Apprecio

apprecio

One of the most effective ways to cultivate an engaged and productive team is to actively demonstrate appreciation for your employees’ hard work and dedication. When individuals feel genuinely valued by their employer, it translates into improved morale, heightened job satisfaction, increased productivity, and greater overall retention. Showing genuine gratitude doesn't have to be an elaborate or costly endeavor. Even seemingly simple yet thoughtful gestures can go a long way in making your staff feel recognized and energized about their contributions to the company. Whether through personalized acknowledgments, unique incentives, or fostering a strong sense of community, there are myriad creative approaches to expressing appreciation. Personalized recognition A simple but powerful way to make employees feel appreciated is through personalized recognition of their efforts. According to Asim Hafeez, Owner and Operator of Empower Energy Solutions, “Showing your employees that you genuinely care through personal gestures that recognize their value and contributions resonates deeply.” This recognition can be as easy as direct, one-on-one praise or a handwritten thank-you note acknowledging specific contributions. Whatever approach you take, make sure to tell your employees face-to-face that they are doing well. Public recognition is also highly impactful. “Recognizing employees' achievements in team meetings or through company-wide communications makes them feel valued and seen by their peers and the broader organization,” says Amanda Webster, vice president of Fund & Grow. Simple acts like announcing an “Employee of the Month” or giving shout-outs during meetings can motivate individuals and foster a culture of collaboration. Team building and community Creating a strong sense of community and team cohesion is another way to make employees feel truly part of something bigger. “Organize events that allow employees to relax and bond outside work, such as team dinners, outings, or recreational activities,” Webster suggests. “These events can enhance team cohesion and make everyone feel like part of a community.” Jay Avigdor, CEO and president of Velocity Capital Group, takes this principle even further by striving to build a truly family-like atmosphere. “Everyone here is far more than an employee — we're all family,” he says. “Team-building activities, outings, and fostering an authentic sense of belonging will pay dividends in productivity and retention efforts.” Professional development opportunities Investing in both your employees’ professional and personal growth demonstrates a vested interest in their long-term success. “I can’t stress enough how everything stems from genuine care,” Hafeez notes. “Investing in your employees’ personal growth and professional development shows that you care, and they will be more willing to offer the same care right back into your company.” For example, Webster states, “Investing in your employees' growth by providing training, workshops, or courses shows that you value their development and future.” However, providing learning opportunities is only one facet. “Consistent feedback and open communication are essential,” says Asha Tarry, a licensed psychotherapist, caregiver coach, and owner of Behavioral Health Consulting Services LMSW, PLLC. “Employees like periodic updates on their work performance because it allows them to take inventory of themselves and set short-term goals they can review with their managers.” As Tarry explains, this dialogue allows employees to gain clarity on expectations and voice any needs for further training or support. It also facilitates an environment where growth is prioritized and shows you are actively invested in their professional journeys. Unique incentives and perks Creative incentives and fun workplace perks can infuse excitement and tangible rewards into your appreciation efforts. Avigdor, for example, utilizes an innovative “spinning wheel” system. “The more we fund, the more spins they get,” Avigdor explains. “For every $1 million we fund, the team gets a spin at the end of the month for items like new Airpods, cash prizes of $150 or $200, mystery prizes, and gift cards. If we fund more, it means they’ve worked harder, and the more spins they get.” Avigdor goes on to describe additional creative perks at his company. “One day, we had breakfast that came to the office with an omelet chef and a guy who makes professional espressos,” he says. “We even shut down the office once early and had a ventriloquist come for some entertainment!” Other ideas include office treats, creative spaces to recharge, or unique team bonuses. Showing genuine care At the core of any effective appreciation strategy is genuine care and interest in your employees as whole individuals. Hafeez suggests asking questions like, “When was the last time we asked them what their dreams were? When was the last time we had them submit a list of their dreams and followed up with them?” Finding ways to add value to employees' lives outside of work, whether funding a class they're interested in or connecting them to resources, shows that you see them as multidimensional people. “I think that's where the good stuff comes in — when we take genuine interest in adding value to their lives outside,” Hafeez says. Equally important is leading with empathy and consideration. “Being a considerate and respectful speaker had an impact on my self-esteem and performance,” Tarry reflects. “It created more anxiety not only in me, but I saw it firsthand in my colleagues. Conversely, when I worked with managers who were ‘people leaders,’ my mood was better.” When fostering a culture of appreciation within your organization, it’s clear that the simplest gestures often yield the most significant impact. Whether through personalized acknowledgments, fostering a strong sense of community, or investing in professional growth, the key lies in demonstrating genuine care for your employees. By recognizing and celebrating their contributions publicly and privately, you can boost morale and cultivate a sense of belonging and camaraderie. Furthermore, providing opportunities for growth and development, along with creative incentives and perks, reinforces your commitment to their success and well-being. Ultimately, leading with empathy and consideration establishes a foundation of trust and support, paving the way for a motivated and engaged workforce. This story was distributed by Jon Stojan Media under HackerNoon’s Brand As An Author Program. Learn more about the program here: https://business.hackernoon.com/brand-as-author One of the most effective ways to cultivate an engaged and productive team is to actively demonstrate appreciation for your employees’ hard work and dedication. When individuals feel genuinely valued by their employer, it translates into improved morale, heightened job satisfaction, increased productivity, and greater overall retention. Showing genuine gratitude doesn't have to be an elaborate or costly endeavor. Even seemingly simple yet thoughtful gestures can go a long way in making your staff feel recognized and energized about their contributions to the company. Whether through personalized acknowledgments, unique incentives, or fostering a strong sense of community, there are myriad creative approaches to expressing appreciation. Personalized recognition Personalized recognition A simple but powerful way to make employees feel appreciated is through personalized recognition of their efforts. According to Asim Hafeez, Owner and Operator of Empower Energy Solutions , “Showing your employees that you genuinely care through personal gestures that recognize their value and contributions resonates deeply.” Empower Energy Solutions Empower Energy Solutions This recognition can be as easy as direct, one-on-one praise or a handwritten thank-you note acknowledging specific contributions. Whatever approach you take, make sure to tell your employees face-to-face that they are doing well. Public recognition is also highly impactful. “Recognizing employees' achievements in team meetings or through company-wide communications makes them feel valued and seen by their peers and the broader organization,” says Amanda Webster, vice president of Fund & Grow . Simple acts like announcing an “Employee of the Month” or giving shout-outs during meetings can motivate individuals and foster a culture of collaboration. Fund & Grow Fund & Grow Team building and community Team building and community Creating a strong sense of community and team cohesion is another way to make employees feel truly part of something bigger. “Organize events that allow employees to relax and bond outside work, such as team dinners, outings, or recreational activities,” Webster suggests. “These events can enhance team cohesion and make everyone feel like part of a community.” Jay Avigdor, CEO and president of Velocity Capital Group , takes this principle even further by striving to build a truly family-like atmosphere. “Everyone here is far more than an employee — we're all family,” he says. “Team-building activities, outings, and fostering an authentic sense of belonging will pay dividends in productivity and retention efforts.” Velocity Capital Group Velocity Capital Group Professional development opportunities Professional development opportunities Investing in both your employees’ professional and personal growth demonstrates a vested interest in their long-term success. “I can’t stress enough how everything stems from genuine care,” Hafeez notes. “Investing in your employees’ personal growth and professional development shows that you care, and they will be more willing to offer the same care right back into your company.” For example, Webster states, “Investing in your employees' growth by providing training, workshops, or courses shows that you value their development and future.” However, providing learning opportunities is only one facet. “Consistent feedback and open communication are essential,” says Asha Tarry, a licensed psychotherapist, caregiver coach, and owner of Behavioral Health Consulting Services LMSW, PLLC. “Employees like periodic updates on their work performance because it allows them to take inventory of themselves and set short-term goals they can review with their managers.” As Tarry explains, this dialogue allows employees to gain clarity on expectations and voice any needs for further training or support. It also facilitates an environment where growth is prioritized and shows you are actively invested in their professional journeys. Unique incentives and perks Unique incentives and perks Creative incentives and fun workplace perks can infuse excitement and tangible rewards into your appreciation efforts. Avigdor, for example, utilizes an innovative “spinning wheel” system. “The more we fund, the more spins they get,” Avigdor explains. “For every $1 million we fund, the team gets a spin at the end of the month for items like new Airpods, cash prizes of $150 or $200, mystery prizes, and gift cards. If we fund more, it means they’ve worked harder, and the more spins they get.” Avigdor goes on to describe additional creative perks at his company. “One day, we had breakfast that came to the office with an omelet chef and a guy who makes professional espressos,” he says. “We even shut down the office once early and had a ventriloquist come for some entertainment!” Other ideas include office treats, creative spaces to recharge, or unique team bonuses. Showing genuine care Showing genuine care At the core of any effective appreciation strategy is genuine care and interest in your employees as whole individuals. Hafeez suggests asking questions like, “When was the last time we asked them what their dreams were? When was the last time we had them submit a list of their dreams and followed up with them?” Finding ways to add value to employees' lives outside of work, whether funding a class they're interested in or connecting them to resources, shows that you see them as multidimensional people. “I think that's where the good stuff comes in — when we take genuine interest in adding value to their lives outside,” Hafeez says. Equally important is leading with empathy and consideration. “Being a considerate and respectful speaker had an impact on my self-esteem and performance,” Tarry reflects. “It created more anxiety not only in me, but I saw it firsthand in my colleagues. Conversely, when I worked with managers who were ‘people leaders,’ my mood was better.” When fostering a culture of appreciation within your organization, it’s clear that the simplest gestures often yield the most significant impact. Whether through personalized acknowledgments, fostering a strong sense of community, or investing in professional growth, the key lies in demonstrating genuine care for your employees. By recognizing and celebrating their contributions publicly and privately, you can boost morale and cultivate a sense of belonging and camaraderie. Furthermore, providing opportunities for growth and development, along with creative incentives and perks, reinforces your commitment to their success and well-being. Ultimately, leading with empathy and consideration establishes a foundation of trust and support, paving the way for a motivated and engaged workforce. This story was distributed by Jon Stojan Media under HackerNoon’s Brand As An Author Program. Learn more about the program here: https://business.hackernoon.com/brand-as-author This story was distributed by Jon Stojan Media under HackerNoon’s Brand As An Author Program. Learn more about the program here: https://business.hackernoon.com/brand-as-author This story was distributed by Jon Stojan Media under HackerNoon’s Brand As An Author Program. Learn more about the program here: https://business.hackernoon.com/brand-as-author https://business.hackernoon.com/brand-as-author

Empowering Your Team: 5 Easy Ways To Show Employee Appreciation

আপনার দলকে ক্ষমতায়ন করা: কর্মচারীর প্রশংসা দেখানোর 5টি সহজ উপায়

Bestärken Sie Ihr Team: 5 einfache Möglichkeiten, Ihren Mitarbeitern Wertschätzung zu zeigen

Empoderar a su equipo: 5 formas sencillas de mostrar aprecio a los empleados

Donner du pouvoir à votre équipe : 5 façons simples de montrer l'appréciation de vos employés

अपनी टीम को सशक्त बनाना: कर्मचारियों की सराहना दिखाने के 5 आसान तरीके

チームに力を与える: 従業員に感謝の気持ちを伝える 5 つの簡単な方法

팀 역량 강화: 직원에게 감사를 표시하는 5가지 쉬운 방법

Capacitando sua equipe: 5 maneiras fáceis de mostrar a valorização dos funcionários

Расширение возможностей вашей команды: 5 простых способов показать признательность сотрудникам

Ekibinizi Güçlendirmek: Çalışan Takdirini Göstermenin 5 Kolay Yolu

Trao quyền cho nhóm của bạn: 5 cách dễ dàng để thể hiện sự đánh giá cao của nhân viên

赋予团队权力：表达对员工赞赏的 5 种简单方法

Black Friday is nearly here, which means customers will be swarming stores to snag the best deals — and retailers will be bracing for the corresponding boost in thefts. But even aside from the Black Friday bump, theft is a growing problem for many retailers. How could AI reduce the risk? 1. Enabling Automatic Cart Audits Some retailers have employees standing near store exits to check shoppers’ receipts as they leave, verifying that the list of items matches their cart contents. However, this process often becomes cumbersome during busy periods, requiring people to wait in lines. Leaders at Sam’s Club believe AI can do the task faster. As of April 2024, more than 120 locations used AI exit scanning technology, and the overall figure matched executives’ goal of adding AI to 20% of its stores by the end of the first quarter. Sam’s Club represents the largest deployment of such customer-facing technology in the retail industry. Customers who engage with it can leave stores 23% faster, and internal data shows more than 50% of shoppers use it. Notably, before rolling out this solution, Sam’s Club employees got feedback from customers about current pain points and what they wanted from their experiences. Participants mentioned they’d like faster and more convenient shopping trips and consistently brought up the waiting times associated with the previous cart audits as a primary downside.  Now, computer-vision cameras and digital technologies work in the background to check that cart contents match a customer’s payment records. This high-tech approach aligns with the company’s other improvements, such as its Scan & Go offering, which allows people to bypass the traditional checkout process when buying their items. The market value for AI products in retail was approximately $5 billion in 2023, and it’s expected to grow. Decision-makers are even more likely to reap the benefits if they do as Sam’s Club leaders did and gather customer feedback. 2. Curbing Potentially Harmful Employee Preferentiality Most people think of customers as the main people behind retail theft, but workers can exacerbate the problem, too. Sometimes, they might slip small items into their pockets during slow periods, believing no one will notice and they will never get caught. The circumstances can also become more complicated. One example is what some in the retail industry call “sweethearting.” It happens when employees give discounts or free items to friends or relatives. One tech company, Corsight AI, began offering AI technology to detect such interactions. More specifically, it spots unusual behavior by analyzing how close customers stand to employees. Because the tool tracks engagements over time, it can also determine if specific shoppers keep going to the same employee’s cash register or otherwise show a preference. The system flags unusual behaviors to the relevant store decision-makers, letting them decide whether to act. Critics have pointed out that regularly engaging with the same employees when shopping at a store doesn’t necessarily mean anything suspicious. Perhaps a customer appreciates a worker’s friendliness, efficiency or product knowledge, causing them to naturally interact when opportunities arise. However, increasing theft problems have caused some retail leaders to scrutinize things they might have previously ignored. That is particularly true for retailers selling high-value items. For example, jewelry companies’ crime-related losses exceeded $129 million in 2022. These retailers usually have high-tech security systems, but those defenses probably won’t catch occasional instances of store workers offering unusually generous discounts. AI tools might. 3. Providing Better Awareness Although circumstances vary, some potential shoplifters target locations before attempting to steal things. During each visit, they gather information such as the number of workers in the store at particular times, whether certain departments or products have dedicated security measures and the locations of entrances and exits. Someone who goes to a well-staffed store, notices numerous security cameras and sees how employees seem continually aware of their surroundings may decide against proceeding with theft attempt plans. Conversely, stores that seem virtually deserted and feature few or no visible security cameras are much more appealing to would-be thieves. Because AI products can work in the background and detect unusual occurrences, they help loss prevention officers and others become more aware of what happens in individual stores. For example, Everseen creates AI tech that can be used to help reduce self-checkout theft. Part of its approach involves processing footage from ceiling-mounted cameras, often gathering tens of millions of customer interactions daily. Another helpful aspect of the technology is that it can scan shelves to determine when specific products are almost out of stock. Additionally, retail leaders can use this product to get near-real-time analytics about what’s happening in a store and receive prompts about handling certain situations. For example, if the AI spots a frustrated customer, it might prompt a worker to engage with them to learn what’s wrong. Many retailers already use artificial intelligence creatively by incorporating it into their demand-planning processes. For example, automating supply chain activities could reduce costs by as much as 10%, making that goal a worthy pursuit for cost-conscious parties. In any case, improved awareness provided by specialty tech products could help retailers manage theft. 4. Analyzing Shoppers’ Gestures Although many retailers use facial recognition technologies, some consumers dislike the perceived lack of privacy. An AI alternative is potentially less invasive because it does not analyze people’s appearance, but rather whether they make suspicious movements commonly linked to theft. Wild Duck Wine & Spirits in Boston uses an AI product from company Veesion on all 24 of its security camera feeds. The technology checks shoppers’ gestures to see if they match those frequently used during shoplifting. For example, someone might try to conceal something in a clothing pocket. Another “red flag” occurs when people hide items in baby strollers. Finally, people may eat or drink while shopping, potentially consuming what they have not paid for yet. If the AI spots something specific, it alerts workers approximately 15 seconds later, providing a video clip of the event. Those employees can then choose whether to confront the person or see if they try to skip the checkout counter. A representative from the AI company explained that this solution is about more than stopping people from stealing single items. It sends them a message that they should not try to repeat their actions because they’ll get caught. Minimizing Theft in Retail These fascinating examples show how AI can help store managers, loss prevention officers and other responsible parties reduce the frequency of theft in their locations. Choosing the appropriate tools and learning how to use them properly is crucial for success. Black Friday is nearly here, which means customers will be swarming stores to snag the best deals — and retailers will be bracing for the corresponding boost in thefts. But even aside from the Black Friday bump, theft is a growing problem for many retailers. How could AI reduce the risk? Black Friday is nearly here, which means customers will be swarming stores to snag the best deals — and retailers will be bracing for the corresponding boost in thefts. But even aside from the Black Friday bump, theft is a growing problem for many retailers. How could AI reduce the risk? 1. Enabling Automatic Cart Audits 1. Enabling Automatic Cart Audits Some retailers have employees standing near store exits to check shoppers’ receipts as they leave, verifying that the list of items matches their cart contents. However, this process often becomes cumbersome during busy periods, requiring people to wait in lines. Leaders at Sam’s Club believe AI can do the task faster. As of April 2024, more than 120 locations used AI exit scanning technology, and the overall figure matched executives’ goal of adding AI to 20% of its stores by the end of the first quarter. Sam’s Club represents the largest deployment of such customer-facing technology in the retail industry. Customers who engage with it can leave stores 23% faster , and internal data shows more than 50% of shoppers use it. Notably, before rolling out this solution, Sam’s Club employees got feedback from customers about current pain points and what they wanted from their experiences. leave stores 23% faster leave stores 23% faster Participants mentioned they’d like faster and more convenient shopping trips and consistently brought up the waiting times associated with the previous cart audits as a primary downside.  Now, computer-vision cameras and digital technologies work in the background to check that cart contents match a customer’s payment records. This high-tech approach aligns with the company’s other improvements, such as its Scan & Go offering, which allows people to bypass the traditional checkout process when buying their items. The market value for AI products in retail was approximately $5 billion in 2023 , and it’s expected to grow. Decision-makers are even more likely to reap the benefits if they do as Sam’s Club leaders did and gather customer feedback. approximately $5 billion in 2023 approximately $5 billion in 2023 2. Curbing Potentially Harmful Employee Preferentiality Most people think of customers as the main people behind retail theft, but workers can exacerbate the problem, too. Sometimes, they might slip small items into their pockets during slow periods, believing no one will notice and they will never get caught. The circumstances can also become more complicated. One example is what some in the retail industry call “sweethearting.” It happens when employees give discounts or free items to friends or relatives. One tech company, Corsight AI, began offering AI technology to detect such interactions. More specifically, it spots unusual behavior by analyzing how close customers stand to employees. Because the tool tracks engagements over time, it can also determine if specific shoppers keep going to the same employee’s cash register or otherwise show a preference. The system flags unusual behaviors to the relevant store decision-makers, letting them decide whether to act. spots unusual behavior spots unusual behavior Critics have pointed out that regularly engaging with the same employees when shopping at a store doesn’t necessarily mean anything suspicious. Perhaps a customer appreciates a worker’s friendliness, efficiency or product knowledge, causing them to naturally interact when opportunities arise. However, increasing theft problems have caused some retail leaders to scrutinize things they might have previously ignored. That is particularly true for retailers selling high-value items. For example, jewelry companies’ crime-related losses exceeded $129 million in 2022. These retailers usually have high-tech security systems, but those defenses probably won’t catch occasional instances of store workers offering unusually generous discounts. AI tools might. 3. Providing Better Awareness Although circumstances vary, some potential shoplifters target locations before attempting to steal things. During each visit, they gather information such as the number of workers in the store at particular times, whether certain departments or products have dedicated security measures and the locations of entrances and exits. Someone who goes to a well-staffed store, notices numerous security cameras and sees how employees seem continually aware of their surroundings may decide against proceeding with theft attempt plans. Conversely, stores that seem virtually deserted and feature few or no visible security cameras are much more appealing to would-be thieves. Because AI products can work in the background and detect unusual occurrences, they help loss prevention officers and others become more aware of what happens in individual stores. For example, Everseen creates AI tech that can be used to help reduce self-checkout theft. Part of its approach involves processing footage from ceiling-mounted cameras, often gathering tens of millions of customer interactions daily. Another helpful aspect of the technology is that it can scan shelves to determine when specific products are almost out of stock. Additionally, retail leaders can use this product to get near-real-time analytics about what’s happening in a store and receive prompts about handling certain situations. For example, if the AI spots a frustrated customer, it might prompt a worker to engage with them to learn what’s wrong. Many retailers already use artificial intelligence creatively by incorporating it into their demand-planning processes. For example, automating supply chain activities could reduce costs by as much as 10% , making that goal a worthy pursuit for cost-conscious parties. In any case, improved awareness provided by specialty tech products could help retailers manage theft. by as much as 10% by as much as 10% 4. Analyzing Shoppers’ Gestures Although many retailers use facial recognition technologies, some consumers dislike the perceived lack of privacy. An AI alternative is potentially less invasive because it does not analyze people’s appearance, but rather whether they make suspicious movements commonly linked to theft. Wild Duck Wine & Spirits in Boston uses an AI product from company Veesion on all 24 of its security camera feeds. The technology checks shoppers’ gestures to see if they match those frequently used during shoplifting. For example, someone might try to conceal something in a clothing pocket. Another “red flag” occurs when people hide items in baby strollers. Finally, people may eat or drink while shopping, potentially consuming what they have not paid for yet. If the AI spots something specific, it alerts workers approximately 15 seconds later , providing a video clip of the event. Those employees can then choose whether to confront the person or see if they try to skip the checkout counter. approximately 15 seconds later approximately 15 seconds later A representative from the AI company explained that this solution is about more than stopping people from stealing single items. It sends them a message that they should not try to repeat their actions because they’ll get caught. Minimizing Theft in Retail These fascinating examples show how AI can help store managers, loss prevention officers and other responsible parties reduce the frequency of theft in their locations. Choosing the appropriate tools and learning how to use them properly is crucial for success.

With Black Friday Coming Up, Retailers Are Better Off Using AI to Combat Theft

Welcome to the great crypto bull market of 2024–2025. The “banana zone,” as some call it. You’re here to make a TON of money. There are two ways to do this with crypto: trading and investing. Make sure you know the difference, or it might cost you! Mark, aren’t they the same? Nope. I consulted the dictionary. Trading: buying, selling, or exchanging stocks, bonds, or currency.
Investing: putting assets to use, by purchase or expenditure, in something offering potential profitable returns, such as interest, income, or appreciation in value. Trader’s mindset: cash now, not later Do you have your eye on that amazing memecoin everybody’s talking about? Is your mind racing with possibilities and the potential for huge returns? Are you expecting to cash out in November 2025 and buy some Lambos? If so, you need to trade the market. When you trade, you’re trying to make money from changes in the prices of cryptos. You don’t want crypto. You want to sell it for more of your government’s money. Buying is simply the cost of doing business. This means you will identify entries, exits, stop-losses, and take-profit targets. You may follow the news, read roadmaps and whitepapers, or research key events that make for good buying or selling opportunities. You keep as little money in the market as necessary and wait for momentum to shift. Then, after the market has gone up a little bit, you buy. After the market has gone down a little bit, you sell. While an investor will aim to get ahead of the market, you will wait for the market to act and then ride the momentum whichever way it goes. Investopedia has a nice article about trading. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/trading/02/100102.asp?source=post_page-----90fb48ed9223--------------------------------&embedable=true Investor’s mindset: win no matter what happens Do you want generational wealth you can bank on for years to come? Durable financial assets that throw off income and generate capital gains? Chances are, you're an investor. You don't worry as much about what happens today or how much cash you can get out of the market. You want to make sure that you are in a position to take care of yourself for as long as you need to. When you invest, you find projects that will likely grow and succeed, then buy their tokens, stake those tokens for passive income, delegate them for rewards, or deposit them into liquidity pools for a portion of fees and perhaps incentives from using them. When you do this, it’s like earning dividends or interest and recycling the profits back into the market to compound month after month, like a snowball. You can also leverage your tokens in other ways, for example, to buy land or items in a metaverse, participate in play-to-earn games, mint NFTs, become a validator, run a node, and participate in the communities that grow around the tokens. Both make money in different ways You can do well with either approach, but you need to pick one. What drives success in one approach will drive failure in the other. For example, as an investor, you will lock up your tokens for weeks or months for passive rewards and income. Free crypto! That’s terrible if you’re a trader. It defeats the whole point! You don’t want to keep the tokens. You want to sell them as soon as possible! On the other hand, when you lock up your tokens, you have to accept all the volatility that comes your way. You have to sit through big upswings and downswings. Some altcoins will go up or down 50% in a week, sometimes in a day. When you need to sell, it may not be on your terms. As a trader, you will buy after prices go up and sell after prices drop. That may fly in the face of the adage, “buy low, sell high,” but that is not a trading strategy. When you trade, you may buy high to sell higher or sell low and then short the market. As one trader put it, you play for the middle of the field, not the red zone. This makes no sense for an investor. The whole point is to build a position before the market turns so that you can capture limitless upside. Traders can't expose their capital like that. They need to wait until there's less upside because they need clarity about the market's direction. In other words, you can't trade and invest with the same money. Pick one. Options abound Some people split their portfolios into a separate trading account and investment account. Others take an investor’s approach but try to time their entries and exits. You can do well with either approach or another path of your choosing. Whether you’re here to trade or invest, remember: the key to success is knowing your strategy and sticking to it. If it helps, subscribe to my newsletter, Crypto is Easy. I sometimes share trading setups, analysis, and commentary to help you with either approach. We look at trading charts, on-chain data, and various metrics and strategies to navigate the ups and downs so you can make the most of this market and the opportunities it brings. Mark Helfman publishes the Crypto is Easy newsletter. He is also the author of three books and a top Bitcoin writer on Medium and Hacker Noon. Learn more about him in his bio and connect with him on Tealfeed. Welcome to the great crypto bull market of 2024–2025. The “banana zone,” as some call it. You’re here to make a TON of money. There are two ways to do this with crypto: trading and investing. Make sure you know the difference, or it might cost you! Mark, aren’t they the same? Mark, aren’t they the same? Mark, aren’t they the same? Nope. I consulted the dictionary. Trading: buying, selling, or exchanging stocks, bonds, or currency. Investing: putting assets to use, by purchase or expenditure, in something offering potential profitable returns, such as interest, income, or appreciation in value. Trading: buying, selling, or exchanging stocks, bonds, or currency. Investing: putting assets to use, by purchase or expenditure, in something offering potential profitable returns, such as interest, income, or appreciation in value. Trader’s mindset: cash now, not later Do you have your eye on that amazing memecoin everybody’s talking about? Is your mind racing with possibilities and the potential for huge returns? Are you expecting to cash out in November 2025 and buy some Lambos? If so, you need to trade the market. When you trade, you’re trying to make money from changes in the prices of cryptos. You don’t want crypto. You want to sell it for more of your government’s money. Buying is simply the cost of doing business. This means you will identify entries, exits, stop-losses, and take-profit targets. You may follow the news, read roadmaps and whitepapers, or research key events that make for good buying or selling opportunities. You keep as little money in the market as necessary and wait for momentum to shift. Then, after the market has gone up a little bit, you buy. After the market has gone down a little bit, you sell. While an investor will aim to get ahead of the market, you will wait for the market to act and then ride the momentum whichever way it goes. Investopedia has a nice article about trading. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/trading/02/100102.asp?source=post_page-----90fb48ed9223--------------------------------&embedable=true https://www.investopedia.com/articles/trading/02/100102.asp?source=post_page-----90fb48ed9223--------------------------------&embedable=true Investor’s mindset: win no matter what happens Do you want generational wealth you can bank on for years to come? Durable financial assets that throw off income and generate capital gains? Chances are, you're an investor. You don't worry as much about what happens today or how much cash you can get out of the market. You want to make sure that you are in a position to take care of yourself for as long as you need to. When you invest, you find projects that will likely grow and succeed, then buy their tokens, stake those tokens for passive income, delegate them for rewards, or deposit them into liquidity pools for a portion of fees and perhaps incentives from using them. When you do this, it’s like earning dividends or interest and recycling the profits back into the market to compound month after month, like a snowball. You can also leverage your tokens in other ways, for example, to buy land or items in a metaverse, participate in play-to-earn games, mint NFTs, become a validator, run a node, and participate in the communities that grow around the tokens. Both make money in different ways You can do well with either approach, but you need to pick one. What drives success in one approach will drive failure in the other. For example, as an investor, you will lock up your tokens for weeks or months for passive rewards and income. Free crypto! That’s terrible if you’re a trader. It defeats the whole point! You don’t want to keep the tokens. You want to sell them as soon as possible! terrible On the other hand, when you lock up your tokens, you have to accept all the volatility that comes your way. You have to sit through big upswings and downswings. Some altcoins will go up or down 50% in a week, sometimes in a day. When you need to sell, it may not be on your terms. As a trader, you will buy after prices go up and sell after prices drop. That may fly in the face of the adage, “buy low, sell high,” but that is not a trading strategy. When you trade, you may buy high to sell higher or sell low and then short the market. As one trader put it, you play for the middle of the field, not the red zone. This makes no sense for an investor. The whole point is to build a position before the market turns so that you can capture limitless upside. Traders can't expose their capital like that. They need to wait until there's less upside because they need clarity about the market's direction. In other words, you can't trade and invest with the same money. Pick one. Options abound Some people split their portfolios into a separate trading account and investment account. Others take an investor’s approach but try to time their entries and exits. You can do well with either approach or another path of your choosing. Whether you’re here to trade or invest, remember: the key to success is knowing your strategy and sticking to it. If it helps, subscribe to my newsletter, Crypto is Easy. I sometimes share trading setups, analysis, and commentary to help you with either approach. Crypto is Easy . Crypto is Easy Crypto is Easy We look at trading charts, on-chain data, and various metrics and strategies to navigate the ups and downs so you can make the most of this market and the opportunities it brings. Mark Helfman publishes the Crypto is Easy newsletter. He is also the author of three books and a top Bitcoin writer on Medium and Hacker Noon . Learn more about him in his bio and connect with him on Tealfeed . Crypto is Easy Crypto is Easy Crypto is Easy Medium Medium Medium Hacker Noon Hacker Noon Hacker Noon bio bio Tealfeed Tealfeed

The Difference Between Crypto Trading and Crypto Investing

What if your digital product could not only look amazing but fuel your startup's success? At Meliorar, we believe that there’s more to design than meets the eye; there’s growth, a lot of growth! We use a combination of research-backed design methodology and user psychology to create intuitive digital experiences. If you want to keep users active for a longer period of time, increase the rate of collecting conversions, or simply design a product that will be adored, we work to fulfill the aims. The Meliorar Difference: Growth Hacking for UX At Meliorar, we don’t just design beautiful interfaces; we ensure growth in them. We analyze user behavior, conduct A/B testing, and track key metrics to ensure every design decision drives measurable results. Our growth hacking process involves User Research, Data Analysis,  UX Strategy, and UI Design. This iterative approach allows us to optimize for conversions and user engagement continuously. However, we differentiate ourselves with our global understanding and appreciation for cultural diversity. We practice cultural customization: creating designs, that appeal to a particular audience in Europe, the MENA area, and further. Meliorar: From Pixels to Performance and Everything In-Between Meliorar was born out of a desire to help startups harness the true power of design. Like many, we began with a simple idea and a lot of passion. We believe that design could be a powerful tool for growth, and we were determined to help other startups unlock that potential. At the very beginning, we remember concentrating on UI design only creating graphically appealing designs. We quickly understood though that looking good was not everything. There are also concepts like user behavior, data, and most importantly conversions. This is where the growth hacking ideology came into the picture and the transformation of Meliorar from just another UI/UX design to construction of beautiful yet effective designs happened. We've faced challenges along the way, learning valuable lessons about the importance of clear communication, agile methodologies, and building strong client partnerships. But through it all, we've remained committed to our core values: user-centered design, data-driven decision-making, and a relentless pursuit of growth. Milestones and achievements Since launching Meliorar in December 2020, we've been on a mission to help businesses unlock growth through user-centered design. And we've hit some pretty awesome milestones along the way: Global expansion: We've worked with incredible clients across Europe, the MENA region, North Africa, and even Canada. Fintech frenzy: We helped a fintech solution generate 1500 subscribers on their opening night! E-commerce magic: We teamed up with an e-commerce company to reduce their cart abandonment rate by 12% Conclusion We're grateful to Hacker Noon for this opportunity to share our story and connect with the startup community. Being nominated for Startup of the Year is a huge honor, and we're excited to be recognized alongside so many other incredible companies. But we need your help!  If you believe in the power of user-centered design and want to support a passionate team of growth hackers, cast your vote for Meliorar today! We believe that design has the power to transform businesses, and we're dedicated to empowering startups with the tools they need to achieve their goals. Every vote counts, and we appreciate your support. Vote for us ! Thank you for being part of our journey! What if your digital product could not only look amazing but fuel your startup's success? What if your digital product could not only look amazing but fuel your startup's success? At Meliorar, we believe that there’s more to design than meets the eye; there’s growth, a lot of growth! We use a combination of research-backed design methodology and user psychology to create intuitive digital experiences. If you want to keep users active for a longer period of time, increase the rate of collecting conversions, or simply design a product that will be adored, we work to fulfill the aims. The Meliorar Difference: Growth Hacking for UX At Meliorar, we don’t just design beautiful interfaces; we ensure growth in them. We analyze user behavior, conduct A/B testing, and track key metrics to ensure every design decision drives measurable results. Our growth hacking process involves User Research, Data Analysis,  UX Strategy, and UI Design. This iterative approach allows us to optimize for conversions and user engagement continuously. User Research, Data Analysis,  UX Strategy, and UI Design. However, we differentiate ourselves with our global understanding and appreciation for cultural diversity. We practice cultural customization: creating designs, that appeal to a particular audience in Europe, the MENA area, and further. Meliorar: From Pixels to Performance and Everything In-Between Meliorar was born out of a desire to help startups harness the true power of design. Like many, we began with a simple idea and a lot of passion. We believe that design could be a powerful tool for growth, and we were determined to help other startups unlock that potential. We believe that design could be a powerful tool for growth, and we were determined to help other startups unlock that potential. At the very beginning, we remember concentrating on UI design only creating graphically appealing designs. We quickly understood though that looking good was not everything. There are also concepts like user behavior, data, and most importantly conversions. This is where the growth hacking ideology came into the picture and the transformation of Meliorar from just another UI/UX design to construction of beautiful yet effective designs happened. We've faced challenges along the way, learning valuable lessons about the importance of clear communication, agile methodologies, and building strong client partnerships. But through it all, we've remained committed to our core values: user-centered design, data-driven decision-making, and a relentless pursuit of growth. Milestones and achievements Since launching Meliorar in December 2020, we've been on a mission to help businesses unlock growth through user-centered design. And we've hit some pretty awesome milestones along the way: Global expansion: We've worked with incredible clients across Europe, the MENA region, North Africa, and even Canada. Global expansion: Fintech frenzy: We helped a fintech solution generate 1500 subscribers on their opening night! Fintech frenzy: E-commerce magic: We teamed up with an e-commerce company to reduce their cart abandonment rate by 12% E-commerce magic: Conclusion We're grateful to Hacker Noon for this opportunity to share our story and connect with the startup community. Being nominated for Startup of the Year is a huge honor, and we're excited to be recognized alongside so many other incredible companies. But we need your help!  If you believe in the power of user-centered design and want to support a passionate team of growth hackers, cast your vote for Meliorar today! We believe that design has the power to transform businesses, and we're dedicated to empowering startups with the tools they need to achieve their goals. Every vote counts, and we appreciate your support. Vote for us ! Vote for us ! Vote for us Thank you for being part of our journey! Thank you for being part of our journey!

SOTY 2024 Nominee: Meliorar, More than just a Design Agency

Hey Hackers, Atome Bakery has been nominated in HackerNoon's annual Startups of The Year awards in Vancouver, Canada. Please vote for us here: https://hackernoon.com/startups/north-america/north-america-vancouver-bc-canada?stup=66f324a46ea4677e23e222f9 Read more about us below to understand why we deserve your vote: Meet Atome Atome Bakery is an online artisan bakery delivering ready-to-bake sourdough bread and pastries across North America. Our products are crafted with organic Canadian flour, clean ingredients, and traditional slow fermentation methods, ensuring exceptional quality and taste. Unlike mass-produced bread, our bake-from-proof model allows customers to enjoy bakery-worthy freshness straight from their own ovens. We specialize in frozen, pre-proofed products, including sourdough loaves, baguettes, croissants, and pain au chocolat, designed for convenience without compromising quality. Our mission is to make healthier, artisan-quality baked goods accessible to households everywhere, particularly in regions where high-quality bread is hard to find. With a commitment to sustainability, we use recyclable packaging and minimize waste through small-batch production. Atome Bakery is redefining home baking, one delicious box at a time. How Atome Bakery achieved product-market fit Atome Bakery has achieved a solid product-market fit by addressing a clear gap in the market: the lack of convenient access to high-quality, artisan bread and pastries. Our bake-from-proof model solves the dilemma for customers who want bakery-quality bread but lack access to local bakeries or the time and skill to bake from scratch. Our growth metrics strongly validate this fit. We have shipped nearly 10,000 boxes since July 2023, with a 16% growth MoM
Additionally, repeat orders from remote and suburban households confirm that our products resonate with customers who value quality but face limited local options. The evolution of Atome Bakery Building Atome Bakery has been a journey of adaptation, learning, and iteration. When we started in 2022, our initial focus was a pick-up model for sourdough bread in Vancouver. However, feedback from early customers revealed a broader need: artisan-quality bread that could be delivered to suburban and remote areas where options were limited. This insight drove us to pivot to a direct-to-consumer frozen delivery model, which allowed us to expand our reach significantly.
Later, we added pastries like croissants and pain au chocolat to our offering, again prompted by customers’ requests. Each iteration has brought us closer to fulfilling our mission of making high-quality, artisan baked goods accessible to households across North America. Milestones and achievements We’ve won multiple awards, including the Entrepreneurs Abroad Award by the French Executive Circle and the DIVERSEcity Pitch competition, highlighting our diverse team. We were named a Top 3 finalist for the Small Business BC e-commerce experience award in 2024, and won Start up TNT’s Investor competition at Summit X.
We are growing! What started as a BC-only delivery service quickly grew to Alberta, State of Washington, Oregon, and now California! Lessons learned One of our biggest challenges has been scaling operations to meet increasing demand. As orders grew tenfold in 12 months, we faced capacity constraints in production, storage, and logistics. Initially, we underestimated the infrastructure needed to support this growth, which led to delays and operational strain in order to maintain our high standards of quality. Lesson learned: Anticipating growth and investing in scalable systems early is crucial for maintaining efficiency. What Startups of The Year means to us As a company redefining the artisan bakery experience through innovation and accessibility, we’re excited to participate in HackerNoon’s Startups of the Year to celebrate the progress of Atome Bakery and connect with a community of innovators and entrepreneurs. Our mission is to make high-quality, artisan baked goods accessible to more homes, and we see this initiative as an opportunity to amplify our story, showcase our unique approach, and inspire others with our journey. Through this recognition, we hope to gain increased visibility for Atome Bakery, attract potential collaborators, and engage with thought leaders who can offer valuable insights as we continue scaling. We’re also excited to contribute to the shared knowledge within the HackerNoon community by sharing the lessons and strategies that have shaped our growth. Ultimately, we view this initiative as a platform to build meaningful connections that will help propel Atome Bakery to the next level. Conclusion hank you for taking the time to learn about Atome Bakery and our mission to bring high-quality, artisan baked goods to more homes. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead as we continue to innovate, grow, and make an impact in communities across North America. We appreciate your interest and support, and we look forward to building lasting relationships that help us achieve our vision. Let’s bake the future together! Vote for us today! https://hackernoon.com/startups/north-america/north-america-vancouver-bc-canada?stup=66f324a46ea4677e23e222f9 Hey Hackers, Atome Bakery has been nominated in HackerNoon's annual Startups of The Year awards in Vancouver, Canada. Please vote for us here: Please vote for us here: https://hackernoon.com/startups/north-america/north-america-vancouver-bc-canada?stup=66f324a46ea4677e23e222f9 https://hackernoon.com/startups/north-america/north-america-vancouver-bc-canada?stup=66f324a46ea4677e23e222f9 https://hackernoon.com/startups/north-america/north-america-vancouver-bc-canada?stup=66f324a46ea4677e23e222f9 https://hackernoon.com/startups/north-america/north-america-vancouver-bc-canada?stup=66f324a46ea4677e23e222f9 Read more about us below to understand why we deserve your vote: Read more about us below to understand why we deserve your vote: Meet Atome Atome Bakery is an online artisan bakery delivering ready-to-bake sourdough bread and pastries across North America. Our products are crafted with organic Canadian flour, clean ingredients, and traditional slow fermentation methods, ensuring exceptional quality and taste. Unlike mass-produced bread, our bake-from-proof model allows customers to enjoy bakery-worthy freshness straight from their own ovens. We specialize in frozen, pre-proofed products, including sourdough loaves, baguettes, croissants, and pain au chocolat, designed for convenience without compromising quality. Our mission is to make healthier, artisan-quality baked goods accessible to households everywhere, particularly in regions where high-quality bread is hard to find. With a commitment to sustainability, we use recyclable packaging and minimize waste through small-batch production. Atome Bakery is redefining home baking, one delicious box at a time. How Atome Bakery achieved product-market fit Atome Bakery has achieved a solid product-market fit by addressing a clear gap in the market: the lack of convenient access to high-quality, artisan bread and pastries. Our bake-from-proof model solves the dilemma for customers who want bakery-quality bread but lack access to local bakeries or the time and skill to bake from scratch. Our growth metrics strongly validate this fit. We have shipped nearly 10,000 boxes since July 2023, with a 16% growth MoM Additionally, repeat orders from remote and suburban households confirm that our products resonate with customers who value quality but face limited local options. Our growth metrics strongly validate this fit. We have shipped nearly 10,000 boxes since July 2023, with a 16% growth MoM Additionally, repeat orders from remote and suburban households confirm that our products resonate with customers who value quality but face limited local options. The evolution of Atome Bakery Building Atome Bakery has been a journey of adaptation, learning, and iteration. When we started in 2022, our initial focus was a pick-up model for sourdough bread in Vancouver. However, feedback from early customers revealed a broader need: artisan-quality bread that could be delivered to suburban and remote areas where options were limited. This insight drove us to pivot to a direct-to-consumer frozen delivery model, which allowed us to expand our reach significantly. Later, we added pastries like croissants and pain au chocolat to our offering, again prompted by customers’ requests. Each iteration has brought us closer to fulfilling our mission of making high-quality, artisan baked goods accessible to households across North America. Building Atome Bakery has been a journey of adaptation, learning, and iteration. When we started in 2022, our initial focus was a pick-up model for sourdough bread in Vancouver. However, feedback from early customers revealed a broader need: artisan-quality bread that could be delivered to suburban and remote areas where options were limited. This insight drove us to pivot to a direct-to-consumer frozen delivery model, which allowed us to expand our reach significantly. Later, we added pastries like croissants and pain au chocolat to our offering, again prompted by customers’ requests. Each iteration has brought us closer to fulfilling our mission of making high-quality, artisan baked goods accessible to households across North America. Milestones and achievements We’ve won multiple awards, including the Entrepreneurs Abroad Award by the French Executive Circle and the DIVERSEcity Pitch competition, highlighting our diverse team. We were named a Top 3 finalist for the Small Business BC e-commerce experience award in 2024, and won Start up TNT’s Investor competition at Summit X. We are growing! What started as a BC-only delivery service quickly grew to Alberta, State of Washington, Oregon, and now California! We’ve won multiple awards, including the Entrepreneurs Abroad Award by the French Executive Circle and the DIVERSEcity Pitch competition, highlighting our diverse team. We were named a Top 3 finalist for the Small Business BC e-commerce experience award in 2024, and won Start up TNT’s Investor competition at Summit X. We are growing! What started as a BC-only delivery service quickly grew to Alberta, State of Washington, Oregon, and now California! Lessons learned One of our biggest challenges has been scaling operations to meet increasing demand. As orders grew tenfold in 12 months, we faced capacity constraints in production, storage, and logistics. Initially, we underestimated the infrastructure needed to support this growth, which led to delays and operational strain in order to maintain our high standards of quality. Lesson learned : Anticipating growth and investing in scalable systems early is crucial for maintaining efficiency. Lesson learned What Startups of The Year means to us As a company redefining the artisan bakery experience through innovation and accessibility, we’re excited to participate in HackerNoon’s Startups of the Year to celebrate the progress of Atome Bakery and connect with a community of innovators and entrepreneurs. Our mission is to make high-quality, artisan baked goods accessible to more homes, and we see this initiative as an opportunity to amplify our story, showcase our unique approach, and inspire others with our journey. Through this recognition, we hope to gain increased visibility for Atome Bakery, attract potential collaborators, and engage with thought leaders who can offer valuable insights as we continue scaling. We’re also excited to contribute to the shared knowledge within the HackerNoon community by sharing the lessons and strategies that have shaped our growth. Ultimately, we view this initiative as a platform to build meaningful connections that will help propel Atome Bakery to the next level. Conclusion hank you for taking the time to learn about Atome Bakery and our mission to bring high-quality, artisan baked goods to more homes. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead as we continue to innovate, grow, and make an impact in communities across North America. We appreciate your interest and support, and we look forward to building lasting relationships that help us achieve our vision. Let’s bake the future together! Vote for us today! https://hackernoon.com/startups/north-america/north-america-vancouver-bc-canada?stup=66f324a46ea4677e23e222f9 Vote for us today! https://hackernoon.com/startups/north-america/north-america-vancouver-bc-canada?stup=66f324a46ea4677e23e222f9 Vote for us today! https://hackernoon.com/startups/north-america/north-america-vancouver-bc-canada?stup=66f324a46ea4677e23e222f9 https://hackernoon.com/startups/north-america/north-america-vancouver-bc-canada?stup=66f324a46ea4677e23e222f9

Bringing Artisan Baking to Your Door Step: Interview with SOTY 2024 Nominee, Atome Bakery

1. HackerNoon: What is your company in 2–5 words? Aaron Lee: We offer AI-driven call & chat answering to SMB. 2. Why is now the time for your company to exist? Providing real time 24/7 customer engagement, lead qualification and conversion has been the biggest pain point for SMB as they don’t have the time nor the resources to do it. Traditional call answering services can only handle simple tasks like take a message and gather contact information. With advancements in technology, particularly AI and automation, Smith.ai evolved to leverage AI to answer calls and chat with human-in-the-loop for escalation, expanding services to integrate with CRMs, provide scheduling assistance, payment collection, and deliver enhanced customer support tailored for businesses of all sizes, especially SMBs. 3. What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to solve this problem? AI is fast moving but at the current stage, we don’t believe it can handle 100% of the calls and chats as human conversation is nuanced and complicated. Humans can easily detect caller’s emotion but it’s challenging if AI only looks at the transcription, e.g. “That’s great” could be either positive or sarcastic. We believe having a group of highly trained agents + highly tuned AI based on each individual business (think about it as Voice GPT for your business) is the best way to achieve the business outcomes: converting callers to customers. My background is in software engineering, computer graphics with GPU and was the former CTO of The Home Depot which allowed me to work with SMB on a daily basis for years. Our team is unique as we have AI expertise, deep domain knowledge, as well as huge appreciation to the pain points that SMB are facing. 4. If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing? I am very excited about entrepreneurship, helping other startups succeed, and have been angel investing for a long time as a side hobby. I probably would be more active in early stage investments if I wasn’t building my startup. 5. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your metrics? We track customer engagement (number inbound/outbound calls or chats) as one of the core KPIs. Another metric we track is Quality, we treat any internal/external complaint/mistake/expectation mismatch as a concern, basically anything that is not satisfactory to our team or clients would be counted as one and we have been able to maintain a 99.7% correctness for a very long time. This metric has a direct correlation to our churn which is extremely low, which drives the flywheel of great reviews https://www.trustpilot.com/review/smith.ai and more referrals. 6. In a few sentences, what do you offer to whom? Smith.ai provides AI-driven virtual receptionist services, including call and chat answering, tailored for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Our offerings encompass 24/7 live virtual receptionists, AI voice assistants, outreach campaigns, and AI-powered web chat, all designed to enhance customer engagement and support. We serve a wide range of industries, including law firms, home services, marketing agencies, medical and wellness, and many more. 7. What’s most exciting about your traction to date? The most exciting thing about Smith.ai is we have answered tens of millions of calls and chats with extremely high accuracy and satisfaction (99.7%). The most important thing is we help our SMB clients grow by converting callers to customers with the latest AI technologies which is impossible if they were to implement on their own. 8. Where do you think your growth will be next year? Given the uncertainty in inflation and macroeconomics, we believe the trend of doing more with less by leveraging AI and outsourcing will remain front and center for our clients. The fact that we can drive instant satisfaction and revenue growth at a much lower cost would be a huge tailwind for our exponential growth next year. 9. Tell us about your first paying customer and revenue expectations over the next year. We started the company back in October 2015 and I am excited to say that the majority of them are still with us today and have increased their spend with us 10X. We recently launched our AI-first Voice Assistant and it’s a total game changer. One client said “whoever put this together is a bloody genius.” - this is the magical moment when the product is so good that wows our clients. We believe we will have a significant jump in revenue next year as we continue to deploy this technology to 30M SMB in the US. 10. What’s your biggest threat? Our biggest threat is really execution. The market is huge and demand is clear. We have clients asking us for new features on a daily basis and it’s up to us to push the envelope of AI with humans fast enough to meet their needs. Our assessment of the current AI capabilities is that they may struggle with nuanced and complex conversations, especially in emotional or context-heavy interactions. We believe our hybrid human-AI approach is the best in order to bridge the gap. For appointment booking or sales conversion, we believe human touch offers the best business outcome. This startup founder interview template is based on HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke’s ten questions for startup founders. Would you like to take a stab at answering some of these questions? The link for the template is HERE. 1. HackerNoon : What is your company in 2–5 words? HackerNoon Aaron Lee : We offer AI-driven call & chat answering to SMB. Aaron Lee Aaron Lee 2. Why is now the time for your company to exist? Providing real time 24/7 customer engagement, lead qualification and conversion has been the biggest pain point for SMB as they don’t have the time nor the resources to do it. Traditional call answering services can only handle simple tasks like take a message and gather contact information. With advancements in technology, particularly AI and automation, Smith.ai evolved to leverage AI to answer calls and chat with human-in-the-loop for escalation, expanding services to integrate with CRMs, provide scheduling assistance, payment collection, and deliver enhanced customer support tailored for businesses of all sizes, especially SMBs. Smith.ai 3. What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to solve this problem? AI is fast moving but at the current stage, we don’t believe it can handle 100% of the calls and chats as human conversation is nuanced and complicated. Humans can easily detect caller’s emotion but it’s challenging if AI only looks at the transcription, e.g. “That’s great” could be either positive or sarcastic. We believe having a group of highly trained agents + highly tuned AI based on each individual business (think about it as Voice GPT for your business) is the best way to achieve the business outcomes: converting callers to customers. My background is in software engineering, computer graphics with GPU and was the former CTO of The Home Depot which allowed me to work with SMB on a daily basis for years. Our team is unique as we have AI expertise, deep domain knowledge, as well as huge appreciation to the pain points that SMB are facing. 4. If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing? I am very excited about entrepreneurship, helping other startups succeed, and have been angel investing for a long time as a side hobby. I probably would be more active in early stage investments if I wasn’t building my startup. 5. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your metrics? We track customer engagement (number inbound/outbound calls or chats) as one of the core KPIs. Another metric we track is Quality, we treat any internal/external complaint/mistake/expectation mismatch as a concern, basically anything that is not satisfactory to our team or clients would be counted as one and we have been able to maintain a 99.7% correctness for a very long time. This metric has a direct correlation to our churn which is extremely low, which drives the flywheel of great reviews https://www.trustpilot.com/review/smith.ai and more referrals. https://www.trustpilot.com/review/smith.ai https://www.trustpilot.com/review/smith.ai 6. In a few sentences, what do you offer to whom? Smith.ai provides AI-driven virtual receptionist services, including call and chat answering, tailored for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Our offerings encompass 24/7 live virtual receptionists, AI voice assistants, outreach campaigns, and AI-powered web chat, all designed to enhance customer engagement and support. We serve a wide range of industries, including law firms, home services, marketing agencies, medical and wellness, and many more. 7. What’s most exciting about your traction to date? The most exciting thing about Smith.ai is we have answered tens of millions of calls and chats with extremely high accuracy and satisfaction (99.7%). The most important thing is we help our SMB clients grow by converting callers to customers with the latest AI technologies which is impossible if they were to implement on their own. 8. Where do you think your growth will be next year? Given the uncertainty in inflation and macroeconomics, we believe the trend of doing more with less by leveraging AI and outsourcing will remain front and center for our clients. The fact that we can drive instant satisfaction and revenue growth at a much lower cost would be a huge tailwind for our exponential growth next year. 9. Tell us about your first paying customer and revenue expectations over the next year. We started the company back in October 2015 and I am excited to say that the majority of them are still with us today and have increased their spend with us 10X. We recently launched our AI-first Voice Assistant and it’s a total game changer. One client said “whoever put this together is a bloody genius.” - this is the magical moment when the product is so good that wows our clients. We believe we will have a significant jump in revenue next year as we continue to deploy this technology to 30M SMB in the US. 10. What’s your biggest threat? Our biggest threat is really execution. The market is huge and demand is clear. We have clients asking us for new features on a daily basis and it’s up to us to push the envelope of AI with humans fast enough to meet their needs. Our assessment of the current AI capabilities is that they may struggle with nuanced and complex conversations, especially in emotional or context-heavy interactions. We believe our hybrid human-AI approach is the best in order to bridge the gap. For appointment booking or sales conversion, we believe human touch offers the best business outcome. This startup founder interview template is based on HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke’s ten questions for startup founders. This startup founder interview template is based on HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke ’s ten questions for startup founders . HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke ten questions for startup founders Would you like to take a stab at answering some of these questions? The link for the template is HERE. Would you like to take a stab at answering some of these questions? The link for the template is HERE. The link for the template is HERE.

Blending AI and Human Expertise: How Smith.ai CEO/Founder is Revolutionizing SMB Customer Engagement

Optimizing workflows with AI has become a game-changer for me, especially when it comes to searching for information. For a while, I relied on the free version of Perplexity, but recently, I upgraded to Perplexity Pro. Meanwhile, as a longtime user of ChatGPT, I’ve also been exploring its new ChatGPT Search feature. In this article, I’ll share my experiences with both tools, compare their strengths and weaknesses, and help you decide which one might be the better fit for your needs. Perplexity I’d heard about Perplexity.ai many times, promised myself I’d try it, and eventually did, but it didn’t quite click. It’s hard to fully appreciate a tool until you use it regularly. I forgot about it until I got a test assignment for a job interview in a new field, requiring tons of research. Honestly, I’m not great at googling. But since I frequently use ChatGPT and have gotten pretty good at writing prompts, I thought of giving Perplexity another shot. This was before the release of ChatGPT Search, and at that point, I’d already maxed out what ChatGPT could offer. Perplexity turned out to be a lifesaver. It made long, tedious searches much quicker and was my first truly game-changing experience with AI search. At the time, I used the free version. Compared to browser searches, here’s what I found more convenient in AI search: Fewer distractions from ads: Most browsers put ads at the top, so you have to scroll past them just to get to the first actual search result. Even without the ads, the top links are often not very relevant, and there are still too many to sift through. This makes it easy to lose motivation to click beyond the first couple of pages. AI does all that for you, providing a list of sources you can explore further on your own.


Threaded searches with context: I loved how searches are organized into threads, preserving context. For my test assignment, since I was learning a new field from scratch, one question would lead to many others. It was convenient to continue and expand the search without starting over each time. If I remembered something later, I could easily return to a specific thread and pick up where I left off.


Helpful question suggestions: Each thread in Perplexity includes prompts for related questions, which makes navigating a new topic much easier.


Incognito mode: Like most browsers, Perplexity offers an incognito mode. I haven’t used it yet, but it’s a nice feature.


Language flexibility: If you write in a certain language, you’ll get sources in that language. This is a standard approach for browsers but not always convenient. For a while, I continued using the free version, but recently I switched to Pro. The free version uses the GPT-3.5 model, whereas the Pro plan grants access to the latest models: GPT-4 Omni, Claude-3 Sonnet/Opus, and Sonar Large 32k, so all the best features are integrated into your search. Of course, the Pro version offers better, smarter, and faster search. In addition to the features mentioned above, here’s what I found most useful: Broaden your search with images: Pro provides access to Playground V2.5, DALLE 3, and Stable Diffusion XL models that can expand your search. For example, I was recently researching fund flow modeling, and having visual examples was incredibly helpful.


Files, code, and more input options: You can upload unlimited files, code, pictures, etc. It’s really fast and much more convenient than doing this through a standard browser because it’s all in one space with seamless AI interaction. ChatGPT Search This feature was launched in October 2024 and is based on GPT-4o, specifically trained for search. It’s integrated into ChatGPT, allowing you to enable it with a Search button or simply ask ChatGPT to search the web. As I mentioned, I’ve been a long-time user of ChatGPT for several years, so I seamlessly integrated the search feature into my routine. Since free Perplexity uses GPT-3.5, all its features like AI search with no ads, no endless scrolling, and results organized into threads with helpful tips are available here as well. My favorite feature here is its accessibility, offering text-to-speech, and the ability to create queries via audio, and audio dialogs. Choose your fighter Search Quality Perplexity excels at finding information, while ChatGPT Search is better at explaining it. From a user perspective, I wouldn’t say I’ve encountered any critical issues with not finding something. It’s just a matter of different approaches. Perplexity provides more an overview of sources, whereas ChatGPT tends to give more explanation than summary. Generated Answers Without Sources Both tools provide sources for their answers, but sometimes the information might be generated without a reliable link. Even when a link is provided, the relevant information might not actually be there. It’s always better to double-check and read the sources yourself. Based on my experience, ChatGPT is more prone to generating unsupported content than Perplexity, but I’ve encountered this issue in both tools. Search Speed I didn’t notice a significant difference between the two in terms of speed. However, both are slower than a standard browser search. Chrome extensions Both tools offer Chrome extensions, and I tested both. The ChatGPT extension lets you use ChatGPT as your primary search engine, replacing, for example, Google. When you enter something in the search bar, it redirects you to ChatGPT, where your query is processed. Honestly, I wasn’t a fan. It’s slower than Google, and you can feel it. I still prefer a traditional search bar for quick lookups. Perplexity’s Chrome extension works differently. Instead of replacing your search engine, it opens a small window over the current page, allowing you to googling and query Perplexity simultaneously. I really loved this one, because it’s more useful for me. The drawback is that you can only enter one query at a time, and if you want to continue the conversation, it redirects you to a separate Perplexity tab. Unique Features Since both tools use GPT models, they share many great features. Perplexity Pro stands out with its use of multiple models and built-in illustrations. On the other hand, I really appreciate ChatGPT’s accessibility and seamless integration into its apps, which I use for more than just search. Bonus: Hangman game test I saw a funny tweet claiming ChatGPT can’t play Hangman. Turns out, neither can Perplexity Pro, even with all its models. Final Take: Which Works Best for What To start with, I’m a fan of AI search. Usually, it takes longer than quick googling, so here’s how I see it: if I need a super quick answer from the first link, I’ll use a standard browser search. But if I need to find more information or conduct deeper research, AI search is the way to go. It’s the best method to uncover valuable insights more efficiently. As for ChatGPT Search and Perplexity, in my experience, they solve different problems. ChatGPT Search perfectly extends ChatGPT’s capabilities, given that ChatGPT’s knowledge base only goes up to the year 2021. It’s perfect for studying and gaining insights using up-to-date web information. Perplexity, on the other hand, is better for finding something more thoroughly. It takes more from browser search, like incognito pages, and its approach to work with your prompts. It is about searching for information first and explaining second, in contrast to ChatGPT Search. For me: Need to find something? Perplexity.
Need to understand something? ChatGPT + Search. They complement each other perfectly in work. Optimizing workflows with AI has become a game-changer for me, especially when it comes to searching for information. For a while, I relied on the free version of Perplexity , but recently, I upgraded to Perplexity Pro . Meanwhile, as a longtime user of ChatGPT , I’ve also been exploring its new ChatGPT Search feature. In this article, I’ll share my experiences with both tools, compare their strengths and weaknesses, and help you decide which one might be the better fit for your needs. Perplexity Perplexity Pro ChatGPT ChatGPT Search Perplexity I’d heard about Perplexity.ai many times, promised myself I’d try it, and eventually did, but it didn’t quite click. It’s hard to fully appreciate a tool until you use it regularly. I forgot about it until I got a test assignment for a job interview in a new field, requiring tons of research. Honestly, I’m not great at googling. But since I frequently use ChatGPT and have gotten pretty good at writing prompts, I thought of giving Perplexity another shot. This was before the release of ChatGPT Search, and at that point, I’d already maxed out what ChatGPT could offer. Perplexity turned out to be a lifesaver. It made long, tedious searches much quicker and was my first truly game-changing experience with AI search. Perplexity.ai At the time, I used the free version. Compared to browser searches, here’s what I found more convenient in AI search: Fewer distractions from ads: Most browsers put ads at the top, so you have to scroll past them just to get to the first actual search result. Even without the ads, the top links are often not very relevant, and there are still too many to sift through. This makes it easy to lose motivation to click beyond the first couple of pages. AI does all that for you, providing a list of sources you can explore further on your own. Threaded searches with context: I loved how searches are organized into threads, preserving context. For my test assignment, since I was learning a new field from scratch, one question would lead to many others. It was convenient to continue and expand the search without starting over each time. If I remembered something later, I could easily return to a specific thread and pick up where I left off. Helpful question suggestions: Each thread in Perplexity includes prompts for related questions, which makes navigating a new topic much easier. Incognito mode: Like most browsers, Perplexity offers an incognito mode. I haven’t used it yet, but it’s a nice feature. Language flexibility: If you write in a certain language, you’ll get sources in that language. This is a standard approach for browsers but not always convenient. Fewer distractions from ads: Most browsers put ads at the top, so you have to scroll past them just to get to the first actual search result. Even without the ads, the top links are often not very relevant, and there are still too many to sift through. This makes it easy to lose motivation to click beyond the first couple of pages. AI does all that for you, providing a list of sources you can explore further on your own. Fewer distractions from ads: Most browsers put ads at the top, so you have to scroll past them just to get to the first actual search result. Even without the ads, the top links are often not very relevant, and there are still too many to sift through. This makes it easy to lose motivation to click beyond the first couple of pages. AI does all that for you, providing a list of sources you can explore further on your own. Fewer distractions from ads: Threaded searches with context: I loved how searches are organized into threads, preserving context. For my test assignment, since I was learning a new field from scratch, one question would lead to many others. It was convenient to continue and expand the search without starting over each time. If I remembered something later, I could easily return to a specific thread and pick up where I left off. Threaded searches with context: I loved how searches are organized into threads, preserving context. For my test assignment, since I was learning a new field from scratch, one question would lead to many others. It was convenient to continue and expand the search without starting over each time. If I remembered something later, I could easily return to a specific thread and pick up where I left off. Threaded searches with context: Helpful question suggestions: Each thread in Perplexity includes prompts for related questions, which makes navigating a new topic much easier. Helpful question suggestions: Each thread in Perplexity includes prompts for related questions, which makes navigating a new topic much easier. Helpful question suggestions: Incognito mode: Like most browsers, Perplexity offers an incognito mode. I haven’t used it yet, but it’s a nice feature. Incognito mode: Like most browsers, Perplexity offers an incognito mode. I haven’t used it yet, but it’s a nice feature. Incognito mode: Language flexibility: If you write in a certain language, you’ll get sources in that language. This is a standard approach for browsers but not always convenient. Language flexibility: If you write in a certain language, you’ll get sources in that language. This is a standard approach for browsers but not always convenient. Language flexibility: For a while, I continued using the free version, but recently I switched to Pro . The free version uses the GPT-3.5 model, whereas the Pro plan grants access to the latest models: GPT-4 Omni, Claude-3 Sonnet/Opus, and Sonar Large 32k, so all the best features are integrated into your search. Of course, the Pro version offers better, smarter, and faster search. Pro In addition to the features mentioned above, here’s what I found most useful: In addition to the features mentioned above, here’s what I found most useful: Broaden your search with images: Pro provides access to Playground V2.5, DALLE 3, and Stable Diffusion XL models that can expand your search. For example, I was recently researching fund flow modeling, and having visual examples was incredibly helpful. Files, code, and more input options: You can upload unlimited files, code, pictures, etc. It’s really fast and much more convenient than doing this through a standard browser because it’s all in one space with seamless AI interaction. Broaden your search with images: Pro provides access to Playground V2.5, DALLE 3, and Stable Diffusion XL models that can expand your search. For example, I was recently researching fund flow modeling, and having visual examples was incredibly helpful. Broaden your search with images: Pro provides access to Playground V2.5, DALLE 3, and Stable Diffusion XL models that can expand your search. For example, I was recently researching fund flow modeling, and having visual examples was incredibly helpful. Broaden your search with images: Files, code, and more input options: You can upload unlimited files, code, pictures, etc. It’s really fast and much more convenient than doing this through a standard browser because it’s all in one space with seamless AI interaction. Files, code, and more input options: You can upload unlimited files, code, pictures, etc. It’s really fast and much more convenient than doing this through a standard browser because it’s all in one space with seamless AI interaction. Files, code, and more input options: ChatGPT Search ChatGPT Search This feature was launched in October 2024 and is based on GPT-4o, specifically trained for search. It’s integrated into ChatGPT , allowing you to enable it with a Search button or simply ask ChatGPT to search the web. ChatGPT As I mentioned, I’ve been a long-time user of ChatGPT for several years, so I seamlessly integrated the search feature into my routine. Since free Perplexity uses GPT-3.5, all its features like AI search with no ads, no endless scrolling, and results organized into threads with helpful tips are available here as well. My favorite feature here is its accessibility, offering text-to-speech, and the ability to create queries via audio, and audio dialogs. Choose your fighter Search Quality Search Quality Search Quality Search Quality Perplexity excels at finding information, while ChatGPT Search is better at explaining it. From a user perspective, I wouldn’t say I’ve encountered any critical issues with not finding something. It’s just a matter of different approaches. Perplexity provides more an overview of sources, whereas ChatGPT tends to give more explanation than summary. overview explanation Generated Answers Without Sources Generated Answers Without Sources Generated Answers Without Sources Generated Answers Without Sources Both tools provide sources for their answers, but sometimes the information might be generated without a reliable link. Even when a link is provided, the relevant information might not actually be there. It’s always better to double-check and read the sources yourself. Based on my experience, ChatGPT is more prone to generating unsupported content than Perplexity, but I’ve encountered this issue in both tools. Search Speed Search Speed Search Speed Search Speed I didn’t notice a significant difference between the two in terms of speed. However, both are slower than a standard browser search. Chrome extensions Chrome extensions Chrome extensions Chrome extensions Both tools offer Chrome extensions, and I tested both. The ChatGPT extension lets you use ChatGPT as your primary search engine, replacing, for example, Google. When you enter something in the search bar, it redirects you to ChatGPT, where your query is processed. Honestly, I wasn’t a fan. It’s slower than Google, and you can feel it. I still prefer a traditional search bar for quick lookups. Perplexity’s Chrome extension works differently. Instead of replacing your search engine, it opens a small window over the current page, allowing you to googling and query Perplexity simultaneously. I really loved this one, because it’s more useful for me. The drawback is that you can only enter one query at a time, and if you want to continue the conversation, it redirects you to a separate Perplexity tab. Unique Features Unique Features Unique Features Unique Features Since both tools use GPT models, they share many great features. Perplexity Pro stands out with its use of multiple models and built-in illustrations. On the other hand, I really appreciate ChatGPT’s accessibility and seamless integration into its apps, which I use for more than just search. Bonus: Hangman game test Bonus: Hangman game test Bonus: Hangman game test Bonus: Hangman game test I saw a funny tweet claiming ChatGPT can’t play Hangman. Turns out, neither can Perplexity Pro, even with all its models. Final Take: Which Works Best for What To start with, I’m a fan of AI search. Usually, it takes longer than quick googling, so here’s how I see it: if I need a super quick answer from the first link, I’ll use a standard browser search. But if I need to find more information or conduct deeper research, AI search is the way to go. It’s the best method to uncover valuable insights more efficiently. As for ChatGPT Search and Perplexity, in my experience, they solve different problems. ChatGPT Search perfectly extends ChatGPT’s capabilities, given that ChatGPT’s knowledge base only goes up to the year 2021. It’s perfect for studying and gaining insights using up-to-date web information. Perplexity, on the other hand, is better for finding something more thoroughly. It takes more from browser search, like incognito pages, and its approach to work with your prompts. It is about searching for information first and explaining second, in contrast to ChatGPT Search. For me: For me: Need to find something? Perplexity. Need to understand something? ChatGPT + Search. Need to find something? Perplexity. Need to find something? Need to understand something? ChatGPT + Search. Need to understand something? They complement each other perfectly in work.

Perplexity Pro vs. ChatGPT Search: Which AI Tool is Best Fits Your Workflow Needs?

Perplexity супраць пошуку ChatGPT: які інструмент AI лепш за ўсё адпавядае вашым патрэбам працоўнага працэсу?

Perplexity срещу ChatGPT Search: Кой AI инструмент отговаря най-добре на вашите нужди от работен процес?

Perplexity vs. Búsqueda en ChatGPT: ¿Qué herramienta de IA se adapta mejor a sus necesidades de flujo de trabajo?

Շփոթմունքն ընդդեմ ChatGPT որոնման. Ո՞ր AI գործիքն է լավագույնս համապատասխանում ձեր աշխատանքային հոսքի կարիքներին:

Perplexity と ChatGPT Search: どちらの AI ツールがワークフローのニーズに最適ですか?

ភាពច្របូកច្របល់ធៀបនឹងការស្វែងរក ChatGPT៖ តើឧបករណ៍ AI មួយណាដែលសាកសមបំផុតនឹងតម្រូវការលំហូរការងាររបស់អ្នក?

Perplexity vs. ChatGPT paieška: kuris AI įrankis geriausiai atitinka jūsų darbo eigos poreikius?

Fikarohana ChatGPT: Inona no fitaovana AI mifanaraka amin'ny filanao?

Збунетост наспроти Пребарување ChatGPT: која алатка за вештачка интелигенција најдобро одговара на вашите потреби на работниот тек?

Urujijo na ChatGPT Gushakisha: Niki Gikoresho cya AI gihuye neza nakazi kawe gakenewe?

குழப்பம் மற்றும் ChatGPT தேடல்: எந்த AI கருவி உங்கள் பணிப்பாய்வு தேவைகளுக்கு மிகவும் பொருத்தமானது?

Perplexity กับ ChatGPT Search: เครื่องมือ AI ตัวใดที่เหมาะกับความต้องการเวิร์กโฟลว์ของคุณที่สุด

Deep Dive into Dremio's File-based Auto Ingestion into Apache Iceberg Tables

Many people — particularly those outside the tech world — were introduced to OpenAI in November 2022, when the company launched its now-ubiquitous ChatGPT tool. However, it has been around for a lot longer than that. OpenAI captured headlines again more recently due to plans for a corporate restructuring that would mean it leaves behind its nonprofit roots. OpenAI’s Journey OpenAI started in 2015 as a nonprofit research organization dedicated to developing artificial intelligence tools that would benefit humanity as a whole, unrestricted by the need to turn a profit. Elon Musk and current OpenAI CEO Sam Altman were involved then, but Musk left in 2018. A year later, OpenAI added a for-profit subsidiary, turning the company into a hybrid for-profit and nonprofit entity in what it called a “capped profit” structure. Leaders at the time believed this change would keep OpenAI true to its roots while allowing it to use market power to grow its operations and revenue. The “capped” part of the structure’s name refers to limitations whereby the profits returned to the company’s investors can only be roughly 100 times what they put into the organization. Now, OpenAI’s structure seems set to change again, this time to a for-profit benefit corporation. This type of business focuses on sustainability and social responsibility in addition to profitmaking. One of the biggest differences about this development is that it would result in OpenAI’s nonprofit board losing control. For now, the nonprofit board has full control over the company’s for-profit arm. Another change is that Altman would receive equity for the first time — which could be worth billions. Moreover, the transition to a for-profit benefit company would remove the cap on investors’ returns. However, an interesting clarification came from an OpenAI representative who said the company’s nonprofit component would still exist and remain a core part of its goals. When will this restructuring occur? That’s anyone’s guess since those involved are still hashing out the details with legal professionals. However, as soon as the news reached major reporting outlets, some people started thinking about what it could mean for OpenAI and artificial intelligence in general. What Will the Restructuring Mean? Some people who have analyzed the matter said OpenAI’s restructuring might mean it will begin operating more like a startup. Investors would probably like that, but could it result in fewer checks and balances affecting products and processes? Contrary to its name, the company has never been upfront about its operations — employees must sign nondisclosure agreements that stop them from raising concerns to federal regulators. Additionally, a group of people working in the AI industry — including former OpenAI employees — signed an open letter explaining that those working on pioneering innovations in artificial intelligence have strong financial incentives to resist oversight and not share knowledge of what their products could or could not do with governments or civil society entities. Numerous employees have recently left OpenAI, with some, speaking anonymously, saying that the catalyst was a lack of trust in Altman and his ability to make AI work safely. Many have kept quiet because of a reported agreement people must sign when leaving the company that prevents them from speaking disparagingly about it. Some former workers who did not sign such paperwork have spoken out about their worries about the businesses’ increasingly powerful AI and the people who want it built not proceeding carefully enough. If OpenAI’s nonprofit board loses its current control, that may make the company’s leaders feel more equipped to proceed with whatever projects garner the most attention. Rushing to get these offerings on the market could also mean it doesn’t take safety as seriously as it should. OpenAI’s Impact on the Future of Artificial Intelligence Now that many AI tools are widely available, more people are insisting on controls that limit their potential applications. Others worry about the future, not necessarily because they believe that artificial intelligence will become smarter than humans, but due to privacy concerns, the prospect of job losses, and the potential for people to misuse AI. The shift to a for-profit model might also raise questions about priorities between profit and ethical AI development. Because of these concerns, transparency becomes even more crucial for the growing number of for-profit AI companies as they try to attract stakeholders — particularly as 60% of people cite transparency as the most important brand trait, according to one study. Embracing transparency can help build trust and reassure stakeholders that OpenAI remains committed to its foundational goals, even as its business model evolves. However, that sentiment could become problematic since OpenAI already has a reputation for being tight-lipped about its activities. People appreciate transparent companies, and it is arguably even more important to show that trait when the business specializes in a technology that the public views as largely foreign and new. For the average person who is merely curious about AI and how to use it, however, they likely won’t feel the impacts of OpenAI’s likely restructuring — at least not at first. Regular consumers will mostly pay attention to which products the company releases next. If those offerings become extremely profitable, such results will signal to its leaders that they should keep doing more of the same. It’s worth highlighting how OpenAI and the industry, in general, are already highly influential, with economic analysts saying generative AI will cause a 7% increase in global gross domestic product, resulting in a difference worth trillions of dollars. A related aspect is how relatively quickly people have gotten to know some of its tools and used them to do business and everyday tasks differently. Many individuals — even those who do not consider themselves tech-savvy — use AI numerous times throughout a typical week. That is almost certainly because of how accessible ChatGPT has become. Its popularity has helped OpenAI come into the mainstream, which arguably has implications for wider society — regardless of the ultimate impact of the eventual restructuring. An Uncertain But AI-Driven Future It’s too early to know the impacts of OpenAI transitioning to a for-profit benefit corporation. However, people can expect some aspects of its internal operations, stakeholder impact, and leadership to change in the coming months and years. We know with more confidence that artificial intelligence will continue playing a role in many people’s lives and shaping the tools they are now accustomed to using. Since OpenAI has enjoyed so much momentum in an increasingly crowded industry, its main task for the foreseeable future is to maintain it. If that happens, it will continue playing a significant role in artificial intelligence’s future, even if people don’t know what that looks like yet. Many people — particularly those outside the tech world — were introduced to OpenAI in November 2022, when the company launched its now-ubiquitous ChatGPT tool. However, it has been around for a lot longer than that. OpenAI captured headlines again more recently due to plans for a corporate restructuring that would mean it leaves behind its nonprofit roots. OpenAI’s Journey OpenAI started in 2015 as a nonprofit research organization dedicated to developing artificial intelligence tools that would benefit humanity as a whole, unrestricted by the need to turn a profit. Elon Musk and current OpenAI CEO Sam Altman were involved then, but Musk left in 2018. A year later, OpenAI added a for-profit subsidiary, turning the company into a hybrid for-profit and nonprofit entity in what it called a “capped profit” structure. Leaders at the time believed this change would keep OpenAI true to its roots while allowing it to use market power to grow its operations and revenue. The “capped” part of the structure’s name refers to limitations whereby the profits returned to the company’s investors can only be roughly 100 times what they put into the organization. roots while allowing it to use roots while allowing it to use Now, OpenAI’s structure seems set to change again, this time to a for-profit benefit corporation. This type of business focuses on sustainability and social responsibility in addition to profitmaking. One of the biggest differences about this development is that it would result in OpenAI’s nonprofit board losing control. For now, the nonprofit board has full control over the company’s for-profit arm. Another change is that Altman would receive equity for the first time — which could be worth billions. Moreover, the transition to a for-profit benefit company would remove the cap on investors’ returns. However, an interesting clarification came from an OpenAI representative who said the company’s nonprofit component would still exist and remain a core part of its goals. nonprofit component would still exist nonprofit component would still exist When will this restructuring occur? That’s anyone’s guess since those involved are still hashing out the details with legal professionals. However, as soon as the news reached major reporting outlets, some people started thinking about what it could mean for OpenAI and artificial intelligence in general. What Will the Restructuring Mean? Some people who have analyzed the matter said OpenAI’s restructuring might mean it will begin operating more like a startup. Investors would probably like that, but could it result in fewer checks and balances affecting products and processes? Contrary to its name, the company has never been upfront about its operations — employees must sign nondisclosure agreements that stop them from raising concerns to federal regulators. must sign nondisclosure agreements must sign nondisclosure agreements Additionally, a group of people working in the AI industry — including former OpenAI employees — signed an open letter explaining that those working on pioneering innovations in artificial intelligence have strong financial incentives to resist oversight and not share knowledge of what their products could or could not do with governments or civil society entities. Numerous employees have recently left OpenAI, with some, speaking anonymously, saying that the catalyst was a lack of trust in Altman and his ability to make AI work safely. Many have kept quiet because of a reported agreement people must sign when leaving the company that prevents them from speaking disparagingly about it. Some former workers who did not sign such paperwork have spoken out about their worries about the businesses’ increasingly powerful AI and the people who want it built not proceeding carefully enough. businesses’ increasingly powerful AI businesses’ increasingly powerful AI If OpenAI’s nonprofit board loses its current control, that may make the company’s leaders feel more equipped to proceed with whatever projects garner the most attention. Rushing to get these offerings on the market could also mean it doesn’t take safety as seriously as it should. OpenAI’s Impact on the Future of Artificial Intelligence Now that many AI tools are widely available, more people are insisting on controls that limit their potential applications. Others worry about the future, not necessarily because they believe that artificial intelligence will become smarter than humans, but due to privacy concerns, the prospect of job losses, and the potential for people to misuse AI. The shift to a for-profit model might also raise questions about priorities between profit and ethical AI development. Because of these concerns, transparency becomes even more crucial for the growing number of for-profit AI companies as they try to attract stakeholders — particularly as 60% of people cite transparency as the most important brand trait, according to one study. Embracing transparency can help build trust and reassure stakeholders that OpenAI remains committed to its foundational goals, even as its business model evolves. 60% of people cite transparency 60% of people cite transparency However, that sentiment could become problematic since OpenAI already has a reputation for being tight-lipped about its activities. People appreciate transparent companies, and it is arguably even more important to show that trait when the business specializes in a technology that the public views as largely foreign and new. For the average person who is merely curious about AI and how to use it, however, they likely won’t feel the impacts of OpenAI’s likely restructuring — at least not at first. Regular consumers will mostly pay attention to which products the company releases next. If those offerings become extremely profitable, such results will signal to its leaders that they should keep doing more of the same. It’s worth highlighting how OpenAI and the industry, in general, are already highly influential, with economic analysts saying generative AI will cause a 7% increase in global gross domestic product, resulting in a difference worth trillions of dollars. A related aspect is how relatively quickly people have gotten to know some of its tools and used them to do business and everyday tasks differently. Many individuals — even those who do not consider themselves tech-savvy — use AI numerous times throughout a typical week. will cause a 7% increase will cause a 7% increase That is almost certainly because of how accessible ChatGPT has become. Its popularity has helped OpenAI come into the mainstream, which arguably has implications for wider society — regardless of the ultimate impact of the eventual restructuring. An Uncertain But AI-Driven Future It’s too early to know the impacts of OpenAI transitioning to a for-profit benefit corporation. However, people can expect some aspects of its internal operations, stakeholder impact, and leadership to change in the coming months and years. We know with more confidence that artificial intelligence will continue playing a role in many people’s lives and shaping the tools they are now accustomed to using. Since OpenAI has enjoyed so much momentum in an increasingly crowded industry, its main task for the foreseeable future is to maintain it. If that happens, it will continue playing a significant role in artificial intelligence’s future, even if people don’t know what that looks like yet.

Inside OpenAI's Path to Becoming a For-Profit Powerhouse

In the spirit of spotlighting the tech's rising stars, HackerNoon gives you a chance to showcase your startup to millions of digital readers. If you are seeking new users, customers, investors, or like-minded brains in the industry - we provide a platform for your company to be seen, heard, and appreciated 💚Fromfree interviews to heavily discounted marketing packages for all nominees, there are many great options for you to get more people familiarized with your business and services. What's in the Startups Specials for Nominees? Let's take a quick look 👀 Startup Specials #1: Content Marketing Your business page with your logo, introduction, call to action, and socials. See profiles of Amazon IVS, Google Cloud, Minio, BNBChain, and IONOS as examples
Publish 3 stories on HackerNoon. Get 3 publishing credits to promote your business. The validity of these credits is for a lifetime
Editorial support
Multiple permanent placements on HackerNoon. Your story is featured on our main page for 12 - 24 hours and then remains live forever on your business page and 8 relevant keyword pages!
Social media promotions: Paid promotions across all socials! Your articles are converted into audio stories and distributed via audio podcasts RSS feeds
Distribution via HackerNoon Newsletters: Your story gets distributed via targeted newsletters of your domain, such as AI, Web3, Programming, Business, Media, and many more!
Each story is translated into 12 different languages. See stories in Chinese, French, Arabic, and German languages.
Your Evergreen Tech Company News Page. Get featured in our online tech company repository of 20,000+ companies. See Microsoft's page as an example.
More details here. Buy Now, Save 62%! Startup Specials #2: Lead Generation Get 4 days of ads in HackerNoon's premium newsletter. Total 1,300,000 sends.
Exclusive banner placements on three different spots on the HackerNoon Newsletter
325,000+ subscribers, 85% of subscribers reside in the US
Open Rate: 13% - 15%
Click-to-Open Rate: 13.61%
Your Evergreen Tech Company News Page. Get featured in our online tech company repository of 20,000+ companies. See Microsoft's page as an example.
More details here. Sample: here Buy Now, Save 40%! Wanna chat to discuss your marketing challenges and goals? Book a meeting with us using this link.Stay creative, stay iconic!The HackerNoon Team About HackerNoon’s Startups Of The Year Startups of The Year 2024 is HackerNoon’s flagship community-driven event celebrating startups, technology, and the spirit of innovation. Currently in its third iteration, the prestigious Internet award recognizes and celebrates tech startups of all shapes and sizes. This year, over 150,000 entities across 4200+ cities, 6 continents, and 100+ industries will participate in a bid to be crowned the best startup of the year! Millions of votes have been cast over the past few years, and many storieshave been written about these daring and rising startups. The winners will get a free interview on HackerNoon and an Evergreen Tech Company News page. Visit our FAQ pageto learn more. Download our design assets here. Check out the Startups of the Year Merch. Shop here. HackerNoon’s Startups of The Year is a branding opportunity unlike any other. Whether your goal is brand awareness or lead generation, HackerNoon has curated startup-friendly packages to solve your marketing challenges. Meet our sponsors: Wellfound: Join the #1 global, startup-focused community. At Wellfound, we're not just a job board—we're the place where top startup talent and the world's most exciting companies connect to build the future. Notion: Notion is trusted and loved by thousands of startups as their connected workspace—from building product roadmaps to tracking fundraising. Try Notion with unlimited AI, FREE for up to 6 months, to build and scale your company with one powerful tool. Get your offer now! Hubspot: If you’re looking for a smart CRM platform that meets the needs of small businesses, look no further than HubSpot. Seamlessly connect your data, teams and customers in one easy-to-use scalable platform that grows with your business. Bright Data: Startups that leverage public web data can make faster, data-driven decisions, giving them a competitive edge. With Bright Data’s scalable web data collection, businesses can grow from a small operation to an enterprise by harnessing insights at every stage. In the spirit of spotlighting the tech's rising stars, HackerNoon gives you a chance to showcase your startup to millions of digital readers. If you are seeking new users, customers, investors, or like-minded brains in the industry - we provide a platform for your company to be seen, heard, and appreciated 💚 From free interviews to heavily discounted marketing packages for all nominees , there are many great options for you to get more people familiarized with your business and services. free interviews free interviews discounted marketing packages for all nominees discounted marketing packages for all nominees What's in the Startups Specials for Nominees? Let's take a quick look 👀 Startup Specials #1: Content Marketing Your business page with your logo, introduction, call to action, and socials. See profiles of Amazon IVS, Google Cloud, Minio, BNBChain, and IONOS as examples Publish 3 stories on HackerNoon. Get 3 publishing credits to promote your business. The validity of these credits is for a lifetime Editorial support Multiple permanent placements on HackerNoon. Your story is featured on our main page for 12 - 24 hours and then remains live forever on your business page and 8 relevant keyword pages! Social media promotions: Paid promotions across all socials! Your business page with your logo, introduction, call to action, and socials. See profiles of Amazon IVS , Google Cloud , Minio , BNBChain , and IONOS as examples Your business page with your logo, introduction, call to action, and socials. Amazon IVS Amazon IVS Google Cloud Google Cloud Minio Minio BNBChain BNBChain IONOS Publish 3 stories on HackerNoon . Get 3 publishing credits to promote your business. The validity of these credits is for a lifetime Publish 3 stories on HackerNoon Editorial support Editorial support Multiple permanent placements on HackerNoon . Your story is featured on our main page for 12 - 24 hours and then remains live forever on your business page and 8 relevant keyword pages! Multiple permanent placements on HackerNoon Social media promotions: Paid promotions across all socials! Social media promotions: Your articles are converted into audio stories and distributed via audio podcasts RSS feeds Distribution via HackerNoon Newsletters: Your story gets distributed via targeted newsletters of your domain, such as AI, Web3, Programming, Business, Media, and many more! Each story is translated into 12 different languages. See stories in Chinese, French, Arabic, and German languages. Your Evergreen Tech Company News Page. Get featured in our online tech company repository of 20,000+ companies. See Microsoft's page as an example. More details here. Your articles are converted into audio stories and distributed via audio podcasts RSS feeds audio stories and distributed via audio podcasts RSS feeds RSS feeds Distribution via HackerNoon Newsletters: Your story gets distributed via targeted newsletters of your domain, such as AI , Web3 , Programming , Business , Media , and many more! Distribution via HackerNoon Newsletters: AI , Web3 Web3 Programming Programming Business Business Media Media Each story is translated into 12 different languages. See stories in Chinese , French , Arabic , and German languages. Each story is translated into 12 different languages. Chinese French French Arabic Arabic German languages. German Your Evergreen Tech Company News Page. Get featured in our online tech company repository of 20,000+ companies. See Microsoft's page as an example. Your Evergreen Tech Company News Page. See Microsoft's page as an example. More details here . here Buy Now, Save 62%! Buy Now, Save 62%! Buy Now, Save 62%! Buy Now, Save 62%! Startup Specials #2: Lead Generation Get 4 days of ads in HackerNoon's premium newsletter. Total 1,300,000 sends. Exclusive banner placements on three different spots on the HackerNoon Newsletter 325,000+ subscribers, 85% of subscribers reside in the US Open Rate: 13% - 15% Click-to-Open Rate: 13.61% Your Evergreen Tech Company News Page. Get featured in our online tech company repository of 20,000+ companies. See Microsoft's page as an example. More details here. Sample: here Get 4 days of ads in HackerNoon's premium newsletter. Total 1,300,000 sends. Get 4 days of ads in HackerNoon's premium newsletter. Exclusive banner placements on three different spots on the HackerNoon Newsletter Exclusive banner placements on three different spots on the HackerNoon Newsletter 325,000+ subscribers, 85% of subscribers reside in the US 325,000+ subscribers, Open Rate: 13% - 15% Open Rate: Click-to-Open Rate: 13.61% Click-to-Open Rate: Your Evergreen Tech Company News Page. Get featured in our online tech company repository of 20,000+ companies. See Microsoft's page as an example. Your Evergreen Tech Company News Page. See Microsoft's page as an example. More details here . Sample: here here here here Buy Now, Save 40%! Buy Now, Save 40%! Buy Now , Save 40%! Buy Now Wanna chat to discuss your marketing challenges and goals? Book a meeting with us using this link . Stay creative, stay iconic! The HackerNoon Team this link this link About HackerNoon’s Startups Of The Year Startups of The Year 2024 is HackerNoon’s flagship community-driven event celebrating startups, technology, and the spirit of innovation. Currently in its third iteration, the prestigious Internet award recognizes and celebrates tech startups of all shapes and sizes. This year, over 150,000 entities across 4200+ cities, 6 continents, and 100+ industries will participate in a bid to be crowned the best startup of the year! Millions of votes have been cast over the past few years, and many stories have been written about these daring and rising startups. Startups of The Year 2024 many stories The winners will get a free interview on HackerNoon and an Evergreen Tech Company News page. free interview Evergreen Tech Company News Visit our FAQ page to learn more. FAQ page Download our design assets here . here Check out the Startups of the Year Merch. Shop here . here HackerNoon’s Startups of The Year is a branding opportunity unlike any other. Whether your goal is brand awareness or lead generation, HackerNoon has curated startup-friendly packages to solve your marketing challenges. startup-friendly packages Meet our sponsors: Meet our sponsors: Wellfound: Join the #1 global, startup-focused community . At Wellfound, we're not just a job board—we're the place where top startup talent and the world's most exciting companies connect to build the future. Wellfound: Join the #1 global, startup-focused community Notion: Notion is trusted and loved by thousands of startups as their connected workspace—from building product roadmaps to tracking fundraising. Try Notion with unlimited AI, FREE for up to 6 months , to build and scale your company with one powerful tool. Get your offer now ! Notion: Try Notion with unlimited AI, FREE for up to 6 months Get your offer now ! Hubspot: If you’re looking for a smart CRM platform that meets the needs of small businesses, look no further than HubSpot. Seamlessly connect your data, teams and customers in one easy-to-use scalable platform that grows with your business. Hubspot: Bright Data: Startups that leverage public web data can make faster, data-driven decisions, giving them a competitive edge. With Bright Data’s scalable web data collection , businesses can grow from a small operation to an enterprise by harnessing insights at every stage. Bright Data: Bright Data’s scalable web data collection

Startup Specials: Exclusive Discounts for Startups of The Year Nominees

স্টার্টআপ স্পেশাল: স্টার্টআপ অফ দ্য ইয়ার মনোনীতদের জন্য এক্সক্লুসিভ ডিসকাউন্ট

Startup-Specials: Exklusive Rabatte für Nominierte für „Startups des Jahres“

Ofertas especiales para startups: descuentos exclusivos para las nominadas a Startups del año

Offres spéciales pour les startups : réductions exclusives pour les nominées pour le prix des startups de l'année

स्टार्टअप स्पेशल: वर्ष के सर्वश्रेष्ठ स्टार्टअप के लिए नामांकित व्यक्तियों के लिए विशेष छूट

スタートアップ スペシャル: 今年のスタートアップにノミネートされた企業への特別割引

스타트업 특별 혜택: 올해의 스타트업 후보자를 위한 독점 할인

Especiais de Startup: Descontos exclusivos para os indicados ao prêmio Startups do Ano

Специальные предложения для стартапов: эксклюзивные скидки для номинантов на премию «Стартапы года»

Girişim Özel Teklifleri: Yılın Girişimleri Adayları İçin Özel İndirimler

Khuyến mãi đặc biệt dành cho các công ty khởi nghiệp: Giảm giá độc quyền cho các công ty khởi nghiệp được đề cử trong năm

初创企业特惠：年度初创企业提名者专享折扣

Stories, News & Mentions about APPRECIO

Apprecio’s Stories on HackerNoon