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Lately, Ive felt weighed down by the constant churn of chaos and uncertaintylike Im carrying a low-grade tension in my body that never fully lets up. The news is dizzying. The pace of change is relentless. Some days it feels like were lurching from one crisis to the next with no time to process, no moment to exhale. I find myself waking up already bracing for what the day might bring. Its like the ground is constantly shifting, and were all being asked to find our footing in real time. And then there are the quieter, internal questions I carry with methe ones that tug at me in the middle of the night or when Im trying to make sense of the day: Am I doing enough? Am I doing the right things? What happens nextin my work, my community, this fragile world were raising our kids in? How do I protect what I love in a world that feels so unpredictable? The truth is, uncertainty makes me anxious. I like a plan. A path. A sense of direction. Ive always found comfort in being the one who has it together, who can anticipate needs, offer advice, solve the problem. I used to believe that being preparedbeing in controlwas the answer. That if I could just think far enough ahead, work hard enough, care enough, I could stay one step ahead of the chaos. But that illusion has cracked open. The world is too complex for neat plans. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/acupofambition_logo.jpg","headline":"A Cup of Ambition","description":"A biweekly newsletter for high-achieving moms who value having a meaningful career and being an involved parent, by Jessica Wilen. To learn more visit acupofambition.substack.com.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/acupofambition.substack.com","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}} 1% more curious The one (only?) good thing about being addicted to reading the headlines is that I get more exposure to other articles as well. A few weeks ago, I read a beautiful essay by Suleika Jaouad about her cancer diagnosis (gift link here). In it, she explores the evolution of her relationship with fearbeginning with an overwhelming unease around mice and culminating in a deeper confrontation with mortality and uncertainty following her leukemia diagnosis and relapse. But what really struck me was the final line:Thats what I found on the other side of fear: the knowledge that I can handle it, whatever it isas long as Im one percent more curious than afraid.” Asking better questions Yes! Yes. Curiosity. Of course. One of the first things I learned in coach training is that coaching isnt about having the answers. Its about asking better questions. Its about holding space for exploration instead of rushing to resolution. Its about trusting that people have wisdom inside themnot because you give it to them, but because you help them uncover it. Needless to say, what we can seamlessly apply in other parts of our lives can be hard to internalize ourselves. We might be masters at holding space for others questions, but when it comes to our own, we often default to urgency, control, and the desperate hunt for answers. But what I continue to learn and relearn is that certainty is often a false promise. It quiets anxiety in the short term, but it doesnt foster growth. Curiosity does. When I stop demanding answers from the world, I create a little more space to breathe, to move, to imagine. That shift doesnt come easily. Its much more natural to grip tightly than to open up. But embracing curiosity is a practice, not a personality trait or a fixed mindset. And when I can extend to myself the same spacious, open-ended wondering I offer others, something inside softens. I dont need to have it all figured out. I just need to be willing to stay in the unknown a little longer. Putting it into practice Here are a few tangible strategies that help me when I feel myself bracing against the unknown: Ask better questions When I catch myself spiraling into fear, I try to interrupt the loop with questions that open space instead of closing it. Instead of, “What if this all goes wrong?,” I ask, “What might I learn from this? or Whats one small thing I can act on today? These questions dont have neat answers, but they remind me that I have agency, even in uncertainty. Name whats true now Fear tends to time-travel, pulling us into imagined futures. Curiosity helps bring us back to the present. I try to ask myself, What do I know for sure right now? Whats actually happening, and what am I projecting? Be curious about your fear itself Sometimes I sit with my fear and ask it questions: What are you trying to protect? Whats underneath this for you? Usually, I find something tendera deeply held value, a longing, a hope. And suddenly, the fear feels less like a threat and more like a signal. Present in the mess None of this removes the chaos or quiets the headlines. It doesnt give me a five-year plan or a tidy sense of control. But it does give me a way to stay present in the mess. A way to keep moving, even when the path ahead isnt clear. Curiosity doesnt promise certaintybut it offers something better: connection. To ourselves. To what matters. To each other. So, these days, when the ground feels unsteady and I start to brace against the unknown, I tryimperfectly, but intentionallyto choose curiosity over control. To soften instead of grip. To ask, instead of answer. Its not always comfortable, but it helps me stay rooted in whats real and responsive to whats next. And for now, that feels like a good place to begin. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/acupofambition_logo.jpg","headline":"A Cup of Ambition","description":"A biweekly newsletter for high-achieving moms who value having a meaningful career and being an involved parent, by Jessica Wilen. To learn more visit acupofambition.substack.com.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/acupofambition.substack.com","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}}
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E-Commerce
Social media was mankind’s first run-in with AI, and we failed that test horribly, according to tech ethicist Tristan Harris, whom The Atlantic called “the closest thing Silicon Valley has to a conscience.” A recent survey found nearly half of Gen Z respondents wished social media had never been invented. Yet, 60% still spend at least four hours daily on these platforms. Bullying, social anxiety, addiction, polarization, and misinformationsocial media has become a cocktail of disturbing discourse. With GenAI, we have a second chance to ensure technology is used responsibly. But this is proving difficult. Major AI companies are now adopting collaborative approaches to address governance challenges. Recently, OpenAI announced it would implement Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol, a standard for connecting AI models to data sources that’s rapidly becoming an industry norm with Google following suit. With any new technology, there are unexpected benefits and consequences. As Harris put it, “whatever our power is as a species, AI amplifies it to an exponential degree.” While GenAI helps us accomplish more than ever before, dangers exist. A seemingly safe large language model (LLM) can be manipulated by bad actors to create harmful content or be jailbroken to write malicious code. How do we avoid these harmful use cases while benefiting from this powerful technology? Three approaches are possible, each with its own merits and drawbacks. 3 ways to benefit from AI while avoiding harm Option #1: Government regulation The automobile brought both convenience and tragedy. We responded with speed limits, seatbelts, and regulationsa process spanning over a century. Legislators worldwide are attempting similar safeguards with AI. The European Union leads with its AI Act, which entered into force in August 2024. Implementation is phased, with some provisions active since February 2025, banning systems posing “unacceptable risk” like social scoring and untargeted scraping of facial recognition data. However, these regulations present challenges. European tech leaders worry that punitive EU measures could trigger backlash from the Trump administration. Meanwhile, U.S. regulation develops as a patchwork of state and federal initiatives, with states like Colorado enacting their own comprehensive AI laws. The EU AI Act’s implementation timeline illustrates this complexity: Some bans started in February 2025, codes of practice follow nine months after entry into force, rules on general-purpose AI at the 12-month mark, while high-risk systems have 36 months to comply. A real concern exists: Excessive regulation might simply shift development elsewhere. Building a functional LLM model costs only hundreds of millions of dollarswithin reach for many countries. While regulation has its place, the process is too flawed for developing good rules currently. AI evolves too quickly, and the industry attracts too much investment. Resulting regulations risk either stifling innovation or lacking meaningful impact. So, if government regulation isnt the panacea for AIs dangers, what will help? Option #2: Social discourse Educators are struggling with GenAI and academic honesty. Some want to block AI entirely, while others see opportunities to empower students who struggle with traditional pedagogy. Imagine having a perpetually available tutor answering any questionbut one that can also complete your assignments. As Satya Nadella put it recently on the Dwarkesh Podcast, his new workflow is to “think with AI and work with my colleagues.” This collaborative approach to AI usage could be a model for educational settings, where AI serves as a thinking partner rather than a replacement for learning. In homes, schools, online forums, and government, society must reckon with this technology and decide what’s acceptable. Everyone deserves a voice in these conversations. Unfortunately, internet discussions often devolve into trading sound bites without context or nuance. For meaningful conversations, we must educate ourselves. We need effective channels for public input, perhaps through grassroots movements guiding people toward safe and effective AI usage. Option #3: Third-party evaluators Before the 2008 financial crisis, credit rating agencies assigned AAA ratings to subprime mortgages, contributing to economic disaster. The problem? Industry-wide self-interest. When it comes to AI regulators, of course, we run the risk of an incestuous revolving door that does more harm than good. That doesnt have to be the case. Meaningful and thoughtful research is going into AI certifications and third-party evaluators. In the paper AI Certification: Advancing Ethical Practice by Reducing, Peter Cihon et al. propose several notions. First, because AI technology is advancing so quickly, AI certification should emphasize evergreen principles, such as ethics for AI developers. Second, AI certification today lacks nuance for particular circumstances, geographies, or industries. Not only is certification homogenous, but many programs treat AI as a monolithic technology rather than acknowledging the diverse types, such as facial recognition, LLMs, and anomaly detection. Finally, to see good results, customers must demand high-quality certifications. They have to be educated about the technology and the associated ethics and safety concerns. The path forward The way forward requires multistakeholder, multifaceted conversations about societal goals and preventing AI dangers. If government becomes the default regulator, we risk an uninvestable marketplace or meaningless rubber-stamping. Independent third-party evaluators combined with informed social discourse offers the best path forward. But we must educate ourselves about this poweful technology’s dangers and realities, or we’ll repeat social media’s errors on a grander scale. Peter Wang is chief AI and innovation officer at Anaconda.
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E-Commerce
Navigating the nexus between design innovation and practical application reveals a stark truth: Constraints, not freedoms, often spur the most creative solutions. Our journey into accessible furniture and product design is less about overcoming limitations and more about embracing the profound potential of human-centric design. Imagine designers not just as creators but as researchers, delving deep into the daily lives of older individuals and people with disabilities through intensive ethnographic research. This approach involves hundreds of hours spent observing diverse populations in their most familiar environmentstheir homes. Here, every interaction and every struggle vividly illuminates the real needs and opportunities for innovation. Empathy and Design With In October 2023, our consumer preference testing for the recent Pottery Barn collection marked a pivotal moment. Picture this: Dozens of users, each facing unique challenges, interacting with our prototypes. We observed intently, listened carefully, and learned from every gesturewhether reaching out, hesitating, or expressing relief. Each moment provided invaluable insights, directly shaping the evolution of our designs, from initial feedback to final concepts. What does it truly mean to design with someone? Collaboration is key. Its a dynamic interplay of give and take, where users lead with their experiences, and designers follow with their skills. This approach isnt just about making do; its about making things better. By transforming our design process into a dialogue rather than a monologue, we ensure our creations are not just useful, but transformative. We call this approach Design With, which means were designing with our target consumers. Empathy isnt just a buzzword; its our blueprint. Inspired by the real challenges faced by our late founder, Michael Graves, and the broader community, we have embraced immersive empathyspending days in wheelchairs and navigating with canes for extended periodsnot just to imagine but to truly understand the barriers our users face. During the past 20 years, weve also faced our own disabilities, temporary and permanent, which have brought the issues to our own lives. This isn’t about sympathy; it’s about strategy. By actively putting ourselves in the shoes of those we design with, we transform empathy into action. Our commitment to Design With rather than Design For not only meets but anticipates users needs, creating solutions that are as innovative as they are inclusive. Each solution should mirror human complexity The future of accessible design is inspiring, and we look forward with purposeinviting designers, brands, and companies to join us. With each project, we edge closer to breaking down barriers, not just in physical spaces, but in perceptions. Our goal is to always craft designs that go beyond accommodation. We strive for solutions that are anticipatory, functional, and beautifulcelebrating the diversity of ability and preference. In accessible design, the true challenge isnt simply balancing creativity with practicality. Its ensuring every solution reflects the complexity of real human lives. Thats why, for decades, weve grounded our work in ethnographic research and consumer preference testing: spending time in peoples homes, observing daily routines, and turning feedback into meaningful, inclusive products. This isnt theoryits design shaped by lived experience. Weve seen firsthand how listening deeply and designing with, not for, leads to better outcomes for everyone. The opportunity now is for more designers, brands, and businesses to take part. Ask deeper questions. Watch how people really live. Invite feedback early and often. The more of us who commit to designing with empathy and real-world insight, the more inclusiveand innovativeour shared future will be. Ben Wintner is CEO of Michael Graves Design.
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E-Commerce
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