News

Anti-Virus software in 2003 (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Getty ImagesWelcome to The Main Street Tech Report, your weekly roundup of the most important small business technology news. Here are five key developments in AI, automation, and digital tools that emerged this week-and what they mean for your business.

Microsoft Officially Says You Don’t Need Extra Antivirus on Windows 11Hans-Christian Dirscherl of PCWorld reports that Microsoft has announced Windows 11 users do not need to add third-party antivirus software. According to the company, Microsoft Defender – Windows 11 built-in protection software – has made it “the most secure Windows yet.” Defender is activated by default and continuously updates to protect against malware, suspicious downloads, and phishing websites. Microsoft suggests for those who run multiple devices or implement parental controls may want to add an extra layer of protection but for most users Windows Defender is enough, providing it’s fully updated. (Source: PCWorld)

Why this is important for your small business: I’m sure the makers of anti-virus software aren’t thrilled to hear that news, but wasn’t the writing on the wall? I always wondered why anti-virus and malware protection wasn’t already built into a device’s operating system and turns out it is (and probably always was). My advice is to work with your IT professionals to fully configure Microsoft Defender to provide protection, ensure that your users are upgrading their operating system when required and leave out any additional bloatware from anti-virus software makers.

OpenAI Turns on Cost-Per-Click Ads Inside ChatGPTOpenAI has switched its ChatGPT ads to pay-per-click pricing in a significant shift from its previous cost per thousand impressions model, Digiday reports. According to details, advertisers can bid between $3 and $5 per click in the Ads Manager interface. Cost per clicks give advertisers more direct, measurable results for customer engagement in comparison to CPMs. And since February, the rate for CPMs has dropped from $60 to as low as $25, decreasing ad revenue for OpenAI. The benefit for advertisers is CPCs allow them to compare their ad spend on other platforms like Google. Gartner analyst Nicole Greene said, “In a world where everything is changing due to AI tech and consumer behaviors, this consistent measurement will help advertisers justify reallocation of spend to OpenAI.” (Source: Digiday)

Why this is important for your small business: Sadly, ChatGPT – and likely other AI platforms – is heading down the same “cost-per-click” black hole that Google prefers. And it really is a black hole. My experience with CPC is frustrating and disappointing: Google tells me an ad got a thousand clicks and yet my landing page shows five people hit it. Why the difference? No one ever answers that question and yet my ad budget is duly depleted.

MORE FOR YOUYelp Launches AI-Powered Assistant to Streamline Local Search and BookingsYelp has made significant upgrades to its AI-powered assistant – Yelp Assistant. Instead of just producing listings, the assistant can answer questions, recommend businesses, and complete actions like reservations or appointments. Users can complete these tasks using natural language with Yelp Assistant that can interpret complex queries and requests.

Yelp’s large database of reviews and photos help explain why a specific business fits the request. The system is now integrated with platforms such as Vagaro (beauty/wellness), Zodoc (healthcare appointments), and Calendly. Also new is Menu Vision – a feature that allows users to view menus up-close before ordering. Yelp is evolving from a search/discovery engine to a transaction-powered assistant, making the search experience smoother. (Source: Search Engine Land)

Why this is important for your small business: My company sells technology services and software B2B so I’m less inclined to use Yelp. But if I were a B2C company or my business was more attuned to Yelp’s audience I would be diving deeply into the platform’s latest AI offerings and integrations. I would probably be using an outside Yelp expert as well. I’ve worked with other small businesses who have done well reaching prospects on Yelp but only after investing a considerable amount of effort and resources to do so.

Start Vibe coding in AI Studio With Your Google AI SubscriptionThis week, Google announced that Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers have “increased usage limits” in Google AI Studio to make app creation more accessible. This includes access to Gemini Pro and Nano Banana Pro, making it easier for developers and hobbyists to transition from experiments to production. Before this update, developers had to manage API (Application Programming Interface) keys, quotas and usage-based charges early in the process. Now developers can more easily assess monthly costs before committing to API pricing through this new subscription model. “These benefits offer an easy entry point to developers who would like to experiment and prototype more deeply with AI Studio,” Google stated. (Source: Google)

Why this is important for your small business: Claude has been receiving all the “vibe-coding” attention lately (with a little shared with OpenAI) but my prediction is that Google is going to ultimately be the main player, particularly as it rolls out more tools within their AI Studio to help developers create solutions. Keep a close eye on the upcoming Google I/O event on May 19th where I’m expecting the company to announce many blow-your-mind AI developments.

HubSpot Introduces Outcome-Based Pricing for AI Agents Starting April 14HubSpot has introduced “outcome-based pricing” for its Breeze Customer Agent and Breeze Prospecting Agent, offering a more valuable way for businesses to leverage AI. Rather than paying just for licenses, HubSpot’s new model attaches costs to completed tasks. According to the company, the cost per conversation has been reduced to $0.50 from $1 per “resolved conversation” by its Breeze Prospecting Agent. For the Prospecting Agent, the cost is $1 per qualified lead. This move by HubSpot demonstrates an understanding that businesses are looking for measurable ROI that could make adoption easier for those who are more skeptical about AI tools. “Businesses are being asked to make big bets on AI right now… Outcome-based pricing removes that risk,” HubSpot’s Chief Customer Officer, Jon Dick, said. (Source: Small Business Trends)

Why this is important for your small business:This is a very interesting way to price a product and one that’s more suitable to companies looking for clear ROI on their technology investments. As a CRM provider, it’s always difficult to quantify the value of what we sell. This type of approach makes it a more tangible discussion.

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