future of work

Consumer advocacy groups want Walmart’s Roblox game audited for ‘stealth marketing’ to kids

https://techcrunch.com/2023/01/24/consumer-advocacy-groups-want-walmarts-roblox-game-audited-for-stealth-marketing-to-kids/ They’ll never find out, there’s two of me. The parents are pleased I have what they call a “Saturday job” with a “good company”. It’s a mixture of testing stuff and just hanging out and looking interested. Occasionally they get some of us in to hear our ideas and then we end up testing … [Read more…]

How you can tear down the ‘paper ceiling’ and uncover new talent

https://adage.com/article/marketing-news-strategy/how-look-past-backgrounds-and-pedigrees-find-untapped-talent/2464071 The diversity algorithm spat out its teams for the week. She looked at the message, decoding the coloured key. Her blue had become slightly more purple as her child had started school. A touch more green after she’d picked up the guitar again. She’d always be in the blues of course – She was … [Read more…]

The crash boom: the wonders of embracing creative risk

https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/crash-boom-wonders-embracing-creative-risk/1810530 He wasn’t looking forward to it. He’d worked hard all year. Done the job. Clients had been happy. Targets had been met. He’d hadn’t kept his head down. He hadn’t been invisible. He’d played his part in the team and team meetings. He’d contributed ideas, some of which had played their part in winning … [Read more…]

Managers, Stop Distracting Your Employees

https://hbr.org/2023/01/managers-stop-distracting-your-employees We were all pleased when they got rid of the “nag bands” as we used to call them. Supposedly a wellness thing – don’t get me started on those PRA discussions! – but really about gentle reminders and encouraging aphorisms. I wasn’t the only one that taped over the screen. There was a lull … [Read more…]

CNET has used an AI to write financial explainers nearly 75 times since November

https://www.engadget.com/cnet-gets-caught-playing-ai-mad-libs-with-its-financial-news-coverage-001026432.html Alright, it’s a cliché. Writing the great novel. Go on, laugh. Tell me to get back to my day job, do what I’m here to do. Know my place. But what’s wrong with having a dream? It’s what makes us who we are surely. I’m good at my job. Not everyone can take complex … [Read more…]

How marketers are finding ways to use the latest buzzy AI tool, ChatGBT

https://digiday.com/marketing/marketing-briefing-how-marketers-are-finding-ways-to-use-the-latest-buzzy-ai-tool-chatgbt/ I have to say, things have improved. We cut them some slack over the pandemic – heh we were all over the place too. But after, we really needed them to be on the ball, particularly in terms of communications. We’re not a demanding client I’m sure. Yes we do want changes and sometimes … [Read more…]

Neutrogena now offers personalized vitamin supplements

https://digiday.com/marketing/neutrogena-now-offers-personalized-vitamin-supplements/ They’d made sure to pump smells through the air conditioning, fresh bread, chips, coffee. They’d kept the retro plastic trays and generic cups. They’re even kept staff on… school dinner lady-lookalikes. And to be honest there was still the hustle and bustle of people finishing quickly to get back to their desk. But they … [Read more…]

Apple patent application describes Apple Pencil that can sample real-world colors and textures

https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/3/23536840/apple-pencil-patent-texture-color-sample-ipad-art His predecessors used to sample too. They would take photos, videos or just make careful notes. Building a picture of the physical space, the soundscape, the atmosphere. They’d capture conversations. Watch and listen, record. Their samples, their records of the digital; their renderings of the physical; their empathy maps of the ephemeral would be … [Read more…]

Business trends, risks and people to watch in 2023

https://www.ft.com/content/235dbb88-c019-45a3-97f5-a3b252d44f1e It’s a busy time of year for me. All eyes are on me. It’s what I’m here for I suppose. There are the jokes about The Oracle, Delphi and of course Cassandra. All obvious but they seem to like them. I have better references to make but I don’t bother. They know it’s not … [Read more…]

Artists stage mass protest against AI-generated artwork on ArtStation

What if..? https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/12/artstation-artists-stage-mass-protest-against-ai-generated-artwork I don’t get it. I’m sorry but I don’t think creativity is a zero sum thing. There isn’t a limited supply of it. If I have some and you have some… what’s the problem. My creativity doesn’t preclude yours. There’s plenty to go around. So what’s all the vitriole about? It’s getting … [Read more…]