Welcome to this 110th issue of our newsletter “Weak Signals and other Trends”.
Each week, I sift through hundreds of sources of inspiration to track where we’re heading. If you are a new subscriber to this newsletter, take the time to send me a note and introduce yourself, I love to understand who is reading.
You can subscribe to this (roughly) bi-weekly newsletter here to get it directly by mail. This week’s edition is a bit late, as I was traveling through China for the past couple of weeks with limited time to prepare.
I have prepared this newsletter this week from Shanghai, China. This is what I noticed this week, thank you for sharing with those who look into the future.
Estelle.
Competitive Intelligence
Search the Internet by face. Accidental Spies: Amazon Ring Owners May Be Unknowingly Emailing Police.
Strategic blindspots
Looking at the familiar with “alien eyes” allows you to unlock new business model opportunities while avoiding risks stemming from strategic blindspots. This section also is about the risks we miss.
The Problem With Counterfeit People. FAA Warns That Falling Satellites Are Going to Start Killing People. 23andMe says private user data is up for sale after being scraped. 'Coffee badging': The new workplace trend to get around hybrid policies. Michelin Guide Will Begin Rating Hotels in 2024. Airlines Are Just Banks Now. Orlando International Airport Opens Terminal C to the General Public with New Visitor Pass Program.
Our future
We keep you updated on those trends and more on Twitter (which I still find infinitely better than Threads).
The Chatbots Are Now Talking to Each Other. Tech Trends 2024. It’s the Afternoon Fun Economy. Welcome to the AI gym staffed by virtual trainers. Facial tickets. ‘Overemployed’ Hustlers Exploit ChatGPT To Take On Even More Full-Time Jobs.
Weak signals
Weak signals are indicators of a change, a trend or an emerging risk that might become significant for the future. They allow us to run hypothesis, expand our thinking, and challenge assumptions. How will you interpret those in your industry or field of expertise?
41% of French population is in favour of a proposal to limit everyone to 4 flights in their entire life. eBay has opened the UK’s first ever pop-up air fryer restaurant for one night in London. Why I Built Zuzalu. When stores have to hire bouncers against Tik-Tokers. AI garnments: Microsoft files patent for AI backpack. Why the first-ever space junk fine is such a big deal .
Perfect illustration of weak signals spotting: Ce que les titres de romans disent de notre époque.
On our radar
I travelled for market visits and retail trend spotting to China for the past couple of weeks: Deepfakes of Chinese influencers are livestreaming 24/7. China’s unemployed find a new job title: 'full-time child'. China Plans Big AI and Computing Buildup in Boon for Local Firms. How China Is Developing The Global South.
Down the rabbit hole
This section highlights a subject that led me to many useful threads, or a single site, that opened many doors: “A rabbit hole is not a distraction. A rabbit hole is your brain trying to tell you to pay attention to something you’re curious about. Ignore algorithmic rabbit holes” ( by are.na)
This week, I stumbled upon 77 bits from the last 100 emails.
Hodgepodge discovery
Articles for curious minds and the polymaths
A new map of the human brain. Google history. Where to draw the line, a history of taxes. Gen Z is changing the culture of networking. Our sense of smell changes how we see color. A History of the Most Important Concept in Global Poverty.
Numbers
51- US employees spend $51 daily, or $1,020 monthly, when they work full time in the office, new study finds.
1,209.2- Cumulatively, from 1978–2022, top CEO compensation shot up 1,209.2% compared with a 15.3% increase in a typical worker’s compensation.
Feeling good
Photos of rivers. One Revolution Per Minute. Neurons Forming. GeoGuessr has gamified Google Street View.
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