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.

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.

The mainstreaming of AI is setting a new precedent for how people relate to non-human sources of intelligence. While automation on a consumer level has typically focused on specific tasks like replying to emails or budgeting, it’s now swiftly expanding to a more dynamic range of applications.

Experiential fun provider Funlab has enlisted AI in a campaign that pokes fun at office parties. As more office-based employees voice their unhappiness with return-to-work mandates, it’s crucial for businesses to prioritise staff wellbeing in intentional, human-centric ways.

When it comes to feeling positive and excited about the future impacts of AI, Australians are way below the global average. A study has shown that even as artificial intelligence has become more prevalent, education and consumer awareness have not increased at a corresponding level.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has gone on strike, resulting in Hollywood’s first labour disruption since the beginning of the pandemic. On top of low wages, members oppose ChatGPT’s increased prominence in writers’ rooms, which reflects broader debates about AI and the value of creativity.

The SAG-AFTRA actors’ union is entering talks over the use of AI ‘digital doubles’, with threats of strike action if a deal can’t be reached. This high-profile industrial action represents a more widespread fear about how AI will affect people’s job security going forward.