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Reddit has a new feature in the works that could make it both a ChatGPT and Google competitor.

Reddit announced on Monday that it has started to test a new AI chatbot called Reddit Answers. The bot provides conversational responses to user queries like “How can I get better sleep?” and “Is a hot dog a sandwich?” by drawing from what Redditors have written across the platform.

Reddit Answers summarizes what Redditors have said at the top of its response and links to the communities and posts across Reddit that it used to formulate the response at the bottom. Users have the option to dive deeper by clicking through the links or by asking a follow-up question.

^{Example of top of a Reddit Answers response. Credit: Reddit}

^{Example of the bottom of a Reddit Answers response. Credit: Reddit}

Reddit advertises Answers as a way to “Find answers from real people.”

Related: Here’s Why Reddit Turned Down an Acquisition Offer From Google in Its Early Days, According to Cofounder Alexis Ohanian

“AI-powered search is part of our longer-term vision to improve the search experience on Reddit – making it faster, smarter, and more relevant,” Reddit stated in a blog post.

The move puts Reddit in competition with search engines like Google and AI chatbots like ChatGPT. Instead of asking a question on Google and adding “Reddit” at the end of the search query to find an answer from Reddit, users can go straight to Reddit to ask the question.

The conversational format of the answer is also similar to ChatGPT, making Reddit Answers a combination of an AI chatbot and a Reddit search.

Related: Can ChatGPT Help Start a Business? I Tried the Latest Version, GPT-4o, to Find Out.

Google and OpenAI have already signed deals to use Reddit data in their AI responses. Google currently has about 90% of the search engine market, according to Stat Counter. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed last week that ChatGPT has over 300 million weekly users and handles more than one billion messages per day.

Reddit Answers is currently only available in early access to a limited group of Redditors in the U.S., with plans to roll it out to additional countries.

If you’re hoping venture capital investors will pony up big money for your startup, you need to use your brain — all of it.

If you’re scratching your head to understand what that means, I’m referring to the false yet intriguing theory that people are right-brain or left-brain dominant. Left-brainers, like mathematicians and engineers, were once believed to be more logical and analytical. Right-brainers were more creative and artistic, like writers and painters.

While this scientific theory has been disproven, the idea behind it is a helpful illustration. If you’re an entrepreneur pitching to investors, you must utilize “both sides” of your brain to win them over.

To effectively tell your startup’s story, combine your business’s logical and analytical side with a creative, imaginative presentation. This is a multifaceted process that combines elements of art and science.

Understanding and embracing this dual nature of fundraising can significantly enhance your startup’s chances of success.

Related: What I Learned From The First 3 Months of Fundraising My 6-Figure Business

Left brain: The science of fundraising

If you’re a data lover and number cruncher, this section’s for you.

Understanding market dynamics, making data-driven decisions and employing accurate valuation techniques are crucial components of the scientific approach to fundraising.

Understanding market dynamics

As an entrepreneur, you have to understand your broader market and investor behavior.

Market research provides critical insights into trends, investor preferences and potential opportunities. Knowing your market and understanding what investors are looking for can give you a significant edge. Keen awareness of your market is more likely to attract investor interest.

Data-driven decisions

For left-brainers, data is king.

Startups need to back their proposals with extensive financial projections and metrics. This involves meticulous analysis of past performance, market potential and economic health. Investors won’t give you a second look unless you have a clear, realistic business plan reinforced by accurate data.

Startups presenting detailed financial projections and market analysis are likelier to instill confidence in potential investors because of their due diligence and foresight.

Valuation techniques

Accurate valuation is another critical scientific aspect of fundraising.

Suitable valuation methods include discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis or comparables. Selecting the right approach can significantly affect negotiations, making it easier to work alongside investors. Research and select a valuation method that aligns with your business model and market conditions. This strategic selection ensures your startup’s value proposition is realistic and appealing to investors.

Related: I Have Helped Founders Raise Millions. Here Are 7 Fundraising Mistakes I See Many Startups Making — And What You Need To Do Instead.

Right brain: The art of fundraising

Imagine fundraising like building a house.

If data and analytics are the foundation and base structure, the creative element is where you design the interior and exterior to create something unique that you can show off to the world.

It’s the human element of fundraising. Crafting a compelling narrative, building relationships and mastering persuasive communication are essential creative components that can sway investor decisions.

Crafting the narrative

Storytelling is a powerful tool in fundraising. Investors are not just buying into a product; they’re investing in a vision. A compelling story can set your startup apart in a crowded market.

Crafting a captivating narrative can emotionally resonate with investors and make your pitch more memorable. Focus on your mission, vision and the unique value you bring to the market, and use those pieces to weave together a tale that captures their imaginations.

Building relationships

Fundraising is more than a financial transaction. It’s about social transactions and building long-lasting relationships.

Networking plays a pivotal role in securing funding. A successful networking strategy means engaging with potential investors long before you ask them for funding. Rubbing shoulders with investors now can go a long way when you’re ready to raise funds. Building trust and rapport with investors creates a foundation for future support and collaboration and can make the fundraising process even smoother.

Communication is critical

Of course, building a solid network and nurturing meaningful relationships is pretty hard if you don’t know how to communicate effectively.

You can’t deliver a persuasive pitch unless you’re precise, confident and able to connect with your audience. That’s why you must continue honing your communication skills and practicing your pitch until it is clear, concise and compelling. Emphasize your strengths, be ready to address concerns and confidently present your vision for the future and your company’s immense potential.

Related: Think You’re Ready to Fundraise? Your Business Needs to Meet These 3 Milestones First.

Balancing art and science

A challenging aspect of fundraising lies in balancing the scientific and artistic elements. However, uniting the left and right brain can create a compelling and valuable proposition for investors.

Integrating both approaches

Successful fundraising requires both sides of the brain.

Startups must present their financials and market analysis while weaving a compelling narrative. Combining complex data with your brand’s story creates a comprehensive pitch, and investors need to see the potential for growth and the passion behind your vision.

This integration helps create a balanced and persuasive pitch.

Combining brain power

While some founders have a killer combination of science savvy and creative genius, most have the left side down but need a dominant right-brain partner to take things to the next level.

This is where building a core team is critical. Finding people who can understand your idea, see how to build on it and showcase it in a new way will help create a stronger organization that will shine in front of investors.

If you are an entrepreneur, it’s your responsibility to humble yourself, understand that you can’t control everything and put your trust in others who you know can excel in areas that aren’t your forte. That’s a true display of leadership.

Using your head

Securing funding is a pivotal step for any startup, and harnessing the full power of both sides of the brain is vital to achieving this goal.

By understanding market dynamics, leveraging data, crafting compelling narratives, building relationships and maintaining a long-term vision, startups can create a strong foundation for their fundraising efforts.

Balancing these elements can lead to more successful and rewarding fundraising experiences. Startups that embrace the art and science of fundraising are well-equipped to attract investors and drive their vision forward.

After a lackluster October jobs report due to strikes and storms, November’s jobs report shows that the market is back to healthy levels.

The Employment Situation report, released on Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, revealed that the U.S. economy added 227,000 new jobs in November, higher than the 214,000 jobs expected by economists polled by The Wall Street Journal.

The unemployment rate also rose from 4.1% in October to 4.2% in November. The number of unemployed people is now at 7.1 million, higher than it was at the same time last year when there were 6.3 million people out of work.

Related: ‘Gradual Recalibration:’ The Fed Cuts Rates By 0.25%, Just as Economists Predicted. Here’s What It Means for Your Wallet.

The healthcare, leisure and hospitality, and government sectors added 54,000, 53,000, and 33,000 new jobs last month, respectively, while the retail sector lost 28,000 jobs.

After the report’s release, EY senior economist Lydia Boussour told Entrepreneur in an emailed statement that the November employment report “showed a broad-based but temporary rebound in payroll gains of 227,000 as disruptions from strikes and hurricanes faded.”

“However, weaker household survey data confirmed labor market conditions are undeniably cooling with the unemployment rate rising to 4.25%,” she added.

November’s employment report exceeded expectations with jobs added, unlike October’s report, which underperformed. In October, the economy only added 12,000 new jobs, the smallest gain since December 2020 and below the 100,000 additions expected.

Related: The U.S. Economy Was Expected to Add 100,000 Jobs in October—It Added 12,000. Here’s Why.

Looking ahead, Boussour expects the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to cut the federal funds rate by 25 basis points, or 0.25%, at the upcoming December 17-18 policy meeting. The federal funds rate is the rate that banks pay each other on loans. She also forecasts that the unemployment rate will reach 4.5% by mid-2025.

“Going forward, policymakers at the Fed will tread carefully,” Boussour said.

There’s a new level of ChatGPT available, but its $200-a-month price tag has the company pitching it to researchers and heavy users who are trying to push boundaries with the AI chatbot.

OpenAI introduced the new plan, ChatGPT Pro, on Thursday. It’s 10 times more expensive than ChatGPT Plus, which costs $20 per month. Other plans available include the $60 per month per user ChatGPT Enterprise and the $25 per month per user ChatGPT Teams.

Related: Can ChatGPT Help Start a Business? I Tried GPT-4o to Find Out.

For the added cost, a user gets unlimited access to o1, a new AI model that OpenAI introduced on Thursday. The o1 model is better than a human expert at PhD level science questions and has a reduced error rate and faster response time compared to previous models, per OpenAI’s release video. Pro users also have unlimited access to the older GPT-4o and Advanced Voice, a capability that allows for natural spoken conversations with ChatGPT.

In contrast, the $20 ChatGPT Plus plan only offers limited access to o1 and Advanced Voice, which means that subscribers have a limit on how much they can talk to ChatGPT or use the chatbot’s most advanced model.

“A lot of people, power users of ChatGPT at this point, they really use it a lot, they want more compute than $20 a month can buy,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated in a video announcement.

On Thursday, OpenAI also introduced o1 pro mode, an AI model that the company says can tackle the hardest math, science, and programming problems. Only Pro members can access o1 pro mode.

OpenAI says that researchers, engineers, and other heavy AI users will make the best use of Pro. The AI giant awarded 10 grants of ChatGPT Pro to U.S. academics on Thursday, including aging and dementia researcher Rhoda Au⁠, who is a professor of anatomy and neurobiology at Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

ChatGPT has more than 11 million paying subscribers as of September and 200 weekly active users overall.

Related: Certain Words Reportedly Will Break ChatGPT. I Tried Them — Here’s What Happened.

In April, the U.S. Senate passed a law that would force TikTok to separate from its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, within a year—or face a national ban. On Friday, a U.S. appeals court upheld the law.

This means TikTok could be banned starting January 19, 2025.

Related: TikTok Sues U.S. to Block Ban, Sale Mandate, Says Divesting From ByteDance ‘Not Possible’

In May, TikTok sued to try to block the law, arguing that it infringed on the free speech of its users, but in the ruling, the judges wrote that it does not “contravene the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States,” and it also does not “violate the Fifth Amendment guarantee of equal protection of the laws.”

In a statement, TikTok suggested it would appeal the decision.

“The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue,” said company spokesperson Michael Hughes, per CNN. “Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people. The TikTok ban, unless stopped, will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the US and around the world on January 19th, 2025.”

TikTok has around 170 million users in the U.S., according to reports.

Related: I Have Over 214,000 Followers on TikTok. Here’s What I’m Doing Right Now In Case a Ban Happens.

ByteDance previously noted that it will not sell.

In a September, U.S. government attorneys argued that TikTok’s algorithm is “controlled by its Chinese parent company,” which may influence Americans on the app.

TikTok users, meanwhile, are posting their complaints and sorrows.

“This is nuts,” one user said in a video, while others said they still have their “hopes that TikTok will not get banned” but that “it doesn’t look good.”

Some users said they would start posting more on YouTube, just in case.

If you’re busy operating a business or establishing a side hustle, shopping for groceries and managing household needs with trips across town can be challenging. Fortunately, Costco Gold Star Members can access a far-ranging selection of supplies under one roof and beyond.

During Cyber Week, you can get a Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership plus a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card* for only $65 and start shopping smarter. Stretch your budget by exploring the advantages of a Gold Star Membership, which features an additional Household Card that can be used by one adult member of your household that can be used on favorite products at any location.

Offering access to more than 500 warehouses nationwide, Costco is an ideal destination for those looking to dominate their to-do list. Buy smarter with bulk goods and discover new value from brand names.

Stock your kitchen, find quality everyday items, and see what’s new in electronic devices and furniture, all while possibly getting a car tire installed. That experience awaits with a Costco Gold Star Membership.

The impact extends beyond store aisles, as a Gold Star Membership comes complete with access to Costco Travel for exclusive vacation opportunities, along with Costco Optical and Costco Pharmacy at select locations. Plus, enjoy members-only savings on fuel when you refill your vehicle’s tank at a Costco Gas Station before heading home. You can even use your perks when ordering online at Costco.com.

It’s easy to start using your Costco Gold Star Membership right away. Just purchase your membership here and provide a valid email address. Within two weeks of redeeming your membership purchase, you’ll receive your $45 Digital Costco Shop Card* via email. Use it at a Costco location nearby or shop online. Keep in mind that this offer is only available for new members or those who had their membership expired more than 18 months ago.

Gain greater value on a variety of household needs and much more by grabbing this Cyber Week deal: purchase a Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership with a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card* for only $65 while supplies last. This offer ends tomorrow, December 8, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

*Services are provided to Costco members by third parties.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai says that when it comes to AI, “we are in the earliest stages of a profound shift.”

Pichai explained at the New York Times DealBook Summit on Wednesday that AI models are going to get better at reasoning and carrying out actions reliably over the next few years. The upgrades to AI models will have an impact on Google Search, which will “change profoundly” next year, he stated.

“I think we are going to be able to tackle more complex questions than ever before,” Pichai said. “I think you’ll be surprised even early in ’25 the kind of newer things Search can do compared to where it is today.”

Google has nearly 90% of the global search engine market, according to Stat Counter.

^{Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, at DealBook. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images}

Google has already pushed a series of AI-related changes to search this year, including adding AI overview summaries to the top of search results in May. That same month, reports emerged of Google’s AI overviews hallucinating, or telling users to eat rocks and make pizza sauce with glue.

Since its initial rollout, AI overviews have come to rely less on sources like Reddit and more on sites with specialized expertise, like Healthline and Runnersworld, according to a June study from SEO platform SE Ranking.

Related: Google’s AI Overview Has Changed Since Its Debut, and These Websites Have Benefitted the Most

Earlier this week, Google introduced a new AI model that beat the world’s most accurate modeling system in predicting the weather. It even predicted extreme weather, even though it was not trained to do so.

At DealBook, Pichai also said that Google is also gearing up to release its next generation of AI models.

“I just think there’s so much innovation ahead,” he said.

According to Patriot Software, entrepreneurs like yourself often work significantly longer hours than standard employees—anywhere from 50 hours to 80 hours a week depending on their business and its demands. So, when you have the opportunity to step away from their desks, what could you do to prevent burnout while engaging in enriching activities outside of work?

The answer could be as simple as taking a walk outside, or heading to your favorite sports team’s tailgate or a camping trip. Level up their favorite outdoor activities with the Carsule pop-up cabin and its accompanying inflatable Mottress. This duo could make any tailgating party or camping trip more comfortable, and both are now available for only $399.99, normally $508.

The easiest-to-set-up tent

On your next long weekend camping trip, don’t drag along the regular old tent that takes half an hour to set up, the Carsule just pops open from its case. Then, slide in the supporting rods, attach the magnets to your vehicle, and use the guy lines for added stability. This design adapts to a variety of car models—but your vehicle must have a swinging hatchback since it serves as the Carsule’s main structural support.

The Carsule provides over six feet of standing height and plenty of room for friends or family to hang out. Waterproof flooring, UV protective coating, and integrated mosquito netting keep you prepared when the bugs come out or if the weather changes.

An inflatable mattress designed for travel

Pairing the Carsule with the Mottress brings additional comfort. The Mottress isn’t like your ordinary inflatable mattress—its origami-style foldable design with four sections allows for a variety of configurations. Set up a makeshift couch when you’re entertaining, or spread them out flat for a comfy place to nap.

The Mottress is made with breathable fabric, so you can still enjoy your new setup on hot August nights. And, in case you spill a drink or snack, you can easily remove and wash the cover and wipe down the inner foam so it’s ready to go for the next game.

Add the Carsule and Mottress complete car adventure package to any outdoor excursion or tailgate, now $399.99 while supplies last.

Carsule & Mottress: A Complete Car Adventure Package!

Only $399.99 at Entrepreneur

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Nowadays, your website is usually the first impression clients and customers have of your brand. But hiring a developer or managing expensive subscriptions can quickly eat into your budget. MaxiBlocks, a no-code WordPress website builder, changes the game by letting you design professional websites without technical skills or hefty monthly costs. You can get a lifetime subscription on sale for just $59 for a limited time.

WordPress powers more than 43% of all websites globally, making it the most trusted platform for businesses of every size. MaxiBlocks takes full advantage of WordPress’s flexibility with its drag-and-drop builder, giving you the tools to create sleek, responsive sites that look custom-made. Whether you’re launching a new business, showcasing your portfolio, or building an e-commerce store, MaxiBlocks makes it fast and intuitive.

And it’s cost-effective. While competitors like Wix and Squarespace charge at least $16 per month for basic plans, MaxiBlocks offers a no-subscription deal. That means you can save hundreds over time while still enjoying professional results.

With features like ready-made templates, full WordPress compatibility, and an intuitive interface, MaxiBlocks lets you build like a pro — no coding required.

Focus on growing your business while MaxiBlocks takes care of your website with a lifetime subscription to a MaxiBlocks No-Code Webpage Builder Pro Plan for $59.

MaxiBlocks No-Code Webpage Builder: Pro Plan Lifetime Subscription (3 Licenses) – $59

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

This week’s tragic shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York has raised concern about the security of corporate leaders.

CNN says, “UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing shows why companies spend millions to protect their top executives.” A Forbes columnist predicts that “after the shooting… security personnel will be in demand.” And, according to this Wall Street Journal report, his killing “prompted an immediate re-evaluation of longstanding security practices across corporate America,” and “dozens” of security chiefs from large U.S. companies convened together on a call to discuss the situation.

“The environment is explosive right now,” a former Boston police commissioner who now (no surprise) consults with large companies on mitigating security risks told the Journal. “The threats are evolving and getting more violent.”

Okay, let’s calm down, shall we?

Related: Unsolved Murder of UnitedHeathcare Exec Causes Panicked Health Insurance Companies to Take Down Website Leadership Pages

Of course, there’s reason behind this concern. Corporate executives are not only more in the spotlight than ever before, but they are also not too hard to find. They attend public events, shareholder meetings and social functions all over the world. Often, companies make their schedules public or publish press releases noting where they’ll be. Getting hold of their home addresses is a few steps online. Digging into their personal relationships takes minutes, thanks to LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

If you’re a corporate executive, you can easily be targeted by someone who, say, wants to right a wrong or impersonate a social justice warrior for 15 minutes of fame. But this is not a new thing, is it?

Uber’s former CEO, Travis Kalanick, was egged in Taiwan in 2017. Bill Gates was hit with a pie in the face during an overseas visit in 1998. Rubert Murdoch and the CEOs of Qantas Airlines and the now defunct Enron Corporation also got pie-ed. Frankly, lots of business leaders and celebrities have been “involuntarily” pied over the years.

But the murder of a CEO is, obviously, much more serious. Thankfully, these situations have not only been few and far between but almost non-existent.

An advertising executive was murdered in New Jersey in 1994, but that turned out to be the Unabomber’s doing. A Microsoft executive was shot and killed in Florida in 2022, but the culprit turned out to be his ex-wife’s husband. George Tiller, who owned a women’s health clinic in Kansas, was murdered by an anti-abortion extremist at a church service (his clinic was the target of “multiple attacks” previously).

I don’t want to downplay or trivialize the gravity of what happened to Thompson. But I’ve searched Google and various chatbots like Perplexity and ChatGPT for examples of other CEOs who have met the same fate and come up short.

There are currently 55,000 publicly held companies in the world, and the U.S. has more than six million employee-owned businesses alone. These companies are led not only by CEOs and business owners but by teams of senior executives who would all make enticing targets for the attention seeker. And yet, there are very, very few incidents like this. Senior executives seem more at risk of succumbing to a skiing accident or going down in a plane crash than some random person shooting them point blank on a busy New York City street.

Which is why we should all calm down for a minute. The media loves to exploit the worst of our fears and anxieties to get clicks. So they write things like “security will be in demand” and “the environment is explosive.” Posts like these from irresponsible “journalists” certainly do not help either. It’s a great marketing moment for security firms. But should corporations be making knee-jerk decisions to all-of-the-sudden start spending significant sums for security over what seems to be an isolated incident? If your CEO is Mark Zuckerberg, a celebrity, I get it. But for all others? I’m not so sure.

Related: Here’s How Entrepreneurs Can Protect Their Company From Cyberattacks

Why? Because people don’t go around shooting other people. Our systems — while they don’t catch everyone — are pretty good at isolating those with criminal histories or who need watching. Guns can be obtained both legally and illegally, but pulling off a shooting requires patience, skill and planning.

Of course, people in public positions need to be careful in today’s world. CEOs who get political or involved in social issues or support certain controversial causes are increasing their risk of assault from a tiny fraction of lunatics that oppose them. Executives who run firms that are involved in life and death matters, such as healthcare, also need to be careful. All leaders have to be aware of their surroundings. If they receive threats — as Thompson allegedly did — they must take them seriously. Those are the situations where added security measures are needed, be it provided by local police or through private firms.

But as you can see from the numbers, these situations are few and far between. So, no one should be panicking. Corporations don’t need to surround their CEOs with secret service-type agents in sunglasses. Some do, and they pay millions for the privilege. But for the vast majority of corporate executives, they can take heart that we haven’t gotten to that point. And I don’t think we will ever get to that point — at least not in the foreseeable future.

Thompson’s shooting was tragic. But it was a rare event. An anomaly. We should mourn for this man. But, with apologies to the security industry, we shouldn’t be overreacting.