The Microsoft Copilot app is shown on smartphones with the Microsoft logo displayed in the background in this photo illustration taken on December 30, 2023 in Brussels, Belgium (photo by Jonathan Raa/Nurphoto via Getty Images)
Nurphoto via Getty Images
Below are five high-tech things that happened this week and how they affect your small business. Have you missed them?
This week we're on Small Business Tech News
Small Business Technology News #1 – Microsoft forces the installation of the Copilot AI app for some users.
Starting October 2025, Microsoft will automatically install the Copilot AI app on Windows devices with desktop versions of Microsoft 365 apps, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This development affects individual users around the world, except for those in the European Economic Area (EEA). Individual users cannot opt out of installation. Only the system administrator in your organization can disable automatic installation via the Microsoft 365 Apps Admin Center. (Source: Tom's Hardware)
Why this is important for your small business:
Don't be surprised if this forced installation occurs. Additionally, if any of the users are running a personal version of Windows, there is no choice. According to the article, Microsoft has invested heavily in AI and is aiming to increase adoption rates, but critics argue that the move may feel like forced bloatware for users who don't want or don't use AI tools.
Small Business Technology News #2 – Google's new Agent Payment Protocol (AP2) allows AI agents to complete their purchases.
Together with over 60 major partners (such as PayPal, MasterCard, Coinbase, Salesforce) Google has launched AP2, an open source protocol that allows users to complete purchases on their behalf without the need for real-time human approval. The system is configured to support a variety of payment methods, and is an innovative advancement in encrypted digital contracts, or e-commerce, that certify that users have approved their purchase. (Source: VentureBeat)
Why this is important for your small business:
What's changed? According to the article, current AI agents can view and compare products, but they cannot complete transactions without manual user input. AP2 introduces a secure, standardized method for agents to authenticate user intent, validate transactions, and ensure accountability if something goes wrong. This doesn't happen overnight, but already big technology sets up a stage where agents take over payment processing for your company.
Small Business Technology News #3 – YouTube has announced various updates at Madeon 2025.
YouTube dropped a massive update at the Madeon YouTube 2025 event. This is all about charging your creativity with AI. It was one of the features that debuted the new AI-powered editing tools and dynamic ads. “Edit AI with AI” allows users to create sophisticated videos by intelligently placing the best visual content in videos that can be enhanced with music and narration. The speech and song remix tool allows you to shoot a simple audio clip of someone talking and convert it to a “catchy soundtrack” according to YouTube. Dynamic sponsorship slots allow creators to insert, replace or resell brand segments in their videos. For creators with sponsorships, sponsor tags can be used in the specified video. When a product is mentioned, the sponsor tag brightens the product in the video. Creators can resell slots to multiple brands in various markets. “Convert videos to live assets,” YouTube said of the dynamic advertising feature. (Source: Today's Social Media)
Why this is important for your small business:
My company does a lot of YouTube promotions for our videos and I'm forwarding this new promotion to someone who's already running my campaign.
Small Business Technology News #4 – How People Use ChatGpt.
Openai shares the results of the latest research into how people use ChatGPT, based on a massive analysis of 1.5 million conversations. The gender gap is narrowing at key data points. By mid-2025, feminine-named users had risen from 37% to 52%, reflecting the broader demographic range. Global Growth: Use in low-income countries is growing four times faster than in high-income countries, indicating the growing accessibility of ChatGPT. This is the largest consumer AI use survey released to date, depicting ChatGpt's drawings not useful but as a central tool in how people work, learn and live. (Source: Openai)
Why this is important for your small business:
OpenAI has divided its usage into three main types: Questions (49%): Seeking advice, information, or guidance – ChatGpt as a Smart Advisor. Run (40%): Complete tasks such as writing, planning, coding – especially for work. Expression (11%): Personal reflection, creativity, play. If you have a chatbot like a chatbot in your business, you need to be leaning towards this feature for best results.
Small Business Technology News #5 – Intuit and Clair partners offer on-demand salaries
Intuit partners with Clair, a Fintech Company, to provide employees with on-demand salaries using QuickBooks payroll. This feature allows workers to access some of their wages earned before payday, reducing financial stress and improving retention. It's free for employers and has seamless integration with Quickbooks payroll. No credit checking is required. Available to qualified employees without affecting their credit score. There are flexible access options such as free transfers in 1-3 business days, and instant transfers at a flat $4.99 fee. There is no interest charged, automatic repayment for advances from the next paycheck, and mobile access where employees use the QuickBooks Workforce app to manage wages and time tracking. (Source: Stock Titan)
Why this is important for your small business:
The Wased Access (some people call it the same day pay) has exploded in popularity over the past few years, and you can understand why. Some studies say they live payroll from 40-60% of hourly workers. This option will help smooth your finances. These applications are installed free of charge to employers and have no changes to payroll funding (manufacturers usually make money from the percentage of merchant fees on debit cards), so they can not only attract and retain good workers, but also provide an employer's employer incentive.
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
