Why the heart will matter more in an AI-driven world
Alfa Romeo, Porsche, and Tesla have unveiled concept cars that highlight the changing relationship between humans and machines in an AI-driven world, raising questions about the role of people in a future where tasks are automated.
Editor's noteA car's value now lies in its emotional connection, not just its technical capabilities. Watch whether the Cuorerosso's design, which prioritizes aesthetics over functionality, becomes a benchmark for the industry, and whether consumers are willing to pay a premium for a driving experience that's as much about feeling as it is about speed.
TECHNOLOGY
AI Video for Beginners, Part 2: Generate a Usable Shot
A tutorial on generating a camera movement in AI video creation, involving uploading a photo, specifying movement and consistency, and checking for distortion and continuity in the resulting clip, with tips for iterative improvement and budgeting.
Google could soon let you put your kids’ Gemini chats on a timer
Google is developing a feature to set daily limits on Gemini usage for supervised accounts, displaying a lockout screen when limits are reached, with unclear scope beyond the Gemini app.
MARKETING & DESIGN
Sparkle buttons, Autonomy by design, AI reckoning in UX, Figma with MCP
Figma has introduced a new feature called MCP. Designers are discussing the impact of AI on UX, including autonomy by design and the 'sparkle button' phenomenon. The AI reckoning in UX has been 20 years in the making, according to some experts.
Editor's noteFigma's MCP is a symptom of a UX industry that's been sleepwalking into AI-driven design. Watch the number of designers who start using MCP as a crutch, rather than a tool, and how that changes the way they think about user experience.
Scrunch vs. Semrush: Which tracks AI visibility better?
Scrunch and Semrush are compared as tools for tracking AI visibility, with Scrunch focusing on dedicated answer engine optimisation and Semrush incorporating AI visibility into its SEO suite, serving different needs.
The Daily Heller: Underwater Underground From World War II
Curt Bloch, a Jewish lawyer, created 96 handmade journals, 'Het Onderwater Cabaret', between 1943 and 1945 while hiding in the Netherlands from the Nazis. The journals contained original art, poetry, and satire targeting the Nazis and their collaborators.
ADVERTISING & PR
AI can find patterns, but marketers must figure out what they mean
Marketers can now use AI to uncover hidden patterns in customer data, but turning these discoveries into effective marketing decisions requires human judgment, understanding, and testing to evaluate their relevance and impact.
Media Buying Briefing: Overheard at Media Buying Summit: How AI is helping and hurting client relations and office work
Attendees at the Media Buying Summit discussed AI's effects on client relationships and office work, with agencies facing challenges in keeping up with the rapid adoption of AI tools and technology.
Google search loses its free pass with buyers
Google search is no longer considered a low-risk advertising option, due to changes in its results page and automated buying tools affecting ad click-through rates and costs. Media buyers are scrutinizing Google's performance, questioning the value of increased ad spend. Advertisers are seeking answers to their concerns.
Editor's noteGoogle's free pass as a low-risk ad option is over. The culprit is AI-driven answers on the results page, which are cannibalizing ad click-through rates and making automated buying tools overpay for remaining slots. Watch the Q4 ad spend numbers to see if advertisers can justify the cost.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Change fatigue and AI: How leaders can keep teams thinking
Dr Ken Hudson suggests leaders use the word 'switch' to encourage teams to think differently in their daily work, rather than framing it as constant change. He argues that employees are already switching between tasks and modes of thinking, and this can be applied to work. This approach can help teams adapt to change and improve their thinking.
Editor's noteChange fatigue is a real problem, but framing it as 'switching' modes of thinking can be a more effective way to adapt. Watch whether leaders adopt this approach and whether it leads to genuine innovation, rather than just a change in terminology.
From idea to impact: What it takes for an AI agent to survive the journey to enterprise scale
Providence developed an AI-guided conversation agent over a prolonged period, enabling it to be rapidly adapted and deployed to 1,300 leaders during a workforce transition, illustrating the importance of preparation and flexibility in the face of changing environments.
Shadow AI at work: why bans fail and what people teams can do instead
Microsoft and LinkedIn's 2024 Work Trend Index found 75% of knowledge workers use AI at work, often without organisational approval. Organisations may not be aware of the AI tools their employees are using. AI usage is widespread among knowledge workers.
PUBLIC POLICY
My New Dispatch Article on the Legal Case Against Trump's Section 338 Tariffs Targeting Canadian Imports
A US court case has been filed against Trump's tariffs on Canadian imports, citing a 1930 trade law. The tariffs, worth 50% on various goods, are being challenged by a New Jersey-based food importer.
How China Might Target US Midterms
China's influence on US midterms is a concern, with potential to shape debate through WeChat and AI models. Key races feature Commission members critical of Beijing, while Texas is a sensitive state due to its large Chinese American population and WeChat usage.
Supreme Court to Consider Successive Habeas Claim in Capital Case, Twenty Years After the Murder
The US Supreme Court will consider a capital case involving a prisoner's claim of intellectual disability, 20 years after the murder, and whether a new factual predicate can be used in a successive habeas application.
Editor's noteA successive habeas claim is not a new rule, but a new fact. Watch whether the Supreme Court's decision hinges on the distinction between a change in law and a change in evidence, and whether that distinction is enough to save Johnson's claim from AEDPA's prohibition on successive applications.
