(This column originally appeared in Forbes)
Here are five things in business tech news that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
Business Tech News #1 — Would you trust AI to change your browser passwords automatically? Google thinks you will.
Google Chrome is testing a new AI-powered feature called Automated Password Change. When Chrome detects that one of your saved passwords has been compromised, it will prompt you to change your password. Instead of doing it manually, Chrome’s AI can automatically update the password for you. The new password is saved in Google’s Password Manager and is encrypted for security. (Source: Windows Central)
Why this is important for your business:
I love this. I really do. From a personal perspective we all know that our usernames and passwords are all over the dark web and have been compromised and most of us are too lazy to do anything about it. From a company perspective we know that our employees are (or are not) doing the same thing. Many of us have software that prompts our users to change their passwords every 60 or 90 days which helps. But Google doing this would be added layer of security. The big question though is: do we trust Google? I think that ship has sailed…
Business Tech News #2 — Slack enhances accessibility testing through automation.
Slack has integrated automated accessibility testing into its software development lifecycle to improve user experience for individuals with disabilities. They adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and use a tool called Axe for testing. (Source: InfoQ)
Why this is important for your business:
While manual testing remains crucial, automation helps address accessibility violations more proactively. Slack faced challenges integrating Axe with their existing frameworks but overcame them by using Playwright and customizing their approach. They plan to continue balancing automation and manual testing, with future developments including AI-driven solutions.
Business Tech News #3 — Monday.com announces AI Vision to empower businesses to scale.
Project management platform Monday.com has announced its AI Vision for 2025, aiming to empower businesses to scale by embedding AI into its product suite. The strategy focuses on three pillars: AI Blocks, Product Power-ups, and the Digital Workforce. AI Blocks allow users to integrate AI into workflows without technical expertise, while Product Power-ups embed AI capabilities to tackle critical challenges like resource management and CRM data automation. Monday.com’s chief technology officer Daniel Lereya commented, “AI Vision is not just about adding new features; it’s about reimagining how work gets done, unlocking infinite possibilities, and empowering businesses to scale like never before.” (Source: Business Wire)
Why this is important for your business:
My company sells CRM software and sometimes we compete with Monday.com. For companies looking for both a good project management and CRM solution I think Monday.com offers much better options than even the products we implement. Monday.com has been growing in popularity and continues to invest in AI tools to make their platform even better. Hmm, maybe we should sell this too?
Business Tech News #4 — Best WordPress plugins to improve SEO.
Search Engine Land highlighted the best “WordPress SEO plugins for 2025.” Some of the top plugins mentioned include SEOPress, Rank Math, Yoast SEO, and AIOSEO. These plugins offer features like keyword optimization, content analysis, sitemap creation, and schema markup. Users are advised to choose plugins based on their specific needs and to avoid using multiple SEO plugins simultaneously to prevent conflicts. The article also emphasized the importance of using SEO plugins to improve website visibility and search rankings. (Source: Search Engine Land)
Why this is important for your business:
A good list to share with your website developer if they’re not already aware. But this also underscores the importance of keeping up with this stuff if you’re managing your own website. Many platforms position themselves with small businesses as doing the job instead of having to hire a developer, which is fine. But the value that developers bring is knowing — and implementing- tools like these. If you’re doing this on your own just be aware that you still need to invest the time and be current on this technology.
Business Tech News #5 — Microsoft Teams is becoming more like Facebook.
Microsoft Teams is introducing a new feature called “Storyline,” which brings a social media-style feed to the platform. This feature allows users to share messages, news, or congratulations in a format similar to Facebook. Users can follow colleagues, interact with posts through likes, comments, and reactions, and engage with content directly within Teams. Storyline is powered by Viva Engage, Microsoft’s internal networking tool, and aims to make collaboration feel more social and interactive. (Source: Computerworld)
Why this is important for your business:
Sorry, not sold. Maybe employees at big companies will find this kind of stuff a fun distraction in the midst of their endless, back-to-back Teams meetings. But for most businesses, this doesn’t seem like much of a draw.
