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Consumer sentiment isn’t great, Bob.

According to the Behind the Numbers podcast the animal spirits at play include:

  • Expected unemployment growth
  • Tariff/economic uncertainty
  • Expected inflation (see above)

in particular, people are really concerned about the constant changes and the constant movement of economic policies and consumers are finding it very difficult to deal with this uncertainty. It makes it really difficult to plan.

Humans really don’t like uncertainty.

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BeReal
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That’s right, the drop everything and take a pic app snagged themselves a TikTok exec and

announced the launch of its native advertising platform in the United States

The goal is to pull a Snapchat and “focus on positivity”

ad formats are meant to mirror the user experience, according to the brand. Targeted in-feed ads are integrated into the flow of the platform’s content for low-friction engagement, while takeovers offer brands exclusive ad placement for one full day.

Of note in the Marketing Dive post, 40 million monthly active users, heavily Gen Z

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Meta is adding a deluxe version of its smart glasses this year, likely trying to keep its lead.

plans to include hand-gesture controls and a screen for displaying photos and apps

The screen is limited—just a corner of one lens—but v2 is already in the works with both lenses getting in on the party.

App focus sounds like pics + maps + notifications. Handy first gen mix for a heads up display.

Who knows how tariffs impact the timeline (and already hefty price tag), but on-lens display is the next big step and true test for AR/smart glasses (and I’m bullish).

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So…what is the tariff rate on China now?

I shared 125%, but I’ve also seen 110% and 145%.

Seems like the messaging on this could have been better.

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Had a great time @ Grok Conf (unrelated to the AI model)

Some of my notes from the various talks:

  • Write more
  • Your work is only as good as the team & clients around you
  • Internet is in a liminal space | Have fun & be weird
  • Play with the things you are scared of
  • When you’re holding a bag of money and your client says “hey, be careful with that bag, or I’ll kill you,” things become really clear
  • Clients don’t want design, they want design experiences that function as conversations with a trusted partner
  • Aim for high conceptual fidelity
  • Make your brand a complete thought
A speaker is presenting to an audience, with a slide that reads Every business is a lifestyle business.A presentation setup with a podium, large screen displaying GROK TWENTY.FIVE, and a welcome sign highlighting various sponsors and details.A speaker is presenting at a conference with a slide displaying the phrase Think more, design less to an audience seated in a large room.A speaker is presenting to an audience in a room with a projected slide detailing skills and topics related to creativity and technology.A speaker is presenting to an audience with a slide displaying the phrase Things Change.A speaker is addressing an audience in a conference room, with a presentation slide showing names of philosophers.A speaker is presenting a slide with the text heck for the first time...how the not did I get there? to an audience in a seminar or conference room.A person is speaking in front of an audience with a screen displaying the humorous line LESSON: lick trashcans to get near the best people.