🤖 The future of furniture

Good morning and welcome to the latest issue of neonpulse!

Here are the AI headlines making waves:

🌊  The future of furniture

🌊  What people think about AI

Let’s get into it!

FurnitureAI

While moving to a new place can be a fun and exicting experience, there is one painful part of the process that no one looks forward to…

Moving furniture.

Moving a big couch or bed out of your old place and into your new place can feel like trying to solve a complex geometry problem, but imagine if there was a couch that could fold flat, fit into an envelope, and be carried by a single person.

And while that sounds too good to be true, Space10, a design lab in Copenhagen, teamed up with the Swiss firm Panter&Tourron and used the power of generative AI to create a prototype for a lightweight flat-pack couch.

This modular design has adjustable wings and thin cushions, and it can be packed flat and stuffed into an oversize tote bag.

And guess what?

It weighs a mere 22 pounds, so you can say goodbye to the days of struggling with heavyweight couches during moves.

The project began when Space10 was exploring new ways to manufacture furniture, initially focused on using digital-fabrication tools like 3D-knitting robots, but after the release of generative AI tools, the team began exploring ways to use the technology to re-imagine classic furniture designs.

Georgina McDonald from Space10 said that the the team started off with AI tools like Midjourney and DALL-E, feeding them prompts and refining the design, and by playing around with different terms such as platform, lightweight, tent, hammock, bed, and surface, they gradually honed in on the perfect concept.

The AI output went through numerous iterations, evolving from an origami diner booth to an interlinked pair of chaise lounges and finally settling on a bench-like shape, thanks to the inclusion of the term "conversation pit."

The team isn’t planning on releasing this initial concept as a product, as the real goal of the project is to show how generative AI can help us break free from traditional design archetypes and solve real-world problems like the hassle of moving furniture, but I don’t think it will be too long before these design houses partner with Ikea and similar brands to launch concepts based on their revolutionary AI designs.

And who knows, maybe after tackling the couch conundrum, they'll set their sights on revolutionizing beds next.

After all, those bulky mattresses can be a pain to move too.

AI In The Workplace

The popularity of ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies is exploding, signaling the dawn of a new era for business and society.

And to understand how people in the workplace feel about this sweeping AI revolution, Bain Consulting Group conducted a survey of nearly 13,000 individuals across 18 countries, ranging from executives to frontline employees.

Here are the key insights:

1. Optimism Outshines Concern: The survey reveals that respondents are generally more optimistic than concerned about AI. They see it as an opportunity rather than a threat, with great potential for positive change.

2. Perception Gap: However, there are significant differences in AI perceptions between leaders at the top and employees on the frontline. While leaders are highly optimistic about AI, frontline workers are less enthusiastic. This perception gap is an area that companies must address to ensure alignment throughout the organization.

3. Upskilling Urgency: Employees recognize the need for training and upskilling in this new era of AI, but few have actually received such opportunities. As AI continues to transform work, organizations must prioritize equipping their workforce with the necessary skills to thrive in this evolving landscape.

4. Responsible AI and Regulation: The survey findings show widespread support for responsible AI practices and regulations. Most respondents acknowledge the potential risks of AI and believe that these risks should be managed through adequate oversight and regulations.

The study also highlighted the disparity in AI usage between leaders and frontline employees, and how the use of AI changed people’s perception of the new technology.

Leaders (who are more frequently engaged in generative AI) exhibit higher levels of optimism, yet as employees become familiar with AI and its capabilities, they recognize its potential to outperform humans in many tasks, leading to concerns about job security.

This is an interesting dynamic that shows the importance of adopting the new technology as quickly as possible, as those who do will thrive, while those who don’t will surely be left behind.

You can check out the full study here.

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And now your moment of zen

That’s all for today folks! We hope you enjoyed today’s newsletter, and we’ll see you bright and early tomorrow!