This week, our little Biz Breakdown crew is back and they’re talking about technology, specifically AI and its impact on America’s small business owners.
This discussion was prompted last week by the presence of several tech billionaires during President Donald Trump’s inauguration, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg. After discussing how these three and others will influence the 47th president, our expert panel discussed AI, its future, its accessibility, and how small businesses can use it. Start a long discussion about availability.
But throughout the discussion, a central theme stands out. AI really doesn’t care if your business doesn’t have customers or not. AI, with or without AI, cannot truly solve that persistent struggle faced by small businesses.
Check out this great discussion and feel free to join in by leaving some comments after watching the latest episode of Small Biz Breakdown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o06b_yyzpx4
Small Business News Roundup – January 25, 2025
Here are some headlines from this past week that should grab the attention of small business owners, including some big announcements from companies that provide important services and products to entrepreneurs.
Smartsheet report highlights pressure on marketing teams to prove business impact
According to Smartsheet’s 2025 Pulse of Marketing Report, marketing and creative professionals are under pressure to demonstrate value for business outcomes.
WIX integrates with YouTube Shopping to power social commerce for merchants
Wix has announced a new integration with YouTube Shopping, allowing merchants to sell products directly through the platform. This move expands WIX’s social shopping capabilities, allowing merchants to reach a larger audience by leveraging YouTube’s extensive user base. Through this integration, WIX merchants can seamlessly display their products in store format on their YouTube profiles.
Adobe announces major updates to Premiere Pro, After Effects, and frame.io
Adobe has introduced major updates to its flagship tools: Premiere Pro (Beta), After Effects (Beta), and Frame.io. Designed to streamline workflow and reduce time-consuming tasks for video professionals. The update comes just ahead of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and aims to support filmmakers and motion designers with new AI-powered tools and performance enhancements.
Samsung Galaxy S25 series redefines AI-integrated smartphones with multimodal innovation
Samsung has announced the highly anticipated Galaxy S25 series, introducing the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25, a cutting-edge technology that integrates advanced artificial intelligence to create a personalized and intuitive mobile experience. I placed it as a device. Pre-orders begin today, with general availability set for February 7th.
Upwork reveals the most in-demand skills of 2025, highlighting the growth of AI and the role of human-centeredness
Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ: UPWK), the global platform that connects businesses with independent talent, releases its 2025 In-Demand Skills Report, highlighting the rapid growth of advanced AI capabilities and the need for human-centered expertise. We are increasing our sexuality. The survey results reflect the evolving priorities of companies as they adapt to technological disruption and changes in the global workforce.
Zoom introduces redesigned team chat sidebar and AI companion enhancements
Zoom has announced updates to its team chat platform. It features a redesigned sidebar and new AI-driven features to increase productivity and streamline collaboration. The updates available to Zoom for workplace users aim to provide a more customizable and efficient workspace for managing communications and tasks.
WSFS Bank Survey Reveals Optimism Among Small Business Owners Despite Economic Challenges
A new survey conducted by WSFS Bank highlights increased optimism among small business owners going forward, with 60% of respondents expecting revenue to increase slightly or significantly in 2025. Seek funding to invest in growth and operational improvements.
Rising oil prices will raise the cost of gas despite low demand, AAA reports
The national average price for a gallon of gas has risen 4 cents over the past week to $3.10, fueled by oil prices of about $80 per barrel. The increase comes despite low domestic gasoline demand, which fell to 8.32 million barrels per day (b/d) last week, according to AAA.
Salesforce introduces AgentForce for Retail and Retail Cloud to equip modern POS to revolutionize retail
Salesforce announced two new AI-powered innovations: AgentForce for Retail and Retail Cloud for Modern POS.
Small Business Breakdown: What does the second Trump term mean for small businesses?
President Donald Trump’s second term has begun. There are a lot of questions about what will happen, what will be different, and what will remain the same as in his first term as president.
tiktok goes dark
TikTok has gone dark. On January 19th, access to the site was blocked. When I tried to access the mobile app, it returned a black screen with a white dialog box that said, “A law has been enacted in the United States to ban Tiktok.” Unfortunately, I can’t use Tiktok at the moment.
Gateway Funnel Pros launches Woocommerce Payment Processing for health and wellness entrepreneurs
Gateway Funnel Pros has introduced a comprehensive payment gateway and merchant account service tailored specifically for WooCommerce entrepreneurs selling health and wellness products. The service addresses the challenges faced by businesses in this niche, ensuring secure and efficient credit card processing within the WooCommerce ecosystem.
Employees prioritize travel and flexibility in job perks, Scoutlogic study finds
A recent study by Scoutlogic reveals a major shift in what employees value most in job perks. Analysis of Google search data highlights a growing preference for lifestyle-oriented benefits such as travel opportunities, flexibility, and personal development over traditional perks such as retirement plans and stock options.
