His Google Chrome application app can be viewed on your smartphone. Photo: Silas Stein/DPA (Photo by Silas Stein/Picture Alliance by Getty Images)
DPA/Picture Alliance via Getty Images
Below are five things about SME Technology News that happened this week and how they affect your SME. Have you missed them?
This week we're at Small Business Technology News
Small Business Technology News #1 – Google Chrome gets 10 new AI features with Gemini integration, checklists.
With Gemini AI integration, Google Chrome has rolled out one of the biggest updates ever, introducing 10 powerful new features that convert browsers into smart assistants, including Gemini Assistant Buttons, Multi-Tab Summary, Omnibox Search using AI, and the ability to recall past pages and more. The company believes the upgrade positions chrome not only as a browser, but as a personalized, AI-powered tool for productivity, research and safer browsing. (Source: Jagran Josh)
Why this is important for your small business:
Slowly, but certainly, AI features that will increase both you and your team's productivity will continue to be deployed. Like many of the other “features” released by software companies, many of these can fly under the radar, but learning (or being trained) over time can have a major impact on the way a company works.
Small Business Technology News #2 – From assistants to facilitators, Copilot users get a new AI agent for their team.
Microsoft has introduced new AI agents called Teams, SharePoint and Viva Engage facilitators, marking the transition from personal assistants to co-AI teammates. Some of the highlights include context-conscious collaboration, active meeting participation, and integration of project management. (Source: Today's UC)
Why this is important for your small business:
Same as above. Many of my clients use teams, but few people really take advantage of all of that functionality. These new features provide important ways to increase productivity.
According to a new Shopify report, Small Business Technology News #3 – Shoppers are warming from AI to AI.
Recent research The constructors of Shopify and e-commerce platforms reveal that AI is gaining attention among US shoppers, but trust remains a hurdle. Results show that 45% of US consumers use AI for shopping tasks such as product recommendations, price comparisons, and virtual trials. Young shoppers (Gen Z and Millennials) show the best adoption and trust in AI tools. While 60% say they are willing to use AI assistants to guide them, 55% of respondents are concerned about data privacy, misinformation and lack of transparency in AI-driven shopping experiences. The study highlights the need for responsible implementation to build consumer trust, particularly within the younger demographics, while highlighting the increasing openness of retailers to AI. (Source: Yahoo Finance)
Why this is important for your small business:
The best usage for AI assistants for both shopping and customer support is to make it an option for users to use AI or not, or simply connect to humans. For now, at least, people have a lot of security and usability concerns about these AI tools. We hope that these concerns will decrease over time as these tools will not only become more accurate, but are also ingrained in the user's e-commerce experience.
Small Business Technology News #4 – WhatsApp adds QR code payments to your business app.
WhatsApp has been added Payment of QR code In India business apps make it easier for users to complete transactions directly in chat. This integration allows businesses to generate QR codes linked to a specific product or service. The rollout strengthens WhatsApp's position as a one-stop platform for communication and trading, especially in India's fast-growing digital economy. (Source: FineXtra)
Why this is important for your small business:
While WhatsApp is more popular overseas, the application still counts millions of US-based users, and allowing payments using QR codes is a great option for many US-based small businesses.
Small Business Technology News #5 – Employers bet that the next great job seeker will be in Tiktok.
The HR team is increasingly turning to Tiktok as a recruitment marketing tool to attract young talent. In particular, Gen Z. companies use Tiktok to showcase real-world employee experiences, workplace culture, and in-day content to build trust and relevance. With Gen Z spending a considerable amount of time on Tiktok, HR leaders see it as a major platform for meeting candidates where they are. A recent survey from Job Platform Handshake shows that 73% of university graduates say they are “highly likely to apply for a job after seeing content such as videos and messages from their employers.” Brands like Duolingo and Ryanair gain traction by combining humor and job-related content, making the company even more attractive. HR experts need to balance creativity and compliance, ensuring that content matches the company's values and legal standards. (Source: HR Brew)
Why this is important for your small business:
Tiktok appeared to have a continuing future here in the US, so given the platform's demographics are young, it's worth seriously considering small employers using this platform as a recruitment tool.
Each week we bring together five small business technology news stories to explain why they are important to your business. If you have any interesting stories, please post them on your X account @genemarks
