Latest news with #serviceprovider
Fast Company
18-07-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
The new reputation risk: When AI misquotes you
AI summaries are everywhere now. They appear above search engine results, in chatbots, and as part of the tools customers use when deciding which brands to trust. But what happens when those summaries are wrong, and they're the first thing people see about you? Welcome to the new era of hallucinated reputation. AI OVERVIEWS ARE FAST—AND FLAWED In May 2024, Google launched AI Overviews to millions of U.S. users. The tool uses generative AI to answer search queries with a synthesized answer pulled from across the web. But within days, the cracks showed. One user asked how to make cheese stick to pizza. Google's AI Overview replied, 'Add a little non-toxic glue.' That response was pulled from a sarcastic Reddit post, not a food blog or scientific source. AI Overviews has treated satirical websites as if they were genuine news outlets and given detailed answers to nonsense questions like 'Can you lick a badger twice?'. With AI-powered search and summaries being integrated into other major platforms, these issues aren't simple one-offs. Far from rare, their impact will have lasting consequences. BAD DATA IN, FALSE NARRATIVES OUT Unlike traditional search results that link directly to verified content, most AI systems don't cite reliable sources consistently. In some cases, they cite them incorrectly; other times, they just make things up. That's a big problem for businesses and public figures. At for example, we worked with a local HVAC service provider that shared a similar name with a much larger national provider, so AI Overviews and chatbot responses were blending the two. When someone searched 'Is [Company Name] legit?' or 'reviews for [Company Name],' the summaries pulled in Reddit threads and Quora comments about the national chain, even after adding narrower search terms like the local business' city or suburb. The generated reviews cited complaints and service issues that had nothing to do with the local provider. One summary even listed an out-of-state headquarters address and misidentified the owners. AI hallucinations aren't the only concern. Fake reputation services are now bundling AI tools into their offerings. Need a dozen fake press mentions? They'll generate them with GPT-based models and upload them to abandoned blogs. Need a fake bio or testimonial? It's just a prompt away. These fabricated mention often pass initial detection and are hard to trace. This isn't just about bad jokes or trivia. It's about trust. When customers, investors, or media search for your name or company and see an AI summary that's flat-out wrong, it can quickly distort public perception. And because these AI summaries are designed to reduce clicks, users may never scroll past the top answer to see a correction. In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a final ruling to ban the creation and sale of fake reviews and deceptive testimonials, including those generated by AI. Meanwhile, the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority pressured Google into tougher content moderation policies, including warning labels for businesses that manipulate reviews. The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) now mandates transparency around algorithmic recommendation systems. But these enforcement systems are still playing catch-up. Hallucinated AI summaries don't clearly fall into categories like defamation or review fraud. They're just wrong. And right now, no one is really accountable. The burden shouldn't just fall on the occasional business that gets caught. There needs to be more accountability for the platforms that enable this kind of manipulation in the first place. Government fines help, but they're only hitting a fraction of the problem. WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT Reputation isn't just about what people say anymore. It's about what machines think people say. Your online presence is being read, summarized, and judged by large language models. And your reputation is being reduced to a few AI-generated lines. If those lines are wrong, misleading, or based on outdated content, your brand or name can take a hit before you even know what's out there. This is the new reality, and you can't opt out. But you can influence what AI sees. The first step is to audit your public presence. Search your name or brand across major search platforms and AI tools with browsing enabled. Take note of summaries, bios, or claims that are inaccurate or outdated. If something's wrong, don't just wait for it to go away—address it. Then, update your bios, About pages, and press mentions with consistent facts. Make sure the first three to five search results for your name reflect who you are today, not who you were years ago. These are the signals AI pulls from most often. It's not just about ranking anymore. People are asking chatbots and AI tools things like 'Is [Your Name] legit?' or 'What do people say about [Your Company]?' That's why long-tail keywords and conversational Q&A content matter. AI models prioritize natural language and structured answers when summarizing reputations. In a world where machines write the first draft of your reputation, the real risk is staying silent. AI doesn't understand nuance. It just summarizes whatever is most visible and frequent. Make sure the version of you they find is the one you actually want seen.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New internet service provider comes to Coachella Valley. What does that mean for customers?
A new internet service provider is making inroads into the Coachella Valley, giving customers a new option in a region that has been known for few choices. Hotwire Communications is now available across the valley, but residents interested in the service should know the company uses a unique strategy to provide its services. "We're not the typical cookie-cutter ISP," said Alex Stefanescu, a senior vice president at Hotwire. "We're more of a custom solution provider." Hotwire mainly provides service collectively to homeowners associations and condo associations. Boards for those groups typically request information from the company about pricing and internet options before Hotwire comes up with a unique proposal for each request. "It provides a totally different solution than most people are used to in Coachella Valley and deploys their services via their agreement with the association," Stefanescu said. "And then those services now become available to any and all of the residents as part of their amenity package." If an agreement is made, Hotwire installs its own fiber optic network, which it says is designed to last for decades, and can accommodate the need for increased speeds in the future. "We do it because we want to future-proof the property in the sense that the fiber optic network that we built today can deliver 10 gigs, can deliver 25, 50, and whatever the future brings," Stefanescu added. Hotwire has already signed deals with the Mira Vista neighborhood in Rancho Mirage, as well as the Palm Valley Country Club in Palm Desert, and more are expected to be finalized soon. The company has a large presence throughout Southern California, but this is its first foray into the valley. The high concentration of homeowners associations made the area attractive to Hotwire. Few options for internet service providers exist in the area, with Spectrum being the most widely available. For more information on Hotwire, visit Sam Morgen covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@ This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: What to know about Hotwire Internet service provider Solve the daily Crossword
Entrepreneur
03-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Don't Let the Wrong Vendor Derail Your Business — Here's What to Check First
Think your shortlist of potential vendors is solid? Here's why you might want to double-check. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Choosing the right service provider — whether for UX design, software development or tech consulting — can quietly define the success or failure of your business. Your timeline, your budget, your product quality, your customer experience — all of it can hinge on who you bring in. The moment you invite an external partner into your business, you're handing them partial control of your brand's reputation. Yet too many founders treat the vendor selection process like a checklist item instead of the strategic risk decision it actually is. Here's how to approach it differently — and avoid the costly mistakes that come from rushing into the wrong partnership. Don't shake the first hand that reaches out Founders often make one of two critical errors when hiring vendors: rushing the process or delegating it too far downstream. Either one can lead to a domino effect of issues — missed deadlines, ballooning costs, unhappy customers. When a project fails, it usually comes down to one of two things: time or money. And both are directly influenced by the vendor you choose. Here's why vendor relationships go wrong: The team looks great on paper, but lacks context. Many agencies — even expensive ones — deliver generic solutions because they never take the time to truly understand your goals. Their scale doesn't match yours. Hiring a freelancer for a complex platform or an enterprise firm for a simple app is a recipe for misalignment. You never defined success together. Without shared KPIs or expectations, you're flying blind. No one's accountable, and it's hard to course-correct. Related: The Secret to a Successful Sale — Expert Tips to Navigate Common Deal Derailers Six things to check before you hire a vendor These six checkpoints come from working with clients who came to us after failed vendor relationships. Miss just one, and you risk months of delays — or worse. 1. Don't just glance at testimonials — verify them Look for recent, specific reviews on independent platforms like Clutch or G2. Better yet, ask for references and call past clients. A 10-minute conversation will often tell you more than a case study. 2. Scan the portfolio — but go deeper A pretty portfolio isn't enough. Look for projects similar in scope or industry, and ask to see live examples. Bonus points if their work blends disciplines (like healthtech + e-commerce) — modern products often cross sectors. 3. Look beyond the tech stack A laundry list of tools doesn't prove expertise. What matters is how and why they recommend certain tools for your challenge. Do they show deep understanding and provide context behind decisions? 4. Evaluate real-time communication, not just the pitch If the early calls feel vague, trust your gut. Don't just talk to the salesperson — ask to meet the actual delivery team. Gauge responsiveness, clarity, timezone overlap and cultural fit. 5. Demand thoughtful estimates, not quick quotes The best vendors won't rush a proposal. They'll flag risks, offer alternatives, and explain their logic. If they challenge your assumptions, that's a good sign — not a red flag. 6. Match budget to vendor profile Beware of bids that seem too low — they often come with hidden costs later. Similarly, if you're a small fish for a large firm, you might land in their "low priority" bucket. The right vendor aligns with your scope and growth trajectory. Related: Don't Fall For These Tricks: 5 Things You Shouldn't Do When Selling a Business Choosing a vendor is a strategic decision, not a task Choosing the wrong vendor doesn't just cost money — it eats time, erodes momentum and damages trust. Doubt isn't weakness; it's your best tool for avoiding misalignment. Be skeptical. Ask hard questions. Insist on clarity. And most importantly: don't settle. Your vendor becomes part of your company's story. Make sure it's a chapter you'll be proud of.
Washington Post
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Trump vents online about service provider after conference call marred by glitch
WASHINGTON — On Monday afternoon, the president of the United States was just another person complaining online about his service provider. Donald Trump wrote in a pair of posts on Truth Social that he was trying to hold a conference call with faith leaders from all over the country but was unable to start the call because of technical difficulties.
News24
15-05-2025
- News24
Three Free State men accused of low-cost housing fraud arrested
Three men have been arrested in the Free State for fraud, theft, and money laundering related to the construction of low-cost housing in the Nala Local Municipality. According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Zweli Mohobeleli, the Department of Human Settlements appointed a service provider in May 2021 to build 47 foundations as part of the first phase of a housing project. However, only 14 foundations were built. 'Over R1.1 million was paid to the service provider. However, it was later discovered that only 14 foundations were built, despite the department being billed for 47,' Mohobeleli said. 'A Hawks investigation into the matter pointed to a collaboration between the service provider, development officer, consulting engineer, and project manager. Evidence to this effect was presented before the prosecution, resulting in warrants for their arrest being issued.' Serious Corruption Investigation detectives arrested the development officer, consulting engineer, and project manager, aged 44 to 59, in Bothaville, Welkom, and Bloemfontein on Wednesday. The arrest of the service provider is imminent, according to Mohobeleli. The men are scheduled to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court later on Thursday.
