Rizz, boomerasking, and gardenship
February 14, 2025
Welcome to this 148th 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 has been delayed a week, I am in vacation.
I have prepared this newsletter this week from Bridgetown, Barbados. This is what I noticed these past couple of weeks, thank you for sharing with those who look into the future.
Estelle.
Competitive Intelligence
Subaru Security Flaws Exposed Its System for Tracking Millions of Cars. There’s a major push to archive government websites and databases before they shut down. The top links on Bluesky over the last 24 hours. U.K. orders Apple to let it spy on users’ encrypted accounts. The analysis of PIN codes.
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.
Sports Fans Experience Live Games on 'Shared Reality' Screens. These Electronics Are Made Out Of Paper. Ferrari is considering limiting color combinations by banning owners who make too many changes from ordering another. An insurance to protect celebrities, executives, and other high-profile figures from the potential of getting canceled. The startup offering free toilets and coffee for delivery workers — in exchange for their data.
Our future
DARPA wants to modify warfighters’ red blood cells to operate in dangerous environments more effectively. A flooded quarry, a mysterious millionaire and the dream of a new Atlantis. The future is too easy. Mega trends 2025. Exploring the future beyond cyberpunk’s Neon and Noir. 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer. Human vs: humanoid: Half-marathon pits robots against 12,000 joggers .
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?
Romance is dead. Eggs now have thinner shells. The salty, briny, lemony, garlicky rise of “pick me” foods. These beavers saved the Czech government $1.2 million. The Snacks & Cereals of 2024 ( including churros flavored oreos…). The Ebisu flower park. U.S. Coast Guard Releases Audio Recording of Titan Submersible’s Fatal Implosion.
Some of you have asked me to provide my interpretation for signals. Here is an example: Renowned Japanese fashion designer Nigo has unveiled that he’s becoming the first creative director of the popular Japanese convenience store chain, FamilyMart: this signals a shift in marketing strategies for retailers/the unique positioning of convenience stores in Japan/ convenience retail as a hip destination place ( after all, the man designed once a public washroom)
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 AI4Culture which offers access to a pool of curated AI software tools, datasets and capacity building material.
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:
Paraguay’s AI chatbot “Eva” is driving social justice reform. Hyper-realistic skin simulations powered by GenAI.
Hodgepodge discovery
Articles for curious minds and the polymaths.
Mewing, Beta Maxing, Gigachad, Baddie: Parents Are Drowning in New Lingo. There are two Gen-Zs. The tyranny of now. What Happened to Hanging Out on the Street? Wikipedia Searches Reveal Differing Styles of Curiosity. Boomerasking’ Is a Big, Self-Centered Foul in Conversation. What Is the Meaning of Laughter? Measuring Emotion of Acting Performances in Contemporary Film. Spanish 'running of the bulls' festival reveals crowd movements can be predictable, above a certain density.
Numbers
41%- During a typical dinner, 41 percent of respondents talk to people they’re with, while 63 percent watch television, 28 percent look at their phone, 16 percent listen to music or podcasts, 8 percent read and 6 percent play video games
100%- Cases of ships being abandoned by their owners around the world and seafarers being stranded without pay in strange ports have doubled in the past three years.
Feeling good
WikiTok, a new site where users can endlessly scroll through Wikipedia. A wonderfully relaxing ripple creator. A radio activated by the author’s duck movements. Rachel’s photos. Trains.
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