31 leaders on whether they still want to talk about AI
31 leaders from the Fast Company Impact Council share their views on AI, with some expressing enthusiasm for its potential and others feeling burnt out, but all agreeing it's a technology that's here to stay.
TECHNOLOGY
Worms mate in man's eyes, get plucked out right before larvae burst out
A 71-year-old South Korean man had 11 worms, including pregnant females, removed from his eyes after two months of discomfort. The worms were causing redness, blurriness, and erosion of the cornea. Doctors used fine forceps to extract the worms.
We shouldn't be surprised about the PHPocalypse, as the internet is built on sticks and glue
The internet's reliance on outdated software, including PHP, has led to vulnerabilities such as PHP2Shell, which allow remote code execution. Experts discuss the issue on The Kettle podcast, citing the use of duct tape and glue to hold the internet together.
Editor's noteThe internet's patchwork architecture is a ticking time bomb, not a surprise. The real story is the lack of investment in modernising the underlying infrastructure, which is being held together with duct tape and glue. Watch the funding for the next generation of internet protocols, because that will reveal whether the industry is serious about avoiding the PHPocalypse.
MARKETING & DESIGN
Telling the wrong story, Design v ADHD, AI doesn’t care about your job title
Designers are often rushing to meet deadlines, but the key to success lies in aligning their work with stakeholders' needs, a task they are both vulnerable to and well-suited for.
Editor's noteDesigners rushing to meet deadlines is a symptom of a deeper issue: the pressure to produce is often at odds with the need for stakeholder buy-in. Watch whether the tools touted as solutions to this problem, like AI design agents, can actually help designers navigate these competing demands.
Georgia O’Keeffe Lived Next Door to This $14M Santa Fe home
A 7.7-acre estate in Santa Fe's historic Eastside, once owned by Juan Hamilton, is for sale for $13.75 million. The property features a main residence, two casitas, and multiple support structures.
Lego and Daft Punk's team-up highlights exactly how brands should interact with fans
Lego's partnership with Daft Punk involves fan-designed sets and collaborative content, showcasing a bottom-up approach to brand collaborations, where fans are encouraged to lead and contribute to the creative process.
ADVERTISING & PR
Why winning AI search isn’t enough to win B2B buyers
Winning AI search visibility does not guarantee B2B sales success. B2B buyers form opinions before sales contact, with 70% of the buying process completed independently, and websites must facilitate understanding, trust, and action within 78 seconds.
Editor's noteWinning AI search isn't a silver bullet for B2B sales. What matters is how easily buyers can navigate and trust your website, not just how visible it is in search results. Watch the average session duration, because if it stays at 78 seconds, it's a sign that your website is still a barrier to conversion.
CMO AI Transformation Summit Digital Resource Package
Bluefish AI's Agentic Marketing Platform and Scrunch's Agent Experience Platform are presented as solutions for marketing leaders to navigate the AI-driven internet, including ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, to improve brand performance.
AI and the Changing Consumer Journey
Research by MMA and Knotch shows customers are increasingly using AI to research and decide on purchases before reaching a brand's website, with most of this activity going unrecorded in analytics and website data.
HUMAN RESOURCES
AI is making everyone's ideas the same. Here's how to stay creative
AI tools are becoming increasingly prevalent, making it difficult to generate original ideas, and experts are advising on strategies to maintain creativity in a world where AI-generated content is on the rise.
How AI Chatbots Are Changing Employee Support Without Replacing HR
AI chatbots are being used to answer routine employee queries, freeing up HR time for more complex issues. Common questions such as leave policies and benefits enrollment are being automated.
Editor's noteHR teams are being freed from routine queries, but this shift is not a replacement of HR, rather a redefinition of their role. The real test is whether HR can adapt to focus on more complex, high-touch issues. Watch the metrics on employee satisfaction and productivity, as they will reveal the true impact of this change.
The New Deal at Work: How AI Is Reshaping the Employer–Employee Relationship
AI is changing the employer-employee relationship, with employees expected to adapt quickly and work alongside machines, but leaders must redefine the compact and provide clarity on what employees receive in return.
PUBLIC POLICY
America Is Spending Billions To Fight the War on Terror in Africa. The Terrorists Are Winning.
US spending $355 billion on African counterterrorism since 2001, but Al Qaeda and Islamist groups continue to expand, with a 101,300% increase in terrorism fatalities in the Sahel and Somalia from 2002 to 2022.
Editor's noteThe billions spent on African counterterrorism are a failed bet, with Islamist groups expanding despite US spending. Watch the impact of the Sahelian civil wars on regional stability, as the rival JNIM and Islamic State Sahel Province continue to clash.
IRS says it needs top performers, even if they don’t all get the performance ratings they deserve
The IRS is urging employees to be top performers despite a cap on top ratings, with some questioning the value of exceeding expectations if recognition is unlikely due to performance review restrictions.
Action Needed to Get Ukraine’s Grain to the World
Ukraine's grain corridor has been severely impacted by Russian attacks, with 60% of exports relying on sea transportation. Alternative routes are not viable due to costs and volumes. Storage capacity is also a concern.
