Hotwire Australia

Can tech even the playing field for women? Let's find out. 🎧 In this special episode - the final for Season One, I'm joined by Commandant Anthea Larken CBE. This started life as an episode looking at how tech has transformed women's paid work over the decades, highlighted by her highly visible and impactful role as Director of the Women's Royal Naval Service. And yet, Commandant Larken's trajectory, from using film cameras as simulated weapons, to advocating for women's roles in increasingly tech-driven environments, has so much more to tell us than how advances in tech have shaped ops and training over the decades. We tackle some big questions: - Can tech even the playing field for women? - Do women have to be better than men at the same jobs, to succeed? And; - Are we at a tipping point with tech, where what was a tool, is taking us over? Give your ears a treat to close out 2024, and let's get into it! 🎧 FIND: Our full episode: https://lnkd.in/gM6BSrrD ➡ FOLLOW: Flip the Focus on Apple Podcasts https://lnkd.in/gbBnvNkj #Innovation #Tech #WomenInSTEM #Podcast Mikhaila Warburton 🚀 Hotwire Australia Hotwire

Feeling pensive as we close out the year? As we head into 2025, a key debate will be that the tech of AI is one thing - the ethics are another altogether. As we integrate Generative AI into our business strategies, it’s essential to consider its implications beyond mere efficiency. The ethical use of customer data must be at the forefront of our planning. John C. Havens emphasises the need for “informed genuine consent.” Brands must be transparent about how they collect, use, and share personal data, especially in sensitive sectors from fashion and beauty, to health and femtech. On a positive note, Pete Pachal advocates for shifting Generative AI towards a focus on specific language-based tasks. This approach minimises risks by ensuring user data is used contextually rather than stored indefinitely. Adopting these practices can enhance user trust while still delivering personalised experiences. As marketers and communicators, we have a responsibility to ensure that our AI strategies prioritise ethical considerations. By being open and accountable, we can create a more inclusive digital landscape. How are you ensuring ethical data practices in your organisation? Start your plan using our framework https://lnkd.in/gAe4kt-B #AIBeyondEfficiency #AIEthics #Innovation

There's nothing like feeling truly known - and the same intimacy is a key aspect of the brand consumer relationship. Generative AI is transforming how brands connect with consumers, creating emotional bonds. Companies like Replika and Pardot lead the way with AI companions that offer personalized interactions, help users combat loneliness and explore emotional connections. Meanwhile, elliquence supports the elderly by providing companionship and health reminders, enhancing user engagement through adaptive learning. Even traditional brands are innovating. The Coca-Cola Company Bluetooth-enabled bottle during Diwali required physical presence to unlock, fostering real-world connections. This kind of creativity can be amplified with AI, offering personalized experiences that resonate deeply with consumers. As AI continues to evolve, it presents both opportunities and challenges in fostering genuine intimacy. Brands must navigate these complexities responsibly, ensuring authenticity and ethical standards are upheld. Explore how AI can transform your brand's relationship with consumers, starting with our AI Beyond Efficiency framework https://lnkd.in/gAe4kt-B #AIBeyondEfficiency #CustomerCentricAI #Innovation

Consumers are redefining what matters. Deeply concerned about climate change, divisive politics, racial justice, and sustainable consumption, this generation isn't just disillusioned with rampant consumerism; they're actively seeking brands that not only align with, but also promote, their values. According to Forbes, 71% of consumers prefer purchasing from purpose-driven companies, with nearly 80% more likely to remember and recommend such brands. This shift in consumer behaviour extends beyond shopping habits. It influences workplace dynamics too. Employees across all career stages now seek alignment with their organisation's values and ideals. In response, many brands are using AI technologies to resonate with these value-driven consumers. Patagonia exemplifies social responsibility by using AI to connect customers with local environmental initiatives. However, this raises concerns about privacy and consent due to AI's role in analyzing customer interactions without transparency. As John C. Havens cautions, brands must be transparent about the environmental impact of their data centers, particularly concerning water usage. With data centers consuming vast amounts of water daily, ethical considerations are paramount. What about Faircado – who offer a transparent approach by providing a browser extension that suggests pre-owned alternatives during online shopping, empowering consumers to make sustainable choices? Or Microsoft's AI for Good Lab, showing how AI can address global crises, with projects like Guacamaya use AI to monitor deforestation, showcasing technology's potential for social impact. As we navigate this evolving landscape, brands must ensure inclusivity and sustainability are at the forefront of their strategies. By doing so, they can harness technology's power to make a positive impact on society. Your brand can drive meaningful change through tech. Start here, with our framework https://lnkd.in/gAe4kt-B #AIBeyondEfficiency #CustomerCentricAI #Innovation

Orana, Orana, Orana to Christmas... break! We'd like to say a huge thank you to our team, clients, and connections, for your hard work and support in 2024. We'll be closed from today for a well deserved break, and back at our desks, ready to knock it out the park again on January 6th! All the best for the break, The Hotwire Australia Team 🎄 🎁 📱 #Innovation #Technology #Creativity

Can tech help us retire richer? Let's find out. In the latest episode of Flip the Focus Jen Dobbie speaks to Lucy Kough, who is on a mission to solve the gender wealth gap, starting with Super (aka Pensions). With the gender wealth gap at $103 Trillion, Lucy's mission is in the national interest. As women retire with 28% less super than men, and are 8 times more likely to be homeless over the age of 55, she believes financial life is currently a raw deal for the people who make up the majority of the unpaid economy. Is this tech at it's best - simple, automatic, and in a place where women are already engaged? A unique combination of retail cashback and micro education makes building wealth something that is completely achievable for women - at any age, life stage or wage. Tap the Gap proves tech can both help solve women’s wealth inequality - and provide a new career path for all those who think creatively. A big thanks to Lucy for choosing Flip the Focus to launch her Founder story to the world. Let's get into it! 🎧 FIND: Our full episode https://lnkd.in/gsnai7Ni 💰 FUND: Female Founders https://lnkd.in/gFWDbD5H ➡ FOLLOW: Flip the Focus on Apple Podcasts https://lnkd.in/gbBnvNkj #Innovation #Tech #WomenInSTEM

How can businesses help gen AI see our real customers? Recognition validates human contributions, and helps people feel like they belong. Yet the rise of generative AI presents a complex challenge: these systems often continue existing biases found in their training data, leading to skewed representations in the outputs they generate. Recent studies have highlighted alarming biases in AI image generation models, such as Stability AI’s Stable Diffusion and OpenAI’s DALL-E, which often depict high-status roles as predominantly held by white men. This recognition gap underscores the urgent need for change. Companies like Canva are stepping up to address these biases. They are developing a "debiased" version of their AI models and implementing initiatives like Canva Shield, which moderates content and compensates creators. As Danny Wu from Canva states, “Ongoing research and knowledge sharing will continue to be incredibly important.” In health tech, innovative solutions are also emerging. For instance, Alife is revolutionising fertility care by using deep learning to improve IVF outcomes, ensuring inclusivity in access to reproductive health services. How can your business generate recognition? Commit to creating AI systems that uplift underrepresented voices and ensure inclusivity is woven into the fabric of tech, through your business planning, with our strategic framework https://lnkd.in/gAe4kt-B #AIBeyondEfficiency #Innovation #GenerativeAI

Can AI help your business to give people control? The desire for autonomy, or Agency, is particularly vital for products and services that have a direct impact on things that consumers see as private and important. For example, the fashion and beauty industry - already using generative AI to give consumers a heightened sense of informed decision making. Take SEPHORA’s Virtual Artist tool, which allows users to experiment with an extensive library of makeup products while providing customised tutorials tailored to each user’s unique features. It not only enhances the shopping experience - but also empowers customers to make informed decisions about their beauty routines. Nike is pushing the boundaries even further with a proprietary generative AI tool that analyses exclusive athlete performance data, alongside public data, to revolutionise product design. This innovation will allow customers to personalise their shoes based on specific athletic needs, enhancing the existing Nike By You brand platform - and ensuring that every athlete can find their perfect fit. Create an AI strategy that allows you to give your customers their own agency. Download the framework https://lnkd.in/gAe4kt-B #CustomerCentricAI #Innovation #Technology

How can your brand stand out with generative AI? Start with your customers. The AI Beyond Efficiency Framework taps into four essential human psychological values - agency, recognition, impact, and intimacy. Why these four? They highlight what's at stake when people want tangible and emotional outcomes - and are integral to keeping experiences with your brand, human. Learn more about the AI Beyond Efficiency framework - and how you can use it to guide your brand’s AI journey https://lnkd.in/gAe4kt-B #CustomerCentricAI #Innovation #Tech

*New Episode Live* How do we create more billion-dollar businesses? In our latest episode, I'm joined by Nicole Cook. Chief Executive and Advisory Board Chair, alumni of several billion dollar startups, and former Head of Jobs for NSW, Nicole thinks big - and doesn't pull punches. From the first $100,000 to the first $1BN revenue, and beyond; we explore the very real risks Australia is taking if it doesn't start backing more of our brave female entrepreneurs. Like continuing its slide down global rankings in economic complexity and innovation. Nicole gets into it on creating systems that seek, support and sustain female entrepreneurs to break that cycle through tech innovation, and build billion dollar businesses. Let's get into it and turn potential into performance! 🎧 FIND: Our full episode https://lnkd.in/g5qBA-K3 💰 FUND: Female Founders https://lnkd.in/ghmgYrcF ➡ FOLLOW: Flip the Focus on Apple Podcasts https://lnkd.in/gbBnvNkj #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Tech #Leadership Mikhaila Warburton 🚀 Cindy Gallop Ida Tin Claire Waring Noga Edelstein Heather Kernahan