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Voters are particularly disillusioned with what they say is UK’s ‘broken social contract’View the full article

Dealmaker chief is clinging to his ambition to build a pan-European banking powerhouse despite M&A roadblocksView the full article

British Chambers of Commerce urge ministers to do more to help exportersView the full article

Google DeepMind, Anthropic and Microsoft are trying to prevent ‘indirect prompt injection attacks’ by hackersView the full article

Chief executives voice fears about impact on recruitment ahead of expected rise in Budget View the full article

Wi-Fi 8 is a hot topic and now might be a good time to dig into what the upcoming standard is all about. The post Looking for more details on Wi-Fi 8? Intel’s white paper is the most comprehensive yet appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

Cambridgeshire attack is second mass knife crime incident in less than a weekView the full article

Average time to complete a deal has fallen to four monthsView the full article

For decades now, tech companies have been promising us a future straight out of Star Trek. Instead of being confined to phones and computers, our digital lives would extend to a network of screens all around us, from connected TVs and smart fridges to kitchen countertop displays and car dashboards. The tech companies called this “ambient computing” or “ubiquitous computing” and extolled how it would get technology out of the way so we could focus on the real world. Here’s what we’ve got instead: Samsung’s smart refrigerators, which range from $1,899 to $3,499, have started showing advertisements on their screens. Amazon’s Echo Show smart displays now have ads that you can’t turn off, even if you’re paying $20 per month for the upgraded Alexa+ assistant. Amazon also shows “Sponsored Screensavers” on its Fire TV devices if you leave them alone for a few minutes. Tesla recently pushed a promotion for Disney’s Tron: Ares to its car dashboards. They got the ambient part right, in that we’ve now surrounded ourselves with screens we don’t control. But instead of blending into the background, the screens are now doing the opposite, distracting us with ads in hopes of padding their makers’ bottom lines. Promises made Ambient computing got its start in a more idealistic setting, in the late 1980s at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center. Mark Weiser, then the head of PARC’s computer science lab (and later its chief technology officer) used the term “ubiquitous computing” to describe how an array of screens in various sizes—”tabs, pads and boards“—would all work in tandem to help people accomplish everyday tasks. “Machines that fit the human environment, instead of forcing humans to enter theirs, will make using a computer as refreshing as taking a walk in the woods,” he wrote. Tech companies started dusting off the idea a couple decades later, as lightweight processors, low-cost displays, and widespread internet connectivity made ambient computing more feasible. In 2013, for instance, Microsoft opened an “Envisioning Center” to test its ambient computing ideas, including head-to-toe touchscreens for kitchens and common areas. Cisco demoed a “Second Screen 2.0” concept, with screens that could blend into the surrounding walls and provide personalized information as needed. Samsung had an even bolder vision, releasing a “Display Centric World” concept video full of rollable, foldable, and transparent displays. “Technology begins with a love for you,” the video declared, before showing how Samsung’s screens would someday wrap around coffee cups, unfurl from night stands, light up inside car windows, and cover classroom walls. The term “ambient computing” took hold a few years later. In 2017, the tech columnist Walt Mossberg used the term to describe technology that got out of your way, and pretty soon both Google and Amazon were running with it. “The technology just fades into the background when you don’t need it,” Rick Osterloh, Google’s SVP of devices and services, declared during a 2019 keynote. He continued to describe Google’s constellation of connected phones, watches, speakers, and smart displays as “ambient computing” in the years that followed, and in 2022 called it the company’s “north star.” Dave Limp, Amazon’s former senior vice president of devices and services favored the similar term “ambient intelligence,” describing how cloud computing would power a network of smart gadgets from Echo speakers to Fire TV streaming players. An Amazon Developer blog post from 2021 declared that “ambient is the future,” and would “make life easier and better without getting in your way.” Once the stuff of imagination, ambient computing had arrived in earnest, but there was a problem: The utopian ideal was at odds with how these companies make money. Cheap screens you can’t control It’s not enough to merely sell the device, be it a smart speaker, connected TV, or fridge with a built-in screen. Instead, tech companies expect these devices to generate revenue over time through ads or subscriptions. In some cases they sell these products at aggressively low prices in hopes of recouping the investment later. Meanwhile, the software that runs on these inexpensive screens provide far less control than a computer or even a phone. These are increasingly dumb terminals with software controlled through the cloud, which means you have little recourse when that software turns against you. While you can swap out the search engine on your computer with one that doesn’t fill the screen with ads, no such alternative exists when your smart display starts cycling through banner ads or using voice responses to upsell shopping items. The hardware isn’t exactly simple to replace, either. You might be comfortable tossing out a single smart display or speaker, but what if you’ve filled your home with them and built an entire smart home system around them? And what happens when your TVs, fridges, and car dashboards become digital billboards well? With all this in mind, those flashy Samsung and Microsoft concept videos from the early 2010s take on a different flavor. These companies sold us on a digital utopia powered by pervasive screens and connected software without ever explaining how they’d pay for it. Now that we’re surrounded ourselves with the technology to make it possible, the bill is finally coming due. View the full article

As mobile devices become central to daily business operations, small business owners face a pressing cybersecurity dilemma. The latest findings from the Verizon 2025 Mobile Security Index (MSI) reveal that mobile attacks are surging, with 85% of organizations experiencing increased threats. This situation is compounded by employees using generative AI tools for work, escalating both risks and vulnerabilities. Chris Novak, VP of Global Cybersecurity Solutions at Verizon Business, puts it starkly: “This year’s Mobile Security Index is a clear wake-up call: mobile security is no longer a perimeter defense, but a battle fought in the palm of every employee’s hand.” With 38% of organizations indicating that AI-powered ransomware is becoming a more significant threat, small businesses need to rethink their security strategies urgently. A startling insight from the MSI is that while 93% of organizations report employees using generative AI for their tasks, a mere 17% have specific security controls in place to counter AI-assisted attacks. This discrepancy leaves many businesses vulnerable. For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), the stakes are particularly high; 54% believe they have more to lose from a cyber breach compared to larger enterprises. Challenges persist for SMBs navigating this landscape. According to the MSI, 57% of SMBs feel disadvantaged in resources when addressing cybersecurity, making it more challenging to combat attacks compared to larger rivals. Notably, enterprises often engage in more employee training on mobile security and implement advanced measures such as multifactor authentication at higher rates. Despite these hurdles, proactive measures can mitigate risks. Businesses must ensure robust training for employees and establish clear policies regarding AI usage. The MSI indicates that only 66% of larger companies train employees on mobile security, compared to 56% of SMBs. Increasing awareness is critical, especially given that 39% of SMB employees clicked on malicious links during smishing tests, a statistic that underscores the urgent need for heightened vigilance. Small businesses should also consider investing in advanced AI risk training. With only 39% of SMBs currently offering this, there is ample room for improvement. By equipping their workforce with the right knowledge, small businesses can foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness, thereby reducing the likelihood of human error leading to breaches. However, adapting to an AI-security landscape presents practical challenges. Many small business owners may find it daunting to allocate budget and resources to enhance cybersecurity measures, especially when balancing other operational costs. As the report highlights, 63% of organizations have experienced significant downtime due to security incidents, further stressing the need for reliable continuity solutions. Yet, there lies an opportunity for SMBs to turn this challenge into an advantage. Investing in integrated security solutions can enable businesses to protect their mobile devices while empowering employees to work collaboratively and innovate. Novak emphasizes, “While threats evolve, so do defenses. A proactive and multi-layered approach to mobile security is no longer just a best practice; it’s a business imperative.” In the evolving world of cybersecurity, small businesses cannot afford to underestimate the risks associated with mobile and AI usage. Strategies centered on unified security across networks and mobile platforms will not only help ensure business continuity but also foster trust among customers and partners. As cyber threats grow increasingly sophisticated, it’s essential for small business owners to stay informed and proactive. For those seeking a comprehensive understanding of the current mobile threat landscape and practical steps to fortify their defenses, further details can be found in the full Verizon 2025 Mobile Security Index, which can be accessed here. By proactively addressing these challenges, SMBs can navigate the complex terrain of mobile security and safeguard their operations against the ever-looming threat of cyber attacks. This article, "AI-Powered Attacks Surge: Organizations Face Major Mobile Security Risks" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

As mobile devices become central to daily business operations, small business owners face a pressing cybersecurity dilemma. The latest findings from the Verizon 2025 Mobile Security Index (MSI) reveal that mobile attacks are surging, with 85% of organizations experiencing increased threats. This situation is compounded by employees using generative AI tools for work, escalating both risks and vulnerabilities. Chris Novak, VP of Global Cybersecurity Solutions at Verizon Business, puts it starkly: “This year’s Mobile Security Index is a clear wake-up call: mobile security is no longer a perimeter defense, but a battle fought in the palm of every employee’s hand.” With 38% of organizations indicating that AI-powered ransomware is becoming a more significant threat, small businesses need to rethink their security strategies urgently. A startling insight from the MSI is that while 93% of organizations report employees using generative AI for their tasks, a mere 17% have specific security controls in place to counter AI-assisted attacks. This discrepancy leaves many businesses vulnerable. For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), the stakes are particularly high; 54% believe they have more to lose from a cyber breach compared to larger enterprises. Challenges persist for SMBs navigating this landscape. According to the MSI, 57% of SMBs feel disadvantaged in resources when addressing cybersecurity, making it more challenging to combat attacks compared to larger rivals. Notably, enterprises often engage in more employee training on mobile security and implement advanced measures such as multifactor authentication at higher rates. Despite these hurdles, proactive measures can mitigate risks. Businesses must ensure robust training for employees and establish clear policies regarding AI usage. The MSI indicates that only 66% of larger companies train employees on mobile security, compared to 56% of SMBs. Increasing awareness is critical, especially given that 39% of SMB employees clicked on malicious links during smishing tests, a statistic that underscores the urgent need for heightened vigilance. Small businesses should also consider investing in advanced AI risk training. With only 39% of SMBs currently offering this, there is ample room for improvement. By equipping their workforce with the right knowledge, small businesses can foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness, thereby reducing the likelihood of human error leading to breaches. However, adapting to an AI-security landscape presents practical challenges. Many small business owners may find it daunting to allocate budget and resources to enhance cybersecurity measures, especially when balancing other operational costs. As the report highlights, 63% of organizations have experienced significant downtime due to security incidents, further stressing the need for reliable continuity solutions. Yet, there lies an opportunity for SMBs to turn this challenge into an advantage. Investing in integrated security solutions can enable businesses to protect their mobile devices while empowering employees to work collaboratively and innovate. Novak emphasizes, “While threats evolve, so do defenses. A proactive and multi-layered approach to mobile security is no longer just a best practice; it’s a business imperative.” In the evolving world of cybersecurity, small businesses cannot afford to underestimate the risks associated with mobile and AI usage. Strategies centered on unified security across networks and mobile platforms will not only help ensure business continuity but also foster trust among customers and partners. As cyber threats grow increasingly sophisticated, it’s essential for small business owners to stay informed and proactive. For those seeking a comprehensive understanding of the current mobile threat landscape and practical steps to fortify their defenses, further details can be found in the full Verizon 2025 Mobile Security Index, which can be accessed here. By proactively addressing these challenges, SMBs can navigate the complex terrain of mobile security and safeguard their operations against the ever-looming threat of cyber attacks. This article, "AI-Powered Attacks Surge: Organizations Face Major Mobile Security Risks" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Three questions to ask. By Matt Rampe The Rosenberg Survey Go PRO for members-only access to more Matt Rampe. View the full article

Three questions to ask. By Matt Rampe The Rosenberg Survey Go PRO for members-only access to more Matt Rampe. View the full article

Technology and AI make it easier. By Blake Oliver The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management. Go PRO for members-only access to more Rory Henry. View the full article

Technology and AI make it easier. By Blake Oliver The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management. Go PRO for members-only access to more Rory Henry. View the full article

As the holiday shopping season approaches, small businesses are bracing for a potentially transformative period, with insights from Shopify revealing key trends that could shape the success of their year-end sales. With 26% of consumers reportedly starting their holiday shopping by the end of September, striking the right chord in marketing will be crucial. Shoppers are poised to spend more this year—an increase of $37 anticipated for Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM), bringing the total planned spending up to $192. However, this uptick comes with a caveat: consumers are focusing on tighter budgets and seeking value for their money. According to the Shopify 2025 Global Holiday Retail Report, 51% of shoppers intend to set spending caps, while 23% plan to adhere to stricter budgets. This push for value compels small business owners to emphasize advantageous offerings. Shopify highlights practical applications from brands like Blume, which capitalizes on potential shoppers’ appetite for bundled products, ensuring customers feel they are getting more for their money. Similarly, MeUndies is beginning its promotions early, offering discounts of up to 50% on popular items, ensuring that they capture the attention of early shoppers. The report suggests that offering discounts, gifts with purchase, and bundle deals may be the most effective strategies for attracting holiday shoppers. Small businesses can capitalize on these trends by carefully crafting their promotional campaigns to ensure they resonate with budget-conscious consumers. AI technology is also making waves in the shopping experience, with 64% of consumers planning to utilize AI tools this holiday season. Among younger shoppers, this figure rises dramatically to 84%. Businesses can benefit from this shift by investing in AI-powered discovery tools, as 90% of enterprises are already doing. For small retailers, platforms like Shopify offer access to Sidekick, an intuitive AI tool that can assist in crafting custom marketing strategies, increasing the chances of conversion by presenting personalized shopping experiences. As shoppers express a desire for convenience, nearly half plan to discover and purchase products in-store this year—an increase from the previous year. A hybrid shopping experience that combines online and physical store offerings can prove fruitful. For instance, brands like Glossier have made strides by providing options for customers to buy online and pick up in-store, creating a unified shopping experience that encourages consumer loyalty. However, while exploring these retail advancements, small business owners must also remain aware of potential challenges. Nearly 48% of shoppers abandoned purchases due to complicated checkout processes, suggesting that streamlining online transactions is paramount to retaining customers. This creates a dual focus for merchants: not only do they need to attract shoppers with appealing products and pricing, but they must also ensure an efficient purchasing experience. Additionally, authenticity matters. More than a quarter of consumers prefer to support values-driven businesses, and 30% are inclined to choose local options. Therefore, crafting a brand that resonates authentically can create long-term loyalty. Companies like Little Sleepies build customer trust by offering perks such as free shipping and returns for domestic orders over $25, an approach that can enhance customer experience while reinforcing brand values. As this unprecedented holiday season approaches, businesses must leverage technological tools and strong branding aligned with customer values to successfully engage with consumers. By focusing on value, personalization, and clear brand values, small business owners have the opportunity to maximize their holiday sales potential. The implications of these trends are substantial, particularly for small merchants navigating the complexities of a rapidly evolving retail landscape. The insights gleaned from Shopify’s report could prove crucial for those looking to thrive amidst changing consumer expectations. For further details and actionable insights, you can refer to Shopify’s complete findings in the 2025 Global Holiday Retail Report. This article, "Shoppers Shift Budgets and Embrace AI Ahead of Holiday Spending Surge" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

As the holiday shopping season approaches, small businesses are bracing for a potentially transformative period, with insights from Shopify revealing key trends that could shape the success of their year-end sales. With 26% of consumers reportedly starting their holiday shopping by the end of September, striking the right chord in marketing will be crucial. Shoppers are poised to spend more this year—an increase of $37 anticipated for Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM), bringing the total planned spending up to $192. However, this uptick comes with a caveat: consumers are focusing on tighter budgets and seeking value for their money. According to the Shopify 2025 Global Holiday Retail Report, 51% of shoppers intend to set spending caps, while 23% plan to adhere to stricter budgets. This push for value compels small business owners to emphasize advantageous offerings. Shopify highlights practical applications from brands like Blume, which capitalizes on potential shoppers’ appetite for bundled products, ensuring customers feel they are getting more for their money. Similarly, MeUndies is beginning its promotions early, offering discounts of up to 50% on popular items, ensuring that they capture the attention of early shoppers. The report suggests that offering discounts, gifts with purchase, and bundle deals may be the most effective strategies for attracting holiday shoppers. Small businesses can capitalize on these trends by carefully crafting their promotional campaigns to ensure they resonate with budget-conscious consumers. AI technology is also making waves in the shopping experience, with 64% of consumers planning to utilize AI tools this holiday season. Among younger shoppers, this figure rises dramatically to 84%. Businesses can benefit from this shift by investing in AI-powered discovery tools, as 90% of enterprises are already doing. For small retailers, platforms like Shopify offer access to Sidekick, an intuitive AI tool that can assist in crafting custom marketing strategies, increasing the chances of conversion by presenting personalized shopping experiences. As shoppers express a desire for convenience, nearly half plan to discover and purchase products in-store this year—an increase from the previous year. A hybrid shopping experience that combines online and physical store offerings can prove fruitful. For instance, brands like Glossier have made strides by providing options for customers to buy online and pick up in-store, creating a unified shopping experience that encourages consumer loyalty. However, while exploring these retail advancements, small business owners must also remain aware of potential challenges. Nearly 48% of shoppers abandoned purchases due to complicated checkout processes, suggesting that streamlining online transactions is paramount to retaining customers. This creates a dual focus for merchants: not only do they need to attract shoppers with appealing products and pricing, but they must also ensure an efficient purchasing experience. Additionally, authenticity matters. More than a quarter of consumers prefer to support values-driven businesses, and 30% are inclined to choose local options. Therefore, crafting a brand that resonates authentically can create long-term loyalty. Companies like Little Sleepies build customer trust by offering perks such as free shipping and returns for domestic orders over $25, an approach that can enhance customer experience while reinforcing brand values. As this unprecedented holiday season approaches, businesses must leverage technological tools and strong branding aligned with customer values to successfully engage with consumers. By focusing on value, personalization, and clear brand values, small business owners have the opportunity to maximize their holiday sales potential. The implications of these trends are substantial, particularly for small merchants navigating the complexities of a rapidly evolving retail landscape. The insights gleaned from Shopify’s report could prove crucial for those looking to thrive amidst changing consumer expectations. For further details and actionable insights, you can refer to Shopify’s complete findings in the 2025 Global Holiday Retail Report. This article, "Shoppers Shift Budgets and Embrace AI Ahead of Holiday Spending Surge" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The liberal D66 are the big winners of the Netherlands election. So is EuropeView the full article

In an age where efficiency is paramount for small businesses, Dropbox has unveiled a game-changer: Dash, an AI-powered personalized workspace designed to streamline collaboration and enhance productivity. This innovative platform allows teams to access answers and tools without having to switch between multiple applications, saving valuable time and reducing the risk of miscommunication. With Dash, business owners can ask specific questions about work projects—such as “What’s new in the latest version of the client proposal?” or “Can you summarize all the reporting from last year’s brand campaign?”—and receive immediate, relevant responses. This context-aware technology acts like an AI teammate, delivering information directly within the workspace and enabling users to act on those insights through integrated writing tools. One of the standout features of Dash is Stacks, a living workspace that organizes content in an easily shareable format. By bringing together files, links, and real-time updates, teams can maintain an up-to-date view of their projects. Users can ask questions like “Can you give me a summary of this project?” and get tailored answers that ensure everyone is aligned, thus minimizing confusion often faced in collaborative settings. Security is a crucial concern for small businesses, and Dropbox aims to alleviate these worries with Dash. Built on the robust privacy and security principles the company is known for, Dash guarantees that your data remains private. As the company stated, “We’ll never sell your data, and we don’t use your content to build generative AI models. Your content is always yours.” This commitment to data integrity can help owners feel more secure about implementing new technologies. Setting up the Dash app requires no additional sales team intervention, making it an appealing option for small businesses eager to adopt cutting-edge technology swiftly. The platform connects seamlessly with existing tools such as Slack, Microsoft 365, Notion, and Canva, ensuring that teams don’t need to abandon their current workflows. In just a few minutes, business owners can create a personalized workspace where scattered information transforms into organized clarity, significantly alleviating the burden of information overload. As businesses increasingly rely on remote work and digital collaboration, Dash’s integrated approach could become a vital asset. For instance, teams can avoid the cumbersome task of manually searching through documents or communication channels to find answers, subsequently improving decision-making efficiency. Business owner Sarah Johnson noted, “The time saved by having a single platform where I can access everything without hunting through multiple apps is invaluable. It lets my team focus more on what really matters: our clients.” However, as with any emerging technology, potential challenges should be kept in mind. The reliance on AI-generated responses may lead to concerns about accuracy and the depth of information provided. Small business owners will need to ensure that the system is used correctly and encourage their teams to verify responses when crucial decisions are at stake. Additionally, there may be an adjustment period as teams shift from traditional workflows to this more integrated approach, requiring changes in training and habits. In the competitive landscape of small businesses, leveraging tools like Dash may hold the key to staying ahead. It provides an intuitive, centralized solution that addresses the common pain points related to collaboration, information management, and productivity. By investing time to adopt and adapt to Dash, small business owners could find themselves better equipped to navigate the complexities of modern work. With the rollout of Dash, Dropbox not only reinforces its commitment to innovation but also provides practical solutions tailored for the unique needs of small businesses. For more details about these features and their implications, you can check out the full press release here. Image via Dropbox This article, "Dropbox Introduces Dash: A Self-Setup AI Workspace for Team Productivity" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In an age where efficiency is paramount for small businesses, Dropbox has unveiled a game-changer: Dash, an AI-powered personalized workspace designed to streamline collaboration and enhance productivity. This innovative platform allows teams to access answers and tools without having to switch between multiple applications, saving valuable time and reducing the risk of miscommunication. With Dash, business owners can ask specific questions about work projects—such as “What’s new in the latest version of the client proposal?” or “Can you summarize all the reporting from last year’s brand campaign?”—and receive immediate, relevant responses. This context-aware technology acts like an AI teammate, delivering information directly within the workspace and enabling users to act on those insights through integrated writing tools. One of the standout features of Dash is Stacks, a living workspace that organizes content in an easily shareable format. By bringing together files, links, and real-time updates, teams can maintain an up-to-date view of their projects. Users can ask questions like “Can you give me a summary of this project?” and get tailored answers that ensure everyone is aligned, thus minimizing confusion often faced in collaborative settings. Security is a crucial concern for small businesses, and Dropbox aims to alleviate these worries with Dash. Built on the robust privacy and security principles the company is known for, Dash guarantees that your data remains private. As the company stated, “We’ll never sell your data, and we don’t use your content to build generative AI models. Your content is always yours.” This commitment to data integrity can help owners feel more secure about implementing new technologies. Setting up the Dash app requires no additional sales team intervention, making it an appealing option for small businesses eager to adopt cutting-edge technology swiftly. The platform connects seamlessly with existing tools such as Slack, Microsoft 365, Notion, and Canva, ensuring that teams don’t need to abandon their current workflows. In just a few minutes, business owners can create a personalized workspace where scattered information transforms into organized clarity, significantly alleviating the burden of information overload. As businesses increasingly rely on remote work and digital collaboration, Dash’s integrated approach could become a vital asset. For instance, teams can avoid the cumbersome task of manually searching through documents or communication channels to find answers, subsequently improving decision-making efficiency. Business owner Sarah Johnson noted, “The time saved by having a single platform where I can access everything without hunting through multiple apps is invaluable. It lets my team focus more on what really matters: our clients.” However, as with any emerging technology, potential challenges should be kept in mind. The reliance on AI-generated responses may lead to concerns about accuracy and the depth of information provided. Small business owners will need to ensure that the system is used correctly and encourage their teams to verify responses when crucial decisions are at stake. Additionally, there may be an adjustment period as teams shift from traditional workflows to this more integrated approach, requiring changes in training and habits. In the competitive landscape of small businesses, leveraging tools like Dash may hold the key to staying ahead. It provides an intuitive, centralized solution that addresses the common pain points related to collaboration, information management, and productivity. By investing time to adopt and adapt to Dash, small business owners could find themselves better equipped to navigate the complexities of modern work. With the rollout of Dash, Dropbox not only reinforces its commitment to innovation but also provides practical solutions tailored for the unique needs of small businesses. For more details about these features and their implications, you can check out the full press release here. Image via Dropbox This article, "Dropbox Introduces Dash: A Self-Setup AI Workspace for Team Productivity" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Officials say ‘threats used to derail net zero deal for shipping industry ripped up rules of global diplomacyView the full article

For all the focus on harms, the US president has generated benefits at home and abroadView the full article

Two suspects under arrest are both British nationalsView the full article

Last year, travel group AAA estimated about 80 million Americans traveled over the Thanksgiving holidays. It was the busiest Thanksgiving ever at airports across the country, and some reports are saying those records could be shattered this year. A lot of that traveling will be done by young adults making their way home from school or new cities to see family and reconnect with old friends. That last part is the crux of Facebook’s first brand campaign in four years. In a new ad called “Home For The Holidays,” we see people making their way back home and various get-togethers being organized on Facebook. Created by agency Droga5 and set to Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash’s “Girl From the North Country,” the spot expertly conjures the comfort and emotional security that only the warm embrace of old friends and familiar surroundings can provide. The goal here is to reintroduce Facebook to a new generation of users and remind people “what made Facebook magic in the first place,” according to the campaign press release. It’s just the start of the brand’s efforts in the coming months to reach younger audiences, including upcoming partnerships with Sports Illustrated and 10 American universities tied to college sports. Facebook’s Global Marketing Director Briana de Veer says that one in four young adults (ages 18–29) in the U.S. and Canada use Facebook Marketplace. Hundreds of thousands of young adults in the U.S. and Canada create Facebook Dating profiles every month, and young adult matches are up 10% year over year. “We see young adults using Facebook to help them navigate life stages,” says de Veer. “They move into their first apartment and turn to Marketplace to help furnish it on a tight budget, or using Facebook Dating to find love or joining Facebook Groups to meet people in a new city, for example.” Sounds great. Except compared to Facebook’s reality in culture, the new ad is as much a fantasy as hooking up with your high school crush on that next trip home. This may be Facebook’s first brand campaign in four years, but it’s picked up exactly where it left off in serving up an image of a brand that neither reflects nor defends who it actually is in the real world. Because in the real-life version of this spot, these old friends would likely be in the bar screaming at each other over political hot takes, healthcare facts, and anti-immigrant tirades. Look, we all know advertising is about aspiration. For brands, it’s about projecting the roles they want to play in our lives. For us, it’s about seeing an image we might want to identify with. But marketers need to balance between that manufactured ideal and the reality of how they exist in the world. There’s aspiration and then there’s delusion, and it’s a brand’s job to know the difference. The bad stuff It’s hard to ignore the obvious dichotomy between Facebook’s ads and its real-life decisions. In January, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a gaggle of changes to the company’s content moderation, including cutting its fact-checking program, which was originally established to fight the spread of misinformation across its social media apps. “It’s time to get back to our roots around free expression,” Zuckerberg said in a video announcing the changes. He also acknowledged there would be more “bad stuff” on the platforms as a result of the decision. “The reality is that this is a trade-off,” he said. “It means that we’re going to catch less bad stuff, but we’ll also reduce the number of innocent people’s posts and accounts that we accidentally take down.” Nicole Gill, founder and executive director of the digital watchdog organization Accountable Tech, told The New York Times that this was “reopening the floodgates to the exact same surge of hate, disinformation and conspiracy theories that caused Jan. 6—and that continue to spur real-world violence.” A former Meta employee told Platformer, “I really think this is a precursor for genocide […] We’ve seen it happen. Real people’s lives are actually going to be endangered.” Amnesty International said these changes posed “a grave threat to vulnerable communities globally” and drastically increased “the risk that the company will yet again contribute to mass violence and gross human rights abuses—just like it did in Myanmar in 2017.” That’s not all, though. As Meta plows full steam ahead on building AI ”superintelligence,“ it’s leaving a path of unconsidered consequences in its wake. In August, Reuters reported that an internal Meta memo revealed that the company’s rules for AI chatbots had permitted “sensual” chats with children. Not quite the warm n’ fuzzy vibes the brand is going for. I asked de Veer about how the company thinks about balancing the parts of the brand they want to reflect back into the world with a campaign like this, and the obvious challenges that remain. “We continue to invest in keeping people safe on our platforms and removing harmful content that goes against our policies,” she says. “That is critical foundational work that makes it possible for people to see and experience the core value of the brand, which is the focus of this campaign.” Back to the Future Back at the end of 2020, I called Facebook the Worst Brand of the Year, based on the Grand Canyon–size gap between the company it was projecting itself to be, and the one defined by its actual, real-world actions. Back then, I called Facebook out for how it portrayed itself as a warm and fuzzy marketplace of ideas while knowingly facilitating the spread of health misinformation and political falsehoods. Sound familiar? In 2021, the last time Facebook launched a brand campaign, that ol’ familiar feeling was back again. This time it was a spot called “The Tiger & The Buffalo,” which somehow hoped that dropping some friends inside a 1908 Henri Rousseau painting would distract us from revelations in The Wall Street Journal’s Facebook Files, the testimony of whistleblower Frances Haugen, and a study on how climate change denial was spreading unchecked on Facebook. The more things change, the more they stay exactly the same at Facebook, it seems. I actually feel bad for ad agency Droga5, which has crafted some truly impressive ads for the brand over the years, including two of the very best to come out of COVID—”Never Lost” and “Survive” about a beloved NYC restaurant called Coogan’s. Not only is the Facebook algorithm still fine-tuned to feed you the angriest, most controversial content it can, it’s also pulling back on the efforts to combat disinformation and vitriol that are known to incite violence. With its new campaign, it’s offering yet another distraction from its problematic role in culture. The strategy here is to remind people why Facebook ever mattered in the first place. It’s to harken back to the halcyon days between 2006 and 2010, when it was actually a tool to primarily connect with people. Two decades later, Facebook is all that and a whole lot more—plus, you know, rage-baiting. Instead of living in the past, the brand needs to celebrate its best while also actively working to solve its worst. It’s definitely not a chair. Perhaps the closest the brand has come to doing just that was in an ad called “Here Together.” It acknowledged what Zuckerberg recently called the “bad stuff,” and defined its role in regulating it, saying “from now on, Facebook will do more to keep you safe and protect your privacy, so we can all get back to what made Facebook great in the first place.” That was in 2018, when all the people in “Home For The Holidays” were still in high school. It’s time this brand grew up, too. View the full article

The latest generation of artificial intelligence models is sharper and smoother, producing polished text with fewer errors and hallucinations. As a philosophy professor, I have a growing fear: When a polished essay no longer shows that a student did the thinking, the grade above it becomes hollow—and so does the diploma. The problem doesn’t stop in the classroom. In fields such as law, medicine, and journalism, trust depends on knowing that human judgment guided the work. A patient, for instance, expects a doctor’s prescription to reflect an expert’s thought and training. AI products can now be used to support people’s decisions. But even when AI’s role in doing that type of work is small, you can’t be sure whether the professional drove the process or merely wrote a few prompts to do the job. What dissolves in this situation is accountability—the sense that institutions and individuals can answer for what they certify. And this comes at a time when public trust in civic institutions is already fraying. I see education as the proving ground for a new challenge: learning to work with AI while preserving the integrity and visibility of human thinking. Crack the problem here, and a blueprint could emerge for other fields where trust depends on knowing that decisions still come from people. In my own classes, we’re testing an authorship protocol to ensure student writing stays connected to their thinking, even with AI in the loop. When learning breaks down The core exchange between teacher and student is under strain. A recent MIT study found that students using large language models to help with essays felt less ownership of their work and did worse on key writing‑related measures. Students still want to learn, but many feel defeated. They may ask: “Why think through it myself when AI can just tell me?” Teachers worry their feedback no longer lands. As one Columbia University sophomore told The New Yorker after turning in her AI-assisted essay: “If they don’t like it, it wasn’t me who wrote it, you know?” Universities are scrambling. Some instructors are trying to make assignments “AI-proof,” switching to personal reflections or requiring students to include their prompts and process. Over the past two years, I’ve tried versions of these in my own classes, even asking students to invent new formats. But AI can mimic almost any task or style. Understandably, others now call for a return to what are being dubbed “medieval standards”: in-class test-taking with “blue books” and oral exams. Yet those mostly reward speed under pressure, not reflection. And if students use AI outside class for assignments, teachers will simply lower the bar for quality, much as they did when smartphones and social media began to erode sustained reading and attention. Many institutions resort to sweeping bans or hand the problem to ed-tech firms, whose detectors log every keystroke and replay drafts like movies. Teachers sift through forensic timelines; students feel surveilled. Too useful to ban, AI slips underground like contraband. The challenge isn’t that AI makes strong arguments available; books and peers do that, too. What’s different is that AI seeps into the environment, constantly whispering suggestions into the student’s ear. Whether the student merely echoes these or works them into their own reasoning is crucial, but teachers cannot assess that after the fact. A strong paper may hide dependence, while a weak one may reflect real struggle. Meanwhile, other signatures of a student’s reasoning—awkward phrasings that improve over the course of a paper, the quality of citations, general fluency of the writing—are obscured by AI as well. Restoring the link between process and product Though many would happily skip the effort of thinking for themselves, it’s what makes learning durable and prepares students to become responsible professionals and leaders. Even if handing control to AI were desirable, it can’t be held accountable, and its makers don’t want that role. The only option as I see it is to protect the link between a student’s reasoning and the work that builds it. Imagine a classroom platform where teachers set the rules for each assignment, choosing how AI can be used. A philosophy essay might run in AI-free mode—students write in a window that disables copy-paste and external AI calls but still lets them save drafts. A coding project might allow AI assistance but pause before submission to ask the student brief questions about how their code works. When the work is sent to the teacher, the system issues a secure receipt—a digital tag, like a sealed exam envelope—confirming that it was produced under those specified conditions. This isn’t detection: no algorithm scanning for AI markers. And it isn’t surveillance: no keystroke logging or draft spying. The assignment’s AI terms are built into the submission process. Work that doesn’t meet those conditions simply won’t go through, like when a platform rejects an unsupported file type. In my lab at Temple University, we’re piloting this approach by using the authorship protocol I’ve developed. In the main authorship check mode, an AI assistant poses brief, conversational questions that draw students back into their thinking: “Could you restate your main point more clearly?” or “Is there a better example that shows the same idea?” Their short, in-the-moment responses and edits allow the system to measure how well their reasoning and final draft align. The prompts adapt in real time to each student’s writing, with the intent of making the cost of cheating higher than the effort of thinking. The goal isn’t to grade or replace teachers but to reconnect the work students turn in with the reasoning that produced it. For teachers, this restores confidence that their feedback lands on a student’s actual reasoning. For students, it builds metacognitive awareness, helping them see when they’re genuinely thinking and when they’re merely offloading. I believe teachers and researchers should be able to design their own authorship checks, each issuing a secure tag that certifies the work passed through their chosen process, one that institutions can then decide to trust and adopt. How humans and intelligent machines interact There are related efforts underway outside education. In publishing, certification efforts already experiment with “human-written” stamps. Yet without reliable verification, such labels collapse into marketing claims. What needs to be verified isn’t keystrokes but how people engage with their work. That shifts the question to cognitive authorship: not whether or how much AI was used, but how its integration affects ownership and reflection. As one doctor recently observed, learning how to deploy AI in the medical field will require a science of its own. The same holds for any field that depends on human judgment. I see this protocol acting as an interaction layer with verification tags that travel with the work wherever it goes, like email moving between providers. It would complement technical standards for verifying digital identity and content provenance that already exist. The key difference is that existing protocols certify the artifact, not the human judgment behind it. Without giving professions control over how AI is used and ensuring the place of human judgment in AI-assisted work, AI technology risks dissolving the trust on which professions and civic institutions depend. AI is not just a tool; it is a cognitive environment reshaping how we think. To inhabit this environment on our own terms, we must build open systems that keep human judgment at the center. Eli Alshanetsky is an assistant professor of philosophy at Temple University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article