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The most closely watched earnings report of the quarter is tomorrow. That’s when AI chipmaking giant Nvidia will announce its third-quarter results. Ahead of those results, Nvidia shares are currently down in Tuesday trading. But NVDA shares aren’t the only chip stock that is falling today. Here’s which other chip companies are seeing significant stock price declines today, and the likely reason why. Chip stocks fall across the board As of the time of this writing, major chipmaking giants and the companies that supply them are seeing their share prices fall. These include: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMD): down 5.6% Arm Holdings plc (Nasdaq: ARM): down 3.9% ASML Holding N.V. (Nasdaq: ASML): down 2.2% Broadcom Inc. (Nasdaq: AVGO): down 1.7% Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC): down 2.8% Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU): down 5.1% NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA): down 2.8% QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM): down 2.6% Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE: TSM): down 2.6% The fall in chip stocks is part of a broader decline across multiple markets today. Currently, the S&P 500 is down 0.87%, the Dow is down 1%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq is down 1.3%. Perhaps the most significant driver behind today’s market falls is the growing fear that the tech sector is in an AI bubble, and that if that bubble pops, it could send shockwaves not just through the stock markets but also through the economy. The impact of an AI bubble popping in the broader economy is part of the reason even non-AI-related stocks are down today. In addition to chip companies, other major tech players are also seeing their shares sink this morning, especially those that have a considerable amount of exposure to AI, including Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT), down 2.5%; Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN), down 3.2%; Alphabet Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG), down 1%; and Meta Platforms, Inc. (Nasdaq: META), down 2.4%. Tech giants with more limited AI exposure, such as Apple, are trading relatively flat. Currently, shares in Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) are up about a tenth of a percent. Why are chip stocks in particular focus? Chip stocks are being scrutinized by investors today for one key reason: AI chip giant Nvidia announces its third-quarter earnings for fiscal 2026 tomorrow. As Fast Company previously reported, investor expectations for those earnings are high. Nvidia previously forecast revenue of between $52.9 billion and $55 billion for the quarter. But investor consensus estimates show that most investors expect Nvidia to come in on the high end of that spectrum. A series of consensus estimates shows that investors expect Nvidia to report revenue between $54.8 billion and $55.2 billion. But, a little more than 24 hours before Nvidia reveals if it’s met investors’ expectations, Wall Street seems to be getting the jitters, as investors and the media increasingly question whether the AI bubble is about to burst. It is likely that if Nvidia doesn’t hit the lofty expectations many expect, it will be taken as a sign that an AI bubble is upon us. The sell-off in chip stocks this morning is likely due to investors taking some profits in case Nvidia misses its estimates. Given that Nvidia acts as a bellwether for other chip companies and the AI sector as a whole, it is no surprise that investor jitters ahead of Nvidia’s earnings are spilling over to the stocks of other chipmaking companies. View the full article

In an age where efficiency and cost savings are paramount, Amazon Business has launched innovative AI-powered solutions that may reshape the purchasing landscape for small businesses. These tools, unveiled at the recent Amazon Business Reshape conference, offer significant benefits designed to simplify procurement processes, enhance operational efficiency, and help businesses save time and money. Amazon has introduced the Amazon Business Assistant, a tool that utilizes artificial intelligence to provide personalized purchasing guidance. This feature aims to optimize procurement by offering tailored suggestions based on user behavior and purchase history. According to Shelley Salomon, vice president of Amazon Business, “Now, with new, AI-enhanced tools, we’re empowering organizations to reduce costs, make data-driven buying decisions, and get support when and where they need it.” One of the key features of the Amazon Business Assistant is its ability to recommend more efficient buying methods. The assistant is easily accessible, sitting conveniently in the bottom corner of the user’s Amazon Business account. It provides instant, interactive recommendations that improve the shopping experience by making it easier to manage account settings and purchasing decisions. Small business owners can also benefit from a new tool called Savings Insights, available for U.S. Business Prime members. This feature analyzes purchase history and pricing patterns, presenting a user-friendly dashboard that identifies savings opportunities. Business Prime members can utilize this analytics tool to find Quantity Discounts, lower price options, and subscription savings, reducing the time spent on identifying budget-friendly choices. Adding to the arsenal of tools is Spend Anomaly Monitoring, a feature designed for U.S. Business Prime Enterprise plan administrators. This tool helps monitor unusual purchasing patterns, flagging significant deviations from typical spending to prevent overspending or misuse of resources. With its streamlined dashboard, administrators can quickly assess Four specific areas that may raise red flags, enhancing accountability without imposing restrictive limitations on purchasing. Through collaboration with AWS and Deloitte, Amazon Business also announced comprehensive AI solutions targeting industrial sectors, including manufacturing and utilities. These tools emphasize proactive decision-making based on real-time data analysis, which could prove invaluable for small businesses that rely on precise supply chain management. The forthcoming industrial manufacturing solution, set to launch in early 2026, aims to forecast possible disruptions in inventory and streamline order management. For small businesses, the implications of Amazon’s newly launched AI tools are substantial. Owners can expect more efficient procurement processes, reduced operational costs, and enhanced decision-making capabilities. This is especially relevant for businesses grappling with tight margins and a competitive marketplace. However, potential challenges lie ahead as well. Small business owners will need to navigate the learning curve associated with integrating these advanced technologies. Additionally, reliance on AI solutions may create concerns regarding data security and customer privacy, particularly as companies manage sensitive purchasing information. The increasing sophistication of the AI solutions under Amazon Business aims to not only help small businesses today but prepare them for the future. As Shelley Salomon notes, the goal is to create a “faster, smarter, and more transparent buying experience,” transforming traditional procurement processes and making them accessible to businesses of all sizes. As Amazon Business enhances its offerings and solidifies its role within various sectors globally, small business owners would do well to explore these new tools. They can leverage the capabilities of the Amazon Business Assistant, Savings Insights, and Spend Anomaly Monitoring to gain a competitive edge, ultimately improving their bottom line. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Amazon Unveils AI Business Assistant to Streamline Procurement Processes" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In an age where efficiency and cost savings are paramount, Amazon Business has launched innovative AI-powered solutions that may reshape the purchasing landscape for small businesses. These tools, unveiled at the recent Amazon Business Reshape conference, offer significant benefits designed to simplify procurement processes, enhance operational efficiency, and help businesses save time and money. Amazon has introduced the Amazon Business Assistant, a tool that utilizes artificial intelligence to provide personalized purchasing guidance. This feature aims to optimize procurement by offering tailored suggestions based on user behavior and purchase history. According to Shelley Salomon, vice president of Amazon Business, “Now, with new, AI-enhanced tools, we’re empowering organizations to reduce costs, make data-driven buying decisions, and get support when and where they need it.” One of the key features of the Amazon Business Assistant is its ability to recommend more efficient buying methods. The assistant is easily accessible, sitting conveniently in the bottom corner of the user’s Amazon Business account. It provides instant, interactive recommendations that improve the shopping experience by making it easier to manage account settings and purchasing decisions. Small business owners can also benefit from a new tool called Savings Insights, available for U.S. Business Prime members. This feature analyzes purchase history and pricing patterns, presenting a user-friendly dashboard that identifies savings opportunities. Business Prime members can utilize this analytics tool to find Quantity Discounts, lower price options, and subscription savings, reducing the time spent on identifying budget-friendly choices. Adding to the arsenal of tools is Spend Anomaly Monitoring, a feature designed for U.S. Business Prime Enterprise plan administrators. This tool helps monitor unusual purchasing patterns, flagging significant deviations from typical spending to prevent overspending or misuse of resources. With its streamlined dashboard, administrators can quickly assess Four specific areas that may raise red flags, enhancing accountability without imposing restrictive limitations on purchasing. Through collaboration with AWS and Deloitte, Amazon Business also announced comprehensive AI solutions targeting industrial sectors, including manufacturing and utilities. These tools emphasize proactive decision-making based on real-time data analysis, which could prove invaluable for small businesses that rely on precise supply chain management. The forthcoming industrial manufacturing solution, set to launch in early 2026, aims to forecast possible disruptions in inventory and streamline order management. For small businesses, the implications of Amazon’s newly launched AI tools are substantial. Owners can expect more efficient procurement processes, reduced operational costs, and enhanced decision-making capabilities. This is especially relevant for businesses grappling with tight margins and a competitive marketplace. However, potential challenges lie ahead as well. Small business owners will need to navigate the learning curve associated with integrating these advanced technologies. Additionally, reliance on AI solutions may create concerns regarding data security and customer privacy, particularly as companies manage sensitive purchasing information. The increasing sophistication of the AI solutions under Amazon Business aims to not only help small businesses today but prepare them for the future. As Shelley Salomon notes, the goal is to create a “faster, smarter, and more transparent buying experience,” transforming traditional procurement processes and making them accessible to businesses of all sizes. As Amazon Business enhances its offerings and solidifies its role within various sectors globally, small business owners would do well to explore these new tools. They can leverage the capabilities of the Amazon Business Assistant, Savings Insights, and Spend Anomaly Monitoring to gain a competitive edge, ultimately improving their bottom line. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Amazon Unveils AI Business Assistant to Streamline Procurement Processes" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Tuesday morning was a stark reminder of how fragile the global internet really is. Websites from X to ChatGPT went offline as Cloudflare, the company they rely on for web infrastructure services, experienced a massive outage. A huge number of sites and services across the world contract Cloudflare for cybersecurity protections, as well as to route traffic through servers local to each user, all in the name of performance and reliability. Ironic, of course, given today's events. When the public experiences such a massive internet outage, speculation runs awry. What caused this? Was it a simple bug on Cloudflare's part, or something malicious? Are bad actors attacking Cloudflare, and the sites that rely on it? But, as it turns out, the reason appears to be closer to the former than the latter. Cloudflare's outage was a glitchIn a statement to Mashable, Cloudflare confirmed that the company had identified the cause of the issue, and had rolled out a fix to patch it. In addition, Cloudflare is adamant there is no reason to believe a cyberattack caused this outage. This is the full statement: "Many of Cloudflare's services experienced a significant outage today beginning around 11:20 UTC. It was fully resolved at 14:30 UTC. The root cause of the outage was a configuration file that is automatically generated to manage threat traffic. The file grew beyond an expected size of entries and triggered a crash in the software system that handles traffic for a number of Cloudflare's services. To be clear, there is no evidence that this was the result of an attack or caused by malicious activity. We expect that some Cloudflare services will be briefly degraded as traffic naturally spikes post incident but we expect all services to return to normal in the next few hours. A detailed explanation will be posted soon on blog.cloudflare.com. Given the importance of Cloudflare's services, any outage is unacceptable. We apologize to our customers and the Internet in general for letting you down today. We will learn from today's incident and improve." It seems the reason for the outage was a preventative measure meant to block a potential cyberattack. While that goal is obviously important, it shows how complex these systems really are: One glitch with one cybersecurity protocol spun out of control, and took down the network en masse. View the full article

A new column called “Original Conversion Value” has started appearing inside Google Ads, giving advertisers a long-requested way to see the true, unadjusted value of their conversions. How it works. Google’s new formula strips everything back: Conversion Value – Rule Adjustments (value rules) – Lifecycle Goal Adjustments (e.g., NCA bonuses) = Original Conversion Value Why we care. For years, marketers have struggled to isolate real conversion value from Google’s layers of adjustments — including Conversion Value Rules and Lifecycle Goals (like New Customer Acquisition goals). Original Conversion value makes it easier to diagnose performance, compare data across campaigns, and spot when automated bidding is boosting value rather than actual conversions. In short: clearer insights, cleaner ROAS, and more confident decision-making. Between the lines: Value adjustments are useful for steering Smart Bidding. But they also inflate numbers, complicating reporting and performance analysis. Agencies and in-house teams have long asked Google for a cleaner view. What’s next. “Original Conversion Value” could quickly become a go-to column for: Revenue reporting Post-campaign analysis Troubleshooting inflated ROAS Auditing automated bid strategies First seen. This update was first picked up by Google Ads Specialist Thomas Eccel when he shared spotting the new column on LinkedIn The bottom line. It’s a small update with big clarity. Google Ads is giving marketers something rare: a simpler, more transparent look at the value their ads actually drive. View the full article

Billable hours will remain under attack. They have to go. By Gale Crosley The Rosenberg Survey Go PRO for members-only access to more Gale Crosley. View the full article

Billable hours will remain under attack. They have to go. By Gale Crosley The Rosenberg Survey Go PRO for members-only access to more Gale Crosley. View the full article

The best PDF editor on your Mac is the app your Mac ships with. I'm talking about Preview, an app whose name hides its versatility. It can do a lot more than just opening different types of files. For PDFs, it's as good as most free PDF editors. Enable dark mode for easier reading Credit: Pranay Parab I suffer from migraines and to keep the headaches at bay, I use dark mode wherever I can. In macOS 26 Tahoe, Preview now allows you to enable dark mode for any PDF file, which means that I no longer need to deal with bright white backgrounds when I have to go through any PDF document. To use this feature, open a PDF file in Preview on your Mac. Now click the View button in the menu bar up top, and select Use Dark Appearance for PDF. Insert pages in a PDF file Credit: Pranay Parab Preview lets you easily add pages to a PDF file. You can either add a blank page or insert a page from a different file. To use this feature, open a PDF file in Preview, and go to Edit > Insert. You can either choose Blank Page or Page from File…. The option to insert a blank page in the PDF is self-explanatory. If you want to insert a page from a different file, there are different ways to do so. The option in the Edit menu will directly insert the whole PDF or image file you select into your PDF. This is fine when you're selecting a single-page PDF that needs to go into a bigger file, but it's not ideal if you want to add just one page from a 50-page document. If you're trying to do this, add pages by opening two PDF files side-by-side in Preview, and dragging pages from the first to the second PDF file. If the sidebar is hidden in Preview, go to View > Thumbnails. You can now drag the thumbnail from one sidebar to another with ease. Reorder pages in a PDF Credit: Pranay Parab If you want to change the order of pages in a PDF file in Preview, just drag and rearrange the thumbnails in the sidebar. It's quite smooth and intuitive, and you'll be able to get the job done pretty quickly. Delete pages from a PDF file Credit: Pranay Parab Preview has a page deletion feature built in, too. Once again, just open a PDF file in Preview, select any page in the sidebar, and press the Delete button to remove the page from your PDF document. This option is also available under Edit > Delete. Annotate, edit, and redact text in a PDF file Credit: Pranay Parab You can use basic markup tools to add, select, edit, and redact text in Preview. These tools, along with the options to annotate and sign PDFs, are all available under the Markup Toolbar in Preview for Mac. To access these tools, open any PDF in Preview, and click the pencil icon in the toolbar. Alternatively, you can go to View > Show Markup Toolbar. These tools are more than sufficient for quick edits to PDF documents. Add a PDF password Credit: Pranay Parab You can use Preview to add a password to a PDF file, or to remove passwords from a file. To add a password to the PDF file you're viewing in Preview, go to File > Edit Permissions, and check the box labelled Require Password to Open Document. Once you've added and confirmed the password, you'll also have to add an owner password to the document. The owner password lets you restrict others from making changes to the PDF file, printing it, etc. Ideally, it should be different from the password used to open the PDF file. With both passwords added, click Apply to confirm the changes. Rotate pages in a PDF Credit: Pranay Parab Sometimes, PDF files arrive with an unusable orientation—e.g., portrait pages scanned in landscape mode. In such cases, you can use Preview to rotate the pages of a PDF. Just go to the page you want to rotate and press Command-L to rotate it left or Command-R to rotate right. Fun fact: You can also do the same thing using your trackpad. Use two fingers to mimic a rotating motion and you'll see that the page of the PDF file rotates to the left or the right. These options are also available under the Tools menu. Over there, you'll also find options to flip a page horizontally or vertically, as well as a feature that removes the background from a PDF page. View the full article

In his new book, Here Comes The Sun, author and activist Bill McKibben argues that we’re at a tipping point where solar and wind power is now cheaper to build and harness than fossil fuels. Because of that new economic reality, he argues renewable energy has the power to transform society—if only the U.S. government would listen. McKibben, who also publishes a free Substack called The Crucial Years, came on the Most Innovative Companies podcast to talk about what Bill Gates is getting wrong about climate concerns, how solar became cheaper than fossil fuels, and the importance of mobilizing senior citizens in the fight against climate change through his organization Third Act. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. In a recent blog post, Bill Gates downgraded climate concerns as an issue of importance. What do you think of his argument? I’ve had a checkered relationship with Mr. Gates and [his views on] climate for some years. I reviewed his last book for the New York Times. He didn’t like my review, so he complained vociferously in Rolling Stone the next day in a long interview. The first thing to understand about Bill Gates is it’s not like he’s been all over this from the start. It took him until 2006, which was 18 years after Jim Hanson told us that the planet was heating up, to conclude that it was actually a real problem and not something that nature was going to solve by itself. Now he’s saying, “Let’s don’t worry too much about it because we should be working on other things instead.” The best interpreter of his letter was of course the President of the United States who quite succinctly on Truth Social announced that Bill Gates says climate change is a hoax. It’s not quite what he said, but for all intents and purposes he might as well have. I’m afraid it’s because Mr. Gates’s empire at the moment depends—like all the other billionaires—on sucking up to this guy. Gates released his document the same day that Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica with the highest wind speeds we’ve ever recorded, the kind of wind speed you can only get when you’ve dramatically increased the heat content of the ocean by warming the atmosphere. We don’t have a final number yet. We won’t for a long time. There’s parts of it people still haven’t really reached yet, but the insurance industry was estimating that it wiped out between 30% and 250% of Jamaica’s annual GDP. So let’s transpose that to the United States. That would be as if Hurricane Katrina, which did a $100 billion worth damage here, had done $9 trillion worth of damage here. All in all, it’s just a way of saying that Gates is being silly here, especially because the most important tool that we have for rapid development in the developing world—the quick rapid adoption of solar energy—is also the thing that would be most useful for dealing with the climate. Despite all those upsetting facts you just shared, in the intro to the book, you say that after decades of pessimism, you now see at least some room for optimism in the climate conversation. Why is that? About five years ago, we crossed some invisible line where it became cheaper to produce energy from the sun and wind and batteries than from burning coal and gas and oil. I’ll note that that was the same year that Bill Gates published his last book explaining why there was a huge green premium because it was so expensive to [get energy from] sun and wind. He managed to miss what was happening. That’s a really epochal moment for human civilization. Human beings have been setting things on fire for 700,000 years. Darwin said that language and fire were the two things that set our species apart. Now we don’t need the fire anymore. Fossil fuel combustion kills nine million people a year directly on this planet. About one in five deaths come from just from breathing in particles that lodge in your lungs. There are five million schoolchildren in New Delhi. Two and a half million of them have irreversible lung damage from breathing the air. And as long as we depend on fossil fuel, we’re in the pocket of the people who control the small deposits of these resources around the world. The king of Saudi Arabia—great guy—Vladimir Putin, who has taken his winnings and launched a land war in Europe in the 21st century, and the CEO of Exxon. The last 36 months have seen a huge surge in clean energy. We’re getting a third more power from the sun this autumn than we were last autumn on this planet. We’ve hit that steep part of the S curve and we’ve got to keep it going. When you were working on this book, did you also consider nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuel? Nuclear power, I’ve got no real problem with. Everybody knows what the dangers are, but those dangers are considerably smaller than the dangers of overheating the planet. Maybe someday someone will make nuclear power at a price that allows us to do it with some speed and at some scale, but so far we’re not there. And it’s hard because nuclear power has to compete with the very inexpensive power that you can get from the sun and the wind and the speed with which you can build those things. If you want to build yourself a data center and you need a power supply, [using] nuclear power is going to take you some years to build it. The Chinese were building three gigawatts of solar panels a day in May. A gigawatt is the rough equivalent of a coal-fired power plant. So they were putting up one of those every eight hours. This stuff snaps together, it’s not hard. If China is moving so quickly on solar, why is installing solar panels in the U.S. so expensive? In most of the world, if you want solar panels on your roof, you call somebody on Monday and they’re there by Friday. Here, it’s a monthslong odyssey. We’ve got 15,000 municipalities. Each has their own building code. All of this is unnecessary. The National Renewable Energy Lab gave us this nifty little tool called the SolarAPP. A contractor can tap in the address where they’re putting up the solar panel and the equipment, and if the computer likes the match, it gives them an instant permit and they get to work on the roof. California, Maryland, and New Jersey have adopted this. When that kind of stuff really takes off, the results are amazing. In Australia, 40% of homes have solar panels on their roof. The government in Australia announced that beginning next year they will have so much solar power in the afternoon that electricity will be free for all Australians for three hours every afternoon. You said we’ve crossed this invisible line where solar became the cheapest form of energy on earth. How does this shift the economic argument for governments? In the rest of the world? Absolutely. This work’s being pioneered in China. They’re the ones who are doing two-thirds of the clean energy installation around the world, and as a result, they’re now owning things like the world’s auto industry. This is especially good for the 80% of human beings who live in countries that have to import fossil fuel. When poor countries go into payments crises or have to have the IMF come in and structurally adjust their economies, it’s almost always because at least in part, they’ve had to pay huge amounts of foreign reserves in order to get the next tanker load full of oil to keep their economy sputtering along. Now they can go spend their money on Chinese solar panels, and after that point they’re not dependent on China anymore. They’re now dependent on the sun. Generative AI takes an enormous amount of energy to power. How do you think about that in the context of this book? Let’s stipulate for the moment that we don’t really know at the moment how much of that AI hype is a bubble and how much is real. But if you decided that you absolutely had to build lots of data centers very fast in order to stay ahead of China in this race, the easiest way to build them fast would be to use solar and wind. This is precisely what’s not happening right now. At the moment, the The President administration is all in on building data centers and all out on building cheap energy from the sun and the wind. The result is you’ve increased demand, constricted supply, and the price is going up. Americans are paying 10% more now for electricity than they did last year, and that’s just the beginning. You founded nonprofit Third Act to organize people over 60 to fight climate change. Why is this demographic key to changing the conversation around climate activism? If you look around for who has structural power, it’s really a lot of people with hairlines like mine. There are 70 million Americans over the age of 60. We punch above our weight politically because we all vote. We have lots of connections, lots of skills, and lots of time. And so it was an obvious thing to try. Many people said, “This will never work because people become more conservative as they age.” I think this is not so true for this generation of old people. These are the people who were around when we started taking women seriously in public life, they saw the apex of the Civil Rights Movement. They were there for the first Earth Day in 1970 when 20 million Americans—10% of the population—marched in the biggest demonstration in American history. These are people who know that change is possible. We have it in our muscle memory. We’ve got about a hundred thousand people around the country [that are part of Third Act], and great working groups in almost every state. They do incredible work of all kinds . . . lots of very mundane lobbying, letter writing. All of that is effective because politicians know that these people are going to be at the ballot box. As our democracy begins to flicker and falter, I think it’s particularly useful to have older people engaged in this work, because the one thing that young people can’t understand about The President is how completely abnormal he is. If nothing else, Americans, especially of my age, owe an enormous climate debt to the rest of the planet. If you’re 70 now, you’ve been alive to watch more than 80% of all the carbon that humans have ever produced be put into the atmosphere. And that made your life conspicuously easier. Now it’s making everybody but especially poor people’s lives conspicuously harder. So we’ve got some work to do. You’ve said there are two forces slowing the transition to renewables down. Those are inertia and vested interest. And I’m curious how should climate activism evolve to fight those two things? We’ve talked a little bit about vested interest already. We have to win some elections. It would be a lot easier if we didn’t have things like Citizens United that allow the rich to toy with our political system. Inertia is also a big force. We do things somewhat slowly, sometimes for good economic reasons. It’s cheaper to make transitions slowly. You have to figure out ways to overcome that inertia to make it easy and exciting to do the right thing. View the full article

The difference between the first and second meetings. By Marc Rosenberg CPA Firm Mergers: Your Complete Guide Go PRO for members-only access to more Marc Rosenberg. View the full article

The difference between the first and second meetings. By Marc Rosenberg CPA Firm Mergers: Your Complete Guide Go PRO for members-only access to more Marc Rosenberg. View the full article

Our expert council weighs in on preparation. By Martin Bissett Passport to Partnership Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Our expert council weighs in on preparation. By Martin Bissett Passport to Partnership Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

The Structured Finance Association is adding its weight to recent support for a Securities and Exchange Commission action that could modernize Reg AB II. View the full article

For technology adopters looking for the next big thing, “agentic AI” is the future. At least, that’s what the marketing pitches and tech industry T-shirts say. What makes an artificial intelligence product “agentic” depends on who’s selling it. But the promise is usually that it’s a step beyond today’s generative AI chatbots. Chatbots, however useful, are all talk and no action. They can answer questions, retrieve and summarize information, write papers, and generate images, music, video, and lines of code. AI agents, by contrast, are supposed to be able to take actions on a person’s behalf. But if you’re confused, you’re not alone. Google searches for “agentic” have skyrocketed from near obscurity a year ago to a peak earlier this fall. A new report Tuesday by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Boston Consulting Group, who surveyed more than 2,000 business executives around the world, describes agentic AI as a “new class of systems” that “can plan, act, and learn on their own.” “They are not just tools to be operated or assistants waiting for instructions,” says the MIT Sloan Management Review report. “Increasingly, they behave like autonomous teammates, capable of executing multistep processes and adapting as they go.” How to know if it’s an AI agent or just a fancy chatbot AI chatbots — such as the original ChatGPT that debuted three years ago this month — rely on systems called large language models that predict the next word in a sentence based on the huge trove of human writings they’ve been trained on. They can sound remarkably human, especially when given a voice, but are effectively performing a kind of word completion. That’s different from what AI developers — including ChatGPT’s maker, OpenAI, and tech giants like Amazon, Google, IBM, Microsoft, and Salesforce — have in mind for AI agents. “A generative AI-based chatbot will say, ‘Here are the great ideas’ … and then be done,” said Swami Sivasubramanian, vice president of Agentic AI at Amazon Web Services, in an interview this week. “It’s useful, but what makes things agentic is that it goes beyond what a chatbot does.” Sivasubramanian, a longtime Amazon employee, took on his new role helping to lead work on AI agents in Amazon’s cloud computing division earlier this year. He sees great promise in AI systems that can be given a “high-level goal” and break it down into a series of steps and act upon them. “I truly believe agentic AI is going to be one of the biggest transformations since the beginning of the cloud,” he said. For most consumers, the first encounters with AI agents could be in realms like online shopping. Set a budget and some preferences and AI agents can buy things or arrange travel bookings using your credit card. In the longer run, the hope is that they can do more complex tasks with access to your computer and a set of guidelines to follow. “I’d love an agent that just looked at all my medical bills and explanations of benefits and figured out how to pay them,” or another one that worked like a “personal shield” fighting off email spam and phishing attempts, said Thomas Dietterich, a professor emeritus at Oregon State University who has worked on developing AI assistants for decades. Dietterich has some quibbles with certain companies using “agentic” to describe “any action a computer might do, including just looking things up on the web,” but he has no doubt that the technology has immense possibilities as AI systems are given the “freedom and responsibility” to refine goals and respond to changing conditions as they work on people’s behalf. “We can imagine a world in which there are thousands or millions of agents operating and they can form coalitions,” Dietterich said. “Can they form cartels? Would there be law enforcement (AI) agents? “Agentic” is a trendy buzzword based on an older idea Milind Tambe has been researching AI agents that work together for three decades, since the first International Conference on Multi-Agent Systems gathered in San Francisco in 1995. Tambe said he’s been “amused” by the sudden popularity of “agentic” as an adjective. Previously, the word describing something that has agency was mostly found in other academic fields, such as psychology or chemistry. But computer scientists have been debating what an agent is for as long as Tambe has been studying them. In the 1990s, “people agreed that some software appeared more like an agent, and some felt less like an agent, and there was not a perfect dividing line,” said Tambe, a professor at Harvard University. “Nonetheless, it seemed useful to use the word ‘agent’ to describe software or robotic entities acting autonomously in an environment, sensing the environment, reacting to it, planning, thinking.” The prominent AI researcher Andrew Ng, co-founder of online learning company Coursera, helped advocate for popularizing the adjective “agentic” more than a year ago to encompass a broader spectrum of AI tasks. At the time, he also appreciated that mainly “technical people” were describing it that way. “When I see an article that talks about ‘agentic’ workflows, I’m more likely to read it, since it’s less likely to be marketing fluff and more likely to have been written by someone who understands the technology,” Ng wrote in a June 2024 blog post. Ng didn’t respond to requests for comment on whether he still thinks that. —Matt O’Brien, AP technology writer View the full article

AI start-up commits to buying $30bn in computing capacity from Microsoft in data centres powered by Nvidia chipsView the full article

A great product prototype maker blends creativity with technical skills to produce effective designs. You need to master tools like CAD software and comprehend various materials to guarantee functionality. Problem-solving is essential, as is your ability to communicate clearly with clients and team members. Iterative design processes help refine prototypes based on feedback. Grasping manufacturing processes and building relationships with manufacturers can further improve your capabilities. What other factors contribute to a prototype maker’s success? Key Takeaways A great product prototype maker combines creativity with strong problem-solving skills to develop innovative designs and effectively address challenges. Mastery of CAD software and understanding of materials ensure functional, cost-effective prototypes suitable for manufacturing processes. Effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders foster clear project goals and timely adjustments throughout the prototyping process. Engaging in an iterative design process allows for continuous refinement based on user feedback, enhancing usability and user experience. Active participation in community engagement and learning resources facilitates knowledge exchange, networking, and staying updated on industry trends. The Role of Creativity in Prototyping Creativity serves as a fundamental pillar in the prototyping process, enabling you to develop innovative solutions and unique designs that improve product appeal and functionality. In prototype making, your creative problem-solving skills become crucial when addressing design challenges. By employing techniques like brainstorming and mind mapping, you can unlock breakthrough ideas that greatly enhance user experience. Engaging with individuals from varied backgrounds promotes cross-disciplinary collaboration, inspiring fresh perspectives that refine prototypes effectively. Moreover, integrating creativity in prototyping allows you to explore unconventional materials and manufacturing methods, leading to cost-effective and efficient solutions. This approach not merely streamlines the production process but also guarantees that each prototype iteration reflects valuable user feedback and emerging insights, finally improving the overall design. Technical Skills Essential for Prototype Development Technical proficiency is vital for anyone involved in prototype development, as it lays the groundwork for transforming concepts into tangible products. You’ll need to master computer-aided design (CAD) software, like Fusion 360 or SolidWorks, to create detailed 3D models. Familiarity with 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC machining helps you choose the best prototyping methods for your project. Comprehension of material selection is imperative; knowing the properties of materials guarantees you select options that balance cost, durability, and functionality. Furthermore, embracing iterative design processes allows you to refine prototypes efficiently based on testing results. Finally, a solid grasp of manufacturing processes guarantees that your designs are manufacturable and meet production requirements, ultimately leading to successful product realization. Importance of Problem-Solving Abilities During the development of a product prototype, strong problem-solving abilities are crucial for identifying and addressing hidden issues that could arise before manufacturing begins. Effective prototype makers analyze feedback systematically, ensuring each iteration meets user concerns and functional requirements. They utilize various methods and technologies, including AI prototype generators and 3D printing, to creatively tackle design challenges. By collaborating closely with stakeholders, you can gather insights that lead to innovative solutions, enhancing product viability. This proactive mindset encourages continuous improvement and adaptability to changing market demands. When you know how to create a prototype that responds to evolving user needs, you not only streamline the process but also save time and costs, making your prototype design services more effective. Effective Communication With Clients and Teams Effective communication with clients and teams is crucial to the success of any product prototype development project. It guarantees everyone has a clear comprehension of project goals, reducing misunderstandings that can lead to costly revisions. Regular updates and feedback sessions cultivate collaboration, allowing you to make timely adjustments based on client input. Utilizing visual aids, like sketches or digital mockups, helps convey complex ideas clearly, facilitating a better grasp of design concepts among all stakeholders. Establishing a structured communication plan, with scheduled meetings and defined points of contact, promotes accountability. Active listening during client interactions uncovers specific needs and preferences, enabling you to tailor designs more effectively to meet client expectations and improve overall project outcomes. Understanding Materials and Manufacturing Processes When you’re creating a product prototype, comprehension of material selection is key since different materials affect functionality and durability. You should likewise familiarize yourself with various manufacturing techniques, as knowing how processes like injection molding or 3D printing work can influence your design choices. Furthermore, consider cost implications and trade-offs, as the right materials and methods can considerably impact your budget and project timeline. Material Selection Importance Selecting the appropriate materials for a prototype is fundamental, as it directly affects both the prototype’s functionality and durability in addition to its overall cost. By comprehending material selection, you guarantee that the prototype aligns with its intended use and can be effectively produced. Here are key considerations: Different materials possess unique properties; plastics can be lightweight, whereas metals offer strength. Your choice impacts the prototyping method; for example, 3D printing may need specific filaments. Evaluating characteristics like tensile strength and thermal resistance helps represent user experience accurately. Collaborating with prototype manufacturing companies guarantees that material selection aligns with efficient manufacturing processes. Choosing the right materials improves prototype creation and is vital for any prototype design company aiming for success. Manufacturing Techniques Overview Grasping the various manufacturing techniques is essential for creating effective prototypes, as each method has unique advantages and limitations based on the materials used. Comprehending these manufacturing processes helps you select the most suitable approach for your needs. Technique Advantages Injection Molding High repeatability, ideal for complex shapes CNC Machining Precise cutting, great for functional prototypes Additive Manufacturing Customizable, allows for intricate designs Laser Cutting Fast and efficient for detailed work SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) Strong parts, good for functional testing Cost Considerations and Trade-offs Grasping cost considerations and trade-offs is fundamental for effective prototype development, as various factors can greatly influence your budget and project timeline. You need to evaluate materials selection carefully, as low-cost options like cardboard are suitable for early models, whereas high-quality materials are crucial for functional testing. The manufacturing process likewise plays a major role; for instance, 3D printing allows for rapid prototyping at a lower cost than traditional methods like injection molding. Comprehending the trade-offs between speed and quality is critical, as faster techniques may compromise functionality. Consider these points: Prototyping costs range widely, impacting your overall budget. Material choices markedly affect both cost and prototype fidelity. Manufacturing technology influences accuracy and expense. Balancing speed and quality is key to successful outcomes. Balancing Aesthetic Vision With Practical Execution When balancing aesthetic vision with practical execution, you’ll need to take into account the trade-offs between how a product looks and how well it functions. Selecting the right materials is essential, as they must align with both your design goals and the product’s usability. Aesthetic vs. Functionality Trade-offs Balancing aesthetic vision with practical execution is vital in product design, as it directly impacts both user experience and market success. You need to navigate the aesthetic vs. functionality trade-offs carefully. Start by focusing on core features through iterative testing to refine usability, layering aesthetic elements afterward. Use design tools that help visualize both aspects, ensuring they work in harmony. Remember: Material selection can improve or hinder functionality. User experience should guide your aesthetic choices. Gather feedback to inform adjustments during the prototyping process. A prototype’s success hinges on how well you integrate beauty and utility. Material Selection Considerations Choosing the right materials for your prototype is a key step that directly influences both its aesthetic appeal and functional performance. When considering material selection, you need to balance your vision with practical execution. High-fidelity prototypes often utilize advanced materials like flexible filaments or laser-cut acrylic to closely mimic the final product, enhancing user interaction and feedback. Conversely, low-fidelity prototypes can be made from inexpensive materials such as cardboard or foam for initial testing. Always consider the properties of your materials—durability, weight, and ease of manipulation—since they impact your prototype’s ability to withstand testing. Tailoring your material choices to the prototype’s specific application guarantees you achieve the desired aesthetic and functional outcomes effectively. Iterative Design Process The iterative design process is crucial for refining prototypes, as it allows you to develop multiple versions that incorporate user feedback and testing results. Balancing aesthetic vision with practical execution requires flexibility, starting with low-fidelity prototypes to explore ideas efficiently. Engaging stakeholders in each iteration helps align the visual and functional aspects of your design. Use rapid prototyping techniques, like 3D printing, for quick adjustments. Gather user feedback consistently to identify and correct design flaws. Document iterations to track changes and insights effectively. Confirm that each version maintains usability alongside aesthetic appeal. Iterative Design and Feedback Integration When you engage in iterative design, you’re not just creating a single prototype; you’re developing multiple versions that allow for continuous refinement based on user feedback and test results. This process emphasizes feedback integration, which is essential for uncovering hidden issues and improvement areas that might otherwise go unnoticed. As a prototype maker, you should prioritize rapid prototyping methods to enable quick iterations, ensuring that user feedback is incorporated swiftly. Engaging stakeholders and potential users early nurtures collaboration, aligning your final product with market needs. Utilizing effective tools for modeling can visualize changes, assisting in evaluating design adjustments before physical production. This focused approach helps improve functionality and aesthetics, ultimately leading to a more successful product. Utilizing Digital Tools for Prototyping In today’s prototyping environment, vital digital tools like TinkerCad and Fusion 360 play an important role in transforming your design ideas into detailed 3D models. By leveraging streamlined design processes through software options for laser cutting, such as Adobe Illustrator, you can create precise vector files that improve fabrication efficiency. Furthermore, collaborative prototyping platforms help facilitate teamwork and feedback, enabling you to iterate on your designs more effectively. Essential Digital Tools Utilizing vital digital tools for prototyping can greatly improve your ability to create effective designs and streamline the development process. These tools boost your efficiency, allowing for quick iterations and adjustments. Here are some fundamental digital tools you should consider: CAD software (like Fusion 360 and SketchUp) for detailed 3D models Vector-based design tools (such as Adobe Illustrator) for laser cutting and 3D printing Online platforms (like MakerCase) for easy packaging design Prototyping tools (including TinkerCad) to visualize concepts before physical production Incorporating an AI prototype generator or wireframing tool can further expedite software prototyping, making your role as a prototype creator more effective and productive. Streamlined Design Process The design process can be considerably streamlined by incorporating digital tools for prototyping, leading to more efficient workflows and faster project completion. Utilizing CAD software, you can create precise 2D and 3D models easily modified based on feedback. Platforms like TinkerCad and Fusion 360 serve as effective prototyping tools, allowing quick iterations that cut down time and costs. Moreover, laser cutters and 3D printers let you produce low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes with minimal waste. AI-assisted platforms can act as a prototype generator, creating mood boards to aid in the design phase. Here’s a quick comparison of key tools: Tool Purpose Wireframe Creator Design layout and flow App Prototype Maker Build functional app models Prototyping Tools Rapid design iterations Collaborative Prototyping Platforms Collaborative prototyping platforms play a crucial role in modern design workflows, allowing teams to create and refine their ideas collectively. By using cloud-based collaborative prototyping tools like Figma and Sketch, you can improve communication and efficiency during the prototyping process. They support various file formats and integrate with other design tools. Features like version control and commenting systems enable effective contributions and change tracking. Seamless collaboration occurs regardless of geographical locations, nurturing innovation. Research shows that teams utilizing these platforms report a 25% productivity increase, greatly boosting product development efficiency. These aspects make collaborative prototyping platforms indispensable for teams aiming to streamline their design workflows and improve overall project outcomes. Building Strong Relationships With Manufacturers Establishing strong relationships with manufacturers is crucial for the success of your product prototype development. Start by building rapport with manufacturers, as this improves collaboration and leads to better quality control. Clear communication regarding design specifications, timelines, and costs from the outset guarantees both parties are aligned. Conduct thorough research to select manufacturers with relevant experience, as this reduces the risk of production issues later on. Regularly providing constructive feedback and being open to their suggestions allows for refined prototype iterations and innovative solutions. Engaging in face-to-face meetings, such as visiting trade shows or manufacturer facilities, can further strengthen these relationships, increasing trust and facilitating smoother project progression. Strong partnerships are key to successful product development. Staying Updated on Industry Trends and Technologies Staying updated on industry trends and technologies is essential for anyone involved in product prototyping, as it directly impacts the quality and efficiency of your work. To excel as a prototype builder, you need to be aware of advancements like generative AI product prototypes and new prototyping tools. Here are some effective strategies: Read industry publications, blogs, and forums for insights on best practices. Attend trade shows and conferences to network and learn about state-of-the-art technologies. Subscribe to newsletters from prototype companies for exclusive updates. Join online communities, such as LinkedIn groups or Reddit forums, to exchange knowledge and experiences on how to make a prototype. Frequently Asked Questions What Is a Key Characteristic of a Successful Prototype? A key characteristic of a successful prototype is its ability to demonstrate real-world functionality. It should closely mimic the final product’s design, allowing stakeholders to visualize its appeal. By incorporating user feedback, the prototype can identify areas for improvement, raising important design questions. Furthermore, it must prove manufacturability, showcasing how the design can be produced with chosen materials and processes. This iterative approach eventually improves the product’s viability and readiness for the market. What Are the 5 Steps in Prototyping? To effectively prototype, follow five crucial steps. First, define your specific goals, clarifying what you want to test. Next, create low-fidelity prototypes using cost-effective materials for quick iterations. After that, gather user feedback through testing, identifying flaws and improvement areas. Then, refine your prototype by developing higher-fidelity versions that closely resemble the final product. Finally, repeat the cycle, iterating based on ongoing testing and feedback until your design meets all objectives. When Creating a Prototype, Which Factor Is Most Important to Consider? When creating a prototype, the most important factor to reflect on is clarity of goals. Clearly defined objectives guide your design and testing processes, ensuring your prototype meets user needs. For example, if you’re developing a mobile app, knowing specific features users value can shape your prototype’s functionality. Moreover, comprehending your target audience allows you to gather feedback, which is essential for making necessary adjustments and enhancing relevance in the market. What Are the 4 Stages Involved in Prototyping? The four stages involved in prototyping are ideation, design, testing, and iteration. In the ideation stage, you generate initial concepts through brainstorming or sketches. Next, during the design stage, you create detailed prototypes, using digital tools or low-fidelity materials to visualize the product. Then, in the testing stage, you evaluate prototypes with real users to gather feedback. Finally, the iteration stage involves refining the prototype based on feedback and repeating testing for continuous improvement. Conclusion In summary, becoming a great product prototype maker requires a blend of creativity, technical skills, and effective communication. You must adeptly navigate problem-solving and understand materials to guarantee functionality. Emphasizing an iterative design process allows you to incorporate user feedback, as well as utilizing digital tools improves your prototyping efficiency. Building strong relationships with manufacturers and staying updated on industry trends further strengthens your capabilities, making sure you produce innovative and effective prototypes that meet client needs. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Makes a Great Product Prototype Maker?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A great product prototype maker blends creativity with technical skills to produce effective designs. You need to master tools like CAD software and comprehend various materials to guarantee functionality. Problem-solving is essential, as is your ability to communicate clearly with clients and team members. Iterative design processes help refine prototypes based on feedback. Grasping manufacturing processes and building relationships with manufacturers can further improve your capabilities. What other factors contribute to a prototype maker’s success? Key Takeaways A great product prototype maker combines creativity with strong problem-solving skills to develop innovative designs and effectively address challenges. Mastery of CAD software and understanding of materials ensure functional, cost-effective prototypes suitable for manufacturing processes. Effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders foster clear project goals and timely adjustments throughout the prototyping process. Engaging in an iterative design process allows for continuous refinement based on user feedback, enhancing usability and user experience. Active participation in community engagement and learning resources facilitates knowledge exchange, networking, and staying updated on industry trends. The Role of Creativity in Prototyping Creativity serves as a fundamental pillar in the prototyping process, enabling you to develop innovative solutions and unique designs that improve product appeal and functionality. In prototype making, your creative problem-solving skills become crucial when addressing design challenges. By employing techniques like brainstorming and mind mapping, you can unlock breakthrough ideas that greatly enhance user experience. Engaging with individuals from varied backgrounds promotes cross-disciplinary collaboration, inspiring fresh perspectives that refine prototypes effectively. Moreover, integrating creativity in prototyping allows you to explore unconventional materials and manufacturing methods, leading to cost-effective and efficient solutions. This approach not merely streamlines the production process but also guarantees that each prototype iteration reflects valuable user feedback and emerging insights, finally improving the overall design. Technical Skills Essential for Prototype Development Technical proficiency is vital for anyone involved in prototype development, as it lays the groundwork for transforming concepts into tangible products. You’ll need to master computer-aided design (CAD) software, like Fusion 360 or SolidWorks, to create detailed 3D models. Familiarity with 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC machining helps you choose the best prototyping methods for your project. Comprehension of material selection is imperative; knowing the properties of materials guarantees you select options that balance cost, durability, and functionality. Furthermore, embracing iterative design processes allows you to refine prototypes efficiently based on testing results. Finally, a solid grasp of manufacturing processes guarantees that your designs are manufacturable and meet production requirements, ultimately leading to successful product realization. Importance of Problem-Solving Abilities During the development of a product prototype, strong problem-solving abilities are crucial for identifying and addressing hidden issues that could arise before manufacturing begins. Effective prototype makers analyze feedback systematically, ensuring each iteration meets user concerns and functional requirements. They utilize various methods and technologies, including AI prototype generators and 3D printing, to creatively tackle design challenges. By collaborating closely with stakeholders, you can gather insights that lead to innovative solutions, enhancing product viability. This proactive mindset encourages continuous improvement and adaptability to changing market demands. When you know how to create a prototype that responds to evolving user needs, you not only streamline the process but also save time and costs, making your prototype design services more effective. Effective Communication With Clients and Teams Effective communication with clients and teams is crucial to the success of any product prototype development project. It guarantees everyone has a clear comprehension of project goals, reducing misunderstandings that can lead to costly revisions. Regular updates and feedback sessions cultivate collaboration, allowing you to make timely adjustments based on client input. Utilizing visual aids, like sketches or digital mockups, helps convey complex ideas clearly, facilitating a better grasp of design concepts among all stakeholders. Establishing a structured communication plan, with scheduled meetings and defined points of contact, promotes accountability. Active listening during client interactions uncovers specific needs and preferences, enabling you to tailor designs more effectively to meet client expectations and improve overall project outcomes. Understanding Materials and Manufacturing Processes When you’re creating a product prototype, comprehension of material selection is key since different materials affect functionality and durability. You should likewise familiarize yourself with various manufacturing techniques, as knowing how processes like injection molding or 3D printing work can influence your design choices. Furthermore, consider cost implications and trade-offs, as the right materials and methods can considerably impact your budget and project timeline. Material Selection Importance Selecting the appropriate materials for a prototype is fundamental, as it directly affects both the prototype’s functionality and durability in addition to its overall cost. By comprehending material selection, you guarantee that the prototype aligns with its intended use and can be effectively produced. Here are key considerations: Different materials possess unique properties; plastics can be lightweight, whereas metals offer strength. Your choice impacts the prototyping method; for example, 3D printing may need specific filaments. Evaluating characteristics like tensile strength and thermal resistance helps represent user experience accurately. Collaborating with prototype manufacturing companies guarantees that material selection aligns with efficient manufacturing processes. Choosing the right materials improves prototype creation and is vital for any prototype design company aiming for success. Manufacturing Techniques Overview Grasping the various manufacturing techniques is essential for creating effective prototypes, as each method has unique advantages and limitations based on the materials used. Comprehending these manufacturing processes helps you select the most suitable approach for your needs. Technique Advantages Injection Molding High repeatability, ideal for complex shapes CNC Machining Precise cutting, great for functional prototypes Additive Manufacturing Customizable, allows for intricate designs Laser Cutting Fast and efficient for detailed work SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) Strong parts, good for functional testing Cost Considerations and Trade-offs Grasping cost considerations and trade-offs is fundamental for effective prototype development, as various factors can greatly influence your budget and project timeline. You need to evaluate materials selection carefully, as low-cost options like cardboard are suitable for early models, whereas high-quality materials are crucial for functional testing. The manufacturing process likewise plays a major role; for instance, 3D printing allows for rapid prototyping at a lower cost than traditional methods like injection molding. Comprehending the trade-offs between speed and quality is critical, as faster techniques may compromise functionality. Consider these points: Prototyping costs range widely, impacting your overall budget. Material choices markedly affect both cost and prototype fidelity. Manufacturing technology influences accuracy and expense. Balancing speed and quality is key to successful outcomes. Balancing Aesthetic Vision With Practical Execution When balancing aesthetic vision with practical execution, you’ll need to take into account the trade-offs between how a product looks and how well it functions. Selecting the right materials is essential, as they must align with both your design goals and the product’s usability. Aesthetic vs. Functionality Trade-offs Balancing aesthetic vision with practical execution is vital in product design, as it directly impacts both user experience and market success. You need to navigate the aesthetic vs. functionality trade-offs carefully. Start by focusing on core features through iterative testing to refine usability, layering aesthetic elements afterward. Use design tools that help visualize both aspects, ensuring they work in harmony. Remember: Material selection can improve or hinder functionality. User experience should guide your aesthetic choices. Gather feedback to inform adjustments during the prototyping process. A prototype’s success hinges on how well you integrate beauty and utility. Material Selection Considerations Choosing the right materials for your prototype is a key step that directly influences both its aesthetic appeal and functional performance. When considering material selection, you need to balance your vision with practical execution. High-fidelity prototypes often utilize advanced materials like flexible filaments or laser-cut acrylic to closely mimic the final product, enhancing user interaction and feedback. Conversely, low-fidelity prototypes can be made from inexpensive materials such as cardboard or foam for initial testing. Always consider the properties of your materials—durability, weight, and ease of manipulation—since they impact your prototype’s ability to withstand testing. Tailoring your material choices to the prototype’s specific application guarantees you achieve the desired aesthetic and functional outcomes effectively. Iterative Design Process The iterative design process is crucial for refining prototypes, as it allows you to develop multiple versions that incorporate user feedback and testing results. Balancing aesthetic vision with practical execution requires flexibility, starting with low-fidelity prototypes to explore ideas efficiently. Engaging stakeholders in each iteration helps align the visual and functional aspects of your design. Use rapid prototyping techniques, like 3D printing, for quick adjustments. Gather user feedback consistently to identify and correct design flaws. Document iterations to track changes and insights effectively. Confirm that each version maintains usability alongside aesthetic appeal. Iterative Design and Feedback Integration When you engage in iterative design, you’re not just creating a single prototype; you’re developing multiple versions that allow for continuous refinement based on user feedback and test results. This process emphasizes feedback integration, which is essential for uncovering hidden issues and improvement areas that might otherwise go unnoticed. As a prototype maker, you should prioritize rapid prototyping methods to enable quick iterations, ensuring that user feedback is incorporated swiftly. Engaging stakeholders and potential users early nurtures collaboration, aligning your final product with market needs. Utilizing effective tools for modeling can visualize changes, assisting in evaluating design adjustments before physical production. This focused approach helps improve functionality and aesthetics, ultimately leading to a more successful product. Utilizing Digital Tools for Prototyping In today’s prototyping environment, vital digital tools like TinkerCad and Fusion 360 play an important role in transforming your design ideas into detailed 3D models. By leveraging streamlined design processes through software options for laser cutting, such as Adobe Illustrator, you can create precise vector files that improve fabrication efficiency. Furthermore, collaborative prototyping platforms help facilitate teamwork and feedback, enabling you to iterate on your designs more effectively. Essential Digital Tools Utilizing vital digital tools for prototyping can greatly improve your ability to create effective designs and streamline the development process. These tools boost your efficiency, allowing for quick iterations and adjustments. Here are some fundamental digital tools you should consider: CAD software (like Fusion 360 and SketchUp) for detailed 3D models Vector-based design tools (such as Adobe Illustrator) for laser cutting and 3D printing Online platforms (like MakerCase) for easy packaging design Prototyping tools (including TinkerCad) to visualize concepts before physical production Incorporating an AI prototype generator or wireframing tool can further expedite software prototyping, making your role as a prototype creator more effective and productive. Streamlined Design Process The design process can be considerably streamlined by incorporating digital tools for prototyping, leading to more efficient workflows and faster project completion. Utilizing CAD software, you can create precise 2D and 3D models easily modified based on feedback. Platforms like TinkerCad and Fusion 360 serve as effective prototyping tools, allowing quick iterations that cut down time and costs. Moreover, laser cutters and 3D printers let you produce low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes with minimal waste. AI-assisted platforms can act as a prototype generator, creating mood boards to aid in the design phase. Here’s a quick comparison of key tools: Tool Purpose Wireframe Creator Design layout and flow App Prototype Maker Build functional app models Prototyping Tools Rapid design iterations Collaborative Prototyping Platforms Collaborative prototyping platforms play a crucial role in modern design workflows, allowing teams to create and refine their ideas collectively. By using cloud-based collaborative prototyping tools like Figma and Sketch, you can improve communication and efficiency during the prototyping process. They support various file formats and integrate with other design tools. Features like version control and commenting systems enable effective contributions and change tracking. Seamless collaboration occurs regardless of geographical locations, nurturing innovation. Research shows that teams utilizing these platforms report a 25% productivity increase, greatly boosting product development efficiency. These aspects make collaborative prototyping platforms indispensable for teams aiming to streamline their design workflows and improve overall project outcomes. Building Strong Relationships With Manufacturers Establishing strong relationships with manufacturers is crucial for the success of your product prototype development. Start by building rapport with manufacturers, as this improves collaboration and leads to better quality control. Clear communication regarding design specifications, timelines, and costs from the outset guarantees both parties are aligned. Conduct thorough research to select manufacturers with relevant experience, as this reduces the risk of production issues later on. Regularly providing constructive feedback and being open to their suggestions allows for refined prototype iterations and innovative solutions. Engaging in face-to-face meetings, such as visiting trade shows or manufacturer facilities, can further strengthen these relationships, increasing trust and facilitating smoother project progression. Strong partnerships are key to successful product development. Staying Updated on Industry Trends and Technologies Staying updated on industry trends and technologies is essential for anyone involved in product prototyping, as it directly impacts the quality and efficiency of your work. To excel as a prototype builder, you need to be aware of advancements like generative AI product prototypes and new prototyping tools. Here are some effective strategies: Read industry publications, blogs, and forums for insights on best practices. Attend trade shows and conferences to network and learn about state-of-the-art technologies. Subscribe to newsletters from prototype companies for exclusive updates. Join online communities, such as LinkedIn groups or Reddit forums, to exchange knowledge and experiences on how to make a prototype. Frequently Asked Questions What Is a Key Characteristic of a Successful Prototype? A key characteristic of a successful prototype is its ability to demonstrate real-world functionality. It should closely mimic the final product’s design, allowing stakeholders to visualize its appeal. By incorporating user feedback, the prototype can identify areas for improvement, raising important design questions. Furthermore, it must prove manufacturability, showcasing how the design can be produced with chosen materials and processes. This iterative approach eventually improves the product’s viability and readiness for the market. What Are the 5 Steps in Prototyping? To effectively prototype, follow five crucial steps. First, define your specific goals, clarifying what you want to test. Next, create low-fidelity prototypes using cost-effective materials for quick iterations. After that, gather user feedback through testing, identifying flaws and improvement areas. Then, refine your prototype by developing higher-fidelity versions that closely resemble the final product. Finally, repeat the cycle, iterating based on ongoing testing and feedback until your design meets all objectives. When Creating a Prototype, Which Factor Is Most Important to Consider? When creating a prototype, the most important factor to reflect on is clarity of goals. Clearly defined objectives guide your design and testing processes, ensuring your prototype meets user needs. For example, if you’re developing a mobile app, knowing specific features users value can shape your prototype’s functionality. Moreover, comprehending your target audience allows you to gather feedback, which is essential for making necessary adjustments and enhancing relevance in the market. What Are the 4 Stages Involved in Prototyping? The four stages involved in prototyping are ideation, design, testing, and iteration. In the ideation stage, you generate initial concepts through brainstorming or sketches. Next, during the design stage, you create detailed prototypes, using digital tools or low-fidelity materials to visualize the product. Then, in the testing stage, you evaluate prototypes with real users to gather feedback. Finally, the iteration stage involves refining the prototype based on feedback and repeating testing for continuous improvement. Conclusion In summary, becoming a great product prototype maker requires a blend of creativity, technical skills, and effective communication. You must adeptly navigate problem-solving and understand materials to guarantee functionality. Emphasizing an iterative design process allows you to incorporate user feedback, as well as utilizing digital tools improves your prototyping efficiency. Building strong relationships with manufacturers and staying updated on industry trends further strengthens your capabilities, making sure you produce innovative and effective prototypes that meet client needs. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Makes a Great Product Prototype Maker?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Home improvement retailer blames sales slowdown on sluggish housing market and less destructive hurricane seasonView the full article

A widely used Internet infrastructure company said that it has resolved an issue that led to outages impacting users of everything from ChatGPT and the online game “League of Legends,” to the New Jersey Transit system early Tuesday. Around 10 a.m. ET, Cloudflare said it was “continuing to monitor for errors to ensure all services are back to normal.” Other platforms that experienced outages Tuesday included the social media site X, Shopify, Dropbox, Coinbase, and the Moody’s credit ratings service. Moody’s website displayed an Error Code 500 and instructed individuals to visit Cloudflare’s website for more information. New Jersey Transit said parts of its digital services including njtransit.com, may be temporarily unavailable or slow to load. Cloudflare, based in San Francisco, provides internet infrastructure that protects websites from online threats and helps them run more smoothly. Last month, Microsoft had to deploy a fix to address an outage of its Azure cloud portal that left users unable to access Office 365, Minecraft, and other services. The tech company wrote on its Azure status page that a configuration change to its Azure infrastructure caused the outage. And Amazon experienced a massive outage of its cloud computing service in October. The company resolved the issue, but the outage took down a broad range of online services, including social media, gaming, food delivery, streaming, and financial platforms. —Michelle Chapman, AP business writer View the full article

Google has officially launched its Gemini 3 Pro model, and for the first time, it's already making its way directly to the public, without making you wait months after the announcement to actually get your hands on it. On top of introducing a few new features, Google says the model has the typical increased accuracy, but also, that it finally cuts down on some of the excessive people-pleasing flattery that drives me nuts when using AI. The catch? Most features are paywalled, and one is still in the oven. For the more obvious improvements, Google says Gemini 3 Pro is at the top of LMArena with a score of 1501 points, while also demonstrating "PhD-level reasoning" on Humanity's Last Exam, earning a 37.5% score without the use of tools. Math buffs will also be happy to hear that the new model scored 91.9% on GPQA Diamond and 23.4% on MathArena Apex. But for everyone else, the real excitement comes from the brand new things you can do in Gemini 3 Pro. This isn't just a performance bump. Instead of just being Gemini 2.5 but better, Gemini 3 Pro also debuts three new consumer-facing features, plus a new platform for developers. It's a much meatier release than, say, ChatGPT 5.1—assuming you're willing to pay up. Generative UIGoogle's press release bounces back and forth between calling this feature "Generative UI" and "Generative Interfaces," although I prefer the former. Essentially, it's supposed to make your AI results easier to read. It's one of the few new features that's freely open to everyone, although Google has two different approaches to it, and not everyone might see the same one. Credit: Google The first is called "visual layout," and is more similar to Gemini's current results pages. Essentially, when you enter a complex, multi-layered prompt, like "plan a three-day trip to Rome next summer," you'll now get an explorable visual itinerary, rather than static text. This will include photos and clickable modules, but remain within the Gemini interface you've gotten used to. It may also have interactive sliders and buttons for further refining your search, but Google says the idea is to give you an "immersive, magazine-style view." Credit: Google The second, then, is more like an on-demand webpage. It's called "dynamic view," and basically uses agentic coding to generate an on-the-fly app to help you learn more about a topic. This will include generated text and imagery, but may appear quite different from the Gemini interface you've gotten used to. An example in the press release sees Google generating a dynamic view response to "explain the Van Gogh Gallery with life context for each piece," which creates a scrollable page with a clickable header, the art justified on the left, and scrollable text on the right with clickable subheadings and pull quotes, all with custom font and design that can differ pretty wildly from Gemini's other output. One of the issues I've had with lengthy plain-text AI responses is that they can get a bit tiresome to skim, and Google's hoping this will help deal with that. Still, it hasn't settled on an approach. Both visual layout and dynamic view are rolling out today, to free and paying customers, but the company says that "to help us compare these experiments, you may initially see only one of them." Gemini 3 Deep ThinkAs a contrast to Generative UI, Gemini 3 Deep Think is behind a hefty paywall, and still in the oven. The feature is an evolution on the existing Gemini 2.5 Deep Think mode, and essentially allows the AI to take more time to answer a question so it can better reason out an appropriate response. It's similar to existing free deep research modes across Gemini and other AI apps, but more broadly applicable, and Google says it's great for use cases like intricate graphic design or coding. Unfortunately, it's only in the hands of a few "safety testers" for now. Google told press it will start to release "in the coming weeks," but even then, it'll be limited to Google AI Ultra subscribers. Since Google AI Ultra is $250/month (although it starts at $125/month for the first three months), that's a pricey proposition. Gemini AgentAnother Google AI Ultra-exclusive feature, Gemini Agent will start rolling out to subscribers today, and is similar to the company's recent AI shopping push. The idea is for it to take action for you, to help you handle multi-step tasks without having to leave Gemini. Credit: Google The key thing is that it works with Google's other apps. So, for instance, you could ask it to help organize your Gmail inbox, and it'll separate out your pending emails into categories and submit emails it thinks you could delete for your approval. Or, you could ask it to help you rent a car under a certain budget for an upcoming trip, and it'll scan your emails for flight and hotel details, then search for an appropriate booking and reach out to you before finalizing it. It's got access to the web, Google Workspace, and other AI tools like Canvas, so in theory, it can pull from pretty much every resource Google has to help you answer your question. Google also says it will "seek confirmation before critical actions like making purchases or sending messages, and you can take over any time." If it works, it sounds like the type of virtual secretary most people probably thought of when these companies started talking about AI just a few years ago. But with such a high monthly price tag, it's probably only for the highest of rollers for now. So, kind of like a regular secretary, I guess. Google AntigravityFinally, this feature is intended more for developers than the average internet user, but it's worth bringing up, if only because it's free. Called Google Antigravity, it's a new development platform focusing on agentic coding, AKA having the AI generate code for you. It's more complicated than that—you're able to freely browse and edit generated code—but the idea is to make it easier to use Gemini as a development partner. Credit: Google It's not Gemini's first development tool, but the idea is to give developers a dedicated AI workspace. To that end, Antigravity can pull from existing features like Canvas, as well as implement "browser control capabilities" and "asynchronous interaction patterns" to achieve an "agent-first product form factor" that can "autonomously plan and execute complex, end-to-end software tasks." I'm sure the people who would use Antigravity will know what all that means. To a layperson like me, it seems like the big improvement is that it's one app that you can use to go straight from ideation to publishing, rather than having to bounce between several different Gemini tools. What's probably more interesting, though, is that Antigravity is free, "with generous rate limits on Gemini 3 Pro usage." Yep, developing with Gemini is actually now cheaper than using Gemini, depending on what you want to do. How to use Gemini 3At least some of Gemini 3 Pro is available to everyone. To try Gemini 3 Pro for yourself, open the Gemini app or webpage and select "Thinking" from the model selector underneath your prompt. Google told me free users will have up to five Gemini 3 Pro prompts per day, while AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers will "enjoy higher limits." Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers will also be able to use Gemini 3 Pro right from Google search's AI Mode, also by selecting "Thinking" from the model selector (next to the "AI Mode" button). Free users will have to stick to the Gemini app for now, unfortunately, but Google says that will change "soon." On the plus side, AI Mode will still be able to generate visual layouts and dynamic views, assuming you have access to Gemini 3 Pro within it. AI Overviews will also start to use Gemini 3 Pro for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, although that's set for "the coming weeks." When it arrives, AI Mode will also be upgraded to automatically send your hardest questions to Gemini 3 Pro, without you having to pick it in the model selector (although you can continue to manually pick older models if you prefer). Personally, I'm glad to see Google releasing Gemini 3 Pro alongside concrete new features, instead of just making "AI, but better." At the same time, because most of this requires a subscription, it's clear we're still a little while away from that wide AI adoption the tech industry still seems to be clamoring for. View the full article

If you went on the internet Tuesday morning, you likely experienced some issues. Popular sites like X and ChatGPT were unresponsive, returning error messages rather than their usual homepages. The culprit? A massive Cloudflare outage. The upside is that the outage appears to be ending. Cloudflare says it has identified the problem and issued a fix, so affected websites should be coming back online this morning. But that doesn't change the fact that so many websites went dark today, all because one company experienced unexplained downtime. How is it that a Cloudflare outage can seemingly break the internet? What is Cloudflare?Cloudflare offers a number of products for sites and services with the goals of improving traffic performance and reliability, as well as cybersecurity. A company like Cloudflare spreads its network out throughout the globe, so that when users try to visit a website, the server they ping is the one closest to them. Rather than all users attempting to visit your server at once, they go through their Cloudflare server local. This serves two main purposes: First, it limits the demand on your site. If all users were trying to ping your server at once, it puts a strain on your network, and could either slow things down or shut them down completely. Routing users to the Cloudflare server closest to them spreads out the demand, and reduces the risk of interruption. In addition, users are less likely to experience delays in physical distance to your network: If you're based in Japan, and your user is based in New York, it's going to take them longer to reach your server than it would a user from South Korea. However, if that New York user instead connects to a Cloudflare server closest to them, they can access your data much more quickly. Why does Cloudflare affect so many websites?Cloudflare's goal is to improve the experience for users around the world to visit international websites—so why does it seem like half the internet went dark when Cloudflare experienced an outage? The reason is because so many websites use Cloudflares services. According to Backlinko, over 24 million websites actively rely on Cloudflare in some capacity. That includes over 4,300 of the 10,000 "most popular" websites around the world. The U.S. alone has nearly 2,470,000 million websites relying on Cloudflare, while the UK has almost 780,000. Many other countries, like Brazil, Germany, Russia, Australia, Canada, China, India, and France, each have hundreds of thousands of websites running on Cloudflare. There are over one billion websites out there in the world, which means a total Cloudflare outage would account for roughly 2% of global websites' connectivity issues. However, if Backlinko's stats are correct, a huge percentage of popular websites rely on Cloudflare. Sure, the vast majority of websites may remain unaffected by this outage, but nearly half of the sites people most often visit have problems here. If you primarily visit U.S. websites, that number may be even higher. It's a similar reason why an AWS (Amazon Web Services) outage takes down so many websites. AWS provides cloud computing services for so many companies and websites, that when issues pop-up, you experience problems with your favorite websites. It poses a logistical question for how the global internet currently works: Yes, it's great that services like Cloudflare make it possible to reliably access international websites as if they were within your region—but if too much of the internet leans on it, is it really all that reliable? View the full article

Google announced the release of its latest AI model update, Gemini 3. “And now we’re introducing Gemini 3, our most intelligent model, that combines all of Gemini’s capabilities together so you can bring any idea to life,” Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai wrote. Gemini 3 is now being used in AI Mode in Search with more complex reasoning and new dynamic experiences. “This is the first time we are shipping Gemini in Search on day one,” Sundar Pichai said. AI Mode with Gemini 3. Google shared how AI Mode in Search is now using Gemini 3 to enable new generative UI experiences like immersive visual layouts and interactive tools and simulations, all generated completely on the fly based on your query. Here is a video of showing how RNA polymerase works with generative UI in AI Mode in Search. Robby Stein, VP of Product at Google Search said: “In Search, Gemini 3 with generative layouts will make it easy to get a rich understanding of anything on your mind. It has state-of-the-art reasoning, deep multimodal understanding and advanced agentic capabilities. That allows the model to shine when you ask it to explain advanced concepts or ideas – it reasons and can code interactive visuals in real-time. It can tackle your toughest questions like advanced science.” More Gemini 3. Google added that Gemini 3 has: State-of-the-art reasoning Deep multimodal understanding Powerful vibe coding so you can go from prompt to app in one shot Improved agentic capabilities, so it can get things done on your behalf, at your direction Availability. Gemini 3 is now rolling out, yes, in AI Mode but here also: For everyone in the Gemini app and for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in AI Mode in Search For developers in the Gemini API in AI Studio, our new agentic development platform, Google Antigravity; and Gemini CLI For enterprises in Vertex AI and Gemini Enterprise Why we care. Gemini 3 is currently powering AI Mode, the future of Google Search. It will continue to power more and more search features within Google, as well as other areas within Google’s platforms. Being on top of these changes and how they impact search and your site and maybe Google Ads is important. View the full article

Meta Platforms has been spending too aggressively on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and that will affect the tech giant’s profitability, according to a new investor note from Wall Street analyst firm MoffettNathanson. The note, published on Tuesday, points out that Meta’s stock price (Nasdaq: META) has fallen almost 20% over the past month or so, exacerbated by its most recent earnings results, which were released on October 29. MoffettNathanson has been a staunch defender of the Facebook and Instagram parent company, even when its shares have dipped in the past. But on Tuesday, analysts at the firm wrote, “we were obviously too complacent in our investment advice.” Why is Meta spending so much on AI? Meta along with fellow Big Tech firms including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google parent company Alphabet are in a high-stakes race to build out infrastructure and invest in the talent they see as necessary to compete in a world being transformed by generative AI. However, investors and many experts have expressed concerns that we may be in an AI bubble similar to the one seen during the dotcom era. So the question is whether these investments will pay off in the long run. “To be crystal clear, we feel that this time is different and that defending the stock — even at this level — is harder because of the ramping of the massive incremental bet that Meta, without a cloud business or pre-existing enterprise assets, has been making in building out a Meta Superintelligence business,” the note says. “Given the outlook, the issue from here is that even with strong top-line expectations, Q4 and 2026 margins will likely compress.” In other words, MoffettNathanson’s team feels that Meta is overspending on AI, and it could come back to bite investors. Despite the relatively harsh words, the firm still rates Meta’s stock as a “buy,” though it has adjusted its price target, dropping it from $875 to $750. Meta, and much of tech overall, has significantly increased its capital expenditures in the wake of the AI revolution. But according to the note, Meta is “trying to punch above its weight” when compared to its peers. Although the company is spending a similar amount on AI infrastructure, it does not have a cloud platform like Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon, the analysts point out. MoffettNathanson projects that Meta’s capex-to-revenue ratio will hit 47% next year. By comparison, Microsoft’s is 29%, Alphabet’s is 26%, and Amazon’s is 16%, MoffettNathanson estimates. “Meta lacks a comparable coherent pathway for monetizing GenAI directly,” the firm says. Shares of Meta are trending downward this week along with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite as investors await tomorrow’s highly anticipated earnings report from AI chip giant Nvidia. Meta shares are down roughly 2% year to date. View the full article

Growth in U.S. markets helped Swedish fintech firm Klarna to achieve a 26% jump in third-quarter revenue, beating expectations in its first report as a public company and forecasting revenue above $1 billion in the current quarter, the company said on Tuesday. The buy now, pay later lender, which went public in September in New York, reported revenue of $903 million, beating analysts’ expectations of $882 million, according to data compiled by LSEG. “To a large degree, AI is accelerating our ability to ship new features and products,” CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski told Reuters. Klarna had been an early adopter of AI and used the technology to help customers and merchants cut jobs, create marketing campaigns, and improve products. However, Siemiatkowski expressed some nervousness about the huge spending on building data centres. While there will be an uptick in demand for AI in both the consumer space and enterprises, there will be more compression of data in businesses, hitting future compute demand, he said. Tech companies have announced massive spending plans this year for building data centres as they expect AI to fuel demand. Klarna’s gross merchandise volume (GMV), a commonly used e-commerce metric for measuring sales, rose 23% to $32.7 billion in the quarter. In the U.S., Klarna’s largest market, GMV grew 43% and revenue rose 51%. Active customers rose 32% to 114 million from a year ago. The company, however, reported a net loss of $95 million, compared with a profit of $12 million in the year-ago period, which it said was partly due to a shift to U.S. accounting principles following its New York listing. In the current quarter, the company expects revenue of $1.07 billion, compared with expectations of $1.06 billion. —Supantha Mukherjee, Reuters View the full article