Techless, slop, and hyperpleasures

June 21, 2024

Jun 20, 2024

Welcome to this 129th 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.

Competitive Intelligence

Collecting OSINT on Discord. A new AI powered search engine. Perplexity’s answer engine is altering the way we interact with 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.

Canada's 1st full-scale free grocery store to open in Regina. Have Someone Else Pack Kids for Camp. Your Uber’s here and it’s… a shuttle bus. Daimler Truck bundles e-infrastructure and charging services in Europe under new brand. Diamond industry 'in trouble' as lab-grown gemstones tank prices further. Americans Are Hiring People in the Philippines to Help Them Find Adderall. As Sea Levels Rise, Insurance Retreats.

Our future

Techless. Slop is the new spam. 10 forces shaping e-commerce. Is Starbucks less interested in being a “third place”? Futurization and de-futurization. AI-discovered drugs in clinical trials. Foreseeing Future Work Opportunities. The Rise of Hyperpleasures. It may be the start of another meme-stock revolution. An AI Cartoon May Interview You for Your Next Job.

Échelle de perspective temporelle de Zimbardo: Quelle est votre orientation vers le passé, le présent et le futur?

We keep you updated on those trends and more on Twitter.

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?

Ikea hires for Roblox. The glassdoor of restaurant service workers. Raw milk sales in the US are up 21%. Heinz uses restaurant reviews to streamline naturalization for refugees. Taylor Swift Eras Tour shows trigger earthquake readings. There’s an AI Candidate Running for Parliament in the UK.

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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 Social Media and mental health.

Hodgepodge discovery

Articles for curious minds and the polymaths

Mind Health vs. mental health: an AXA report. Why prediction markets aren’t popular. A map is not a territory. The U.S. Spends $15 Million Every Year To Airdrop Worms. What’s in a collision? The Loneliness of the American Worker. Where the Time Goes with Age. The Order of the Third Bird. Occupation and Salary Rankings, Each Decade Since 1970.

Numbers

300%- The number of superyachts in the world has tripled since the millennium.

24m- The Bank of Spain has indicated that the country will need approximately 24 million migrant workers by 2053 to maintain a sustainable pension system due to its aging population and rising pension costs.

Feeling good

Simulate sun shadows for any time and place on Earth. Resumes. The analytical girlfriend. Typos And Botanists. The Daily Routines of Famous Creative People.

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Weak signals and other trends