Designing Less Invasive Tech, The Internet Of Things, Mental Health Strategy, And More

What Is Up To The Minute? A collection of our favorite pieces of writing from the past week. A thought leadership showcase. A wealth of knowledge. Your new weekly go-to source of insight from voices big and small across industries..

1. Adele Peters, Fast Company staff writer: “Tech designed for the attention economy–social media that is reshaping everything from elections to how we date, and is engineered to make us look at our phones dozens of times a day–exploits how our brains work.”

And Tristan Harris, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, wants to change that. Here, we dive into the frightening concept that we’re being exploited by technology design—all but forced to pick up our phones umpteen times a day because it beckons in an all-too-convincing way. It often feels like our devices and social platforms want our undying attention—not necessarily what’s best for us. Why can’t we change that?

Maybe we can, says Harris in Tech brings out the worst in us. What if it was designed to bring out the best?

2. Shelagh Dolan, Business Insider content marketing producer: “Being successful in the digital age doesn’t just require knowing the latest buzzwords; it means identifying the transformational trends – and where they’re heading – before they ever heat up.”

There are two types of people when it comes to reacting to the hype surrounding AI, the Internet of Things, blockchain and other game-changing technologies: those who write them off as buzzwords, and those who work to better understand them. Once society and business are fundamentally shaped by their impact, the latter will be much better off.

Take your first step toward joining that wiser group here: How the Internet of Things will transform consumerism, enterprises, and governments over the next five years.

3. Emily Payne, managing editor at BenefitsPRO: “The good news is that companies are waking up to the impact of mental health on business goals and putting programs and strategies in place to improve. The bad news is that they’re overlooking one of the most crucial areas in need of improvement: the health plan.”

Today, few business leaders will argue against the idea that mental health in the workplace is an imperative focus. And there’s growing evidence to support the idea that investing in employee wellness programs pays dividends, especially considering employers lose $225.8 billion annually to stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and other health issues.

But still, we need better mental health strategy in the workplace says Payne in How to Improve Customer Relations With AI.

4. Martin Frascaroli, CEO and founder of AIVO, an AI customer support solutions company: “As time goes by, artificial intelligence is slowly but steadily becoming more pervasive in everyday life. It makes daily tasks and small chores easier for companies and consumers alike, and that’s why customers are adapting so quickly to this new reality.”

In the customer support solutions realm, AI has the potential to help companies better understand customer behavior, more efficiently identify and solve problems, create trust, and more. Of course, the question remains: How many people are willing to die on the “let me speak to an actual human” hill?

Frascaroli says innovative AI customer support solutions have the potential to delight and surprise even the most ardently anti-AI in How to Improve Customer Relations With AI.

5. Colleen Leahey McKeegan, senior features editor at Marie Claire: “Have you ever had that aha moment, the idea sparked after realizing the way something is done now isn’t the way it should always be? That’s how many of the best businesses start.”

In this eclectically designed, broad-topic-spanning mega-piece, 20 female entrepreneurs, investors, and execs put their minds together to help prepare you to take that all-important first step on your entrepreneurial journey. Discussed here is everything from mapping out the first stage of your startup to creating a strategy to fundraising to perfecting your company message to overcoming doubt.

Read: How to Start a Company, According to Female Founders Who Did Just That