The Trump administration is planning new restrictions on DeepSeek, the Chinese AI lab that sent shockwaves through the tech sector with the launch of its titular AI model in January this year. Reportedly, the President hopes to limit the company’s access to Nvidia chips, and potentially block US citizens from accessing the platform.

This marks the latest twist in a long-running saga, with the US-based chipmaker at its center. On Tuesday, the company revealed that the White House had restricted sales of some of its AI chips to China, and that future purchases would require a special license.

These moves are likely to stymie some of the progress that the Chinese company has made in recent months. Much to the Trump administration’s chagrin, DeepSeek has become a highly popular tool among AI developers in the US. The US is desperate to see off competition from the Eastern superpower in its bid to become top dog of the AI space.

Trump Administration to Place Further Restrictions on DeepSeek

The federal government is considering new sanctions against Chinese AI startup DeepSeek and its flagship model. Reportedly, the new restrictions would prohibit the company from buying Nvidia semiconductor chips, which have been instrumental in the unfolding AI race. It is also considering a total US ban on the platform.

Since its release in January 20 – notably, the day of President Trump’s inauguration – the AI model has been something of a revelation across the world. Within days of its rollout, it quickly supplanted the likes of ChatGPT and Gemini to secure coveted top spot on the Apple and Google app stores.

In the interim, it has become increasingly popular with Silicon Valley AI developers themselves, in a development that is unlikely to be warmly met by the President and his close confidante, Elon Musk.

No Love Lost Between DeepSeek and US

Wednesday’s report is just the latest twist in a long-running saga. On Tuesday, Nvidia confirmed that the Trump Administration had blocked some sales of its AI semiconductor chip to China. The restrictions represented the first “major limits” that the government had imposed on AI chips abroad – only to be blown out of the water a day later by the latest whisperings.

Nvidia, whose share price took a 5% hit following its announcement on Tuesday, has exploited loopholes in previous government directives in order to continue selling to China, which represents a highly lucrative market. Notably, it modified the performance of one of its chips, the H100, so that it fell below a threshold imposed by the Biden administration.

A couple of months ago, the state of New York banned government workers from downloading the app, in a move that is widely expected to set a precedent over the coming months. At the time, New York Governor Kathy Hochul cited “serious concerns… concerning DeepSeek AI’s connection to foreign government surveillance and censorship.”

Trump’s Determined to Keep a Lid on China Progress

The DeepSeek shakeup is just one flashpoint in the unfolding hostilities between the US and China, which have reached fever pitch since the start of President Trump’s second tenure.

Among a litany of aims, the President hopes to best China in the AI race, in which the two superpowers are currently locked in a fierce contest. A few weeks ago, a Chinese startup unveiled Manus AI, thought to be the world’s first fully autonomous AI chatbot. Meanwhile, in January, Trump announced funding to the tune of $500 billion for his Project Stargate project.

The President will hope that by clamping down on China’s access to Nvidia semiconductor chips, he can secure decisive footing in this fast-moving saga.

OpenAI has unveiled its latest AI model, known as o3. The company claims that it can think “with images,” meaning that it understands sketches and diagrams, even low-quality ones. Alongside o3, the company also unveiled 04-mini, a smaller model and presumably the precursor to a later o4 model.

o3 is capable of analyzing whiteboards, sketches, and other images. Theoretically, a user can simply upload an image, and o3 will analyze and discuss it. It can also rotate, zoom, and use other image-editing tools.

It’s been a period of extraordinary growth and development for OpenAI. The company only debuted its first reasoning model, o1, in September 2024, which was able to solve complex problems and deliberate over its answers. In its bid to outpace rivals, including xAI and Anthropic, OpenAI has pursued a strategy of rapid deployment. The tactic would seem to be working, with our Impact of Technology on the Workplace report finding that  ChatGPT is way out in front of the pack as the AI model of choice among businesses.

New OpenAI Model Can Think “With Images”

OpenAI has released its newest AI model, known as o3. The platform is capable of thinking “with images,” according to reports, meaning that users can input sketches, diagrams, and other images into the model, and it will analyze and discuss them. The tool can also rotate, zoom, and deploy other image-editing tools.

The company also released o4-mini, a smaller model that presumably forecasts the future release of o4 proper. In terms of scheduling, this latest rollout does go against the grain for OpenAI, with previous models typically released in isolation.

In a statement, the company said: “For the first time, our reasoning models can independently use all ChatGPT tools – web browsing, Python, image understanding, and image generation. This helps them solve complex, multi-step problems more effectively and take real steps toward acting independently.”

Company Betting Big on Image Generation

The company claims that o3 and o4-mini are the first of its AI models that are capable of “think[ing] with images.” This means that they can “integrate visual information directly into the reasoning chain,” as opposed to simply being able to “see” images.

The latest development follows an image-generation AI tool that the company rolled out last month, which quickly went viral, with hundreds of users mocking up their own Studio Ghibli-style creations. Previously, it had success with DALL-E, the sophisticated image generation model that found fame upon its release in 2021. There have since been two more iterations of the platform.

Image comprehension is far from the only thing that o3 is capable of, says the company. Allegedly, it is also skilled at math, coding, and science. Both o3 and o4-mini were made available to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team customers on Wednesday. OpenAI did not disclose when users could expect a wider rollout.

Latest Release Caps Busy Period

It’s been a whirlwind period for OpenAI. The Sam Altman-helmed company has rarely strayed from the headlines, releasing three groundbreaking AI models since September, alongside a slew of updates to ChatGPT-4o, an introduction to ChatGPT-4.5, and an ongoing feud with X head honcho, Elon Musk.

Rumbling along in the background is the AI race, which has so far been dominated by OpenAI. However, with new models and startups announcing themselves on a near-monthly basis, this race is far from run. Barely a month ago, the world’s first fully autonomous AI model, Manus, was unveiled. In January, meanwhile, President Trump announced $500 billion of investment into Project Stargate.

OpenAI hopes its packed release schedule will be enough to ward off strong competition from elsewhere.

Trump’s own party could be getting in the way of his AI goals, with a GOP-led bill in Texas potentially putting up a lot of red tape that could slow down progress on the president’s plans.

Since taking office earlier this year, President Trump has been adamant about allowing AI technology to evolve as fast as necessary, without the threat of regulations getting in the way.

Now it seems like the Texas GOP is going to do just that, with a new bill set to increase the approval time for the project by months or even years.

Texas Bill Could Slow Down AI Data Center Production

President Trump’s AI plan — dubbed Stargate — aims to build a bunch of heavy-duty data centers that will position the US to compete with China when it comes to developing the technology.

The data centers were scheduled to go up in Texas, with the state housing enough existing infrastructure to handle the load. However, Texas Republicans have introduced and will likely pass a new bill — Senate Bill 6 — that could add six months of regulatory review to the already-lengthy process for approval.

Trump loyalists are obviously not happy, criticizing the new bill as nothing more than red tape that will slow us down and eventually lead to China winning the AI race.

“These heavy-handed mandates risk stifling investment on exactly the infrastructure needed for Trump’s AI initiative.” – Vance Ginn, former chief economist at the White House Office of Management and Budget

Why Are Texas Republicans Trying to Slow Down AI Development?

Over the last few years, the Texas power grid has been a problem for the southern state, with sensitivity to cold causing massive blackouts for residents.

This is the primary reason for the new bill. Texas Republicans are concerned that the additional power needs could cause problems for Texans, either in the form of blackouts or increased energy costs for individuals and small businesses.

“These industries understand they will have to supply their own power needs and are diligently working toward that goal so costs are not disproportionally shifted onto residential and small business customers.” – Dan Patrick, Texas lieutenant governor

Even worse, Texas is essentially the only state in the US that could handle this kind of investment, with states like Wisconsin and Wyoming initially vying for the project but eventually realizing that they were simply not set up to handle the energy commitments.

AI & Regulation

Winning the AI race is obviously important, but it really shouldn’t come at the cost of proper regulation and oversight. After all, we’re talking about the most advanced technology in the world with goals of vast job replacement, so a bit of due diligence is probably a good idea.

In fact, the far reaching implications of the evolution of AI are nothing if not substantial. The environmental impacts alone, for example, have been enough for major companies to roll back their carbon neutral promises, with the technology set to quadruple energy needs by 2030.

Indiana and Ohio officials have agreed to a partnership that would see self-driving trucks on the interstate highway connecting the two states.

Self-driving trucks have been promised by tech and logistics businesses for years, but we’re just now starting to see the industry make actual headway. Some companies are launching full-on automated vehicles, while others are still testing the technology on roadways in the US.

This instance will be nothing more than a test for now, but the interstate cooperation bodes well for an industry on the cusp of a big change.

ODOT and IDOT Partner for Self-Driving Trucks on I-70

According to a joint statement, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Indiana Department of Transportation (IDOT) have agreed to a partnership that will bring self driving trucks to I-70, the interstate highway that connects Indianapolis, Indiana and Columbus, Ohio.

The partnership will operate with an $8.8 million budget from the US Department of Transportation over the course of multiple years.

“Harnessing truck automation technology is one of many innovative safety efforts underway at INDOT. In partnership with Ohio, our goal is to create a safer, lower-stress environment for all drivers.” – Lyndsday Quist, Commissioner at INDOT

Are These Trucks Fully Automated?

If you’re driving down I-70 in the future and you see a truck driving without a driver, you should still be concerned, as fully automated trucks are not part of this partnership.

Instead, the technology that will be employed on the interstate highway between Ohio and Indiana is automated platooning, a system that allows multiple trucks to drive in close formation — like cars on a train — to improve fuel efficiency through drafting. This new technology will allow multiple trucks to be controlled by the leading truck.

“During portions of the I-70 trips, the follower truck will automatically steer, accelerate, and brake, supporting safe, efficient operation and consistent vehicle coordination. Professional drivers will be in the driver’s seat of both trucks throughout the deployment and can turn off the technology system and take over as needed.” – Natalie Garrett, a spokesperson for INDOT

While the technology may not be as groundbreaking as fully automated trucks, it will allow logistics businesses to improve the speed of hauling while safely cutting down on fuel costs. And considering safety hasn’t been a big priority for the new administration, this technology could have a notable impact.

Technology and Trucking

In 2025, every industry is becoming more and more reliant on technology, and the trucking and logistics industries are no different. Automation in particular has become a big buzz word, with tech being used to save as much time as possible throughout the supply chain.

It goes far beyond self-driving trucks, too. Generative AI tools can be used to improve your logistics business as well, and there are many AI training courses for professionals in the industry that can help you streamline operations.

Across the past few months, the landscape of global supply chains has reshaped itself faster than most people working in the business can remember. With cargo shipments set to fall off a cliff within a month or two thanks to sky-high tariffs and counter-tariffs around the globe, buyers and sellers everywhere are re-evaluating their orders.

At the same time, you’ve probably been hearing about the rise of AI. It’s been the top buzzword across Silicon Valley for years now, and even regular joes are talking to ChatGPT or Claude AI about their latest problems.

Perhaps you can take out two birds with one stone: If you’re still trying to get to grips with AI while trying to handle your rapidly evolving job as a logistics technican or manager, you might be able to figure out both of them at once. The right online course can upskill you, teaching you how AI tools can help you better predict the right shipments and better interact with your coworkers, whether they’re suppliers or delivery drivers.

Below, we’ve rounded up the best online courses that focus on AI’s applications for shipping or logistics. The best part? They’re all completely free, so you can get started today — no tariffs will apply.

Artificial Intelligence for Supply Chains and Logistics

⏰Length: 1.5-3 hours

This course, out from Proactive Ideas, covers the range of ways that AI can be used to better perform common tasks within the logistics business. Areas covered in the free course include inventory management, demand prediction, and other improvements to last-mile delivery.

It’s a quick course that should only take you a couple hours to get through, making it an easy way to dip a toe into AI tools while staying squarely focused on the industry that you actually need to get better at.

According to the crafters behind this online course, it’ll help you unlock “the power of Intelligent Transportation Management Systems (I-TMS) and learn to integrate them seamlessly into your logistics operations.” This term refers to the communication between vehicles and a larger infrastructure — it’s like a fleet management system, but for the broader transportation infrastructure. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT may not be included in it, but it still relies on AI and smart learning to figure out the most optimal traffic flow decisions in real time.

In this course, you’ll learn how to best optimize route planning, carrier selection, load balancing, and more. Check it out or get started today by heading to the online learning platform Alison over here and signing up.

OHSC: AI and Supply Chain Free Course

⏰Length: 200 hours

Three hours too short? Try sinking 200 hours into tackling the intersection of AI and supply chain management with Oxford Home Study’s work-at-your-own-pace course.

Across its four modules, you’ll receive an introduction to the subject before diving into how AI can be applied to forecasting and inventory management, procurement and supplier relationships, and transportation management. The training sessions earned a 4.5/5 stars across 218 ratings on the e-learning website, so you can trust that you’ll be able to get what you need out of this (admittedly pretty significant) investment of your time.

It’s specifically aimed at supply chain professionals and logistics managers, with no prior programming or AI experience necessary to get started. If you’re interested, head over to the website to try it out.

Advanced AI Techniques for the Supply Chain

⏰ Length: 22 hours

If you’re ready for the big time, check out this course, which aims to teach you “job-relevant skills with hands-on projects” in order to, once again, help you figure out just how AI can help you with your position in the supply chain.

This course is focused on how machine learning can weed out defective products with just a picture, making it one of the more specific courses in this guide. But there’s more going on than just that: The course looks at all use cases of machine learning in the supply chain, along with a general overview, analysis of potential AI models, and a final project.

Not only is this an Intermediate level course, but it’s part of a wider specialization, the “Machine Learning for Supply Chains Specialization” which also includes two earlier modules that you’re recommended to check out first — Fundamentals of Machine Learning for Supply Chain and Demand Forecasting Using Time Series — along with a final capstone project afterwards, Predicting Safety Stock.

In other words, you’re still diving into the deep end with this one, even if 22 hours is a lot shorter than our previous recommendation. Check it out over on Coursera.

AI-Powered Supply Chain Management

⏰ Length: N/A

Not everyone learns best through videos, regardless of what TikTok thinks. For those who prefer to stick with reading material, we recommend Nvidia’s extensive set of online resources. They’re not a video course, but they’ll deliver just as much knowledge.

Packaged within a mini website, a range of sub-sections coverc Use Cases, Resources, Solutions, and Partners in its quest to explain just how intelligent supply chains work and why they’re worth it. The supply chain-focused page is a part of a wider look at retail in general.

Founded in 1993, Nvidia’s valuation has been soaring in recent years thanks to its dominance as an AI hardware and software provider. Currently worth nearly 2.75 trillion, the company even briefly overtook Microsoft as the world’s most valuable publicly traded company back in 2024.

Needless to say, they have plenty of AI knowledge to share, even if it comes with a lot of bias due to their need to maintain AI hype and their valuation. Head over here to check them out.

Don’t Be the Weak Link in the Supply Chain

Between Covid, tariffs, and that time a ship got stuck in the Suez Canal, it’s been a rough half decade for the supply chain. If you’re trying to keep your head above water in the shipping or logistics business, we’re here to help. In addition to sharing the latest news (China tariffs went up while you were reading this, probably), we have a series of guides covering the benefits of the right technology solution.

Asset tracking is a big one, since it keeps your assets and stock visible, safe, healthy, and well maintained. Check out our guides to the best asset tracking companies, how to use software management solutions as well as IT asset tracking, why asset compliance is so important, and the four steps it’ll take to craft your own custom asset tracking solution. Might as well brush up on RFID tags while you’re at it.

Fleets need their own tools, too, however, so we’ve researched the best ELD devices, and we have a whole guide to the hidden costs that you’ll need to consider when getting a fleet management system.

Don’t worry: The biggest options like Verizon and Samsara have plenty of AI tools available.

Canada has decided to loosen its counter-tariffs, giving a reprieve to US automakers.

There’s a catch, though: They’ll have to keep their Canadian production plants up and running.

It’s good news for some big US automakers that already wanted to retain their current plants, and it’s bad news for the Trump administration’s goal of encouraging fully US-based production.

Why the Counter-Tariffs Are Evolving

What’s behind the new decision? It’s aimed at stopping the results that the new US tariffs are aiming for, which is a shift of production entirely into the US across all industries.

Since Canada is the US’s biggest trade partner, it makes sense for automakers to keep their plants running within the country. Now, they have some tax breaks to help them stay open.

Canada is also issuing a separate exemption for certain US goods, including materials related to manufacturing, processing, public health, or food packaging. These particular tariff exemptions are only set to last for six months before the new 25% Canadian tariffs are back in full force.

Once they’re back in effect, the 25% tariffs will amount to US products worth a total of $43.3 billion, without counting the additional auto manufacturing tariffs.

General Motors and Stellantis Avoid Some Tariffs

General Motors Co. and Stellantis NV are set to benefit, both of which operate assembly plants in Ontario, according to a Bloomberg report.

Since they also ship many of their US cars to Canada, they’d be stuck paying Canada a hefty tariff in addition to the new tariffs they’ll pay the US whenever they ship Canada-made cars back to the US.

Now, they’ll have more wiggle room — even if they still have new, steep US taxes to pay.

US Cargo Volume Set for “Cliff Event” in May or June

While the latest tariffs and counter-tariffs are making headlines, it’s worth taking a little time to glean some general information about the future of shipping in the US. In short, it’s set to fall off a cliff, likely in May but possibly as late as June.

Thanks to cargo frontloading, China-US shipments were way up in March. That’s set to change fast, however. The most informed prediction comes from the latest issue of ITS Logistics’ Port Rail Ramp Index. Citing a steep country-wide decline in new freight orders, the index says cargo operators can expect to see a “cliff event similar to the impacts felt during the immediate COVID response.”

The ripple effects are already being anticipated this month by truckers a little farther down the supply chain: In April this year, scheduled bookings for truck delivery or pick-up have fallen 41% from the previous month, which marks a 35% drop from April 2024, according to the Lodestar.

While there have been some reports of AI being used unlawfully in the workplace, Workhuman has countered those by developing a new AI tool that makes it easier for colleagues to recognize and reward each other. Termed “Human Intelligence,” the AI-optimized program takes ‘human’ data from the company’s Social Recognition platform, to deliver unique insights that empower leaders to make employees more productive and engaged.

Many studies have highlighted the importance of praise within the workplace. When colleagues have been suitably recognized and rewarded for their efforts, it can lead to higher staff retention rates and productivity levels due to overall job enjoyment.

However, experts have raised concerns about the possibility of people relying on AI to have emotional conversations, leading to the loss of human touch. There are mixed findings about the emotional capacities of AI, and whether it will ever reach the ability to match the human level of empathy is unknown.

Tech Company Workhuman Develops AI Tool to Help Deliver Empathetic Staff Feedback

Dublin and Massachussetts-based tech company Workhuman has developed a new tool to help recognize and reward the efforts of colleagues, by incorporating human data with AI to assist with genuine conversations.

The tool, Human Intelligence, takes the human data of Workhuman’s employee recognition program Social Recognition and combines it with Workhuman’s AI tools. This fused output of both AI and human data then allows employees and leaders to make informed and empowering insights when communicating with one another, with the aim of improving engagement, productivity, and retention.

Workhuman also uses a generative AI assistant within its software, which uses multiple data sources to create business and culture insights based on prompts, such as, “Who on my team is a culture driver?”

Likewise, new AI features make existing Workhuman functions, such as redeeming praise for vouchers or merchandise, more accurate by indicating to colleagues the appropriate reward levels according to company budgets.

Tool Suits the Importance of Praising and Rewarding Staff

Workhuman has long been an important platform for allowing colleagues and managers to recognize staff success and to reward them appropriately, and its recent AI update speaks to the growing amount of research about the importance of praise for workers and managers alike.

A Workhuman and Gallup report found that staff who say “recognition” for their achievements is a big part of their workplace culture are 3.7 times more likely to be engaged in their work, and half as likely to experience burnout in comparison to the people who do not report this. Similarly, a Get Hppy study found that 86% of value-based recognition programs at work can increase the happiness of workers.

Using tools such as Human Intelligence, businesses can ensure they are prioritizing time to recognize and praise their employees, in order to foster a happier and more productive work environment.

AI and The Quest for Human Empathy

Workhuman’s director of product strategy Adam Basilio has explained that despite Human Intelligence’s ability to assist colleagues in producing appreciative messages, he does not want AI writing what they term “recognition moments” between colleagues. Bruce Daisley, workplace culture consultant and former Twitter executive, has expressed a similar fear of losing the human element of heartfelt actions and recognition.

Whether AI could reach those emotional capacities is uncertain. On the one hand, a recent University of Chicago Law School study pitted AI against experienced human judges in judicial decision-making. The study found that AI judges based their decisions on legal precedent, even when faced with emotional or sympathetic candidates.

However, a Harvard Business School study found that AI was able to effectively emulate the benefits of human collaboration in group settings, with respondents working with AI reporting “positive emotional responses.”

We could be far away from AI bots sitting behind HR desks, but with the speed at which AI is moving, it may not be as far away as we believe.

For Shopify merchants looking to sell custom-designed merchandise without the headaches of inventory and shipping, print-on-demand (POD) is a game-changer. But not all POD solutions are created equal.

Gelato is the world’s largest print on-demand network with 140+ print providers in 32 countries and ensures your products are printed closer to your customers, drastically reducing delivery times, shipping costs, and your carbon footprint. 90% of orders are produced locally and 90% arrive within a rapid five days. This gives a competitive edge that keeps customers happy and coming back for more.

Beyond speed, Gelato is committed to superior product quality and sustainability. By embracing local, on-demand production, Gelato minimizes waste and empowers local businesses.

Wondering how to unlock the potential of Gelato for your Shopify store? Let’s dive into a practical guide that will walk you through every step, from setup to scaling your product catalog. Or if you already feel ready to get started, you can head straight over to Gelato.

Try Gelato now

How to Use Gelato Print on Demand with Spotify

1.Getting Started.    

First things first, you’ll need a Gelato account. It’s free to sign up, with no monthly fees. Head to Gelato and click on the “Sign up for free” button. Follow the prompts to fill in your details and complete the registration process. It only takes a few moments.

2. Connecting Your Shopify Store to Gelato

When you sign up to Gelato, you’ll be prompted to connect your Shopify store. This takes you straight to Shopify to install Gelato and give it access to your Shopify store. This secure connection allows Gelato to automatically receive orders, fulfill them, and update tracking information directly in Shopify.

3. Creating Your First Product with Gelato

Time to bring your creative vision to life! Gelato’s intuitive design tools and templates make product creation a breeze.

Once logged into your Gelato account, find the “Products” section in the left-hand menu. 

Click “Create Product”: You’ll be presented with a wide range of product categories, from clothing to wall art, posters, canvases, cards, and photobooks.. Gelato’s extensive product catalog ensures you can cater to diverse customer tastes.

Select the product type you want to create. You’ll be taken to the design editor. Here, you can easily upload your own artwork (logos, designs, photos) as image files directly into the editor. Or utilize Gelato’s built-in design tools and templates. Add text, shapes, and pre-designed graphics from Gelato’s library to create unique designs.

Drag, resize, and position your design elements on the product mockup. Gelato provides guidelines to ensure your design prints perfectly.

Once you’re satisfied with your design, click “Save and continue.”

4. Unleash Personalization

Customers love creating unique items, leading to higher customer satisfaction and potentially increased sales. Gelato’s Personalization Studio empowers you to offer customizable products, creating a unique shopping experience.

When creating a product, look for the “Personalization” option. Specify which elements of your design customers can personalize, such as text fields (for names, dates, quotes) or image uploads.Define rules for personalization (character limits, file types) and create a visual preview of how customers will customize the product in your Shopify store.

5. Showcase Your Products 

Appealing product visuals are crucial for online sales. Gelato’s mockup generator ensures your high-quality products are presented in the best possible light, with no need for expensive photoshoots.

Once you’ve created your design, Gelato automatically generates professional mockups in various settings (lifestyle, studio, flat lay) and angles.

Select the mockups that best represent your product and brand, and download them to use in your Shopify store product listings, social media and marketing materials. 

6. Setting Up Pricing and Product Variants in Shopify

Now it’s time to finalize your product setup within your Shopify store. After creating your product in Gelato, click “Sync to Shopify.” This will automatically create a product listing in your Shopify store with your design and mockups.

Navigate to “Products” in your Shopify admin and find the newly synced product. Set your retail price for the product. Remember to factor in Gelato’s production cost and your desired profit margin. Gelato offers transparent pricing, so you can easily calculate your costs.

Configure product variants (such as sizes and colors). Gelato supports a wide range of variant options for many product types.

7. Configuring Shipping Settings 

Gelato’s global production network isn’t just about faster delivery; it also streamlines shipping and can reduce costs. Orders are intelligently routed to the Gelato production partner closest to your customer, minimizing shipping distances and transit times.

Gelato automatically configures shipping profiles in Shopify based on your product and customer location. When enabled, these profiles ensure that the shipping cost your customer sees at checkout directly mirrors the cost Gelato charges you for the order. 

When you add a new product from Gelato, it’s automatically assigned to the appropriate shipping profile. For products already existing in your Shopify store, you’ll need to manually assign them to a Gelato shipping profile. Or if you want to implement different shipping rates for specific products, you can create your own customized shipping profiles directly within Shopify and assign your products to them.

You can access your Gelato shipping profiles at any time through your Shopify account. Click on “Settings.” Select “Shipping and Delivery.” Then choose “App shipping profiles.”

8. Managing and Fulfilling Orders with the Gelato Dashboard 

The beauty of print-on-demand with Gelato is that the order will be automatically fulfilled. It’s completely hands off. Everything is viewable on the Gelato Dashboard where you can manage and monitor all your print orders. You will even receive real-time shipping updates.

Clicking on the order opens up a detailed information page which includes important information like product details, recipient and shipping address, shipping method, estimated delivery date and order status. From here, you can track progress and even cancel or edit orders as needed.

9. Bulk Upload Your Product Catalog

Ready to expand your product offerings rapidly? Gelato’s bulk upload feature is a powerful tool for quickly scaling your catalog.

All you have to do is create a CSV file with your product information (product type, design files, variants, pricing). Gelato provides templates and guidelines to help you with this. Next, navigate to the “Products” section in your Gelato dashboard and find the “Bulk Upload” option. Upload your CSV file.

Gelato will process your CSV file and automatically create multiple product listings in your Gelato and Shopify stores, saving you time and effort.

Reap the Benefits of Rapid, High-Quality Print on Demand With Gelato

Gelato is more than just a print-on-demand service; it’s a strategic partner that empowers Shopify merchants to thrive in the global e-commerce landscape. By leveraging Gelato’s global network, quality products, and commitment to sustainability, you can build a scalable, efficient, and future-proof online business.

Try Gelato for free now, and get 50% off your first sample order within two days of signing up.

President Trump has temporarily made certain tech products exempt from his ongoing tariffs, following an announcement late last Friday that included a list of 20 electronic devices including computers, smartphones, laptops, hard drives, and machines that make semiconductors.

China, where major tech players Apple and Dell partially manufacture, has been the worst hit by the tariffs, currently enduring a figure of 125% on top of a baseline 20%. Since then, Trump has paused his new tariffs for 90 days excluding China, and China has hit back with its own 125% tariff on American goods.

Despite the exemption, the tech industry is not yet out of the woods. Spokespeople for the White House have made it clear that tech companies should look to manufacture in the US. Trump also continues to hold investigations on semiconductors, which will certainly bear the brunt of tariffs of their own.

Trump Administration Includes Tech Products on Tariff-Exemption List, For Now

The Trump Administration has included 20 tech products on a list of product categories that are excluded from his latest round of tariffs. Laptops, smartphones, hard drives, and machines that make semiconductors are amongst the products, as well as modems, routers, flash drives, and other technology goods which are largely made outside the U.S.

These products are exempt from both the 125% tariff and 20% baseline tariff on goods from China, and the universal baseline tariff of 10% elsewhere.

With many tech companies manufacturing in China, the Chinese commerce ministry has reacted positively to the news of the exemptions, calling it a “small step” that Beijing is “evaluating” in its impact. Although, the move’s temporary nature could fail to improve trade relations between the two sides.

Momentary Relief for the Tech Industry Following Tariff Exemption

Tech companies have already began to suffer as a result of the tariffs, with Apple having lost $773 billion of its valuation a week after the tariffs were announced. No doubt tech leaders, particularly those closest to the President, therefore see this exemption as a temporary relief, as many continue to manufacture outside of the U.S.

The move could be seen as a partial de-escalation of Trump’s trade war with China, as the 20 product types listed in the announcement account for nearly a quarter of U.S. imports from China, according to Paul Ashworth, the chief North America economist for Capital Economics.

On the part of the White House, however, this move appears to be temporary. Karoline Leavitt, the White House spokeswoman, has said that President Trump has “made it clear America cannot rely on China to manufacture critical technologies.” Therefore, he is encouraging tech companies to “onshore their manufacturing in the United States as soon as possible.”

Is Tech Completely Safe From the Tariffs?

Trump’s tech exemption could signal that his love affair with Silicon Valley is still in its honeymoon phase, however this doesn’t seem likely, as the President lamented on social media platform Truth Social that the White House continues to look into semiconductors and the entire electronics supply chain.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has since confirmed suspicions that tech is still in danger of high tariffs, suggesting that these exempt products would be included in a list of semiconductor tariffs, which we can expect to see in a month or two.

“We need to have semiconductors, we need to have chips, and we need to have flat panels – we need to have these things made in America.” Howard Lutnick, U.S. Commerce Secretary.

Therefore, all evidence points to more tariffs impacting the tech industry in the near future, and we will no doubt witness more industries suffer.

With data breaches making headlines on a near-daily basis, it may or may not come as a surprise to learn that cybersecurity is the top concern for chief information officers (CIOs) around the world.

According to a new study by Experis, which surveyed 1,393 decisionmakers in the tech space, 41% of CIOs cited cybersecurity as their top business concern. In response, 77% of organizations plan to increase their defense budgets this year.

The survey is a timely reminder of the enormous threat of malicious actors to businesses and individuals around the world. In 2024, the average cost of a data breach in the US was $9.36 million, a staggering figure that poses an existential threat to many businesses.

Cybersecurity, Not AI, The Top Concern for CIOs Globally

According to new research from Experis, it is cybersecurity – not the pressure to implement AI – that is keeping most top execs awake at night. Canvassing opinion from 1,393 senior leaders in the tech space, the “Experis 2025 CIO Outlook Study” found that 41% of CIOs cited cybersecurity as their top concern this year. In second place was “AI innovation and integration,” at just 19%.

Other challenges included “keeping up with new tech” (19%), “managing risks and compliance” (9%), “maintaining operations,” (7%), “responding to customer needs” (6%), “strategic planning” (5%), and “managing costs” (5%).

Undoubtedly, it will come as a surprise to many to learn that AI is not necessarily businesses’ top concern, in spite of all the fast-moving activity in this sector. In fact, businesses are more than twice as likely to be concerned about cybersecurity (41%) than they are about AI (19%).

Tech Businesses’ Priorities, Revealed

The respondents comprised 480 C-Suite executives and 913 senior IT decisionmakers across Israel, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the UK, Canada, and the US. Of this group, 76% reported difficulty finding skilled tech talent, with a further 52% planning to embed AI skills into existing roles, rather than creating new ones.

Other challenges included “keeping up with new tech” (19%), “managing risks and compliance” (9%), “maintaining operations,” (7%), “responding to customer needs” (6%), “strategic planning” (5%), and “managing costs” (5%).

Interestingly, the percentage of tech leaders in North America and Canada who fear cybersecurity challenges (56%) is significantly higher than the global average (44%). This not only sheds light on how widespread the issue of data breaches is in those countries, but also how paranoia is reaching fever pitch.

Skills Problem Not Easy to Solve

Strikingly, the report illuminates one of the key issues pervading the tech sector – a yawning skills gap. While businesses around the world are unanimous in their recognition of cybersecurity as a major concern, the remedy is eluding many organizations.

As mentioned above, the overwhelming majority of business leaders (76%) confirmed that they had experienced difficulty in procuring top talent, with cybersecurity the most in-demand skill (46%). As AI continues its rapid development, cybercriminals are deploying increasingly sophisticated methods to dupe unsuspecting victims and seize access to businesses’ confidential data.

The rate at which bad actors are able to perfect their craft is currently outstripping the rate at which businesses can combat them. If this trend continues unchallenged, a bad problem will only get worse. It’s essential that governments, businesses, and other bodies invest heavily in cybersecurity to bring through a new generation of defense specialists.

Why Is Cybersecurity The Top Concern for Businesses?

While the difference between the amount of CIOs concerned about cybersecurity and AI might raise some eyebrows, it is completely understandable given the current climate. A cursory glance at the news will reveal an enormous amount of illicit activity in this space, with companies and individuals subjected to massive data breaches on a regular basis.

Our own “Impact of Technology on the Workplace” report shone a light on some worrying cybersecurity trends. Among them, it was revealed that computer viruses and phishing attacks are the two fastest-growing kinds of data breach, constituting 53% and 40%, respectively, of the total cyberattacks recorded in 2024. This shows that criminals are always on the hunt for new methods in order to carry out their attacks.

To make matters, worse, the report also finds that a staggering amount of senior leaders (19%) are not able to correctly define “two-factor authentication” (2FA), one of the most basic security protocols at a business’s disposal. So not only is there a dearth of cybersecurity talent in the wider employment pool, but a sizable amount of existing business leaders are simply not well educated enough on cybersecurity matters.

What is The Solution?

The Experis report does not posit a particularly optimistic outlook for the business landscape where cybersecurity is concerned. However, it does offer some green shoots that should provide a bit of comfort for tech specialists everywhere. Firstly, nobody is under any illusion as to the scale of this problem, with 77% of organizations planning to give their defense spending a shot in the arm this year.

Furthermore, the increasing adoption of AI points the way towards a brighter, more secure future. One-third of organizations (33%) are actively exploring AI, with a further 27% already in the process of implementing it. The nascent technology is expected to play a key role in the future fight against cybercriminality, with the ability to analyze vast amounts of data to help identify potential threats and mitigate risks.

However, if organizations are to get the most from this technology, it’s vital that employees are adequately trained to take advantage of it. Encouragingly, 52% of tech leaders are embedding AI skills into existing roles, rather than seeking to create new ones. This will save time, as well addressing the general shortfall in AI and cybersecurity talent in the present workforce.

The global AI push will have serious environmental ramifications by 2030, says a new report from International Energy Agency (IEA).​ According to the findings, processing data will require almost as much energy as Japan currently uses, with only half of that comprising renewable energy.

Among the other findings, global electricity demand from datacenters will more than double by 2030, with AI expected to be the main driver of that increase. At the same time, processing data will expend more electricity in the US than manufacturing steel, cement, chemicals, and all other energy-intensive goods combined by that same time period.

Global investment in AI is showing no signs of abating, with the technology transforming workplaces and businesses around the world. This study is a worrying reminder of the tangible impact that all of this spend is having.

Demands of AI Will Double Datacenter Energy Output, Says Report

The AI revolution is well underway, and by 2030, the environmental impact will be huge, according to a new report from IEA. The electricity required for data processing will outstrip that used for manufacturing steel, cement, chemicals, and all other energy-intensive goods combined.

In the same timeframe, the global electricity demand commanded by datacenters will more than double, with AI set to play a significant part in the surge. Dedicated AI datacenters will consume more than four times the amount of electricity that they are currently doing by the end of the decade.

In sum, by 2030, the total energy required to maintain the current AI push will almost match that of Japan’s total energy output. Only about half of this will be made up of renewable energy.

Environmental Damage of AI Could Be Offset

Despite the worrying findings, the report also notes that fears over AI’s environmental impact may be overstated. This is because the potential upsides of AI adoption will offset some of the worst effects – for example, by making manufacturing and logistics more energy-efficient and thus less greenhouse gas-emitting.

According to Faith Birol, the executive director at IEA: “With the rise of AI, the energy sector is at the forefront of one of the most important technological revolutions of our time. AI is a tool, potentially an incredibly powerful one, but it is up to us – our societies, governments, and companies – how we use it.”

Among the cited examples, AI could make it easier to design electricity grids to take more renewable energy, as well as assisting in the design of more efficient cities, with optimal public transport and traffic systems. However, the report cautions, this will require greater governmental oversight than what we are seeing at the moment.

Change Required, Report Makes Clear

As the AI race continues to unfold at a dizzying pace, the report shines a light on a critical area that is in danger of being overlooked. If left to continue its development undisturbed, it’s likely that the impact of AI on our planet could be catastrophic.

Since beginning his second term in January, President Donald Trump has set about dismantling much of the apparatus that the preceding administration set up to safeguard against the worst excesses of AI. Shortly after taking office, he announced Project Stargate, a multibillion dollar venture that seeks to put down a significant marker in the AI race.

In the ensuing months, the competition between the US and China has intensified, with both superpowers determined to stake their respective claims as the dominant force in this area. Whatever the future holds is uncertain, but the report makes it clear: the current global approach to AI is unsustainable, and change is required to avert a potential environmental disaster.

Zipline, a drone delivery startup, expanded its services to home delivery in Texas on Tuesday with the support of partner Walmart. Nearby residents of a Walmart Supercenter in Mesquite became eligible for Walmart deliveries from Zipline’s new P2 Zips model, a successor to the P1 model.

Zipline has been working with Walmart since 2021, and until now, it had only provided services to hospital systems and health clinics, delivering vaccines and blood to hard-to-reach, rural areas.

Currently, it’s estimated that the size of the global drone package delivery market will reach $8 billion by 2027, with companies such as Amazon already testing in Europe. Drones are now able to deliver packages to customers more quickly than cars and can hold impressive amounts of weight, which could see delivery services become more popular.

Startup Drone Service Zipline Works with Walmart on Texas Deliveries

On Tuesday, drone delivery service Zipline began to serve the customers of Walmart, its partner since 2021. At the center of its service were its new models, P2 Zips, that were able to locate and deliver packages to customers of a Walmart Supercenter in Mesquite, Texas within 30 minutes.

Residents within 2 miles of the supercenter became eligible for the delivery of more than 65,000 items, and at launch, the service was available for free. According to Zipline, the first order included a dozen eggs, a bag of Popcorners chips and flower bulbs for planting.

Zipline’s CEO and co-founder, Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, has reported that these new P2 models have “dinner plate-level” accuracy, and prioritize a quiet and precise delivery that can even work in rain or 45mph gusts of wind. Cliffton likewise praised the success of the first operation in Mesquite, and confirmed that the company has “already become a part of people’s daily routines”.

What Is Zipline and Where Does It Operate?

Zipline was founded in 2014 and began its commercial operations in 2016. Since then, it has completed nearly 1.5 million deliveries and its drones have flown more than 100 million miles as of March 2025. It has established itself as the world’s largest drone delivery provider.

Before breaking into the home delivery market, Zipline focused on long-range medical deliveries to Sub-Saharan African countries. In Rwanda, it delivers 75% of the country’s blood supply outside the capital, Kigali, and has also delivered life-saving vaccines.

Zipline first partnered with Walmart in 2021 for a pilot program, and Tuesday’s launch marked a new target for its drones. Customers in the Mesquite area were urged to download the Zipline app or visit the company’s website to find out if their household is eligible for home delivery, with orders being placed between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. CDT on weekdays, and 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekends.

The Future of Zipline and Drone Delivery Services

Zipline is not the only company making waves in drone delivery services. As well as its partnership with Zipline, Walmart is also partnered with competitor Wing, which focuses on residential deliveries and has reportedly clocked in more than 450,00 deliveries since 2012. Other competitors include Amazon Prime Air and DroneUp, who Walmart cut ties with only a few months ago.

Alongside Walmart, Zipline has lent its services to food companies including Sweetgreen and Chipotle, as well as health clinics and hospital systems such as Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic. Since Tuesday’s launch, the company have also shared its plans to expand into the Dallas metropolitan area.

The landscape of logistics is no doubt likely to change with stricter tariffs now in place. However, the increasing accuracy and speed of these deliveries could see them become more convenient to busy people than the other services already in place.

A recent Samsara report has revealed that drivers’ #1 option for tackling distracted driving is access to accurate, AI-powered detection and alert systems. Other supportive technologies were also seen as very important, including dash cams and better in-cab navigation systems to prevent distractions from mobile phones.

This indicates a positive shift amongst drivers, particularly in their understanding of AI and the possibilities it holds for promoting better road safety. There were also mentions of technology’s ability to curate better educational programs surrounding safer driving measures.

Of the 1,500 commercial drivers surveyed across seven countries, road safety appears to be a critical issue. Drivers are increasingly turning to their companies and to the government for a blend of technology, policy, and regulation-based solutions. Proactivity in regard to safety procedures and a strong safety culture likewise proved to be a major factor in driver retention.

AI Favored by Drivers to Improve Safety

AI-powered detection systems are the #1 technology that drivers want in their arsenal to mitigate distracted driving, so says Samsara’s recent report. Included in the list are AI-powered detection and alert systems, which help drivers pinpoint and avoid potential risks, and onboard monitoring systems that identify distracted driving.

The report has indicated a growing belief in technology-backed solutions for improving road safety and providing driver support. Drivers also feel that technology can play a role in educating drivers on key safety issues and providing training programs for both new and experienced drivers.

Alongside AI solutions, drivers were also increasingly interested in effective dash cams, with 60% of drivers reporting that they’d modified their driving habits after seeing their dash cam footage. Government intervention and policy changes, including penalties and fines, were likewise cited as important.

Increasing Concerns for Road Safety Amongst Drivers

The report has indicated that a large proportion of drivers are concerned about their safety on the road, with 79% of drivers having experienced a “close call” or near-miss due to distractions while driving. A staggering 93% of drivers also reported that they had experienced the negative effects of risky driving, such as vehicle damage, personal injury, fines, and license suspension or revocation.

Each year, it is estimated that distracted driving causes 2.5 million crashes, making it a critical issue for today’s drivers. Samsara reported that the main causes are smoking cigarettes or e-cigarettes and checking phones for social media and communication as part of the job.

Similarly, concerns for safety are greatly impacting where drivers work. 90% of drivers revealed that they are more likely to stay with companies that take steps to prevent distracted driving and foster a culture of safety. They also claimed to prefer positive reinforcement, such as recognition and incentives, to fines and penalties.

Check out our Samsara vs Motive comparison page for a look at two of the best fleet management systems.

Promoting Safety in Your Trucking Business

Based on Samsara’s findings, it is fair to say that drivers want to see more safety regulations implemented on the road, both internally within businesses, and externally from government policies and support. What this looks like is a combination of technology, training.

“By combining advanced technology with positive recognition and proactive coaching, organizations can significantly reduce distracted driving incidents and cultivate a safer, more engaged driver workforce for the long term.” – Evan Welbourne, Head of AI and Data for Samsara

Most distractions appear to result from the maintenance of communication, with 76% of drivers admitting to being distracted by personal technology, highlighting the need for better in-cab navigation and communication systems.

Therefore, investing in technology-backed safety solutions, as well as placing emphasis on road safety and providing in-depth training courses on the subject could help your trucking businesses in promoting a safer driving culture.

It’s been a big week for tariff news. Starting last Wednesday, the Trump administration levvied a huge number of the tax hikes, in ranges starting from a baseline 10% for all countries to the eye-watering, just-announced 125% tariff on Chinese imports.

Some of the tariffs have just been paused for a 90-day period of trade talks, but there’s no indication that any of them are actually going away soon, and many of them could easily increase in response to other countries’ retaliatory tariffs.

A week is long enough for a company to formulate a plan in response to these relatively unprecidented take hikes. What are the biggest moves that US corporations and businesses are making in reponse to all this fuss? Let’s run through the top takeaways.

Daily China-to-US Ocean Container Bookings Drop 25%

Ocean shipments of Chinese imports are already down 25% from the same time last year. At least, bookings for those containers are, judging from new data out from SONAR’s Container Atlas, which tracks global container movements by logging bookings.

Granted, this is about the most predicable result of the China-US tariff war Trump has initiated. The total cost of a product, shipping included, has suddenly more than doubled, leading any businesses that can quickly address their orders to cut shipments short.

Those who anticipated this price hike might have chosen to frontload their cargo shipments in order to pull forward, which was the reason why big international harbors like the Port of Los Angeles have been increasing operations recently: The Port of LA had its second-best February on record this year.

Walmart Plans to Absorb Tariff Hikes

Walmart issued a statement on April 9 stating plans to grow net sales by 3% to 4% in 2025, even after assessing the impact of the tariffs (although Chinese import tariffs admittedly rose later in the day). They’ll keep sales on the rise by, in part, keeping costs low despite the tariff increases.

Economic recessions have worked well for Walmart historically. By keeping costs low, the company might be aiming to rely on their size to survive while they squeeze their competition in order to gain more marketshare.

It’s a big move, but Walmart is currently the largest private carrier in North America by Transport Topics estimates. They have the weight to throw around.

Total Cargo Decline Estimated at 15% for 2025

China-to-US shipments might be down a full 25%, but the entire US shipping industry will likely see a 15% reduction, according to the latest estimates.

More specifically, imports across the second half of 2025 will likely drop 20% over the same time last year, according to Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett in a statement covered by DC Velocity. Given shipments earlier in the year were elevated in anticipation of this shift, the total cargo volume across the year will decline an average of 15% at a minimum.

As you might expect from the current whirlwind news cycle, the 90-day pause and the just-revealed additional Chinese import hike happened too recently to be included in these estimates. The adjusted decline may be slightly more.

Dropshippers May Drop China

One reddit commenter sums up the general stance of the dropshipping community now that China tariffs are up to 125%: “As someone who’s been dropshipping from AliExpress to the US for a while, I’m freaking out a bit. Did some quick math: a $10 product now costs $22.50 landed before shipping. Margins are toast unless I jack up prices or find new suppliers.”

Low-ticket China imports may be dropped entirely, although high-ticket items could still be viable. Other dropshippers aren’t stressed at all, though, and instead argue that it’s being blown out of preportion and that shippers will “figure something out.” In another thread, one commenter simply notes that they’ve never shipped to the US in the first place.

President Trump has just backed down (somewhat) from his market-shattering new tariffs: He has just issued a 90-day pause on most of them.

Major economic rival China is not among the nations getting a stay of judgement, however, and Trump has just revealed the highest tax hike yet on Chinese imports. It now stands at a troubling 125%.

The news could be taken as an indication that Trump will respond to pushback against his widely disliked tariffs. However, the pause will only last 90 days. Barring further news, the tariffs will ultimately still remain a huge concern for countries and businesses everywhere.

The 10% Baseline Tariff Will Remain

According to a post from Trump on social media, he plans to use the 90-day pause to initiate trade talks. According to his post, the new pause is “based on the fact that more than 75 Countries have called Representatives of the United States” rather than retaliated with stronger terms such as the US tariffs imposed by China and the EU.

In the same statement, Trump said he’ll substantially lower the “Reciprocal Tariff” during the same 90-day period, keeping it to 10%, effective immediately.

The 10% tariff went into effect over the weekend as a baseline rate for most nation. Since it remains in place, the 90-day pause only applies to the many nation-specific additional tariffs that were announced at the same time.

The Market Is Back Up in Response

Trump’s latest tariffs took effect last Wednesday. At the time, they represented the highest effective tariff rate in the US in more than a century. With the new 125% tariff reveal, they’re up even further: Before the new announcement today, the China tariff was at 104%.

But the just-revealed pause on many tariffs has boosted the market, which has always had a pretty short memory.

At the time of writing, the Dow has surged 2,700 points, marking its biggest rally in five years. It needs it, given the days of declines that it has seen across the past week while the reality of the new tariffs sank in. However, plenty of negative market signals remain, and the market still remains in danger of continuing its decline.

Not Paused: De Minimis Removal, Other Tariffs

Not mentioned in Trump’s latest message? The de minimis exemptions, a key trade loophole that allowed small business owners like dropshippers or ecommerce brands like Temu to import products worth under $800 without additional duties. Trump officially revoked it last week, with the change going into effect in early May. Since he hasn’t yet issued on pause on this change, it’s still set to go through.

The same is true for previous tariffs, including a big 25% tariff on auto, steel, and aluminum imports. The baseline 10% tariff hike alone will represent a challenge for many businesses with thin margins, and a supply chain disruption could have wide ripples throughout the logistics industry.

Logistics Companies Face a More Than 100% Cost Increase on Chinese Imports

Not only is the de minimis exemption leaving next month — resulting in an effective hike of either 30% of an item’s or a flat $25 per item (which jumps to $50 per item in June), as we previously reported — but the additional China tariffs are sticking around as well.

And those tariffs in particular are so hefty as to completely disrupt most trade with China. Trump’s trade war has escalated multiple times across the last week, as both the US and China have issued retaliatory tariffs to the other nation’s products. Prior to Trump’s latest announcement of a 125% tariff on Chinese imports, China had raised its tariffs on the US to 84%, a response to the then-104% tariff from the US.

China is currently the US’s third-largest trade partner, after Canada and Mexico, and the US is China’s number one trade partner. But that seems set to change.

Dropshippers still have plenty of problems

What can dropshippers expect? They’ll likely be dropping their business with China, unless their margins are so much larger than 100% that they can eat the cost. Some dropshippers might be able to do just that, given that some do indeed have profit margins of 1000% or more, thanks to careful arbitrage.

Most, however, will need to pivot to a country that has just been granted a 90-day tariff reprieve. Even then, they’ll face the 10% baseline increase — and they’ll need to come up with a whole new plan in a scant three months, too.

Mistrust is rampant when it comes to generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, with a new study finding that 94% of CEOs suspect employees are using them without company approval.

The speed with which AI has evolved over the last few years has been a huge boon for businesses that want to streamline productivity. However, with employees getting more and more familiar with the technology, the lines between improving productivity and shirking responsibility has been seriously blurred.

As a result, a huge percentage of CEOs are suspicious that their employees are using generative AI behind their backs, whether it’s true or not.

94% of CEOs Think Employees Use AI Against Company Policy

According to a report — titled Global AI Confessions Report: CEO Edition — 94% of CEOs suspect employees are using generative AI tools without company approval.

The report points out that this is a “massive governance failure within organizations,” given it’s the responsibility of CEOs to establish an AI policy that can improve productivity while establishing trust across the business.

How to Make AI Work for Your Business

Navigating the waters of generative AI isn’t easy. The technology has seemingly unlimited potential and banning your employees from using it feels just as silly as allowing them to replace their responsibilities with it. So, how can you make AI work for your business?

“The only way to turn AI into an enduring advantage is to assert greater control and governance — future-proofing not just the companies these CEOs run, but their own roles as leaders in an increasingly AI-powered economy.” – Florian Douetteau, co-founder and CEO of Dataiku

All that to say, generative AI isn’t a passing fad. This technology is here to stay, and businesses that ignore its potential — or worse, who allow it fuel discord between CEOs and employees — are doomed to fall behind other companies that have found ways to make it work for their particular enterprise.

The Importance of AI Policies

If you’re a business in 2025 without an AI policy, what are you doing?

Generative AI features have been added, in some capacity, to virtually every piece of business software in the world, from Gmail and Outlook to Salesforce and QuickBooks, and there is no sign of it slowing down any time soon.

Despite that undeniable fact, many businesses are still quite a bit behind. In fact, our Impact of Technology on the Workplace report found that 35% of businesses have no regulations in place for what employees can use AI for, which is virtually unforgivable in 2025.

Trucker safety has taken a back seat in the Trump administration, with the agency in charge of investigating potentially unsafe companies performing noticeably fewer enforcements of state and federal regulations.

The trucking industry faces a lot of problems in 2025, from a shortage of young drivers to the threat of automation on jobs. Regardless of the year, though, trucker safety is always meant to be a priority, particularly considering how dangerous these massive vehicles can be when not regulated properly.

Unfortunately, the new administration has been asleep at the wheel, allowing bad actors to go unpunished, even after a serious crash.

FMCSA Enforcement Down 60%

According to a report from the Washington Post, the Trump administration has been quite lax when it comes to protecting truckers on the road, with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) performing 60% fewer enforcement actions from Inauguration day to February.

Even worse, the new administration seems to be barely investigating the safety of truckers at all compared to the previous administration. In 2024, the Biden administration’s federal investigators completed 17 investigations per month. In January and February of 2025, no such investigations have been recorded.

Despite those numbers, the Transportation Department insists that it “has made great progress in closing investigations over the last 60 days.”

Why the Trump Administration Has Halted Investigations

Probing trucking companies that don’t prioritize trucker safety seems like a no-brainer, so why is the new administration halting these investigations?

According to Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, who spoke with the Washington Post, the agency is halting investigations in hopes of restoring “due process and transparency to ensure truck operators receive a fair shake and enforcement actions remain lawful, reasonable, and consistent with Administration policy.”

Despite the investigations being halted, Duffy also noted that safety remains a top priority.

How These Investigations Protect Truckers

In the past, these investigations looked into potentially unsafe trucking companies, and allowed regulators to get them off the road when they’re found to be “unsatisfactory” in their duties to protect their drivers. Now, that is no longer the case.

“The inability to use those tools is a really big deal. It creates an incredibly unsafe environment on the roads and I would argue is an abdication of their fundamental mission.” – Zach Cahalan, executive director of the Truck Safety Coalition

With 800,000 truckers on the road in the US, ensuring that the “worst-of-the-worst companies” are not allowed to operate after serious crashes is one of the best ways to promote trucker health and safety.

According to new data released by Netscout, distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are on the rise. There were 17 million such attacks in 2024 – up from 13 million the year before. It’s an astonishing rise that has big implications for your business.

But what exactly is a DDoS attack? And how can I prevent it from happening to my business? In this guide, we’ve put together some helpful tips on how you can avoid falling foul of one of these sophisticated and damaging cybersecurity breaches.

Read on to find out what you can expect if your company suffers a DDoS attack, how to prevent it, and how you can mitigate the damage if the worse happens.

What is a DDoS Attack?

A DDoS attack is an attempt to force a website, network, or computer offline by overloading it with requests. Sometimes, this can happen by accident. Black Friday sales, for instance, can drive a lot of internet traffic towards one destination at once. This might overwhelm the server, causing the website to crash.

But other times, it’s an orchestrated attack designed to bring down a particular target. So-called “hacktivist” groups have been known to use DDoS attacks to support their ideological means. Examples include Anonymous Sudan, which was carried out numerous attacks in support of its “pro-Russian, anti-Western agenda,” according to Netscout.

DDoS attacks differ from Denial of Service (DoS) attacks in that they rely on different IP addresses. In other words, the attack comes from multiple different sources, rather than just one location. This makes the attack much more difficult to defend, and allows the threat actors to generate much more traffic than they might otherwise have been able to.

How Does a DDoS Attack Work?

A DDoS attack works when several different IP addresses target the same platform at the same time, which can overwhelm the server in question and bring it down.

Often, this attack is carried out by what’s known as a “botnet.” A botnet refers to a collection of devices that have been infected with malware, meaning they can be controlled remotely by a single perpetrator. On other occasions, DDoS is executed by several different actors at the same time.

To make matters more complicated, there are a few different types of DDoS attack, while I’ll cover in the section below.

Amplification attacks

In this type of attack, the malicious actors in question send a request to a domain name system (DNS) server with an IP address spoofed to that of the target. This leads to the target being inundated with a large volume of unsolicited responses, which brings down the target server.

Bandwidth saturation

Networks have a finite bandwidth. Once this has been eclipsed, the network is unable to function properly. Attacks of this kind preoccupy this bandwidth by spamming the network with traffic.

Cloud resource exploitation

Cloud resource exploitation refers to attacks that seek to take advantage of cloud computing’s main advantage – its scalability.

Degradation of service

This variation on the DDoS attack doesn’t try to completely knock a server offline. Rather, it hits a server with a moderate volume of spam traffic, which affects the service but remains largely undetected.

DDoS attacks vs DoS attacks

DDoS attacks differ from denial of service (DoS) attacks in that they rely upon several different IP addresses. Because of this, the attack is much harder to pin down and prevent. DoS attacks originate from a single IP address.

What Are the Impacts of DDoS Attacks?

If successful, DDoS attacks pose a number of risks for your business. Below, I’ve broken down some of what you can expect if your company falls victim to one of these breaches.

Financial losses

Your business can incur significant financial losses if subject to a DDoS attack. These can result from network downtime, violation of service-level agreements (SLAs), as well as the potential costs of limiting the damage and getting the network back online.

Reputational damage

If you website is down for too long, your customers might take their business elsewhere. If it happens more than once, they might lose faith in your business and become a regular patron of your competitors.

Operational impact

Most prominently, DDoS attacks are designed to knock a service offline. This will affect your business’s ability to carry out its operations, and can lead to the other two points outlined above.

Steps to Prevent a DDoS Attack

Luckily, there are some measures that businesses can take to safeguard themselves against the risk of a DDoS attack. Read on for a breakdown of different approaches that you can take.

Rate limiting

This refers to the practice of limiting the number of requests that a server will accept in a specified time period. It’s a commonly used defense mechanism against DDoS attacks, brute force attacks, and web scraping, as it puts a cap on bot behavior.

Firewalls

Firewalls regulate incoming and outgoing internet traffic by introducing preset security rules. Essentially, they serve as gatekeepers of your service, and they’re absolutely imperative for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

Anycast

Anycast is a large, distributed cloud network that insulates your server from incoming traffic. It provides you with another level of protection against incoming threats, and can be really useful for fielding exceptionally large volumes of traffic.

Famous Examples of DDoS Attacks

With DDoS attacks on the rise, let’s take a look at some of the most prominent examples in recent history.

HTTP/s Rapid Reset attack, 2023

A couple of years ago, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, and Cloudflare experienced a record-breaking DDoS attack. Botnet traffic, which has later found to be much smaller than any DDoS attack in history, exploited a “HTTP/2” feature that can trigger rapid request cancellation using the “RST_STREAM” frame. This allowed the attackers to repeatedly open and close streams, which crashed the servers.

Google attack, 2020

A few years before, Google fell victim to another large DDoS attack. Three different internet service providers (ISPs) from China launched an attack on thousands of Google IP addresses, which lasted for six months. At the time, it was four times larger than the next biggest DDoS attack.

AWS attack, 2020

In a bad year for cybersecurity, AWS was targeted by a massive DDoS attack in 2020. This one targeted a specific, unidentified AWS customer, lasting for three days and peaking at 2.3 terabytes of data sent to their IP address per second.

What To Do in the Event of a DDoS Attack

As with all cybersecurity breaches, acting quickly is crucial. Here are some things you can do to help your business mitigate the dangers of a DDoS attack.

Set up a server-side firewall limit

As I’ve mentioned above, this will put a lid on incoming traffic and can help to slow down and block the attack. However, it’s not a silver bullet solution – it can lead to legitimate users being locked out of your service.

Configure server request rate limits

Adjust your server settings to introduce some limits on traffic and requests. This can stop simple attacks, but again, might deter legitimate users from accessing your service.

Add new servers

Boosting your server capacity will allow you to handle more traffic. However, it will not get to the root of the problem – the bad actors attempting to bring down your network.

Change domain DNS records

Redirect incoming traffic to alternative servers in order to reduce the burden on individual servers. You could even hire a content delivery network (CDN) to help you.

Dropshippers’ worst fears have been realized: On Wednesday, President Trump officially signed into law an executive order removing “de minimus.” The trade loophole has previously allowed low-value packages from China and Hong Kong to enter the US without incurring any duties. Tech.co reported yesterday that its removal was imminent.

As per the executive order, packages imported from those two countries that are valued at $800 or under will now be subject to all applicable duties. The announcement will likely not come as a surprise to dropshippers, given that Trump previously signed an order removing de minimus for cheap Chinese imports on February 1, before later revoking it.

The removal of de minimus forms part of Trump’s widespread punishment of China for, among other things, its alleged culpability in fueling the national opioid crisis. It has been reported that drug traffickers exploited the loophole to smuggle fentanyl into the US. Elsewhere, the President has imposed a severe 34% tariff rate on the Eastern superpower.

Trump Closes Trade Loophole

On Wednesday, President Trump brought a long-running saga to end by signing into law an executive order closing the “de minimus” trade loophole. The duty exemption has brought enormous benefits to dropshippers in recent years.

The announcement will send shockwaves through the dropshipper community. Direct-to-consumer retailers, including Temu and Shein, have relied heavily upon the loophole to cement their lucrative business models. In 2024, nearly 1.4 billion packages were imported into the US via this method.

The President had previously signed an order on February 1, only to later repeal it due to “logistical issues.”

Packages Under $800 Affected by Order

At the time, the Trump Administration did not have a sufficient plan in place to deal with the deluge of packages that entered the US every day, leading to packages piling up at ports around the country. This time, the government has “figured it out,” according to a source familiar with the matter.

Now, imported goods from China and Hong Kong that are sent outside the international postal network, with a value of $800 or under, will be subject to all relevant duties. This equates to either 30% of their value or $25 per item, rising to $50 per item in June.

According to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick: “[There are] adequate systems in place to collect tariff revenue” on all incoming shipments.

Trump Wages War Against China

Trump has made no secret of his antipathy towards China. Since the beginning of his second term, he has embarked on a ruthless campaign to hurt the country’s economic prospects, levying a series of tariffs against it in a bid to cement the US’s position at the forefront of the global economy.

Among other things, this particular executive order can be understood as an attempt to punish China for its alleged complicity in the US opioid epidemic. Several investigations, including one from the DEA, have pinpointed China as a core source of fentanyl into the US, shipped from the country via mail services that take advantage of the de minimus agreement.

More broadly, the President is determined to fend off economic and technological competition from the superpower. Shortly after taking office, he announced significant investment into “Project Stargate,” a taskforce set up to lay down a marker in the unfolding AI race.

Across 2018 and 2019, the first Trump administration’s tariffs impacted around $380 billion worth of products. The second time around, however, the administration has already levied duties against products worth north of $1.4 trillion as of this April… just months into a second term.

Any dropshippers that currently deliver to the US from any of that nation’s closest trading partners — Canada, Mexico, and China — have already been slapped with some big changes, and likely have plenty of changes ahead.

Just how big a problem are the latest tariffs on your dropshipping operational costs? And how is the dropshipping community handling the shift? Here’s the lowdown.

The Biggest Problem: Loss of De Minimis

Tariffs are making all the headlines right now. The latest announcements include a 10% baseline tariff across all imports; extra taxes on autos, steel, and aluminum; and some surprisely high tariffs on Vietnam (46%) and Cambodia (49%) among plenty of other countries. The stock market lost $2 trillion in 20 minutes when they were announced April 2.

However, they’re far from the only abrupt, shocking trade policies that the Trump administration has rolled out since January.

In fact, when it comes to freaking out dropshippers everywhere, tariffs are second to another looming tax change: the potential removal of the de minimis tax exemption.

This extemption allows any shipments that are heading towards American businesses or consumers and are valued at less than $800 per person, per day, to enter the US duty-free and tax-free. It’s a bipartisan law, aimed at helping small businesses and lower-income consumers.

Now, it looks likely to leave, at least for imports from China and Hong Kong. President Trump eliminated the de minimis provision for China and Hong Kong on February 4, before reinstating it on February 5, and now it’s officially set to be lost again on May 2. Since most dropshippers operate on a model that relies on de minimis in order to process cheap shipments, they’re currently scrambling to reorient their businesses.

Dropshippers are dropping Chinese imports

The fastest solution is to find another source for whatever product you sell. Any country other than China is, for now, a relative improvement, given China has suffered some of the harshest announced sanctions. One dropshipper has switched to a local supplier in Pakistan, citing a cheap product and lack of tariffs.

Many dropshippers don’t have these connections, however. Those who rely on retail websites such as the China-based AliExpress still haven’t found a clear replacement. Plus, some products simply can’t be sourced from other countries, let alone inexpensively.

Will US production increase?

The point of the tariffs is to discourage foreign imports, under the assumption that the laws of supply and demand will push US companies to bring creating the cheap products that up until now could have been purchased from Temu, Shein, AliExpress, or a dropshipping intermediary. But will this actually happen?

As one commenter on the Entrepreneur subreddit breaks it down, possibly not:

“As a US business, the higher the cost of import the more likely you are to consider moving manufacturing, and in Trump’s worldview that means more manufacturing in the US. In theory this is a good idea. In practice, many companies have tried to get US workers to do manufacturing and found the skill and interest lacking.”

Businesses who had previously imported will likely eat the costs or raise their prices in order to pass the cost along to the consumer.

Potential US dropshipping alternatives

However, this remains an avenue worth exploring: Dropshippers may want to start with SaleHoo, a New Zealand based e-commerce company that manages US sellers through its website. At the very least, domestic shipping speeds won’t be disrupted as much as international shipping is soon likely to be.

Syncee is a similar site, and is also focused on US-based sellers.

What Changes Should Dropshippers Expect?

Dropshippers who still rely on China imports will face higher costs on the products themselves. But that’s not all the warning signs they should be aware of.

Expect higher costs

China tariffs are increasing 10%, on top of the pre-existing tariffs. This means that the costs for passing through customs will increase for traders, and traders will boost brokerage fees to pass the costs along. The total cost to dropshippers? Many are estimating an increase of between 10% and 30%.

Expect shipping delays

Should the de minimis provision be cut entirely for China, Hong Kong, or other locations, anyone ordering products from these countries will face a range of problems, whether the good would have qualified for de minimis or not. Either way, the shifts will likely cause shipping delays and supply chain disruptions, none of which will lower operational costs.

How long will the delays be? It’s tough to predict, and varies based on the products. One business owner has noted an increase in their supplier’s shipping time from 8 to 10 days to 24 to 28 days.

Order cancellation impacts

In the short term, orders may be cancelled by suppliers who can’t handle the sudden change in their own operational costs. Those cancellations will leave the dropshippers who rely on them up the creek. Customer complaints might be inevitable.

Trust issues

The discussion of tariffs comes with a lack of clarity on multiple fronts. We don’t know when additional tariffs may be imposed, how large they’ll be, or even how other countries may retaliate with their own tariffs. That uncertainty is leading plenty of traders and suppliers to attempt to hedge their bets, either by frontloading shipments or, in some cases, demanding 30% deposits upfront.

Why High-Margin Dropshippers Might Be Okay

All right, so it’s a lose-lose situation for dropshippers. However, that doesn’t mean that the business model will collapse entirely: If the costs of buying the product were low enough in relation to total sales revenue, even a 10% tariff increase might not add up to very much.

Dropshippers have already been putting up with tariffs on China imports, and anyone who buys in bulk likely hasn’t been benefiting from the de minimis provision, either. Businesses who already pay a 20% tariff for their products might not blink when it jumps up to a 30% tariff.

One dropshipper shared their personal experience on Reddit: Their product costs them just $0.36 in raw material, and they’ll be selling it at $9.99, which they consider low. With these margins, a business can keep profits up — even if the extra tariffs aren’t exactly welcome.

The Biggest Dropshipping Winners and Losers of 2025

One silver lining to the cloud of uncertainty surrounding the threat of tariff increases? All changes will impact everyone, including all the dropshipping competitors. But that doesn’t mean we can’t pick out a few (projected) winners and losers.

The winners: High-margin dropshippers and domestic dropshippers

As we mentioned earlier, dropshippers with business models that prioritize very high margins are shielded from the worst of the impacts. In fact, with higher prices expected from direct competitors like Temu or Shein, these dropshippers might be able to further increase their already sky-high margins to meet demand.

Similarly, the trade war with China is relatively good news for any domestic dropshippers — those who mostly sell to Americans and who already source their products from the US or take survive making a shift to US suppliers. They’ll be able to avoid the price hikes entirely, while benefiting from the hit to their competition.

The losers: Chinese ecommerce and US consumers

The clear losers here are likely all the China-based retail websites, which will be losing many US customers. Sorry to Temu, Shein, and AliExpress. Don’t expect Amazon Haul to come out on top, necessarily, either: It currently sources its products from outside the US as well.

Ultimately, though, US consumers will lose out, too. Domestic products will now be the cheaper option, and with international alternatives priced out of the market, the lack of competition means that US suppliers can deliver sub-par products.

Dawn of the Chinese century?

Finally — and somewhat ironically, given the stated goal of Trump’s trade war — China might win big in the brave new world of 2025. They’ll lose their base of US consumers, but thanks to retaliatory tariffs, US businesses will lose their Chinese customers as well. The EU has recently announced “strong plans” to retaliate, while Canada has vowed to respond as well.

As more trade wars escalate with other countries that previously relied on US consumers, they’ll all be more likely to replace the US with another major trade partner, and China may be the most attractive choice. Say what you will about China, but it’s not rolling out new tariffs on a seemingly weekly basis.

TikTok has until this Saturday, April 5th to find a US buyer, or risk another ban that could heavily impact the businesses that rely on the platform for their marketing strategies.

This week, Donald Trump is set to meet with potential buyers ahead of the Saturday deadline. The president has expressed optimistic sentiments about the large amounts of interest in the app and is confident that a deal can be reached.

TikTok is used by 7 million US businesses to engage with consumers, by running creative campaigns and even selling products directly through the app’s social commerce platform, TikTok Shop. Should TikTok fail to find a buyer, businesses could see a big change in their ability to reach their target audience.

TikTok’s Fate Remains In Doubt

TikTok, a significant revenue stream for many small businesses, has until this weekend to find a US buyer or risk a permanent ban in the US.

There have long been concerns within the US government about how TikTok’s Chinese-based owners could use US user data if prompted by the Chinese government. Last year, President Biden gave TikTok’s owners, ByteDance, one year to sell the app’s US operations. When it failed to do so, a TikTok US ban came into effect in January 2025.

The ban was lifted after just 14 hours following the return of President Donald Trump to the White House, who extended the amount of time ByteDance had to find a new buyer. He has since extended the task to Vice President JD Vance, with the final deadline for the app being and this Saturday, April 5th.

Trump and Vance to Meet With Potential TikTok Buyers

With TikTok’s continuous increase in numbers and various rumors about people interested in the app, President Trump appears confident that TikTok will find a buyer before the Saturday deadline. This Wednesday marks another opportunity for Trump and Vance to meet with and strike a deal with a US buyer.

Failure to find a buyer could see the app undergo a more permanent ban than the one it endured earlier this year. New US users would be unable to download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and existing users may even have to use a VPN to access TikTok, which is not guaranteed and comes with its own security risks.

A potential ban could also see TikTok’s technology partners, including Apple, Google, and Oracle, receive hefty fines for associating with the app.

What Does a TikTok Ban Mean for Businesses?

US businesses use TikTok to reach the estimated 136 million Americans who regularly use the app in 2025. Through the app’s personalized algorithm, businesses are able to reach consumers they would otherwise not have access to, and nearly five million jobs benefited from a TikTok business acount in 2024.

The potential drawbacks for businesses’ marketing strategies without TikTok could be major. Not only does TikTok give brands the opportunity to build a loyal consumer base, but its social commerce platform, TikTok Shop, allows smaller businesses with a limited budget to sell products and generate revenue.

Should a TikTok ban come into full effect once again, businesses may turn to other TikTok alternatives, such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts for their marketing purposes. As a TikTok ban has become more of a reality, apps such as RedNote have also seen an increase in popularity.