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Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. Want customized workout plans, real-time feedback, and 24/7 motivation, all without the cost of a human trainer? AI personal trainers sound like a perfect solution. Download an app, answer some questions about your goals and fitness level, and receive a personalized training program. I've tested some of these apps myself, and I definitely see the appeal. But more than anything, I see companies stuffing AI into apps where it doesn't belong. There's Strava's Athlete "Intelligence"; Garmin's underwhelming Connect+ subscription; Whoop's recovery recommendations, just to name a few. And as Lifehacker senior health editor Beth Skwarecki points out, people are increasingly asking ChatGPT for training advice, which is infuriating considering how many high-quality, free programs are already out there. Medical professionals and trainers are increasingly noticing clients experiencing anxiety around optimization and performance, becoming discouraged when AI labels their efforts as inadequate. Think of how something like "closing your rings" on Apple Watch activity goals had a chokehold over the nation. Or Fitbit step counts, even when step goals are bullshit in the first place. When metrics don't align with expectations, people feel like failures. And it's not because they haven't made progress, but because an algorithm told them so. Blind trust and data obsessionCertified personal trainer Cara D'Orazio describes what she calls "digital guilt"—the anxiety that creeps in when you miss a workout notification or can't keep up with your app's demands. She recalls clients who arrived at her gym burnt out and demoralized, including one woman whose AI coach prescribed six consecutive training days without rest. The woman felt "lazy" for being sore—a natural physiological response her digital trainer couldn't recognize or validate. "People begin relying so much on the algorithm that they lose connection with how their body actually feels," D'Orazio says. "A real coach can tell when your stress levels are high, when you didn't sleep, or when you just need to talk for five minutes before starting. AI doesn't do that. It only sees numbers—calories, steps, heart rate—not emotions, hormones, or mindset." Movement should enhance your relationship with your body, not create anxiety around it. This disconnection is particularly dangerous when you consider how deeply intertwined your fitness can be with your mental health. Marshall Weber, a certified personal trainer and owner of Jack City Fitness, has witnessed the psychological toll firsthand. "I have definitely seen folks get discouraged and even anxious when they rely too heavily on AI fitness enhanced tools," he explains. "While it is great that these apps can track everything, they are lacking a bit on the balance and self compassion side of fitness." I know that when I'm in a vulnerable mental state, this lack of empathy can be devastating. As D'Orazio warns, "If we're not careful, we're going to see a whole new wave of people who are 'fit' on paper but emotionally exhausted and disconnected from their bodies." The constant performance feedback is a recipe for an unhealthy fixation on fitness goals. The human touch AI simply can't replaceOutside of fitness, one of AI's most significant limitations is its inability to read context. Adrian Kelly, a business and sports performance coach, emphasizes the risks here: "Exercise can be quite an emotional experience with highs and lows generated by meeting, or failing to meet, our own expectations." He notes that traditional trainer-client relationships provide something AI cannot replicate: empathy, accountability, and trust built through genuine human connection. A skilled coach recognizes early warning signs of disordered eating, overtraining, or emotional distress. They celebrate non-scale victories, adjust plans when life gets complicated, and remind you that rest is productive. "The healthiest results come from building trust, flexibility, and self-awareness—things a machine simply can't measure," D'Orazio says. "Movement should make you feel more human, not less." Dr. Ayesha Bryant, a clinical advisor at Alpas Wellness, warns about the unhealthy fixation on health data that AI systems encourage. "This heavy quantification of fitness can drive clients and patients to perfectionism or body dysmorphia tendencies, especially in vulnerable individuals," Bryant says. The problem is compounded by all that blind trust in the algorithm, where users continue following AI recommendations even when experiencing pain, burnout, or clear signs they need rest or medical attention. Even if someone is self-aware enough to override AI recommendations, there's still the need for algorithmic validation. It's all too easy to shift from intrinsic to extrinsic motivation, forgetting that the whole point of moving your body is because it feels good. The bottom line: Find some balanceThis isn't to say AI fitness tools have no place in a healthy lifestyle. They can be useful for tracking data, setting reminders, or logging workouts. But they should complement—not replace—human guidance and your own body awareness. Weber recommends that anyone training regularly "consider checking in with a PT of some sort just to make sure you are still being kind to yourself." Bryant agrees, emphasizing that "long-term wellness and quality of life is driven by empathy, adaptability, and human connections." If the fitness industry's AI revolution has arrived, we need to approach it with clear eyes. Your body is not a machine to be optimized. It's a complex, intelligent system that deserves compassion, flexibility, and human understanding—things no algorithm can provide. View the full article

One of the most vital drugs with a high price tag will get dramatically more affordable next year – if you live in California. California will start selling insulin next year after striking out on its own in a bold deal to lower the cost of prescription drugs, making it the first state in the nation to do so. The state will offer low-cost insulin through CalRx, a state program designed to provide affordable life-saving drugs in California. “California didn’t wait for the pharmaceutical industry to do the right thing — we took matters into our own hands,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a press release. “… No Californian should ever have to ration insulin or go into debt to stay alive — and I won’t stop until health care costs are crushed for everyone.” Through the California program, insulin will be available starting in 2026 to state pharmacies for $45 for a five pack of insulin pens, with a suggested retail price of $55. The drug will be available to everyone at the set price, regardless of their insurance plan. Production of the drug will be handled by nonprofit pharmaceutical company Civica Rx through a $50 million deal the state struck in 2023. The partnership will eventually produce three forms of insulin, equivalent to namebrands Lantus, Humalog, and Novolog. The program is starting with glargine, a generic version of the drug Lantus, which will be available in January. The CalRx insulin will be produced at Civica’s manufacturing plant in Virginia. CalRx was first announced in 2019 as an executive order and later signed into law as the California Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act of 2020. Prior to the insulin news, CalRx successfully drove down the cost of Naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdoses, selling twin packs of the drug for $22.50 over the counter. Cost of insulin as a political issue The price of insulin comes frequently in politics, whether as a political bargaining chip or a campaign promise. That’s because in the U.S., the life-saving drug is astronomically expensive compared to how much it costs diabetes patients in other countries around the world. While insulin is cheap to manufacture, costing only around $4 per vial, it can wind up costing consumers hundreds of dollars every time they fill their prescription. That high cost can lead people with diabetes to skip and ration their doses, putting their health at serious risk in the process. After hitting historic highs, the price of insulin in the U.S. is finally coming down. Legislation and executive action over the past five years have put a cap on the cost of insulin for Medicare enrollees. The big three manufacturers have also made their own price cuts, extracting less profit from the life-saving drugs as national frustration and regulation targeting high insulin costs became impossible to ignore. States band together on health policy Blue states are going their own way more during the second The President administration, pooling their economic power and shared vision to set policies. California’s good news on insulin pricing comes one day after the state announced that it would join a first-of-its-kind coalition bringing together blue states on public health policy. The initiative, known as the Governors Public Health Alliance, aims to provide science-backed alternative public health policies to those set by the federal government under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. California will join Washington, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Colorado, Illinois, North Carolina and Guam. “California is proud to help launch this new alliance because the American people deserve a public health system that puts science before politics,” Newsom said in the announcement. “As extremists try to weaponize the CDC and spread misinformation, we’re stepping up to coordinate across states, protect communities, and ensure decisions are driven by data, facts, and the health of the American people.” View the full article

AI Overviews are changing what it means to “search.” The web remains central, but AI and shifting user habits are creating new winners and losers – with forums, videos, and creators gaining ground on traditional publishers, said Google’s Search Head Liz Reid in a new interview. Search shake-up. Every ranking update creates “winners and losers,” Reid acknowledged. But she said user behavior – not just algorithms – is driving the shift, with younger audiences favoring forums, short-form video, and creator content over traditional publishers. “One of the things that’s always true about Google Search is that you make changes and there are winners and losers. That’s true on any ranking update. That doesn’t, in any way, discount what it means for those individual publishers that are losers. “But the other thing that’s going on is there’s a behavioral shift that is happening in conjunction with the move to AI, and that is a shift of who people are going to for a set of questions. And they are going to short-form video. They are going to forums. They are going to user-generated content a lot more than traditional sites. This is particularly true with younger users. They’re going to podcasts rather than reading a long article.” “We do everything from user research to we run an experiment. And so you take feedback from what you hear from research about what users want, you then test it out, and then you see how users actually act, and then, based on how users act, the system then starts to learn and adjust as well.” Supporting the open web. “We really care about the health of the web more than anybody else. It is essential, not simply for AI Overviews, but for the product,” Reid said. She pointed to inline links, videos, and personalization features that highlight trusted publishers. Yes, but. Those links now sit inside AI Overviews – within or beneath Google’s own AI-generated summaries. “Dead Internet” worries. Reid dismissed fears that AI-generated content will drown out real people, saying Google’s systems downrank spam and extremely low-value AI slop. Yes, but. As AI floods the web with content, Google becomes the filter that controls which human voices break through. Quality signals in the AI era. Google wants to reward content that shows “time, craft, and perspective,” not mass-produced fluff. Reid said users prefer “deeper, richer” content that feels human. One thing they are looking at is whether a page gets fewer “bounce clicks.” Yes, but. Who decides what’s “rich”? With fewer clicks going to websites from AI Overviews, Google’s algorithmic judgments will matter more than ever. Richer, more personal queries. Reid says AI lets people search in more nuanced ways (“instead of ‘I want a dress for the wedding,’ ‘I want a dress for the wedding that is made by a merchant with the following values, and is also red, and is short'”) – helping smaller merchants and creators surface. Yes, but. While that personalization could reward niche voices, it could further concentrate visibility among those who align with Google’s machine understanding of “relevance.” Chat isn’t the whole future. Reid said AI chat won’t replace Search — it’ll enhance it. “People still want to hear from other people,” she said. Yes, but. Again, Google is blending chat, summaries, and links – and AI ultimately is deciding which people get heard and even who gets credit for an answer. Why we care. Google’s AI Overviews are reshaping how people find information and who gets traffic. Although Reid insists the web stays central, in the future Google’s AI summaries will likely reduce more clicks and force publishers to fight for visibility inside Google’s answers. The interview. The Google Exec Reinventing Search in the AI Era | WSJ’s Bold Names View the full article

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. Speaking Tuesday at the National Association for Business Economics meeting in Philadelphia, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell offered his clearest reflection yet on the Fed’s pandemic-era mortgage bond buying. He acknowledged that the central bank may have kept purchasing mortgage-backed securities (MBS) for too long—but he also suggested that those purchases may have had a smaller effect on the housing market’s trajectory than some assume. “Regarding the composition of our purchases, some have questioned the inclusion of agency MBS purchases given the strong housing market during the pandemic recovery,” Powell said. “The extent to which these MBS purchases disproportionately affected housing market conditions during this period is challenging to determine. Many factors affect the mortgage market, and many factors beyond the mortgage market affect supply and demand in the broader housing market.” “With the clarity of hindsight, we could have—and perhaps should have—stopped asset purchases sooner,” Powell continued. “Our real-time decisions [in 2020-2021] were intended to serve as insurance against downside [economic] risks [following the pandemic].” From 2020 through 2021, the Fed was purchasing hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of Treasuries and MBS. Those actions—part of its quantitative easing (QE) program—were designed, in theory, to lower long-term borrowing costs and support financial stability at a time when the policy short-term rate was also pinned near 0%. When the Fed buys long-term bonds like Treasuries or MBS, it creates extra demand for those securities. When bond prices rise—say for MBS—then the yields—or mortgage rates for MBS—fall. They move inversely. Critics have argued that those MBS purchases added unnecessary fuel to a housing market already running red-hot during the Pandemic Housing Boom. They contend that by continuing to buy MBS deep into 2021, the Fed artificially suppressed mortgage rates—with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hitting an all-time low of 2.65% in January 2021—and helped intensify competition among buyers, worsening affordability. Powell’s comments on Tuesday acknowledged, to a small degree, an element of that critique, but also suggested that the actual impact may have been smaller than many assume. He appeared to imply that other powerful factors—such as the pandemic-era surge in demand for more space, the unlocked “WFH arbitrage” (including the domestic migration wave it triggered), and pandemic-era savings—were also at play. Of course, Powell has repeatedly stated that he simply believes there aren’t enough homes in the country. While the Fed can’t undo its 2021 asset purchases, Powell acknowledged that, going forward, the central bank could be “more nimble” in adjusting its balance sheet—hinting that future QE programs might be shorter or more targeted. “Stopping [QE asset purchases, including MBS] sooner could have made some difference, but not likely enough to fundamentally alter the trajectory of the economy,” Powell said on Tuesday. “Nonetheless, our experience since 2020 does suggest that we can be more nimble in our use of the balance sheet, and more confident that our communications will foster appropriate expectations among market participants given their growing experience with these tools.” No appetite for using MBS to address the current housing strain Some online observers—let’s be honest, mostly those tied to the mortgage and housing industries—have floated the idea that the Fed could start buying MBS again to help bring down today’s elevated mortgage rates. But when asked on Tuesday whether renewed MBS purchases might be used to improve housing affordability, Powell firmly rejected the notion. “We look at overall inflation, we don’t target housing prices. And we’d certainly not engage in mortgage-backed security purchases as a way of addressing mortgage rates or housing directly,” said Powell. “That’s not what we do.” View the full article

A reader writes: How far can “other duties as assigned” in a job description stretch? My company is asking us to do an assignment that is wildly outside our normal job roles. Imagine that we write user manuals for the a vacuum company, and now they’re telling us we have to go out and do 2-5 weeks of door-to-door sales in another city, 12 hours a day, for 6 days a week. We’re all salaried so the hours are within the legal limits, but the work is nothing like what we were hired to do. We have not been trained in sales and many of us feel very uncomfortable doing this work, especially when it means leaving our lives behind for as much as a month. When we’ve raised this, management says our job descriptions say “other duties as assigned,” that the main job of the company is to sell vacuums, and since sales are down this is an “all hands on deck” moment. Does “other duties as assigned” in a job description mean anything goes? More or less. Most jobs in the United States are “at will,” meaning that the company can change the terms of your employment at any time. They don’t need to give you a job description at all, and if they do they’re not bound by what it says. Or they could give you a job description with three specific tasks on it and no “other duties as assigned” at all and still randomly require you to do completely different things one day. Job descriptions do carry legal weight in some circumstances, but not in the way you’re thinking. For example, they come into play if you ask for a medical accommodation and the company says, “Oh, there’s no way we could permit that because doing X is such an essential requirement of your job” and you’re able to argue that X has always been a minor and irregular duty and, look, it’s so unimportant that it has no relation to anything that’s in your written job description. (To be clear, even if it is in your job description, they still might not be able to argue it’s an essential duty of the role; that’s fact-specific. But not having it written down will generally make it harder for them.) Job descriptions can also matter if you quit because your job changes drastically and then apply for unemployment benefits. You might be more eligible for benefits if you can use the initial job description to show that the change in duties was so significant that it would be intolerable to a reasonable person (although that’s not guaranteed and varies by state). Job descriptions can also matter a lot if you have a union; your union contract may have rules around what, if anything, you can be asked to do outside of your job description. But beyond situations like that, job descriptions aren’t legally binding in the way you’re hoping for, whether they say “other duties as assigned” or not. So where does that leave you and your coworkers? What your company is asking you to do is ridiculous. They might like for everyone to drop everything and travel around doing door-to-door sales in another city for 12 hours a day, six days a week, but that doesn’t mean it’s reasonable or realistic for them to expect people will do that. You and your coworkers have a lot of room to push back on basic practicality grounds — meaning that all of you should say, “Sorry, I can’t do that — I have family commitments here that mean I can’t be away more than very rarely” and “I’m not available to travel.” It would also be beyond reasonable to say, “I came on board to do X, and while I’m wiling to help out in a pinch, door-to-door sales isn’t something I am willing to do.” But in this case, just presenting the travel as an impossibility may be your strongest framing. Your company could choose to fire you all if you don’t comply. They probably won’t do that, although you should be prepared for the reality that they could, and you should read the room as much as possible for a sense of how much leverage you have, both as a group and individually, and also about whether this whole situation reflects a company in such financial shambles that you might not have a job for much longer anyway. But there’s power in numbers and if you all flatly refuse — treating it as if of course this is unreasonable and not possible — you have a decent shot of getting them to back down. The post how far does “other duties as assigned” in a job description go? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Western Alliance and Zions Bank disclose exposure to alleged fraudView the full article

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Zelana Montminy on pausing: “Give yourself permission...to stop sprinting on fumes. To admit the pace is breaking you. To feel the ache beneath the momentum. To stop performing energy you don’t have. You don’t need another protocol. Another cold plunge. Another fix-it morning routine. You need a moment to breathe without performing your peace. This summer, let slowness be sacred. Let rest be whole, without the guilt. Let the world keep pushing. You get to pause. You get to be real, not relentless.” Source: Finding Focus: Own Your Attention in an Age of Distraction II. Ian Wilson on not knowing: “We equate managerial competence with ‘knowing,’ and assume that decisions depend on facts about the present and about the future. Of course, the reality is that we have no facts about the future. However good our futures research may be, we shall never be able to escape from the ultimate dilemma that all our knowledge is about the past, and all our decisions are about the future.” Source: PDF From Scenario Thinking to Strategic Action * * * Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. View the full article

Uber’s U.S. drivers and couriers have a new way to earn extra money. The ride-hail app announced on Thursday a new pilot program that will offer gig workers the opportunity to train artificial intelligence (AI) through so-called “digital tasks.” They include simple, quick tasks for workers such as uploading photos, recording themselves speaking in their native language, and submitting documents written in different languages—which are then fed into AI models. Uber already offers this for gig workers in India. “A lot of these tasks are digital, meaning you can do them from your phone . . . from anywhere, and at the same time create earnings opportunities,” Sachin Kansal, Uber’s chief product officer, said at the company’s “Only on Uber” event in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. “Drivers have asked for more ways to earn, even when they’re not on the road,” CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement to Business Insider. “[We’re] giving drivers more ways to earn during downtime.” The pilot, which allows gig workers to complete quick digital tasks in the Driver app, is powered by Uber’s AI Solutions Group. How Uber’s “digital tasks” work The digital tasks are only available to drivers and couriers who’ve opted in. Once they’ve signed up, they will occasionally see invitations to complete the tasks in the Opportunity Center. Once available, users can view the full list before they begin (each task is optional)—including an estimate of how much time it will take and how much they will earn. After the tasks are completed, payment is added within 24 hours. Uber Financials Uber Technologies, Inc (UBER) was trading down nearly 3% in afternoon trading on Thursday. Uber’s reported second quarter earnings, for the period ending June 30, beat estimates with revenue of $12.65 billion (versus estimates of $12.46 billion). Earnings per share (EPS) came in at 63 cents. At the time, the company also announced the authorization of a $20 billion stock buyback. View the full article

After months of uncertainty, some federal student loan borrowers will soon have their debt canceled. But there’s a hook: You must be enrolled in a very specific program and have made sufficient payments to qualify. Some borrowers have been receiving notices in recent weeks that read: “You are now eligible to have some or all of your federal student loan(s) discharged because you have reached the necessary number of payments under your Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan.” The IBR plan, first introduced in 2007, offers debt cancellation after 20 or 25 years of repayment, depending on the age of the loans. Nearly 2 million borrowers were enrolled in this program as of the second quarter, according to Federal Student Aid figures. Notices emailed to borrowers go on to inform them that the U.S. Department of Education will work with their loan servicer to process the discharge over the next several months. If for some reason borrowers want to opt out of IBR forgiveness, they must contact their loan servicer by Oct. 21. While advocates for debt relief may cheer the news, these notices indicate that IBR forgiveness has resumed after about three months. In July, the Federal Student Aid quietly announced that forgiveness had been paused so its systems could be updated to accurately the number of months paid, blaming litigation related to a forgiveness plan instituted during former President Joe Biden’s administration. As a result, the debt forgiveness notices are simply the resumption of the IBR program, rather than a new forgiveness plan. On the campaign trail last year, President Donald The President called student loan forgiveness “vile” and “not even legal.” Education Secretary Linda McMahon has vowed that a mass forgiveness program won’t happen during her tenure. These notices have gone out even amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. The Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment from Fast Company. While a formal notice is the best way to confirm that your federal student loan debt will be cancelled, here’s how to know if you may qualify. BORROWERS MUST BE ENROLLED IN IBR PLAN The forgiveness notices sent out in recent weeks are only going to student loan borrowers who are enrolled in the income-based repayment plan, which capped monthly payments at a certain percentage of borrowers’ discretionary income . Borrowers enrolled in other repayment plans, even other income-driven repayment plans, may not see relief soon—if ever. That’s because other plans have been phased out or are held up by litigation in courts. CHECK NUMBER OF LOAN PAYMENTS Only those borrowers enrolled in an IBR plan who have made a sufficient number of loan payments are eligible for forgiveness. If you took out your federal student loans before July 1, 2014, then you must have made consistent monthly payments—300 in total—for 25 years. If you took out loans after that date, the threshold drops to 240 payments over a 20-year period. Many borrowers switch repayment plans over time—and you may still be eligible for IBR forgiveness for payments made while you were enrolled under other plans. It may be tempting to assume you’ve qualified for debt forgiveness based on your records of payments, but you should continue making payments as normal until you receive official notice. EXPECT MORE SHOWDOWNS ON STUDENT LOANS As the notices to borrowers indicate, full forgiveness may take several months. What’s more, the government shutdown may further delay loan forgiveness—and it has snarled other forgiveness efforts, including a legal challenge brought by the American Federation of Teachers regarding the Department of Education’s denial of rights to federal student loan borrowers for forgiveness opportunities that were mandated in their loan terms. Finally, expect more showdowns related to federal student loan debt to come. Last week, Politico reported that the The President administration is considering selling parts of the federal government’s $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio to private investors. Such a move might change current repayment safeguards, along with the potential for loan forgiveness in the future. View the full article

The First Brands and Tricolor bankruptcies are best understood as a window into the modern credit value chainView the full article

Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have sharply increased their use of artificial intelligence to deceive people online and mount cyberattacks against the United States, according to new research from Microsoft. This July, the company identified more than 200 instances of foreign adversaries using AI to create fake content online, more than double the number from July 2024 and more than ten times the number seen in 2023. The findings, published Thursday in Microsoft’s annual digital threats report, show how foreign adversaries are adopting new and innovative tactics in their efforts to weaponize the internet as a tool for espionage and deception. AI’s potential said to be exploited by US foes America’s adversaries, as well as criminal gangs and hacking companies, have exploited AI’s potential, using it to automate and improve cyberattacks, to spread inflammatory disinformation and to penetrate sensitive systems. AI can translate poorly worded phishing emails into fluent English, for example, as well as generate digital clones of senior government officials. Government cyber operations often aim to obtain classified information, undermine supply chains, disrupt critical public services, or spread disinformation. Cyber criminals on the other hand work for profit by stealing corporate secrets or using ransomware to extort payments from their victims. These gangs are responsible for the wide majority of cyberattacks in the world and in some cases have built partnerships with countries like Russia. Increasingly, these attackers are using AI to target governments, businesses, and critical systems like hospitals and transportation networks, according to Amy Hogan-Burney, Microsoft’s vice president for customer security and trust, who oversaw the report. Many U.S. companies and organizations, meanwhile, are getting by with outdated cyber defenses, even as Americans expand their networks with new digital connections. Companies, governments, organizations and individuals must take the threat seriously if they are to protect themselves amid escalating digital threats, she said. “We see this as a pivotal moment where innovation is going so fast,” Hogan-Burney said. “This is the year when you absolutely must invest in your cybersecurity basics,” US is a popular target The U.S. is the top target for cyberattacks, with criminals and foreign adversaries targeting companies, governments and organizations in the U.S. more than any other country. Israel and Ukraine were the second and third most popular targets, showing how military conflicts involving those two nations have spilled over into the digital realm. Russia, China, and Iran have denied that they use cyber operations for espionage, disruption, and disinformation. China, for instance, says the U.S. is trying to “smear ” Beijing while conducting its own cyberattacks. North Korea has pioneered a scheme in which it uses AI personas to create American identities, allowing them to apply for remote tech jobs. North Korea’s authoritarian government pockets the salaries, while the hackers use their access to steal secrets or install malware. It’s the kind of digital threat that will face more American organizations in the years to come as sophisticated AI programs make it easier for bad actors to deceive, according to Nicole Jiang, CEO of Fable, a San Francisco-based security company that uses AI to sniff out fake employees. AI is not only a tool for hackers, but also a critical defense against digital attackers, Jiang said. “Cyber is a cat-and-mouse game,” she said. “Access, data, information, money: That’s what they’re after.” —David Klepper, Associated Press View the full article

Observers believe the government shutdown and lack of data is keeping mortgage rates in the same narrow range, as investors have issues reading the tea leaves. View the full article

In terms of growing your small business, establishing a strong brand is fundamental. You’ll need to focus on several key services that can enhance your market presence. These include developing a brand strategy, creating a visual identity, and crafting effective brand messaging. Each component plays a significant role in how your business is perceived. Let’s explore these important branding services and how they can contribute to your overall success. Key Takeaways Develop a clear brand strategy to define identity, mission, values, and unique selling proposition for market positioning. Create a cohesive visual identity, including logos, color palettes, and typography, to enhance brand recognition and recall. Establish consistent brand messaging and voice to build trust and emotional connections with customers. Optimize a user-friendly website for SEO and ensure alignment with offline branding for a strong online presence. Utilize social media branding to engage customers, promote loyalty, and leverage user-generated content for increased sales. Brand Strategy Development When you commence on the voyage of brand strategy development, it’s essential to establish a clear blueprint that defines your brand’s identity. This includes outlining your mission, values, and vision, which differentiate you from competitors. You’ll need to determine your unique selling proposition (USP) and market positioning to attract and retain customers effectively. Consider engaging branding companies for customized support and guidance during this process. A well-crafted brand strategy additionally defines your brand personality, helping create a relatable image for your target audience. As the brand development cost varies, investing in branding services for small business can greatly improve your market presence. Visual Identity Creation Creating a strong visual identity is vital for your brand, as it encapsulates your brand’s essence and personality through key elements like logos, color palettes, typography, and imagery. A cohesive visual identity can greatly improve brand recognition, making it easier for consumers to identify and remember your brand. Here are four important aspects to keep in mind: Logos: Your logo should reflect your brand’s values. Color Palettes: Choose colors that evoke the right emotions. Typography: Select fonts that match your brand’s personality. Imagery: Use images that resonate with your target audience. Investing in a professional brand designer for small businesses can streamline this process, but always take into account the cost for branding and branding services pricing to guarantee it fits your budget. Brand Messaging and Voice Establishing a consistent brand voice is vital for nurturing trust and loyalty among your customers. When your messaging aligns with your brand’s core values and tells a compelling story, it helps create a connection that resonates with your audience. To achieve this, consider developing a copy style guide that guarantees every communication reflects your brand’s personality and remains cohesive across all platforms. Consistent Brand Voice To build a strong connection with your audience, maintaining a consistent brand voice is essential. Establishing this voice involves defining characteristics that resonate with your target audience. Collaborate with a local branding agency to guarantee your messaging remains uniform across all channels. Here are four key elements to focus on: Genuineness: Be authentic in your communications to build trust. Friendliness: Use a warm tone that invites engagement. Humor: Light-heartedness can make your brand relatable. Clarity: Ensure your messaging is easy to understand and remember. Storytelling for Connection Storytelling serves as a strong tool for building an emotional connection with your audience, allowing them to relate to your brand on a personal level. When your brand story resonates with consumers, 55% are likely to make a purchase, indicating the influence of effective storytelling. A well-defined brand voice improves consistency in communication, nurturing trust and loyalty. This trust is crucial for long-term business success. Verify your messaging aligns with your core values and mission, making it authentic to your audience. Utilizing a copy style guide can help maintain coherent messaging across various platforms, reinforcing your brand identity. Remember, brands that communicate their story effectively can see a 15% increase in immediate purchases, demonstrating the significance of connection. Messaging Alignment Strategies Aligning your brand messaging and voice with your core values is key to building a strong connection with your audience. Consistency in messaging cultivates trust, and customers often seek brands that share their values. To effectively align your messaging, consider these strategies: Define Your Core Values: Clearly identify what your brand stands for and communicate these values consistently. Develop a Copy Style Guide: Guarantee your brand voice remains coherent across all platforms for maximum recognition. Craft a Compelling Narrative: Engage your audience with storytelling that resonates emotionally and reflects your brand identity. Monitor Feedback: Continuously evaluate how your audience responds to your messaging and adjust accordingly to strengthen connections. These steps can greatly improve your brand’s relationship with consumers. Website and Digital Branding Creating a strong online presence is essential for small businesses, as your website often serves as the first point of contact with potential customers. A visually appealing and functional site can greatly impact user engagement and conversion rates. To improve your online visibility, optimize your website for search engines (SEO), which can lead to increased traffic. Guarantee consistency between your online and offline brand identity, as this reinforces brand recognition and trust. Focus on user experience (UX) design to provide a seamless interaction for visitors. Moreover, incorporate brand messaging and storytelling within your website content, allowing you to connect meaningfully with your audience. This approach helps cultivate customer loyalty and engagement, making your digital branding efforts more effective. Marketing Collateral Design In terms of marketing collateral design, you’ll want to focus on creating effective materials like brochures, business cards, and flyers that reflect your brand’s identity. Professional design is essential, as it establishes credibility and guarantees consistency across all your promotional materials. Types of Marketing Collateral How can you effectively utilize various types of marketing collateral to improve your brand’s presence? By leveraging diverse promotional materials, you can reinforce your brand messaging and keep it fresh in consumers’ minds. Here are four crucial types of marketing collateral to evaluate: Brochures – These provide in-depth information about your products or services, showcasing your offerings clearly. Business Cards – A potent networking tool, they convey your contact information and brand identity succinctly. Flyers – Use these for promotions or events, capturing attention with lively designs and compelling copy. Presentations – Customized for meetings or pitches, they help communicate your brand story effectively, nurturing deeper connections. Importance of Professional Design Professional design plays a critical role in shaping the perception of your brand, as it establishes credibility and nurtures trust among consumers. High-quality marketing collateral, like brochures and business cards, improves your brand’s image, making it more polished and appealing. Studies show that consistent and visually appealing materials can boost brand recall, potentially increasing revenue by up to 23%. Effective design communicates your key messages clearly, helping your audience understand your values and offerings. Additionally, engaging visuals drive customer interaction; 47% of consumers are more likely to engage with well-designed content. Ultimately, compelling marketing materials lead to higher conversion rates, as 79% of consumers prefer brands that offer striking visuals alongside their messaging. Invest in professional design to maximize your impact. Consistency Across Materials Achieving consistency across your marketing collateral is essential for reinforcing your brand’s identity and building consumer trust. When your promotional materials, like brochures and business cards, reflect a unified design, it makes a lasting impression. Here are four key elements to take into account: Color Palette: Use a consistent set of colors to create a recognizable visual identity. Typography: Choose one or two fonts that convey your brand’s personality and stick with them. Brand Guidelines: Develop clear guidelines to guarantee your messaging is consistent across all materials. Visual Appeal: Ascertain your designs not only look good but also communicate your brand’s values effectively. Social Media Branding Social media branding plays a crucial role in establishing your business’s identity across various platforms, ensuring that your visual elements, such as logos, color schemes, and typography, align with your overarching brand strategy. Engaging with your audience can greatly boost brand awareness, as studies indicate that 54% of users browse products on social media before purchasing. Crafting a unique brand voice helps build trust and promote customer loyalty. Furthermore, leveraging user-generated content can greatly improve your branding, influencing 79% of consumers’ purchasing decisions. Consistency in your branding can lead to a 20% increase in customer engagement. Element Importance Impact on Business Visual Identity Creates recognition Boosts brand recall Brand Voice Builds trust Encourages loyalty User-Generated Content Improves credibility Influences decisions Consistency Increases engagement Improves interaction Brand Guidelines and Consistency Brand guidelines play a crucial role in maintaining a consistent visual identity across all platforms and materials. These guidelines act as a rulebook for your branding efforts, ensuring that every piece of communication reflects your brand’s core values. By establishing clear directives, you can cultivate a cohesive customer experience, ultimately enhancing recognition and trust. Here are four vital components to include in your brand guidelines: Logo Usage: Define how your logo should appear in various contexts. Color Palettes: Specify the colors that represent your brand. Typography: Select fonts that align with your brand voice. Voice and Messaging: Establish a tone that resonates with your target audience. Implementing these guidelines can greatly increase your brand loyalty and visibility. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 3 7 27 Rule of Branding? The 3 7 27 Rule of Branding states that a customer needs to see your brand’s message three times, hear it seven times, and engage with it 27 times for it to resonate. This emphasizes the importance of repeated exposure to build recognition. The “3” focuses on visual impressions, the “7” on auditory interactions, and the “27” on deeper connections, like social media engagement. Consistent messaging across channels improves brand visibility and consumer trust. How Much Do Branding Services Cost? Branding services can vary greatly in cost. You might encounter hourly rates between $70 and $300, depending on the agency’s experience and location. Many agencies set minimum budgets, often starting at around $1,000 and potentially exceeding $50,000 for extensive projects. Design-focused agencies typically charge between $125 and $175 per hour. Moreover, some agencies offer subscription models that include unlimited revisions, which can provide a cost-effective option for ongoing branding needs. What Is Included in Branding Services? Branding services typically include several key components. You’ll find brand strategy development, which outlines your mission and values. Logo and visual identity creation is essential, as your logo is often the first impression. Thorough brand guidelines guarantee consistency in marketing materials, covering logo usage and color palettes. Furthermore, digital branding focuses on website design, whereas marketing collateral design includes brochures and business cards, reinforcing your brand messaging and enhancing credibility through professional design. How Much Does a Branding Suite Cost? The cost of a branding suite can range from $1,000 to over $10,000. This variation depends on the services included and the agency’s expertise. You might pay around $150 per hour for branding services, or choose packages for savings. Some agencies offer subscription-based services, starting at about $1,800 monthly, which allows for unlimited requests. Furthermore, consider minimum budget requirements, which can vary from $1,000 to $50,000 based on project scope. Conclusion Investing in branding services is vital for small businesses aiming to improve their market presence. By focusing on brand strategy, visual identity, and messaging, you can establish a strong foundation. Furthermore, optimizing your website and social media branding increases visibility and engagement. Implementing consistent brand guidelines guarantees recognition and promotes loyalty among customers. Prioritizing these seven fundamental services will help you build a cohesive brand that drives growth and connects effectively with your target audience. Image Via Envato This article, "7 Essential Branding Services for Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In terms of growing your small business, establishing a strong brand is fundamental. You’ll need to focus on several key services that can enhance your market presence. These include developing a brand strategy, creating a visual identity, and crafting effective brand messaging. Each component plays a significant role in how your business is perceived. Let’s explore these important branding services and how they can contribute to your overall success. Key Takeaways Develop a clear brand strategy to define identity, mission, values, and unique selling proposition for market positioning. Create a cohesive visual identity, including logos, color palettes, and typography, to enhance brand recognition and recall. Establish consistent brand messaging and voice to build trust and emotional connections with customers. Optimize a user-friendly website for SEO and ensure alignment with offline branding for a strong online presence. Utilize social media branding to engage customers, promote loyalty, and leverage user-generated content for increased sales. Brand Strategy Development When you commence on the voyage of brand strategy development, it’s essential to establish a clear blueprint that defines your brand’s identity. This includes outlining your mission, values, and vision, which differentiate you from competitors. You’ll need to determine your unique selling proposition (USP) and market positioning to attract and retain customers effectively. Consider engaging branding companies for customized support and guidance during this process. A well-crafted brand strategy additionally defines your brand personality, helping create a relatable image for your target audience. As the brand development cost varies, investing in branding services for small business can greatly improve your market presence. Visual Identity Creation Creating a strong visual identity is vital for your brand, as it encapsulates your brand’s essence and personality through key elements like logos, color palettes, typography, and imagery. A cohesive visual identity can greatly improve brand recognition, making it easier for consumers to identify and remember your brand. Here are four important aspects to keep in mind: Logos: Your logo should reflect your brand’s values. Color Palettes: Choose colors that evoke the right emotions. Typography: Select fonts that match your brand’s personality. Imagery: Use images that resonate with your target audience. Investing in a professional brand designer for small businesses can streamline this process, but always take into account the cost for branding and branding services pricing to guarantee it fits your budget. Brand Messaging and Voice Establishing a consistent brand voice is vital for nurturing trust and loyalty among your customers. When your messaging aligns with your brand’s core values and tells a compelling story, it helps create a connection that resonates with your audience. To achieve this, consider developing a copy style guide that guarantees every communication reflects your brand’s personality and remains cohesive across all platforms. Consistent Brand Voice To build a strong connection with your audience, maintaining a consistent brand voice is essential. Establishing this voice involves defining characteristics that resonate with your target audience. Collaborate with a local branding agency to guarantee your messaging remains uniform across all channels. Here are four key elements to focus on: Genuineness: Be authentic in your communications to build trust. Friendliness: Use a warm tone that invites engagement. Humor: Light-heartedness can make your brand relatable. Clarity: Ensure your messaging is easy to understand and remember. Storytelling for Connection Storytelling serves as a strong tool for building an emotional connection with your audience, allowing them to relate to your brand on a personal level. When your brand story resonates with consumers, 55% are likely to make a purchase, indicating the influence of effective storytelling. A well-defined brand voice improves consistency in communication, nurturing trust and loyalty. This trust is crucial for long-term business success. Verify your messaging aligns with your core values and mission, making it authentic to your audience. Utilizing a copy style guide can help maintain coherent messaging across various platforms, reinforcing your brand identity. Remember, brands that communicate their story effectively can see a 15% increase in immediate purchases, demonstrating the significance of connection. Messaging Alignment Strategies Aligning your brand messaging and voice with your core values is key to building a strong connection with your audience. Consistency in messaging cultivates trust, and customers often seek brands that share their values. To effectively align your messaging, consider these strategies: Define Your Core Values: Clearly identify what your brand stands for and communicate these values consistently. Develop a Copy Style Guide: Guarantee your brand voice remains coherent across all platforms for maximum recognition. Craft a Compelling Narrative: Engage your audience with storytelling that resonates emotionally and reflects your brand identity. Monitor Feedback: Continuously evaluate how your audience responds to your messaging and adjust accordingly to strengthen connections. These steps can greatly improve your brand’s relationship with consumers. Website and Digital Branding Creating a strong online presence is essential for small businesses, as your website often serves as the first point of contact with potential customers. A visually appealing and functional site can greatly impact user engagement and conversion rates. To improve your online visibility, optimize your website for search engines (SEO), which can lead to increased traffic. Guarantee consistency between your online and offline brand identity, as this reinforces brand recognition and trust. Focus on user experience (UX) design to provide a seamless interaction for visitors. Moreover, incorporate brand messaging and storytelling within your website content, allowing you to connect meaningfully with your audience. This approach helps cultivate customer loyalty and engagement, making your digital branding efforts more effective. Marketing Collateral Design In terms of marketing collateral design, you’ll want to focus on creating effective materials like brochures, business cards, and flyers that reflect your brand’s identity. Professional design is essential, as it establishes credibility and guarantees consistency across all your promotional materials. Types of Marketing Collateral How can you effectively utilize various types of marketing collateral to improve your brand’s presence? By leveraging diverse promotional materials, you can reinforce your brand messaging and keep it fresh in consumers’ minds. Here are four crucial types of marketing collateral to evaluate: Brochures – These provide in-depth information about your products or services, showcasing your offerings clearly. Business Cards – A potent networking tool, they convey your contact information and brand identity succinctly. Flyers – Use these for promotions or events, capturing attention with lively designs and compelling copy. Presentations – Customized for meetings or pitches, they help communicate your brand story effectively, nurturing deeper connections. Importance of Professional Design Professional design plays a critical role in shaping the perception of your brand, as it establishes credibility and nurtures trust among consumers. High-quality marketing collateral, like brochures and business cards, improves your brand’s image, making it more polished and appealing. Studies show that consistent and visually appealing materials can boost brand recall, potentially increasing revenue by up to 23%. Effective design communicates your key messages clearly, helping your audience understand your values and offerings. Additionally, engaging visuals drive customer interaction; 47% of consumers are more likely to engage with well-designed content. Ultimately, compelling marketing materials lead to higher conversion rates, as 79% of consumers prefer brands that offer striking visuals alongside their messaging. Invest in professional design to maximize your impact. Consistency Across Materials Achieving consistency across your marketing collateral is essential for reinforcing your brand’s identity and building consumer trust. When your promotional materials, like brochures and business cards, reflect a unified design, it makes a lasting impression. Here are four key elements to take into account: Color Palette: Use a consistent set of colors to create a recognizable visual identity. Typography: Choose one or two fonts that convey your brand’s personality and stick with them. Brand Guidelines: Develop clear guidelines to guarantee your messaging is consistent across all materials. Visual Appeal: Ascertain your designs not only look good but also communicate your brand’s values effectively. Social Media Branding Social media branding plays a crucial role in establishing your business’s identity across various platforms, ensuring that your visual elements, such as logos, color schemes, and typography, align with your overarching brand strategy. Engaging with your audience can greatly boost brand awareness, as studies indicate that 54% of users browse products on social media before purchasing. Crafting a unique brand voice helps build trust and promote customer loyalty. Furthermore, leveraging user-generated content can greatly improve your branding, influencing 79% of consumers’ purchasing decisions. Consistency in your branding can lead to a 20% increase in customer engagement. Element Importance Impact on Business Visual Identity Creates recognition Boosts brand recall Brand Voice Builds trust Encourages loyalty User-Generated Content Improves credibility Influences decisions Consistency Increases engagement Improves interaction Brand Guidelines and Consistency Brand guidelines play a crucial role in maintaining a consistent visual identity across all platforms and materials. These guidelines act as a rulebook for your branding efforts, ensuring that every piece of communication reflects your brand’s core values. By establishing clear directives, you can cultivate a cohesive customer experience, ultimately enhancing recognition and trust. Here are four vital components to include in your brand guidelines: Logo Usage: Define how your logo should appear in various contexts. Color Palettes: Specify the colors that represent your brand. Typography: Select fonts that align with your brand voice. Voice and Messaging: Establish a tone that resonates with your target audience. Implementing these guidelines can greatly increase your brand loyalty and visibility. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 3 7 27 Rule of Branding? The 3 7 27 Rule of Branding states that a customer needs to see your brand’s message three times, hear it seven times, and engage with it 27 times for it to resonate. This emphasizes the importance of repeated exposure to build recognition. The “3” focuses on visual impressions, the “7” on auditory interactions, and the “27” on deeper connections, like social media engagement. Consistent messaging across channels improves brand visibility and consumer trust. How Much Do Branding Services Cost? Branding services can vary greatly in cost. You might encounter hourly rates between $70 and $300, depending on the agency’s experience and location. Many agencies set minimum budgets, often starting at around $1,000 and potentially exceeding $50,000 for extensive projects. Design-focused agencies typically charge between $125 and $175 per hour. Moreover, some agencies offer subscription models that include unlimited revisions, which can provide a cost-effective option for ongoing branding needs. What Is Included in Branding Services? Branding services typically include several key components. You’ll find brand strategy development, which outlines your mission and values. Logo and visual identity creation is essential, as your logo is often the first impression. Thorough brand guidelines guarantee consistency in marketing materials, covering logo usage and color palettes. Furthermore, digital branding focuses on website design, whereas marketing collateral design includes brochures and business cards, reinforcing your brand messaging and enhancing credibility through professional design. How Much Does a Branding Suite Cost? The cost of a branding suite can range from $1,000 to over $10,000. This variation depends on the services included and the agency’s expertise. You might pay around $150 per hour for branding services, or choose packages for savings. Some agencies offer subscription-based services, starting at about $1,800 monthly, which allows for unlimited requests. Furthermore, consider minimum budget requirements, which can vary from $1,000 to $50,000 based on project scope. Conclusion Investing in branding services is vital for small businesses aiming to improve their market presence. By focusing on brand strategy, visual identity, and messaging, you can establish a strong foundation. Furthermore, optimizing your website and social media branding increases visibility and engagement. Implementing consistent brand guidelines guarantees recognition and promotes loyalty among customers. Prioritizing these seven fundamental services will help you build a cohesive brand that drives growth and connects effectively with your target audience. Image Via Envato This article, "7 Essential Branding Services for Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The Detroit-based mortgage bank's announcement trailed competitors' by over two weeks, but is taking a more aggressive risk-reward stance on the limit. View the full article

Google’s new AI-powered search experience isn’t eating into ad revenue – even as AI Overviews answer more questions directly on the results page. While some queries may see fewer ad clicks, overall query volume is rising, keeping ad performance “relatively stable,” Liz Reid, Google’s head of Search, said in a new interview. Ads and revenue impact. Google’s AI era looks a lot like its mobile moment – feared at first, but fueling more searches and steady ad dollars. Here’s what Reid said. Ad revenue with AI Overviews is “relatively stable.” Some queries lose ad clicks, but total query volume rises when answers are faster or easier – offsetting the dip. (“Some queries may get less clicks on ads, but also it grows overall queries, so people do more searches, right? And so those two things end up balancing out.”) Commercial searches still require an action. (“So if the ads are for shoes, you might get an answer in AI Overviews, but you still have to buy the shoes, right? Like none of the AI ones substitute the need for the actual pair of shoes.”) Today’s AI transition is like the transition to mobile, when skeptics doubted Google could adapt ads to smaller screens, but the shift boosted growth for Google. (“People asked similar questions when the time of mobile came, right? Like, ‘Oh, will you actually be able to have an ads product in the mobile space? The phone is so small. You’re such a desktop product. Are you gonna be able to transition?’ And it actually proved very healthy for us, right?”) Ads and AI Overviews. How and where people search is changing, but the habit of searching is growing, not shrinking. Some other things Reid pointed out on the podcast: Google can show ads above or below AI Overviews; impact varies by layout and query. Many informational queries never had ads – with or without AI Overviews. Tools like Google Lens lower the effort to ask. When you drop that barrier, people ask more – and that lifts overall search volume. AI Overviews set context, but users still click through when they need to verify, compare, or buy. Why we care. Reid’s comments suggest Google’s AI evolution is expanding the paid search funnel, not shrinking it. Users may click differently, but they’re still converting – which means paid search remains a reliable performance channel for brands. The interview. The Google Exec Reinventing Search in the AI Era | WSJ’s Bold Names View the full article

ChatGPT maker has boundless ambition, but how much can it achieve before suffering a serious case of indigestion?View the full article

U.S. stock indexes are ticking higher on Thursday following an encouraging signal for the artificial-intelligence boom. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, though trading has been erratic this week, and stocks have repeatedly swung between gains and losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 85 points, or 0.2%, as of 11 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.7% higher. Technology stocks helped lead the way after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported a bigger jump in profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Chief Financial Officer Wendell Huang also said TSMC expects “continued strong demand for our leading-edge process technologies” going into the end of the year. That’s important for the U.S. stock market because TSMC is a critical player at the center of the AI frenzy, making chips for such companies as Nvidia. TSMC’s stock that trades in Taiwan climbed 1.4%, though its stock that trades in the United States slipped 0.5%. Nvidia rose 1.4% and was the strongest single force lifting the S&P 500 because it’s Wall Street’s most valuable stock. AI stocks have been at the center of Wall Street’s surge to record after record this year, even though inflation is still high and the job market is slowing. AI stocks have shot so high that critics worry about another possible bubble, like the one that enveloped dot-com stocks and eventually imploded in 2000. U.S. companies broadly are under pressure to deliver stronger profits after the S&P 500 surged 35% from a low in April. To justify those gains, which critics say made their stock prices too expensive, companies will need to show they’re making much more in profit and will continue to do so. Salesforce climbed 4.5% and was one of the strongest forces pushing upward on the Dow after the company, which helps businesses manage their customers, unveiled a plan to deliver more than 10% in compounded annual revenue growth in coming years. J.B. Hunt Transport Services trucked 18.8% higher after the freight company breezed past Wall Street’s profit targets in the third quarter. They helped offset a 2.7% drop for Travelers, even though the insurer reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Its revenue fell short of forecasts. Hewlett Packard Enterprise sank 8.5% after giving long-term financial targets that some analysts found underwhelming. In stock markets abroad, indexes climbed across much of Asia and Europe. South Korea’s Kospi soared 2.5% on hopes that a trade deal may be coming between Seoul and Washington. Samsung Electronics and automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. were among the big gainers. In China, where trade tensions have been rising with the United States, indexes added 0.1% in Shanghai and slipped 0.1% in Hong Kong. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.03% from 4.05% late Wednesday. A report in the morning said manufacturing activity in the mid-Atlantic region is unexpectedly shrinking. It’s one of the few windows into the economy that the Federal Reserve has been getting recently as it tries to figure out whether high inflation or the weak job market should be the bigger concern for the economy. The U.S. government’s latest shutdown is delaying important updates on the economy, such as a weekly update on unemployment claims that typically helps guides trading on Wall Street each Thursday. A day earlier, an important report on inflation was also delayed. Fed officials have hinted that the job market may be the more important factor now in their thinking, which would clear the way for more cuts to interest rates. Expectations for such cuts have been a major driver for the U.S. stock market recently, but a jump in inflation could force the Fed to stop. —Stan Choe, AP business writer AP Writers Teresa Cerojano and Matt Ott contributed. View the full article

A reader writes: Should you always call to let a candidate know that they won’t be getting a job offer? Here’s the context: I’ve gotten calls and emails letting me know when I wasn’t accepted for a position. And my colleagues and I all agree that we hate getting phone calls. It’s awkward! If you don’t answer the phone, you’re not going to get a voicemail telling you you didn’t get the job, you’ll get a voicemail asking you to call back. Which means you’ll get excited thinking you’re getting a job offer! And then you’re live on the phone with a hiring manager trying to manage an awkward conversation. I’ve taken to emailing rejected candidates rather than calling, for these reasons. I take it as a kindness, rather than getting their hopes up for nothing. But recently, a week after I sent the rejection, a candidate sent me a long email expressing her disappointment having gone through a long hiring process only to receive an email and not a phone call. I haven’t responded yet, but I plan to share why I send emails and thank her again for her time. What’s your opinion on the matter? I answer this question over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to them). You can read it here. The post should you reject candidates by phone or email? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

It’s been two years since Howard Schultz retired from the board of directors of Starbucks, a company he founded and led for decades, but he still enjoys chatting with customers—as he did on Tuesday before sitting down for a wide-ranging interview with Dan Roth, editor-in-chief of LinkedIn. Schultz was curious to know what a customer thought of the coffee chain’s protein lattes that debuted last month and he says there’s no better place to source this information than one of the 40,000-plus Starbucks locations around the world. A sense of curiosity is important for a business leader, as well as a willingness to “be in the mud” and learn directly from customers, Schultz said during an interview broadcast to LinkedIn Premium members. “We have thousands of stores, so I’m in the stores, that’s where the action is,” says Schultz, who now serves as chairman emeritus for Starbucks. “I want to observe the experience.” Schultz didn’t discuss Brian Niccol’s turnaround strategy for Starbucks, other than crediting the CEO with making a “big bet” on the human experience, nor did he address the recent news that the company plans to close North American store locations and eliminate 900 jobs. But Schultz did talk about why a so-called “third place,” where people can convene, is so important today, especially as artificial intelligence and other technology disrupt how many people do their work. “We have made the strong decision that we are a people company and we want people to serve our customers,” Schultz says. “You’re not going to see a robot at Starbucks.” ‘Worry with a big W’ But that doesn’t mean Schultz is anti-AI. In fact, he calls himself a supporter of the technology because he sees the potential for it to benefit both companies and consumers—and Starbucks has invested in AI to help with back-of-house operations. But Shultz does worry about the “arms race” that’s underway both between companies and countries and that regulators may enact guardrails only when it’s too late—as was true with the evolution of social media. He hopes that lessons learned from the lack of governance in the early days of social media will encourage more responsible oversight of AI. “The ramifications could be so severe that I just wish there was an opportunity to understand the responsibility that comes with the technology that is going a million miles an hour,” Schultz says. “I worry with a big W about the impact this could have that could be adverse.” Building a ‘currency of trust’ While running the Seattle-based coffee giant for decades, Schultz grappled with all sorts of challenges—including in 2008 when he recalled Starbucks was in “deep trouble” and he had to decide what type of speech to give to 10,000 store managers. Though he was advised not to tell these managers how bad things really were, Schultz felt it was more important to trust the managers with this information so everyone could align on how to recalibrate. Though employees do want a visionary leader, they also want authenticity and the truth, Schultz says, and that’s especially true in an era when people don’t trust much of anything. Being human—including being vulnerable and even crying in front of employees, as Schultz has—is the only way to build a “currency of trust,” he adds. What a values-driven company looks like As a publicly traded company for most of its existence, Starbucks has a fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders, though Schultz says that most of the company’s decisions come from a place of humility and understanding what’s best for customers and employees. That’s why he started a practice several years ago to leave two chairs empty during board meetings to represent baristas and customers. After returning to Starbucks as interim CEO in 2022, Schultz announced the company would end its stock buyback program and instead invest that money into its workforce—a decision that only worsened a stock selloff during that time. As a leader, he says it’s important to play a long game with such decisions, lead with your heart, and establish empathy and compassion. “If you take care of your shareholders, in a way, as the primary focus, you’re going to lose your people and your customers,” Schultz says. “Starbucks is living proof after 50-plus years that you can make significant investments in your people that are not [an] expense but an investment that is going to return to the shareholder.” Why love is so important Even if it’s a “fragile” time we’re living in right now, Schultz says he finds reason to be optimistic and hopeful about people—and he says the human experience will remain front and center at Starbucks. Schultz was famously inspired by Italian cafe culture when he founded Il Giornale, which later served as a model for Starbucks. Reflecting back to the 1980s, when he was building Starbucks at the same time he was starting a family, he says the values, characteristics, and guiding principles of both endeavors are very similar. And so is a sense of love, which is a word he says you won’t find in any textbook or class at the likes of Harvard Business School. “You have to instill love inside your company and people need to feel loved and it has to be joyous, it has to be fun,” Schultz says. View the full article

In a groundbreaking move aimed at empowering small businesses, Square has unveiled new bitcoin tools that promise to streamline payments and enhance financial management. As bitcoin continues to gain traction as both a digital currency and an investment asset, Square, under the Block umbrella, positions itself at the forefront of making this cryptocurrency accessible and functional for everyday transactions. Miles Suter, Head of Bitcoin Product at Block, emphasized the dual focus of these new tools: “The bitcoin tools we’re building at Square deliver on two critical needs: ensuring sellers never miss a sale, and giving them access to powerful financial tools that help them more easily manage and grow their finances.” This statement underscores the potential for small businesses to leverage bitcoin not merely as a speculative asset but as a viable payment method that could decrease transaction losses and foster growth. One of the standout features introduced is the Bitcoin Conversions service, now available for eligible US-based sellers. This feature allows businesses to instantly convert bitcoin into local currency at the point of sale, enhancing cash flow and easing the complexities of dealing with cryptocurrency. With Bitcoin Payments set to launch on November 10, 2025, Square is paving the way for a future where businesses can accept bitcoin as seamlessly as traditional card payments. The integration of these new tools into Square’s existing ecosystem also includes Cash App’s capabilities for buying, selling, and transferring bitcoin, a self-custody wallet called Bitkey, and an array of bitcoin mining products under the Proto brand. This comprehensive approach means small business owners can access a variety of services aimed at enhancing their financial operations, often reserved for larger corporations. For small businesses considering adoption, the ability to offer bitcoin as a payment option could attract a new customer base of cryptocurrency users. Suter points out that Square is positioned “to make bitcoin everyday money, not just a store of value – while also helping sellers future-proof their operations.” As consumer preferences shift towards digital transactions, integrating bitcoin could provide businesses with a competitive edge. However, with opportunities come challenges. Small business owners should be mindful of the volatility that often accompanies bitcoin prices. Fluctuations can impact pricing strategies, making it crucial for business owners to develop a strategy that mitigates potential losses. Keeping abreast of cryptocurrency regulations is equally important, as they may vary by state or region, adding complexity to compliance efforts. Moreover, the learning curve associated with cryptocurrency tools might deter some small business owners. Implementing new technology and updating payment systems require time and resources. Therefore, business owners should evaluate their readiness to adopt these innovations, considering potential training for staff and how to communicate these options to customers effectively. As Small business owners increasingly seek innovative ways to enhance customer engagement and streamline operations, Square’s new bitcoin tools provide a promising avenue. By allowing seamless bitcoin transactions, coupled with powerful financial management features, Square enables businesses to harness the full potential of this digital currency. For those interested in exploring these new tools further, more information can be found on Square’s dedicated webpage: Square Bitcoin. As the landscape of financial transactions continues to evolve, small businesses that adapt to these changes could find themselves leading the charge in a future increasingly influenced by cryptocurrency. Image via Square This article, "Square Unveils New Bitcoin Tools to Empower Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In a groundbreaking move aimed at empowering small businesses, Square has unveiled new bitcoin tools that promise to streamline payments and enhance financial management. As bitcoin continues to gain traction as both a digital currency and an investment asset, Square, under the Block umbrella, positions itself at the forefront of making this cryptocurrency accessible and functional for everyday transactions. Miles Suter, Head of Bitcoin Product at Block, emphasized the dual focus of these new tools: “The bitcoin tools we’re building at Square deliver on two critical needs: ensuring sellers never miss a sale, and giving them access to powerful financial tools that help them more easily manage and grow their finances.” This statement underscores the potential for small businesses to leverage bitcoin not merely as a speculative asset but as a viable payment method that could decrease transaction losses and foster growth. One of the standout features introduced is the Bitcoin Conversions service, now available for eligible US-based sellers. This feature allows businesses to instantly convert bitcoin into local currency at the point of sale, enhancing cash flow and easing the complexities of dealing with cryptocurrency. With Bitcoin Payments set to launch on November 10, 2025, Square is paving the way for a future where businesses can accept bitcoin as seamlessly as traditional card payments. The integration of these new tools into Square’s existing ecosystem also includes Cash App’s capabilities for buying, selling, and transferring bitcoin, a self-custody wallet called Bitkey, and an array of bitcoin mining products under the Proto brand. This comprehensive approach means small business owners can access a variety of services aimed at enhancing their financial operations, often reserved for larger corporations. For small businesses considering adoption, the ability to offer bitcoin as a payment option could attract a new customer base of cryptocurrency users. Suter points out that Square is positioned “to make bitcoin everyday money, not just a store of value – while also helping sellers future-proof their operations.” As consumer preferences shift towards digital transactions, integrating bitcoin could provide businesses with a competitive edge. However, with opportunities come challenges. Small business owners should be mindful of the volatility that often accompanies bitcoin prices. Fluctuations can impact pricing strategies, making it crucial for business owners to develop a strategy that mitigates potential losses. Keeping abreast of cryptocurrency regulations is equally important, as they may vary by state or region, adding complexity to compliance efforts. Moreover, the learning curve associated with cryptocurrency tools might deter some small business owners. Implementing new technology and updating payment systems require time and resources. Therefore, business owners should evaluate their readiness to adopt these innovations, considering potential training for staff and how to communicate these options to customers effectively. As Small business owners increasingly seek innovative ways to enhance customer engagement and streamline operations, Square’s new bitcoin tools provide a promising avenue. By allowing seamless bitcoin transactions, coupled with powerful financial management features, Square enables businesses to harness the full potential of this digital currency. For those interested in exploring these new tools further, more information can be found on Square’s dedicated webpage: Square Bitcoin. As the landscape of financial transactions continues to evolve, small businesses that adapt to these changes could find themselves leading the charge in a future increasingly influenced by cryptocurrency. Image via Square This article, "Square Unveils New Bitcoin Tools to Empower Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Political veteran mentioned in collapsed prosecution of two British men over espionage allegationsView the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “As the old saying goes, we esteem too lightly that which we obtain too cheaply.” 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: “As the old saying goes, we esteem too lightly that which we obtain too cheaply.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article