 is telling Australians that ‘it’s possible to love a bank’. With the insight that mobile doesn’t destroy high street branches, but instead changes their role, its new brick-and-mortar locations feel like spaces for a romantic date rather than a loan application. Instead of tellers and security glass, it has exposed brick, mood lighting, music and café-style features. In the US, personal loan start-up 

 goes further, hosting cocktail parties for ‘members’.

 also claims to be the first bank ‘you’ll ever love’ and even has a name and gender. Personal finance app 

 is dressed up as an adorable redhead, and the interface is a simple chat screen, like WhatsApp. Ask Penny how much you spent on coffee and she’ll respond with the answer and a cute quip or emoji.

In the pursuit of love, banks are becoming more like people. And interestingly, it’s a shift mirrored by the rise of P2P banking, with the likes of 

 helping people become more like banks too.

Visiting your local bank branch feels like a very outdated way of dealing with your money. Bank of Queensland is ditching the teller lines and glass-windowed counters for a look that’s more akin to a coffee shop. Can this initiative help the bank build stronger relationships with its customers?

Bank of Queensland: hanging out with your friendly bank manager

When we run into trouble, friends and family have our backs. And it's a good job – with payday lenders charging extortionate fees and trust in banks low, who do financially fragile Gen Y turn to when they're in need? This alternative lender will front you cash, whilst taking pressure off your pals.

Vouch: the lending social network

Amid the cost of living crisis hitting Aussies, Gen Zers are finding new ways to save up despite the difficult job market and rising costs of goods. Younger generations are taking control of their finances, holding themselves accountable, and relinquishing their fear of judgement around money.

Why are Aussie Gen Zers embracing loud budgeting?

How is Japan’s shrinking, ageing population impacting locals’ decisions? Are government efforts to regulate work hours actually leading to shifts in Japan’s notoriously overworked society? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats to explore the behavioural norms shared by people in Japan in 2024.

A Cultural Snapshot of Japan: 2024

A 2024 study has demonstrated that the face of luxury shopping is changing, revealing that young parents are becoming the most likely to make luxury purchases. As economic uncertainty has shoppers remaining hesitant to make big purchases, luxury shopping is becoming increasingly aspirational.

Luxury demographics are skewing younger

Economic challenges, marketing saturation, changing relationship patterns, and the move towards digital interaction have diminished the vibrancy and engagement usually associated with Valentine’s Day and White Day – one example of Korean and Japanese people’s fatigue surrounding ‘Day’ marketing.

Does the decline of White Day prove people are getting tired of ‘Day’ marketing?

‘Sari-sari’ (literally, ‘variety’) stores remain staples in Filipino neighbourhoods despite the rise of convenience stores. They balance affordability and accessibility with modernisation and adapt to changing needs by providing reasonably priced essential goods, making them a pillar in the country.

Why Filipino neighbourhood ‘sari-sari’ shops flourish amid convenience stores

Disillusioned with the state of the housing market, Gen Yers are giving up on their goals of homeownership and focusing on making their rentals their own with renovations. This is a signal of changing attitudes towards major life milestones and the troubling economic state of play.

Gen Yers are renovating rentals instead of buying homes

As Gen Zers and Yers come to terms with not having it like their parents did, they're turning to crypto and 'financial hacks' to make things work. Amid a decline in trust in traditional financial institutions, brands have an opportunity to help young adults manage their finances in new ways.

Gen Z and Y are trying to hack home ownership

The mobile payments app GCash has revolutionised financial services by bringing banking to Filipinos' fingertips. Through its innovative features, strategic partnerships, and commitment to financial inclusion, GCash empowers millions to control their finances and easily pierce the digital economy.

How GCash dispenses financial inclusion to mobile Filipinos

A survey has found that adults in the US are struggling to stay afloat, with the majority of adults living paycheck to paycheck. As inflation continues to threaten financial security, people are searching for brands and products that can provide holistic solutions and financial education.

Ongoing inflation impact is entrenching financial stress

China’s young people are abandoning their retirement plans as low pay and a difficult labour market hurt their future prospects. Gen Zers and Yers are looking for financial support and education as their optimism dissipates and an uncertain and potentially difficult future looms.

Disillusioned Chinese Gen Zers abandon retirement plans

According to a new poll, Gen Zers and Yers believe that they’re spending too much money on streaming subscriptions. Mobile content is proliferating while young people are looking to cut costs, leading many to change their streaming behaviors and look for more affordable solutions.

Gen Zers look to cut back on streaming subscriptions

Ongoing financial pressure is putting strain on Britons’ love lives, with dating, divorce, and even staying single becoming more expensive, and the future they imagined looking different with their budgets. How can brands support people in their romantic lives during the cost-of-living crisis?

How is financial strain affecting Britons’ love lives?

Several approaches have been developed to teach young Southeast Asians money management. However, economic issues and hustle culture make lessons hard to remember. That’s why The Simple Sum keeps financial literacy simple through bite-sized comic strips about real-life budget experiences.

Why The Simple Sum strips money talk down to comic truths

Why are China’s youth giving up their hard-earned credentials to become ‘full-time children?’ How did rest become an act of rebellion? How has the pandemic affected shopping habits in China? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats to explore the behavioural norms shared by people in China in 2024.

A Cultural Snapshot of China: 2024

While BNPL options have become widely available, there's a gap in understanding how consumers view them and why they use them. Canvas8 spoke to Dr. Philippa Ward, Dr. Anita Zhao, and Dr. Ruffin Relja to unveil the world of BNPL customers – their perceptions, usage, and brand recommendations.

I’m saving so much! The science of BNPL perception

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is lagging behind other European nations in embracing digital finance, but post-pandemic shifts and economic challenges are presenting diverse opportunities in this space. How can brands respond to the digital transformation?

What's driving digital finance in Germany?

Boutique grocery stores, including those run by brand giants, are popping up more and more in the inner cities of Australia amid an anti-supermarket sentiment. The question is, how did this happen, and are Aussies buying the cost of convenience and bougier atmosphere these places are offering?

Behind the success of boutique grocery stores in Australia

Urban youth in Vietnam are feeling increasingly disillusioned by the promise of social mobility due to a housing crisis and the effects of ‘flex’ culture, leading them to redefine their adulthood. What does this mean for brands looking to engage with Vietnamese Gen Zers?

Why adulthood looks different for Vietnamese Gen Zers

The 2024 Generational Snapshot of Generation Y in the Asia-Pacific region explores how a move towards purposeful living and stable life has Gen Ys spending with more intention, taking care of their health and overall wellness, and enjoying the freedom that comes with not having children.

2024 APAC Gen Y Snapshot

Robinhood, the stock trading app that shot to fame in 2021 as the app of choice among ‘memestock’ traders, is gearing up for a UK launch. What opportunity has it seen among British investors, and how can it convince them to make more informed money decisions and pick stocks on its platform?

Why Robinhood wants to get Britons onto the stock market

Facing turbulent economic times, many couples are navigating new terrain when it comes to spending and saving. Canvas8 spoke to Scott Rick, a marketing professor at the University of Michigan, about how people can better handle their finances without risking their relationships.

Scott Rick on the future of finances in relationships

The grim financial outlook for young people is no secret – and they’re catching on. Their intense worries have given rise to ‘money dysmorphia’, with their fiscal anxiety spiraling even when their situation isn’t that bleak. How can brands help to soothe them and make them feel more in control?

Money dysmorphia is changing young spending habits

Gen Y women are set to inherit more money than their male counterparts, opening up a new wealth landscape that will emerge over the coming decades. Women have different investing habits compared to men, presenting diversification opportunities for existing financial products and organisations.

Future wealth transfer will benefit Gen Y women most

Investing company Australian Ethical has launched a new campaign that focuses on showing how they align investments with values. However, with opinions on ESG funds becoming polarised, transparency around the true environmental impact of these investments will be vital to winning audience trust.

Australian Ethical caters to conscientious investing 

Moniepoint is emerging as the most preferred payment system in Nigeria, thanks to its lower transaction decline rates and instant reversals of transactions if payments fail. With rising distrust among traditional banks, people are increasingly turning to challenger options they find more reliable.

Moniepoint offers financial reliability to Nigerians

According to new research, Americans are working less since the pandemic, with high earners and young people leading the charge. An increased desire for flexibility is helping to reshape the American workweek, with top talent making their preferences clear in the early 2020s.

High-earning Americans are looking to work less

With US Boomers already demonstrating their openness to alternative financial strategies, regulation changes by the Securities and Exchange Commission mean more of their wealth could go into Bitcoin. As trust in traditional retirement plans and institutions wanes, Boomers are diversifying.

Regulation changes may sway Boomers to Bitcoin

In response to the increasing prevalence of gig work, Robinhood Retirement has introduced a savings plan tailored to the needs of those working through TaskRabbit, Grubhub, and Gopuff. As the working world changes, there are increasing expectations for financial products to adapt too.

Robinhood launches retirement product for gig workers

By giving workers in Indonesia early access to their salaries, Wagely helps them be more financially secure, ensuring they don’t take loans they can’t repay. As economic uncertainty hits people globally, consumers expect the system to adapt and help them cope with monetary pressures.

Early pay access is safeguarding Indonesian workers

Klarna's AI assistant managed two-thirds of customer service chats in its debut month, showing efficiency and customer satisfaction. The trend towards AI customer service reflects a preference for quick, accessible support, alongside a debate on AI's impact on jobs and service quality.

Klarna celebrates AI handling the majority of customers

There has been a surge in the number of Britons taking packed lunches for work – a clear indicator that the post-pandemic return to the office is almost complete. But with more workers eating their midday meals al desko, how is office morale being impacted? And how can food and drink brands respond?

Why Britons are packing their lunches for work

British adults who are providing support to their parents, children, and even grandchildren are in a precarious spot as the cost of living crisis places strain on their finances. How are members of Gen X coping in their role as multigenerational financial anchors, and how can brands help them out?

How is the cost of living crisis impacting Gen Xers?

Gen Yers may feel like they’re redefining what it means to be in one’s 30s and 40s, but are their youthful appearances and attitudes solely a result of consciously avoiding traditional ageing? Or have economic structures made the typical markers of adulthood a financial impossibility?

How economic woes led to an extended youth for Gen Y

The 2024 Generational Snapshot of Gen Zers in the APAC region explores how young people today express their national identities while keeping a global mindset, assert their individuality in the workplace alongside AI, and look to markers from simpler times for stability and inspiration.

2024 APAC Gen Z Snapshot

EasyPaisa has launched a service that helps Pakistani women understand the Nikahnama – the Islamic marriage contract. Through the 'Audio Nikahnama' option in its mobile banking app, EasyPaisa attempts to bridge a knowledge gap and respond to the demand for tech empowering marginalized communities.

EasyPaisa unpacks marriage contracts for Pakistani women

As inflation continues to threaten financial security and wellbeing, young Canadians are feeling anxious and taking on more debt to remedy current financial challenges. As a result, people are finding their solutions to manage debt but need support with more holistic solutions for their finances.

Younger Canadians need better support navigating debt

Retirement specialist Just Group has published research showing that some Gen Xers are spending the equivalent of a full state pension on care for elderly relatives. With Gen X stressed by financial support from older and younger generations, there are opportunities to help them feel supported.

Gen Xers stretched by care costs for relatives

Disney+ and Hulu are losing subscribers as many people turn to piracy sites over paid platforms. In the face of the ongoing cost of living crisis, people are looking for savvy ways to cut back on spending, and for many, that has meant finding ways to hack the system in the name of self-preservation.

Disney+ and Hulu are losing subscribers to piracy sites

Gen Zers have embraced digital wallets more than any other generation, but as the technology becomes widespread, they’re looking for more than mere cardless transactions. Young people expect seamless experiences from fintech, and the burden is on brands to build functionality into digital wallets.

High-earning Gen Zers favour seamless digital wallets

Survey data suggests that US Gen Yers are more interested in a work-life balance than other generations. Despite economic insecurity, many young people are prioritizing their personal lives over salaries, pointing to the demise of 'hustle culture' and a rejection of workplace burnout.

US Gen Yers prioritize work-life balance over salaries

China’s top developers face scorn from the nation as they file for corporate default, leaving homeowners-to-be far from the promised land. As the Chinese youth are caught between a housing crisis and long-standing expectations of home ownership, they have resorted to living in ‘refined poverty.’

Young Chinese people resort to ‘refined poverty’ amid housing crisis

The US-based dating app Score lets people prove they have good-to-excellent credit scores before they match. As people face increased cost of living and volatile economic landscapes, they're looking to extend financial responsibility to as many parts of their lives as possible.

Dating app connects users via credit scores

As brands look for ways to maximize profits despite rising costs, consumers are increasingly concerned about the tactic of downsizing products at the same price. The latest critic is US President Joe Biden, who called out this behavior in the context of the Super Bowl festivities.

Joe Biden criticises snack makers for shrinkflation 

Bearing a rising cost of living and the financial burdens of their parents and children, Indonesians are now managing their finances at much younger ages. As they brace themselves for this double whammy, Gen Z-focused app Whiz aims to empower them – one less lonely financial journey at a time.

How Whiz helps young Indonesians bond with family and finance

A report published by The Commonwealth Bank of Australia highlights generational differences in wealth, with Boomers remaining financially secure amid inflation due to homeownership, reduced spending, and government support. This is in contrast to Gen Yers, who appear worse off post-pandemic.

Australian Boomers insulated from financial hardship

BMO and rapper bbno$ have collaborated on the song BPOT (Bills Paid on Time) as part of a Visa Card campaign targeting Gen Z. The ad went viral, speaking to Zers' desire for financial wellbeing, and their desire to expand their financial knowledge during turbulent times.

Canadian rapper bbno$ stars in relatable money ad

A report by Linkedin India highlights the country’s changing career landscape – with workers looking to move jobs for higher wages and better work-life balance. However, a competitive job market means people are expanding their searches beyond their current industries and reassessing career plans.

Report reveals Indian workers' changing priorities

Female Invest offers a one-stop universe for financial knowledge, underpinned by community and geared towards women. With a mission to close the financial gender gap and help women invest in a male-dominated field, the company boasts more than 45,000 members globally and aims to democratise finance.

How Female Invest is empowering women’s finances

Many fintech apps focus on making complex financial topics – like stock picking and compound interest – easier for the average person to understand. London-based Communion goes one step further, targeting young people who feel like they can’t even make a start with savings.

How Communion helps Britons to save money

‘Poly-employment’ – working multiple jobs – is rising as people search for ways to combat inflation, find flexibility, and offset potential layoffs. Particularly common among Gens Y and Z, it signals that traditional attitudes towards employer loyalty and job security are shifting.

Poly-employment rises as workers try to hack the system

Ease of use and interoperability have made homegrown instant payment systems the preferred mode of transactions for payments for millions of Indians who are becoming more digitally savvy and evolving commerce locally. Now, the United Payments Interface (UPI) is trying to recreate its success abroad.

How cashless payments are restructuring the Indian economy

Alma aligns with French money values by offering BNPL services that resonate with the country’s approach to personal finance. By allowing customers to spread payments over time without incurring interest, Alma is tapping into the mindful budgeting and responsible financial management shift.

How Alma appeals to French money values with BNPL services

While attending a Bipartisan Policy Center panel discussion, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, suggested that the rich should be taxed more to support those less well-off. Though an old concept, Dimon's comments reflect a shift in perceptions of capitalism as an equitable economic paradigm.

Jamie Dimon reflects desire for a more equitable economy

In an increasingly automated digital age, people are paradoxically feeling more disconnected than ever. Amica Mutual Insurance's campaign prompts people to consider the importance of IRL connections and understand that looking out for each other isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s what makes us human.

Amica campaign signals the importance of IRL connection

The Crocs Quick Trail repurposes Crocs' Classic Clog for the great outdoors. This signals the return of multi-purpose apparel, a key shift for brands to pay attention to this year as people's budgets remain tight and consumers look for functional and aesthetic value from their investments.

Crocs hiking clog resonates with critical spenders

New data from the Bank of England shows that UK consumer credit borrowing grew at the fastest rate for five years in November. Elsewhere, there is evidence that more Britons are turning to credit cards to pay for essentials such as food. What’s behind this uptick in borrowing?

Why are Britons maxing out on credit?

BlackRock has released a refreshingly 'boring' video ad introducing its iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT). Doing away with crypto jargon, it’s breaking down financial information in palatable and easy-to-understand ways to appeal to an untapped demographic in the bitcoin landscape – boomers.

BlackRock’s accessible ad courts bitcoin-curious Boomers

HomeEquity Bank's 'Ask Yourself' campaign encourages Gen X Canadians to explore the option of home equity for enhanced later-life financial flexibility. Inflation and the cost of living crisis has made many Gen Xers rethink their financial futures, prompting them to consider saving alternatives.

HomeEquity Bank tempts Gen Xers with reverse mortgages

Despite younger generations driving the growth in ESG funds, recent polls reveal their interest in this has declined since 2022. Their investment preferences now align more with Boomers, signaling a shift away from prioritizing values over returns due to various economic and political pressures.

Interest in ESG funds plummets among Gens Y and Z

Young Indians are sparking a dating revolution in India, challenging traditions and embracing diverse connections. From focusing on the journey rather than the destination to opting for budget-friendly experiences, Gen Z is redefining romance in a digitally driven landscape.

Gen Z Indians are shaking up dating culture. What's next for romance?

John Lewis has released a campaign encouraging people to shop in its January sales. Drawing on both high quality and low price, as well as a treat-yourself mindset, the campaign taps into a more critical approach to spending amid cost of living concerns and a continued desire to indulge.

John Lewis nudges shoppers to give into sale temptation

EQ Bank's ad featuring Dan and Eugene Levy from Schitt's Creek warns Canadians against unthinkingly sticking to one bank. The father-son duo highlight the behavioural tendency to favour known options and suggest considering better alternatives, emphasising the benefits of switching banks.

'Schitt's Creek' stars and EQ Bank make finance fun

Budgeting trends like 'no-spend January' are spreading across the internet as young people respond to money worries and try to reform their bad spending habits. Anti-consumerist sentiments are growing among young people, driven by rising costs and a lack of financial education.

'No-spend January' challenges consumerist norms

Scotiabank is reviving its 'You're Richer Than You Think' campaign that shows the frivolity of comparison with others. Despite economic challenges, the ad emphasises life's greater importance than wealth accumulation, positioning the bank as a reliable brand while boosting customer confidence.

Scotiabank helps Canadians feel hopeful about money

Gen Zers are digitally tracking their outfits to monitor how often they wear each piece and move towards slower models of fashion consumption. As budgets get tighter and sustainability awareness increases, young people are looking to become more intentional with their money choices.

Gen Zers turn to wardrobe tracking to manage consumption

Money

The Tokyo-based start-up Orange has secured $19 million in investments to develop AI software that can translate manga titles into English. While the tech may broaden global readers’ access to Japanese media, it could also threaten the role of the fan translator in the proliferation of such content.

Orange uses AI to speed up manga translations in English

The New York-based newsletter distribution start-up Beehiiv has raised $33 million in series B funding on the promise of continued growth. With people growing wary of being plugged into social media, newsletters allow them to engage with niche communities at a slower pace.

Beehiiv banks on newsletters’ appeal to niche audiences

Rihanna has given readers a peek into her life like never before, speaking on her relationship and future plastic surgery plans. Fans are increasingly interested in honest depictions of their favorite cultural icons and want to hear the unfiltered truth directly from the source.

Rihanna interview taps desires for celeb transparency

A parody game in which users play editor-in-chief and choose headlines shows users how coverage of crises impacts The NYT's business. The game highlights declining trust in mainstream media and offers an immersive understanding of competing interests that may influence editorial decision-making.

Meta news game trains users on editorial framing bias

Come for explicit photos of celebrity crushes, stay for the community. From an Instagram page to organising physical exhibits, Y2K Kabaklaan’s intentions are simple – to usher in a safe space for pent-up gay desires and to document an unforgettable epoch in Filipino pop culture.

Why Y2K Kabaklaan archives Filipino queer desires

Inspired by the 'romantasy' communities of TikTok, elaborate fantasy events like book balls are gaining traction among Gens Y and Z. Driven by people’s desire for connection, escapism, and worldbuilding, brands have the opportunity to create immersive activations and experiences.




BookTok fuels a resurgence of immersive fantasy events 

The US has witnessed a surge in book bans in schools and libraries. The increasing controversy over reading materials highlights increased polarization in the US, with activist groups pressing to ban books and brands seeking to counter restrictions and improve access to literature. 

Record number of books banned from US libraries in 2023

In response to backlash, online bookstore Allstora has reversed its decision to continue to stock anti-LGBTQ content despite its commitment to uplifting marginalized voices. As polarization deepens, audiences are becoming more assertive about their expectations of brands in doing their part.

Online bookstore removes anti-LGBTQ books after backlash

Gen Zers in the UK are flocking to book clubs, looking for free and healthy ways to socialise amid changing habits and a desire to disconnect. Young people are turning away from pubs and clubs as the default way of spending time with friends, seeking out community in those with similar interests.

UK Gen Zers are bringing book clubs back

Slowquest combines digital gaming UI with a choose-your-path comic book format, bridging the digital and physical realms. Slowquest taps into both the desire for tech-driven experiences and a nostalgic return to offline print media – offering up a dual-format entertainment landscape.

Slowquest immerses gamers in phygital TTRPG zines

In the face of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza – and declining faith in institutions to take action – writers have united globally to support the cause,  auctioning off signed copies of books to raise money to fund reconstructive surgery for critically injured children.

Writers raise money for Gaza's children with auction

The "Light Blue Embryologist" explores the hurdles of infertility treatments in Japan. It sheds light on women's stress and depression in infertility treatments and educates men on the stressful process of IVF. The manga offers an accessible way for men to learn more and support their partners.

Manga demonstrates how husbands can support IVF process

Death, political division, and the climate crisis. Not your classic kids’ book topics. But then, Begin Again isn’t your classic kids’ book. Designed to bridge generation divides, can it help people of all ages talk about important global topics by offering tactile escapism, and even a little hope?

How Begin Again uses tactile media for deep connection 

Audible has launched its 'This is The Story' campaign, showcasing the range of genres available on the audio storytelling platform. The campaign aims to highlight how storytelling can transform everyday life and its ability to transport listeners into different worlds, providing escapism.

Audible billboards illustrate escapism of a good book

Originating from the Spicy BookTok community, a surreal new social media trend has young people donning Ghostface masks before seducing their partners. Mixing horror and porn aesthetics, book lovers can inspire publishing brands to tap into idiosyncratic Halloween activations and campaigns. 




The Ghostface trend ignites erotic macabre among Gen Z

Despite being digital natives, Gen Zers are being drawn to an institution that’s thousands of years old – the public library. The ability to foster a community, disconnect from the web, and access a plethora of stories for free are just a few reasons why these spaces are pulling in young readers.

Why Gen Zers are finding community in libraries

Free from the shackles of shareholders but without the cash that VCs have historically splashed, 404 Media is joining the small but significant number of journalist-owned-and-operated publications looking to offer readers the kind of distinctive journalism they feel is worth paying for.

404 Media: indie platform for mainstream news skeptics

Casual Readers isn’t your average book club; it focuses on conversations and communal reading to build diverse literature spaces for women from minority ethnic backgrounds. What does this shift say about what modern readers value and how they’re making reading more inclusive?

Casual Readers Club: creating community with literature

Spotify is starting a new chapter for its audiobook offerings by making them available to all its Premium subscribers. By offering personalised music, podcasts, and audiobooks on a single platform, the move gives users a superior way to connect with their favourite creators and artists in one spot.

Spotify gives Premium users access to free audiobooks

The Guardian has launched a campaign that doubles down on its editorial independence. With financial constraints forcing independent media out of business, the campaign aims to let readers know they can have quality journalism they can trust and that's freely available to all.

'Not for Sale' takes pride in editorial independence

Penguin Random House is launching a nationwide tour with the 'Banned Wagon,' a vehicle making stops around the US handing out free copies of outlawed books. As culture war issues persist, parents are looking for brands to support their children’s intellectual curiosity.

The 'Banned Wagon' champions outlawed books in America

A novel newsfeed is being promoted as a healthier way to consume news online with its anti-doom scrolling feature. As people reckon with the negative effects of continued crises on their mental health, they’re looking to forms of curation that aren’t just based on the currency of attention.

SmartTake offers users reprieve from permacrisis news

Breaking free from English dominance online, Pratilipi is revolutionising India’s multilingual content landscape through literature, providing millions of enthusiastic readers the chance to explore their mother tongue and hundreds of thousands of writers a gateway to a broader audience.

Pratilipi: empowering Indian writers across languages

Prominent authors have joined a proposed class-action lawsuit over ChatGPT, claiming it used pirated books to train its model. Reflective of an ongoing tension between human creators and generative AI, it points to a need for greater guardrails and cooperation between creators and AI.

Top authors are suing OpenAI for stealing their work 

As younger generations become more and more diverse, media representation needs to keep up with the intricacies of the lives of people of colour. Little People, BIG DREAMS is a biography series that shows an interactive way to foster diversity and engage dialogues in readers.

Little People, BIG DREAMS: real-world storytelling

NME’s return to print couldn’t have come at a better time. In 2023, people are yearning for simpler times and welcoming nostalgia marketing. They’re finding joy through discovering new music, as well as embracing hype culture. How can brands leverage these insights as effectively as NME?

NME: returning to print to spearhead popular culture

Marvel Comics is celebrating Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month with a line of covers and bonus stories called the Comunidades Variants. As the demographic of the US becomes increasingly diverse, people are increasingly demanding their identities are reflected in mainstream media.

Marvel Comics unveils covers for Hispanic Heritage Month

Amid a global literacy crisis, Filipino readers continue to show a resilient passion for reading. Big Bad Wolf supplements this by bringing affordable books and organising physical events, which promote a growing value for real-life experiences and a community built around reading.

Big Bad Wolf: showing Filipinos what's good about books

In the face of nationwide book bans, FCB Chicago and Digital Public Library of America have launched the digital library ‘The Banned Book Club’. By providing the public with free access to banned titles, the organization platforms the importance of access in an increasingly polarized society.




The Banned Book Club democratises reading through tech

Google is pitching Genesis to major newspapers, and attempting to expand the reach of AI by helping to streamline and automate journalism. Yet with some feeling ambivalent towards AI, initiatives like Genesis could contribute to a general uneasiness around AI tools rather than building trust.