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Everywhere you look these days, there it issome manner of breathlessly hyped new AI service thats, like, totally gonna change your life forever. (Like, totally. For realsies.) Or so they say. In reality, of course, most of this stuff is far more fallible, limited in utility, and inadvisable to use outside of super-specific scenarios than most tech companies (and self-declared AI gurus) would lead you to believe. But AI, in its current form, isnt entirely useless. Far from it, in fact: This type of tech can be quite helpful in the right sort of scenario and, critically, if you think about it in the right waynot as an end-all instant answer machine but as a starting point for certain types of specific tasks or info-seeking. And as we wade our way through a year thats absolutely overflowing with overwrought AI ballyhoo, Ive got just the tool for you to sift through that sea and seek out some surprising shiny pearls amid all the overwhelming noise. Be the first to find all sorts of little-known tech treasures with my free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. One useful new discovery in your inbox every Wednesday! Deep research, done right So, youve probably heard all about ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and the likes, right? Theyre all generative AI chatbots, which means they use a snazzy-sounding word prediction engine to analyze language patterns and answer your questions, among other more ambitious tasks. One of their biggest recent advancements is the ability to perform what everyones calling deep researcha fancy way of saying theyll dive deep into a topic for you and create a detailed report of info, almost like a custom-made dossier, based on knowledge from all over the web. Again, I cant emphasize enough: The info here isnt infallible. These systems canand doget stuff wrong and sometimes even flat-out make up nonsense out of thin air. But, as a starting pointespecially when they include links to their sources so you can confirm info on your own and use it as an entryway to research as opposed to the final productit really can save you time and give you a great way to get into a complex topic. And the tool I want to show to you today makes that feature far more powerful, useful, and also affordable than its ever been before. Itll take you 20 seconds to try out for yourself. Its called, amusingly, Ithy. (Try saying that 10 times fast!) And all it does, in a nutshell, is bring together the deep research tools from a slew of different AI enginesincluding ChatGPT and Googles Gemini along with Perplexity, Meta AI, and moreinto a single streamlined prompt. That means you can use em all together to create a single super-report on any subject imaginable. It couldnt be much easier to make happen, either: First, open up Ithy in any browser, on any device youre using. Type your question or the subject youre thinking about into its box and tap or click the arrow icon within that same line to get going. Select either Fast, if you dont feel like waiting, or Deep, if youve got time and want this thing to go especially in-depth. (Even the Fast path is pretty darn deep, if you ask me.) And, well, thats about it. Just type in a prompt, and Ithy will pull in data from Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and beyond. Ithy will think for a bit, then serve up an impressively detailed dossier on whatever it is you requestedwith info coming from a mix of all those AI engines, combined and seamlessly blended together. It takes a matter of moments for Ithy to compile info from all the associated AI engines for you. And I mean seriously detailed, toowith all sorts of sections, graphics, FAQs, and external links for original sources so you can do your own reading and see exactly where it got its info. Ithys reports are impressively detailed, with data provided by all the different AI sources seamlessly blended togetherand thoroughly cited. Heres a link to the sample report shown here, if you want to look even more closely. Now, for the especially cool part: Ithy lets you do all of this free of chargeup to a point. The site gives you five report-creating credits to start, even if you dont sign in. Once you create an account (for free), youll get 10 credits per month and can optionally then bump up to an unlimited Pro planwhich includes access to the typically pricey pro levels of Gemini and OpenAIfor seven bucks a month, if you go for the annual setup. But even if you dont go that route, 10 in-depth reports per month from all the webs eading AI engines together is a pretty powerful perk to have at your fingertips, without so much as dropping a dime. Ithy is entirely web-basedno downloads or installations required. Its free for up to 5 reports total or 10 reports per month, if you create an accountand optionally available in $7-per-month (paid annually) or $20-per-month (paid monthly) plan for its fully featured, limit-free Pro version. Like most AI engines, Ithy does use questions submitted to its site as training to further improve its AI systems. The questions are also being shared with the associated third-party AI sites, of course. So youll want to think carefully about what you ask and avoid sending anything especially sensitive or personal (but really, its designed to answer questions and provide info, so hopefully you wouldnt be submitting your banking info and Social Security number, anyway!). Ready for more productivity-boosting goodness? Check out my free Cool Tools newsletter for an instant introduction to an incredible audio app that’ll tune up your daysand a new off-the-beaten-path gem every Wednesday!
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E-Commerce
What if the key to being a better manager isnt found in a new productivity hack, a different feedback framework, or a time management appbut in understanding the three-pound organ inside your head that runs the show: your brain? Most leadership advice focuses on what you should do. Neuroscience helps explain why some things workand why others fail, despite your best intentions. When you manage in ways that are aligned with how the brain naturally operates, you unlock better decision-making, motivation, creativity, and connection. Here are five ways neuroscience can help you manage smarter. 1. Multitasking Is a Myth: Prioritization is Your Brains Superpower The brains prefrontal cortex handles focus, planning, and decision-making. But its also highly energy-demanding and sensitive to overload. When you spring last-minute requests on your team, surprise them with new deadlines, or pile on urgent tasks, youre setting their brains up to fail. Cognitive overload impairs performance. Each unexpected demand consumes energy needed for prioritizing, problem-solving, and creative thinking. When managers protect their people from chaotic, reactive workflows, they preserve their teams brainpower. This also builds psychological safety and trust. Try this: Push back on unnecessary urgency from above. Communicate early and clearly about changes. Create space for people to do their best work, not just keep up. 2. Creativity Needs Space (and Structure) Leaders often say they want innovation, but fail to create the conditions that allow it. The brain’s creative engineparticularly the default mode networkthrives when were relaxed, slightly daydreaming, and free from judgment. Yet most work environments reward hyperproductivity and constant urgency. Creativity requires a balance of exploration and exploitation. Neuroscience tells us that the best ideas often come when were mentally alert and engaged, but not overwhelmed; often when we are focused, interested, and under just the right amount of pressure. Constant pressure to be brilliant now can actually inhibit insight. Try this: Build “white space” into your teams calendar. Walking meetings, unscheduled thinking time, or even mindfulness minutes. Counterintuitively, making time for your people to actively rest may be your easiest to implement, but most impactful, innovation strategy. 3. Coaching Unlocks Neuroplasticity (and Performance) If your job is to get the best from your people, you need to stop telling and start coaching. Great managers ask the kinds of questions that rewire their teams thinking. Thats not a metaphor; its neuroscience. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change. When people reflect, reframe, or develop insight, theyre literally rewiring their neural pathways. Effective coaching conversations tap into this, activating networks for learning, motivation, and problem-solving. And coaching at the identity level (helping people explore not just what they do but who they are) creates deep, lasting change. Try this: Next time someone brings you a problem, dont solve it. Ask: What have you already tried? or What would great look like here? When you practice this, youre building your colleagues brain. 4. Motivation Lives in the Brains Reward System Motivation isn’t magic, and it’s not about free pizza or ping-pong tables. Its about how well leaders understand the brain’s reward circuits. Dopamine, the chemical of motivation, spikes when people feel progress, connection, or purpose. In many workplace environments, overuse of rankings, performance comparisons, or conditional bonuses can reduce intrinsic motivation over time. When these tools create pressure or fear of failure, they risk disengagement rather than drive. Try this: Recognize effort, not just outcomes. Connect tasks to meaningful goals. Give your team autonomy in how they reach targets. These all activate the reward networks and sustain engagement over time. 5. A High-Performing Neural Environment Isnt Soft. Its Smart One of the most misunderstood drivers of high performance is psychological safety. This isnt about being niceits about creating the neural conditions for people to think clearly, speak up, and take risks. When people feel unsafe (even subtly), the brain activates the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex has to work harder to emotionally regulate. That means less creativity, lower collaboration, and poorer decision-making. Managers who create cultures of trust and fairness help teams stay in a reward stateand unlock their best thinking. Try this: Model curiosity. Fail fast. Admit mistakes. Ask more questions. Your vulnerability is a shortcut to their clarity. Final Thought: Manage Like a Brain-Savvy Human Understanding how the brain works isn’t just interesting trivia: It’s the blueprint for managing with clarity, creativity, and compassion.By making small shifts in how you focus, coach, motivate, and create safety, you build better brainsyour own, and your teams. And when your brain works better, everything else follows.
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E-Commerce
Apples annual Worldwide Developers Conference begins this Monday, June 9. Although the five-day event has historically been aimed at developers, Apples consumer fans generally cant wait to tune in to the keynote address that kicks off the event. Thats when Apple offers the world the first preview of its upcoming software launchesthe operating systems that will power its devices when they are released to the public as free downloads in the fall. This year, Apples software changes are likely to be more transformative than theyve been in over a decade, radically reshaping the look of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac OSes. But just what will Apple reveal at WWDC25? Heres whatand what notto expect. Rebranded operating systems In late May, Bloomberg revealed that Apple will be rebranding its numbering scheme for all of its operating systems. They will no longer be numbered sequentially (for example, iOS 16, iOS 17, iOS 18). Instead, they will be numbered by year. For example, the new iOS Apple will introduce on Monday at WWDC25 will no longer be called iOS 19, and instead will be known as iOS 26. The 26 stands for the year 2026. Though Apple is debuting the new OS in 2025, it will remain the latest OS through fall 2026, and the 26 moniker signifies that. That means instead seeing iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16, tvOS 19, watchOS 12, and visionOS 3, expect Apple to debut iOS 16, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26. Unified visual design Apple is also creating a unified visual look for all its operating systems. Currently, iOS and iPadOS are the only two Apple operating systems that look somewhat similarmacOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS have distinct designs for their UI elements, such as windows and pop-up menus. However, the 26 version of the operating systems will establish a universal design across all of them. Fast Company has previously detailed what the design might look like: transparent UI elements that let the forms and colors of background content bleed through like light through a glass window, floating toolbars, reflective and shimmering lighting effects, rounder icons, glassy keyboards, and more. The new OSes are said to take heavy inspiration from the current visionOS, which powers the Apple Vision Pro. iOS 26 Apple will likely use iOS 26 in its WWDC25 keynote to showcase the radical design changes coming to all its operating systems before going into detail on other changes coming to its OS’es. But theres not much known about what we can expect other than a few improvements, which include a dedicated gaming app, new accessibility features, and the addition of Stage Manager for iPhone, which will allow users to display iPhone apps on a monitor connected to the iPhone via its USB port. There will also likely be some Apple Intelligence improvements, but more on that below. iPadOS 26 The iPads new operating system will receive the same new visual redesign iOS 26 and Apples other OSes are getting. It will also receive the same accessibility upgrades and new gaming app that iOS 26 is getting. But Bloomberg reports that iPadOS could actually get more Mac-like this year. While the iPads hardware is nearly universally praised, users frequently criticize its software, which is little different than iOS, an operating system designed for a smartphone. However, users tend to think of their tablets as being closer to computers than phonesand this year, Apple is reportedly making iPadOS more like desktop software, rather than mobile. Bloomberg says that the iPadOS 26 upgrade will focus on productivity, multitasking, and app window managementwith an eye on the device operating more like a Mac. macOS 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26 It not clear what new features Apple will reveal in the new operating systems for Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro, and Apple Watch. But all of them are likely to adopt the new solarium-like visual design of iOS 26. And there’s a possibility that tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26 may also bring Apple IntelligenceApples artificial intelligence platformto the Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, and Apple Watch for the first time. Yet, for the Apple Watch, Bloomberg reports the device may rely on offloading the actual processing of Apple Intelligence requests to a connected iPhone since the Apple Watchs hardware lacks the processing power to run Apple Intelligence on-device. Apple Intelligence Last years event, WWDC24, focused heavily on Apple Intelligence. Yet, since the AI platforms rollout in October, Apples foray into artificial intelligence has been met with indifference from most consumers. Apple also faced criticism for delaying previously announced Apple Intelligence changes to Siri until later this yearor even into 2026. For that reason, Apple isnt expected to announce many new Apple Intelligence features. It won’t want to disappoint people if they again need to be delayed. However, there are reports that Apple will give users a few new Apple intelligence upgrades, including AI battery management on the iPhone and the option to select Googles Gemini as the chatbot of choice in Apple Intelligence. Currently, the only third-party option Apple Intelligence offers is OpenAIs ChatGPT. New Macs and iPhones? WWDC is historically a heavily software-focused event. So if youre hoping to see new iPhones announced at WWDC25, expect to be let down. Apple will unveil its new iPhone range in the fall, as usual. But whether the new iPhone family will be called iPhone 17 or instead will be rebranded as iPhone 26 is yet to be seen. As for other hardware, there is an outside chance that Apple could unveil a new Mac Proits highest-end, professional desktop computr at WWDC25, since the event is still, ostensibly, one focused on professionals. The current Mac Pro was introduced at WWDC23 in June 2023, making it two years old this month. New Apple TV hardware is also a possibility, or that launch may wait until the fall. However, we wont need to wait much longer to know for certain exactly what Apple will unveil at WWDC25. The conference kicks off on Monday, June 9, with the WWDC keynote scheduled for 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET. Can a visual redesign lead to an AAPL stock boost? The visual redesign may be the most significant announcement at WWDC from an investor perspective. Visual redesigns are eye-catching to even non-techie consumers, and they may spur buyers to spend on a shiny new iPhonesomething investors are no doubt hoping for, as an increase in iPhone sales may help boost the company’s struggling stock. As of close on trading on June 6, Apple stock (Nasdaq: AAPL) has fallen over 18% since the beginning of the year. However, much of that stock price decline has little to do with Apple’s sales or financial fundamentals and is instead due to President Trump’s tariff threats against China and Apple itself. Apple sources a majority of its products from China, and any tariff that Trump implements on goods from the country could significantly impact Apple’s bottom line, despite Apple CEO Tim Cook’s best efforts. However, if you look at the entirety of the past 12 months, AAPL stock is still up nearly 5%, with the stock price just under $204. If the visual redesign of its operating systems indeed helps sell more iPhones and other devices, it could help the company’s shares move back in the direction of their all-time high of just over $260 apiece, reached in December 2024.
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E-Commerce
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