
“Smart” Products Are Doing Dumb Things
The fastest way to destroy trust is to ship intelligence before responsibility. I came across an unsettling story reported by NBC News, drawing on research from PIRG, about new AI-powered toys marketed
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The fastest way to destroy trust is to ship intelligence before responsibility. I came across an unsettling story reported by NBC News, drawing on research from PIRG, about new AI-powered toys marketed

One of my clients launched a new product variant that was almost entirely 3D printed … and it turned out to be the most popular version yet. We called it one-piece

A product wins when it feels familiar enough to try and strange enough to remember. About a year ago, a colleague raved to me about the “delicious weirdness” of Jollibee. I

Oakley isn’t just making eyewear anymore … it’s building a platform for the future. I bought my first pair of Oakley Pilots in the ’80s, watching Greg LeMond win races like the Tour de

Nothing harms quality of life more quietly than untreated hearing loss … and stigma keeps too many people from getting help. I was reminded of that when I came across Nuance

When a product feels too futuristic, people hesitate. They may love the idea, but can’t picture using it yet. A new study found that for highly novel products, future-focused or abstract

The science is clear: when your brand gets hit with an unfair insult, using it can make you look more confident … and boost your results. A June 2025 study

I once watched Levi’s jeans being made by hand on a factory floor. Today the company is gearing up to run its global operations with an AI super-agent. Years ago

The future of tangible products isn’t one-and-done. It’s ongoing. A new Juniper Research report projects the subscription-commerce market will pass US $700 billion, combining physical goods and services. At IFA 2025, hardware brands followed

Buyers get excited when they picture outcomes. A 2024 Journal of Retailing study found that when products are categorized by benefits rather than attributes, people imagine themselves using them more vividly. That mental imagery