IBM Launches New Software to Streamline Governance and Security for SMBs

June 25, 2025June 24, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

IBM has recently unveiled its new AI-driven capabilities aimed at transforming the way small businesses interact with customers and operate internally. With small businesses often limited in resources, these advancements present a significant opportunity to enhance efficiency and improve customer experiences.

The newly launched features leverage IBM’s robust Watson AI technology, which has been tailored specifically for small organizations. Integrating these tools can provide immediate benefits, allowing business owners to streamline processes, reduce operational costs, and better analyze customer insights.

Supreme Court Ruling Empowers Small Businesses to Fight Regulatory Overreach | Small Biz Trends

June 25, 2025June 24, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court is a significant win for small businesses across the country, affirming their right to challenge government regulations they deem excessively harmful. In a decision handed down on June 20, 2025, the Court reversed a controversial ruling from the D.C. Circuit Court that had imposed stricter standing requirements for indirectly regulated entities when contesting federal actions.

This decision has immediate implications for countless small business owners who may find themselves adversely affected by the regulatory actions of agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The case in question, Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC, et al. v. Environmental Protection Agency, centered around waivers under the Clean Air Act, a potential source of confusion for businesses navigating a complex regulatory landscape.

Donald Trump to extend US TikTok ban deadline, White House says | BBC News

June 18, 2025June 17, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

TikTok will live on for at least another three months in the United States, as President Donald Trump is poised to extend a sale or ban deadline for the third time since taking office this year.

“President Trump will sign an additional Executive Order this week to keep TikTok up and running,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday.

The popular video-sharing app was supposed to be banned in the US after its Chinese owner, ByteDance, refused to sell it to a US buyer by a January deadline.

TikTok and ByteDance did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the BBC.

Instagram users complain of mass bans, pointing finger at AI | TechCrunch

June 16, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Instagram users have for weeks complained about a significant increase in accounts being mistakenly banned or suspended. Many suspect, without direct evidence, that the issues may have to do with the use of AI automation.

Reached for comment, Meta has so far not offered an on-record statement.

According to a growing number of social media posts, including on sites like Reddit and X, Instagram users report that their accounts were banned even though they had not violated the company’s terms of service or other policies. In addition, when they submitted an appeal to have their account reviewed, some claimed they received no response.

Google, Spotify Down in a Massive Outage Affecting Thousands | Entrepreneur

June 13, 2025June 12, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Google Cloud and Spotify are down for tens of thousands of users, according to Downdetector.com. Early reports suggest a massive Cloudflare outage is to blame.

Is Google Down?

The Google Workspace Dashboard noted that the company was “investigating reports of an issue” with a slew of Google services, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Chat, Google Cloud Search, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Meet, Google Tasks, and Google Voice.

“We will provide more information shortly,” the post says. “Our engineers are currently investigating the issue. We apologize to all who are affected by the disruption.”

YouTube is bringing more ads to Premium Lite plans | Mashable

June 9, 2025June 8, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

When YouTube introduced its Premium Lite tier in March, the goal was to give people a way to see fewer ads on YouTube. It took only three months, but YouTube is already increasing the number of ads that Premium Lite subscribers will see, according to Dextero.

News of the ad hike spread to subscribers through email, as spotted on the TWiT Community forums and reported by German news site Deskmodder.

“We are writing to let you know that beginning 30 June 2025, ads may appear on Shorts, in addition to music content and when you search or browse,” the email reads. “Most videos will continue to remain ad-free.”

Friday’s jobs report could show how much US employers will bend before they break | CNN Business

June 6, 2025June 5, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Last June, after almost a full year on the job hunt, Jordan Williams landed a role at a high-growth, United Kingdom-based outdoor apparel brand that was looking to build out its US operations.

Passenger Clothing was well positioned for expansion: The company landed orders with REI, Scheels and others; and Williams, a Portland, Oregon-based outdoor industry veteran, was excited for the ride.

Until April.

The Nintendo Switch 2 launches today. Here’s what to know | CNN Business

June 6, 2025June 5, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

It’s a big day for Nintendo fans. The gaming giant’s new console, the Switch 2, arrives on store shelves globally after being announced in April — marking Nintendo’s first major console launch since the original Switch arrived roughly eight years ago.

And fans have clearly been waiting; 2.2 million people applied for a lottery system to buy the Switch 2 in Japan, according to a translation of an X post from Nintendo in April. Nearly all US Best Buy stores opened just after midnight to accommodate eager fans.

The Switch 2, priced at $450 in the US, can be played in handheld mode, when propped up on a table; or on a TV when plugged in to its accompanying dock, like its predecessor. While the formula is the same as that of the original Switch, Nintendo has made significant upgrades to the hardware, including giving its new console a larger screen, upgraded versions of the Joy-Con controllers and new social features.

Australian ‘trash parrots’ have now developed a local ‘drinking tradition’ | Live Science

June 5, 2025June 4, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Wild cockatoos in Sydney, Australia have learned to drink from twist-handle water fountains, turning the knob with their feet and using their body weight to keep it open. They even queue to have a drink, waiting to take turns on the fountain, footage shows.

The behavior qualifies as a new local tradition, according to a study published Wednesday (June 4) in the journal Biology Letters that analyzed videos of these cockatoos showing off their fountain-manipulating skills.