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From streamlining administrative tasks to enhancing brainstorming sessions, AI is becoming an essential workplace companion. Yet, despite its transformative promise, its integration isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. We recently conducted research at Lucid Software to uncover AI usage in the workplace. We found that more than a third of workers globally are already using AI for fundamental tasks like generating ideas (39%), creating content (37%), communicating summaries (33%), and finding documentation (31%). When thinking about how weve adopted the technology into our products, our decade-long investment in intelligence has been key to building an AI-ready platform that automates data visualization and enables rapid iteration while aligning seamlessly with how people work. The true potential for AI to continue transforming daily tasks and even larger strategic work will only be possible if AI fits into employees workflows in iterative and practical ways that allow teams to master the technology. Employees feel optimistic about AI The global survey of over 2,500 knowledge workers revealed critical insights about AI’s growing impact on the workplace. Overall, the findings paint an optimistic picture: nearly two-thirds (63%) of employees view AI as the gateway to more fulfilling work and improved work-life balance. When we more deeply explored what’s fueling this positive outlook, three key benefits emerged: 62% of employees highlight productivity gains, 40% value cost savings and tech stack consolidation, and 38% see enhanced communication and decision making. But what really caught my attention is the striking tangible impact on productivity; more than 50% of workers believe AI will save them at least three hours of work per week. Thats time they can plan to redirect and invest in strategic, higher-value initiatives. In fact, 45% of employees are already using AI to effectively advance projects. And while saving three hours per week is meaningful to workers, its likely just the beginning. As AI tools advance and adoption increases, the time saved could grow significantly in the years ahead. Barriers to AI adoption persist In conversations with customers and prospects, weve noticed an interesting sentiment: While theyre excited about what AI can do, theyre overwhelmed by the number of available AI tools. This feedback underscores a key insightAI shouldnt feel like an extra layer of complexity. When AI is seamlessly integrated into the tools people already know and love, it streamlines their everyday workflows without adding another system to learn or manage. When we looked further into the barriers holding back AI adoption, our survey uncovered a large divide between organizational levels. While 83% of executives actively use AI-powered collaboration tools, this drops to just 42% of entry-level workers. Were also seeing a direct correlation between usage and confidence, too. Ninety percent of executives feel confident using AI-powered features, whereas 41% of entry-level employees feel hardly or not at all knowledgeable. AI regulation is top of mind Proper regulation and security are important for companies and employees. AI is a powerful and exciting tool, but there must be guidelines in place to keep company information safe. Our research reveals that 88% of companies are implementing strict guidelines to safeguard their business and employeesbut effective implementation proves to be the larger obstacle at hand. The current disconnect between policy creation and awareness in the workforce is significant: While 70% of executives say their company has established AI policies, only 29% of entry-level employees are confident that these guardrails exist. Executives must spend time communicating and implementing these systems so teams are empowered to use AI with security top of mind. The path to more strategic AI AIs impact extends beyond productivity and efficiencyits about enhancing how we work, improving job satisfaction and cultivating better work-life balance. It must be rolled out strategically and practically through comprehensive employee training and transparent AI integration strategies, bridging knowledge gaps across organizational levels, and addressing security and privacy concerns. AI isnt about replacing people; its about empowering them. The future of work is collaborative and AI is a powerful partner that will amplify human potential. At Lucid, our goal is to make AI feel approachable, trustworthy, and impactfulsomething that genuinely helps teams get things done better and faster. Embracing this technology thoughtfully and inclusively will be key to organizational success and employee empowerment. Dave Grow is CEO of Lucid Software.
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E-Commerce
By Gordon Boggis and Michael DiTullo Imagine sitting in a café where the clatter of a fork hitting a plate across the room drowns out your conversation with the person sitting next to you. Have you ever worked in an open office filled with overlapping video calls, making it almost impossible to focus on the document on your screen? Perhaps you recall discussing sensitive matters in a bank while overhearing equally private conversations from the next office. These everyday examples highlight how disruptive noise pollution can be and how important it is to prioritize acoustics. The reality is that poor acoustics are a pervasive yet solvable problem. Like a pebble in your shoe, the issue might go unnoticed initially but grows increasingly unbearable as its effects compound. Many dont realize the extent of the problem until they experience a well-designed acoustic environment. Moreover, poor acoustics dont just inconveniencethey impact cognitive well-being, productivity, and learning. Studies consistently show that exposure to uncontrolled noise increases stress levels, reduces focus, and impairs performance. In addition, a study by the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology found that harmful noise impacts the central nervous system, increasing susceptibility to depression, anxiety, suicide, and behavioral problems. Acoustics affect the workplace Poor acoustics is of particular concern in learning and workplace environments. In the education realm, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, poor acoustical design can result in excessive noise that is disruptive to the learning process and may negatively affect speech perception, student behavior, and educational outcomes. Another recent study found similar results in higher education, with poor acoustics negatively impacting college students’ listening, learning, and well-being. Additionally, a recent report by JLL highlights how poor office acoustics and a lack of privacy negatively impact employee focus and productivity, with 58% of workers still preferring their home environments for concentration. These studies illustrate why workplace designers increasingly craft offices with diverse spaces tailored for collaboration and individual tasks, leveraging sound-insulating materials and technologies to create environments that support well-being and efficiency. 3 key acoustic design principles Despite this, businesses often overlook acoustic considerations in favor of aesthetics or cost-saving during design. The good news is that by integrating three fundamental principles into the design process, its possible to create functional spaces that are acoustically comfortable. Effective materialsMaterials with high noise reduction coefficient (NRC) ratings can significantly reduce sound reflection and absorption. Acoustic tiles, baffles, carpets, draperies, and upholstered furniture can work together to manage sound reverberation. Adding acoustic panels from 3 to 7 feet off the floor is particularly effective, as it targets the height where most sound waves from human activity occur. Opting for sustainable optionssuch as those made from recycled PET or reclaimed materialsadds an eco-conscious dimension to the solution. Minimize right anglesRight angles in architecture can amplify echoes, causing delayed and overlapping sounds that disrupt clarity. Breaking up these angles with irregular geometries or introducing acoustic baffles and clouds can disperse sound waves, reducing ambient noise. If structural changes arent feasible, strategically placing furniture, screens, and partitions can achieve similar effects. Optimize the ceilingOften called the “fifth wall,” ceilings are critical in sound management. Open ceilings with exposed ducts and concrete surfaces, while visually appealing, can act as large reflectors that amplify sound. Incorporating baffles, clouds, or other sound-absorbing elements can transform these spaces without compromising the aesthetic. In one example, a domed cafeteria amplified sound across the room until designers introduced acoustic baffles to disrupt the reverberations. While individual elements like acoustic baffles or tiles with high NRC ratings are important, true acoustic success comes from a holistic approach. Its not just about adding a couple of high-performing piecesits about understanding how all components interact to create an effective solution. This is where experts, such as acousticians, play a critical role. Acousticians analyze the space comprehensively, considering factors like room geometry, materials, and usage patterns to recommend tailored solutions. Additionally, many companies with in-house acoustic design teams offer consultation servicesoften at no additional cost. These professionals can assess the entire space to ensure the selected acoustic strategies work cohesively, avoiding the pitfalls of piecemeal fixes that may fail to address the bigger picture. Design spaces that people want to be in Acoustics should be treated as integral to design as lighting or layout. We can create equally functional and enriching environments by thinking of sound as a raw material. Spaces with sculpted and controlled soundscapes promote productivity and focused learning while reinforcing cognitive well-being. Whether its improving educational outcomes, supporting a return to the office, attracting customers to a retail space, or enhancing public venues, sound can be a powerful tool for shaping experience. Gordon Boggis is CEO of Carnegie. Michael DiTullo is head of product innovation at Kirei, a division of Carnegie Acoustic Solutions.
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E-Commerce
There only a few absolute truths in life. The two most recognizable are death, and unless youre very rich or politically connected, taxes. There are, however, numerous others just a slight tier below; not the least of which is that nearly everyone has a story of themselves or someone close to them wanting to be an architect at some point in their lives. In our collective societal brains we envision these rarified individuals to be highly creative thinkers and mathematical whizzes who are constantly innovating. Those who study history might even think of the great masters of antiquity such as Imhotep, Vitruvius, Brunelleschi, or other unknown masters of ancient Rome, Persia, Mesoamerica, or China as prime examples of such great genius at work. Folks may even recall the more recent genius of Buckminster Fuller, Eero Saarinen, or Frank Lloyd Wright. The modern reality of our profession, however, could not possibly be further from this perceived history, even in its most romanticized version. The death of architecture as we know it With the rise of technology there are radical changes headed our way and the architecture/design industry as we know it (and have known it for generations) will soon cease to exist as a result. This is not necessarily a bad thing. On the contrary, it has the very real chance to be an incredible opportunity, if we let it. This is not to say that the architects of today arent highly creative or have a desire to innovate. Its simply that the industry (especially in the U.S.) has severely and intentionally limited this creativity to a fault for a wide variety of reasons: consistency, profitability, and liability are chief amongst them. Like any technology, AIs rise poses as many potential benefits as it does challenges. Its all in the nuance of how we use it and adapt (or not). Those who do will thrive, those stuck in the ways of the past will count their days numbered (or look for other careers). Our roles as human producers of documents will rapidly morph into something much more resembling creative direction as many drawings become automated. While some will certainly still need to remain deeply involved to check drawings and provide overall concept direction (similar to what many senior designers and firm principals already do now) many other positions will simply no longer be needed as work that historically took teams of people days/weeks to produce will be accomplished in a matter of minutes. This will drastically reduce firm overhead and billing rates will likely soon follow as a result. Once this occurs, large scale firms that historically leveraged their numbers and resources will lose their competitive advantage and we will see the fast rise of micro studios taking on challenges and being competitive on projects previously thought impossible for all but the largest of companies. This will result in the typical business model being flipped on its head causing the industry to reappraise its value and focus on the more creative side of the profession. As is the case with any radical and fast-moving change, this is both deeply exciting and absolutely terrifying at the same time. The future of architecture This can and will be a golden age of exploration and possibilities if approached correctly. Do we dare to live up to the challenge? For a many reasons, the business of architecture has been profoundly broken for decades. It is often abusive and thrives off a hustle culture of overworking for nominal gainin many cases simply to perpetuate the grandiose myth of a sole genius architect. As an industry we do a terrible job of educating the public, our clients, and to some degree even ourselves, as to what architects actually do. If we cant define that and communicate our value, how can we ever expect things to ever change? This is not a shock to anyone paying the least bit of attention. Its far past time that we burned it all down and started from scratch. Whether we like it or not, a sea change is coming. Circumstance will force our evolution and test our creativity in ways never before imaginedunlocking new practices, potential and possibilities. Lets just all make sure to do this better next time. Our professions culture is trapped in a doom loop and its up to us to change it, said Evelyn Lee, president of the American Institute of Architects. I once told a friend when I was about to go out on my own, rethinking the future of the practice and my place within it, I dont want to be an architect. I just want to do really incredible architecture and theres a really big difference. William Dodge is founder and design principal at p-u-b-l-i-c and cofounder and artist at A Gang of Three.
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E-Commerce
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