Recent research analyzing 63 studies reveals that what we call "user resistance" to technology isn't about fear of change—it's valuable feedback about design failures that make work harder, strip away meaningful judgment, ignore human workflows, and break essential collaboration.
Successful AI implementation isn't about choosing the most advanced technology—it's about matching tools to actual business needs through systematic experimentation and optimization.
The House's proposed decade-long ban on state AI regulation creates a dangerous oversight vacuum just when we need thoughtful rules to ensure AI systems serve human needs rather than exploit our vulnerabilities.
As healthcare AI systems become increasingly autonomous, the real risk isn't technical failure but successful optimization for misaligned objectives.
Social platforms profit from consumption while systematically creating barriers to creation—revealing a structural misalignment between business models and human creative drive.
As AI agents reshape organizational communication patterns, Conway's Law works both ways—our systems mirror our structures, but those systems then reinforce and calcify those same structures, creating a feedback loop that AI will dramatically amplify.
In trading my Apple Watch for a simple Casio, I'm rediscovering what it means to listen to my body rather than outsourcing my health decisions to algorithms and activity rings.
Just as we learned to question what was lost when we processed our food supply, we must now examine what nutrients vanish when AI processes our human connections.
From a small-town TV station owner's creative requests to modern enterprise clients, I've learned that ambitious feature asks are often just thinking out loud – the real skill is understanding the underlying need.
AI promises to fix our meeting culture, but the solution lies in something more fundamental: human behavior
As Google's recent rollback of AI ethical principles demonstrates, we can't expect companies to consistently choose ethics over growth—but we can make ethical behavior the profitable choice.
New digital tools and methodologies are transforming product development timelines, enabling companies to balance rapid delivery with effective learning - but success requires rethinking traditional approaches to speed, team structures, and outcomes.
As AI adoption in product development accelerates, organizations are working to balance the opportunities for faster innovation with the need to build sustainable processes.
As the FTC's click-to-cancel rule takes effect January 14, companies face a critical choice: view it as merely a compliance exercise, or seize it as an opportunity to build genuine, sustainable retention through user value.
The tools meant to connect us at work are driving us apart, but research points to a promising path forward through intentional digital workplace design and individual practices.
Drawing from recent research on psychological safety and team dynamics, this piece explores how high-performing workplace cultures are deliberately built through specific behaviors at every organizational level rather than emerging by chance.
Technology is transforming education, and the lessons from the EdTech frontier offer valuable insights for tech leaders across industries on leveraging AI, building flexible solutions, focusing on user outcomes, and establishing resilient, adaptable systems.
New research shows that despite AI's ability to generate more ideas, human groups with domain expertise still produce more innovative and diverse solutions in brainstorming sessions.
Recent studies show workplace technologies are proving most beneficial to lower-performing workers, raising the floor of productivity while not necessarily lifting the ceiling - a pattern that could reshape how we think about digital transformation.
Learn how integrating rapid discovery cycles into your workflow can lead to superior digital products that delight customers and outpace the competition.
As AI tools like ChatGPT become increasingly integrated into our daily work, organizations and individuals must balance AI's efficiency and preserving the human elements of creativity, collaboration, and learning that drive long-term success.
In an age of alternative facts and digital echo chambers, our path to truth and understanding lies not in withdrawal, but in compassionate engagement with those who see the world differently.
Recent research reveals how human-centered AI implementation in healthcare can significantly improve patient outcomes and doctor-patient communication, paving the way for a more efficient and effective medical future.
In an era of digital streaming, the popularity of vinyl records reveals our craving for tangible, intentional experiences and offers valuable insights for digital product designers.
The language used by tech firms in their earnings calls goes beyond financial reporting. They employ carefully crafted metaphors and framing devices that shape public perception of technology and its role in society.
On the Complex Relationship Between Technology and Society The question of technology's role in society has never been more pressing. The advancement of technology is everywhere. Artificial intelligence drafts our emails, algorithms curate our news, and smart devices monitor our sleep. Yet amidst this new wave of technological
In the pursuit of extraordinary customer experiences, businesses often overlook the power of the ordinary – yet it's the seamless, reliable, and frictionless interactions that truly drive customer loyalty and business outcomes.
When my running app couldn't keep pace with my real-life challenges, I discovered the science behind why persuasive technology needs to meet us where we are—not where it thinks we should be.
I've been thinking about quality recently, spurred by finally reading the classic "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" last year. Without oversimplifying the protagonist's journey, he concludes that quality is essentially unknowable yet marked by the care and attention given to something. Caring
The key to transformative, equitable AI in healthcare lies not just in the technology, but in the approach we take to developing it. Enter Human-Centered AI (HCAI), an emerging field that places human needs, values, and contexts at the core of AI design and deployment. As healthcare leaders navigate the
This post is exclusive to Mediated supporters. In it, I share five articles that offer insightful perspectives on AI, emotional intelligence in robots, and the philosophy behind emotion recognition technology.
Jaron Lanier famously wrote, "You are not a gadget." It turns out the inverse is also true: gadgets are not you. By that, I mean machines are not humans. That seems pretty obvious, and you didn't need me to tell you that. And yet, we keep
The world of e-commerce is in a constant state of flux, and as digital product leaders, it's our job to stay ahead of the curve. With online sales continuing to climb and consumer behaviors evolving at a rapid pace, it's more important than ever to understand
As automation continues to advance and permeate the workplace, organizations are grappling with how to integrate these technologies in a way that optimizes efficiency and productivity while still empowering and engaging employees. One promising approach that has emerged in recent years is adaptable automation, which allows workers to dynamically adjust
As a digital product consultant, I have observed a growing interest among companies in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI into their products, services, and backend processes. While most of these initiatives are currently in the pilot or learning stages, with few large enterprises making significant investments, I believe
As someone who regularly turns to YouTube reviews for guidance on everything from cars and watches to guitar pedals and garden plants, I've noticed a shift in the way reviewers present their content and engage with their audience. Two recent studies shed light on this phenomenon and how
In their recent article, "Generative UI and Outcome-Oriented Design," Kate Moran and Sarah Gibbons explore an emerging trend poised to disrupt the field of user experience (UX) design: generative user interfaces (GenUI). As artificial intelligence advances to dynamically generate personalized interfaces for each individual user in real-time, Moran
As communication technologies continue to advance and become deeply embedded into everyday life, researchers are exploring how traditional social psychology concepts translate into digital spaces. Developmental psychologist Nicole Guajardo and graduate student Brooke Nixon recently studied the phenomenon of mimicry and the “chameleon effect” within text-based communication. The Chameleon Effect:
Product strategy isn't easy. Product and digital leaders face critical decisions about investing in their digital products. Determining whether to make small improvements or undertake a full redesign or rebuild requires evaluation. I wrote this post to explore the key factors leaders should consider, the challenges associated with
In the modern world, technology and social interaction are intertwined. As we navigate this dynamic, it is crucial to understand the role technology plays in shaping our social connections. I recently recorded a conversation with Jeff Hall, a renowned professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas, who has
Federico Germani is sounding an alarm. In a research paper he co-authored, the headline says it all: “AI Model GPT-3 (dis)informs us better than humans.” Read it here. Germani is a Researcher at the University of Zurich and is the founder and director of Culturico, a non-profit storytelling platform.
What happens when humans spend hours of their workday engaged with artificial intelligence – rather than other people – to help them do their jobs? Well, there’s good news and bad news. That’s according to the guest I spoke with on a recent episode of Mediated World. Pok Man Tang
I opened an account with Wealthfront nearly 7 years ago and haven’t looked back. I was compelled by the simplicity of the process and the benefits of their robo-advisor (an automated investing algorithm). In less than a few days, I opened and funded a new Roth IRA account I
This week I'm releasing episode one of my new podcast, Mediated World. It's a show about how technology, and generative AI more specifically, is mediating more of our relationships with others. The field of Computer-Mediated Communication has been around for decades. But, with the emergence of
With all the buzz around generative AI, it’s easy to forget that this technology has been around for a while. One of the first places I noticed it was in Gmail. I remember the first time I started to draft a reply and Google suggested some potential responses to
Trusting AI Recent advances in machine learning and AI have made it possible to support decision-making in many industries. These tools are embedded in software applications and use large databases of internal and external information to generate recommendations and explanations where a human needs to make a decision. Often, these
The pace of technological change is moving quickly. And, if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my professional life, most people do not like change. The field within technology changing most rapidly – and with the most public spotlight – is artificial intelligence. Its impact on companies and society at
I was struck by the findings in Gallup’s 2022 State of the Global Workplace Report: With only 21% of employees engaged at work and 33% of employees thriving in their overall wellbeing, most would say that they don't find their work meaningful, don't think their
In the winter of 2007, I waited at a bus stop with a backpack and my hands balled into fists and pressed firmly into my jacket. The harsh wind whipped as the free university bus approached. I exhaled a cloud into the air, pushing away the scent of diesel, as
Every new technological advancement creates a new opportunity for us to outsource a skill or thought-process. And if we take it up on the offer, we risk losing connection to some important foundational structures.
After the rain, I took a walk in the woods for mental health. The air seemed cleaner, more pure. I felt like I could absorb more of it. It brought clarity to all my senses. After the rain, the birds chirped more. The sound of the rain drowned them out
This post started as an email to a client who I started working with in mid 2022. As the product manager of a growing software team inside a large enterprise, he has many demands on his plate. But above all, he needs his young and forming team to execute on
My grandpa died on August 17, 2022, at the age of 95. Last week was his memorial service and funeral. The weeks leading up to his death and the ones that have followed were marked by reflection, sadness, and appreciation – for his life, our relationship, and the decades of memories.
What is ESG investing? Investors have more options and decisions to make around capital allocation than ever before. Increasing geopolitical, social, and cultural factors – as well as pressure to keep up with historical performance and stay ahead of technology trends – create a complex investing environment that is difficult to navigate.
Nearly every year, I go through a process of reevaluating my vegetarianism. For some, that’s problematic to say or write publicly. But the truth is, we all should reserve the right to be critical of the choices we make and continue to make. Socrates said it best: “The unexamined
Implementing new technology Adopting a new organizational model Becoming physically (or mentally) healthier These are all instances of change. Each comes with its complexities. Yet, the process of any kind of successful change requires answering the same or similar questions. My experiences with change—with myself and others—informs the
When I started this blog, I had no real objective. The motivation was simple: to get thoughts from my head to screen. As Derek Sivers put it, it’s better to create more than consume. I wanted to say something valuable to myself. And if others got something out of
As someone who prides himself on figuring out hard problems, saying “I don’t know” hasn’t come easy or without hard lessons. There’s no shame in setting down your pride and asking for help. Go look again. When I was a kid, my parents were always busy with
We all do selectively irrational things for emotional reasons. We make decisions with our hearts. We go to great lengths to keep our stories alive. We brave nasal swabs and sub-freezing weather to stay connected to each other. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flurries swirled in the 5 degree wind chills on a February
Reducing uncertainty means cutting through the noise, identifying what’s most important to know, and using that clarity to make informed choices and decisions. Uncertainty Suppresses Growth On a long drive a few weeks ago, I exhausted my usual queue of podcasts. So, I turned to one that had slowly
We are each a collection of the experiences and interactions we’ve had over our lifetime. If we’re lucky and smart, we remember the important lessons and carry them into new experiences. Don’t touch the stovetop again. Be aware of the speed limit on this seemingly quiet and
I have a tendency to go headstrong towards a new project once I have a vision in my mind. More times than not, I follow through. But there are times when the vision eclipses ability, when my head gets ahead of my feet. This is a story about one of
Imitating others is a skill we do naturally. Yet, there’s a time and place for it. Merely imitating others by following their advice or the way they live without considering their situation or goals can lead to frustration or burnout. “When people are free to do as they please,
Because breathing becomes an involuntary action, we lose sight of its importance. Now, more than ever, we need to refocus on the breath as a source of calm and preparation for the future. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The late summer sun baked an eastern North Carolina field as 40 or so 8 to
Endings are a part of life. How we approach them matters as much as all the time from the start. “The end of a melody is not its goal: but nonetheless, had the melody not reached its end it would not have reached its goal either. A parable.” ― Nietzche --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transitions are a part of life. Every day, month, year, and generation is marked by transitions. Being present means noticing them and giving them the attention they deserve. But the real key to life is to anticipate transitions and prepare for life on the other side. When I was a
I’m thankful for the lessons in attentiveness and initiative that my parents patiently taught me. They’re applicable in every aspect of life, including designing effective user and customer experiences. Just do it. “Did you notice anything,” my mom asked as I left the kitchen. Ten-year-old me stopped, turned,
It is important to have reflections at the ready for daily rumination. Internalize them. Make them personal. Find solace in words of wisdom passed down for generations. Nothing is perfect. Nothing is permanent. Nothing is personal. This concise wisdom was offered on a recent podcast episode of Ten Percent Happier
A trip to the local bookstore on a warm fall Sunday morning revealed a good way to improve the retail shopping experience in our digital-first era. On a warm fall Sunday morning, my wife and I went for coffee and a walk in downtown Davidson [https://www.ci.davidson.nc.
Today, this week, this era. There are, at least, three necessary and interconnected abilities we need individually and collectively to survive. They are as — if not more — important now than they have been for generations. While I will not unpack them in a substantive way in this one post, they’
People tend to think of repetition as a tool for persuasion. Yet, repetition can do much more, including strengthen relationships and create loyalty. Tell them what you’re going to say. Tell them. Tell them what you told them. This was the presentation guidance I was given in an undergraduate
You can’t truly solve customer’s problems on your own. No matter the industry, the time spent building empathy with the people most affected by your decisions will pay dividends. The editor-in-chief of Our State Magazine, Elizabeth Hudson, used to tell our team that we couldn’t create a
Every company has a culture. Yet, many of us forget that we have the power collectively to create the culture we want. Many types of cultures exist. Societal culture, workplace culture, cancel culture, and the list goes on. Culture is the belief system, customs, values, and principles that a collection
Motion and action are mutually reinforcing. And while action may be more visible to others, motion is just as consequential. In recent weeks, I’ve been thinking about the difference between motion and action from James Clear’s Atomic Habits [https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits]. It’s a useful distinction and
Sometimes pain sneaks up on you. There’s no dramatic moment when something snaps or pops. You move through your normal daily routine without thinking about the small, but impactful choices you’re making. You ignore a nagging soreness as a temporary nuisance. Suddenly, you wake up one morning in
In 1978, Osmo A. Wiio, a professor from Finland, wrote 7 laws about the nature of communication. Though slightly tongue-in-cheek, the ideas point to a truth. The fundamental law states that “Communication usually fails, except by accident.” Some of his other laws include: * If a message can be understood in
“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” – Friedrich Nietzsche Purpose Is Not Abstract There’s not much more daunting than feeling pressure to define your purpose in life. It requires understanding yourself, strengths and weaknesses, interests and motivations, experiences and perspectives. Knowing your purpose
The best professional advice I received in graduate school. It was the first day of graduate school at UNC Greensboro in January 2011. I just quit my job two weeks earlier and dove headfirst into a full-time Masters in Communication program, relying on my wife’s salary as a teacher
Careers have become dynamic. A once static part of life, marked by loyalty to company and worker, a job is a means to a personal end. People don’t stick with companies as long as they used to. Reflecting on my career path and a curiosity in how it fits
Using communication theory to create better relationships and outcomes. Control or Collaboration? When I start a new consulting project, one of the first undercover assessments I make determines my communication plan with the client. I call it the control-collaboration-control continuum. On one end is full-client control. They make all the
> “The enemy is noise. The goal is clarity.” – Jon Stewart in a 2020 New York Times interview [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/15/magazine/jon-stewart-interview.html] Introduction We create new terminology to shortcut, simplify, and abstract complex ideas. We find new ways to say things we’ve