Albert Steed here, Advanced Computer Solutions, Chief Nerd. I forgot to change my microphone this time around — it sounds a bit headsetty, like we’re on the phone. But life goes on, and so do we! Been a week since our last show; I was up in Northern Michigan all last week and caught a cold while I was at it. Still got a cough and some stuff in my throat, but happy to be back talking to you.
FTC Cracks Down on AI Hype: GPT-4.1 Mini and Claude 3.7 Haiku
The FTC is cracking down on the hype around AI tools like GPT-4.1 Mini and Claude 3.7 Haiku. They’re calling out false claims about what these systems can actually do for small businesses. The villain here is misinformation, which can lead you to spend money on something that doesn’t deliver as promised.
They’ve issued warnings to several companies, telling them to stop making exaggerated claims. This means if you’re looking at AI tools, make sure they have real-world examples of how they perform in small businesses like yours. Don’t just go by the hype; check for case studies and user reviews.
QuickBooks Issue: Patch It Today
There’s a new patch out for QuickBooks that fixes a critical issue. This one is important because it addresses a security vulnerability that could let hackers in if you’re not careful. The villain here is downtime, but also breaches — both cost you money and time.
If your team hasn’t updated yet, do it today. It’s quick and easy to apply the patch through QuickBooks’ update process. And while you’re at it, make sure everyone on your team knows how important these updates are for keeping your business safe from breaches.
Google Workspace Prices: What You Need to Know
Google has updated its pricing structure for Google Workspace. For small businesses, the changes mean that some plans might now cost a bit more or less than before. The villain here is wasted money — you don’t want to be paying too much for services you don’t need.
You should review your current plan and see if it still fits what your business needs. Maybe you can save by switching to a different tier, or maybe you’ll find that the new pricing makes more sense for your team’s workload. Either way, take a look at how much you’re spending now versus before.
Key Takeaways
- Patch QuickBooks today to avoid security breaches and downtime.
- Review Google Workspace pricing to ensure you’re not overpaying for services.
- Be cautious of AI tool claims; look for real-world examples and user reviews before investing.
Questions about anything we covered today? Schedule a free IT consultation and we’ll walk through it with your business in mind.