ResidentialBusiness

Venmo, the popular payment app, has unveiled a new rewards program known as Venmo Stash, aiming to redefine how users benefit from their spending habits. This innovative initiative is particularly relevant for small business owners who are looking to tap into digital payment trends and maximize their customer relationships. Venmo Stash encourages users to engage more deeply with the platform, offering cash back rewards that grow in proportion to their spending and engagement. The program is beneficial not just for individual users, but for small businesses that incorporate Venmo into their payment systems. One of the standout features of Venmo Stash is its simplicity and flexibility. Users receive cash back directly into their Venmo balance, which they can use immediately. According to Diego Scotti, General Manager of Consumer at PayPal, “Traditional rewards programs make customers work for points they may never use. Venmo Stash flips that model—rewarding spending and money management habits our customers have already built with Venmo.” The program operates on a tiered cash-back system: 1% Cash Back: When customers spend using the Venmo Debit Mastercard, they earn 1% cash back. 2% Cash Back: Users who enable auto reloads on their Venmo account can enjoy an enhanced cash back rate of 2%. 5% Cash Back: Customers receiving direct deposits of $500 or more each month can unlock the maximum cash back of 5%. This cash-back model not only incentivizes existing users to increase their spending on Ventmo but also could attract new customers drawn by the potential savings. For small business owners, accepting Venmo could facilitate increased transactions, particularly among younger consumers familiar with the app. For businesses, the advantages are clear. Accepting Venmo can enhance customer convenience, fostering loyalty among users who prefer cash back rewards as part of their payment experience. Venmo has evolved from merely a peer-to-peer payment app into a comprehensive commerce platform, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to streamline their payment processes. However, there are challenges that small business owners may need to consider. Implementing Venmo as a payment option requires an understanding of the associated fees and technology integration. While Venmo transactions are designed to be quick and easy, businesses might face transactional costs that need to be accounted for in their financial planning. Moreover, Venmo’s rewards program hinges on user engagement within its ecosystem. Small business owners should be prepared to promote their Venmo acceptance in ways that are appealing to potential customers, ideally aligning with the interests of their target demographic. As Venmo Stash grows, Venmo plans to offer additional ways for users to earn rewards through more integrated payment options. This expansion could present further opportunities for small businesses to not only attract new customers but also increase average transaction values as users engage more actively with the platform. In a landscape where consumer loyalty is increasingly tied to reward opportunities, programs like Venmo Stash allow businesses to capitalize on customer spending patterns while reaping the benefits of increased transaction volume. Venmo Stash is now available to existing Venmo Debit Card customers, emphasizing how easily users can start benefiting from the program. Interested businesses can learn more and enroll by visiting the Venmo website. This new initiative from Venmo is an illustration of how digital payment solutions are evolving, making it essential for small business owners to stay informed and adaptable to leverage these trends effectively. For more details about Venmo Stash, visit the original announcement here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Venmo Launches Stash: Earn Increasing Cash Back with Every Purchase" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In a new report, AI company Anthropic detailed a “highly sophisticated espionage campaign” that deployed its artificial intelligence tools to launch automated cyberattacks around the globe. The attackers aimed high, targeting government agencies, Big Tech companies, banks, and chemical companies, and succeeded in “a small number of cases,” according to Anthropic. The company says that its research links the hacking operation to the Chinese government. The company claims that the findings are a watershed moment for the industry, marking the first instance of a cyber espionage scheme carried out by AI. “We believe this is the first documented case of a large-scale cyberattack executed without substantial human intervention,” Anthropic wrote in a blog post. Fast Company has reached out to China’s embassy in D.C. for comment about the report. Anthropic says that it first detected the suspicious use of its products in mid-September and conducted an investigation to uncover the scope of the operation. The attacks weren’t fully autonomous—humans were involved to set them in motion—but they manipulated Anthropic’s Claude Code tool, a version of the AI assistant designed for developers, to execute complex pieces of the campaign. Tricking Claude into doing crime To get around Claude’s built-in safety guardrails, the hackers worked to “jailbreak” the AI model, basically tricking it into doing smaller, benign-seeming tasks without the broader context of their application. The attackers also told the AI tool that they were working in a defensive capacity for a legitimate cyber firm to persuade the model to let down its defenses. After bending Claude to their will, the attackers set the AI assistant to work analyzing its targets, identifying high-value databases and writing code to exploit weaknesses it found in their targets’ systems and infrastructure. “The framework was able to use Claude to harvest credentials (usernames and passwords) that allowed it further access and then to extract a large amount of private data, which it categorized according to its intelligence value,” Anthropic wrote. “The highest-privilege accounts were identified, backdoors were created, and data were exfiltrated with minimal human supervision.” In the last phase, the attackers directed Claude to document their actions, producing files including stolen credentials and the systems that were analyzed, which they could build on in future attacks. The company estimates that at least 80% of the operation was carried out autonomously, without a human directing it. Anthropic noted in its report that much like it does with less malicious tasks, the AI generated errors during the cyberattack, making false claims about harvesting secret info and even hallucinating some of the logins it produced. Even with some errors, an agentic AI that’s right most of the time can point itself at a lot of targets, quickly create and execute exploits, and do a lot of damage in the process. AI on the attack The new report from Anthropic isn’t the first time that an AI company has discovered its tools being misused in elaborate hacking schemes. It’s not even a first for Anthropic. In August, the company detailed a handful of cybercrime schemes using its Claude AI tools, including new developments in a long-running employment scam to get North Korean operatives hired into remote positions at American tech companies. In another recent cybercrime incident, a now-banned user turned to Anthropic’s Claude assistant to create and sell ransomware packages online to other cybercriminals for up to $1,200 each. “The growth of AI-enhanced fraud and cybercrime is particularly concerning to us, and we plan to prioritize further research in this area,” Anthropic said in the report. The new attack is noteworthy both for its links to China and for its use of “agentic” AI – AI that can execute complex tasks on its own once set in motion. The ability to work from start to finish with less oversight means these tools work more like humans do, pursuing a goal and completing smaller steps to get there in the process. The appeal of an autonomous system that can pull off detailed analysis and even write code at scale has obvious appeal in the world of cybercrime. “A fundamental change has occurred in cybersecurity,” Anthropic wrote in its report. “…The techniques described above will doubtless be used by many more attackers—which makes industry threat sharing, improved detection methods, and stronger safety controls all the more critical.” View the full article

In a market where clients are under pressure to do more with less, they won’t gamble on generalists. The firms and advisors who thrive are those who carve out a niche and lead it. HEADLINES expressing how AI is reshaping knowledge work are everywhere. From legal research to tax prep, technology is automating the rote tasks that used to justify armies of junior staff. Clients are noticing. A 2025 Bloomberg survey of corporate general councils found that 61 percent expect to experiment with AI-powered tools this year, and more than half say they’re scrutinizing external providers to ensure “specialized value” that machines can’t replace. This is the crux for professional experts. Delivering the work is no longer enough. To grow, you must also sell — and in a climate where clients are questioning every hour billed, they gravitate to advisors they trust with proven authority in a narrow domain. Generalists, by contrast, are interchangeable. And in the emerging era of AI, they’re not only interchangeable with each other — they’re the first targets for agentic AI. If your value is defined by routine analysis, drafting, or process execution, you are competing with tools that promise to do the same work faster and cheaper. Specialists, on the other hand, offer judgment, nuance, and pattern recognition that machines can’t as easily replicate. Why Clients Bet on Specialists When the stakes are high, buyers want the safest option. That means they look for specialists who solve complex, high-value problems every day. An Am Law 200 firm recently noted that its food and beverage practice doubled in five years because clients trusted the lawyers’ niche expertise in regulatory matters. Similar stories play out in consulting, accounting, and litigation support: specialists are sought after, while generalists are easy to swap out. Specialization sends a signal. It tells clients you have depth in their world, you have a nuanced understanding of their challenges, and your unique experience allows you to anticipate what’s coming next. That reduces their risk — and increases your value. How to Carve Out a Niche Not sure where to start? Here are three proven steps to build specialist positioning: 1. Audit your past successes. Look at your client list and identify patterns. Which industries, company sizes, or problem types have you consistently excelled in? Your track record reveals where your authority is already strongest and where you have the most credibility. 2. Align with market demand. Specialization works best when it intersects with growth sectors or pressing client needs. For example, firms serving healthcare are seeing a surge in demand as regulations tighten and mergers and acquisitions activity accelerates. If you can navigate that complexity, you’ll not just win work, you’ll become indispensable. 3. Test and refine your message. Start small — publish an insight, lead a roundtable, or host a webinar targeted to your chosen niche. Notice the response. If prospects lean in and connectors echo your positioning, you’re on the right path. You Can’t Boil the Ocean Here’s the truth: a generalist must cast a wider net, chasing volume to find opportunity. A specialist has a far better chance of cornering a market. By narrowing the scope of your outreach, you increase your odds of dominating a space rather than being an interchangeable player in a crowded one. For doer sellers, this matters. With billable hour demands and client work taking priority, you can’t afford random acts of networking. You only have the capacity to maintain a “short list” of 9 to 35 relationships (based on analysis of professional services CRM user data). If your positioning is too broad, you’ll waste those limited slots on relationships that never compound. The Branding Payoff Becoming a specialist isn’t just about internal clarity. It’s about external differentiation. The professionals who lead with niche authority are invited to speak at industry events, quoted in trade press, and referred more often. They become the go-to experts in their lane. Contrast that with the generalist brand: difficult to market, hard to defend, and easy for buyers to replace. If your website or LinkedIn profile lists 12 practice areas or industries served, you’re not signaling focus. You’re signaling “jack of all trades, master of none.” Practical Moves to Specialize Here are a few tactical steps to reinforce your specialist brand: Update your online presence. Rewrite your bio and LinkedIn headline to highlight your niche clearly. Publish narrowly. Create insights, articles, or short posts that solve problems for your specific audience. Leverage case studies. Show examples of your work in the space you want to own. Invest in visibility. Speak where your niche audience gathers — industry conferences, association panels, or podcasts. Curate your network. Choose connectors who have direct access to your target industry or role. In today’s professional services marketplace, being broad isn’t safe — it’s risky. Focus doesn’t limit you. It frees you. By claiming a niche, you differentiate your brand, elevate your value, and make every minute of business development count. * * * David Ackert is co-founder and CEO of Ackert, Inc. and its subsidiary, PipelinePlus. He’s a highly regarded business development thought leader and has pioneered revenue acceleration programs for hundreds of professional services firms around the globe. He has contributed to the Los Angeles Times, the National Review, the Daily Journal, the Wall Street Journal, and others, and his Market Leaders Podcast has won several JD Supra Reader’s Choice Awards. His new book, The Short List: How to Drive Business Development by Focusing on the People Who Matter Most (Greenleaf Book Group, January 28, 2025), is an Amazon bestseller and Gold Winner of the 2025 Nonfiction Book Awards. Learn more at PipelinePlus.com/theshortlist. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. * * * View the full article

Gilts sell off after government ditches plan to increase income tax ratesView the full article

Politics played a part in decision to abandon manifesto-busting plan, government officials sayView the full article

Income tax U-turn adds to mood of despair among party’s backbenchersView the full article

In today’s digital environment, effective content creation is essential for engagement and impact. The right clip makers can greatly improve your video production process, offering tools that streamline editing, simplify workflows, and elevate overall quality. From AI-driven improvements in Wondershare Filmora to the advanced generative capabilities of Sora, these tools cater to various needs. Comprehending each option’s strengths can help you select the best fit for your projects, ensuring your content stands out. What features should you prioritize? Key Takeaways Descript offers unique text-based editing, making video modifications easy through script adjustments and AI-generated transcripts. Wondershare Filmora enhances video quality with AI features, providing a free plan and affordable subscription options. Invideo AI simplifies social media video creation with an extensive library of customizable templates and music options. Sora and Synthesia utilize generative AI for automatic video creation, offering professional avatars and multilingual support for diverse content. Capsule streamlines video production workflows with AI integration, ensuring branding consistency and facilitating collaborative projects. Descript: Best for Editing Video by Editing the Script Have you ever wished you could edit a video as easily as you edit a document? Descript makes this possible with its unique text-based editing feature, allowing you to modify your video by directly editing the script. This ai YouTube video editor automatically generates transcripts, enabling you to highlight and create shareable clips from specific moments effortlessly. Built-in templates for social media help you quickly export clips optimized for various platforms, saving you time. Moreover, Descript’s AI efficiently identifies engaging moments in your videos, so you can produce highlight reels with minimal effort. Its intuitive interface offers an easy learning curve, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced editors looking to streamline their video editing process. Wondershare Filmora: Best for Polishing Videos With AI Tools Wondershare Filmora stands out with its AI-powered editing features that greatly improve video quality. You can utilize tools like the smart cutout to easily remove unwanted elements from your footage and the audio denoise capability to enhance sound clarity. These features not just streamline the editing process but additionally guarantee your videos look and sound professional. AI-Powered Editing Features In the domain of video editing, AI-powered features can greatly improve the quality of your content and streamline the editing process. Wondershare Filmora stands out as an excellent ai clip maker, integrating advanced AI tools like audio denoise and automatic video adjustments. These features elevate your videos’ overall quality as well as reducing the time spent on manual editing tasks. Filmora likewise offers extensive learning resources, making it user-friendly for beginners enthusiastic to maximize these AI capabilities. You can start with a free plan to explore the platform, even if this version includes a watermark on exported videos. For those seeking a more professional finish, the Basic plan at $49.99 per year provides advanced features without watermarks, catering to serious content creators. Smart Cutout Tool The Smart Cutout tool in Wondershare Filmora offers a strong solution for content creators looking to improve their video projects. This AI-driven feature automatically detects and removes backgrounds, allowing you to isolate subjects with ease. It’s perfect for achieving polished, professional results without extensive manual editing. Feature Benefit AI Background Removal Automatically detects and removes backgrounds User-Friendly Effortless isolation of subjects in footage Format Compatibility Supports various video types and projects Learning Resources Extensive guidance for ideal tool usage With the Smart Cutout tool, you’ll boost your video editing capabilities and create visually striking content suitable for everything from social media clips to corporate presentations. Audio Denoise Capability How can you improve the audio quality of your videos without extensive editing knowledge? Wondershare Filmora’s audio denoise capability is your solution. This advanced tool effectively removes background noise, improving audio clarity, especially in noisy environments. With Filmora, you can easily adjust the level of noise reduction, ensuring that important elements like dialogue and music remain clear as you minimize unwanted sounds. Moreover, Filmora offers AI-powered audio enhancements, including automatic audio synchronization, which simplifies editing soundtracks and voiceovers. Its user-friendly interface allows even beginners to utilize the audio denoise feature with ease, making it accessible for everyone. Sora: Best for Generative AI With Advanced Tools Sora stands out as a premier tool for content creators who want to leverage generative AI for video production. This platform acts as an automatic clip generator, enabling you to create videos from simple prompts quickly and efficiently. With its unique storyboard capability, you can manage your narrative scene-by-scene, providing improved control over your video projects. Sora also allows the remixing of existing videos, giving you the flexibility to build on previous content and refine your work. Furthermore, you can upload images to Sora, which can be animated within your videos, broadening your visual storytelling options. As part of the ChatGPT Plus subscription, it offers 50 priority video generations at 720p quality for just $20/month, with a Pro plan for upgraded features. Capsule: Best for Simplifying Video Production Workflows When you’re looking to streamline your video production workflow, Capsule offers a solution that integrates AI technology to improve efficiency. This clipmaker website simplifies the creation and application of design systems, enabling you to produce high-quality videos without extensive technical skills. Capsule‘s intuitive interface allows for faster content turnaround, whereas its automated video formatting and customizable templates help maintain branding consistency. These features minimize manual editing efforts, greatly reducing the time spent on editing tasks. Additionally, Capsule supports collaborative projects, letting teams work together seamlessly on video creation. This capability is crucial for modern content production environments, enhancing overall productivity and ensuring that you can focus on what matters most—creating engaging content. Invideo AI: Best for Producing Social Media Videos Invideo AI stands out for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for you to create engaging social media videos without prior experience. With versatile video templates customized for various platforms, you can streamline your production process and improve your content’s appeal. This combination of accessibility and customization empowers you to produce professional-quality videos quickly and efficiently. User-Friendly Interface Creating social media videos can be a challenging task, especially for those new to content creation, but InVideo AI simplifies this process with its user-friendly interface. As a strong youtube clip maker, it allows you to focus on storytelling without getting overwhelmed by technicalities. Here’s what makes it user-friendly: Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Functionality: Easily edit your videos with minimal effort, allowing for quick adjustments. Pre-Designed Templates: Access a library of templates that help maintain a consistent brand aesthetic across your projects. Multiple Formats and Aspect Ratios: Guarantee your videos are optimized for various social media platforms without extensive adjustments. Versatile Video Templates The versatility of video templates offered by InVideo AI greatly improves the content creation process, especially for social media videos. With over 5,000 customizable options, you can easily find templates customized to various platforms and content types. These versatile video templates support auto video editing, making it simple for you to improve your projects quickly. InVideo AI provides features like voiceovers, text overlays, and smooth shifts, perfect for creating engaging faceless videos and B-roll footage. Both beginners and experienced marketers can modify templates to fit their branding needs. Furthermore, the extensive music library and stock footage options raise the quality of your videos, allowing you to produce professional results without needing extra resources. Synthesia: Best for Using Digital Avatars In the domain of digital content creation, Synthesia stands out as an influential tool for those looking to utilize AI avatars in their videos. This platform offers several benefits that can improve your video production experience: High-Quality Digital Avatars: Create professional-looking videos without needing live actors. Multilingual Support: Easily generate video content in various languages, allowing you to reach a global audience. User-Friendly Interface: Quickly produce videos from text prompts, greatly reducing production time and effort. Synthesia is particularly effective for corporate training and marketing applications, helping businesses improve their communication strategies with visually appealing presentations. It’s likewise ideal for creators seeking privacy, as it enables the creation of faceless videos while delivering impactful messages. Vyond: Best for Creating Animated Characters From a Prompt With Vyond, you can transform simple text prompts into engaging animated characters, making it an ideal tool for content creators looking to add a dynamic visual element to their projects. As a youtube clip creator, you’ll appreciate Vyond’s customizable character templates, which represent various demographics and personalities. Its user-friendly interface allows you to create compelling animated videos without needing advanced animation skills. You can choose from different animation styles, including business-friendly, cartoonish, and whiteboard, catering to diverse audiences and purposes. Furthermore, Vyond’s collaborative features enable team members to work together seamlessly, boosting productivity and creativity in content creation. This versatility makes Vyond a top choice for anyone aiming to improve their animated content effectively. Frequently Asked Questions Which Video Editor Is Best for Content Creation? Choosing the best video editor for content creation depends on your specific needs. If you value text-based editing, Descript offers an intuitive approach. For polished production, Wondershare Filmora’s AI features improve quality. If you’re focused on engagement, OpusClip automatically generates clips from longer videos. Vizard.ai stands out at creating social media-friendly content, as Quso.ai streamlines editing with AI tools. Evaluate each option based on your editing style and audience engagement goals to find the right fit. What Is the Best Tool for Content Creation? The best tool for content creation depends on your specific needs. If you want efficient editing, tools like Descript streamline processes by allowing you to edit text directly. For quick clip generation, Quso.ai automatically identifies engaging segments. If you need to condense long videos, Revid.ai is ideal for multilingual content. Vizard.ai and OpusClip improve your workflow by transforming long videos into engaging clips, optimizing viewer engagement and reach across platforms. What Is the Best AI Video Generator for Content Creation? When considering the best AI video generator for content creation, Descript stands out with its text-based editing and automatic transcription features, allowing you to create clips effortlessly. OpusClip analyzes your video content to generate engaging short clips, boosting viewer engagement. For corporate training, Synthesia provides high-quality AI avatars. InVideo AI is perfect for social media with customized features, whereas Revid.ai thrives at summarizing longer videos into concise clips, accommodating multilingual needs. What Do Content Creators Use to Create Videos? To create videos, you often use a variety of tools customized to your needs. AI-powered platforms like Descript simplify editing with text-based features, whereas OpusClip automatically generates short clips from longer videos. For user-friendly interfaces, Vimeo and Canva are popular choices, offering templates for quick production. If you need advanced editing, Adobe Premiere Pro provides detailed customization. Social media tools like VEED.IO and Kapwing improve content creation with easy editing and collaboration options. Conclusion In conclusion, these seven clip makers offer diverse features customized to improve your content creation process. Whether you need advanced editing tools like Descript and Filmora, generative AI capabilities from Sora and Synthesia, or streamlined workflows with Capsule, each tool caters to specific needs. By leveraging these technologies, you can boost your video production, improve efficiency, and engage your audience effectively. Choose the one that aligns best with your goals to maximize your creative potential. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Best Clip Makers to Elevate Content Creation" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In today’s digital environment, effective content creation is essential for engagement and impact. The right clip makers can greatly improve your video production process, offering tools that streamline editing, simplify workflows, and elevate overall quality. From AI-driven improvements in Wondershare Filmora to the advanced generative capabilities of Sora, these tools cater to various needs. Comprehending each option’s strengths can help you select the best fit for your projects, ensuring your content stands out. What features should you prioritize? Key Takeaways Descript offers unique text-based editing, making video modifications easy through script adjustments and AI-generated transcripts. Wondershare Filmora enhances video quality with AI features, providing a free plan and affordable subscription options. Invideo AI simplifies social media video creation with an extensive library of customizable templates and music options. Sora and Synthesia utilize generative AI for automatic video creation, offering professional avatars and multilingual support for diverse content. Capsule streamlines video production workflows with AI integration, ensuring branding consistency and facilitating collaborative projects. Descript: Best for Editing Video by Editing the Script Have you ever wished you could edit a video as easily as you edit a document? Descript makes this possible with its unique text-based editing feature, allowing you to modify your video by directly editing the script. This ai YouTube video editor automatically generates transcripts, enabling you to highlight and create shareable clips from specific moments effortlessly. Built-in templates for social media help you quickly export clips optimized for various platforms, saving you time. Moreover, Descript’s AI efficiently identifies engaging moments in your videos, so you can produce highlight reels with minimal effort. Its intuitive interface offers an easy learning curve, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced editors looking to streamline their video editing process. Wondershare Filmora: Best for Polishing Videos With AI Tools Wondershare Filmora stands out with its AI-powered editing features that greatly improve video quality. You can utilize tools like the smart cutout to easily remove unwanted elements from your footage and the audio denoise capability to enhance sound clarity. These features not just streamline the editing process but additionally guarantee your videos look and sound professional. AI-Powered Editing Features In the domain of video editing, AI-powered features can greatly improve the quality of your content and streamline the editing process. Wondershare Filmora stands out as an excellent ai clip maker, integrating advanced AI tools like audio denoise and automatic video adjustments. These features elevate your videos’ overall quality as well as reducing the time spent on manual editing tasks. Filmora likewise offers extensive learning resources, making it user-friendly for beginners enthusiastic to maximize these AI capabilities. You can start with a free plan to explore the platform, even if this version includes a watermark on exported videos. For those seeking a more professional finish, the Basic plan at $49.99 per year provides advanced features without watermarks, catering to serious content creators. Smart Cutout Tool The Smart Cutout tool in Wondershare Filmora offers a strong solution for content creators looking to improve their video projects. This AI-driven feature automatically detects and removes backgrounds, allowing you to isolate subjects with ease. It’s perfect for achieving polished, professional results without extensive manual editing. Feature Benefit AI Background Removal Automatically detects and removes backgrounds User-Friendly Effortless isolation of subjects in footage Format Compatibility Supports various video types and projects Learning Resources Extensive guidance for ideal tool usage With the Smart Cutout tool, you’ll boost your video editing capabilities and create visually striking content suitable for everything from social media clips to corporate presentations. Audio Denoise Capability How can you improve the audio quality of your videos without extensive editing knowledge? Wondershare Filmora’s audio denoise capability is your solution. This advanced tool effectively removes background noise, improving audio clarity, especially in noisy environments. With Filmora, you can easily adjust the level of noise reduction, ensuring that important elements like dialogue and music remain clear as you minimize unwanted sounds. Moreover, Filmora offers AI-powered audio enhancements, including automatic audio synchronization, which simplifies editing soundtracks and voiceovers. Its user-friendly interface allows even beginners to utilize the audio denoise feature with ease, making it accessible for everyone. Sora: Best for Generative AI With Advanced Tools Sora stands out as a premier tool for content creators who want to leverage generative AI for video production. This platform acts as an automatic clip generator, enabling you to create videos from simple prompts quickly and efficiently. With its unique storyboard capability, you can manage your narrative scene-by-scene, providing improved control over your video projects. Sora also allows the remixing of existing videos, giving you the flexibility to build on previous content and refine your work. Furthermore, you can upload images to Sora, which can be animated within your videos, broadening your visual storytelling options. As part of the ChatGPT Plus subscription, it offers 50 priority video generations at 720p quality for just $20/month, with a Pro plan for upgraded features. Capsule: Best for Simplifying Video Production Workflows When you’re looking to streamline your video production workflow, Capsule offers a solution that integrates AI technology to improve efficiency. This clipmaker website simplifies the creation and application of design systems, enabling you to produce high-quality videos without extensive technical skills. Capsule‘s intuitive interface allows for faster content turnaround, whereas its automated video formatting and customizable templates help maintain branding consistency. These features minimize manual editing efforts, greatly reducing the time spent on editing tasks. Additionally, Capsule supports collaborative projects, letting teams work together seamlessly on video creation. This capability is crucial for modern content production environments, enhancing overall productivity and ensuring that you can focus on what matters most—creating engaging content. Invideo AI: Best for Producing Social Media Videos Invideo AI stands out for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for you to create engaging social media videos without prior experience. With versatile video templates customized for various platforms, you can streamline your production process and improve your content’s appeal. This combination of accessibility and customization empowers you to produce professional-quality videos quickly and efficiently. User-Friendly Interface Creating social media videos can be a challenging task, especially for those new to content creation, but InVideo AI simplifies this process with its user-friendly interface. As a strong youtube clip maker, it allows you to focus on storytelling without getting overwhelmed by technicalities. Here’s what makes it user-friendly: Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Functionality: Easily edit your videos with minimal effort, allowing for quick adjustments. Pre-Designed Templates: Access a library of templates that help maintain a consistent brand aesthetic across your projects. Multiple Formats and Aspect Ratios: Guarantee your videos are optimized for various social media platforms without extensive adjustments. Versatile Video Templates The versatility of video templates offered by InVideo AI greatly improves the content creation process, especially for social media videos. With over 5,000 customizable options, you can easily find templates customized to various platforms and content types. These versatile video templates support auto video editing, making it simple for you to improve your projects quickly. InVideo AI provides features like voiceovers, text overlays, and smooth shifts, perfect for creating engaging faceless videos and B-roll footage. Both beginners and experienced marketers can modify templates to fit their branding needs. Furthermore, the extensive music library and stock footage options raise the quality of your videos, allowing you to produce professional results without needing extra resources. Synthesia: Best for Using Digital Avatars In the domain of digital content creation, Synthesia stands out as an influential tool for those looking to utilize AI avatars in their videos. This platform offers several benefits that can improve your video production experience: High-Quality Digital Avatars: Create professional-looking videos without needing live actors. Multilingual Support: Easily generate video content in various languages, allowing you to reach a global audience. User-Friendly Interface: Quickly produce videos from text prompts, greatly reducing production time and effort. Synthesia is particularly effective for corporate training and marketing applications, helping businesses improve their communication strategies with visually appealing presentations. It’s likewise ideal for creators seeking privacy, as it enables the creation of faceless videos while delivering impactful messages. Vyond: Best for Creating Animated Characters From a Prompt With Vyond, you can transform simple text prompts into engaging animated characters, making it an ideal tool for content creators looking to add a dynamic visual element to their projects. As a youtube clip creator, you’ll appreciate Vyond’s customizable character templates, which represent various demographics and personalities. Its user-friendly interface allows you to create compelling animated videos without needing advanced animation skills. You can choose from different animation styles, including business-friendly, cartoonish, and whiteboard, catering to diverse audiences and purposes. Furthermore, Vyond’s collaborative features enable team members to work together seamlessly, boosting productivity and creativity in content creation. This versatility makes Vyond a top choice for anyone aiming to improve their animated content effectively. Frequently Asked Questions Which Video Editor Is Best for Content Creation? Choosing the best video editor for content creation depends on your specific needs. If you value text-based editing, Descript offers an intuitive approach. For polished production, Wondershare Filmora’s AI features improve quality. If you’re focused on engagement, OpusClip automatically generates clips from longer videos. Vizard.ai stands out at creating social media-friendly content, as Quso.ai streamlines editing with AI tools. Evaluate each option based on your editing style and audience engagement goals to find the right fit. What Is the Best Tool for Content Creation? The best tool for content creation depends on your specific needs. If you want efficient editing, tools like Descript streamline processes by allowing you to edit text directly. For quick clip generation, Quso.ai automatically identifies engaging segments. If you need to condense long videos, Revid.ai is ideal for multilingual content. Vizard.ai and OpusClip improve your workflow by transforming long videos into engaging clips, optimizing viewer engagement and reach across platforms. What Is the Best AI Video Generator for Content Creation? When considering the best AI video generator for content creation, Descript stands out with its text-based editing and automatic transcription features, allowing you to create clips effortlessly. OpusClip analyzes your video content to generate engaging short clips, boosting viewer engagement. For corporate training, Synthesia provides high-quality AI avatars. InVideo AI is perfect for social media with customized features, whereas Revid.ai thrives at summarizing longer videos into concise clips, accommodating multilingual needs. What Do Content Creators Use to Create Videos? To create videos, you often use a variety of tools customized to your needs. AI-powered platforms like Descript simplify editing with text-based features, whereas OpusClip automatically generates short clips from longer videos. For user-friendly interfaces, Vimeo and Canva are popular choices, offering templates for quick production. If you need advanced editing, Adobe Premiere Pro provides detailed customization. Social media tools like VEED.IO and Kapwing improve content creation with easy editing and collaboration options. Conclusion In conclusion, these seven clip makers offer diverse features customized to improve your content creation process. Whether you need advanced editing tools like Descript and Filmora, generative AI capabilities from Sora and Synthesia, or streamlined workflows with Capsule, each tool caters to specific needs. By leveraging these technologies, you can boost your video production, improve efficiency, and engage your audience effectively. Choose the one that aligns best with your goals to maximize your creative potential. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Best Clip Makers to Elevate Content Creation" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Beats Solo Buds are a popular choice in the wireless earbuds game, and right now they’re $39 (originally $69) at Walmart, which is even cheaper than Amazon’s lowest price ever of $49.95. A budget-friendly alternative to Apple’s other in-ear buds, they’re a top contender for those on a budget who still want high-quality sound. Beats Solo Buds $69.00 at Walmart Get Deal Get Deal $69.00 at Walmart Compared to the pricier Beats Studio Buds and Studio Buds +, they’re fairly no-frills, as CNET notes. They don’t come with a charging case, Active Noise Cancellation (only passive noise isolation), or other advanced features, but that’s to be expected at a fraction of the cost. Still, they deliver balanced sound with bright highs and deep bass, which is further enhanced when you play Dolby Atmos tracks. Battery life lasts up to 18 hours, and with fast charging via USB-C, five minutes of charging will give you around an hour of playback. Since the case doesn’t have an internal battery, it’s more compact, and pairing is seamless across both iOS and Android users. While the earbuds don’t have an official IPX rating, they are advertised as sweat and water-resistant, and come with four ear tip sizes for a more comfortable fit. Although the mic quality isn’t on par with the Studio Buds line, noise-learning algorithms and custom-designed mics work well for everyday calls. If you don’t need ANC and want compact earbuds at a low cost that still deliver great sound, the Beats Solo Buds are a solid choice for simple listening, especially at a $40 price point. However, if you plan to wear them for heavy sweat sessions or water spots, or if you commute in a very noisy environment, you may want to invest in the Beats Studio buds instead. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds — $84.99 (List Price $129.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $324.99 (List Price $349.00) Shark AV2501AE AI XL Hepa- Safe Self-Emptying Base Robot Vacuum — $294.99 (List Price $649.99) Apple Watch Series 10 — $279.00 (List Price $429.00) Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $297.98 (List Price $399.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Wireless Security Camera (5-Pack) — $159.99 (List Price $399.99) Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus 1080p Security Camera (White) — $99.99 (List Price $179.99) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $24.99 (List Price $49.99) NEW Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $299.00 (List Price $429.00) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

A chaotic week has raised the risks around this month’s crucial BudgetView the full article

The fintech had over $2 billion in home equity line of credit volume in the third quarter and reported growing production in its crypto and non-QM offerings. View the full article

YouTube is rolling out a beta feature that automatically lowers costs for underperforming Demand Gen Target CPA (tCPA) campaigns, aiming to keep advertisers closer to their desired CPA during the volatile learning phase. Why we care. The update gives advertisers a financial cushion during the earliest — and often most unstable — phase of YouTube campaigns, where conversion predictions can swing widely. It’s a rare instance of Google proactively refunding spend to protect performance targets. How it works: The system monitors new Demand Gen tCPA campaigns during the learning phase. If conversions fall below what Google predicted, it may retroactively reduce costs to keep CPAs more aligned with the advertiser’s target. The adjustment activates within five days of launch and can run for up to three weeks. Advertisers won’t see separate credits or line items — just a final reported cost that has been quietly recalibrated. What it means for advertisers. Google is trying to smooth out early-stage performance volatility, giving its algorithms more room to learn while reducing the financial risk for marketers. Between the lines. Eligibility hinges on account quality, tracking hygiene, and consistent best practices — and even then, the adjustment isn’t guaranteed. The feature may apply only on certain days or for certain campaigns. The bottom line. YouTube’s performance-based cost adjustment is a small but significant shift: Google is now willing to share part of the risk during campaign learning, making Demand Gen a gentler on-ramp for performance advertisers. View the full article

Investigations come as US president’s own links to the late child sex offender roil his supportersView the full article

With the increase in investor-owned properties, the risk of undisclosed real estate fraud, including occupancy misrepresentation, rose 9% in the third quarter. View the full article

National security document outlines intelligence on tech support given to PLA ‘operations’View the full article

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to powdered dietary supplements. According to the latest update from the agency, the outbreak has sickened almost a dozen people, with three hospitalized. The outbreak has also sparked multiple product recalls. Here’s what to know: What’s happened? On Wednesday, November 12, Brooklyn-based Food to Live voluntarily recalled its “Organic Moringa Leaf Powder” and “Organic Supergreens Powder Mix” products due to a risk of Salmonella contamination. These products were distributed through retail and wholesale channels nationwide. The FDA published a recall notice on Thursday, November 13. Both recalled products contain moringa leaf powder supplied by Vallon Farmdirect PVT LTD of Johdpur, India. The ingredient, which is sold in multiple dietary supplements, is linked to the Salmonella outbreak. Earlier in October and November, products containing the same ingredient were also recalled. Those products were branded as Member’s Mark and Africa Imports. To date, 11 illnesses across seven states have been reported in connection with products containing moringa leaf powder from the same lot. Which products are impacted by the recalls? The Food to Live product recall was initiated after the FDA notified the company that a specific supplier lot of organic moringa powder tested positive for Salmonella. The following products are included in the most recent recall: Organic Moringa Leaf Powder: Sold in 8-ounce, 1-pound, 2-pound, 4-pound, 8-pound, 16-pound, and 44-pound bags. Organic Supergreens Powder Mix: Sold in 8-ounce, 1-pound, 1.5-pound, 3-pound, 6-pound, and 12-pound bags. The recalled products were sold directly on the Food To Live website and were shipped to customers nationwide. The products were also sold on third-party e-commerce platforms, including: Amazon.com Walmart.com Target Etsy eBay Bulk quantities from the affected lot were sold to food manufacturers and other businesses. Other products containing moringa powder were recalled earlier. They were sold at various retailers, both in-store and online, have been likewise linked to the outbreak. The following products were recalled earlier: Africa Imports Organic Moringa Leaf Powder: Sold in a 1-kilogram box on the Africa Imports website after June 5, 2025. Member’s Mark Super Greens dietary supplement powder: All packages, regardless of lot codes or best buy/use by dates. The product was sold at Sam’s Club stores nationwide, in-store and online. All recalled products were manufactured using a single lot of recalled organic moringa leaf powder supplied by Vallon Farmdirect, a food producer based in Johdpur, India. What if I have one of these recalled products? Consumers who have purchased any of the above recalled products should dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase. Distributors and retailers that have received recalled moringa leaf powder manufactured by Vallon Farmdirect should not use, sell, or distribute any products or ingredients containing it, the FDA says. Where has the outbreak spread? The FDA is currently investigating this Salmonella outbreak. The FDA’s Moringa Leaf Powder Salmonella outbreak investigation page was last updated on November 13, 2025. A list of recalled product, product images, and other details about the investigation are available. The FDA has reported 11 illnesses, with three people hospitalized. Illnesses have been reported in the following states: Florida Kansas Michigan New York North Carolina South Carolina Virginia What symptoms should I look out for? Salmonella infection is a bacterial disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract. It’s commonly spread through contaminated food or water. According to the Mayo Clinic, most people develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps within 8 to 72 hours after exposure. Most healthy people recover within a few days to one week without needing specific treatment. Some people have no symptoms at all. If you think you have developed symptoms of Salmonella, contact a healthcare provider. View the full article

Lawyers representing OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, branches of the Sackler family that own it, cities, states, counties, Native American tribes, people with addiction and others across the U.S. are expected to deliver a nearly unanimous message for a bankruptcy court judge Friday: Approve a plan to settle thousands of opioid-related lawsuits against the company. If U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane abides, it will close a long chapter — and maybe the entire book — on a legal odyssey over efforts to hold the company to account for its role in an opioid crisis connected to 900,000 deaths in the U.S. since 1999, including deaths from heroin and illicit fentanyl. Closing arguments were expected Friday in the third day of a hearing over a bankruptcy plan for the company, which filed for protection six years ago as it faced lawsuits with claims that grew to trillions of dollars. The opposition is much quieter this time around The saga has been emotional and full of contentious arguments between the many groups that took Purdue to court, often exposing a possible mismatch between the quest for justice and the practical role of bankruptcy court. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a previous deal because it said it was improper for Sackler family members to receive immunity from lawsuits over opioids. In the new arrangement, entities who don’t opt into the settlement can sue them. Family members are collectively worth billions, but much of their assets are held in trusts in offshore accounts that would be hard to access through lawsuits. This time, the government groups involved have reached an even fuller consensus and there’s been mostly subdued opposition from individuals. Out of more than 54,000 personal injury victims who voted on whether the plan should be accepted. just 218 said no. A larger number of people who are part of that group didn’t vote. A handful of objectors spoke Thursday at the hearing, sometimes interrupting the judge. Some said that only the victims, not the states and other government entities, should receive the funds in the settlement. Others wanted the judge to find the members of the Sackler family criminally liable — something Lane said is beyond the scope of the bankruptcy court, but that the settlement doesn’t bar prosecutors from pursuing. A Florida woman whose husband struggled with addiction after being given OxyContin following an accident told the court that the deal isn’t enough. “The natural laws of karma suggest the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma should pay for what they have done,” Pamela Bartz Halaschak said via video. Deal would be among the biggest opioid settlements A flood of lawsuits filed by government entities against Purdue and other drugmakers, drug wholesalers and pharmacy chains began about a decade ago. Most of the major ones have already settled for a total of about $50 billion, with most of the money going to fight the opioid crisis. The Purdue deal would rank among the largest of them. Members of the Sackler family would be required to pay up to $7 billion and give up ownership of the company. None have been on its board or received payments since 2018. Unlike a similar hearing four years ago, none were called to testify in this week’s hearing. The company would get a name change and new overseers who would dedicate future profits to battling the opioid crisis. There are also some non-financial provisions. Certain members of the Sackler family would be required to give up involvement in companies that sell opioids in other countries. Family members would also be barred from having their names added to institutions in exchange for charitable contributions. The name has already been removed from museums and universities. And company documents, including many that would normally be subject to lawyer-client privilege, are to be made public. Some people hurt by Purdue’s opioids would receive some money Unlike the other major opioid settlements, individuals harmed by Purdue’s products would be in line for some money as part of the settlement. About $850 million would be set aside for them, with more than $100 million of that amount carved out to help children born dealing with opioid withdrawal. About 139,000 people have active claims for the money. Many of them, however, have not shown proof that they were prescribed Purdue’s opioids and will receive nothing. Lawyers expect that those who had prescriptions for at least six months would receive about $16,000 each and those who had them more briefly would get around $8,000. Legal fees would reduce what people actually receive. One woman who had a family member suffer from opioid addiction told the court by video Thursday that the settlement doesn’t help people with substance use disorder. “Tell me how you guys can sleep at night knowing people are going to get so little money they can’t do anything with it,” asked Laureen Ferrante of Staten Island, New York. Most of the money is to go to state and local governments to be used in their efforts to mitigate damage of the opioid epidemic. Overdose death numbers have been dropping in the past few years, a decline experts believe is partly due to the impact of settlement dollars. —Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press View the full article

Today, short-form videos dominate our free time (and our working time, at that)—but this wasn't always the case. Before the likes of TikTok and Instagram Reels, online video content was more long-form than not. It might have felt short by the standards of cable TV, but many of the videos on platforms like YouTube were regularly anywhere from two to 10 minutes, if not longer. The first platform to really popularize short-form content as we think of it now was Vine. These videos were short—a maximum of six seconds at a time, which should have spelled the platform's doom. Who would want to watch these tiny videos back to back for hours at a time? A lot of us, apparently. Vine compilations garner millions (if not tens of millions) of views on YouTube. While the Twitter-owned platform only lasted about five years, it established itself as a true cultural phenomenon. Quote the first half of a popular vine to a group of young millennials or Gen Zs, and, chances are, they'll finish the line. For years, us Vine fans have longed for someone to bring the app back. Sure, short-form video has never been more addicting, but it's just not the same. Videos on Vine had a much different feel than most of the content you see on TikTok. Maybe it was the limited runtime; maybe it was the stripped-down recording interface. But to me, Vine feels like early YouTube: homemade, indie, and fun. Divine is the new VineIt seems that experience might actually be making a comeback. A new app, Divine, is trying to recreate the magic of those six-second loops. Divine, built by former Twitter employee Evan Henshaw-Plath and funded by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, is meant to be a platform to share vines old and new. Of course, you can upload fresh six-second clips, but the app will also feature 150,000 to 200,000 "archived" vines from roughly 60,000 creators. You won't have to rely on those Vine compilations anymore—you can watch those classic clips directly on Divine. Those videos aren't scraped from YouTube compilations, either. According to TechCrunch, Vine's original library was stored by the organization "Archive Team" in a huge but largely inaccessible archive. Henshaw-Plath studied the library, extracting as much data as possible to build profiles for the original Vine accounts and display metrics like views and original comments. Though not all Vines were archived, including "millions of K-pop-focused videos," Henshaw-Plath believes "a good percentage" are available on Divine. Vine creators can choose to either take down their videos from Divine or take over their profiles on the app, so long as they prove their identities. Divine is also a decentralized social media platform running on the Nostr protocol. That means no one company owns it, which means your content is your content. When you post, your videos are tied to you via private keys, so you can always prove ownership. Plus, there are no user-specific algorithms. You have to choose what you want to watch, or jump into an algorithm created by the Divine community. My favorite part of this experiment, however? No AI. At a time when other social media platforms are inundated with hyperrealistic videos from generators like Sora, Divine has a strict no-AI policy. Divine uses tech from the Guardian Project to confirm whether a video was filmed on a smartphone. If the system detects a video is artificial, it gets taken down. It's enough to make this tech editor shed a (joyful) tear. How to join DivineAs you might expect, there's a lot of demand to try Divine at launch. At this time, the company says its beta test is full. However, you can sign up for the waitlist to be notified when more spots open up. You can also browse clips on the platform's web app right now, even without an account, but I've found it to be a bit glitchy. View the full article

A team of researchers has uncovered what they say is the first reported use of artificial intelligence to direct a hacking campaign in a largely automated fashion. The AI company Anthropic said this week that it disrupted a cyber operation that its researchers linked to the Chinese government. The operation involved the use of an artificial intelligence system to direct the hacking campaigns, which researchers called a disturbing development that could greatly expand the reach of AI-equipped hackers. While concerns about the use of AI to drive cyber operations are not new, what is concerning about the new operation is the degree to which AI was able to automate some of the work, the researchers said. “While we predicted these capabilities would continue to evolve, what has stood out to us is how quickly they have done so at scale,” they wrote in their report. The operation was modest in scope and only targeted about 30 individuals who worked at tech companies, financial institutions, chemical companies, and government agencies. Anthropic noticed the operation in September and took steps to shut it down and notify the affected parties. The hackers only “succeeded in a small number of cases,” according to Anthropic, which noted that while AI systems are increasingly being used in a variety of settings for work and leisure, they can also be weaponized by hacking groups working for foreign adversaries. Anthropic, maker of the generative AI chatbot Claude, is one of many tech companies pitching AI “agents” that go beyond a chatbot’s capability to access computer tools and take actions on a person’s behalf. “Agents are valuable for everyday work and productivity — but in the wrong hands, they can substantially increase the viability of large-scale cyberattacks,” the researchers concluded. “These attacks are likely to only grow in their effectiveness.” A spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the report. Microsoft warned earlier this year that foreign adversaries were increasingly embracing AI to make their cyber campaigns more efficient and less labor-intensive. America’s adversaries, as well as criminal gangs and hacking companies, have exploited AI’s potential, using it to automate and improve cyberattacks, to spread inflammatory disinformation, and to penetrate sensitive systems. AI can translate poorly worded phishing emails into fluent English, for example, as well as generate digital clones of senior government officials. View the full article

President Donald The President has worked to blame Democrats for the government shutdown, but a majority of Americans are unconvinced that it’s Democrats’ fault. The President’s administration has used the levers of the state to communicate partisan messages during the shutdown, which ended November 13. Ultimately, however, messaging through government channels like web design, out-of-office email replies, and public service announcements weren’t enough. A 52% majority of Americans blame The President or Republican lawmakers for the shutdown, according to a poll this week from Stack Data Strategy, a London market research firm. That’s in line with an NBC News poll last month that found 52% blamed The President and Republican lawmakers. And a YouGov poll released last week found more voters rate how Democrats in Congress handled the shutdown slightly better than The President or Republicans in Congress. These are slim majorities, but they also show the limits of The President’s influence over public opinion when it comes to the shutdown. “Nobody wins in a shutdown,” Kenneth Cosgrove, a professor in the department of political science and legal studies at Suffolk University, tells Fast Company in an email. “The question is which party gets more of the blame? Traditionally it’s been Congress just because of the media and marketing advantages the executive branch has.” But The President himself hasn’t been fully engaged with ending the shutdown as his attention has been split between other efforts, including trips abroad to the Middle East and Asia, and overseeing his White House renovation project. The President “wasn’t very visible,” during the shutdown, Cosgrove says. “Plus, how many people look at government websites on a regular basis? Probably not that many.” Most people aren’t browsing the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website, where a bright red banner for the duration of the shutdown said “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government.” And because major airports refused to air a video filmed with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the shutdown, many travelers didn’t see it even as they spent extra hours at the airport due to delays and cancellations. With any political messaging, there are two important questions: “How many people actually saw or heard the message, and what else were they seeing or hearing?” says Yana Krupnikov, a professor of communications and media at the University of Michigan. “The information environment around us is so full—yes, we have messages on websites and out-of-office emails, but we also have news coverage from various sources, and we have people on social media. People also talk to each other,” Krupnikov says. It’s also not as if Democrats come out of the shutdown unscathed. The deal to reopen the government came from a handful of Senate Democrats who crossed party lines. The resulting deal doesn’t include Affordable Care Act subsidies, meaning millions of Americans’ health insurance premiums are expected to go up. The deal to reopen the government is unpopular with many Democratic lawmakers, including Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Chris Murphy of Connecticut. Still, it turns out tearing down the East Wing draws more attention than a Department of Education OOO message ever could, and SNAP cuts and canceled flights resonate more deeply with the public than a White House website shutdown countdown clock blaming Democrats. In a busy news environment, it’s hard to break through, even for The President. View the full article

Zoom is stepping up to the plate for small business owners by acquiring Bonsai, a platform dedicated to streamlining operations for freelancers and solopreneurs. This move not only broadens Zoom’s suite of AI-first workplace tools but also aims to simplify the process of managing client interactions—from initial contact to final payment. In a press release, Zoom emphasized their excitement about integrating Bonsai’s functionalities into their existing services. This acquisition combines the strengths of Zoom’s collaborative tools—like Meetings, Webinars, Team Chat, and the Zoom AI Companion—with Bonsai’s project management, proposal generation, time tracking, and invoicing capabilities. Bonsai will maintain its identity as a standalone platform even after the acquisition, which is expected to finalize by the end of 2025. Zoom has made it clear that their long-term vision is to incorporate Bonsai’s tools directly into the Zoom ecosystem. This integration could transform how small businesses operate by offering multiple functionalities in one place, effectively reducing the administrative burden. Key Benefits for Small Business Owners: The merger brings several key advantages for small business owners: Holistic Management: With tools for client management, project tracking, invoicing, and communication housed under one umbrella, small businesses can handle all aspects of client relations efficiently. Improved Efficiency: By integrating the Bonsai platform’s functions with Zoom’s already robust meeting and collaboration tools, businesses can save time that would otherwise be spent switching between different applications. Seamless Payments: Handling invoicing and payments within the same platform is likely to streamline cash flow processes, making financial management far less cumbersome. User-Friendly Tools: Bonsai’s focus on simplicity aligns with the goals of many small business owners seeking easy-to-use solutions without the steep learning curves often associated with extensive software suites. Zoom’s Chief Product Officer offers insight into their vision: “We are excited to enhance our solution set… Together, Zoom and Bonsai will support small business owners and solopreneurs.” Real-World Implications: The acquisition comes at a pivotal time as small businesses increasingly seek integrated solutions to manage their operations more efficiently. For instance, marketing agencies managing multiple clients can use these united tools to streamline project timelines and keep communication transparent, ultimately leading to happier clients and increased referrals. However, there are potential challenges that small business owners should consider. The successful integration of Bonsai’s tools into Zoom’s platform will require effective execution. If poorly managed, it could lead to complications that small businesses might not have the bandwidth to tackle. Moreover, as the transaction is expected to close by 2025, small business owners may need to weigh whether to invest in Bonsai now or wait for Zoom’s tools to be fully integrated. Those who are already using Bonsai may have concerns about future updates and how well they will mesh with Zoom’s existing features. In summary, Zoom’s acquisition of Bonsai represents a significant step toward equipping small business owners with streamlined, efficient tools designed to facilitate growth and collaboration. The promise of an integrated workspace can ease everyday pressures, but business owners must remain vigilant about how these changes play out in real-time. For further details, you can read the full announcement here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Zoom Expands Services for Small Businesses with Bonsai Integration" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Zoom is stepping up to the plate for small business owners by acquiring Bonsai, a platform dedicated to streamlining operations for freelancers and solopreneurs. This move not only broadens Zoom’s suite of AI-first workplace tools but also aims to simplify the process of managing client interactions—from initial contact to final payment. In a press release, Zoom emphasized their excitement about integrating Bonsai’s functionalities into their existing services. This acquisition combines the strengths of Zoom’s collaborative tools—like Meetings, Webinars, Team Chat, and the Zoom AI Companion—with Bonsai’s project management, proposal generation, time tracking, and invoicing capabilities. Bonsai will maintain its identity as a standalone platform even after the acquisition, which is expected to finalize by the end of 2025. Zoom has made it clear that their long-term vision is to incorporate Bonsai’s tools directly into the Zoom ecosystem. This integration could transform how small businesses operate by offering multiple functionalities in one place, effectively reducing the administrative burden. Key Benefits for Small Business Owners: The merger brings several key advantages for small business owners: Holistic Management: With tools for client management, project tracking, invoicing, and communication housed under one umbrella, small businesses can handle all aspects of client relations efficiently. Improved Efficiency: By integrating the Bonsai platform’s functions with Zoom’s already robust meeting and collaboration tools, businesses can save time that would otherwise be spent switching between different applications. Seamless Payments: Handling invoicing and payments within the same platform is likely to streamline cash flow processes, making financial management far less cumbersome. User-Friendly Tools: Bonsai’s focus on simplicity aligns with the goals of many small business owners seeking easy-to-use solutions without the steep learning curves often associated with extensive software suites. Zoom’s Chief Product Officer offers insight into their vision: “We are excited to enhance our solution set… Together, Zoom and Bonsai will support small business owners and solopreneurs.” Real-World Implications: The acquisition comes at a pivotal time as small businesses increasingly seek integrated solutions to manage their operations more efficiently. For instance, marketing agencies managing multiple clients can use these united tools to streamline project timelines and keep communication transparent, ultimately leading to happier clients and increased referrals. However, there are potential challenges that small business owners should consider. The successful integration of Bonsai’s tools into Zoom’s platform will require effective execution. If poorly managed, it could lead to complications that small businesses might not have the bandwidth to tackle. Moreover, as the transaction is expected to close by 2025, small business owners may need to weigh whether to invest in Bonsai now or wait for Zoom’s tools to be fully integrated. Those who are already using Bonsai may have concerns about future updates and how well they will mesh with Zoom’s existing features. In summary, Zoom’s acquisition of Bonsai represents a significant step toward equipping small business owners with streamlined, efficient tools designed to facilitate growth and collaboration. The promise of an integrated workspace can ease everyday pressures, but business owners must remain vigilant about how these changes play out in real-time. For further details, you can read the full announcement here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Zoom Expands Services for Small Businesses with Bonsai Integration" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Most of what people are calling “AI SEO” right now is just legacy SEO with new buzzwords. AI SEO is different. When you look at how AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI Mode actually source and compress information, there are things you can do that literally did not exist in the Google 10-blue-links world. This article walks through those AI SEO-only tactics, backed with real data, not wishful thinking. The context: clicks are collapsing, but answers are not You already feel this in your numbers. A few facts to anchor the conversation: Studies on Google’s AI Overviews showed click-through rates to top organic results drop by roughly 30 to 35% when an AI summary appears, with some categories and publishers reporting losses of 40 to 80% of search traffic on affected queries. One analysis using Similarweb data found news traffic from Google fell from about 2.3 billion to under 1.7 billion visits in a year as zero-click searches grew from 56 to 69% once AI summaries were rolled out. A Semrush study across 10 million keywords showed AI Overviews now appear on a meaningful share of queries, skewed heavily toward informational intent, and are already reshaping how visibility works by consolidating multiple sources into a single AI-generated answer. At the same time, the AI market is compounding at north of 30% CAGR, with estimates taking total AI spend into the low trillions by the early 2030s. So the demand for answers is not going away; it’s moving. Traditional SEO optimizes for documents that win clicks on a results page. AI SEO optimizes for facts, entities, and evidence that win a place inside the answer itself. Below are 12 tactics that exist only in that second world. 1. Prompt graph coverage Traditional SEO treats a query as a single unit that maps to one page. Generative engines do something very different. They break a query into a graph of sub-tasks, fetch information for each node, then recombine it. Google has been explicit about AI Overviews using “multi-step reasoning” to handle complex questions in one shot. Academic work on AI SEO supports this: experiments with AI search functions demonstrate that they fan-out queries into sub-questions and then synthesize information across multiple sources, particularly for comparisons and multifaceted tasks. AI SEO-only move: you model that graph yourself. Map the parent query into its predictable sub-questions. Build self-contained sections that fully resolve each sub-task. Make each section independently “liftable” for that micro-intent. You are not just writing for “best project management software.” You are writing for: “criteria for agencies” “comparison vs spreadsheets” “pricing breakdown by seat” “implementation timeline” Each of those needs its own atomic, well-titled, well-structured passage. SEO can target a long-tail keyword cluster. It cannot explicitly optimize for the model’s internal reasoning graph. 2. LLM seeding Search engines do not absorb your content into their ranking brain. LLMs do. Research and practitioner studies on AI search show a consistent bias toward earned, neutral sources like Wikipedia, government and standards bodies, and community documentation, far above brand-owned marketing pages. Backlinko’s AI SEO and AI optimization work calls this out bluntly: “if you want to be cited, you have to show up in the surfaces models actually scrape and trust, not just your own site.” AI SEO-only move: Publish definitions, glossaries, and FAQs in neutral, public locations. Contribute to documentation, standards, and community Q&A where models learn their base facts. Seed Q&A style content in forums and public repos that are heavily used for training. You are not asking “how do I rank this URL?” You are asking “where will the model learn the canonical version of this concept, and how can I be that source?” 3. Passage-level retrieval optimization Classic SEO mostly ranks at the URL level. Generative engines retrieve at the passage level. Empirical audits of AI answer engines using frameworks like AI SEO-16 show that what gets cited is not an entire page but specific chunks scoring well on structure, metadata, and semantics. AI SEO-only move: Treat every H2/H3 as a self-contained answer that can be ripped out of context. Include the full claim, the qualifiers, and the proof in that one passage. Avoid forcing the reader (or model) to scroll around the page to rebuild the logic. The goal is to be the cleanest “reference paragraph” on the internet for a given micro-question. SEO can help that page rank. AI SEO is about making the one paragraph the model wants to quote. 4. Citation-ready evidence packaging Generative engines need to justify their answers. When researchers looked at what kinds of pages AI answer engines cite most often, they found strong positive signals for: structured data, semantic HTML, clear headings, and explicit evidence like tables and stats. At the same time, hallucination studies show that models are more likely to invent details when they lack concrete, verifiable facts in their retrieval set. AI SEO-only move: Package numbers, ranges, and timelines in tight, machine-readable formats: tables, bulleted comparisons, glossaries, checklists. Always pair a strong claim with a concrete stat and a source. Make it trivial for the model to lift three sentences and a table as “the proof block” inside its answer. It is not enough to be true. You have to be structured in a way that makes truth easy to reuse. 5. Neutrality engineering Models are aggressively tuned to avoid “salesy” language and unsupported claims. There is growing evidence that generative engines overweight neutral, non-promotional sources and downweight obviously commercial copy, especially in early stages of answer construction. On top of that, Google explicitly broadened its definition of “spam” to include shallow content that brings no unique perspective or depth, especially in the context of AI Overviews. AI SEO-only move: Strip product copy of marketing fluff in pages you want cited. Lead with facts, comparisons, and third-party validation. Put opinion and positioning into separate layers that are not competing to be the “neutral evidence paragraph.” You can still sell. Just do not try to be both the lawyer and the judge inside the same paragraph. 6. Brand-entity memory alignment Search engines mostly care that your page matches the query and passes quality thresholds. LLMs care about whether your entity is understood and consistently described across the corpus. Academic and practitioner studies on AI search show large variance in how different engines frame the same brand, with systematic bias toward well-known entities and clean, consistent profiles. AI SEO-only move: Decide what the canonical facts are for your brand: who you are, what you do, where you operate, who you serve. Make those facts consistent across high-authority surfaces: your site, Wikipedia if you have one, Crunchbase, major directories, partner listings, and media profiles. Correct outdated or conflicting descriptions wherever you can. You are training the model on who you are, not just what your title tag says. 7. Competitor co-occurrence hijacking Comparative prompts are where a lot of real buying intent lives. AI answer engines handle those by pulling in multiple entity clusters and then synthesizing an answer. AI SEO research and observational data across tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity show that the brands that consistently appear in “vs” and “best for X” answers tend to have rich, neutral coverage in earned media and comparison-style content. AI SEO-only move: Intentionally place your brand into objective, third-party comparison content that is likely to be used as training or retrieval data. Publish high-quality comparisons where you and key competitors are both treated seriously, with real trade-offs, not hit pieces. Encourage analysts, reviewers, and power users to include you in “shortlist” style content that will be scraped as category context. Traditional SEO lets you fight for competitor keywords and maybe win a slot. AI SEO lets you become part of the default peer set that the model thinks about when anyone asks for options. 8. Source blending strategy In AI search, the “SERP” is not a page. It is a blend of surfaces: Brand sites Documentation Q&A threads Academic papers Government or standards bodies News Product reviews Semrush’s AI Visibility Index work and independent AI SEO analyses both show that generative engines pull from a much more diverse domain set than classic search, with a bias toward community and documentation sources for many categories. AI SEO-only move: Design your presence as an ecosystem, not a website. For each topic you care about, identify the top non-Google surfaces that influence LLMs in that niche and get credible representation there. Use consistent phrasing and facts across those surfaces so the model sees a clean pattern, not noise. You are optimizing for corpus composition, not one index. 9. LLM-friendly specification publishing One thing models are genuinely good at is snapping to structure. Across multiple AI optimization case studies, content that performs best in generative answers tends to include: Explicit definitions Parameter lists Formulas or frameworks Stepwise instructions Constraint and edge-case handling AI SEO-only move: Expose your core frameworks as specifications: “To qualify as X, something must satisfy A, B, C”. Turn fuzzy positioning into explicit decision trees that the model can re-use. Document your methodologies in public, detail-rich formats. You are giving the model something better than marketing copy. You are giving it a reusable schema. 10. Training-surface expansion An entire industry is forming around AI SEO, with market estimates projecting tens of billions in spend over the next decade as brands realize that AI search is not a sideshow. That spend is not going to a single index. AI SEO-only move: Identify training-adjacent surfaces in your vertical: open datasets, public PDFs, GitHub repos, standards, academic or quasi-academic reports. Place your best explanations and evidence there in permissive formats that are likely to be ingested or at least retrievable. Treat every public artifact as a potential training seed, not just a lead magnet. This is not about “letting models train on your content” blindly. It is about choosing where and how they encounter your version of reality. 11. Anti-hallucination engineering Hallucination is not theoretical. Benchmarks (e.g., Vectara’s hallucination leaderboard) and academic work (e.g., HalluLens and similar studies show) that even top models still produce fabricated details in a noticeable share of responses, especially for low-coverage or ambiguous topics. For brands, the risk is simple: when the model does not know enough about you, it will make something up. AI SEO-only move: Publish short, high-signal fact sheets about your brand, products, pricing models, and policies in multiple neutral locations. Eliminate contradictory public claims where possible. Track how AI systems currently describe you and correct the most harmful inaccuracies with targeted content and outreach. You are not going to drive hallucination risk to zero. But you can move from “the model guesses in the dark” to “the model snaps to one of several consistent, well-documented descriptions.” 12. Mention vs. citation optimization In AI search, there are three very different states: You are not mentioned at all. You are mentioned in the narrative, but not cited. You are both mentioned and cited as evidence. Backlinko’s AI optimization research, Semrush’s AI search studies, and new academic work on AI answer engine citation behavior all converge on the same point: citation patterns are systematic and correlate with specific on-page and cross-site quality signals. AI SEO-only move: Engineer pages for both narrative suitability and citation quality: clear purpose, tight scope, strong metadata, structured data, and external corroboration. Build out earned media so that third-party sites can be cited even when your own domain is used more in the narrative. Measure where you currently sit in each state across engines and design campaigns that explicitly try to move you “up the ladder.” Traditional SEO had “impression versus click.” AI SEO has “mention versus citation,” and it is at least as important. The uncomfortable balance A few realities worth stating clearly: AI summaries are driving up zero-click behavior and compressing traffic to publishers, with documented CTR declines ranging from ~15 to 80 % depending on query type and vertical. Google and other platforms continue to claim “higher quality clicks” and greater satisfaction, while simultaneously rolling these features out more deeply into search. LLMs still hallucinate, and there is no credible path to complete elimination, only mitigation via better grounding and evaluation. You cannot fix those macro forces as an individual brand. What you can do is play the game that actually exists: Stop treating AI answers as a curiosity layered on top of SEO. Start treating AI SEO as its own channel, with its own levers, its own measurement, and its own content patterns. Design content not just to rank, but to be retrieved, trusted, and reused by generative systems. Traditional SEO is not dead. It is just no longer the whole funnel. View the full article

Do they understand what you’re offering? By Hitendra Patil Client Accounting Services: The Definitive Success Guide Go PRO for members-only access to more Hitendra Patil. View the full article

Do they understand what you’re offering? By Hitendra Patil Client Accounting Services: The Definitive Success Guide Go PRO for members-only access to more Hitendra Patil. View the full article