In our latest monthly trend report, we covered how generative AI dominated the media in 2024 — even more than in 2023 and 2022 combined. Moving beyond the initial shock and awe at AI’s capabilities, this year’s discussions focused on adoption and the practical implementation of the technology across all industries. It was also a banner year for major AI advancements and announcements from AI creators.  ..read more

The struggles of traditional media in recent years have been well documented. Social media and digital technology fundamentally altered the way people (particularly younger Americans) consume news, and legacy publications (and their conventional, newsroom models) are fighting to compete with new, digital-first storytelling processes and platforms. Amidst this landscape, a new wave of journalism emerged — one that challenges the conventional media landscape. The rise of alternative media, driven by independent journalists and smaller, more niche platforms, offers a substitute to the mainstream ..read more

ChatGPT is turning two! As new parents know, a lot can happen in two years. The tool became the fastest-growing digital platform in history, accumulating more than 100 million users in its first two months. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, amassed investments from some of the biggest companies in the world and earned a valuation of more than $150 billion. An AI arms race was unleashed between top tech companies and ambitious startups. Robots took over the world (okay, not quite ..read more

It’s getting cold outside and big puffer coats are officially taking the streets. Winter is here. And so is Tier One’s latest trend report, where our Agile Insights team dives into several emerging trends reshaping how we understand culture, business, and consumer behavior. Today, get the the TL;DR on three key trends ..read more

Since generative AI tools first took the stage, coding assistants have been hogging the spotlight. Because code is basically a highly precise, systematic language, it’s a perfect fit for large language models’ ability to recreate language patterns. This natural compatibility aligns with AI’s promise to democratize digital skills and speed productivity. To put that promise to the test, our Content Studio’s design team took top AI code editor Cursor for a spin. The test? Building a new module for the Tier One website. Spoiler alert: It delivered, but needed a hefty helping of human expertise ..read more

Since last week’s presidential election, the social media platform Bluesky has experienced a significant surge of users, adding more than 1 million new members. The rapid growth is part of the trend of users looking for alternatives to traditional social media networks like X and Facebook. Why the sudden interest? Bluesky is part of a larger movement known as the fediverse, meaning users have more control over their digital identities and their experience on the platforms, redefining how we connect online and challenging the very structure of traditional digital interactions ..read more

In these first few days following the election, our Agile Insights team has been scrutinizing the news to assess potential changes a new presidential administration might bring. Organizations across multiple industries may need to adjust their playbook due to potential policy shifts, including an emphasis on deregulation and pro-business legislation, a mass restructuring of federal programs, and an escalation of tariffs on foreign imports ..read more

Just when we’ve finally wrapped our heads around AI chatbots and large language models, the spotlight has shifted to something even more ambitious: AI agents. Tech giants from OpenAI to Google have recently made major announcements about their advancements in AI agent technology. The buzz around the development of AI agents has been growing, being labeled the “next step” in AI’s evolution. With the potential for AI agents to make a significant impact across various business functions, the term “AI Employees” is quickly gaining traction ..read more

You’ve probably seen the headlines: “Generate a Podcast in Seconds!” “A New Hit Podcast Tool That Will Blow Your Mind!” But is it just the digital marketing world hyping Google’s NotebookLM, or can this AI conversation generator really elevate your integrated marketing strategy? We took a deep dive (pun intended) and tested it on our own content to determine whether NotebookLM is worth incorporating into a martech stack.  ..read more

In September, all eyes were on California Gov. Gavin Newsom as the highly anticipated — and quite contentious — AI safety bill sat on his desk. Finally, this week, the result came in: He vetoed the bill. The proposed legislation focused on major safety-related AI concerns and catastrophic harms that could be caused by the innovations of large AI companies, but many were looking to it as the starting point for a new regulatory landscape in the U.S. Now, we're back to the drawing board.  All the chatter about the California bill may have made you think about AI safety and regulations ..read more