DocuSign Unveils AI-Driven eSignature Features to Simplify Agreements | Small Biz Trends

January 28, 2026January 26, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

In a move set to streamline the often tedious process of agreement handling, DocuSign has rolled out innovative AI-driven eSignature features aimed specifically at smoothing out the kinks for both signers and businesses. These enhancements promise not only to clarify confusing legal jargon but also to significantly cut down on the manual workload often associated with contract preparation—key points that may particularly pique the interest of small business owners.

The San Francisco-based company unveiled these advancements powered by their Intelligent Agreement Management (IAM) platform, targeting two common pain points in business agreements: dense legal language that complicates understanding and the cumbersome task of document preparation. The new features are intended to foster clarity and speed, ultimately benefiting small businesses that frequently navigate the complex landscape of contracts.

Microsoft has released an emergency Windows 11 update to fix crashing apps | Digital Trends

January 26, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Microsoft has pushed out another emergency update for Windows 11 after its latest monthly patch caused unexpected app crashes and system issues for users. What was meant to be a routine January security update quickly turned into a problem, with reports piling up about apps freezing, Outlook breaking, and cloud-synced files refusing to behave.

Some of the problems were serious enough that Microsoft even advised certain users to uninstall the update altogether. Now, Microsoft has stepped in again with a second out-of-band update, aiming to finally steady the ship.

Waymo triggers another probe over its robotaxis passing stopped school buses | Digital Trends

January 26, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into Waymo following multiple reports of its self-driving robotaxis illegally passing stopped school buses in Austin, Texas. At least 19 such incidents have been reported since the start of the school year, with Waymo vehicles failing to obey state traffic laws meant to protect children getting on and off buses.

According to Reuters, these incidents occurred even after Waymo recalled more than 3,000 vehicles in December last year to update the software that caused the vehicles to drive past stopped school buses. This reportedly prompted the NTSB to launch its own probe.

UK households to get £15bn for solar and green tech to lower energy bills | BBC News

January 21, 2026January 20, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Households will be eligible for thousands of pounds’ worth of solar panels and other green tech to lower their energy bills, the government has announced.

The long-awaited Warm Homes Plan promises to provide £15bn to households across the UK over the next five years, as well as introducing new rights for renters.

The government has said it wants to create a “rooftop revolution”, tripling the number of homes with solar, and lifting one million people out of fuel poverty.

In an effort to protect young users, ChatGPT will now predict how old you are | TechCrunch

January 20, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

In an effort to protect young users, ChatGPT will now predict how old you are

As concern for AI’s impact on young people continues to mount, OpenAI has introduced an “age prediction” feature into ChatGPT that is designed to help identify minors and put sensible content constraints on their conversations.

OpenAI has been heavily criticized in recent years for the impacts that ChatGPT can have on children. A number of teen suicides have been linked to the chatbot, and, like other AI vendors, OpenAI has also been criticized for allowing ChatGPT to discuss sexual topics with young users. Last April, the company was forced to address a bug that allowed its chatbot to generate erotica for users who were under the age of 18.

German Grocer Aldi Opens 180 Stores — Should Walmart Worry? | Entrepreneur

January 16, 2026January 13, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Aldi plans to open more than 180 stores in the U.S. this year, expanding onto the traditional turf of rival supermarkets. The German grocery chain is now the third-largest grocer in the country by store count, with 2,614 locations as of December 31, trailing only Walmart and Kroger. Last year was its biggest expansion since opening its first U.S. store in Iowa in 1976, with nearly 200 new locations.

Aldi’s growth comes as shoppers are ditching traditional grocery stores for discounters. Store traffic at Aldi rose 8% in 2025 compared to Costco’s 5.9%, Kroger’s 0.8% and Walmart’s 0.5%, according to Placer.ai. Even wealthy households are choosing cheaper options. The percentage of shoppers earning over $100,000 annually who spend most of their grocery budget at traditional stores dropped 7% year over year.

I Own a Small Business — and I’d Still Choose a Big Company for This Job | Entrepreneur

January 16, 2026January 13, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Key Takeaways

One routine purchase made me rethink where small businesses shine — and where they don’t.
I didn’t expect to side with the bigger player, but the experience left little room for nostalgia.

I own a small business. I write about small businesses. My clients are small businesses. And yet, I would never go to a small business to have my car serviced. Small businesses are great — but not for everything.

I’m not saying this without experience. I’ve owned Hondas all my life. I’ve taken my cars to local repair shops countless times. And the experience has been, well, inconsistent at best. I’ve certainly saved money on repairs. But I’ve paid for it elsewhere.

Take, for example, a recent experience I had at a Honda dealership in Philadelphia. I made my maintenance appointment with an AI receptionist, which understood me flawlessly. I received a text confirmation. I then received a call from a human verifying the details. Professional. Courteous. Efficient.

eharmony review (2026): Is the dating app worth the high cost? | Mashable

January 15, 2026January 12, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

I’ve been testing dating apps for a long time now, and the question my friends ask me most isn’t “how does the algorithm work?” but rather “which app is actually the best?”

Lately, as we’ve all gotten older (and more willing to settle down), eharmony has snuck into the conversation more often than I’d like to admit. It’s known for being the go-to for the over-50 crowd, but its “hip” new commercials suggest the company is desperate to attract a younger user base.

Whatever their marketing strategy, the claim that “every 14 minutes, someone finds love on eharmony” piqued my interest. So, I decided to give it a real college try to see whether its infamous questionnaire and algorithm-based matching system actually work. Below is my detailed experience with eharmony, from sign-up to connecting with other users.