Is being a ‘996' workaholic essential for start-up success?
These stories feed a seemingly incontrovertible belief: that to build something truly successful, you must go 'all in' — pulling all-nighters in the office, cancelling family holidays, ditching weekend plans and putting relationships on indefinite hold. But is that really the only path? Or is it possible to build a thriving business without sacrificing everything else?
It's a question that divides opinion and sparks fierce debate on social media. In one corner are the '996' believers — advocates of a 9am to 9pm, six-days-a-week grind — who argue that success is impossible without extreme commitment. In the other are work-life balance advocates, who say the best businesses are built not just through relentless hustle but by living smarter, more sustainable lives, with time to rest and recharge.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geeky Gadgets
11 minutes ago
- Geeky Gadgets
How to Add Smart AI Agents to Your Websites in 2025
Imagine this: a potential customer visits your website late at night with a pressing question. There's no one available to assist, and they leave, frustrated, never to return. Now, picture the same scenario, but this time, a smart AI agent instantly answers their query, schedules a follow-up, or even processes their purchase—all within seconds. In 2025, this isn't just a futuristic dream; it's the new standard for businesses that want to stay competitive. With AI agents becoming more intuitive and accessible than ever, integrating one into your website is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity. But how do you ensure your AI agent doesn't just exist but truly improves your customer experience? In this step-by-step guide by Skill Leap AI, you'll uncover how to seamlessly add a smart AI agent to your website, from building a robust knowledge base to embedding it with user-friendly tools. Along the way, you'll learn how to select the right AI model, refine its capabilities, and integrate it with platforms like Slack or Stripe for enhanced functionality. Whether you're looking to streamline operations or create a more engaging digital presence, this guide will equip you with actionable insights to make it happen. By the end, you'll not only understand the technical process but also the strategic value of deploying an AI agent that truly works for your business and your users. After all, the future of online interaction is here—are you ready to embrace it? Integrating AI Agents into Websites What is an AI Agent? An AI agent is a virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence, designed to perform specific tasks and interact with users in a conversational manner. It uses a knowledge base, executes predefined actions, and integrates with external tools like calendars, payment systems, or customer relationship management (CRM) platforms. By automating repetitive tasks, an AI agent can significantly enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction. For example, an AI agent can: Answer frequently asked questions: Provide instant responses to common queries, reducing the workload on human support teams. Provide instant responses to common queries, reducing the workload on human support teams. Schedule meetings: Use tools like Calendly to simplify appointment booking. Use tools like Calendly to simplify appointment booking. Process payments: Integrate with platforms such as Stripe to handle secure transactions. The adaptability and functionality of AI agents make them a valuable addition to any website, helping businesses save time and improve user experiences. 1: Build a Comprehensive Knowledge Base The knowledge base serves as the foundation of your AI agent, containing the information it uses to answer questions and perform tasks. A well-organized and detailed knowledge base ensures your AI agent delivers accurate and helpful responses. To create a robust knowledge base, you can: Upload documents: Include PDFs, Word files, or spreadsheets containing relevant information. Include PDFs, Word files, or spreadsheets containing relevant information. Copy and paste text: Directly input essential content into the platform for quick access. Directly input essential content into the platform for quick access. Link to external resources: Connect to website pages, Notion databases, or FAQ sections for additional context. For instance, a technical support business might upload product manuals, troubleshooting guides, and instructional videos. Organizing this data effectively ensures the AI agent can provide precise and timely assistance to users. Using AI Agents for Improved Customer Website Experiences Watch this video on YouTube. Enhance your knowledge on AI Agents by exploring a selection of articles and guides on the subject. 2: Select the Right AI Model Choosing the appropriate AI model is critical to the success of your AI agent. Different models, such as large language models (LLMs) like GPT40 Mini or advanced reasoning models, offer varying levels of complexity, cost, and functionality. When selecting a model, consider the following factors: Budget: Evaluate the cost of the model and ensure it aligns with your financial resources. Evaluate the cost of the model and ensure it aligns with your financial resources. Functionality: Determine whether the model can handle the specific tasks your business requires. Determine whether the model can handle the specific tasks your business requires. Customization: Use system prompts to define the agent's tone, role, and limitations, making sure it aligns with your brand identity. For example, if your AI agent needs to handle complex customer queries, a reasoning model may be more suitable. Customizing prompts allows you to fine-tune the agent's behavior, making sure it communicates effectively and maintains a professional tone. 3: Test and Refine Your AI Agent Thorough testing is essential before deploying your AI agent. This step ensures the agent performs as expected and meets user needs. Use a testing environment to simulate real-world interactions and evaluate its responses. During this phase, you should: Identify knowledge gaps: Update the knowledge base with additional information as needed. Update the knowledge base with additional information as needed. Refine system prompts: Adjust the agent's behavior to improve its accuracy and tone. Adjust the agent's behavior to improve its accuracy and tone. Test edge cases: Evaluate how the agent handles complex or unusual queries. For example, if the agent struggles to answer a specific type of question, you can add relevant data to the knowledge base or tweak its training parameters. This iterative process ensures the AI agent is ready for deployment and capable of delivering a high-quality user experience. 4: Integrate Tools for Enhanced Functionality Integrating external tools with your AI agent expands its capabilities and allows it to perform a wider range of tasks. Depending on your business needs, you can connect the AI agent to platforms such as: Slack: Assist team communication and collaboration. Assist team communication and collaboration. Stripe: Enable secure and efficient payment processing. Enable secure and efficient payment processing. Calendly: Simplify appointment scheduling for users. Additionally, you can use APIs or create custom actions to enable advanced functionalities. For instance, an e-commerce business might integrate its inventory management system, allowing the AI agent to provide real-time stock updates to customers. These integrations enhance the agent's utility and ensure it delivers value to both your business and its users. 5: Embed the AI Agent on Your Website Embedding the AI agent into your website is the final step in the integration process. This is typically achieved using an embed code, which allows you to add the agent as a chat bubble or a full-page iframe. To ensure a seamless user experience, consider the following: Customize the interface: Match the chat interface to your website's design by adjusting colors, fonts, and icons. Match the chat interface to your website's design by adjusting colors, fonts, and icons. Craft a welcome message: Create an engaging introduction to encourage users to interact with the agent. Create an engaging introduction to encourage users to interact with the agent. Test responsiveness: Ensure the interface works smoothly on various devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. For example, a travel agency might design the chat interface to include quick links to popular destinations, making it easier for users to navigate and find relevant information. These customizations enhance usability and encourage user engagement. Monitor, Optimize, and Expand Your AI Agent Once your AI agent is live, ongoing monitoring and optimization are essential to maintain its effectiveness. Use analytics tools to track key metrics such as chat logs, confidence scores, and user satisfaction. These insights can help you: Identify improvement areas: Update the knowledge base or refine system prompts to address user feedback. Update the knowledge base or refine system prompts to address user feedback. Enhance performance: Adjust the agent's behavior to better meet user needs and expectations. Adjust the agent's behavior to better meet user needs and expectations. Expand deployment: Extend the agent's reach by integrating it with other platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, or Slack. Regular updates and optimizations ensure your AI agent continues to deliver value over time, adapting to evolving business needs and user expectations. By taking a proactive approach to maintenance, you can maximize the benefits of your AI agent and solidify its role as a key asset for your organization. Media Credit: Skill Leap AI Filed Under: AI, Guides Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
The Independent
41 minutes ago
- The Independent
Alaska Airlines grounds all flights after tech outage
has been forced to ground all its flights across its entire network following an undisclosed technical error that impacted its systems. The carrier confirmed the widespread disruption early on Monday. 'We are currently experiencing an IT outage that's impacting our operations,' the Seattle -based airline said in a social media update' 'We requested a temporary, system-wide ground stop until the issue is resolved.' The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website showed a system-wide ground stop for Alaska Airlines at all airports, effective shortly before 3am on Monday. A subsequent FAA update clarified that the grounding applied to all Alaska mainline and Horizon aircraft, referring to the airline's subsidiary. Customers were advised to check the status of their flights before travelling to airports. In September 2024, Alaska Airlines said it grounded its flights in Seattle briefly due to 'significant disruptions' from an unspecified technology problem that was resolved within hours. Three passengers who sued Alaska Airlines and Boeing after a door plug fell out of their plane at 16,000 feet settled out of court in July. These passengers were on board Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 from Portland to Ontario, California on 5 January 2024 when a door plug suddenly flew off the Boeing 737 Max jet mid-air. They sued Alaska Airlines and Boeing for $1 billion in 2024 but settled out of court in July, according to KPTV. The lawsuit was dismissed on 7 July with prejudice, KPTV reported, which means they cannot refile the same lawsuit later. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed as part of the settlement agreement, their attorney said. In June, the National Transportation Safety Board ruled Boeing was at fault in the frightening incident. The agency said it found four bolts missing from the door plug, which caused it to slowly slide out of place for more than 100 flights until it finally fell off.
Daily Mail
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Anthony Albanese Government considers four-day work week
By The Albanese government has not ruled out the possibility of a four-day work week, following union claims that shorter hours could boost national productivity. The French-style idea is expected to be discussed at a three-day productivity roundtable in August, where strategies to tackle Australia's weak economic growth will be debated. Major business groups have already submitted their proposals to the roundtable, advocating for a corporate tax cut as a means to revive faltering productivity. Meanwhile, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) are pushing for a better work-life balance. AMWU national secretary Steve Murphy argued that reducing work hours through options such as a four-day week, a nine-day fortnight, or a 35-hour week could be key to improving productivity without reducing pay. 'Where we would like it to get is that there is a much more healthy balance between time at work and time with your family and time for leisure than what it is right now,' Mr Murphy said. On Sunrise on Tuesday, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek (pictured) declined to rule out the four-day week when asked directly by host Monique Wright. 'Could we be seeing a four-day working week?' 'Well, we'll listen to all views respectfully,' Plibersek said. 'The Treasurer's roundtable on productivity, I think is a great way of bringing unions and business and other groups together to discuss how we make our economy stronger and more productive. 'What we won't be doing to improve productivity is ask people to work longer for less. We want to invest in our people, boost training, invest in technologies and new ways of working, make sure that we're playing to our competitive advantages as a nation. 'That's how we boost productivity.' Speaking about the upcoming productivity roundtable, Mr Albanese said he wanted businesses, unions and civil society to put forward practical measures that have 'as broad a support as possible'. 'If you had a choice between, do you have less things with more support, or more things with less broad support, then I'm in favour of the former,' Albanese said. Representatives from the Australian Council of Trade Unions have received four of 24 invitations to the upcoming economic reform roundtable. The roundtable will also include delegates from the Business Council, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and the Australian Industry Group, among others.
