We're getting closer to "Her," most people are lazy at work, and more trending stories

This week, the Daily Rundown is keeping you current on the world of work and the big ideas shaping 2018 (and beyond). Read on and join the conversation.

In 2018, you’re going to get even more intimate with Siri, Alexa and their ilk. That’s the prediction of David Mattin, global head of trends and insights at TrendWatching. Artificial intelligence, he argues, will allow digital assistants to become virtual companions. It’s not “Her” just yet, but he points to an augmented reality experience in Japan that lets you have dinner with a virtual pop idol, and to the enamored app store reviews for Uni, an AI friend that lives in your smartphone. “Millions of consumers (will) start to feel it is possible to have a meaningful conversation – a relationship, even – with virtual entities," Mattin writes. • Share your thoughts: #DigitalAssistantsAI

Fundamentally, people have a natural inclination towards laziness. That’s according to Brennan Jacoby, a philosopher at cultural institution The School of Life. He gave this damning assessment after partnering with tech firm Dropbox to conduct a survey into people’s attitudes toward work. Nearly three quarters of those quizzed said they don’t work to the best of their abilities even once a week. But all is not lost; managers can turn things around. Worker productivity — and happiness — rises if team members have clear roles and responsibilities. • Share your thoughts: #WorkerProductivity

Successfully making a radical career change is the difference between having a dream and a plan. But a plan also needs careful execution; it's not enough to find your "unique purpose," as Fast Company puts. It takes practice. Start by regularly doing a little of what you eventually want do for a living. Before making the switch, your side hustle should earn you about half what you make for a living. Finally, the gut check — not yours, but friends and family. Not everyone needs to get it, but "someone should see what you see and be cheering for you." Sound like a steep climb? Maybe you're better off where you are. • Share your thoughts: #DreamCareer

Increasing numbers of the mega-rich are donating during their lifetimes, The Atlantic reports. Some argue the rise of “big philanthropy” contributes to an “unequal balance of power in society” — giving private individuals influence previously only held by governments. But even politically motivated donations benefit society, argues Joel Fleishman, director of the Center for Strategic Philanthropy and Civil Society at Duke University; these massive gifts still attempt to tackle some of the world’s biggest issues. “If you have more individuals who want to spend their wealth in ways that they think benefits society, I believe society benefits significantly from it.” • Share your thoughts: #PhilanthropyBenefits

Idea of the Day: It’s hard to escape the “cult of busyness” — conversations about how busy we are, extra hours we put in at work, the constant dash from one event (or to-do list item) to the next. But being endlessly busy doesn’t make us happy or healthy, notes Australian Industry Group’s Shane Rodgers. And if we want to “proactively take back control of our time,” the first step is being realistic about how it’s being spent. • Share your thoughts: #CultOfBusyness

“You need to get real about what you can achieve and take the other stuff off the list or carry it forward. Otherwise every day feels like a failure.”

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