People are taking a patchwork approach to self-expression to feel like they have control over how their identity is generated. Yet as individual expression becomes more mutable and mistrust in social systems abounds, there’s one place above all that people are seeking integrity and guidance: brands.

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.

Replika – a company that provides AI-powered chatbot companions – has baffled many users with the sudden elimination of its erotic role-play feature. The company's willingness to endure backlash in the name of user safety may serve as an example of ethical decision-making in the AI space.

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.

Baking has boomed during the pandemic, but not everyone has mastered it. Nestlé has created an AI ‘cookie coach’ to help people make the perfect chocolate chip cookies, and with people increasingly open to interacting with avatars, she could offer a glimpse at the future of customer service.