AI Scams, Housing Hurdles, and the Hidden Cost of Business Tech

This week on Small Biz Spotlight, we look at the biggest issues facing small business owners, from housing affordability and AI spending to digital advertising changes and rising fraud threats. We break down a congressional hearing on how small home builders could help address America’s housing crisis, including the role of modular housing, 3-D printing, and local regulatory reform. We also discuss a new Freshworks report showing how mid-market companies may be wasting a major share of their AI budgets because of complexity, delays, and poor integration. Plus, Google Display Ads is merging with Demand Gen campaigns, creating new opportunities — and learning curves — for small businesses trying to reach customers online. And Visa is warning about a rise in AI-driven scams, making payment security and employee training more important than ever. We also cover small business deals and real-world Reddit questions from business owners navigating clients, employees, shipping costs, and business services. Topics include: Housing affordability and small builders AI budget waste and the “complexity tax” Google Ads and Demand Gen changes AI-driven scams and payment fraud Small business deals and Reddit discussions Deal Links https://tools.woot.com/plus/power-up-milwaukee-1 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1875946-REG/lenovo_83f00008us_15_1_legion_5i_gaming.html https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/-hp-omnibook-7-173-inch-laptop-next-gen-ai-pc-al2b7av-1 https://www.ebay.com/itm/135684498116 Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Small Business Spotlight 00:29 Housing Crisis and Small Builders' Role 04:26 AI Budget Challenges for Mid-Market Companies 08:10 Google's New Advertising Integration 10:05 Rise of AI-Driven Scams 13:50 Deals of the Week 18:10 Client Acquisition Challenges 22:30 Employee Management and Firing Practices 28:42 E-commerce Checkout Challenges 31:11 Debt Management for Small Businesses #SmallBusiness #SmallBizSpotlight #AI #BusinessNews #Entrepreneurship #GoogleAds #FraudPrevention #HousingMarket