Physical retail isn't dead - but it needs a better customer experience in order to thrive

Gallup's research shows that younger workers have a preference for in-person work, with the older cohorts swinging more towards remote flexibility. Caring responsibilities often shape the latter, whilst the former crave more connection to prevent isolation

Generate videos in just a few seconds. Try Grok Imagine, free for a limited time.

My agent will talk to your agent – but the best agent may win. New research shows that in AI-to-AI price negotiations, weaker models often lose out—costing users real money and raising concerns about growing digital inequality

New study explores how AI agents are reshaping the workforce. But instead of just asking what AI CAN do, it asks what workers WANT it to do. This includes partnership with AI, not full automation, & better alignment between investments & worker preferences

Since getting AI and humans to work together effectively is essential for business productivity, does it make sense to merge IT and HR functions? This company thinks so… Archived version: .

"When developers use AI tools, they take 19% longer than without—AI makes them slower" - another study showing that AI decreases expert output. The big question is how we develop and nurture expertise in the 1st place, or are generalists + AI the future?

AI + Human - AI works best when it complements human effort, not when it replaces it. “Pursuing AI without equal focus on people often leads to underwhelming results and added organisational risks”

ChatGPT may erode critical thinking skills - “users had the lowest brain engagement & consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic & behavioral levels.” Small data sample but it does reinforce the concern that AI could increase cognitive laziness

Companies That Replaced Humans With AI Are Realizing Their Mistake: “The human touch remains irreplaceable in many interactions”

The whole of Bath seemingly turned out to celebrate Bath Rugby’s treble victories today. Johann van Graan and the lads had an open top bus parade & a ceremony at the Rec after winning the league cup yesterday - on top of the Premiership and European Challenge Cup this season 🏆

Are we ready to hand AI agents the keys? “We’re just not really sure about the extent to which AI agents will both understand and care about human instructions"

From AI-driven transformation and the rise of digital colleagues to the evolution of human roles & proactive customer care, explore the future of the contact centre in our new research in partnership with ECCA & Genesys

Unretirement: more than 2.8 million British retirees have returned to the labour force - but they might want different work arrangements such as soft/micro retirement opportunities, increased flexibility, and apprenticeships

Global research shows that people in the UK are working from home more than almost any other country in the world (except Canada)

Three takeaways about AI’s energy use and climate impacts - insights from MIT Tech Review's fascinating study on AI and energy consumption (with links to a deeper dive on the findings)

A new study has found that AI chatbots are (so far) having very little impact on employee work hours or earnings

Study finds that working more than 52 hours per week produces physical changes in the brain. Overworked individuals exhibited significant changes in brain regions associated with executive function and emotional regulation

The Workplace Psychological Contract Is Broken. Here’s How to Fix It. What the RTO debate reveals about the gulf between employers and employees.

What will remain for human beings to do, if machines can do everything? .

The 4th was definitely with the 2022 cohort of brilliant entrepreneurs & innovators as they graduated from Cambridge Judge Business School today. Joined in the celebrations at Queens College Old Hall (which looks more Harry Potter than Star Wars TBH). Congrats to all involved 👏