Top Stories
Google Bard updates: what small business owners need to know
Google unveiled a more user-friendly version of Bard, its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, enabling users to access real-time data from various Google apps and to fact-check it. On September 21, the business unveiled a new strategy to combine them into a single Microsoft Copilot that would integrate information from several apps and data sources and have professional and consumer uses. Read More
Labor supply normalizes as more job applicants enter the market
Job applicants were more readily available in August, allowing businesses to hire more employees but also contributing to a rise in unemployment. According to labor market data from Wells Fargo, unemployment has grown steadily since March of this year as the number of job applicants has increased, with 19 states seeing higher month-over-month joblessness in August. Joblessness rates throughout the month were still below historical levels as employment demands continued to outpace supply. Read More
Confidence reaches post-pandemic high among small business owners in Q3
Small business owners reported the highest levels of confidence in the U.S. economy since the onset of the COVID pandemic in 2020, according to the third quarter Small Business Index. Maintained by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Index tracks changes in sentiments among entrepreneurs and small business owners. Although inflation and interest rate concerns continue to weaken financial outlooks, 33% of those polled by the chamber in Q3 believed the national economy was healthy, while 38% held similar views about their local economy. These represent 9% and 8% increases respectively from the previous quarter. Read More
TikTok partners with CommerceHub to expand in-app shopping options
TikTok has announced a partnership with digital retailing platform CommerceHub to improve and build upon its in-app shopping experience launched earlier this month. TikTok Shop is the social media company’s newest feature, allowing consumers to purchase products they see on the app without following external links. The company’s partnership with CommerceHub will allow it to access the digital retail firm’s network of 40,000 brands. TikTok is looking to rapidly increase the number of businesses on its site, which it hopes to achieve through its new partner’s “rapid supplier brand onboarding,” alongside custom app integrations. Read More
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