“Frittering” away the hours, common sense innovation, and a simple way to get solid customer feedback. Whether it be in the office or on the airplane headed to our next program, we’re always talking about the issues and trends that are shaping the way we learn as well as what interests each of us on the team. Read more below.
Frittering away genius
Is a life spent “frittering” away time on whimsical hobbies like juggling and unicycling a distraction from true genius or the very engine of it? Tim Hartford in an excellent episode of the podcast Cautionary Tales argues that Claude Shannon, the father of the digital age, proves it’s the latter. Collaborating with Ed Thorpe in 1961 to build the world’s first wearable computer, the pair proved the house doesn’t always win and beat Roulette in a casino. Shannon demonstrated that Newtonian physics conquers “random” chance when approached with the playful curiosity of a gadgeteer. Further, Hartford argues that Shannon didn’t produce only two brilliant ideas despite his juggling and unicycling; he produced them because his mind was free to roam.
Logic dictates some common sense
While Mr. Spock may have been a fan favorite, using past data or logic alone to determine future winners is a recipe for failure (he’s from the original Star Trek series, if you’re on the young side). A recent article in Big Think explores how Warren Buffett’s “superpower” came by rejecting purely logical, data-driven investing in favor of a human trait AI lacks: common sense. While AI and traditional finance rely on statistics and past trends, Buffett focuses on leaders’ ability to adapt to unknown unknowns. Evaluating leaders’ responses to unpredictable crises, he favored improvisation and versatility over rigidity. This approach, rooted in biological adaptability rather than mathematical certainty, is why Buffett could identify true leaders instead of past statistics. Go with your gut, Mr. Spock.
Keep it simple
The best solutions are not often the most breathtakingly complex, but simple and elegant, getting to the heart of the problem. Mirai, a Tokyo supermarket co-op, partnered with a creative agency to create a passive, low-effort way to gather customer feedback. Shoppers vote by placing their baskets in one of two return areas under yes/no questions about eco-friendly store practices, like switching to tray-less packaging or dimming lights. While most surveys are cumbersome and ignored, the “Shopping Basket Voting” system yielded honest, immediate responses and led to real changes, earning a Good Design Award.
Oh, can you add a side of fries with that?
In what will surely prove to be either a dystopian first step towards human irrelevance or simply a new fun tool, Google has released an update to Gemini that allows the application to automate complex tasks on your mobile device. The writers at Verge tested the new feature and were able to order an Uber to the airport as well as a warm croissant from Starbucks all with simple text prompts. Sounds like next level fun! Seeing your phone turn itself into an automaton to fulfill your requests might make you think twice about giving it too much control.