The small talk you try to avoid because you think it will be boring may actually be more enjoyable than you think, and good for you as well, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. The published research on this topic

H uman–technology relations are set out, arguing for a shift from instrumental models of interaction toward relational, symbiotic, and co-constitutive frameworks.

Imagine a chatbot that actually knows how to talk to you.

Bob Dylan and the Beatles weren’t mutual admirers at first. They eventually recognized that they were peers rather than rivals.

For the first time in France, and possibly for the first time ever, anywhere, an entire corporation had been put on trial and found criminally liable for enabling terrorism.

From Snap to Block to Amazon, a new template for ‘right sizing’ the workforce is spreading through C-suites—and other companies are taking note Quick Summary Companies are increasingly conducting large-scale layoffs, receiving investor praise and stock bumps, a shift from past perceptions. Snap is laying off 16% of its staff, and Block eliminated 40% of its workforce, with both companies’ shares rising after the announcements. The willingness to make large cuts reflects a vie

We’ve had Henry David Thoreau the environmentalist, the libertarian, the life coach. To understand his influence, think of him first as a dissident.

Long hours on the job can temporarily ease the symptoms of depression and anxiety. But you’re better off leaving the office and facing your feelings head-on.

In a new report, the World Bank thinks better of its old free-market absolutism.

Does power truly flow from the barrel of a gun? Pop culture and conventional history often teach us that violence is the most effective way to produce change. But is that common assumption actually true? Political scientist Erica Chenoweth, who has studied more than 100 years of revolutions and insurrections, says the answer is counterintuitive. More recent Hidden Brain episodes

Are you managing your reputation effectivel y? Overview: (1st class no charge. afterwards, Big Think membership required): A Wall Street veteran’s guide to managing your reputation In this week’s Big Think Class, Carla Harris explains how she went from misjudged at work to respected — and how you can, too. How to shape how people see you at work People engage with you based on their perception of who you are, not the reality. This can put you at a competitive disadvantage. So

I’ve spent a lifetime pursuing career success. Now I needed to ask myself: Was it time to shift focus? And how do I do that? Related: Where Does Our Free Time Go in Retirement? Too Often, It’s Social Media

What accounts for America’s crisis of male loneliness? The actor Andrew McCarthy hits the road to catch up with buddies and find answers.

Companies are ditching escape rooms and cooking contests for human tower workshops. It’s as awkward as it sounds.

Life guidance from a Duke coach/leader . Thanks Robb! Related guidance for "the hard"

Some employees who are fed up with AI are refusing to use the tech, while others are feeding sensitive company information to unapproved AI tools.

For us to trust it on certain subjects, researchers in the growing field of interpretability might need to learn how to open the black box of its brain. Related: Generative A.I. will not create value on its own Related: One strange origin of of A.I. "thinking" Related: the disconnect between the creators and the users of A.I. (Thanks Kimberly!) Related: as A.I. gets smarter, catching mistakes gets harder

Employees now rely on Claude for most of their work, turning a chatbot into something closer to an operating system.

Why the Pope has become more outspoken Related

Digital clone being trained on his thoughts, tone and mannerisms to help workers feel connected