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Subscribe to Work LifeGet stories like this in your inbox Subscribe AI is changing the way we work at lightning speed. Tools that once felt experimental are now handling everything from scheduling to drafting reports. By 2030, executives predict only 1/3 of work will be fully done by humans. That leaves us with an urgent question: How do we future-proof our skills? As part of our 2025 AI Collaboration Index report, we asked leaders and knowledge workers around the world: As AI takes over more routine tasks, which human qualities will matter most? Their answers reveal a clear direction. Taken together, their answers highlight the timeless skills that become even more valuable in an AI future. Below, we’ll unpack five top skills to invest in for an AI-powered future, along with practical ways to strengthen those skills and weave them into your everyday work. The top 5 human skills for the future of work with AI 1. Critical thinking Related Article How to build critical thinking skills for better decision-making By Kat Boogaard In Productivity What it is: The ability to analyze information, weigh evidence, and form sound judgments. Why it matters: Our research shows 42% of knowledge workers admit to trusting AI outputs without verifying them due to time pressures. Without critical thinking, speed translates to risk. How to build it: Treat AI as a sparring partner, not an oracle. Ask it to show sources, generate counterarguments, or stress-test its own answers. Instead of defaulting to the first output, push it to “show its work.” Build a habit of slowing down your thinking before making calls. Even a brief pause helps activate deeper reasoning. Techniques like a simple pre-mortem exercise – or imagining what could happen during a project, both good and bad, and planning accordingly – sharpen your ability to spot twists and turns and strengthen your reasoning over time. 2. Creativity What it is: The capacity to generate new ideas, identify subtle connections, and turn imagination into tangible outcomes. Why it matters: As routine work becomes automated, creativity is emerging as even more of a competitive advantage than it was before. The World Economic Forum ranks creative thinking among the top skills for the future of work. In an AI-enabled world, the ability to spark original ideas – and refine AI’s suggestions into something fresh – is what sets humans apart. How to build it: Use AI as a brainstorm buddy. Ask it for divergent exercises, rapid-fire prompts, or “bad ideas only” to unlock new directions and spark truly original ideas. You can also use AI to quickly prototype concepts—whether that’s a mock design or a sample script—so you can spend more energy refining and iterating, Seek inspiration outside your usual lane. Studies show cross-disciplinary exposure boosts creativity. For example, if you’re in marketing, you might look to architecture, art, or even biology to spark breakthrough ideas. Build time into your week to explore industries, media, or disciplines far from your own. 3. Emotional intelligence What it is: The ability to recognize or tune into emotions – your own and other people’s – and use that awareness to guide how you respond. Why it matters: Emotional intelligence (also called EQ) isn’t just a “nice to have.” Research shows it’s a strong predictor of job performance across roles, and it has a direct impact on your ability to make sound decisions, build stronger relationships, and manage your own stress. In an AI-driven workplace, EQ only grows in importance. AI can analyze sentiment, but it can’t build trust, strengthen connections, or rally a team around a big idea. That’s on us humans. How to build it: Do a quick end-of-day “emotion check-in.” Write down what frustrated you, what energized you, and how you reacted. Psychologists call this affect labeling – naming emotions out loud. It sounds simple, but studies show this practice reduces stress and makes it easier to regulate your reactions the next time around. Use AI for role-play. Ask your chat tool to behave like an upset customer or skeptical boss, and practice your response. Then ask AI to critique your tone and clarity. Think of it as a safe space to rehearse tough conversations. 4. Technical proficiency From the PlaybookEmbracing new technology can be challenging, especially when it’s as powerful as AI. Build your team’s confidence in AI with the AI Innovation Day Play, a focused day of learning and doing with AI. Run the Play What it is: The ability to effectively use, understand, and adapt to digital tools and systems that power modern work – including AI. Why it matters: If you can’t work strategically with the tools of your trade, you risk getting stuck on the sidelines. Teams with higher AI technical proficiency don’t just use it to automate busywork – they unlock the full spectrum of AI’s potential by collaborating with it and embedding it across team workflows. Our data shows this strategic approach to AI improves the very nature of collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving. How to build it: Jam with AI, regularly. Block off a weekly “practice block” with your team to try new tools, prompts, or AI-enhanced workflows. Our research shows that making time to experiment with AI can boost creativity by 21%, and buy you back hours down the road. Focus on impact, not just speed. Don’t just use AI to go faster – use it to go further. Ask yourself: Are we solving problems in innovative ways, or just automating the old ones? Fortune 1000 execs expect AI to help teams tackle nearly 2x as many innovative ideas in the next five years. Now’s the time to experiment and push boundaries. 5. Decision-making Related Article This is how effective teams navigate the decision-making process By Kat Boogaard In Teamwork What it is: The ability to weigh information, risks, and context to choose a path forward. Why it matters: AI can crunch numbers and serve up options, but it can’t tell you what truly matters, weigh trade-offs, or take accountability for the call. Strong decision-making is what lets you filter the noise (which is extremely loud in the age of AI), identify blind spots, and turn AI’s insights into smart, human-centered action. How to build it: Make your goals and priorities visible to AI. When you connect your objectives or team OKRs to your AI tools, you get more relevant recommendations and avoid wasted effort. Pressure-test your options with AI. Before making a decision, ask AI to “surface risks, generate counterarguments, or highlight what you might be missing.” Make fast, reversible decisions – and learn from them. Teams don’t need to wait for perfect information. And that’s not always realistic. Make small, low-risk decisions quickly, then use AI to analyze outcomes and pivot if needed. This “test and adapt” mindset helps teams move forward, even in uncertainty. Our research shows that while daily AI use has doubled and perceived productivity gains are up 33%, only a small fraction of companies see true AI-enabled transformation at the team or org level. That gap underscores a truth: raw tools don’t build thriving teams; human skills and better processes do. So in strengthening these skills, teams don’t just keep pace with AI. They unlock its power to multiply their impact. Subscribe to Work LifeGet stories like this in your inbox Subscribe The post 5 skills teams need to thrive in the age of AI (and how to build them) appeared first on Work Life by Atlassian. View the full article

As businesses continue to navigate the complexities of a digital-first world, the need for tools that enhance productivity and streamline operations is more pressing than ever. Recognizing this shift, Slack has partnered with industry leaders to launch a suite of tailored solutions aimed at helping organizations break down silos and foster collaboration. The initiative aims to establish what is termed a “digital HQ,” a unified platform that integrates different tools and connects people with the workflows essential to their work. According to Slack, companies of any size can reap the benefits of such a platform, but many small business owners are often left wondering: how can they practically implement these solutions? Slack recently announced the first wave of its Partner Industry Solutions, developed in collaboration with Salesforce consulting partners. These solutions are geared toward specific industries, addressing the unique needs and challenges of sectors like financial services, manufacturing, and retail. With an increasing focus on equipping companies with more personalized and effective digital tools, this launch represents a significant step forward in digital transformation. “What the world’s largest and most influential consultancies have recognized is that every customer needs a digital HQ,” says Richard Hasslacher, Vice President of Slack Alliances & Channels. This underscores the belief that the successful embrace of digital tools can revolutionize how businesses operate. By utilizing Slack and Salesforce’s Customer 360, small business owners can gain access to industry-specific features that streamline operations and enhance customer interactions. For example, one solution focuses on reducing customer churn in wealth management through predictive analytics. Another targets the onboarding process for manufacturing suppliers, making it easier to manage relationships and logistics. This level of specificity allows small businesses to tailor their digital strategies in ways that directly serve their operational goals. With an extensive network of Slack-certified consulting partners—including industry giants like Accenture, Deloitte, and IBM—small business owners can find support that suits their particular industry needs. These partners bring decades of experience to the table, offering services ranging from strategic advisory to organizational change management. Implementing these tailored solutions could mean less time spent figuring out how to integrate new systems and more focus on driving business growth. However, while the benefits are substantial, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. Integrating a comprehensive digital strategy requires investment—both in terms of time and resources. Not every business will have the same capacity to adapt swiftly to new technologies, especially in fields where staff members might be accustomed to more traditional processes. Additionally, the process of digital transformation often involves change management, which can be daunting. It’s crucial for small business leaders to prepare their teams for the transition, ensuring that employees are adequately trained and supported to make the most of these new tools. If not handled well, such transitions can lead to resistance among staff or undermined productivity during the shift. Tyler Prince, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Alliances & Channels at Salesforce, highlights Slack’s role in successfully advancing organizations’ digital transformation plans: “Slack helps organizations advance and accelerate their digital transformation plans, which can benefit the many businesses already using Salesforce.” For small business owners keen to explore these new offerings, the Slack Partner Industry Solutions can be discovered through Salesforce’s AppExchange platform. This provides a convenient avenue to identify partners that can help maximize investment in digital tools. As the landscape of work continuously evolves, engaging with industry-specific solutions like those launched by Slack and its partners could be pivotal in adapting to new norms. By breaking down silos and fostering collaboration, small businesses stand to enhance their productivity and improve their operations in an increasingly complex market. For further information on Slack’s Partner Industry Solutions, visit the original announcement here: Slack Blog. Image via Envato This article, "Slack and Salesforce Unveil Tailored Industry Solutions for Digital HQs" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

As businesses continue to navigate the complexities of a digital-first world, the need for tools that enhance productivity and streamline operations is more pressing than ever. Recognizing this shift, Slack has partnered with industry leaders to launch a suite of tailored solutions aimed at helping organizations break down silos and foster collaboration. The initiative aims to establish what is termed a “digital HQ,” a unified platform that integrates different tools and connects people with the workflows essential to their work. According to Slack, companies of any size can reap the benefits of such a platform, but many small business owners are often left wondering: how can they practically implement these solutions? Slack recently announced the first wave of its Partner Industry Solutions, developed in collaboration with Salesforce consulting partners. These solutions are geared toward specific industries, addressing the unique needs and challenges of sectors like financial services, manufacturing, and retail. With an increasing focus on equipping companies with more personalized and effective digital tools, this launch represents a significant step forward in digital transformation. “What the world’s largest and most influential consultancies have recognized is that every customer needs a digital HQ,” says Richard Hasslacher, Vice President of Slack Alliances & Channels. This underscores the belief that the successful embrace of digital tools can revolutionize how businesses operate. By utilizing Slack and Salesforce’s Customer 360, small business owners can gain access to industry-specific features that streamline operations and enhance customer interactions. For example, one solution focuses on reducing customer churn in wealth management through predictive analytics. Another targets the onboarding process for manufacturing suppliers, making it easier to manage relationships and logistics. This level of specificity allows small businesses to tailor their digital strategies in ways that directly serve their operational goals. With an extensive network of Slack-certified consulting partners—including industry giants like Accenture, Deloitte, and IBM—small business owners can find support that suits their particular industry needs. These partners bring decades of experience to the table, offering services ranging from strategic advisory to organizational change management. Implementing these tailored solutions could mean less time spent figuring out how to integrate new systems and more focus on driving business growth. However, while the benefits are substantial, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. Integrating a comprehensive digital strategy requires investment—both in terms of time and resources. Not every business will have the same capacity to adapt swiftly to new technologies, especially in fields where staff members might be accustomed to more traditional processes. Additionally, the process of digital transformation often involves change management, which can be daunting. It’s crucial for small business leaders to prepare their teams for the transition, ensuring that employees are adequately trained and supported to make the most of these new tools. If not handled well, such transitions can lead to resistance among staff or undermined productivity during the shift. Tyler Prince, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Alliances & Channels at Salesforce, highlights Slack’s role in successfully advancing organizations’ digital transformation plans: “Slack helps organizations advance and accelerate their digital transformation plans, which can benefit the many businesses already using Salesforce.” For small business owners keen to explore these new offerings, the Slack Partner Industry Solutions can be discovered through Salesforce’s AppExchange platform. This provides a convenient avenue to identify partners that can help maximize investment in digital tools. As the landscape of work continuously evolves, engaging with industry-specific solutions like those launched by Slack and its partners could be pivotal in adapting to new norms. By breaking down silos and fostering collaboration, small businesses stand to enhance their productivity and improve their operations in an increasingly complex market. For further information on Slack’s Partner Industry Solutions, visit the original announcement here: Slack Blog. Image via Envato This article, "Slack and Salesforce Unveil Tailored Industry Solutions for Digital HQs" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

President Donald The President’s administration announced Wednesday new “massive sanctions” against Russia’s oil industry that are aimed at moving Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table and bringing an end to Moscow’s brutal war on Ukraine. The sanctions against oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil followed months of calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well as bipartisan pressure on The President to hit Russia with harder sanctions on its oil industry, the economic engine that has allowed Russia to continue to execute the grinding conflict even as it finds itself largely internationally isolated. “Hopefully he’ll become reasonable,” The President said of Putin not long after the Treasury Department announced the sanctions against Russia’s two biggest oil companies and their subsidiaries. “And hopefully Zelenskyy will be reasonable, too. You know, it takes two to tango, as they say.” The U.S. administration announced the sanctions as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was in Washington for talks with The President. The military alliance has been coordinating deliveries of weapons to Ukraine, many of them purchased from the United States by Canada and European countries. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the new sanctions were a direct response to Moscow’s refusal to end its “senseless war” and an attempt to choke off “the Kremlin’s war machine.” Bessent added that the Treasury Department was prepared to take further action if necessary to support The President’s effort to end the war. “We encourage our allies to join us in and adhere to these sanctions.” The announcement came after Russian drones and missiles blasted sites across Ukraine, killing at least six people, including a woman and her two young daughters. The attack came in waves from Tuesday night into Wednesday and targeted at least eight Ukrainian cities, as well as a village in the region of the capital, Kyiv, where a strike set fire to a house in which the mother and her 6-month-old and 12-year-old daughters were staying, regional head Mykola Kalashnyk said. At least 29 people, including five children, were wounded in Kyiv, which appeared to be the main target, authorities said. Russian drones also hit a kindergarten in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, later Wednesday when children were in the building, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. One person was killed and six were hurt, but no children were physically harmed, he said. Rutte, in his Oval Office appearance, went out of his way to underscore that the weaponry the U.S. is selling Europe to provide to Ukraine has been essential to helping stop many attacks like the one that ravaged the kindergarten. “We need to make sure that the air defense systems are in place, and we need the U.S. systems to do that, and the Europeans are paying for that,” Rutte said. “It is exactly the type of actions we needed, and the President is doing that and trying everything to get this work done.” Zelenskyy said many of the children were in shock. He said the attack targeted 10 separate regions: Kyiv, Odesa, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Cherkasy and Sumy. Peace efforts stall The President’s efforts to end the war that started with Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor more than three years ago have failed to gain traction. The President has repeatedly expressed frustration with Putin’s refusal to budge from his conditions for a settlement after Ukraine offered a ceasefire and direct peace talks. The President said Tuesday that his plan for a swift meeting with Putin was on hold because he didn’t want it to be a “waste of time.” European leaders accused Putin of stalling. Meanwhile, in what appeared to be a public reminder of Russian atomic arsenals, Putin on Wednesday directed drills of the country’s strategic nuclear forces. Zelenskyy urged the European Union, the United States, and the Group of Seven industrialized nations to force Russia to the negotiating table. Pressure can be applied on Moscow “only through sanctions, long-range (missile) capabilities and coordinated diplomacy among all our partners,” he said. More international economic sanctions on Russia are likely to be discussed Thursday at an EU summit in Brussels. On Friday, a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing — a group of 35 countries that support Ukraine — is to take place in London. Zelenskyy credited The President’s remarks that he was considering supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine for Putin’s willingness to meet. The American president later said he was wary of tapping into the U.S. supply of Tomahawks over concerns about available stocks. Russia has not made significant progress on the battlefield, where a war of attrition has taken a high toll on Russian infantry and Ukraine is short of manpower, military analysts say. Both sides have invested in long-range strike capabilities to hit rear areas. Ukraine says it hit key Russian chemical plant The Ukrainian army’s general staff said its forces struck a chemical plant Tuesday night in Russia’s Bryansk region using British-made air-launched Storm Shadow missiles. The plant is an important part of the Russian military and industrial complex, producing gunpowder, explosives, missile fuel and ammunition, it said. Russian officials in the region confirmed an attack but did not mention the plant. Ukraine also claimed overnight strikes on the Saransk mechanical plant in Mordovia, Russia, which produces components for ammunition and mines, and the Makhachkala oil refinery in the Dagestan republic of Russia. The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defenses downed 33 Ukrainian drones over several regions overnight, including the area around St. Petersburg. Eight airports temporarily suspended flights because of the attacks. In other developments, Zelenskyy arrived Wednesday in Oslo, Norway, and after that flew to Stockholm, where he and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson signed an agreement exploring the possibility of Ukraine buying up to 150 Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets over the next decade or more. Ukraine has already received American-made F-16s and French Mirages. The President says Russia is on the agenda for upcoming Xi talks The U.S. president is expected to meet next week with Chinese President Xi Jinping when the two leaders travel to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. Beijing has not provided Russia with direct support in the war, but has surged sales to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology that Moscow in turn is using to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weaponry for use in its war against Ukraine, according to a U.S. assessment. The President has said he believes the Russia-Ukraine war would end if all NATO countries stopped buying oil from Russia and placed tariffs on China of 50% to 100% for its purchases of Russian petroleum. “I think he could have a big influence on Putin,” The President said of Xi Jinping. Beijing has yet to confirm that The President and Xi will meet. —Aamer Madhani, Susie Blann, Fatima Hussein, Associated Press Associated Press writers Hanna Arhirova, Illia Novikov, Samya Kullab, Andrea Rosa, Yehor Konovalov, and Josh Boak contributed to this report. View the full article

In the early days of SEO, ranking algorithms were easy to game with simple tactics that became known as “black hat” SEO – white text on a white background, hidden links, keyword stuffing, and paid link farms. Early algorithms weren’t sophisticated enough to detect these schemes, and sites that used them often ranked higher. Today, large language models power the next generation of search, and a new wave of black hat techniques are emerging to manipulate rankings and prompt results for advantage. The AI content boom – and the temptation to cut corners Up to 21% of U.S. users access AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity, and DeepSeek more than 10 times per month, according to SparkToro. Overall adoption has jumped from 8% in 2023 to 38% in 2025. It’s no surprise that brands are chasing visibility – especially while standards and best practices are still taking shape. One clear sign of this shift is the surge in AI-generated content. Graphite.io and Axios report that the share of articles written by AI has now surpassed those created by humans. Two years ago, Sports Illustrated was caught publishing AI-generated articles under fake writer profiles – a well-intentioned shortcut that backfired. The move damaged the brand’s credibility without driving additional traffic. Its authoritativeness, one of the pillars of Google’s E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness) framework, was compromised. While Google continues to emphasize E-E-A-T as the North Star for quality, some brands are testing the limits. With powerful AI tools now able to execute these tactics faster and at scale, a new wave of black hat practices is emerging. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. The new black hat GEO playbook As black hat GEO gains traction, several distinct tactics are emerging – each designed to exploit how AI models interpret and rank content. Mass AI-generated spam LLMs are being used to automatically produce thousands of low-quality, keyword-stuffed articles, blog posts, or entire websites – often to build private blog networks (PBNs). The goal is sheer volume, which artificially boosts link authority and keyword rankings without human oversight or original insight. Fake E-E-A-T signals Search engines still prioritize experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. Black hat GEO now fabricates these signals using AI to: Create synthetic author personas with generated headshots and fake credentials. Mass-produce fake reviews and testimonials. Generate content that appears comprehensive but lacks genuine, human-validated experience. LLM cloaking and manipulation A more advanced form of cloaking, this tactic serves one version of content to AI crawlers – packed with hidden prompts, keywords, or deceptive schema markup – and another to human users. The goal is to trick the AI into citing or ranking the content more prominently. Schema misuse for AI Overviews Structured data helps AI understand context, but black hat users can inject misleading or irrelevant schema to misrepresent the page’s true purpose, forcing it into AI-generated answers or rich snippets for unrelated, high-value searches. SERP poisoning with misinformation AI can quickly generate high volumes of misleading or harmful content targeting competitor brands or industry terms. The aim is to damage reputations, manipulate rankings, and push legitimate content down in search results. Dig deeper: Hidden prompt injection: The black hat trick AI outgrew The real risks of black hat GEO Even Google surfaces YouTube videos that explain how these tactics work. But just because they’re easy to find doesn’t mean they’re worth trying. The risks of engaging in – or being targeted by – black hat GEO are significant and far-reaching, threatening a brand’s visibility, revenue, and reputation. Severe search engine penalties Search engines like Google are deploying increasingly advanced AI-powered detection systems (such as SpamBrain) to identify and penalize these tactics. De-indexing: The most severe penalty is the complete removal of your website from search results, making you invisible to organic traffic. Manual actions: Human reviewers can issue manual penalties that lead to a sudden and drastic drop in rankings, requiring months of costly, intensive work to recover. Algorithmic downgrading: The site’s ranking for targeted keywords can be significantly suppressed, leading to a massive loss of traffic and potential customers. Reputation and trust damage Black hat tactics inherently prioritize manipulation over user value, leading to poor user experience, spammy content, and deceptive practices. Loss of credibility: When users encounter irrelevant, incoherent, or keyword-stuffed content – or find that an AI-cited answer is baseless – it damages the perception of the brand’s expertise and honesty. Erosion of E-E-A-T: Since AI relies on E-E-A-T signals for authoritative responses, being caught fabricating these signals can permanently erode the brand’s trustworthiness in the eyes of the algorithm and the public. Malware distribution: In some extreme cases, cybercriminals use black hat SEO to poison search results, redirecting users to sites that install malware or exploit user data. If a brand’s site is compromised and used for such purposes, the damage is catastrophic. AI changes the game – not the rules The growth of AI-driven platforms is remarkable – but history tends to repeat itself. Black hat SEO in the age of LLMs is no different. While the tools have evolved, the principle remains the same: best practices win. Google has made that clear, and brands that stay focused on quality and authenticity will continue to rise above the noise. View the full article

Construction projects generate significant waste from demolition, excavation and material use, which can impact budgets and the environment. A well-structured construction site waste management plan helps teams reduce waste, control costs and stay compliant with local regulations. By outlining how materials are handled, reused and disposed of, teams can improve sustainability and efficiency across all stages of construction. Understanding what is a construction site waste management plan helps contractors streamline operations while meeting environmental standards. It supports responsible sourcing, ensures regulatory compliance and promotes better collaboration among stakeholders. With the right tools, managing waste across multiple job sites becomes easier, more accurate and more transparent. /wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Construction-Site-Waste-Management-Plan-Template-Screenshot.png Get your free Construction Site Waste Management Plan Template Use this free Construction Site Waste Management Plan Template for Word to manage your projects better. Download Word File What Is Construction Site Waste Management? Construction site waste management is the process of collecting, sorting, reusing and disposing of waste materials generated during a construction project. It ensures compliance with environmental laws while reducing landfill impact and optimizing resource use. Project management software enhances this process by enabling teams to organize, track, and document waste management tasks in real time, ensuring nothing is overlooked. Using ProjectManager for construction site waste management provides structure and visibility. The Gantt chart connects waste management tasks to project phases and deadlines, making it easy to see dependencies and progress. Teams can assign tasks for material recycling, waste collection or reporting directly within the platform. With real-time dashboards and AI-powered reporting tools, managers can monitor disposal schedules, budget use and compliance metrics from one central location. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gantt-CTA-2025.jpgLearn more What Is a Construction Site Waste Management Plan? A construction site waste management plan is a document that outlines how waste will be handled throughout a construction project. It details the types of waste expected, how materials will be reduced, reused or recycled and which procedures will ensure legal and environmental compliance. The plan assigns roles and responsibilities, sets waste reduction goals and defines disposal methods that align with regulatory and company standards. It also includes logistics such as equipment use, off-site facilities and budget tracking to ensure efficient waste handling. Creating a comprehensive construction site waste management plan helps teams stay organized, cut costs and demonstrate environmental responsibility while meeting client and regulatory expectations. Why Is It Important to Make a Construction Site Waste Management Plan? A construction site waste management plan is vital for minimizing environmental impact, meeting regulatory standards and controlling costs. It helps reduce waste sent to landfills while improving recycling rates and resource efficiency. Proper planning also supports safety on site, lowers material expenses and boosts a project’s sustainability profile. By following a clear plan, teams can track progress, report compliance and maintain accountability at every stage. Related: 10 Best Construction Project Management Software How to Make a Construction Site Waste Management Plan Creating an effective construction site waste management plan starts with identifying project goals, compliance requirements and waste sources. Each section of the plan provides structure for recording data, assigning responsibilities and ensuring that procedures are implemented correctly throughout the project lifecycle. 1. Project Overview The project overview outlines the scope, location and duration of the construction project. It defines the key objectives for waste management, including reduction and recycling targets. Providing this context ensures all stakeholders understand the purpose and expectations before waste management activities begin. 2. Regulatory, Legal & Compliance Obligations This section lists all applicable environmental laws, building codes and local regulations related to waste disposal. It ensures compliance with permits, documentation and reporting standards. Keeping this information clear helps avoid fines and delays caused by non-compliance. 3. Waste Baseline or Waste Forecast The waste baseline or forecast estimates the quantity and types of waste expected during the project. This helps establish benchmarks for tracking performance and identifying potential waste reduction opportunities. Accurate forecasting improves budget planning and sustainability outcomes. 4. Waste Handling Plan The waste handling plan describes how waste will be sorted, stored and disposed of on site. It includes instructions for separating recyclable materials, hazardous waste and general debris. Having defined procedures ensures safe and efficient waste processing. /wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-construction-ebook-banner-ad.jpg 5. Waste Handling Schedule This section sets timelines for collection, removal and disposal activities. It coordinates waste handling with construction phases to avoid site congestion or delays. Scheduling also ensures consistent pickup and proper resource allocation throughout the project. 6. Roles and Responsibilities Here, each team member’s duties are outlined to ensure accountability for waste management activities. This includes site managers, subcontractors and waste handlers. Clear role definitions help maintain consistency, efficiency and safety on site. 7. Logistics, Infrastructure & Equipment This section details the on-site infrastructure used for waste handling, such as skips, storage areas and sorting zones. It also lists required equipment for loading and transport. Proper planning of logistics reduces handling time and prevents contamination between waste types. 8. Off-Site Facilities & Haul Routes Off-site facilities and haul routes describe where and how waste will be transported for recycling or disposal. This includes identifying approved landfills or recycling centers and mapping safe transport routes. Planning these routes minimizes travel time and reduces environmental impact. Related: 10 Free Construction Plan Templates for Excel & Word 9. Waste Management Costs and Budget This section outlines all financial considerations related to waste management, including collection, transportation and disposal fees. It helps project managers monitor expenses and compare them against initial estimates. Budget tracking ensures cost efficiency and prevents overspending. 10. Monitoring, Reporting and Communication Guidelines /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Reports-Light-2554x1372-1-600x322.pngLearn more This part explains how waste data will be tracked, recorded and shared with stakeholders. Regular reporting supports compliance audits and sustainability reporting. Clear communication channels keep the project team aligned and informed throughout the process. 11. Potential Risks & Mitigation Actions The final section identifies possible risks such as hazardous material exposure, equipment failure or non-compliance issues. It includes mitigation strategies to reduce these risks before they escalate. Proactive planning ensures safety and reliability across all waste management operations. /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/risk-image-lightmode-600x331.pngLearn more Construction Site Waste Management Plan Template Download this free construction site waste management plan template for Word to help project teams organize and track all construction waste. Pre-formatted tables cover project details, regulatory compliance, waste handling, roles, schedules and costs, making it easy to implement a complete waste management strategy and maintain accountability on site. /wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Construction-Site-Waste-Management-Plan-Template-Screenshot-600x759.png The template allows managers to assign responsibilities, monitor progress and report results. It supports sustainability, risk mitigation and compliance, helping teams meet diversion goals efficiently while keeping stakeholders informed throughout the project. Construction Site Waste Management Plan Example This example uses a real-life scenario to show how a construction site waste management plan is structured and implemented. Each section includes a blurb followed by a compact table that summarizes key data points for the Vista Verde Apartment Complex project. Use these examples to adapt the plan to your own site conditions and objectives. 1. Project Overview Vista Verde is a five-story residential building with 60 units managed by Evergreen Builders for Horizon Developments. The 14-month schedule requires coordinated waste diversion efforts to meet an 80% C&D diversion objective. The waste plan author outlines scope, duration and high-level targets to align all trades and stakeholders. Project Name Vista Verde Apartment Complex Location 1100 Greenway Blvd, Austin, TX 78741 Duration Jan 2025 – Mar 2026 (14 months) Objective Divert at least 80% of C&D waste from landfill 2. Regulatory, Legal & Compliance Obligations The plan lists federal, state and local requirements that affect waste handling, transporter registration and facility acceptance. Responsible parties are assigned for each regulation, so permits, manifests and reporting are managed. This prevents fines and ensures that diversion claims are auditable for LEED or local compliance reviews. Regulation Description Responsible Party U.S. EPA RCRA (40 CFR Part 261) Identification and handling of hazardous waste on site Site Manager TCEQ Rules Registration of transporters and licensed disposal Environmental Coordinator Austin Ordinance 15-6-91 Requires 50% minimum C&D diversion General Contractor 3. Waste Baseline or Waste Forecast The forecast quantifies expected waste by material type and sets diversion targets to guide handling decisions and budgets. Estimates are based on similar projects and supplier takeback data to prioritize recycling streams. This baseline supports procurement choices and helps track performance against the 80% diversion goal. Material Estimated Tons Handling Method Target Diversion Concrete & Masonry 480 Crushed and reused as base fill 95% Wood 90 Separated and sent to biomass 85% Metals 60 Collected for scrap recycling 100% 4. Waste Handling Plan The handling plan defines on-site segregation points, container types and the intended facility for each stream. It sets rules for partial interior collection of drywall and daily sorting of packaging to avoid contamination. Clear handling instructions reduce cross-stream contamination and improve recycling yield. Waste Stream On-Site Segregation Collection Point Facility Container Concrete & Masonry Yes South yard Austin Recycling Aggregates LLC 20-yd roll-off bin Wood Yes Material storage zone Lone Star Biomass Center Covered skip Mixed Residual No South exit gate Travis Landfill Site #4 Sealed dumpster 5. Waste Handling Schedule The schedule coordinates collection frequency with major project phases so bins are available when needed and pickups avoid work interference. It increases collection during foundation and framing when debris peaks and reduces frequency during interior fit-out. Scheduled pickups keep the site tidy and reduce contamination risk. Project Phase Expected Waste Collection Frequency Responsible Party Site Preparation (Weeks 1–4) Soil, vegetation, concrete demo 2× per week Site Superintendent Foundation & Framing (Months 2–6) Concrete, wood, metal scraps 3× per week Foreman & Subcontractors Interior Fit-Out (Months 7–10) Drywall, packaging, metal Weekly Interior Manager 6. Roles and Responsibilities Roles are assigned to ensure ownership of segregation, documentation and compliance. The environmental coordinator manages tracking and reporting while the site superintendent enforces daily practices. Subcontractors follow signage and report contamination so corrective action can be taken promptly to protect diversion rates. Role Name / Org Responsibilities Project Manager Daniel Reyes, Evergreen Builders Inc. Approve and oversee implementation; ensure compliance Environmental Coordinator Maria Lopez Track waste quantities; prepare reports Hauling Contractor GreenPath Logistics Transport segregated waste; provide manifests Related: Corrective Action Plan Template 7. Logistics, Infrastructure & Equipment This section lists on-site infrastructure needed to sort, store and protect waste streams, including color-coded bins, covered skips and a temporary storage area. Regular maintenance and weekly inspections keep equipment serviceable and prevent contamination caused by damaged containers or poor signage. Item Description Quantity / Location Waste Bins Color-coded 10–20 yd bins for each stream 6 bins across site zones Covered Skips For wood and cardboard to prevent moisture 2 units near storage area Temporary Storage Covered area for sorted recyclables Northeast corner 8. Off-Site Facilities & Haul Routes Approved facilities are mapped with distances and permit numbers so haulers follow compliant routes. Selecting secondary facilities within a 25-mile radius provides contingency options if the primary facility is unavailable. This minimizes haul time and ensures consistent recycling acceptance. Facility Material Type Distance (mi) Transport Austin Recycling Aggregates LLC Concrete, masonry 7.5 GreenPath Logistics Lone Star Biomass Center Wood waste 12 GreenPath Logistics Travis Landfill Site #4 Mixed residual waste 9 GreenPath Logistics 9. Waste Management Costs and Budget Budget items cover bin rental, transport fees, processing costs and dedicated labor to segregate waste. A contingency allowance addresses unexpected disposal needs. Tracking actual expenses against this budget helps keep waste costs proportional to the overall $14.5 million project budget. Cost Category Estimated Cost (USD) Notes Bin rental and collection $9,000 6 bins over 14 months Transport and tipping fees $13,500 Landfill and recycling fees Total Estimated Budget $46,000 0.32% of total project cost 10. Monitoring, Reporting and Communication Guidelines Daily inspections, weekly volume tracking and monthly diversion summaries provide a documented audit trail. Toolbox talks keep subcontractors informed and mid-project reviews allow plan adjustments. Digital manifests and dashboard reporting simplify compliance reporting and support LEED or company ESG submissions. Activity Frequency Responsible Party Method Daily Site Inspections Daily Site Superintendent Checklist logged in site app Waste Volume Tracking Weekly Environmental Coordinator Spreadsheet & digital dashboard Final Waste Report Project close-out Environmental Coordinator Submitted to client and archived 11. Potential Risks & Mitigation Actions Key risks include contamination of segregated streams, haul delays and extreme weather. Mitigation measures include daily inspections, backup hauler agreements and covered storage. Assigning responsibility for each mitigation action ensures prompt response and protects diversion rates and safety on site. Risk Likelihood Impact Mitigation Contamination of segregated waste Medium Medium Daily inspections; refresh worker training Unavailability of recycling facilities Low High Identify secondary facilities within 25 mi Extreme weather affecting storage High Medium Use covered skips and drain protection Free Related Construction Project Management Templates These free construction project management templates help teams plan, track and execute projects efficiently. Each template is designed to simplify complex processes, improve accountability and keep all stakeholders informed throughout the project lifecycle. Construction Safety Plan Template Download this free template to guide project managers in creating a comprehensive safety plan. It includes sections for hazard identification, safety procedures, emergency protocols and compliance tracking to ensure a safe working environment on site. Construction Daily Report Template Use this free template to track daily project activities, labor hours, equipment usage and weather conditions with this template. It helps maintain accurate records, identify issues early and keep stakeholders updated on project progress. Construction Scope of Work Template This free template defines project deliverables, responsibilities and objectives clearly with this template. It ensures that all parties understand the scope, minimizes disputes and provides a reference for progress tracking and contract management. How ProjectManager Helps Manage Construction Projects ProjectManager makes managing construction projects easier by providing multiple project views that give teams complete oversight. Users can switch between Gantt charts, kanban boards and task lists to plan, schedule and visualize complex construction timelines. Each view links tasks to budgets, resources and dependencies so project managers can see the full picture and adjust plans quickly as conditions change on site. Optimize Resource Management ProjectManager helps construction teams allocate labor, equipment and materials efficiently. Color-coded workload charts show availability and can be used to balance workloads to boost productivity. The team page allows managers to see assignments, progress and priority. Timesheets can be updated directly on the job site with our mobile app, making labor tracking real-time. This reduces overstaffing, prevents delays and ensures materials are delivered when and where they are needed, keeping projects on budget. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Team-Light-2554x1372-1.png Enhance Project Tracking Tracking progress is simple with ProjectManager’s AI-powered reporting tools that instantly summarize and advise. Teams can generate customizable reports that highlight task completion, budget variances and resource usage. Alerts notify managers of potential delays or overspending, and real-time dashboards show progress against milestones. This transparency helps stakeholders stay informed and allows managers to make data-driven decisions quickly, maintaining control over every phase of construction projects. /wp-content/uploads/2025/10/AI-Insights-Darkmode-Dashboard-GPT5.png Related Construction Project Management Content Now that we know what a construction site waste management plan is, readers who care to expand their knowledge of construction project management are encouraged to follow the links below. They lead to blogs on construction documents, different types of construction projects and much more. 32 Construction Documents (Templates Included) 10 Types of Construction Projects with Examples 18 Construction Methods and Techniques How to Make a Construction Plan Construction Phases: Documentation, Templates & Steps ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams, whether they’re in the office or on the job site. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post What Is a Construction Site Waste Management Plan? appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

In order for artificial intelligence to live up to its promise, it must be part of the physical world around us View the full article

Welcome to AI Decoded, Fast Company’s weekly newsletter that breaks down the most important news in the world of AI. I’m Mark Sullivan, a senior writer at Fast Company, covering emerging tech, AI, and tech policy. This week, I’m focusing on the implications of OpenAI’s official entry into the browser game with its ChatGPT Atlas. I also talk to Stanford HAI’s James Landay about the AI industry’s UX design challenges, and examine “AI czar” David Sacks’s recent X skirmish with Democratic billionaire Reid Hoffman. Sign up to receive this newsletter every week via email here. And if you have comments on this issue and/or ideas for future ones, drop me a line at sullivan@fastcompany.com, and follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @thesullivan. With OpenAI’s ChatGPT Atlas, the AI browser war officially kicks off Using the internet with the help of an AI is a real thing—and it became even more real Tuesday when OpenAI, the generative AI industry’s de facto avatar, announced the release of its new ChatGPT Atlas browser. A new race has begun to reinvent the Chrome-style browser experience we’ve used for so long: The race to reinvent the browser around natural language AI. Think of Atlas as an extended workspace and set of features around ChatGPT, specialized for fetching, parsing, and organizing web content. For months, I’ve been using the ChatGPT desktop app. I simply hit a keyboard shortcut, a small chat window appears toward the bottom of my screen, and I ask my question. When I click a source link within the answer, a new Chrome tab opens up behind the chat window. When talking to ChatGPT within Atlas, there’s no need to open that new Chrome tab—everything opens within Atlas. The chatbot stays open on the right, so I can ask it questions about the web page I’m viewing. OpenAI has some other ambitious ideas about how artificial intelligence can be used in browsing. Importantly, Atlas can leverage its memory of the user’s past browsing behavior so that it can more thoughtfully suggest ways of finding and organizing new data or web content. For example, it might remind the user of a specific piece of data they searched for within the same subject area at some point in the past. The user can control how much the browser “remembers,” OpenAI says. Atlas goes beyond fetching web content. It offers to act as the user’s agent, interacting with websites on the user’s behalf. This could mean planning a theater date (complete with dinner reservations, for example) or buying concert tickets when they become available. This kind of autonomous agent is something of a holy grail, both for AI labs trying to build enterprise (work) AI and companies building consumer AI. I’ve heard numerous tech company executives talk as if agents are already advanced enough to make a big difference in business and personal life. Other execs and experts I’ve spoken with say that the agent revolution will not happen this year, and maybe not even next year. That’s because the AI models behind the agents still aren’t good enough to reason through complex tasks. They also still can’t process all the contextual information needed to safely complete high-stakes tasks involving real money (like all the small considerations involved in booking a plane ticket), influential AI researcher (and OpenAI cofounder) Andrej Karpathy points out in a recent podcast. There are other hurdles, too. An entire technology ecosystem must form to accommodate new AI agents, says Devi Parikh, co-CEO of the agentic AI company Yutori. The websites and services of today are built for human users, so agents must learn how to click buttons, scroll pages, and search menus. They might work more reliably if they could exchange data with a website or service via an application programming interface (API) or some other secure and standardized handshake. Because it’s so crucial that users trust these AI agents, she says, AI companies would be wise to err on the conservative side in talking about what AI agents can really do; giving users a bad first impression could damage trust and make them hesitant to rely on agents. While Atlas is getting lots of attention, Google has been (more quietly) upgrading its Chrome browser with AI. Just last month, the company added a spate of features that make its Gemini AI a bigger part of Chrome, saying that the browser is “entering a new era powered by AI.” Within Chrome, Gemini can summarize content, organize tabs, and ask questions about web pages. Google’s new AI search function, now called “AI Mode,” shows up at the top of a wider range of searches and can also be called up using a keyboard shortcut. But Google is building these features onto an existing browser-slash-search tool. That’s very different from building an AI-first browser from scratch as OpenAI did. It’s also true that Google has introduced the AI features in such an understated way that many users probably don’t even know they’re there. (I saw the shortcut to AI Mode in Chrome’s search bar for the very first time Tuesday.) And Google is also freighted with a decades-old business model that knows how to make money from the traditional “10 blue links” search results. So it has to be very careful about how and when it pushes Chrome users toward AI search, which represents a very different revenue model. At any rate, lots of AI talent and money will go into building a new way of using the internet in the coming months and years. Let’s hope the end result is something that helps users more than exploits them. Stanford’s Landay: AI labs need to invest more in product design Lots of people are using AI chatbots now, but the vast majority are free-tier users who employ the tools’ most basic features. They might be comfortable chatting with the AI about some personal matter, but less likely to use it to build a website. At work, they might be apt to look up a policy document, but less comfortable working with the tool to build a report or spreadsheet. The big challenge of designers within AI labs like OpenAI or Google is to build the user interface of AI tools in a way that invites people to use those deeper features, which can offer far greater rewards than the basic ones. But designing software products with UX that’s approachable and easy to use may not be the forte of AI labs, says James Landay, a Stanford computer science and engineering professor who co-directs the university’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI). Landay, who specializes in human-computer interaction, consults for a number of tech companies in the Bay Area. A user interface could mean a piece of computer hardware or a software experience that mediates a human’s interaction with an AI. Landay says one of the big challenges of building interfaces for tech products has been that it’s very hard to anticipate the broad set of use cases that people may have, and the user interfaces people might prefer for each of them. Even on the Zoom call I had with Landay, several interface options are available—he may prefer audio-only on a phone, while I may prefer a half-screen mode on my laptop. As for AI apps, a small chat window might be fine for some use cases, while others might call for voice interaction. Still others may need a UX built for viewing images or video. Landay says with AI, it’s unlikely that a dominant form of interface will emerge to muscle out other modes. People will likely want to interact with the technology in a variety of different ways—some old and some new. A slice of the consumer market may decide that the best way to use AI is within the lenses and earpieces of augmented reality glasses. Some may like the idea of an ambient AI in the home, always ready to offer intelligence at the sound of their name (“HAL . . .”). Landay says the big AI labs haven’t yet moved very far away from the chatbot interface. He says these companies employ people who are primarily interested in natural language AI, so they naturally favor a text-based interface. The AI companies have so far focused most of their energy on improving the models themselves, and relatively little on developing productive ways for humans to interact with the AI. OpenAI’s engagement with the design guru Jony Ive is a sign that the company is at least aware of the need to develop a practical human interface for AI, and willing to invest in possible solutions, Landay says. Ive has indeed invented captivating entry points to mobile computing technology (iPhones and Apple Watches), but AI is another paradigm, and one that might not lend itself easily to an “ideal” piece of hardware or software UX. The David Sacks–Reid Hoffman skirmish on X was mainly about Anthropic David Sacks, the former VC who now works as the “AI czar” in the The President administration, and Reid Hoffman, the LinkedIn cofounder and big-time Democratic donor, got into a skirmish on X this week. It revealed some things about the politics of AI. On October 20, Hoffman started a thread: “I want to state plainly: In all industries, especially in AI, it’s important to back the good guys. Anthropic is one of the good guys.” Further down, Hoffman points out that others—including Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI—are trying to deploy AI in a way that balances innovation and safety, and is “enormously beneficial for society.” He adds that some AI labs (he doesn’t name names) are making decisions that disregard societal considerations, including some whose bots “sometimes go full fascist.” (Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot reportedly has praised Hitler, dabbled in Holocaust denialism, and ranted about “white genocide” in South Africa.) Whether it was the part about Anthropic or the dig on fascist bots is unclear—but Sacks was triggered. He clapped back: “The leading funder of lawfare and dirty tricks against President The President wants you to know that ‘Anthropic is one of the good guys.’” Hoffman responded, charging that Sacks didn’t read his full post, adding that it’s “particularly rich” that someone in the The President administration would accuse someone else of “lawfare and dirty tricks.” The MAGA-fied Sacks naturally has no love for Hoffman, a major Democratic donor. But he also sees Anthropic as a political enemy. His response: “The real issue is not research but rather Anthropic’s agenda to backdoor Woke AI and other AI regulations through Blue states like California.” Anthropic supported California’s Senate Bill 53 (aka the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act), which Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed into law. Sacks seems to suggest, without citing evidence, that Anthropic is working to get similar laws passed in other states. Sacks also says that Anthropic opposed The President’s “Big Beautiful [spending] Bill,” the original version of which contained a 10-year moratorium on any new state-level AI regulations—language that was decisively voted out of the bill in the Senate before passage. More AI coverage from Fast Company: This is the world’s first vertical take-off AI-piloted fighter jet Ukraine reveals powerful sea drone with AI capabilities in the Black Sea Prince Harry, Meghan join open letter calling to ban the development of AI ‘superintelligence’ Anthropic’s relationship with the U.S. government is getting complicated Want exclusive reporting and trend analysis on technology, business innovation, future of work, and design? Sign up for Fast Company Premium. View the full article

Welcome to the Balanced Millionaire plan. By Jackie Meyer Go PRO for members-only access to more Jackie Meyer. View the full article

Welcome to the Balanced Millionaire plan. By Jackie Meyer Go PRO for members-only access to more Jackie Meyer. View the full article

Berlin says Washington should not target subsidiaries of Russian oil company located in GermanyView the full article

How to overcome roadblocks. By Anthony Zecca Leading from the Edge Go PRO for members-only access to more Anthony Zecca. View the full article

How to overcome roadblocks. By Anthony Zecca Leading from the Edge Go PRO for members-only access to more Anthony Zecca. View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “You should be in control of what happens next but allow the prospect to be in control of WHEN it happens.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “You should be in control of what happens next but allow the prospect to be in control of WHEN it happens.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

ChatGPT referral traffic converts worse than Google search, email and affiliate links, trailing on both conversion rate and revenue per session, according to a new analysis of 973 ecommerce sites. Why we care. AI search platforms are starting to refer meaningful traffic to retailers – but not yet sales. For now, Google (paid organic) search still wins on conversion and revenue per session. By the numbers. The dataset consisted of 12 months (Augusut 2024 to July 2025), 973 ecommerce sites, and $20 billion combined revenue. ChatGPT referral traffic was ~0.2% of total sessions – ~200× smaller than Google organic. >90% of LLM-originating ecommerce traffic came from ChatGPT (Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot, etc., are were negligible). Affiliate (+86%) and organic search (+13%) conversion rates were higher than ChatGPT; only paid social converted worse than ChatGPT. ChatGPT trailed paid and organic search on revenue per session, but beat paid social. ChatGPT referrals had lower bounce rates than most channels, but organic/paid search was still best on bounce rate. Session depth was generally lower than most channels. Trendline. Conversion rate and revenue per session from ChatGPT improved, while average order value declined. Model projections suggested continued gains but no parity with organic search within the next year. Between the lines. Authors suggested early-stage friction – trust and verification behavior – may push shoppers to confirm elsewhere before buying, shifting last-click credit to traditional channels. Yes, but. Findings reflect last-click attribution and an emerging channel. If ChatGPT (and other LLMs) reshape customer journeys or make it easier to buy directly, its impact on sales could become more visible in the data. Bottom line. Despite the hype, the data suggests AI assistants haven’t disrupted Google Search – and won’t at least in the next year. However, the trajectory for AI assistants is up and to the right. Now is the time to test, learn, and iterate to be ready when LLM shopping matures. About the research. The study analyzed 12 months of first-party Google Analytics data from 973 ecommerce websites generating $20 billion in combined revenue. Researchers compared more than 50,000 ChatGPT-driven transactions with 164 million from traditional digital channels, using regression models that accounted for data sparsity, site effects, and device differences to evaluate conversion, order value, and engagement metrics. Recent studies echo the same pattern. LLM traffic may be rising, but it’s weaker on engagement and conversion. A SALT.agency analysis found organic search visitors were more likely to engage or complete key actions across most sectors, with LLMs performing better only in a few niches like health and careers. Another study by Amsive showed no significant conversion difference between LLM and organic traffic, and that LLM referrals made up less than 1% of total sessions. All of this research points to a consistent takeaway: AI-driven referrals are growing, but still lag traditional search in both scale and purchase intent. The working paper. ChatGPT Referrals to E-Commerce Websites: Do LLMs Outperform Traditional Channels? Dig deeper: ChatGPT Shopping is here – and it’s changing ecommerce SEO rules Optimizing for ChatGPT Shopping: How product feeds power GEO View the full article

Tycoon joins a growing list of crypto executives given legal relief by US presidentView the full article

Transparency comes up a lot with respect to the use of AI in journalism. There are obvious reasons for this—journalism is all about bringing transparency to what happens in the world, after all—and AI is a new thing that many people (rightly) view with skepticism. But that desire for transparency brings an opportunity to improve audience trust, something that’s in short supply lately. In fact, a recent report on the use of AI in news media from the Reuters Institute showed a pretty clear pattern of audiences’ trust declining the more AI was used in the journalistic process. Only 12% of people were comfortable with fully AI-generated content, increasing to 21% for mostly AI, 43% for mostly human, and a respectable (but, notably, not amazing) 62% for fully human content. The data points to a fairly obvious takeaway that, if trust is your goal (which in journalism, it certainly is), you should use less AI, not more. But we’re actually seeing precisely the opposite trend: Newsrooms worldwide are ramping up AI operations, with most major outlets, including The New York Times, using it in their process. Still others are using it to assist in creating content. ESPN, Fortune, and CoinDesk are just three examples of major, respected outlets leveraging AI to help write their articles. Flipping the skepticism of AI What’s going on? Sure, there are industry pressures to incorporate AI, but the data suggests that you might sacrifice trust with your audience. That’s a difficult problem, but it can be mitigated by prioritizing transparency. The data from the Reuters report creates a clear trend line, but it’s important to keep in mind the question was generic, asking about comfort levels regarding “AI- and human-led news,” and not about a specific use case. That’s why it’s important to provide a fuller understanding of what AI’s actually doing—say, sorting through hundreds of video transcripts to zero in on specific topics, or writing a first draft of “just the facts” that the reporter then scrutinizes and adds to—rather than just putting “AI-assisted” labels on things. That can mitigate the risk of losing trust somewhat, and this kind of transparency, done right, might even buttress it. I thought about this when I recently built an AI project around my work. I host a podcast for The Media Copilot where I interview leaders in media, tech, and journalism every week. However, once I publish a podcast, it fades quickly. A new one comes along the following week, and although I capture specific insights in short clips and articles, those also don’t last long, and then that conversation—which is likely still relevant—is trapped in the past. So I took every single podcast I’ve done and put them all in a single folder in Google NotebookLM. That tool applies AI to the folder’s contents so anyone can extract insights from it. If you have questions about the use of AI in media and journalism, just ask, and you’ll be able to hear what people like The Atlantic‘s Nicholas Thompson, Reuters’ Jane Barrett, and the AP’s Troy Thibodeaux think about it. And because it’s grounded in only the podcast transcripts (and not all the junk on the internet), the chance of the notebook making something up is very low. The craft table of journalism You can apply this idea to journalism more broadly. If you break down what a journalist does when creating a story, they typically gather things like research, interviews, specific documents, and the history of their reporting on a topic. In the process of writing, they curate the most important parts of that information, then apply their judgment—informed by experience and their target audience—to craft a story. You might call that last part the reporter’s lens. But it’s really just one lens among many that someone could look through at the material. A person with a different background, priorities, and knowledge of the subject might want to apply a different lens. You can think of this as a variation of the idea of “content remixing,” except that idea is usually concerned with format. This is remixing for audience. A podcast about all the latest news in AI, for example, might focus on the most popular headlines for a general audience, the biggest market-moving events for investors, or the most noteworthy technical advancements for developers. They might even focus on the same stories, just with different details called out and expanded on. Beyond the audience opportunity, though, is one of trust. Many news consumers distrust what they see in the media today. If you drill down on many of the complaints, which are often about political bias, the issue is rarely about the underlying facts and more about the lens the reporter has put them through. This is where AI tools like NotebookLM can serve as a kind of window into how journalists curate their information. By allowing a glimpse into the raw material—the interviews, the research, the unfiltered facts—readers might better understand how journalists arrive at their conclusions. It could demystify some of the process, making it less about “just trust us” and more about “here’s how we got here.” Of course, not every story could or should get this kind of treatment. Journalists are often entrusted with confidential material and sources that require anonymity, so an open-door approach to the “raw material” of the story simply wouldn’t be possible. Redaction is an option, but that would likely sow even more doubt in the conspiracy-minded. Making journalism interactive But for some stories, AI could help create a new, more transparent kind of journalism—one that’s more interactive. Imagine if readers could use AI to navigate the same corpus of information and draw their own conclusions or even generate their own version of the story. Certainly, few readers will want to dive this deep, but for that curious minority, it could be a fascinating new layer. In a sense, it turns the journalist into a kind of information curator, where the reader gets to apply their own lens. That feedback loop could have trust benefits for the journalist, too. By deconstructing the process this way, they might have a better understanding of their own lens: where they’re applying it, how it affects the story being told, and how other lenses change the picture. That perspective would inform how different audiences interpret their stories, which will hopefully lead to stronger stories. In the end, we won’t know if this approach is helpful for trust until we try it. It’s an experiment in making journalism not just something you consume, but something you can interact with. And whether it’s an academic exercise or a new genre, it’s at least a step toward understanding how we shape the lenses that shape our news. 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. Fire TV sticks have one advantage over every other streaming stick: They're owned by Amazon, which means they're more likely to get discounted. Right now, for instance, you can get Amazon's best streaming stick, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, for $39.99 (originally $59.99). Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) $39.99 at Amazon $59.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Get Deal $39.99 at Amazon $59.99 Save $20.00 Two of the biggest competitors in the streaming stick market are Roku and Fire TV Sticks, and committing to one or the other comes with pros and cons, so make sure to know what they are before making your decision. Fire TV Sticks excel at their voice assistance, which makes sense since they use Alexa to execute your commands. If you already have Amazon’s Alexa devices in your house, you can take full advantage of this since you won't even need to click on your remote to boot it up. If you have a soundbar hooked up, the Fire TV Stick will let you control it using the same remote. It comes with a new 2.0 GHz quad-core processor, Dolby Vision support, DHR10+ support, 16GB storage, and more. One of the advantages of using a Fire TV Stick is that you can install Kodi on it, which essentially gives you free access to virtually anything you can stream. If you're an Xbox gamer (or want to be one), you only need to get an Xbox remote to play their games over the cloud through the Xbox app (no console needed). The Fire TV Stick 4K Max has the most storage with 16GB, the best wifi support with Wi-Fi 6E, and the best voice assistant with Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced. At its current price, it's cheaper than the more budget alternatives. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds — $114.80 (List Price $129.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen, 2023) — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Shark AV2501AE AI XL Hepa- Safe Self-Emptying Base Robot Vacuum — $299.99 (List Price $649.99) Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, White with Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen), White — $59.99 (List Price $99.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Contract closings increased 1.5% to an annual rate of 4.06 million in September, the highest in seven months, according to National Association of Realtors figures released Thursday. View the full article

Breaches are an unfortunate reality of the digital era. Chances are, some of the companies you trust your data to are going to get hacked, and sensitive information stored on those servers is going to leak. If you've been online for a long time, that means quite a bit of your data is floating around various corners of the internet. While there isn't one centralized database for all the stolen credentials on the web, one researcher has compiled quite a large database, that you can check to see if your email address is affected. 183 million email addresses Cybersecurity researcher Synthient has compiled a massive database of stolen credentials from sources across the internet, amounting to 3.5 terabytes of data. (That's 3,584 gigabytes). The vast majority of this data—91% of it—has been noted by other researchers already. But because the database is so huge, the 9% that's new represents a large pool of credentials we haven't seen before. The database itself contains 183 million unique email addresses, along with both the websites they were attached to, as well as the passwords used to log into them. According to security researcher and blogger Troy Hunt, 9% of that figure represents 16.47 million credentials that have never been reported in any previous data breach. Hunt reached out to "a bunch" of his subscribers to see whether any of them could find their credentials in this database. One subscriber verified that the database contained a password that they did previously use with their Gmail account, while another confirmed the database contained websites they frequently visited. At this time, there's no reason to believe the database isn't legitimate. These 183 million email addresses—and their associated websites and passwords—are just floating around the internet, while over 16 million of them have never been seen before. Yours could be among them. How to check if your credentials are in this databaseThe entire database of 183 million email addresses has been uploaded to Have I Been Pwned. The site catalogues websites that have experienced data breaches, as well as the accounts that were involved. All you need to do is enter your email address in the provided field, and Have I Been Pwned will check it against its database to see whether the address has been involved in any known breaches. As such, if your email address is included in this latest database, it'll show up here. It doesn't look like any of my personal email addresses are in this database, but they've been included in plenty of other breaches. View the full article

Last week we talked about how far “other duties as assigned” can stretch a job description (in response to a letter where writers were being asked to do door-to-door sales). Let’s discuss other times “other duties as assigned” has gone wild. What are the weirdest, most out-there things you’ve been asked to do at work that had nothing whatsoever to do with your job? The post “other duties as assigned”: let’s discuss things you’ve been asked to do at work that were wildly outside your job appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Seth Todd was wearing an inflatable frog costume while protesting outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Building in Portland, Oregon, when a federal officer unleashed a torrent of chemical spray directly into the costume’s air vent. Video of the incident on Oct. 2 has spread, and puffed-out costumes — hippos in tutus, Mr. Potato Heads, dinosaurs — have quickly become a feature of protests against President Donald The President’s administration, including the massive “No Kings” marches across the U.S. last weekend. Todd, 24, said that while the attention has been overwhelming, he is nonetheless “honored to have inspired a movement like this.” “It’s helping to … combat that specific narrative that we are violent and we are agitating,” he said. Countering The President, in costume For protesters like Todd, the costumes are a way of fighting absurdity with absurdity: a playful counter to The President’s portrayal of Portland as “war ravaged,” “burning down” and “like living in hell.” The The President administration’s efforts to deploy the National Guard there for the stated purpose of protecting federal property are still blocked by the courts for now. Portland’s ICE building outside downtown has been the site of nightly protests that peaked in June when police declared one demonstration a riot. Smaller clashes have also occurred since then, and federal officers have fired tear gas to clear crowds, which at times have included counter-protesters and live-streamers. Nighttime protesters, frequently numbering just a couple dozen in the weeks before The President called up the Guard, have used bullhorns to shout obscenities. They have also sought to block vehicles from entering and leaving the facility. Federal officials argue that they have impeded law enforcement operations. ‘Keep Portland Weird’ The inflatable costumes are a testament to the city’s quirky protest culture — which also recently included a naked bike ride — and its unofficial motto, “Keep Portland Weird.” “Portland has always prided itself on this spirit of protest,” said Marc Rodriguez, a Portland State University professor of history and expert in social justice movements. The costumes also play well on social media, showing the protesters as nonviolent, he added. Frogs and more trend beyond Portland Some groups have started giving out the costumes to encourage more demonstrators to wear them. In Austin, Texas, college student Natalie McCabe got a free inflatable bald eagle costume. At the recent No Kings rally, she hung out with a unicorn and a frog. “Seeing people happy and having a good time and doing something different, like a distraction, it’s just how it should be,” she said. At the No Kings march in Chicago, Kristen Vandawalker dressed up as an inflatable “pegacorn” — part Pegasus, part unicorn — and posed for photos with the city’s The President tower in the background, as bubbles from a bubble machine floated by. “I think everybody just got the memo after Portland that this is something that we can do, and it’s something that the right doesn’t know what to make of,” said Vandawalker, the political action director for Indivisible Chicago Northwest. “Certainly, like the ICE agents don’t seem to know what to make of people in costumes. It’s hard to look threatening when there’s a fan blowing you up.” The Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on the inflatable costumes at protests. Operation Inflation In recent weeks, Portland residents have launched groups such as the Portland Frog Brigade, whose members sport inflatable frog costumes, and Operation Inflation, which hands out inflatable costumes to protesters for free. On Tuesday, Operation Inflation co-founders Brooks Brown and Jordy Lybeck dropped off about 10 costumes — among them a mushroom, Frankenstein and panda — outside Portland’s ICE building. They placed some on a costume rack and helped demonstrators put them on. The group has seen donations pour in and plans to expand to other U.S. cities, Brown said. “It feels really light-hearted and it feels that we’re showing these guys that we are not scared of them,” said protester Briana Nathanielsz, who opted for one of the Frankenstein costumes. “We’re going to keep having fun and keep Portland weird and safe.” —Claire Rush and Jonathan Mattise, Associated Press View the full article

David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance is seen as the top contender to buy Warner Bros Discovery, with analysts and experts saying the tech scion’s access to deep pockets and Washington ties give him an edge in what could be the media industry’s biggest merger in years. Fresh off the Paramount-Skydance deal in August, the newly minted media mogul is eyeing one of Hollywood’s prized assets that is home to HBO, Warner Bros Studio and a streaming unit with more than 120 million subscribers. His $60 billion approach was rejected by Warner Bros Discovery on Tuesday, Reuters first reported. But the company has put a for-sale sign and attracted other potential suitors including Comcast, Netflix and Apple, according to media reports. POTENTIAL $74 BILLION VALUATION At $30 a share — the price Bank of America analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich estimates Warner Bros Discovery could fetch in a sale — the company would be valued at about $74 billion, a figure analysts say could deter some bidders but remains within reach for Ellison, whose father Larry Ellison is the world’s second-richest person with a net worth of about $330 billion. Apple had $36.3 billion in cash at June-end and could easily raise debt to fund a takeover but it has historically avoided large deals — its biggest remains the $3 billion Beats purchase. Netflix holds about $9.3 billion in cash and has never done a deal exceeding $1 billion, while Comcast’s $9.7 billion cash pile means any bid would likely rely heavily on debt or outside partners. “It seems that Paramount appears to be in pole position,” said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore. IN PARTS OR WHOLE? Unlike Paramount, the other companies are also likely to be more interested in parts of Warner Bros Discovery than the whole company, which will saddle its buyer with around $35 billion in debt and declining cable TV assets, analysts said. “The studio would make sense for Netflix and Apple. The TV networks would make sense for the Comcast spinoff, while the studio would make sense for what is left of NBCU,” eMarketer analyst Ross Benes said. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos on Tuesday reiterated the streamer is not interested in buying traditional TV networks but he did not mention studios. “We’ve been very clear in the past that we have no interest in owning legacy media networks, so there is no change there,” he said during an earnings call. Apple has also shown little appetite for cable TV assets. Still, Warner Bros’ vast film and TV library, along with HBO’s acclaimed shows, would be a strong addition to Apple TV+. Comcast, meanwhile, is narrowing its focus to theme parks, streaming and core NBCUniversal film and TV assets by spinning off most of its waning cable networks. Buying Warner Bros would deepen that strategy, giving Universal’s parks access to lucrative franchises such as “DC Comics” and “Harry Potter”. The President CARD David Ellison also enjoys a unique advantage over rival bidders — his father’s close ties with U.S. President Donald The President. Larry Ellison has long been a Republican mega-donor and one of the few high-profile tech executives who were openly supportive of The President before last November’s election. Analysts say that could help ease regulatory concerns arising from Paramount’s potential buyout of Warner Bros Discovery – a deal that would hand control of a big swathe of U.S. cable networks as well as two crucial studios to Ellison. “If anyone does buy the whole thing, or even split it into two and buy the two bits, it’s going to have to have the blessing of the current U.S. administration,” said Clea Bourne, Head of Subject of Strategic Communications and Journalism at the Goldsmiths, University of London. “And that’s where the Ellisons stand out very easily, because their cart is very close to the administration.” —Zaheer Kachwala, Harshita Mary Varghese and Aditya Soni, Reuters View the full article

As the holiday season approaches, small businesses are gearing up for one of the busiest periods of the year. Recognizing this, Intuit has unveiled enhancements to its Mailchimp platform designed specifically for retailers to optimize their marketing strategies and drive revenue growth. These tools come at a critical time, as a recent Mailchimp report indicates that 43% of shoppers engage in holiday shopping as early as October. Among the standout features in this update is an improved integration with Shopify, which now boasts deeper behavioral insights. Retailers can leverage new triggers—like product views and checkout history—to create tailored marketing campaigns that resonate with potential customers. This enhancement aims to maximize sales potential by allowing businesses to personalize offers at scale with features such as single-use discount codes. Diana Williams, vice president of product management at Intuit Mailchimp, highlights the importance of these advancements: “With these improvements, businesses can move faster, personalize with more precision, and measure the tangible business impact of every omnichannel campaign.” For many small business owners, having the ability to deliver personalized content can make a substantial difference in conversion rates, particularly during a time when consumer spending spikes. The update also introduces global SMS capabilities, allowing marketers to reach customers across multiple countries while maintaining personalized communications. According to a QuickBooks study, 65% of consumers plan to use their phones to shop this holiday season, indicating a significant opportunity for retailers willing to meet customers on their preferred platforms. In addition to SMS, Mailchimp’s new unified performance dashboard consolidates data across email and SMS campaigns, enabling small businesses to identify trends and track the effectiveness of their marketing efforts seamlessly. “Having really strategic, Shopify-specific campaigns built in Mailchimp helps us convert with confidence every customer we legitimately can,” notes Connor Swegle, co-founder and CMO of Priority Bicycles. The ability to track revenue uplift related to specific campaigns allows small businesses to iterate on their strategies quickly. Small businesses may also find value in the advanced analytics introduced by Mailchimp, which enable retailers to measure campaign ROI in real time. For instance, improved audience analytics can help businesses track the performance of their customer segments more effectively, while conversion insights provide a granular look at user behaviors that can drive conversions. The holiday-ready email templates and automation journeys included in the update facilitate quicker, on-brand campaign creation, essential for standing out amid the noise of the festive shopping rush. With major shopping days like Black Friday and Christmas Day showing up to 74% spending propensity, having a comprehensive and attractive marketing strategy can significantly impact a small business’s bottom line. However, while these enhancements present exciting opportunities for small businesses, there are practical considerations. The integration of SMS and advanced analytics may necessitate a learning curve for those unfamiliar with these technologies. Additionally, managing multiple audience segments effectively requires a thoughtful approach to ensure messaging is tailored rather than overwhelming. Moreover, the new features come with associated costs, particularly for SMS campaigns which are available as an add-on to paid plans. Small business owners will need to weigh these costs against the potential revenue gains from more effective marketing. Intuit’s Mailchimp updates represent a concerted effort to equip small retailers with powerful tools to maximize their marketing impact during the holiday season. As Williams succinctly puts it, “When marketers can quickly and accurately turn data into action, they unlock new ways to serve existing customers and acquire new ones.” For small business owners navigating this holiday shopping season, using these enhanced Mailchimp features could translate into better customer engagement, increased sales, and improved overall marketing performance. To explore the full extent of these recent enhancements, visit the original announcement on Intuit’s platform here. This article, "Intuit Unveils New Mailchimp Tools to Boost Holiday Retail Success" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article