Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

With the long-term impact of lockdown yet to be fully felt, there are signs of what the ‘new normal’ looks like. Take Replika, the AI chatbot helping Gen Zers to feel less lonely. As tech fulfils a multitude of needs for young people, a chatbot may be the next frontier in friendship.

Algorithms have become central to discovering new music and products online – but are machine-led recommendations always welcome? Canvas8 spoke to Chiara Longoni, an assistant professor at Boston University, to understand how people’s goals impact their willingness to trust AI.

From isolation loaves to quarantine cookies, stressed-out Americans are managing the pandemic blues in a very wholesome way: by baking. As the outbreak weighs on people’s mental health, they’re looking for comforting, mindful activities to shift their thoughts from the global health crisis.

Not all tech breeds loneliness. A fluffy, hamster-esque animal robot that could be mistaken for a plush toy grabbed attention at the 2021 Consumer Electronics Show. It’s designed to provide comfort and care, with the ability to differentiate between people and understand their emotions.