TikTok Launches Security Checkup Tool to Enhance User Safety

TikTok has introduced Security Checkup, a new feature designed to give users a streamlined and centralized way to manage their account security settings. Announced by Kim Albarella, Head of TikTok Global Security, the tool provides a comprehensive dashboard that helps users take control of their account security with ease and confidence.

According to the announcement, “Security Checkup, a powerful new tool that provides an all-in-one security dashboard to easily review and update account security settings.” The dashboard offers a step-by-step guide through several security features, aiming to simplify the process of safeguarding accounts.

Simplified Access and Control

Users can access the Security Checkup tool from their TikTok profile by selecting ‘Settings and privacy’ and then tapping ‘Security & permissions.’ Once inside the dashboard, they are presented with options to enhance various aspects of account security.

Key features include the ability to link both a phone number and email address, providing a backup login method. The tool also encourages users to enable 2-Step Verification for additional protection when logging in from unfamiliar devices.

Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts

TikTok’s new tool also supports device monitoring. Users are encouraged to “regularly check which devices are logged into your account and remove any that are unrecognized or no longer in use.”

Additionally, TikTok proactively detects unusual account behavior and flags it in the ‘Security & permissions’ settings. This allows users to spot suspicious activity quickly and take appropriate action.

Modern Authentication Options

The Security Checkup tool includes support for device-based authentication methods. Users now have the option to go password-free by using technologies like Face ID or Touch Unlock. According to the company, this provides “a secure and seamless sign-in” experience.

Image: TikTok

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St. Paul Announces Opening Date for 2025 Neighborhood STAR Grant Applications

The City of St. Paul has announced that applications for its 2025 Neighborhood STAR grant program will open on Monday, March 31. The program offers grants to support capital improvement projects that enhance the vitality, cultural diversity, and economic prosperity of neighborhoods across the city.

Eligible businesses and organizations must be located in or conducting business within St. Paul and use the funds for permanent capital improvements with a projected lifespan of at least seven years. Most grant awards are $50,000 or less.

All applications must be submitted online through ZoomGrants by 4 p.m. on Friday, May 2. To qualify for consideration, applications must be complete and include all required attachments.

A virtual Neighborhood STAR Workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 8, from 1 to 2 p.m. This session will provide prospective applicants with program information, application guidance, and a chance to ask questions. Log-in details will be posted on the Neighborhood STAR website at stpaul.gov/nstar.

“The Neighborhood STAR program provides business owners and local organizations the funds to make better spaces,” said Amy Ennen Bertomeu and Alberto Bertomeu, owners of North End Car Wash and 2024 Neighborhood STAR grant recipients.

Since its inception in 1995, the Neighborhood STAR program has invested in more than 1,200 projects throughout St. Paul. It has enabled small businesses and community organizations to partner with the city to improve public spaces and drive neighborhood development.

“I am incredibly excited and grateful the City of Saint Paul is partnering with me on my project to bring love to Charles Avenue and Rice Street,” said Gloria Contreras Edin, owner of Tiger Investments, LLC and 2024 Neighborhood STAR awardee. “I am looking forward to starting my project and investing in our neighborhood.”

For additional details on the Neighborhood STAR program, including application guidelines and FAQs, visit stpaul.gov/nstar. Interested individuals are encouraged to join the program’s email list to receive updates.

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Salesforce Report: 75% of Retailers Say AI Agents Will Be Essential by 2026

Retailers are increasingly turning to AI agents to stay competitive in a fast-evolving marketplace, according to Salesforce’s sixth Connected Shoppers Report. The report reveals that 75% of retail decision-makers believe AI agents will be essential to beat the competition within the next year.

Salesforce’s findings are based on dual surveys of 8,350 shoppers and 1,700 retail industry leaders. The data points to a shifting landscape marked by rising customer acquisition costs, increasing returns, and changing consumer behaviors that require a new approach to retail operations.

AI and Unified Commerce Emerge as Strategic Priorities

To manage growing complexities across digital and physical retail channels, retailers are prioritizing AI and unified commerce. These approaches are aimed at creating seamless customer experiences while controlling operational costs. “When retailers connect their sales channels, customer data, and operations in one platform, they create seamless shopping experiences both online and in-store,” said Michelle Grant, Director of Retail Strategy and Insights at Salesforce. “This unified approach boosts productivity and drives growth throughout the business.”

The report shows that 76% of retailers plan to increase investment in AI within the next year. Customer service is currently the top use case for AI agents, where they are used to respond to inquiries, track orders, and handle returns around the clock.

Velia Carboni, CIO of SharkNinja, highlighted the role of Agentforce — Salesforce’s agentic AI layer — in improving customer loyalty. Carboni described Agentforce as “key to helping us build a community that keeps consumers coming back.”

Retailers Expand AI Agent Applications

Beyond customer service, retailers foresee AI agents playing a broader role in optimizing websites, marketing, inventory management, and employee training. “AI agents represent the next wave of retail AI innovation — digital labor that promises to reshape how retailers scale their workforces, serve and market to customers, and streamline operations,” Grant said.

Barriers and Progress Toward Unified Commerce

Effective AI implementation requires integration across systems, yet many retailers still operate with disconnected platforms. According to the report, 81% of retailers say inefficient processes and technology reduce store associate productivity. Additionally, 49% of shoppers have abandoned purchases due to friction in the ordering process.

To address these challenges, 86% of retailers are pursuing unified commerce initiatives. By linking cross-channel and departmental operations, unified commerce improves efficiency, enhances the shopping experience, and enables AI systems to perform more effectively.

Consumers Show Growing Interest in AI Agents

The shift toward AI agents is not limited to retailers. The report notes that 39% of all shoppers — and 54% of Gen Z — already use AI for product discovery. Gen Z consumers are 10 times more likely than baby boomers to report frequent AI use in shopping.

Shoppers expressed strong interest in using AI agents for managing loyalty points, handling returns, and providing customer service — aligning with retailers’ focus areas. Among Gen Z shoppers, 63% are open to agents making purchases on their behalf.

However, shopper trust remains critical. The top factors influencing trust in AI agents include data privacy, on/off controls, approval requirements before purchases, data transparency, and access to human customer service.

“The data is clear: retailers and shoppers are both moving toward an AI agent future,” said Grant. “But success depends on addressing both sides of the equation — building the connected technology foundation retailers need while delivering the trust and transparency shoppers demand.”

Image: Salesforce

This article, "Salesforce Report: 75% of Retailers Say AI Agents Will Be Essential by 2026" was first published on Small Business Trends

SBA Announces Major Reorganization, Plans to Cut Workforce by 43%

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on Friday announced an agency-wide reorganization that includes a 43% reduction in its workforce as part of a broader effort to return to its original mission of supporting small businesses and increasing agency accountability to taxpayers.

The restructuring, authorized under Executive Order 14210, is intended to reverse what the agency described as “the expansive social policy agenda of the prior Administration” and eliminate non-essential roles added during the pandemic. The move will return SBA staffing to pre-pandemic levels.

Under the plan, SBA will eliminate about 2,700 of its approximately 6,500 active positions through voluntary resignations, expiring term appointments, and a limited number of reductions in force. The agency said the average SBA salary is more than $132,000, and the changes are expected to save taxpayers over $435 million annually by Fiscal Year 2026.

Core services including SBA’s loan guarantee programs, disaster assistance, field operations, and support for veterans will remain intact. The agency stated these services will not be impacted by the reductions.

“The SBA was created to be a launchpad for America’s small businesses by offering access to capital, which in turn drives job creation, innovation, and a thriving Main Street. But in the last four years, the agency has veered off track – doubling in size and turning into a sprawling leviathan plagued by mission creep, financial mismanagement, and waste. Instead of serving small businesses, the SBA served a partisan political agenda – expanding in size, scope, and spending,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler.

“Just like the small business owners we support, we must do more with less. We have therefore submitted plans to pursue a strategic restructuring that will realign the agency and its resources with our founding mission. By eliminating non-mission-critical positions and consolidating functions, we will revert to the staffing levels of the last Trump Administration, which supported a historic economic boom. We will return our focus to driving private sector growth and delivering disaster relief with accountability, efficiency, and results.”

Key elements of the reorganization include expanding support for capital formation by shifting resources away from prior progressive programs; prioritizing risk management and fraud prevention through centralization within the Office of the Chief Financial Officer; and increasing disaster recovery support by transferring loan servicing responsibilities and personnel to the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience.

SBA will also eliminate redundant pandemic-era positions associated with loan processing in the Office of Capital Access. The plan sets a goal of having 30% of agency staff located in the field, aiming to decentralize services and improve outreach to Main Street businesses. The Office of Veterans Business Development and the Office of Manufacturing and Trade will retain existing staffing levels, and the Office of Advocacy and the Office of the Inspector General will be exempt from the reductions.

According to the agency, much of the reorganization is focused on reversing the SBA’s expansion during the Biden Administration, which it said led to a deterioration of services and financial performance. The agency cited $200 billion in estimated PPP and COVID-EIDL fraud and claimed that changes to the 7(a) loan program had resulted in increased defaults and negative cash flow.

The SBA said it will carry out the reorganization plan in the coming weeks while preserving core public services through a strategic transfer of duties.

This article, "SBA Announces Major Reorganization, Plans to Cut Workforce by 43%" was first published on Small Business Trends

Small Biz Breakdown: What’s With All the Hype Over Agentic AI?

This week, our Small Biz Breakdown crew is flying without a net, per se. There’s no agenda – not as if they’re always following the one they sometimes have – and the conversation could go anywhere.

Like most weeks, however, the discussion always seems to focus on the latest in AI. And this week is no different. Zeroing in on news this week from Verizon, the Small Biz Breakdown crew discusses at length agentic AI.

Is this just the next Metaverse, as one panelist suggests it could be? Or is there more to this emerging trend?

Check out what everyone’s got to say on this hot topic in the latest episode of Small Biz Breakdown. Check out the latest small business news headlines from Small Business Trends below …

Small Business News Roundup – March 23, 2025

Verizon Business Launches GenAI Assistant for Small Businesses

Verizon Business has introduced Verizon Business Assistant, a generative AI-powered text messaging solution designed to help small businesses automate customer interactions. This tool provides instant responses to frequently asked questions, learns from interactions, and connects customers to live employees when needed.

Wix Launches Wix Functions to Enhance Business Customization

Wix has introduced Wix Functions, a no-code solution that allows users to create customized business flows, automate pricing and checkout rules, and tailor app behavior. This new tool provides businesses with greater flexibility to adapt operations to their specific needs without requiring technical expertise.

Adobe Introduces AI Agents to Experience Cloud for Enhanced Customer Engagement

Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) has announced new AI-driven capabilities in Adobe Experience Cloud aimed at helping businesses deliver highly personalized and seamless customer experiences across multiple channels. The announcement was made at Adobe Summit, the company’s flagship digital experience conference.

Paychex Survey Finds AI Adoption Gaining Traction Among Small Businesses

A new survey from Paychex reveals that small businesses across the U.S. are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance productivity, revenue, and workforce development.

Adobe Expands Firefly Services and Custom Models for Scalable Content Production

Adobe has announced new enhancements to Adobe Firefly Services and Firefly Custom Models, aimed at helping businesses meet the rising demand for personalized content across multiple digital platforms. The announcement was made at Adobe Summit, the company’s flagship digital experience conference.

NordProtect Becomes Stand-Alone Service, Adds Online Fraud Coverage

NordVPN’s identity theft protection solution, NordProtect, is now available as a stand-alone service in the United States, allowing users to access identity theft protection without purchasing a NordVPN Prime plan.

vcita Launches Upgraded BizAI with Agentic AI for SMBs

vcita, a technology platform serving small businesses and the organizations that support them, has announced an advanced upgrade to its BizAI product, introducing agentic AI capabilities designed specifically for SMBs. The latest version of BizAI aims to blend automation with human oversight, allowing businesses to streamline essential operations while maintaining control.

SBA Announces 2025 National Small Business Week Award Winners

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the national program and specialty award winners for the 2025 National Small Business Week, which will take place from May 4-10. The awards recognize businesses and resource partners for their contributions in government contracting, disaster recovery, and key areas such as exporting, small business investment, and surety bonding.

Famous Amos Launches 2025 Ingredients for Success Initiative and ‘Famously You’ Campaign

Ferrero North America has launched the 2025 Famous Amos Ingredients for Success (IFS) Entrepreneurs Initiative in partnership with the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. Now in its fifth year, the program provides financial support and resources to early-stage Black business owners.

Hostinger Launches AI-Powered No-Code Web App Solution, Hostinger Horizons

Hostinger has announced the global launch of Hostinger Horizons, an AI-powered no-code web app solution designed to help businesses and individuals create fully functional web apps without coding skills. The platform enables users to develop, publish, and host web apps without relying on third-party integrations.

Small Biz Breakdown: New from OpenAI and the Latest Economic Indicators

This week, our Small Biz Breakdown crew is back and talking about some of the biggest stories that matter most to small business owners and entrepreneurs right now.

American Express Study Finds Businesses Prioritizing Payments Automation in 2025

A new study from American Express reveals that the majority of businesses are looking to improve their payments processes in 2025, with automation emerging as a key focus. The Amex Trendex: B2B Payments Edition survey, which polled 1,000 U.S. business decision-makers, highlights the role of streamlined payments in business growth, supplier relationships, and operational efficiency.

Zendesk to Acquire Local Measure, Expanding AI-Powered Voice Capabilities

Zendesk has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Local Measure, a provider of Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) and advanced voice solutions.

This article, "Small Biz Breakdown: What’s With All the Hype Over Agentic AI?" was first published on Small Business Trends

Meta Begins Testing Community Notes on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads

Meta announced it will begin testing its new Community Notes feature across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads in the United States starting March 18. This marks the beginning of Meta’s transition away from its third-party fact-checking program, which the company revealed in January it would discontinue in favor of a crowd-sourced model.

Community Notes is designed to allow users to add context to posts, similar to the existing system used by X (formerly Twitter). Meta said, “We expect Community Notes to be less biased than the third party fact checking program it replaces because it allows more people with more perspectives to add context to posts.”

Initially, notes written by contributors will not appear publicly. Meta plans to gradually and randomly admit participants from a pool of roughly 200,000 people who have signed up across the three platforms. The system will be tested internally to ensure its functionality before any public deployment.

Meta emphasized that it is taking a deliberate and measured approach. “We’re going to take time to do this right,” the company said. Contributors must meet eligibility criteria, including being over 18 years old, having an account in good standing that’s over six months old, and either a verified phone number or enrollment in two-factor authentication.

Notes will be limited to 500 characters and must include a source link. Initially, contributors will remain anonymous, with author names withheld to encourage unbiased evaluations of the context provided. The feature will launch in six languages commonly used in the United States: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Portuguese.

According to Meta, contributors will not be permitted to submit notes on advertisements but will be allowed to annotate posts by Meta, public figures, and political accounts. The system will also be inaccessible for content moderation penalties; unlike previous fact checks, Community Notes will not reduce a post’s distribution or visibility.

Meta said, “This isn’t majority rules. No matter how many contributors agree on a note, it won’t be published unless people who normally disagree decide that it provides helpful context.”

To build the rating system, Meta is adopting X’s open-source algorithm as a foundation. This algorithm will help assess agreement across different viewpoints by evaluating contributors’ historical ratings and identifying those who typically disagree. Meta plans to refine the system over time based on real-world testing and contributor feedback.

“We’re building this in the open while learning from contributors and seeing how it works in practice in our products,” the company stated. Meta acknowledged that the process will not be perfect and committed to ongoing improvements.

Once Meta is confident in the effectiveness of the system, Community Notes will fully replace third-party fact-checking in the United States. At that point, no new third-party fact check labels will be applied, though former fact-checkers will be welcome to participate as contributors.

“Our intention is ultimately to roll out this new approach to our users all over the world, but we won’t be doing that immediately,” Meta said. Until then, the existing third-party fact-checking program will continue operating outside the United States.

Image: Meta

This article, "Meta Begins Testing Community Notes on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads" was first published on Small Business Trends

Zoom Unveils Major Expansion of AI Companion with Agentic Skills and Custom Agents

Zoom has announced a significant expansion of its AI Companion platform, introducing new agentic AI skills and custom agent capabilities that span across Zoom Meetings, Zoom Phone, Zoom Team Chat, Zoom Docs, and Zoom Contact Center. The announcement, made March 17 during a company event in Orlando, highlights more than 45 innovations aimed at boosting productivity, simplifying workflows, and strengthening relationships through enhanced AI functionality.

“AI Companion is evolving from a personal assistant to being truly agentic, which signals a major leap forward in how AI can enhance productivity and collaboration at work,” said Smita Hashim, chief product officer at Zoom. “We’re delivering value for our customers through AI agents and agentic skills that solve real customer problems, helping them connect, collaborate, and get more done, all within the Zoom platform our users trust and love.”

Agentic Skills for Streamlined Workflows

Zoom’s AI Companion now includes multi-step task execution, using memory and reasoning to tap into appropriate agents and skills. New agentic features include calendar management, clip generation, advanced writing assistance, and the ability to manage complex customer service workflows through Zoom Virtual Agent.

AI Companion’s expanded role includes task orchestration and decision-making capabilities, enabling it to learn over time and improve efficiency. Zoom users can also access custom AI agents through AI Studio, allowing tailored virtual agents for specific business needs. These features are available in beta and are expected to become widely accessible later this spring.

Custom AI Companion Add-On

Zoom plans to launch a Custom AI Companion add-on in April for $12 per user per month. The add-on enables organizations to customize AI Companion with their own meeting templates, industry-specific vocabulary, and third-party data sources. Features include a personal AI coach, custom meeting summaries, and the ability to create custom avatars for Zoom Clips using user-provided scripts.

The add-on will incorporate Small Language Models (SLMs) trained on multilingual data to complement Zoom’s third-party LLMs. These models are optimized for specific tasks and built to facilitate multi-agent collaboration.

AI Companion Across Zoom Workplace

Zoom Tasks with AI Companion will debut in late March, allowing users to track and complete tasks from summaries, chats, and emails within Zoom Docs. AI-generated meeting agendas and live notes will launch in May, and voicemail summaries for Zoom Phone are already available. A new mobile voice recorder is also expected to launch in March, offering transcription and action item extraction.

Zoom Docs will receive advanced AI enhancements in June and July, including context-based writing plans, internal/external data searches, and automated table generation. Zoom Drive, a centralized content repository, will launch in May.

Customer Experience and Industry Solutions

Zoom is extending AI capabilities into customer-facing services. Zoom Contact Center will feature Zoom Virtual Agent for voice and chat, along with AI-intent routing and Advanced Quality Management. AI-intent routing launches in March, with the latter expected in May.

Zoom Business Services will integrate agentic skills for marketing, sales, and customer care. Zoom Revenue Accelerator will soon include a sales-focused agent offering insights and prospecting tools.

Industry-specific offerings are also in development. Zoom Workplace for Frontline launches in April with mobile-first tools for on-shift workers. Zoom Workplace for Clinicians, expected in late March, will automatically generate clinical notes. Zoom Workplace for Education will add AI-generated lecture summaries in May and live transcript interaction later in the year.

Zoom is also expanding its hardware certification program in April to include document cameras for education and patient-room cameras for healthcare.

Zoom AI Companion continues to be included at no extra cost for customers with paid Zoom accounts. Some advanced features, customizations, and agents may require additional fees or separate pricing tiers.

This article, "Zoom Unveils Major Expansion of AI Companion with Agentic Skills and Custom Agents" was first published on Small Business Trends