In the age of asking AI’s Alexa to order us more Q-tips, we all knew it was only a matter of time until human-like robots were introduced. While we all knew that those human robots were on their way to becoming a reality, we all wondered what would they do? Who would make them? How would they impact us? Would they one day take over? Well, it looks like Tesla’s owner Elon musk has some of those answers for us.

At Tesla’s recent AI day, Musk announced that the company would have prototypes of an all-in-one providing robot by next year to complete all the mandate tasks that humans do day-to-day, such as grocery shopping & screwing in bolts. The prototype will be called Tesla-Bot & the top priority mentioned was for these robots to take verbal instructions.

Musk noted that the robot might face many first-round struggles and encounter some trial and error to create the perfect prototype, including perfecting one of Musk’s top priorities of making the robot friendly. I, for one, hope they are friendly to avoid a battle of human VS robots.

Back to the point, though, how likely is Musk’s robot-human dream? Well, many robot and AI specialists seem to think this may be a far-fetched pipedream. This was reinforced when the “robot” that stepped out on stage was not a robot but a human dressed up as one.

Even though Musk’s robots may be a bit further in the future than he is leading us to believe, I am excited about the possibility of having a human-like robot be able to complete some of the more tedious tasks we have to complete. As someone who works full time, taking even more time to stop and complete these tasks takes away from my much appreciated Netflix binge time! Despite my excitement, I do worry about the possibility of issues from this technology, such as data leaks, security concerns, & robot malfunctions in our homes. However, I think that with any technology coming to light, problems will inevitably happen, as will solutions.

Modern technology, including AI, has been involving in front of our very eyes for years. While we have experienced worldwide hysteria at times, cough Y2K cough, it has seemingly proved to create a more manageable world for most of us. Could this do the same for us?

But where do you stand? With the robots or scared of a takeover? 

How likely do you think these AI-powered robots will be fully functional & available by next year?

The cosmetic industry has been expanding and growing for years and recently expanded by dipping its feet into the internet and other smart technologies. Although not as necessary as AI technology in healthcare or as fun as Amazon’s Alexa, the cosmetics industry diving into the technology world brings unique innovations.

Many of us have visited a makeup store either alone or with someone else. Whether that be Sephora, Ulta, or even a makeup counter in Macy’s you have probably witnessed someone trying different shades of a cosmetic product on to find the correct shade or color.
This is where the internet of things technology comes into play. Major cosmetic companies such as L’Oreal and Estee Lauder have invested in the internet of things, augmented reality, and other “smart” technology to simplify shopping for customers.

L’oreal, for example, has introduced Preso. Preso is a smart technology device that scans the customers’ faces, as well as the foundation customers, pick and can find the perfect shade of foundation without trying different shades on or returning bottles to the store. Similar to this product, HiMirror is an additional example that scans your face but instead searches for blemishes and recommends tips and products based on the scan. This technology disrupts the market in various ways, but one of the most significant is influencer marketing, which can not be as personalized. Internet of things based technology provides different products based on needs, texture, appearance, and more. Smart technology keeps it personal compared to influencers pushing a not-so-personal single skin product or cosmetic to a large audience.

When looking at this disruption and the impacts on marketing strategy professionals, two thoughts come to mind,

1. The initial cost of this technology- This will be steep compared to influencer marketing. Is it worth it?
2. Will this technology continue to grow and be beneficial? — Is sticking to influencer marketing and guessing your product the way to stay?

When thinking of these questions, we must consider the impact and benefits to the customer(s). This technology provides many benefits to customers, including that customers may no longer have to go in-store to get their perfect shade. As many of us still feel the impacts of COVID-19 many of us do not feel comfortable or want to go in-store to purchase our goods anymore. This is proven by the rise in delivery apps such as Instacart & Uber Eats. By providing customers with this technology that is available from your smartphone or computer, customers will not need to visit in person to fulfill their purchases. Although the initial cost may be high, many agree this technology is the future and will provide financial benefits to companies and customers. It is also worth noting that this technology is helping prevent returns, wasting products, and supply chain issues due to shipping which in turn is helping the planet and customers.

Sources:

1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/josephdeacetis/2021/01/23/iot-and-beauty-tech-aim-to-gain-tremendous-market-share-in-2021/?sh=1c6d1afe5ee1 
2. https://www.gearbrain.com/how-iot-is-affecting-the-beauty-industry-2535183434.html
3. https://digital.hbs.edu/platform-rctom/submission/digital-beauty-how-sephora-leveraged-digital-technology-to-overhaul-the-in-store-experience/

If you had asked my peers and me before March 2020 if we would have ever imagined working from home, we would have laughed.

Most people learn that you graduate high school and/or college and then go into the 9-5 life. Drive to work, work in an office, drive home, sleep, repeat. We would do this five days a week for, oh say, the next 40 years.

For many of us, recent graduates were excited to join the corporate office life but soon learned the lifestyle was draining. But what choice did we have?

Fast forward to the present day, and here we are, many of us in our sweat pants and two-day unwashed hair (maybe three for some of us). It seems that it is not just me loving the new work environment but thousands across the country. Nearly 50% of the country is in favor of keeping the current work from home environment going.

Every day, more companies announce their plan to allow employees to choose a hybrid or a fully remote workplace when the time does come to return to the office.

So, what are the benefits for the company?

Allowing employees to work from home or giving them the decision to at least WFH part-time has dramatically increased the emotional state of employees across the country. Giving employees the freedom to work from their own home, use their hold bathroom, or get up and take a walk to cool off after that killer meeting has helped employees feel valued by their current employer.

Employees that feel valued have shown an increase in productivity and higher retention rates.

In addition to the importance of employees, it also saves companies quite a bit of cash. Companies can save big bucks by not having to rent out an office space. Additionally, remote work allows employees to utilize their lunch breaks for appointments, picking up kids, or other tasks that they may have had to take off or leave early to complete.

The thought of having to drive back into work and struggle to no longer be able to meet your child off the bus anymore is challenging for many of us to swallow. But for some, the office is undoubtedly calling.

Allowing employees to decide if they want to work from home full or part-time has dramatically increased the emotional state of employees across the country. Giving employees the freedom to work from their own home, use their hold bathroom, or get up and take a walk to cool off after that killer meeting has helped employees feel valued by their current employer.

Where do my current peers stand?

After sharing the topic of this article with my classmates and peers, I gathered the feedback and compared it to the information I both wrote and read about. I found that 5 out of 6 people I spoke to about this wanted to be fully remote, while one wished for a hybrid schedule that allowed them the flexibility to come in when they pleased and have that option to stay home. As some of my peers mentioned, much of our lives are spent trying to achieve the “grind” of working hard and making a lot of money, which is absolutely an important goal. However, when you miss the world around you and important moments in your life, you can miss out on a lot by trying to reach this goal. Having the ability to work remotely allows for more employees from around the globe to work for a company located anywhere, and they have the freedom to live where ever they please.