What's on Your Mind?

In recent years, nearly half of employees report increased workloads and an accelerating pace of change, so the last thing anyone can afford is doing hard work that doesn’t make an impact. Ambitious workers aren’t afraid of putting in effort, but they want it to contribute to work that matters. Work worthy of our effort creates value on two dimensions: it generates value for others (your organization, customers, or the people around you), and it creates value for yourself through personal meaning and growth. Research shows that connecting to both dimensions taps into our intrinsic and values-based motivation. When those connections are weak, despite being busy, the wo…

Below, Aneesh Raman and Ryan Roslansky share five key insights from their new book, Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI. Raman is LinkedIn’s chief economic opportunity officer. He previously served as senior adviser on economic strategy to the state of California and led economic impact at Facebook. Roslansky, who is CEO of LinkedIn, is also EVP of Microsoft Office and Copilot. What’s the big idea? AI’s impact on work is unfolding in real time—rapidly—and individuals have more agency than they think. By understanding how skills, roles, and industries are evolving, anyone can actively shape their career and stay ahead in the age of AI. Listen to…

Earlier this week, Apple made its biggest announcement of the year, and no, it wasn’t about a new iPhone. The company announced that longtime CEO Tim Cook would be stepping down as chief executive, to be succeeded by hardware chief John Ternus in September. While the timing of the announcement on Monday was unexpected, nearly everything else about the development was not. In fact, Apple’s leadership transition is turning out to be one of the most carefully choreographed CEO shakeups in corporate history. Here’s why, and what comes next. Apple isn’t just any company, it’s a $4 trillion industry leader Any time a CEO changes, uncertainty is introduced—not just at…

The southern side of the Colosseum in Rome has just undergone a subtle but much-needed facelift. This side of the world-famous monument is where the empire’s elite once entered the grand amphitheater to watch gladiators fight to the death, and where a series of earthquakes over its nearly 2,000-year lifespan have chewed away at the structure. Through deep archaeological research and a clever architectural intervention, the ancient monument’s original layout has been restored after centuries of decay. It’s giving modern day visitors a more accurate sense of how the space was originally used. The project focuses on the southern perimeter of the Colosseum, restoring of …

From layoffs and return-to-office mandates to challenges around AI and creativity, it’s not all fun and games for video game workers. And now, some are seeking to unionize. On April 27, a group of game developers behind the digital collectible card game Magic: The Gathering Arena announced the intent to form a union in affiliation with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The group is a part of the gaming studio Wizards of the Coast (WOTC), a division of Hasbro. The group, which is coming together as United Wizards of the Coast – CWA, said it reached a supermajority of eligible Arena workers in support for unionization a week before the announcement. The …

Loyal customers of Buc-ee’s have made the store a fan favorite, but the nonprofit Better Business Bureau tells another story, recently slapping the popular Texas-based mega gas station chain with an “F” rating. Buc-ee’s is known for the sheer size of its convenience stores (a Luling, Texas, outpost spans 75,593 square feet) and numerous gas pumps (more than 100 at some locations), along with clean, private bathrooms and barbecue brisket sandwiches. In fact, Buc-ee’s, which has stores from Texas to South Carolina, is so popular it recently announced it’s expanding to Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin. So why is …

A streamlined application makes it easier than ever to apply to Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators. Here are six reasons why you should apply to our eighth annual BWFI program. 1. Brand exposure. Every ranked company and all those earning honoree status in a category will appear in the fall (September) issue of the magazine and on fastcompany.com. 2. Talent retention. Public recognition as a Best Workplace for Innovators honoree provides powerful third-party validation that enhances your ability to recruit and retain top talent. 3. Editorial access. Fast Company editors will review all applications; the application represents an opportunity to highl…

Google is rolling out new AI features designed to quickly flesh out Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides using data from the web and your existing Google files. The overall aim is to eliminate much of the busywork involved in filling out templated documents, transferring data from saved files or internet sources into spreadsheets, and tweaking slide presentations to add new facts and figures—all while reflecting the personal and professional preferences expressed in people’s previous work. “It’s not enough to simply generate a generic email or brief,” says Yulie Kwon Kim, VP of product for Google Workspace. “People want AI to understand your specific context, delivering result…

The parents of a girl critically wounded in a school shooting in Canada alleged in a civil lawsuit Monday that ChatGPT-maker OpenAI knew the shooter was planning a mass attack. OpenAI has said it considered but didn’t alert police about the activities of the person who months later committed one of Canada’s worst school shootings in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on Feb. 10. OpenAI came forward to police after Jesse Van Roostselaar killed eight people and then herself last month, saying the attacker’s ChatGPT account had been closed but that she evaded the ban by having a second account. The legal claim filed in the British Columbia Supreme Court alleged that OpenAI …

For over 40 years, “Mac vs. PC” has been technology’s most iconic rivalry. Yet in many ways, it’s been an indirect one. Apple, being Apple, has mostly stuck to computers with four-digit price tags—a rarefied territory where it can make the products it wants to make, not just the ones a given price point allows. Meanwhile, one of the best things about Windows PCs is that there’s something for everyone, including folks who don’t have a ton of money to spend. Every once in a while, though, Apple does ship something whose identity is defined by its attractive cost. I can’t think of any example more potentially impactful than its latest laptop, the MacBook Neo. It goes on sal…

Today Adobe is launching the public beta of its new AI assistant for Photoshop Web and Photoshop Mobile. The company’s impressive new assistant technology enables anyone to do seemingly flawless photo editing—Nano Banana style—by prompting the apps. Then it ups its power by giving you easy and precise ways to interact with that software—whether it’s via voice or using your finger to navigate the interface. Photoshop Mobile and Web have included AI features for a while. The web version already had Adobe Firefly generative AI features like generative fill and generative expand. The previous mobile version of Photoshop became truly usable because it smartly integrated AI to …

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman is planning to take his Pershing Square management company (PS) public. But in doing so, Ackman is taking an unusual route: He is also starting a new fund, Pershing Square USA (PSUS), and if you want to get in on the Pershing Square management company’s initial public offering (IPO), the only way to do so is to buy shares in the new fund first. Here’s what you need to know about Pershing Square’s IPO: Pershing’s combined IPO When announcing its intention to go public, Pershing Square Inc. also announced that it will launch a new fund called Pershing Square USA (PSUS), and investors in the new fund will receive a set number…

AI disruption and geopolitical upheaval are forcing business leaders to make high-stakes decisions—fast. Accenture CEO Julie Sweet shares what she’s hearing from her 9,000 clients, and the hard-won advice she’s giving them. Sweet reveals why AI proficiency is now a requirement for promotion at Accenture, why she’s doubling down on entry-level hiring amid the automation wave, and she unpacks the hidden power of “leader-led learning.” This is an abridged transcript of an interview from Rapid Response, hosted by the former Fast Company editor-in-chief Robert Safian. From the team behind the Masters of Scale podcast, Rapid Response features candid conversations with toda…