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.

Today, audiences are shaping the cultural agenda. Empowered to speak up for the causes they believe in, people are actively calling out brands they see as inauthentic. What are the main drivers of this behavioural shift? And how can brands win the trust of these outspoken advocates?

The past decade has seen political polarisation – accelerated by social media’s filter bubbles and echo chambers – deepen and mutate. An ominous era of a polycrisis has shattered any remaining societal consensus. Meanwhile, powerful anti-establishment voices have stepped into the void.

EPIK’s 'AI Yearbook' feature has gone viral on social media as influencers and celebrities jump on the trend of generating 90s-style school photos from images of themselves. Although a bit of fun for many, it again highlights people’s privacy concerns when it comes to generative AI.

As businesses and people become aware of the possibilities that AI can bring to marketing and digital services, worries are mounting around the hyper-personalisation of AI. Canvas8 spoke to marketing professor Eleonora Pantando about how AI personalities can smooth operations and customer journeys.

An AI-rendered fashion show showcasing elderly African models is gaining attention for challenging the cultural hegemony around beauty and ageing in fashion. The project is also highlighting the disruptive potential of AI through democratising access to creative industries.

The pandemic has pushed tech front and center and people's lives have become more digital and contactless than ever. Soul Machines creates hyper-human AI avatars to offer people friendship and mentorship, representing the next era of digital companionship and coaching.