Tom Novak is a senior behavioral analyst at Canvas8. After completing his second master's degree in cultural sociology at LSE, he was drawn to cultural insight. Tom has conducted qualitative and ethnographic research from the plazas of Santiago to Coventry's suburbs. In his spare time, he can be seen rowing down the Thames or world-building around feminist science fiction.


Amid the global uncertainty and polarisation, people are seeking the support of online communities, including religious and spiritual ones. Indeed, research conducted by Canvas8 has found that 50% of Americans believe connections they make online can be just as meaningful as those they make in person. "The internet is a massively important vehicle to reach out to people and support them so that they can experience the spiritual and meet like-minded people," 

, a senior lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London. For example, digital influencer 

 is making an impact by connecting with thousands of young Americans through his theology and lifestyle content, bolstering the appeal of Christianity in digital spaces. Similarly, 

 includes a widget for a digital altar that's helping disaffected young Chinese find moments of hope and spirituality in their daily lives. AI is also finding its place as a figure of worship and spiritual companionship. 

 empowers and guides people on their spiritual journeys and mindful practices, while 

 are providing prayer services, bible verses, and counselling for Korean Christians.

 regularly watching religious services online or on TV, people are increasingly turning to gadgets and tech to practise their religion. Devices like Apple's VR headset 

 could offer people of various faiths immersive experiences of their holy sites and religious objects and give them a space for prayer, meditation, and social interaction around their beliefs. 

 is already facilitating virtual pilgrimages for Muslims through VR, often democratising access to places of worship for older and disabled believers. Research shows that the vast majority of Muslims use specialised 

 to find spouses: 77.8% of Muslims in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Germany, and the UK have turned to online matchmaking platforms like Salams and Muzz to find a romantic partner. People of different religions and creeds also turn to AI chatbots like 

 to make uncomfortable conversations about funeral planning more manageable.

A Canvas8 survey from September 2023 reveals that 57% of Americans feel uneasy about the potential role of AI in our society. As tech tools are integrated into religion and spirituality, people need guidance and education on using them safely and ethically – especially as they take up new beliefs and quasi-religious practices to ease their anxieties. For example, a 

Public Religion Research Institute survey

 showed that Americans are turning to alternate sources of authority and faith to cope with stress, while 

 are embracing digital prayers and lucky charms to navigate the surging unemployment crisis. Are these new tech-assisted spiritual experiences safe? According to Boston University's 

, the answer seems to be yes, but there are dangers. "Just as intense tech-free meditation experiences can skittle the psychic stability of some people and bring on psychosis, so tech-assisted spiritual experiences might be unhealthy for some people," he says. "Similarly, any technology can be abused and used to harm people."

of Americans agree the connections they make online can be just as meaningful as those they make in person

As Big Tech strives to humanise chatbots, some interactions have raised concerns that AI isn’t as emotionally responsive as people need it to be. Canvas8 spoke to marketing professor Shintaro Okazaki to find out how empathy can be better leveraged in digital customer experiences.




Can robots care? The science of artificial empathy

There is no substitute for therapeutic care or the love of close friends and family at a sorrowful time. But digital innovations like AI therapy bots, after-loss software, and even video games are attempting to bridge the gap between the support we need and that which is accessible.

How is AI changing experiences of grief?

Younger generations are feeling a plethora of pressures, and in China they're using digital Buddhist apps to find some comfort in rituals. Despite not considering themselves Buddhist, many are yearning for spaces that provide emotional support, whether that is on or offline.

Young Chinese citizens turn to apps to boost mindfulness

Brazil has blocked access to social media platform X after Elon Musk failed to meet legal requirements, furthering debates over free speech and misinformation. While many users have migrated to alternatives like Threads and Bluesky, the ban has left Brazilians feeling disconnected.

Brazilians feel disconnected following X blockade

Spanish Gen Zers are swapping dating apps for pineapples in supermarkets, underscoring a broader movement towards more authentic, experience-driven socialising among the youth. Brands can facilitate real-world interactions by creating innovative spaces and experiences for organic connections.

Spanish Gen Zers add a tropical twist to their dating lives

Chanel has jumped on the wearables bandwagon with the debut of its Première Sound Watch. Unlike other brands that are experimenting with more tech-forward approaches to wearables, the luxury house is putting a modern spin on old-school devices that could resonate with AI sceptics.

Chanel makes loud luxury play with nostalgic tech

Instagram has released a new slate of text-based creative tools for users to apply across their content on the platform. The update is yet another step in Instagram’s active transformation into a more creator-centric platform, offering a variety of tools designed to appeal to content creators.

Instagram update courts desires for creative flexibility

Telegram groups have been spreading nonconsensual deepfake sexual images across South Korea, and the authorities have vowed to crack down on these sex crimes. Technology offers ample opportunity for abuse, and platforms like Telegram need to find a way to protect their users. 

Korean authorities to crack down on digital sex crimes

Software with voice input, accessible on phones, is helping foreign workers at a nursing home in Japan. The tech aims to clear the language barrier and reduce its staff’s workload. As expectations of employers increase, support and upskilling can lead to greater satisfaction and retention of staff.

Tech supports foreign staff in Japanese nursing home

Tesla is advancing its Optimus robots by hiring people to gather movement data for their AI training, which aims to automate unsafe or repetitive factory tasks. However, there is research that suggests that more automation could further disengage workers from job satisfaction.

Tesla recruits people to test humanoid suits

As Canva expands its footprint in the UK, its generative AI model is being embraced by creatives using the accessible graphic design platform to increase their productivity and develop their creative potential. With tech-led innovations being adopted by more workers, how are working norms shifting?

How Canva is using AI innovation to empower UK workers

Survey data shows that American Gen Zers are increasingly relying on social commerce for their holiday shopping sprees. In line with young people’s changing festive shopping habits, there’s an opportunity to get creative with interactive immersion to augment the joys of holiday gifting.

Gen Z take social-first approach to holiday shopping

More than half of US parents report needing financial assistance to buy the technology their kids need for their education, a worrying statistic as the back-to-school season kicks off. As tech becomes more essential in schools, parents seek reliable and affordable products for their kids.

US parents face financial barriers in buying tech for kids

Generative AI has caused much excitement about its seemingly endless potential, though less attention is being paid to the negative implications of these possibilities. Canvas8 spoke to Dr. Susie Alegre to explore how AI threatens human rights and how people can leverage the tech to their advantage.

Dr. Susie Alegre on AI’s impact on human rights

Netflix has partnered with Google to introduce shoppable features and ads to promote season 4 of Emily in Paris. The collaboration highlights the importance of directly engaging with superfans through innovative and exclusive offerings that help to further immerse them in their favorite worlds.

Netflix x Google offer fans immersive retail experience

Prominent content creators are shifting towards slower and less attention-grabbing 'no-edit' formats to recapture audiences fatigued by content overload. In an increasingly saturated social media environment, people are looking to take back control through more mindful modes of consumption.

Creators opt for no-edit content to battle ‘brain-rot’

Nintendo is launching an immersive exhibition in Japan where fans can experience their favourite games from the company's archive. As attitudes around 'kidulting' evolve, brands can appeal to desires for play and escapism by merging modern technology with nostalgic products or experiences.

Nintendo’s Kyoto museum entices nostalgic gamers

Hinge has enlisted a group of contemporary writers to create an anthology inspired by real user love stories. At a time when young people are turning their backs on digital dating, the campaign taps budding interest in romance literature to reframe perspectives on modern love.

Hinge’s ‘No Ordinary Love’ taps romance lit buzz

Tesla's 'Dog Mode' was designed to offer in-car pet care during hotter months. However, the feature has come under scrutiny, with tests finding inconsistencies and reports of glitches during the summer season. As people look for pet support, trust in tailored offerings is central.

Tesla’s 'Dog Mode' glitch challenges automated car care

Indians are increasingly drawn to exclusivity, customisation, and status when it comes to their gadgets, opening doors for high-end phones and specialised services. Leading this shift in the country are brands like Apple and Samsung, which are considered luxury products.

How are phones transforming into personal assets for Indians?

The hype around new phone releases used to drive people to seek updates every couple of years. But amid rising costs, slow innovation, and environmental concerns, people are keeping their phones for longer. There’s an opportunity for brands who can recognise audience desires for durability.

Upgrade culture slows as Britons keep phones for longer

People may get addicted to relationships with voice-activated chatbots, according to OpenAI’s GPT-4o user-testing report. Synthetic interactions reflect back what we want to hear, offering people an idealised image of a relationship and preventing them from developing real-world social skills.

Addictive voice-AI could limit real-world socialisation

Technology company Delta H Innovations is tackling temperature with a smarter and smaller device that allows warm drinks to cool on the go. The creation has gained GBP 150,000 (roughly $196,538) in crowdfunding and is entering a market that has attempted to crack the self-cooling issue for decades.

Delta H Innovations cools drinks for Britons on-the-go

India faces a severe water crisis, with many people lacking clean drinking water. Water utility company Uravu offers a sustainable solution through water-from-air technology. The brand’s installed modular systems and water bottles urge Indians to reduce reliance on erratic groundwater sources.

Why Uravu designs a futuristic water system for Indians

Online dating in Southeast Asia is undergoing a fascinating evolution, where cultural nuances shape distinct trends across the region. From the growing emphasis on value-driven connections to the alarming rise of online scams, dating apps are adapting and innovating to meet these challenges.

Can dating apps fulfil Southeast Asian's search for a connection?

Apple's new short film, The Relay, showcases athletes of all abilities competing side by side, with disabled athletes using accessibility features to assist in their preparation. The film highlights elite athleticism and the importance of inclusive, convenient technology.

Apple showcases athletic diversity in latest campaign

AI is supercharging the desire for personalised experiences, but its environmental toll is massive. As energy demands skyrocket, the pressure is on for convenience-focused brands to innovate sustainably or risk falling behind. But how can they balance cutting-edge AI with eco-friendly practices?

Can convenience and sustainability coexist in the age of AI?

South Koreans’ notion of the ‘home’ is changing with the times. As the nation’s decreasing birth rate is challenged by the rising demand for single-household apartments, people are evolving their interior design choices to meet their needs within city high-rise complexes.

How are South Koreans designing their homes?

Noplace is a social media app that has captivated the hearts and minds of socially curious Gen Zers. By providing a platform for creative expression and a valuable way to connect with friends, it evokes nostalgia for early internet communities and fulfills a desire for authentic interaction.

How social platform Noplace is bringing joy to Gen Z

The user base for ingredient scanning app Yuka is growing, but it’s attracting criticism around its reliability. As the wellness boom continues, health buffs are turning to alternative sources of authority, but there’s a need for brands to foreground a balanced, science-backed approach.

Yuka app gains traction with health-conscious shoppers

With about 663,000 Australians confronting mobility challenges, the Australian wayfinding app BindiMaps answers to those with accessibility needs by navigating indoor spaces. Inclusivity-driven, it deepens customer convenience by providing built-in accessible text, audio, maps, routes, and more.

How BindiMaps helps Aussies find ways to public autonomy

’Tis the season to gift, browse, and shop. Aussies haven’t lost any appetite for the Christmas season as a majority of the country continues to celebrate despite rising costs of living, spending most of their time and money with family. How can brands tap into the country’s holiday spirit?

How are Aussies shopping for Christmas?

Reddit has seen a surge in daily active users in the second quarter of 2024, driven largely by its popularity as a user-generated search engine. As faith in legacy social media wanes, a post-platform era is taking shape, and users are increasingly seeking out smaller, community-based online spaces.

Reddit’s UGC focus appeals to authenticity-seeking users

An entertainment company has introduced a new benefit to encourage people to explore and expand their social lives comfortably. As people prioritise personal relationships and expect workplaces to offer holistic benefits, this move highlights the creative ways employers can retain talent.

'Tinder Leave' offers employees social life perks

Naukri, India's leading job platform, uses AI to enhance user search experiences. It offers tools for upskilling, identifying skill gaps, and recommending courses to boost employability. The nation's young population can benefit economically with the right education and employment.

How Naukri alleviates AI anxiety among Indian job seekers

Nibble AI, a chatbot that haggles with customers on behalf of online shopping platforms, has gained notoriety across the internet for the novelty of getting savings from a chatbot. This points to a growing gamification of shopping experiences via AI, as money worries push shoppers to deal hunt.

Nibble AI changes sales culture with haggling chatbot

Instagram has begun to let users create AI versions of themselves, enabling creators and business owners to use AI profiles to talk to followers on their behalf, respond to comments, and chat with followers. Many remain concerned, however, about how the chatbots will engage with user content.

Americans can outsource social comms with Meta's AI 

Spotify has recently expanded its UK offer, introducing video-based courses for users. Initially focusing on music production, the platform has now broadened its educational content to include AI, recognising the growing importance of the technology in today's digital landscape.

Spotify AI video courses democratise AI education

Telehealth startup Eucalyptus is taking the Australian healthcare arena by storm with digital clinics catering to different regions. However, alongside its rising clientele came controversy surrounding its asynchronous consultations and prescriptions. What does this mean for Aussie’s healthcare?

Why Eucalyptus democratises telehealth autonomy for Aussies

Lasting damage to hair has long put people off using heat-based styling devices. Addressing this, Shark Beauty has released hair-drying products that focus on scalp health, marking a shift towards more holistic forms of hair care that align with shifting attitudes to beauty.

Shark Beauty focuses on scalp health to tap beauty fans

Amid a global loneliness epidemic, people are turning to AI for company. Loverse, a Japanese AI startup, offers digital companionship to singles, including LGBTQ+ and female users. This shift reflects new communication norms and a growing reliance on AI to combat feelings of isolation.

AI dating app helps young Japanese people with flirting skills

Japan’s healthcare system is undergoing a digital overhaul. Meanwhile, healthcare apps and personalised wellness tools empower citizens to take charge of their health. However, Japanese hospitals are still expensive, leaving room for brands to step in and make healthcare more accessible to all.

Health-conscious Japanese people turn to digital therapeutics

Currys is looking to make shopping more accessible for customers with disabilities through a new app that allows people to pre-register specific requirements before a store visit. Demonstrating increasing awareness of disability needs, Currys' personalised approach speaks to changing expectations.

Currys supports inclusive shopping with assistive tech

Google is trying to tackle the problem of deepfakes on its search engine, limiting results for nonconsensual imagery – an area which has seen an explosion as a result of new AI technologies. Regulations have been slow to tackle the problem, pointing to a greater need for better protections.

Google tackles deepfake concerns with regulation

Oura is stepping into the fertility tracking space to empower users with personalised insights. This appeals to many young Britons who are turning to non-invasive and natural contraceptive options, but concerns about personal data and security are still present for many period app users in the UK.

Oura ring helps Britons track their fertility naturally

Mitchell and Brown’s DVD player offers owners an affordable, curated entertainment system in an increasingly streaming-saturated world. As ‘slow living’ becomes an aspirational mindset, prompting people to prioritise simplicity, can retro media make a bold comeback to tackle digital fatigue?

How Mitchell and Brown's DVD player taps into nostalgia

Conversations around AI are often derailed by an existential fear that this fast-developing technology will engender a global catastrophe. Canvas8 spoke to Henry Coutinho-Mason about resisting the lure of the extreme when imagining the future of human-centred innovation.

Henry Coutinho-Mason on the future of consumer trends

Indian Edtech juggernaut Vedantu offers services such as preparation for competitive exams and traditional academic disciplines. Bridging the gap associated with rural India’s internet infrastructure, the brand is implementing hybrid learning approaches that blend online and offline education.

How Vedantu rethinks hybrid learning for Indian students

Beam's AI agents automate social media management, easing the pressure of constant self-promotion. By handling routine tasks, it allows businesses to focus on quality content. This reflects broader trends in AI-assisted content creation, prompting discussions about authenticity and communication.

Beam's AI Agent takes over your social media presence

Increasing awareness, economic independence for women, and a celebrity maternity culture are making pregnancy ‘cool’ in India, leading to tremendous growth in the maternity products and services market. What does this mean for brands looking to break into the country’s health and wellness sector?

How maternity products are changing India’s pregnancy landscape

Japan’s favourite flea market app, Mercari, is hitting multiple birds with one stone. Its website offers second-hand items to the masses and is an outlet for the Japanese people’s stockpiling behaviour – all while innovating with crypto and becoming the government’s aid to recycling waste.

How Mercari helps Japanese people declutter their lives and homes

A CrowdStrike software update on July 19th caused millions of Windows-powered devices to go offline. The outage reanimated anti-work sentiments, as people joked about wishing the issue had affected their workplace or implored whoever was responsible to knock out other Microsoft tools, too.

Microsoft outage memes rekindle anti-work sentiment

Dyson’s On Trac headphones are the brand’s first audio-only product with premium sound and a personalised outlook. People are increasingly drawn to audio-based content, allowing brands to leverage their growing desires for new modes of storytelling with innovative solutions.

Dyson extends audio range with personalised headphones

Liu Yexi is your favourite AI influencer’s favourite AI influencer. With her trademark blend of traditional Chinese elements and modern design sensibilities, the country’s most popular avatar might pave the way for virtual influencers to take over Singles Day, Asia’s biggest online shopping event.

How Liu Yexi humanises AI influencers for social shoppers

Gen Z don't want to work in tech, resonating with broader shift amongst this cohort towards more values-led employment. As young people reassess their career aspirations, brands have the opportunity to showcase their commitment to sustainability, social impact, and employee wellbeing.

Tech jobs lose lustre for values focussed Gen Z

Balenciaga is immersing fashion lovers in futuristic mixed reality with an app for the Apple Vision Pro. With this move, the brand is seeking to cement its status as a visionary pioneer while giving the world a taste of what a new era of so-called ‘spatial commerce’ might be like.

Balenciaga presents spatial commerce on Apple Vision Pro

As fashion becomes increasingly important to people’s identity, young shoppers are turning to tech to ‘hack’ their personal style. From social media to AI tools, technology is revolutionizing how Gen Zers dress. What does this mean for fashion's future, and how should brands respond?

Why Gen Zers are using tech to hack their personal style

Despite being seen as high-tech, Japan has been slow to adopt fintech solutions. The country ranks among the top in APAC that are slow to embrace cashless payments. However, this situation may soon change as Olive tailors its app and all-in-one card to promote cashless living in Japan.

How Olive manages Japanese people’s cashless confidence

Gen Z values online privacy, preferring ephemeral and anonymous posting options that minimize their digital footprint. Yet while they don’t trust companies with their data, their cybersecurity issues are often caused by their own online habits. How is this cohort’s approach to web safety evolving?

How are Gen Zers safeguarding themselves online?

South Korean self-photo studio Life4Cuts is snapping its way to Australian shores. Despite the global cost-of-living crisis, customers are branding the four-cut photo strip craze as a necessity – ‘a small but guaranteed happiness’ tapping various age groups and subcultures.

How Life4Cuts imprints visual memory amid a global crisis

The sustainable travel platform Byway is using AI software to streamline flight-free journeys. Heightened eco-awareness has piqued interest in slow travel, and as people seek to remove the friction from sustainable options, brands can help support these values through solutions-based tech.

Byway is leveraging AI to help travellers go green

Educational inclusivity is struggling to keep up with language shifts in a globalized world. Targeting language barriers, Timekettle rolled out AI-powered earbuds that translate taught content live for Texan school children whose levels of English proficiency prevent them from understanding it.

Timekettle leverages AI to push for school inclusivity 

In partnership with Snapchat, Selfridges has launched an augmented reality locker room in its Oxford Street store. As consumers' expectations around experiential shopping continue to grow, brands have the opportunity to merge fandom and technology to enhance storytelling and community engagement.

Selfridges x Snapchat entices experiential shoppers

The AI Movement program aims to equip women in Africa with AI skills and leadership training. As AI becomes increasingly normalised in the global workforce, initiatives like this contribute to bridging the digital divide and improving women’s access to technology and digital skills.

UNESCO bridges digital gap with AI training 

Despite a data breach and disputes over its ownership, most of Japan’s population and millions around Asia continue to use LINE, the messaging platform-turned-super app that has become a must-have for everyday needs. How has it embedded itself in people’s lives and provided a safe space online?

How LINE connects Japan’s netizens to easy self-expression

Thanks in part to TikTok virality, Fujifilm is struggling to keep up with demand for their X100VI camera. The speed of digital innovation has influenced a renewed appreciation for tactile tech, and people are looking to add friction back into otherwise seamless processes.

Fujifilm sees surge in demand for physical cameras

South Koreans seek technology that boosts connectivity, increases workplace efficiency through AI, and provides innovative social and entertainment experiences. Their demands drive significant investments in digital infrastructure, allowing brands to focus on trendsetting and immersive experiences.

What do South Koreans want from their tech?

In a bid to protect user privacy, YouTube has launched a feature that allows users to request the removal of AI-generated content that simulates their face or voice. This move aims to ease growing fears over the misuse of AI to create deep fakes and other synthetic media.

YouTube enables users to report deepfakes

Technology

Seeking comfort in a rapidly shifting reality, people are praying at the altar of tech – or at least using it for their spiritual quests

As people’s relationship with tech evolves, innovations are enhancing theological connection and spiritual wellbeing. Bridging geographical distances and improving accessibility, these developments are helping people find moments of spirituality and clarity in their daily lives.