Hyperflavors, blank sailings, and VR Clubbing
May 16, 2025
Welcome to this 154th issue of our newsletter “Weak Signals and other Trends”.
Each week, I personally 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 one is a week late, due to an intense travelling schedule…
I have prepared this newsletter this week from Frankfurt, Germany.
This is what I noticed these past couple of weeks, thank you for sharing with those who look into the future.
Estelle.
Competitive Intelligence
The library of leaks. What’s my name. The open infrastructure map. Capture evidence quickly before It disappears. Turning unreadable text into evidence. Marginalia Search is an independent, DIY search engine that focuses on discovering surprising, content-rich websites from the less commercial corners of the internet.
Strategic blindspots and business models
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.
Visa and Mastercard unveil AI-powered shopping. Climate crisis on track to destroy capitalism, warns top insurer as the world is fast approaching temperature levels where insurers will no longer be able to offer cover for many climate risks. To compete with Chinese e-commerce giants, aVietnamese company is deploying housewives. Car Insurance Rates Were Ready to Drop. Then Tariffs Came Along.
Our future
Hyperflavors. Minecraft became their wedding venue. NYC is considering going full Minority Report on its subways, using cameras to predict if a crime is about to take place. Portrait of a futurist. What will the business of coffee look like in 2050?
We keep you updated on those trends and more on Twitter and Bluesky.
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?
Barnes & Noble will open 60+ stores this year. Extreme day trips. The celebrities running club. The Slowdown at Ports Is a Warning of Rough Economic Seas Ahead. VR clubbing explodes. Barbie reflects societal shifts in women's employment, empowerment, and body shape.
Book a speaking engagement about weak signals and emerging trends.
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 explored a map of Reddit.
Unpacking AI
This is a new section. Clients have asked me to dig into the impact of AI for their organization, industry, or their own work. I will add in this sections tools, or angles of interpretation that I find relevant to our community of curious minds:
The soldiers became emotionally attached to robots used to disarm bombs. AI Floods Amazon With Strange Political Books Before Canadian Election. People are losing loved ones to AI-fueled spiritual fantasies. Brands are leveraging artificial intelligence to help divorced, separated, or cohabiting parents coordinate and manage child care.
Hodgepodge discovery
Articles for curious minds and the polymaths.
How Ancient Rome Blew Up Its Own Business Empire. How creativity became the reigning value of our time. Personality and Persuasion.
Numbers
71- Private collectors have snatched up 71 of the 141 scientifically useful T. rex fossils in existence, according to a Palaeontologia Electronica study.
88 - number of days an adult spends looking at a screen each year
60%- A 2023 study found that ~60% of Gen Zers want to be influencers.
Feeling good
Internet roadtrip. Unparalleled misalignments.
Share your favorite issues of the newsletter, or send friends - or random strangers…
Contact me at Competia with your feedback or ideas. Thank you for reading.