Top Stories
Amazon announces new alliances to support the growth of Black-owned businesses
Amazon has revamped a series of programs aimed at supporting and recognizing black entrepreneurs across the U.S. Users can still shop black-owned businesses by visiting the newly renovated “Black is Remarkable” store page, the page now contains inspirational stories from company founders and leaders. The online retailer has also relaunched the Amazon Small Business Academy, an educational resource designed to address the needs of underserved entrepreneurs. The platform says it is committed to supporting diversity in business ownership and will continue to invest in programs and resources for black entrepreneurs. Read More
You can now add social media links to your Google Business Profile
Businesses in select areas can now attach links for their social media accounts to their Google Business Profile. This comes after a recent update to Google’s search engine and maps platform. The new feature gives companies the opportunity to interact with web users who come across their brand directly through internet searches. It will also make it easier for shoppers to find information on local businesses that may not have their own websites. Currently, the update is only available to businesses in certain regions but we will see a site-wide launch in the near future. Read More
Artificial intelligence driving rise in cyberattacks say researchers
Digital security experts now believe that artificial intelligence is fueling a surge in global cyber attacks. While generative AI platforms such as Google Bard and ChatGPT are still in their infancy, analysts from Check Point Research have found evidence that bad actors are already using such tools to write malicious code and phishing emails. Although some software developers have implemented security measures to prevent abuse, hackers are circumventing these efforts by designing their own AI-powered tools. The number of attempted cyberattacks against businesses rose 8% in the second quarter and is likely to grow even more throughout the year. Read More
Digital retail may outweigh in-store retail by 2025 — Salesforce report
Salesforce is out with some new research showing that customers are relying more heavily on digital retailing than ever before. In 2023, the company noted that online purchases accounted for nearly half of all consumer transactions as more buyers elected to shop through mobile apps, eCommerce platforms and social media marketplaces rather than brick-and-mortar stores. By 2027, Salesforce expects online purchases to account for 56% of all consumer transactions, with in-store shopping declining as much as 5%. Read More
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