace dramedy straight up, with no American hand-holding, you're in luck. The series shifts its focus between four talent agents at a prestigious agency who are forced to take the reins following the sudden death of the agency founder. They navigate their messy personal lives while catering to the needs of their real celebrity clients (Juliette Binoche, Monica Bellucci, Isabelle Huppert, and Sigourney Weaver are just some of the name guest stars playing faintly exaggerated versions of themselves). It's soapy, addictive showbiz fun, a dishy delight even if you know not a lick of French. Stream Call My Agent! on Netflix or buy episodes from Prime Video and Apple TV. Call My Agent at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Gossip Girl (2007 – 2012) Teen drama at its finest and most bitchy, Gossip Girl follows the many, many scandals of a group of young Upper East Side socialites and hangers-on. The tangled teenage lives of Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively), her best frenemy Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), scholarship kid Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley), and plenty more pretty young boys and girls are chronicled in meticulous detail by the title's mysterious, omnipresent Gossip Girl (voiced by Kristen Bell). This one shares with Emily an impeccable sense of style, as its leads never miss a fashion beat. The short-lived 2021 follow-up is also available on HBO Max. Stream Gossip Girl on HBO Max and Netflix. Gossip Girl at HBO Max Learn More Learn More at HBO Max Ugly Betty (2006 – 2010) Just as Emily's tourist kitsch gets her read for filth in the opening episode of her series, Betty Suarez (America Ferrera) has a...let's say "distinct" sense of fashion that sets her much apart from the rest of the striving staffers at the prestigious fashion magazine Mode, where she manages to land a job despite not quite fitting into the mold (her opening episode poncho is, of course, iconic). Betty's only coming from Queens, but her adult braces and good heart set her well apart in the catty, high-pressure world of NYC fashion. Stream Ugly Betty on Hulu. Ugly Betty at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Sweetbitter (2018 – 2019) Based on the novel of the same name from Stephanie Danler, drawing on her experiences as an NYC waitress, Sweetbitter stars Yellowjackets' Ella Purnell as Tess, 21 at the series' opening, as she arrives in the city and gets a job at a prestigious restaurant. As we (and she) quickly learn, there's at least as much drama (including drugs, booze, and sex) in the restaurant industry as there is in the world of social media. Stream Sweetbitter on Prime Video. Sweetbitter (2018 – 2019) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Younger (2015 – 2021) Another Darren Star show, this one's seven-season run overlapped just a bit with Emily. It flips a more common premise on its head: rather than a young woman seeking to make a name for herself, Younger follows Liza Miller (Sutton Foster), a recently divorced woman in her 40s who finds that her age is a barrier to reentering the publishing industry she left years earlier. After a compliment convinces her that she could pass for a younger woman, she lies that she's just 26 in order to land an entry-level job. Misadventures ensue. Think of it as a story of coming-of-age, again. Stream Younger on Netflix. Younger (2015 – 2021) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Real Girlfriends in Paris (2022) How about Emily in Paris for real? This hard-hitting documentary series follows the lives of American ex-pats in Paris...just kidding, it's a Bravo reality show. Still, the vibes are not at all dissimilar, though this bit of reality TV nonsense somehow feels more heightened than the scripted drama of Emily (which probably inspired it). Six women trying to make names for themselves in the City of Lights: one a fashion designer, one an art historian, one an English teacher, etc. What they all share is a level of impeccable fashion that most people only experience by starring in a TV show. Stream Real Girlfriends in Paris on Peacock. Real Girlfriends in Paris (2022) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock View the full article

It might surprise people that my husband and I pay a financial planner, given that I spend a lot of time on financial, tax, and investment planning at work. However, hiring a planner has delivered a return that can’t be quantified: peace of mind. Here are some key reasons we pay for financial advice. 1) We wanted a second opinion on a few important decisions. I wanted a different perspective on less-familiar subjects, such as handling employer stock, and whether we needed long-term care insurance. We could have confronted both issues on our own, but having professional guidance helped us move forward more confidently. 2) We found a business model that makes sense for our situation. We were delighted to find a financial planning firm that could work with us on an hourly basis to address our specific questions, rather than ongoing portfolio management. Paying for financial advice on an ongoing basis, via an assets-under-management fee or other arrangement, can be right for some people. Shop around to find a business model that fits with the type and level of service you need. This requires clarity on what you want. Most holistic financial planners, including ours, are uncomfortable answering questions without fully understanding your financial situation. My question about long-term care insurance seemed straightforward, but our planner could only answer confidently if she understood our retirement assets, expected Social Security, and anticipated in-retirement spending. A good-quality planner needs time to review your total situation before giving answers. (I consider it a red flag if a planner is willing to give targeted advice without a comprehensive review.) That can mean more fees than you anticipated. 3) It gave us an impetus to get, and stay, organized. A holistic financial planner also requires you to share a lot of information—statements for all your financial accounts, tax returns, pay stubs, and so forth. If you’re paying hourly, it’s in your best interest to gather all that documentation yourself rather than turning over piles of disorganized paperwork. Gathering the documents was not a light lift, but I was able to cull a lot of financial paperwork through that process. That initial organization blitz has continued to pay dividends: We maintain just a small sheaf of financial documents and can readily access anything we need. 4) We love having a succession plan. As an unexpected benefit to working with a planner, they now have current information on every financial relationship we have: our bank accounts, company retirement plans and IRAs, and insurance policies. Our accounts are linked to the firm’s financial planning portal so that our planner can see what’s happening with them in real-time, without needing fresh documents. Any of the planners in the firm could also access our information in a pinch. If something happened to us, our loved ones would have a one-stop resource to help them sort things out. You can keep scrupulous records and develop your own succession plan, but storing all of our documentation with a third party helps alleviate worries about records being damaged or lost. 5) A third party can help give us “permission to spend.” My husband and I don’t deprive ourselves, but we’ve spent our lifetimes earning and saving. Turning the spending switch “on” in retirement could be mentally challenging. Our planner’s retirement projections (including stress tests for big market downdrafts and tax-law changes) have provided tremendous peace of mind. There are other avenues to help with the “permission to spend” problem, but for me a financial planner can provide a lot of value in this context. For our own peace of mind as we age, it’s a relationship we plan to maintain. This article was provided to The Associated Press by Morningstar. For more personal finance content, go to https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance. Christine Benz is director of personal finance and retirement planning for Morningstar. Related Links When IRS Guidance Goes Wrong: How to Avoid Costly IRA Mistakes https://www.morningstar.com/retirement/when-irs-guidance-goes-wrong-how-avoid-costly-ira-mistakes A Checklist for Retirees to Finish This Year https://www.morningstar.com/retirement/checklist-retirees-finish-this-year 4 Smart Moves to Cut Your 2025 Tax Bill Under New Rules https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance/4-smart-moves-cut-your-2025-tax-bill-under-new-rules Christine Benz of Morningstar View the full article

Small business owners are always on the lookout for innovative tools to enhance operations and improve customer interactions. Recent updates to Google’s Gemini audio model could be the game-changer many have been seeking. With features like live speech translation and advanced audio capabilities, businesses can enhance both customer service and internal communications. Gemini’s new updates are already generating buzz among early adopters. “Users often forget they’re talking to AI within a minute of using Sidekick, and in some cases have thanked the bot after a long chat,” said David Wurtz, VP of Product at Shopify. This highlights how advanced AI can make interactions more engaging and human-like, particularly in customer service scenarios. With Gemini’s advanced audio capabilities, businesses can leverage features like the Live API. Jason Bressler, Chief Technology Officer at United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), pointed out that integrating the Gemini 2.5 Flash Native Audio model has allowed them to significantly enhance their capabilities, stating, “This powerful combination has enabled us to generate over 14,000 loans for our broker partners.” Such results underscore the potential of Gemini in streamlining workflows and improving customer engagement. A particularly enticing feature of the new Gemini model is its live speech translation capabilities. Designed for both continuous listening and two-way conversations, this tool allows users to hear translations in real time. Imagine a situation where a small business owner needs to communicate with a client who speaks a different language. Gemini makes it seamless by translating speech into over 70 languages and 2000 language pairs. With its continuous listening feature, the model can pick up conversations and translate them on the fly. This means wearing headphones and being able to engage in a multi-language environment without losing context. For two-way conversations, Gemini automatically switches the output language based on who is speaking. “If you speak English and want to chat with a Hindi speaker,” the device will broadcast translations in real time, maintaining the flow of conversation effectively. The real-world applications of these features are vast. For global businesses, eliminating language barriers can significantly broaden market reach. Even for local businesses with diverse clientele, effective communication enhances customer experience and fosters loyalty. The ability to handle multiple languages simultaneously means businesses can engage in multilingual conversations without extra effort on the part of staff. However, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. Implementing AI solutions like Gemini requires an upfront investment in training and resources. Staff must be well-versed in utilizing the technology efficiently to maximize its benefits. Additionally, while AI can simulate human interaction, there’s a fine line to tread between automation and maintaining a personal touch in customer service. Noise robustness is another valuable feature. The model filters out ambient noise, allowing effective communication even in bustling environments. This capability can be particularly beneficial during trade shows or in retail settings where sound distractions are commonplace. Ultimately, Gemini’s enhancements present several exciting opportunities for small businesses looking to modernize their operations and improve customer engagement. As competition becomes stiffer, leveraging advanced technologies may be key to staying ahead. Keep an eye on how these tools evolve and consider how they can specifically benefit your operational needs. As AI and audio technology continue to advance, small business owners should stay informed. For further details on these innovative features, visit the original post. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Gemini Enhances Conversations with New Live Speech Translation Features" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Small business owners are always on the lookout for innovative tools to enhance operations and improve customer interactions. Recent updates to Google’s Gemini audio model could be the game-changer many have been seeking. With features like live speech translation and advanced audio capabilities, businesses can enhance both customer service and internal communications. Gemini’s new updates are already generating buzz among early adopters. “Users often forget they’re talking to AI within a minute of using Sidekick, and in some cases have thanked the bot after a long chat,” said David Wurtz, VP of Product at Shopify. This highlights how advanced AI can make interactions more engaging and human-like, particularly in customer service scenarios. With Gemini’s advanced audio capabilities, businesses can leverage features like the Live API. Jason Bressler, Chief Technology Officer at United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), pointed out that integrating the Gemini 2.5 Flash Native Audio model has allowed them to significantly enhance their capabilities, stating, “This powerful combination has enabled us to generate over 14,000 loans for our broker partners.” Such results underscore the potential of Gemini in streamlining workflows and improving customer engagement. A particularly enticing feature of the new Gemini model is its live speech translation capabilities. Designed for both continuous listening and two-way conversations, this tool allows users to hear translations in real time. Imagine a situation where a small business owner needs to communicate with a client who speaks a different language. Gemini makes it seamless by translating speech into over 70 languages and 2000 language pairs. With its continuous listening feature, the model can pick up conversations and translate them on the fly. This means wearing headphones and being able to engage in a multi-language environment without losing context. For two-way conversations, Gemini automatically switches the output language based on who is speaking. “If you speak English and want to chat with a Hindi speaker,” the device will broadcast translations in real time, maintaining the flow of conversation effectively. The real-world applications of these features are vast. For global businesses, eliminating language barriers can significantly broaden market reach. Even for local businesses with diverse clientele, effective communication enhances customer experience and fosters loyalty. The ability to handle multiple languages simultaneously means businesses can engage in multilingual conversations without extra effort on the part of staff. However, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. Implementing AI solutions like Gemini requires an upfront investment in training and resources. Staff must be well-versed in utilizing the technology efficiently to maximize its benefits. Additionally, while AI can simulate human interaction, there’s a fine line to tread between automation and maintaining a personal touch in customer service. Noise robustness is another valuable feature. The model filters out ambient noise, allowing effective communication even in bustling environments. This capability can be particularly beneficial during trade shows or in retail settings where sound distractions are commonplace. Ultimately, Gemini’s enhancements present several exciting opportunities for small businesses looking to modernize their operations and improve customer engagement. As competition becomes stiffer, leveraging advanced technologies may be key to staying ahead. Keep an eye on how these tools evolve and consider how they can specifically benefit your operational needs. As AI and audio technology continue to advance, small business owners should stay informed. For further details on these innovative features, visit the original post. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Gemini Enhances Conversations with New Live Speech Translation Features" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Update Thursday, December 18, 1:35 p.m.: Shares of The President Media and Technology Group (Nasdaq: DJT) remained elevated throughout early trading on Thursday following the Truth Social parent company’s eye-opening announcement that it will merge with the privately held fusion energy company TAE Technologies. As of midday, the stock was up more than 40% to roughly $14.67 a share. The stock is still down roughly 56% year to date. Shares had peaked for the year in January, early into President The President’s second term. Original story: In a surprising move, The President Media and Technology Group (DJT) said on Thursday that it is fusing itself to a fusion company. The company will merge with TAE Technologies—a privately held fusion energy firm that’s backed by Alphabet, Chevron Technology Ventures, and others—in a deal that’s worth more than $6 billion. It’s an all-stock deal, which is expected to close sometime next year, and is a huge and eyebrow-raising move for The President Media, which is best known as the owner of President The President’s social media platform, Truth Social. When all is said and done, shareholders of both companies will “own approximately 50% of the combined company on a fully diluted equity basis,” per the company release. Following the announcement, DJT shares jumped nearly 30% during premarket trading. The stock was up almost 35% in early trading on Thursday as of this writing. However, shares are down nearly 70% year to date, and are down roughly 92% from their peak in March 2022. Why is this merger happening? As for the logic behind the surprising merger, the combined company aims to build massive fusion power plants that can supply energy to power the ongoing AI boom. “In 2026, the combined company plans to site and begin construction on the world’s first utility-scale fusion power plant (50 MWe), subject to required approvals,” the company’s statement reads. “Additional fusion power plants are planned and expected to be 350 – 500 MWe.” It added: “Fusion power plants are expected to provide economic, abundant, and dependable electricity that would help America win the A.I. revolution and maintain its global economic dominance.” Devin Nunes, chairman and CEO of The President Media and a former California congressman, echoed the sentiment in a statement included in that release—in true The Presidentian fashion. “The President Media & Technology Group built uncancellable infrastructure to secure free expression online for Americans, and now we’re taking a big step forward toward a revolutionary technology that will cement America’s global energy dominance for generations,” he said, adding that “fusion power will be the most dramatic energy breakthrough since the onset of commercial nuclear energy in the 1950s.” Notably, there are not currently any operating fusion power plants. A report published in October by the Clean Air Task Force, a nonprofit environmental group, counts 29 fusion energy startups in the U.S. that have attracted significant funding in recent years. Further, the latest annual survey from Fusion Industry Association found that 75% of respondents don’t expect fusion power plants to start supplying energy to the grid until the 2030s. View the full article

In a surprising move, The President Media and Technology Group (DJT) said on Thursday that it is fusing itself to a fusion company. The company will merge with TAE Technologies—a privately held fusion energy firm that’s backed by Alphabet, Chevron Technology Ventures, and others—in a deal that’s worth more than $6 billion. It’s an all-stock deal, which is expected to close sometime next year, and is a huge and eyebrow-raising move for The President Media, which is best known as the owner of President The President’s social media platform, Truth Social. When all is said and done, shareholders of both companies will “ own approximately 50% of the combined company on a fully diluted equity basis,” per the company release. Following the announcement, DJT shares jumped nearly 30% during premarket trading. The stock was up almost 35% in early trading on Thursday as of this writing. However, shares are down nearly 70% year to date, and are down roughly 92% from their peak in March 2022. Why is this merger happening? As for the logic behind the surprising merger, the combined company aims to build massive fusion power plants that can supply energy to power the ongoing AI boom. “In 2026, the combined company plans to site and begin construction on the world’s first utility-scale fusion power plant (50 MWe), subject to required approvals,” the company’s statement reads. “Additional fusion power plants are planned and expected to be 350 – 500 MWe.” It added: “Fusion power plants are expected to provide economic, abundant, and dependable electricity that would help America win the A.I. revolution and maintain its global economic dominance.” Devin Nunes, chairman and CEO of The President Media and a former California congressman, echoed the sentiment in a statement included in that release—in true The Presidentian fashion. “The President Media & Technology Group built uncancellable infrastructure to secure free expression online for Americans, and now we’re taking a big step forward toward a revolutionary technology that will cement America’s global energy dominance for generations,” he said, adding that “fusion power will be the most dramatic energy breakthrough since the onset of commercial nuclear energy in the 1950s.” Notably, there are not currently any operating fusion power plants. A report published in October by the Clean Air Task Force, a nonprofit environmental group, counts 29 fusion energy startups in the U.S. that have attracted significant funding in recent years. Further, the latest annual survey from Fusion Industry Association found that 75% of respondents don’t expect fusion power plants to start supplying energy to the grid until the 2030s. View the full article