As its name tells you, customer relationship management, or CRM, software provides tools that businesses of any size can use to deal with customer relationships and interactions. Areas covered by CRM packages can include communication management and tracking; marketing assistance; lead and deal tracking; and financial analysis -- all of which help businesses grow and optimize their sales channels.If you run a small business that needs a platform for managing sales leads and growth, investing in CRM software is an excellent idea. CRM suites not only provide a central platform for monitoring customer interactions, sales, and deals, they can also be used to automate some time-consuming processes, freeing you up to focus on your business' core needs.What is the best small-business CRM software right now?The best CRM software for small businesses is HubSpot. HubSpot is an excellent way to enter the CRM market without spending a single dollar, and though the free plan is limited, you can unlock sales, lead generation, and customer support packages with a paid upgrade once you're comfortable.ZDNET has kept an eye on the customer relationship management market for years, and we extensively research and compare vendors when we compile our recommendation lists. Read on to discover the best CRM software solutions for small businesses in 2025. Sort by All The best small-business CRM software of 2025 Show less View now at HubSpot If you're looking for a way to implement a CRM as the next stage of your growing business, many people will point you toward HubSpot.This CRM starts you off with a free plan, and when we say free, this means you don't have to hand over any payment card details. Just enter an email address, go through the verification process, and let HubSpot know if you're new to CRM software, and away you go.What I particularly like about this CRM is that it'll tailor your learning experience based on your priorities -- whether you want to automate marketing schemes, generate sales leads, build a website, or improve your customer support system.You'll find that the basic, free CRM can be used for tasks such as contact management and email marketing. But you'll need to pay to access the sales dashboard, helpdesk suite, surveys, or customer portal.Paid plans begin at $15/user/month for starter plans. However, subscription to the next level costs $90/user/month if you want to upgrade to Service Hub Professional. HubSpot's enterprise plan, Service Hub Enterprise, is $150/user/month.HubSpot is a good option if you're just entering the CRM world, with many smaller outfits reporting that they're happy with the system. However, some also note that the costs can quickly escalate if you want advanced features.Hubspot features:Different workspaces | Website help | Dashboards | Contact sync | Tutorials | App marketplace | Free plan, 14-day Pro trial Pros Workflow automation Website help Clean dashboard Cons Can become costly Reports of poor customer service If you're looking for a way to implement a CRM as the next stage of your growing business, many people will point you toward HubSpot.This CRM starts you off with a free plan, and when we say free, this means you don't have to hand over any payment card details. Just enter an email address, go through the verification process, and let HubSpot know if you're new to CRM software, and away you go.What I particularly like about this CRM is that it'll tailor your learning experience based on your priorities -- whether you want to automate marketing schemes, generate sales leads, build a website, or improve your customer support system.You'll find that the basic, free CRM can be used for tasks such as contact management and email marketing. But you'll need to pay to access the sales dashboard, helpdesk suite, surveys, or customer portal.Paid plans begin at $15/user/month for starter plans. However, subscription to the next level costs $90/user/month if you want to upgrade to Service Hub Professional. HubSpot's enterprise plan, Service Hub Enterprise, is $150/user/month.HubSpot is a good option if you're just entering the CRM world, with many smaller outfits reporting that they're happy with the system. However, some also note that the costs can quickly escalate if you want advanced features.Hubspot features:Different workspaces | Website help | Dashboards | Contact sync | Tutorials | App marketplace | Free plan, 14-day Pro trial Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Zoho Zoho is another excellent option, with affordable plans for small businesses looking to explore the benefits of CRM software.Zoho not only provides users with an extensive range of functions and customization options, but it also places automation and orchestration at the heart of its software. Users can capture leads and automate sales and support tasks with ease, not to mention that predictive analytics is also available.If you want a sales-focused option for your small business, you should consider Zoho CRM. By using CommandCenter, you can track customer journeys and sales processes, giving you insight into any issues or sticking points and allowing you to improve customer experiences and outcomes.Prices start at $14/seat/month. The entry-level Zoho CRM plan includes email campaigns, forecasting, and workflow management features. Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate subscriptions -- priced at $23, $40, and $52/seat/month, respectively -- offer advanced tools including the Zia AI assistant, orchestration, custom functions, analytics, and business insights. There's also a limited, free plan available.Zoho CRM reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with many small-business owners considering it a game changer.Zoho CRM features:Sales automation | Orchestration | User portals | Customization | Microsoft 365 integration| Analytics | Forecasting | AI assistant | Free plan, 15-day trial Pros Excellent range of tools No contract locks Reasonable pricing Cons AI assistant limited to advanced plans Zoho is another excellent option, with affordable plans for small businesses looking to explore the benefits of CRM software.Zoho not only provides users with an extensive range of functions and customization options, but it also places automation and orchestration at the heart of its software. Users can capture leads and automate sales and support tasks with ease, not to mention that predictive analytics is also available.If you want a sales-focused option for your small business, you should consider Zoho CRM. By using CommandCenter, you can track customer journeys and sales processes, giving you insight into any issues or sticking points and allowing you to improve customer experiences and outcomes.Prices start at $14/seat/month. The entry-level Zoho CRM plan includes email campaigns, forecasting, and workflow management features. Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate subscriptions -- priced at $23, $40, and $52/seat/month, respectively -- offer advanced tools including the Zia AI assistant, orchestration, custom functions, analytics, and business insights. There's also a limited, free plan available.Zoho CRM reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with many small-business owners considering it a game changer.Zoho CRM features:Sales automation | Orchestration | User portals | Customization | Microsoft 365 integration| Analytics | Forecasting | AI assistant | Free plan, 15-day trial Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Monday.com Monday.com could be the right CRM software for you if your focus is on workflow organization and management.I've used Monday previously as a contractor, and I've found that it's very easy to learn and useful for daily task organization. The platform uses "boards" to manage tasks and assignments, making it easy to keep track of employee activities. I like this option, as small businesses can start with workflows and then adopt the full CRM if they choose, expanding board usage and diving into sales and lead generation, customer onboarding, marketing activities, outreach programs, and sales forecasting.You can also purchase AI "credits" that let you assign AI to complete tasks for you, including assigning employee projects, analyzing risks, creating summaries, and performing data capture.If you're interested, you can use Monday.com's workflow management setup for free, as long as you don't need more than two seats. If, however, you'd like to use it to handle team collaboration and assignments, prices start from $9/seat/month if you just want boards, or $12/user/month for the full CRM.Customers say Monday.com provides excellent management features but that customer support is lackluster.Monday.com features:Workflow dashboards | Task assignment| AI | Automation| Sales forecasting | Lead capture | Free plan Pros Easy to learn Reasonable pricing AI option Robust data management Cons Lack of support Automation limits on some plans Monday.com could be the right CRM software for you if your focus is on workflow organization and management.I've used Monday previously as a contractor, and I've found that it's very easy to learn and useful for daily task organization. The platform uses "boards" to manage tasks and assignments, making it easy to keep track of employee activities. I like this option, as small businesses can start with workflows and then adopt the full CRM if they choose, expanding board usage and diving into sales and lead generation, customer onboarding, marketing activities, outreach programs, and sales forecasting.You can also purchase AI "credits" that let you assign AI to complete tasks for you, including assigning employee projects, analyzing risks, creating summaries, and performing data capture.If you're interested, you can use Monday.com's workflow management setup for free, as long as you don't need more than two seats. If, however, you'd like to use it to handle team collaboration and assignments, prices start from $9/seat/month if you just want boards, or $12/user/month for the full CRM.Customers say Monday.com provides excellent management features but that customer support is lackluster.Monday.com features:Workflow dashboards | Task assignment| AI | Automation| Sales forecasting | Lead capture | Free plan Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Less Annoying CRM Less Annoying CRM is a CRM best suited for small businesses that need a clean, clutter-free CRM experience for daily task and sales management.Less Annoying CRM doesn't limit its customers based on plan. Thus, from the beginning you'll have access to unlimited contact and sales pipeline field entry, task assignments, agendas, calendars, event handling, lead data, and more.The CRM also supports third-party integrations with popular software including Google Calendar, Mailchimp, JustCall, and Xapp.ai.This vendor has adopted an interesting pricing structure -- and one many small businesses will appreciate. You pay a fixed $15/user/month (plus tax) for unlimited pipelines, 25GB of storage per user, and full access to the software suite. However, once you need more than 10 seats, you'll need to contact the company to discuss an upgrade.Customers of Less Annoying CRM say it's an excellent platform for simplifying management, but some note that businesses may outgrow it rather quickly.Less Annoying CRM features:Daily task management|Pipeline entry | Team management | Mobile support | 2FA | Third-party integration| Free trial Pros Excellent pricing approach Great for new projects Easy to learn Cons You might outgrow it quickly Limited third-party app list Less Annoying CRM is a CRM best suited for small businesses that need a clean, clutter-free CRM experience for daily task and sales management.Less Annoying CRM doesn't limit its customers based on plan. Thus, from the beginning you'll have access to unlimited contact and sales pipeline field entry, task assignments, agendas, calendars, event handling, lead data, and more.The CRM also supports third-party integrations with popular software including Google Calendar, Mailchimp, JustCall, and Xapp.ai.This vendor has adopted an interesting pricing structure -- and one many small businesses will appreciate. You pay a fixed $15/user/month (plus tax) for unlimited pipelines, 25GB of storage per user, and full access to the software suite. However, once you need more than 10 seats, you'll need to contact the company to discuss an upgrade.Customers of Less Annoying CRM say it's an excellent platform for simplifying management, but some note that businesses may outgrow it rather quickly.Less Annoying CRM features:Daily task management|Pipeline entry | Team management | Mobile support | 2FA | Third-party integration| Free trial Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Salesmate Salesmate CRM is another top choice for small businesses, especially if you're focused on analytics and data analysis.Used by over 8,500 organizations worldwide, the Salesmate CRM offers a range of CRM services, but it shines when it comes to data management and analysis. Teams can create their own custom dashboards and take advantage of hundreds of widgets to display information relevant to their projects. It's also possible to implement custom modules to generate reports based on business datasets.You have three tiers to choose from: Basic, Pro, and Business. Though the Basic plan ($23/seat/month) comes with features such as deal pipeline management, email sync, and contact management, the Pro plan is a better choice for emerging businesses. It's more expensive, at $39/seat/month, but you'll have access to quotes management; tickets; team inboxes and management functions; and custom dashboards.The Business plan, priced at $63/user/month, offers advanced features such as service level agreement creation, SSO, and advanced goal management.Salesmate CRM customers like the platform for small and medium-sized businesses, but some say formatting functions could be improved.Salesmate CRM features:Advanced analytics | Team management| Third-party integrations| Mobile support | Sales, marketing automation | Sandy AI | Free trial Pros Advanced analytics Goal management Cons Limited customer feedback Learning curve Salesmate CRM is another top choice for small businesses, especially if you're focused on analytics and data analysis.Used by over 8,500 organizations worldwide, the Salesmate CRM offers a range of CRM services, but it shines when it comes to data management and analysis. Teams can create their own custom dashboards and take advantage of hundreds of widgets to display information relevant to their projects. It's also possible to implement custom modules to generate reports based on business datasets.You have three tiers to choose from: Basic, Pro, and Business. Though the Basic plan ($23/seat/month) comes with features such as deal pipeline management, email sync, and contact management, the Pro plan is a better choice for emerging businesses. It's more expensive, at $39/seat/month, but you'll have access to quotes management; tickets; team inboxes and management functions; and custom dashboards.The Business plan, priced at $63/user/month, offers advanced features such as service level agreement creation, SSO, and advanced goal management.Salesmate CRM customers like the platform for small and medium-sized businesses, but some say formatting functions could be improved.Salesmate CRM features:Advanced analytics | Team management| Third-party integrations| Mobile support | Sales, marketing automation | Sandy AI | Free trial Read More Show Expert Take Show less What is the best small-business CRM software? While you're deciding on the right CRM for your business, you might want to focus on the cost, third-party integrations, or other features. To help you choose, we've listed some of the most important factors:Small-business CRM providerCostUser-friendly?Third-party integration?AI?HubSpotFree; $15/user/month+YesYesYes, Breeze Copilot, on some plansZoho CRMFree; $14/user/month+Learning curveYesYes, Zia, on some plansMonday.comFree; $12/user/month+YesYes, custom appsYes, credits, on some plansLess Annoying CRMFree; $15/user/month+YesYesThird-party integrationSalesmate CRM$23/user/month+Learning curveYesSandy AI (Pro plan+) Show more Which is the right small-business CRM software for you? Choose this CRM software for small businesses...If you want or need...HubSpotThe best small-business CRM software overall. You can learn the basics with a free plan before exploring sales, customer support tools, reporting, and more.Zoho CRMA CRM with a focus on sales. Zoho provides a vast suite of tools to improve customer experiences and outcomes.Monday.comA CRM for workflow management. You can use this CRM to easily (or automatically) assign employee tasks and boost workforce productivity.Less Annoying CRMA fixed-fee CRM for daily tasks. At $15/month/user, Less Annoying CRM is perfect for teams of 10 or fewer for sales and employee management.Salesmate CRMA data analyticsfocused CRM. If you want data insights and detailed reporting, Salesmate CRM could be your best option. Show more How did I choose these providers of small-business CRM software? Choosing the right CRM software provider can be a challenging prospect for small businesses, and an investment of time and money. So while deciding on the best CRM software providers of 2025 for SMBs, I looked at the following factors:Usability: It's important for small businesses that may be new to the world of CRM or may previously have relied only on limited, free options, that their next investment has a clean, uncluttered interface and isn't too complicated to learn.Scalability: It's also crucial that CRM providers allow small businesses to scale up their CRM over time to meet changing needs and demands. Therefore, each option on our recommended list is scalable.Customization: It's useful if CRM solutions allow for a high level of customization. It might not be that important for small businesses at the start, but it's still a feature I want to see.Features: Speaking of features, modern CRM providers must also have an extensive portfolio of features and services. These may include analytics, mobile app support, automation, and orchestration tools.Support: When setting up a new business, or when you're on the way to expansion, investing in new tools can be daunting. It's important that CRM providers have a range of channels customers can use for support.Customer experiences: I've extensively researched the customer experiences and feedback associated with each of the CRM software providers I recommend for small businesses.Cost: Small businesses often need to maintain a tight leash on their spending, at least in the first few years. Though CRM software can be a valuable tool for growth, it must also be an investment that represents good value for money, and so I've included a range of solutions suitable for different budgets. Show more Small-business CRM software FAQs Is CRM worth it for small businesses? The answer is typically yes.CRM software can help kickstart business growth by centralizing and organizing sales leads, marketing, analytics, and customer communications. When your business is growing, you'll want to focus on promoting that growth in a sustainable way, and CRM is not only invaluable in managing leads but can also be used to automate otherwise time-consuming processes.However, if you're just starting out and you're new to CRM software, you might want to opt for a free or budget-friendly option to begin with, and then scale up over time. Show more What is the best free CRM software for small businesses? There are plenty of excellent free CRM options out there, though you should manage expectations and accept certain limitations. Some of the best free CRM solutions to consider are HubSpot CRM and Zoho CRM. Show more Is QuickBooks a CRM? No, QuickBooks isn't customer relationship management software. QuickBooks is used by countless organizations worldwide, but for a very different purpose: It's accounting software that your tax manager or accountant will be thankful you use. You can, however, integrate QuickBooks with a variety of dedicated CRM platforms. Show more Does Google have a CRM? Google doesn't have a native CRM platform, but the company does provide valuable business tools used by countless organizations across the globe. The Google Workspace suite includes productivity-boosting apps and collaborative tools including Docs and Sheets, and many software solutions provided by CRM vendors are integrable. You can check out the Google Marketplace to research sales and CRM apps. Show more Other CRM software worth consideringLooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites withZDNET Recommends. Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends

If you're starting a business or want to showcase your work to prospective clients, you need a website. Thankfully, you don't need to know how to code to launch a professional-looking site on your own. A good website builder guides you through the process of designing and publishing everything from a blog or portfolio to a full online store.What's the best website builder right now?At ZDNET, we've tested a wide range of website builders to find the best options for different needs and business types. Wix is our top pick for most users, with plenty of options to customize your design; integrate apps and media; and build out marketing and e-commerce tools to promote and sell goods and services. Squarespace is a close competitor for users who value good design, and Shopify can't be beat if you have a large online store. Sort by All The best website builders of 2025 Show less View now at Wix Wix is a widely used and highly popular website builder, and with good reason: The platform is flexible, with lots of design options and features. You can get started with Wix for free, though your website will have a Wix-branded subdomain and Wix ads. The $17-per-month Light plan comes with 2GB of storage space, a free custom domain for one year, and limited marketing tools -- an option for freelancers or business owners who don't sell products or services online, though this certainly isn't the cheapest choice if you aren't bringing in revenue. The Core plan ($29 per month, billed annually) adds e-commerce and online payment features, while the Business ($36 per month) and Business Elite ($159 per month) tiers come with more robust e-commerce, marketing, and storage features.Also: How to set up Bitwarden for personal and work use - and why you should keep them separateIn testing, I used the AI chat assistant to generate design elements, themes, and text by answering a few questions about my business and services. The content and visuals were lackluster, but this feature may be useful if you don't know where to start or want to get your site up quickly. Wix has more than 900 templates if you want to design your website manually, and it's easy to add, drag, drop, and delete page elements and hundreds of embedded apps as well as upload your own media. Alternatively, you can book design and development services through Wix Professionals. One downside: You can't change templates once you've started your design. Instead, you'll have to create a new site.Wix guarantees 99.99% uptime and has caching on by default for faster loading. Wix sites also include SSL certificates and use HTTPS. Finally, Wix offers 24/7 customer support in English via phone and chatbot.Wix features:900+ templates| SSl certification| Google Workspace integration| Wix Professional design services| 24/7 customer support| 14-day money-back guarantee Security 8 Features 8 Price 6 Pros Free and paid plans Extensive library of templates and apps Cons Can't change templates without building a new site Limited storage on lower tiers Wix Best website builder overall 3.8 / 5 Score Wix is a widely used and highly popular website builder, and with good reason: The platform is flexible, with lots of design options and features. You can get started with Wix for free, though your website will have a Wix-branded subdomain and Wix ads. The $17-per-month Light plan comes with 2GB of storage space, a free custom domain for one year, and limited marketing tools -- an option for freelancers or business owners who don't sell products or services online, though this certainly isn't the cheapest choice if you aren't bringing in revenue. The Core plan ($29 per month, billed annually) adds e-commerce and online payment features, while the Business ($36 per month) and Business Elite ($159 per month) tiers come with more robust e-commerce, marketing, and storage features.Also: How to set up Bitwarden for personal and work use - and why you should keep them separateIn testing, I used the AI chat assistant to generate design elements, themes, and text by answering a few questions about my business and services. The content and visuals were lackluster, but this feature may be useful if you don't know where to start or want to get your site up quickly. Wix has more than 900 templates if you want to design your website manually, and it's easy to add, drag, drop, and delete page elements and hundreds of embedded apps as well as upload your own media. Alternatively, you can book design and development services through Wix Professionals. One downside: You can't change templates once you've started your design. Instead, you'll have to create a new site.Wix guarantees 99.99% uptime and has caching on by default for faster loading. Wix sites also include SSL certificates and use HTTPS. Finally, Wix offers 24/7 customer support in English via phone and chatbot.Wix features:900+ templates| SSl certification| Google Workspace integration| Wix Professional design services| 24/7 customer support| 14-day money-back guarantee Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Squarespace Squarespace runs a very close second behind Wix -- it's an excellent choice for building beautiful websites for everyone from freelancers who need a portfolio to small businesses selling products and services. Squarespace plans start at $16 per month, billed annually, which includes a custom domain for one year and basic e-commerce and payment features. Higher tiers -- Core ($23 per month), Plus ($39 per month), and Advanced ($99 per month) -- come with more e-commerce functionality and progressively lower payment processing and transaction fees, as well as a year of Google Workspace. All tiers have unlimited bandwidth and storage. There's no free plan, but Squarespace does offer a 14-day trial period.Also: Why I use virtual cards for online purchases - and you should tooIn testing, I used Squarespace AI for the initial site design and to generate and refine text. The tool is more collaborative than a chatbot, which led to a more visually appealing site than what I got with Wix's AI builder. It was also easier to add and edit page elements and text. If you create your site manually, Squarespace has fewer templates than some other site builders, but this makes the choice less overwhelming. Plus, you can change templates anytime without starting your site from scratch. Overall, Squarespace's interface is clean and easy to navigate and produces a beautifully designed website.In terms of performance and security, Squarespace has 99.9% uptime and page caching, and your site includes an SSL certificate and HIPAA-compliant scheduling via Acuity if needed. Squarespace doesn't have phone support, but you can connect with customer service 24/7 via email and chat (only live during specific hours).Squarespace features:SSL certificate| HIPPA-compliant scheduling with Acuity| AI site builder| Squarespace Design services| 14-day free trial Pros Visually stunning designs E-commerce payment features on all plans Unlimited bandwidth and storage on all plans Cons No phone support; limited live chat hours No completely free tier Squarespace runs a very close second behind Wix -- it's an excellent choice for building beautiful websites for everyone from freelancers who need a portfolio to small businesses selling products and services. Squarespace plans start at $16 per month, billed annually, which includes a custom domain for one year and basic e-commerce and payment features. Higher tiers -- Core ($23 per month), Plus ($39 per month), and Advanced ($99 per month) -- come with more e-commerce functionality and progressively lower payment processing and transaction fees, as well as a year of Google Workspace. All tiers have unlimited bandwidth and storage. There's no free plan, but Squarespace does offer a 14-day trial period.Also: Why I use virtual cards for online purchases - and you should tooIn testing, I used Squarespace AI for the initial site design and to generate and refine text. The tool is more collaborative than a chatbot, which led to a more visually appealing site than what I got with Wix's AI builder. It was also easier to add and edit page elements and text. If you create your site manually, Squarespace has fewer templates than some other site builders, but this makes the choice less overwhelming. Plus, you can change templates anytime without starting your site from scratch. Overall, Squarespace's interface is clean and easy to navigate and produces a beautifully designed website.In terms of performance and security, Squarespace has 99.9% uptime and page caching, and your site includes an SSL certificate and HIPAA-compliant scheduling via Acuity if needed. Squarespace doesn't have phone support, but you can connect with customer service 24/7 via email and chat (only live during specific hours).Squarespace features:SSL certificate| HIPPA-compliant scheduling with Acuity| AI site builder| Squarespace Design services| 14-day free trial Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Shopify If you have a business with product inventory or that sells goods and services, Shopify should be on your radar. The platform makes it easy to build a digital storefront for customers, whether they're buying in person, online, or via social or digital marketplaces. Shopify plans start at $29 per month, billed annually, with additional tiers at $79 and $299 per month. A more expensive plan comes with lower processing fees, greater shipping discounts, and additional staff accounts, so if you have a higher sales volume and more inventory, the savings could easily offset the increased annual fee. There's also a $5-per-month Starter subscription for users who sell products via social, such as Instagram or WhatsApp. Shopify doesn't have a fully free tier, but it does offer a three-day free trial followed by one month for $1, so you can try it out before you commit.Also: If you want your Amazon affiliate links to count, don't do thisShopify's website builder isn't as intuitive to use or as easy to customize as some other platforms, and though there are nearly 240 themes to choose from, only a handful are free. There is a guided setup wizard for adding products, designing your storefront, and setting up payments and shipping, as well as basic AI tools for generating text and media for your site. If you need additional support to get up and running, you can hire a professional through Shopify's partner directory. All plans have unlimited bandwidth and storage, page caching, and an SSL certificate, as well as robust marketing and e-commerce features for both in-person and online sales, such as inventory tracking, point of sale, abandoned cart recovery, and email marketing. Shopify promises 99.99% uptime and 24/7 customer support via live chat if any issues arise.Shopify features:SSL certificate| 99.99% uptime| Basic AI tools| 24/7 customer chat support| Three-day free trial Pros Robust e-commerce features on all plans Significant shopping discounts Email marketing tools Cons Not as intuitive as other platforms If you have a business with product inventory or that sells goods and services, Shopify should be on your radar. The platform makes it easy to build a digital storefront for customers, whether they're buying in person, online, or via social or digital marketplaces. Shopify plans start at $29 per month, billed annually, with additional tiers at $79 and $299 per month. A more expensive plan comes with lower processing fees, greater shipping discounts, and additional staff accounts, so if you have a higher sales volume and more inventory, the savings could easily offset the increased annual fee. There's also a $5-per-month Starter subscription for users who sell products via social, such as Instagram or WhatsApp. Shopify doesn't have a fully free tier, but it does offer a three-day free trial followed by one month for $1, so you can try it out before you commit.Also: If you want your Amazon affiliate links to count, don't do thisShopify's website builder isn't as intuitive to use or as easy to customize as some other platforms, and though there are nearly 240 themes to choose from, only a handful are free. There is a guided setup wizard for adding products, designing your storefront, and setting up payments and shipping, as well as basic AI tools for generating text and media for your site. If you need additional support to get up and running, you can hire a professional through Shopify's partner directory. All plans have unlimited bandwidth and storage, page caching, and an SSL certificate, as well as robust marketing and e-commerce features for both in-person and online sales, such as inventory tracking, point of sale, abandoned cart recovery, and email marketing. Shopify promises 99.99% uptime and 24/7 customer support via live chat if any issues arise.Shopify features:SSL certificate| 99.99% uptime| Basic AI tools| 24/7 customer chat support| Three-day free trial Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Weebly Weebly and Square Online are two related alternatives for business owners looking for a no-cost (or low-cost) website builder with e-commerce and marketing features. Weebly was acquired in 2018 by Square, the payment processor, and free plan users can sell an unlimited number of items via secure online checkout, with additional features like in-store pickup and inventory management as well as email and chat support.Confusingly, signing up with Weebly actually requires you to create a Square account, and you'll be routed to the Square website builder. If you previously had a Weebly site, you can still use the Weebly editor, but new users will default to the Square interface. Alternatively, you can sign up for Square Online's free plan, which will get you to a similar endpoint. Note that there are very limited template and customization options available for free sites via either account type.Weebly's free tier does have a few other important limitations: You get just 500MB of storage and can't connect to or add a custom domain. For that, you'll need to upgrade to the $10-per-month Personal plan. Your site will also show Square ads unless you have a Professional or Performance subscription ($12 or $26 per month, respectively). On the Square Online side, the free plan doesn't appear to have any storage limits, but the $29-per-month Plus plan and $79-per-month Premium plan come with a lot more features.Weebly/Square online features:Custom domains on paid plans| SSL certificate| Chat and email customer support Pros Free tier with e-commerce features Square integration Cons Limited design themes Low storage on free Weebly plan Weebly and Square Online are two related alternatives for business owners looking for a no-cost (or low-cost) website builder with e-commerce and marketing features. Weebly was acquired in 2018 by Square, the payment processor, and free plan users can sell an unlimited number of items via secure online checkout, with additional features like in-store pickup and inventory management as well as email and chat support.Confusingly, signing up with Weebly actually requires you to create a Square account, and you'll be routed to the Square website builder. If you previously had a Weebly site, you can still use the Weebly editor, but new users will default to the Square interface. Alternatively, you can sign up for Square Online's free plan, which will get you to a similar endpoint. Note that there are very limited template and customization options available for free sites via either account type.Weebly's free tier does have a few other important limitations: You get just 500MB of storage and can't connect to or add a custom domain. For that, you'll need to upgrade to the $10-per-month Personal plan. Your site will also show Square ads unless you have a Professional or Performance subscription ($12 or $26 per month, respectively). On the Square Online side, the free plan doesn't appear to have any storage limits, but the $29-per-month Plus plan and $79-per-month Premium plan come with a lot more features.Weebly/Square online features:Custom domains on paid plans| SSL certificate| Chat and email customer support Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at GoDaddy GoDaddy is known for its domain registration and hosting services, but its website builder is also worthy of consideration -- especially if you've never made a website before. You can get started for free with a GoDaddy subdomain, or you can upgrade to the $10-per-month (billed annually) Basic plan to get a custom domain and basic email marketing. The Premium plan, priced at $15 per month, comes with the ability to accept online payments and appointment booking as well as email marketing features, or you can choose the Commerce plan ($21 per month) for GoDaddy's full e-commerce suite. GoDaddy offers a seven-day free trial of its premium features, and you don't lose your work if you let the trial expire before upgrading to a paid tier.Review:GoDaddyGetting the basics of your website in place is easy with GoDaddy Airo, the platform's AI tool. From there, you can go through a guided setup wizard to get oriented to the interface. Though there aren't as many template or customization options as you get with some other website builders, it's easy to add and edit on-page elements either manually or with AI support. GoDaddy also has design, SEO, and marketing services for hire.GoDaddy promises 99.9% uptime, and you get 24/7 access to customer support via phone, text, and chat, a potential selling point for new users.GoDaddy features:99.9% uptime| SSL certificate| AI site builder| 24/7 customer support| Seven-day free trial Security 8 Features 8 Price 8 Pros Free tier and budget-friendly paid plans Easy-to-navigate user interface Comprehensive customer support Cons E-commerce available only on the most expensive plan GoDaddy Best website builder for beginners 3.9 / 5 Score GoDaddy is known for its domain registration and hosting services, but its website builder is also worthy of consideration -- especially if you've never made a website before. You can get started for free with a GoDaddy subdomain, or you can upgrade to the $10-per-month (billed annually) Basic plan to get a custom domain and basic email marketing. The Premium plan, priced at $15 per month, comes with the ability to accept online payments and appointment booking as well as email marketing features, or you can choose the Commerce plan ($21 per month) for GoDaddy's full e-commerce suite. GoDaddy offers a seven-day free trial of its premium features, and you don't lose your work if you let the trial expire before upgrading to a paid tier.Review:GoDaddyGetting the basics of your website in place is easy with GoDaddy Airo, the platform's AI tool. From there, you can go through a guided setup wizard to get oriented to the interface. Though there aren't as many template or customization options as you get with some other website builders, it's easy to add and edit on-page elements either manually or with AI support. GoDaddy also has design, SEO, and marketing services for hire.GoDaddy promises 99.9% uptime, and you get 24/7 access to customer support via phone, text, and chat, a potential selling point for new users.GoDaddy features:99.9% uptime| SSL certificate| AI site builder| 24/7 customer support| Seven-day free trial Read More Show Expert Take Show less What is the best web builder? Wix is our top pick for building a website, with its extensive options for customization, user-friendly platform, and phone support. Here's how the best website builders compare:Website builderFree plan?Free trial?Cost per month (first year, billed annually)Customer supportKey featureWixx (14-day money-back guarantee)$17$15924/7 phone + chatTemplate and customization optionsSquarespacex14 days$16$9924/7 email + chatCollaborative AI builderShopifyx3 days$29$29924/7 chatDiscounted payment processing and shipping feesWeebly/Square Online14 days$10$79Chat + emailSquare integrationGoDaddy7 days$10$2124/7 phone, text, chatCustomer support Show more Which is the right website builder for you? Choose this website builderIf you wantWixAn all-around solid website builder with a range of price points and customization options.SquarespaceA design-forward website builder for showcasing portfolios and blogs.ShopifyA platform with robust e-commerce and marketing tools for your online shop.Weebly/Square OnlineA free option for selling products and services with Square integration.GoDaddyA beginner- and budget-friendly website builder. Show more Factors to consider when choosing a website builder When selecting a website builder, you'll first want to determine the purpose of your website. An online store with hundreds of physical products in inventory will need a different solution than a freelance design portfolio or blog. You may also consider the following factors:Pricing: You can build a website for free if you don't mind some limitations (like a branded subdomain), but premium plans are available at a range of price points depending on functionality and features.Features: Basic website builder plans allow you to put together a simple website to showcase your business or your work, while others come with more robust e-commerce and marketing features to reach customers and drive sales.Design: Some website builders have hundreds of templates and apps to customize your site and set it apart, while others have more limited options. If you aren't sure what you want your site to look like or need to get it up and running quickly, consider platforms with good AI tools.Customer support: If your website is your business, you'll want quick access to customer support when you need it in the event anything goes wrong (or you need help with setup or maintenance questions). Show more How we test website builders To find the best website builders, we identified the tools and services available and compared their features, costs, and overall experience as well as user feedback. We also conducted hands-on testing to determine ease of use. Show more FAQs on website builders What's the average cost of building a website? The cost of building a website varies widely based on the features and customization included in your plan. There are a handful of website builders available for free, though you'll typically be limited to a subdomain address and visible branding. E-commerce and marketing tools may require an upgrade to a more expensive plan. The basic plans for our top website builders range from $3 to $29 per month for the first year (and may increase upon renewal). Of course, you'll pay even more if you hire an agency for design and development. Show more Should I use a website builder? A website builder is a relatively quick and cost-effective way to get your website up and running. Website builders allow you to create professional pages without paying for custom design and development or needing to learn how to code. Some website builders offer more robust e-commerce and marketing integration and AI tools as well as design, development, and optimization support for an additional fee. Show more What's the most beginner-friendly website builder? GoDaddy is our pick for beginners, thanks to its clean and easy-to-navigate interface, helpful AI tools, competitive pricing, and 24/7 customer support options. Plus, you can get started with GoDaddy for free. Show more Are there alternative website builders worth considering? If none of our recommendations are quite what you're looking for, there are a number of other website builders to check out: Show more Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends

No matter how grown-up we are, arguments with parents can make us feel like a child again. Here are four reasons why we unconsciously step back into our childhood roles.

WTF?! Even as generative AI becomes more widespread, the systems remain prone to hallucinations. Advising people to put glue on pizza and eat rocks is one thing, but ChatGPT falsely telling a man he had spent 21 years in prison for killing his two sons is a lot more serious. Norwegian national Arve Hjalmar Holmen contacted the Norwegian Data Protection Authority after he decided to see what ChatGPT knew about him.The chatbot responded in its usual confident manner, falsely stating that Holmen had murdered two of his sons and attempted to kill his third son. It added that he was sentenced to 21 years in prison for these fake crimes.While the story was entirely fabricated, there were elements of Holmen's life that ChatGPT got right, including the number and gender of his children, their approximate ages, and the name of his hometown, making the false claims about murder all the more sinister.Holmen says he has never been accused nor convicted of any crime and is a conscientious citizen.Holmen contacted privacy rights group Noyb about the hallucination. It carried out research to ensure ChatGPT wasn't getting Holmen mixed up with someone else, possibly with a similar name. The group also checked newspaper archives, but there was nothing obvious to suggest why the chatbot was making up this gruesome tale. // Related StoriesChatGPT's LLM has since been updated, so it no longer repeats the story when asked about Holmen. But Noyb, which has clashed with OpenAI in the past over ChatGPT providing false information about people, still filed a complaint with the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, Datatilsynet.According to the complaint, OpenAI violated GDPR rules that state companies processing personal data must ensure it is accurate. If these details aren't accurate, it must be corrected or deleted. However, Noyb argues that as ChatGPT feeds user data back into the system for training purposes, there is no way to be certain the incorrect data has been completely removed from the LLM's dataset.Noyb also claims that ChatGPT does not comply with Article 15 of GDPR, which means there is no guarantee that you can recall or see every piece of data about an individual that has been fed into a dataset. "This fact understandably still causes distress and fear for the complainant, [Holmen]," wrote Noyb.Noyb is asking the Datatilsynet to order OpenAI to delete the defamatory data about Holmen and fine-tune its model to eliminate inaccurate results about individuals, which would be no simple task.Right now, OpenAI's method of covering its back in these situations is limited to a tiny disclaimer at the bottom of ChatGPT's page that states, "ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info," like whether someone is a double murderer.

Love crossword puzzles but dont have all day to sit and solve a full-sized puzzle in your daily newspaper? Thats what The Mini is for!A bite-sized version of the New York Times well-known crossword puzzle, The Mini is a quick and easy way to test your crossword skills daily in a lot less time (the average puzzle takes most players just over a minute to solve). While The Mini is smaller and simpler than a normal crossword, it isnt always easy. Tripping up on one clue can be the difference between a personal best completion time and an embarrassing solve attempt.Recommended VideosJust like ourWordle hints and Connections hints, were here to help with The Mini today if youre stuck and need a little help.Please enable Javascript to view this contentBelow are the answers for the NYT Mini crossword today.New York TimesAcrossAnd stuff like that: Abbr. ETCHooray! WAHOO ARROWThings counted by some smartwatches STEPS___ So Fine, subject of the famous plagiarism case against My Sweet Lord HESDownWhat you might come down to after having your head in the clouds EARTHWith the circled letters, a literal depiction of what you need to win tic-tac-toe? THREEChicken dwellings COOPSIs no longer WASCries of pain OWSEditors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsHow to play StrandsHint for todays Strands puzzleTodays Strand answersStrands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. A trickier take on the classic word search, youll need a keen eye to solve this puzzle.Like Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be a bit difficult to solve some days. Theres no shame in needing a little help from time to time. If youre stuck and need to know the answers to todays Strands puzzle, check out the solved puzzle below.Recommended VideosHow to play StrandsYou start every Strands puzzle with the goal of finding the theme words hidden in the grid of letters. Manipulate letters by dragging or tapping to craft words; double-tap the final letter to confirm. If you find the correct word, the letters will be highlighted blue and will no longer be selectable.RelatedIf you find a word that isnt a theme word, it still helps! For every three non-theme words you find that are at least four letters long, youll get a hint the letters of one of the theme words will be revealed and youll just have to unscramble it.Every single letter on the grid is used to spell out the theme words and there is no overlap. Every letter will be used once, and only once.Each puzzle contains one spangram, a special theme word (or words) that describe the puzzles theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. When you find the spangram, it will be highlighted yellow.The goal should be to complete the puzzle quickly without using too many hints.Todays theme is Ode to the aubergine.Heres a hint that might help you: made with an infamous emoji.Todays Strand answersNYTTodays spanagramWell start by giving you the spangram, which might help you figure out the theme and solve the rest of the puzzle on your own:EGGPLANTDISHTodays Strands answersPARMIGIANARATATOUILLEMOUSSAKASTUFFEDEditors Recommendations

All the news that's fit to lift Rocket Report: Falcon 9 may smash reuse record; Relativity roving to Texas? "It is what he has always dreamt of." Eric Berger Mar 21, 2025 7:00 am | 22 The Falcon 9 booster that launched Crew 10 is seen shortly after landing near its launch site in Florida. Credit: SpaceX The Falcon 9 booster that launched Crew 10 is seen shortly after landing near its launch site in Florida. Credit: SpaceX Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreWelcome to Edition 7.36 of the Rocket Report! Well, after nine months, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are finally back on Earth, safe and sound. This brings to conclusion one of the stranger and more dramatic human spaceflight stories in years. We're glad they're finally home, soon to be reunited with their families.As always, we welcome reader submissions, and if you don't want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.Summary of 2024 launch activity. In its annual launch report, released earlier this month, Bryce Tech analyzed the 259 orbital launches conducted last year. Among the major trends the analysts found were: Nearly 60 percent of all launches were conducted by US providers, Commercial providers accounted for about 70 percent of launches, and Small satellites, primarily for communications, represented the majority of all spacecraft launched at 97 percent.Trends dominated by Starlink launches ... SpaceX conducted more than half of the launches last year (134), putting 2,390 spacecraft into orbit (the vast majority of which were Starlink satellites). The next closest competitor was China, with 48 launches and 186 spacecraft. The nearest US competitor to SpaceX was Rocket Lab, with 14 launches and 33 spacecraft. The competition in "upmass," that is total kg lofted into orbit, was less close still. SpaceX put 1.86 million kg into space, followed by China (164,000 kg) and Roscosmos (76,000). The closest US competitor was United Launch Alliance, at 29,000 kg. Put another way, for every kilogram ULA put into orbit, SpaceX lofted 66.MaiaSpace inks first commercial customer. MaiaSpace, a French subsidiary of ArianeGroup founded in 2022, signed an agreement to fly multiple missions for Exotrails SpaceVan orbital transfer vehicle beginning in 2027. The partnership with Exotrail provides an early vote of confidence that the reusable Maia rocket can increase Europes sovereign launch capabilities, Payload reports. This is one of several launch agreements signed recently by Exotrail.Hitting the trail ... Exotrail flew its first SpaceVan mission on SpaceXs Transporter-9 flight in November 2023 and deployed the Endurosat-built EXO-0 cubesat in LEO after three months in orbit. In November, the company signed a deal with Arianespace to launch Exotrails first SpaceVan mission to geostationary transfer orbit in the latter half of 2026. After leaving Ariane 64, SpaceVan will tow a customer satellite to GEO, demonstrating its ability to deliver satellites to the full range of orbital trajectories. (submitted by gma) The Ars Technica Rocket Report The easiest way to keep up with Eric Berger's and Stephen Clark's reporting on all things space is to sign up for our newsletter. We'll collect their stories and deliver them straight to your inbox.Sign Me Up!Electron launches twice in three days. Rocket Lab completed the deployment of a constellation of Internet of Things satellites for French company Kinis with an Electron launch on Monday. The launch was the fifth and final mission under a contract signed by the companies in 2021. Each launch carried five satellites, weighing 28 kilograms each, to complete a 25-satellite constellation.Continuing to steadily increase cadence ... For Rocket Lab, this was the second launch in a little more than 72 hours, after another Electron launched a radar imaging satellite for Japanese company iQPS March 14. It was the fourth launch so far this year for Rocket Lab, which previously stated it expects to perform more than 20 Electron launches, including the HASTE suborbital version, this year.Pangea raises Series A funding. The Spanish startup announced this week that it has raised 23 million euros ($25 million) in Series A funding, European Spaceflight reports. This funding includes contributions from former ArianeGroup CEO Andr-Hubert Roussel. Founded in 2018, Pangea Aerospace initially aimed to develop Meso, a small rocket designed to deliver 400 kilograms to low-Earth orbit. The rocket was to be powered by a unique, in-house-developed methalox aerospike engine.Twice the size ... However, in early 2023, the company announced it had abandoned the development of Meso to focus on providing propulsion systems for rockets and in-orbit applications. Pangea is currently in the process of developing ARCOS, an aerospike engine designed for use aboard the booster and/or upper stage of a rocket. According to Pangea, the funding will be used to accelerate its expansion in the European market, aiming to grow its customer base. It will look to double its workforce and scale up its manufacturing, integration, and testing capabilities.Relativity Space eyeing move to Texas. As he consolidates control over Relativity Space, new owner and chief executive Eric Schmidt is planning significant changes at the launch company, including a likely move to the Lone Star State, Ars reports. The company faces several major challenges as it seeks to bring the Terran R rocket to market, particularly in logistics. This is because Terran R is a large launch vehicle, too large to move across the country by highway.Watching for Baytown ... The company's initial plan was to manufacture first stages at its massive factory in Long Beach, California, and ship them through the Panama Canal to a test site at the Stennis Space Center in southern Mississippi. From there, they would be moved by barge again to the launch site in Florida. But this was expensive and time-consuming. Two sources have indicated that Relativity Space will likely move a significant portion of its Terran R manufacturing to Baytown, Texas, which is near Houston. Such a location would provide water access on the right side of the Panama Canal. Relativity has not made a formal announcement.Crew-10 launches to ISS. A Falcon 9 rocket launched four astronauts safely into orbit on Friday evening, marking the official beginning of the Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station. Friday's launch came two days after an initial attempt was scrubbed on Wednesday evening, Ars reports. This was due to a hydraulic issue with the ground systems that handle the Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A in Florida.Smooth ride to orbit ... There were no technical issues on Friday, and with clear skies, NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov rocketed smoothly into orbit. Although any crew launch into orbit is notable, this mission came with an added bit of importance as its success cleared the way for two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, to finally return home from space after a saga spanning nine months. They did so on Tuesday evening.SpaceX pushes Falcon 9 booster reuse record. On March 12 a Falcon 9 rocket first stage made its third launch, lofting the SPHEREx and PUNCH missions into low-Earth orbit for NASA. Following the successful launch, the first stage landed near the launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Now, this same stage could launch again on Thursday night from Vandenberg, carrying the NROL-57 mission for the US Space Force.Rapid reuse is a thing ... The launch is scheduled for 06:49 UTC, and if it takes place it would be just nine days and four hours since the SPHEREx mission. This would shatter the company's previous booster turnaround, set in November, of a little more than 13 days. The fast turnaround was no doubt enabled by landing the booster back near the launch site, speeding the process of inspecting and refurbishing the rocket. It's also impressive that the Space Force greenlit such a fast turnaround time for a national security payload.And launch pad turnaround, too. SpaceX launched its latest batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at sunrise Saturday morning. The mission marked a record-breaking turnaround for launch operations at Space Launch Complex 40, Spaceflight Now reports. The launch of 23 Starlink Version 2 Mini satellites came two days, eight hours, 59 minutes, and 40 seconds after the launch of the Starlink 12-21 mission. This beat SpaceXs previous turnaround time at that pad by nearly six hours.Ever pushing forward ... Recently, Ars covered a recent string of issues with the Falcon 9 rocket, notably with its upper stage. The principal reason is that SpaceX continues to push the envelope with even its mature products like the Falcon 9 rocket, which is now nearly 15 years old. While we can take note of issues, it's also worth celebrating the incredibly hard work that goes into pushing cadence and turnaround times. Moreover, success with the Falcon 9 rocket supports the notion that, one day, SpaceX will be able to reach a high cadence of operations with Starship.The Jeff and the Donald. Over the past year, Amazon and Blue Origin founder Bezos has executed a sharp public reversal in his relationship with President Trumpwhom he previously criticized as a threat to democracythat has surprised even longtime associates. An article in the Financial Times explores this change, and finds that it is likely due, at least in part, to Bezos' interest in his space company. There are some spicy, and to my sense of things, accurate comments that explain why Bezos has sought to curry favor with Trump.One longtime adviser cautions ... "He cares most about Blue Origin. His chance of being the player he wants to become in space could be destroyed" if the worlds richest man (Elon Musk) and most powerful politician united against him. "The growth trajectory for the entire enterprise depends on the federal contract...otherwise Blue is dead in the water." Another close associate says that any move by Trump to deprioritize lunar missions in favor of Musks aspirations to reach Mars would have a significant impact on the companys viability and success. "It is what he has always dreamt of. Nothing will hurt Jeff financiallyBlue is a money loser. It is more the opportunity to be involved."Next three launchesMarch 21: Falcon 9 | NROL-57 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. | 06:49 UTCMarch 23: Spectrum | Demo flight | Andya Rocket Range, Norway | 11:30 UTCMarch 24: Falcon 9 | NROL-69 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | 17:42 UTCEric BergerSenior Space EditorEric BergerSenior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 22 Comments

John Edwards, Technology Journalist & AuthorMarch 21, 20256 Min Readtanit boonruen via Alamy Stock PhotoJust about everybody agrees that AI is an essential business tool. This means that it's now time to give the technology the status it deserves by creating a business unit that's completely dedicated to deploying innovative AI applications across the enterprise.An AI innovation unit serves as an organizational hub for designing and deploying AI solutions, as a catalyst for adopting and integrating of AI, and as a focal point for AI business exploration and experimentation, says Paul McDonagh-Smith, a senior lecturer in information technology and executive education at the MIT Sloan School of Management. "By spinning-up an AI innovation unit, your company can accelerate its digital transformation, sustain competitiveness, and create a culture of innovation," he explains in an online interview.McDonagh-Smith believes that an AI innovation unit can help convert the AI's potential into enhanced product offerings and customer experiences, unlocking new revenue streams and creating a competitive advantage. "Your AI innovation unit will also provide a space and a place to combine AI research and responsible application of AI to help you minimize risks while maximizing benefits."Mission GoalsAn AI innovation unit's mission should be to coordinate, plan, and prioritize efforts across the enterprise, says Steven Hall, chief AI officer at technology research and advisory firm ISG. "This can include ensuring the right data assets are used to train models and that proper guardrails are established to manage risks," he recommends in an email interview. Hall adds that unit leaders should also work toward keeping relevant individuals in the loop while prioritizing use cases and experiments.Related:An AI innovation unit should always support sustainable and strategic organizational growth through the ethical and impactful application and integration of AI, McDonagh-Smith says. "Achieving this mission involves identifying and deploying AI technologies to solve complex and simple business problems, improving efficiency, cultivating innovation, and creating measurable new organizational value."A successful unit, McDonagh-Smith states, prioritizes aligning AI initiatives with the enterprise's long-term vision, ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability in its AI applications. "An effective AI innovation unit also increases the flow of AI-enhanced policies, processes, and products through existing and emerging organizational networks."Carolyn Nash, chief operations officer for open-source software products provider Red Hat, says her firm recently established an AI innovation unit when enterprise leaders recognized that AI had become a top IT strategy priority. "This newly-formed team is now focusing on putting the appropriate infrastructure foundations in place for AI to be developed at scale, and in a cost-efficient manner," she explains in an online interview. Part of that work, Nash notes, includes identifying and creating productivity use cases.Related:Leadership RequirementsAn AI innovation unit leader is foremost a business leader and visionary, responsible for helping the enterprise embrace and effectively use AI in an ethical and responsible manner, Hall says. "The leader needs to understand the risk and concerns, but also AI governance and frameworks." He adds that the leader should also be realistic and inspiring, with an understanding of the hype curve and the technology's potential.The unit should be led by a chief AI officer (CAIO), or an equivalent senior executive with expertise in both AI technology and strategic business management, McDonagh-Smith advises. "While this leader possesses a strong understanding of data science, machine learning, and innovation strategy. alongside finely-tuned leadership skills, this individual also needs to be adept at bridging technical and non-technical teams to ensure AI that initiatives are practical, scalable, and personalized to business goals."Related:Team BuildingMcDonagh-Smith recommends staffing the AI unit with a multidisciplinary team that combines the capabilities of data scientists, machine learning engineers, and software engineers, as well as AI ethicists, HR experts, UX /UI designers, and change management specialists. "This will provide the diversity of perspective and expertise necessary to fuel and drive your AI innovation unit forward."Nash observes that there will also be times when it becomes necessary to seek advice and support from other enterprise stakeholders, particularly when collaborating on projects with elements that lie beyond the main team's skills and knowledge. She adds that the unit should focus on addressing existing business issues, not seeking new problems to solve. "Proactively capturing requirements from strategic leaders across the business -- HR, marketing, finance, products, legal, sales -- is critical to ensuring the AI unit is correctly focused."ReportingMcDonagh-Smith recommends that the AI innovation unit's leader should report directly to the enterprise C-suite, ideally to the CEO or chief digital officer (CDO). "This reporting structure ensures that AI initiatives remain a visible strategic priority and are seamlessly integrated with broader business goals," he says. "It also allows for clear communication between the unit and top-level leadership, helping to secure the necessary support for scaling successful AI-forward projects across the organization."A Collaborative CultureAn AI innovation unit requires a collaborative culture that bridges silos within the organization and commits to continuous reflection and learning, McDonagh-Smith says. "The unit needs to establish practical partnerships with academic institutions, tech startups, and AI thought leadership groups to create flows of innovation, intelligence, and business insights."McDonagh-Smith believes that the unit should be complemented by a strong governance framework that will allow it to manage AI risks, uphold ethical standards, and ensure AI deployments that align with enterprise values and societal responsibilities. "By introducing regular impact assessments and transparent reporting on AI initiatives, you'll build trust both internally and externally ... and establish your team as a leader in evolving business practices."About the AuthorJohn EdwardsTechnology Journalist & AuthorJohn Edwards is a veteran business technology journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous business and technology publications, including Computerworld, CFO Magazine, IBM Data Management Magazine, RFID Journal, and Electronic Design. He has also written columns for The Economist's Business Intelligence Unit and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Communications Direct. John has authored several books on business technology topics. His work began appearing online as early as 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he wrote daily news and feature articles for both the CompuServe and Prodigy online services. His "Behind the Screens" commentaries made him the world's first known professional blogger.See more from John EdwardsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like

The boom in AI has virtually eclipsed technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Nevertheless, there are still good reasons to keep AR and VR on the IT strategic roadmap.AR is so named because it can embellish the physical world with digital artifacts. VR goes one step further by immersing participants in an alternate world of virtual experience.There are a number of AR/VR use cases that are working in business.The retail and real estate industries use AR and VR technologies to give customers a preview of how a household item would look in their home. It also can give would-be buyers a virtual walkthrough of a vacation home that they are considering purchasing that is thousands of miles away.Building engineers and inspectors use AR with the help of special glasses that display blueprints of electrical wiring that they can superimpose upon a finished wall in a structure; the military uses VR to simulate battlefield scenes for trainees; and baseball players use AR/VR to improve the mechanics of their swings.The CIOs Position on AR/VR TodayFor CIOs, AR/VR is taking a backseat to artificial intelligence, which Statista sees as exceeding $1.8 trillion in business investment by 2030. Consequently, there is little left in most IT budgets for anything else.Related:CIOs also know that most AR/VR investments cant be done on the cheap. AR/ VR implementations often require significant customization to achieve the right fit for specific business cases, and they can require expensive investments in headgear, workstations and other hardware.Finally, its not always easy to justify an AR/VR investment. While an AR/VR investment might be close to mandatory when the military is training personnel to disarm bombs on a battlefield, its not that easy to justify AR/VR simulations for more mundane use cases.Collectively, these circumstances have put AR/VR on the IT back burner, but it doesnt mean that they dont deserve a spot on IT's strategic roadmap.Where AR and VR Could Play in a BusinessAdecco, a corporate recruiter, reported in 2023 that 92% of executives think that American workers aren't as skilled as they need to be. And the World Economic Forum expects that 39% of skills will be outdated by 2030. At the same time, younger employees entering the workforce are less likely to learn by reading manuals, and more likely to further their learning through AR, VR and other visual technologies.This makes workforce education a prime area for AR/VR utilization. In addition, many of the skills that must be learned by employees across a wide swath of industries are somewhat generic (for example, the basics of lending for a financial institution, or the fundamentals of waste management and collection for sanitation workers). So, it is possible that more generic and cost-effective AR/VR offerings can be used without much need for company-specific customization.Related:Schools are already integrating AR/VRinto their curricula, and there is no reason that companies cant do the same to help address their employee skills shortages.Another AR/VR use case that has been used successfully is in retail sales where AR/VR can simulate product experiences in a virtual environment. With AR/VR, a prospect can experience what a trip to Belize would be like or do a visual walkthrough of a beach home in Miami. A customer can try on a sweater virtually, or they can see how a new dining room table looks like in their home.All these examples are already in play and generating revenue in e-commerce markets, where it is important for customers to experience what it would be like to own or experience something that they cant physically see or touch. The value proposition for using AR/VR in retail is further sweetened because companies dont have to invest in special hardware. Instead, customers can use the AR/VR on regular home computers and mobile devices.Related:New product development is one more area where companies are adopting AR/VR. Constructing physical prototypes of new products that may not work is expensive and time-consuming. If new product designs and simulations can be generated with 3D modeling and AR/VR, the technology investment may be worth it.AR/VR TrendsLooking forward, it is reasonable to expect that AR/VR use will expand in the areas where it is already gaining a footing: education/training, retail sales and product development.Also, there are three AR/VR trends that CIOs should note:Cloud-based AR/VR. A user can put on a wireless headset and use AR/VR from the cloud if the computing requirements for the app arent overly intensive. Education and training AR/VR in most cases would work in this scenario, although there might be a need to invest in more bandwidth.Better ergonomic experiences for users. AR/VR headgear is clunky and uncomfortable. Vendors know this and are at work at creating more wearable and tetherless headsets that deliver a better ergonomic experience to users. That lighter, more agile hardware could also lead to lower costs.A focus on security and governance. AR/VR vendors havent paid much attention to security and governance in the past, but they will in the future because enterprise customers will demand it, and the enterprise market is too big to ignore.Wrap-UpWhile AR/VR technology isnt front-and-center in technology discussions today, it could emerge in the future as a way for companies to streamline education and training, improve new product development and times to market, grow retail revenues, and even simulate scenarios. For example, it could be used for a disaster recovery operational failover in a simulated scenario.AR/VR are not todays hot technologies, but they should nonetheless be listed in IT strategic plans, because they are logical extensions of more corporate virtualization. Plus, they can address several of the persistent pain points that companies continue to grapple with.

The inner sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun, who ruled during the 18th dynasty of ancient EgyptBuddy Mays / AlamyA collection of roughly made clay trays and wooden staffs found among the golden treasures of Tutankhamuns tomb may offer the earliest evidence of an important ancient Egyptian royal funerary ritual. The idea is the latest indication that the boy king had a burial unlike that of any other pharaoh.Tutankhamuns nine-year-long reign in the 14th century BC came shortly after a period of religious turmoil in ancient