Other Tomorrowist Trends in the News: April 24, 2025
Research: How to Advertise to Distracted Consumers (Harvard Business Review)
What to Know: Mobile pop-up ads can be more effective when consumers are distracted, according to a new peer-reviewed study in Management Information Systems (MIS) Quarterly. These results challenge decades of research on dual-task interference and suggest that ad performance can benefit from a phenomenon called automaticity, where the brain processes distractions and tasks as a cohesive unit.
Why It Matters: This research upends the long-held belief that attention is a zero-sum resource. Marketers may find that well-placed distractions boost brand recall in dynamic, stimulus-rich settings, such as concert venues and sporting events. Success in mobile advertising may hinge less on avoiding disruption and more on strategically leaning into it. Companies looking to make fewer, smarter ad placements can apply this framework to optimize ROI and reduce consumer fatigue.
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Instagram Is Testing AI to Flag Teen Users and Enforce Safety Settings
(Fast Company)
What to Know: Instagram is testing artificial intelligence technology to detect teen users better — regardless of their listed age — and automatically apply protective “Teen Account” settings. These accounts restrict who can contact minors, filter content, and set time limits.
Why It Matters: As regulatory scrutiny over youth safety online intensifies, Meta is positioning AI as a compliance and safety tool. For organizations, this move signals a broader trend: Tech companies are proactively deploying AI to meet regulatory expectations and minimize legal exposure. If Meta succeeds, it could set a new industry precedent and raise the bar for how far companies are expected to go to safeguard minors online.
HR can also use AI to build trust, promote fairness, and strengthen decision-making. Want to develop a responsible AI strategy for your organization?
Google Begins Court Hearing About How It Should Be Penalized for Operating an Illegal Search Monopoly — and a Breakup Is on the Table (Fortune)
What to Know: Google is facing a pivotal antitrust showdown after being found to have illegally maintained a monopoly in search in 2023. Proposed remedies include banning exclusivity deals with Apple, forcing Google to share search data with competitors, and even requiring a divestiture of the Chrome browser.
Why It Matters: This is the most significant antitrust confrontation since the Microsoft case of the 1990s, and its outcome could reshape the digital economy. If Google is required to unwind key deals or break up parts of its business, the decision could usher in a new era of platform accountability — pressuring dominant tech firms to rethink their approach to data control, competitive tactics, and product bundling.
Why Texas Is Seeing Eye-Popping Insurance Hikes
(The Washington Post)
What to Know: Texas homeowners are facing a surge in insurance costs, even in areas not traditionally seen as high-risk. After decades of relative affordability, the state’s booming population, worsening storms, and rising inflation have converged to drive premiums up sharply — by nearly 19% in 2022 and 21% in 2023. Some residents are seeing quotes upward of $10,000 annually, pushing them toward state-backed plans or reduced coverage.
Why It Matters: Skyrocketing insurance costs threaten Texas’ reputation as a low-cost destination for businesses and families, but the story doesn’t stop there. What’s unfolding in Texas could preview broader shifts across the U.S., as climate risks, inflation, and insurance volatility collide. For employers, rising premiums could strain workforce housing and increase operating costs in previously affordable markets. As disasters grow more frequent and severe, organizations nationwide may need to rethink risk planning and long-term location strategies, such as where to build, hire, and invest.
An organization run by AI is not a futuristic concept. Such technology is already a part of many workplaces and will continue to shape the labor market and HR. Here's how employers and employees can successfully manage generative AI and other AI-powered systems.
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