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Months ago, I warned about shadow AI: employees moving faster than their companies, using AI without permission or training, while managers pretended not to notice. The right response was never prohibition but education and better governance. That was only the first signal of something bigger: BYOA or BYOAI, bring your own algorithm or bring your own AI. Now the trend is visible everywhere: workers are embedding their own agents into daily workflows, while companies scramble to bolt on controls after the fact. The comparison with the old BYOD is misleadingthis is not about carrying a device, but about bringing in a cognitive layer that decides, infers, and learns alongside us. Now, recent evidence makes this gap even harder to ignore. The data backs it up: Microsofts Work Trend Index already noted in 2024 that three out of four employees were using AI, and that 78% of them were bringing it from home, without waiting for corporate tools. This isnt marginal: its the new normal in an overworked environment where AI becomes a cognitive shortcut. The 2025 report goes further, warning that todays workload pushes the limits of the human and that the real frontier organizations will be those that adopt humanagent collaboration as their default architecture. Governance, meanwhile, is still lagging behind.Even so, the soothing corporate narrative (well provide official access and train everyone soon) ignores an uncomfortable fact: BYOAI is not a fad, its an asymmetry of power. Half of all employees admit to using unapproved tools, and they wouldnt stop even if you banned them. The incentive is obvious: less friction, higher performance, and with it, better evaluations and opportunities. This shadow AI is the natural extension of shadow IT, but this time with qualitative consequences: an external model can leak data, yes, but it can also accumulate the organizations tacit knowledgeand walk out the door with the employee the day they leave. Sociology not technology The real shift is not technological, its sociological. Most users, the non-experts, will simply adopt whatever OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Perplexity, Anthropic, or others give them, using those models like cognitive appliances: plug and play, nothing more, and they will share all the data they generate with these companies, that will exploit them (a.k.a. monetize them) to oblivion. But a different type of professional is already emerging: the truly competent, AI-savvy users who build or assemble their own agents, feed them with their data, fine-tune them, run them on their own infrastructure, and treat them as part of their personal capital. This person no longer uses software: they work with their personal AI. Without it, their productivity, their method, and even their professional identity collapse. Telling them to abandon their agent to comply with a corporate list of approved tools is like telling a professional guitar player to play on a toy guitar. The result will always be worse. This reality forces companies to rethink incetives. If you want that caliber of talent, you cannot hope to blunt their edge with policy memos. Just as BYOD ended with corporate devices inside secure containers, BYOA will end with enclaves of trusted compute inside the corporate perimeter: spaces where a professionals personal agent can operate with model attestation, sealed weights, clearly defined data perimeters, transparent telemetry, and cryptographic limits. The goal is not to standardize agents, but to make their coexistence possiblesafe for the business, free for the professional. The prognosis My prognosis is clear: first of all, contracts will evolve too. Expect algorithmic clauses spelling out the use of personal agents: declaration of models and datasets, isolation requirements, audit rights over outputs that shape key decisions, and obligations of portability and deletion when employment ends. Alongside that, new perks will emerge: compute stipends, inference credits, subsidies for local hardware or edge nodes. Second, security and compliance will shift from the fantasy of eradicating shadow AI to the reality of managing it: explicit, inventoried, and auditable. Companies that get this sooner will capture the value. Those that dont will keep bleeding talent. Third, this will exacerbate the competition for talent, and management culture will also need to grow up. The manager who clings to tool uniformity will drive away exactly those employees who make AI a force multiplier. The metric that matters will not be obedience to corporate software lists, but performance that is verifiable and traceable. Do you have employees like this in your company? If so, protect them at all costs. If not, you should be worriedbecause the best talent doesnt even consider working with you. Leaders will have to learn to evaluate humanmachine outcomes, to decide when to delegate to the agent and when not to, and to design processes where hybrid teams are the default. Ignoring this is not cautionits a gift to your competitors. Denial is a waste of time This is why BYOA is not a discipline problem. Its the recognition that knowledge work is already mediated by agents. Denying it is a waste of time. Accepting it means more than licenses and bans: it requires redrawing trust, responsibility, and intellectual property in an economy where human capital literally arrives with its own algorithm under its arm. The organizations that understand this will stop asking whether they allow people to bring their AI, and start asking how to turn that fact into a strategic advantage. The rest will keep wondering why the best people dont want to, or simply cannot, work without theirs.
Category:
E-Commerce
Forrest Gumps mama was right when she compared the human experience to a box of assorted chocolates. Its true: You never know what youre gonna get. And these days, the same could be said of my LinkedIn feed.The social networkonce a bland haven for professional connections and job listingshas morphed in the influencer age. Its the only place on Will Smiths internet where youll find entrepreneurial bros preaching hustle culture alongside weirdly inappropriate overshares, clearly fabricated business allegories, and, yes, some personal news related to a new job or promotion. Its no wonder multiple publications have crowned LinkedIn as social medias king of the cringe. (Theres at least one Instagram account dedicated to it, too.)And yet every day Im right there lurking. My M.O. is the same as on every other platform: Im more consumer than creator. You wont find me all up in the videos on TikTok (Suge Knight would approve) and I stopped tweeting around the time the Tesla guy took over. Yet for all of the eye-rolling that my LinkedIn feed provokes, Ive recently come to a humbling realization: the most relentless brand builders, humblebraggers, and engagement farmers seem to be the ones landing opportunities while Im busy scrolling in silence. In this personal season of unemployment, its made me consider rebelling against my natural low-key demeanor and consistently putting myself out thereespecially with the September surge upon us.For the uninitiated, the September surge is that burst of hiring activity between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, right before everything slows down for the holidays. Hiring managers want seats filled so teams can power through Q4 and hit the ground running post-New Years Day. For job seekers, its the golden window. Miss it, and odds are youll still be writing cover letters come January.Normally, I would just keep my head down and continue cold applying. Ive always believed my work and my rep speak for themselves. The irony, of course, is that I work in marketing. My entire career has been about making noise for other peoples brands. Meanwhile, my own? Silent. If hypocrisy could pay rent, Id be set.Thats not to say I havent done well for myself by overshooting goals and being generally dope at my job. But if giving my victories and expertise the silent treatment has taken me this far, I cant help but wonder if my failure to constantly take to the digital mountaintops and big myself up is keeping me out of sight, out of mind. And ultimately, out of a job.As much as I hate to admit it, I know whats at the root of this reluctance: that nagging fear of judgment. Would folks size up my wins? Think Im too proud, too arrogant, too braggy? Will people look down on me during a chapter of struggle? Judge the open-to-work banner on my photo? I know its B.S. as I type it out, but that doesnt make it any less real in my mind. And it certainly doesnt fit the attention economy, where volume often matters more than value.I must admit, taking up digital space has previously worked in my favor. When I announced that I was back on the job market after being laid off, I quickly got two separate offers to tackle short-term copywriting projects. One LinkedIn connection even hit me up about a gig off nothing more than a birthday notification.The September surge dovetails with the Great Lock In, another trend that kicks off toward the end of summer but instead focuses on personal development and accomplishing goals. This year, Im getting in on the Gen-Z popularized movement and stepping up my self-promo. Because the truth is, being your own publicist isnt optional anymore. Ive watched peers land jobs, speaking gigs, mentorships, and adjunct professor roles because they werent afraid to shout themselves out. Meanwhile, Im imagining the opportunities Ive let pass by because I didnt want to be that guy. No more. So this September, Im rewriting the script. Im gonna reflect and remind folks of my past and present wins, highlight interesting peers and developments related to my field, and simply ask for help landing my next role without overthinking. The goal isnt to go viral; its to stop being invisible. If youre LinkedIn shy, let this be your push to do the same. Just dont be cringe, yo.
Category:
E-Commerce
As you sit in Monday morning traffic or attend yet another boring meeting, youre probably thinking there must be a better, more satisfying, and more profitable way to spend your time. The good news? There absolutely is. The internet has created all sorts of online business opportunities, and now anyone can access them easily and inexpensively. Here are 25 of the best online business opportunities that you can establish anywhere you can find a decent internet connection. Service-based businesses 1. Virtual assistant services Think you’re “just” organized? That skill is gold. Executives and entrepreneurs who are too busy to manage their own schedules and correspondence need reliable help to manage their calendars, emails, and administrative tasks. 2. Social-media management Since you already spend time scrolling through Instagram and TikTok, you can convert that activity into income by offering social-media management services to small businesses, many of which struggle to utilize it effectively and consistently. 3. Freelance writing Businesses require written content for their websites, communications inside and outside the organization, blog pages, and more. Your ability to write with clarity and persuasiveness opens up an endless stream of work opportunities. 4. Online tutoring or coaching Your unique expertise in a particular subject qualifies you to teach others through online tutoring and coaching. People will pay to receive specialized knowledge about calculus, guitar, anxiety management, and more through private video sessions. 5. Graphic design services The introduction of Canva and other AI-driven tools hasn’t eliminated the need for professional designers. Instead, it has increased the standards they must meet. Professional businesses require logos and marketing materials, as well as high-quality visual content. 6. Web development Every company needs a great website, but many businesses also need their sites to offer tailored features. Your development skills will be in demand regardless of whether you develop websites from scratch or utilize platforms like Webflow. 7. Digital-marketing consulting Small businesses well understand their need for help with SEO and online advertising yet face uncertainty about the initial steps to take. Your knowledge can be their breakthrough. 8. Online bookkeeping Numbers aren’t particularly glamorous, but they remain absolutely essential. Owners of small businesses will happily pay a professional to manage their financial records with accuracy. Content and education 9. Online course creation Dont give away your expertise for free through Facebook groups or Reddit. Turn it into a structured course and sell it over and over again. Platforms like Teachable make this surprisingly straightforward. 10. YouTube Building a YouTube audience takes time but your income streams will quickly multiply once you achieve success. Multiple revenue sources include ad earnings and sponsorships, along with affiliate earnings. 11. Podcast production Starting a podcast is a popular idea, but technical aspects scare most people away. Provide editing and production assistance to others or create a podcast in an area that interests you deeply. 12. Blog monetization Pick a topic that keeps you engaged for long discussions and maintain regular writing to monetize your blog. This revenue source includes advertising money followed by affiliate marketing earnings and, eventually, sales from your own products. 13. Stock photography Since you are taking tons of photographs wherever you go, why not make money by licensing them? Stock photo sites pay per download, because businesses always need authentic images. E-commerce and digital products 14. Drop-shipping store Through drop-shipping stores, businesses can sell products while suppliers manage fulfillment without maintaining any inventory. 15. Print-on-demand This involves creating personalized apparel and home goods which are printed and shipped directly to customers following their order placement. 16. Digital product sales Generate and market digital templates and printables, alongside software tools and mobile applications. 17. Amazon FBA Get the most out of your Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) business by using the companys fulfillment services for storing inventory and handling shipmentsallowing you to focus on sourcing products, marketing, and growing your business. 18. Subscription box curation This is a fun and potentially lucrative business where you can curate unique products. You can group anything from chocolate bars from around the world, to unique beauty items, to interesting tech gadgetsall for regular delivery to subscribed members. Technology and innovation 19. SaaS development Develop SaaS (software as a service) products that address particular business needs and generate revenue through ongoing subscription payments. 20. App development Develop mobile applications targeted at businesses or consumers, with revenue models based on sales or in-app purchases. 21. Online marketplace creation Develop niche online marketplaces to connect buyers with sellers and generate revenue from transaction fees. 22. Chatbot development Develop AI-driven chatbots to serve as automated customer support systems for companies. Specialized services 23. Translation services Deliver language translation solutions for written documents and digital content, including websites and multimedia files. 24. SEO audit services Boost business search engine rankings with technical reviews and actionable suggestions. 25. Online event planning Manage virtual conferences along with webinars and digital networking events for a variety of different organizational needs. By Peter Economy This article originally appeared on Fast Company‘s sister publication, Inc. Inc. is the voice of the American entrepreneur. We inspire, inform, and document the most fascinating people in business: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters that represent the most dynamic force in the American economy.
Category:
E-Commerce
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