Hotwire Australia

Using AI for efficiency is so 2024! There's nothing like a new year to elevate your AI strategy - so start by asking yourself these four questions: 1. Does our AI empower customers and employees? They should feel in control of their experiences and decisions. 2. Are we making them feel seen and valued? Recognition is vital. Everyone deserves to be acknowledged for their contributions. 3. How are we enabling social and environmental impact? AI should empower users to make a difference, regardless of immediate business outcomes. 4. Are we fostering genuine intimacy? Let’s go beyond personalisation to build relationships that resonate on a deeper level. By addressing these questions, your 2025 AI strategy will not only meet consumer needs, but also build trust and loyalty. It'll be about more than just technology; it will create meaningful connections that drive real impact. It’s time to transform the way you engage with your audiences. Get into it, with our AI Beyond Efficiency framework https://lnkd.in/gAe4kt-B #AIBeyondEfficiency #CustomerCentricAI #Innovation

We are delighted that our Flip the Focus podcast has been featured as a LinkedIn Top Podcast for 2025! Thank you to our Season One Guests, whose stories shared with Jen Dobbie make the show what it is. Find the whole season on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gbBnvNkj Find and follow our guests below, and here's to even more from FTF in 2025! Noga Edelstein: Not fixing women in tech; fixing the issues in their way, through UrbanYou and Climate Tech Partners. Claire Waring: Lightening the mental load of parenthood at Gether. Ida Tin: Mother of Femtech, Co Founder of the No.1 doctor-recommended free period tracker app Clue; working on Femtech Assembly think tank. Heather Kernahan: Driving change through positive action as Global CEO at Hotwire, Author and TedX Speaker. Cindy Gallop: Queen of Madison Avenue, tireless champion of all Females and world changing SexTech Founder MakeLoveNotPorn Nicole Cook: Funding the next generation of billion dollar Aussie tech businesses at SBE Advisory. Lucy Kough: Closing the gender wealth gap through Super at Tap the Gap. Commandant Anthea Larken: Tech pioneer, paving the way for our generation of women to thrive in an era defining role. Congratulations to Jen and the team, and a big thank you to all of you who listen and support the podcast. Find the whole Season on Apple Podcasts https://lnkd.in/gbBnvNkj https://lnkd.in/geRNsWpD

Can tech even the playing field for women? Let's find out. 🎧 In this special episode - the final for Season One, I'm joined by Commandant Anthea Larken CBE. This started life as an episode looking at how tech has transformed women's paid work over the decades, highlighted by her highly visible and impactful role as Director of the Women's Royal Naval Service. And yet, Commandant Larken's trajectory, from using film cameras as simulated weapons, to advocating for women's roles in increasingly tech-driven environments, has so much more to tell us than how advances in tech have shaped ops and training over the decades. We tackle some big questions: - Can tech even the playing field for women? - Do women have to be better than men at the same jobs, to succeed? And; - Are we at a tipping point with tech, where what was a tool, is taking us over? Give your ears a treat to close out 2024, and let's get into it! 🎧 FIND: Our full episode: https://lnkd.in/gM6BSrrD ➡ FOLLOW: Flip the Focus on Apple Podcasts https://lnkd.in/gbBnvNkj #Innovation #Tech #WomenInSTEM #Podcast Mikhaila Warburton 🚀 Hotwire Australia Hotwire

Feeling pensive as we close out the year? As we head into 2025, a key debate will be that the tech of AI is one thing - the ethics are another altogether. As we integrate Generative AI into our business strategies, it’s essential to consider its implications beyond mere efficiency. The ethical use of customer data must be at the forefront of our planning. John C. Havens emphasises the need for “informed genuine consent.” Brands must be transparent about how they collect, use, and share personal data, especially in sensitive sectors from fashion and beauty, to health and femtech. On a positive note, Pete Pachal advocates for shifting Generative AI towards a focus on specific language-based tasks. This approach minimises risks by ensuring user data is used contextually rather than stored indefinitely. Adopting these practices can enhance user trust while still delivering personalised experiences. As marketers and communicators, we have a responsibility to ensure that our AI strategies prioritise ethical considerations. By being open and accountable, we can create a more inclusive digital landscape. How are you ensuring ethical data practices in your organisation? Start your plan using our framework https://lnkd.in/gAe4kt-B #AIBeyondEfficiency #AIEthics #Innovation

There's nothing like feeling truly known - and the same intimacy is a key aspect of the brand consumer relationship. Generative AI is transforming how brands connect with consumers, creating emotional bonds. Companies like Replika and Pardot lead the way with AI companions that offer personalized interactions, help users combat loneliness and explore emotional connections. Meanwhile, elliquence supports the elderly by providing companionship and health reminders, enhancing user engagement through adaptive learning. Even traditional brands are innovating. The Coca-Cola Company Bluetooth-enabled bottle during Diwali required physical presence to unlock, fostering real-world connections. This kind of creativity can be amplified with AI, offering personalized experiences that resonate deeply with consumers. As AI continues to evolve, it presents both opportunities and challenges in fostering genuine intimacy. Brands must navigate these complexities responsibly, ensuring authenticity and ethical standards are upheld. Explore how AI can transform your brand's relationship with consumers, starting with our AI Beyond Efficiency framework https://lnkd.in/gAe4kt-B #AIBeyondEfficiency #CustomerCentricAI #Innovation

Consumers are redefining what matters. Deeply concerned about climate change, divisive politics, racial justice, and sustainable consumption, this generation isn't just disillusioned with rampant consumerism; they're actively seeking brands that not only align with, but also promote, their values. According to Forbes, 71% of consumers prefer purchasing from purpose-driven companies, with nearly 80% more likely to remember and recommend such brands. This shift in consumer behaviour extends beyond shopping habits. It influences workplace dynamics too. Employees across all career stages now seek alignment with their organisation's values and ideals. In response, many brands are using AI technologies to resonate with these value-driven consumers. Patagonia exemplifies social responsibility by using AI to connect customers with local environmental initiatives. However, this raises concerns about privacy and consent due to AI's role in analyzing customer interactions without transparency. As John C. Havens cautions, brands must be transparent about the environmental impact of their data centers, particularly concerning water usage. With data centers consuming vast amounts of water daily, ethical considerations are paramount. What about Faircado – who offer a transparent approach by providing a browser extension that suggests pre-owned alternatives during online shopping, empowering consumers to make sustainable choices? Or Microsoft's AI for Good Lab, showing how AI can address global crises, with projects like Guacamaya use AI to monitor deforestation, showcasing technology's potential for social impact. As we navigate this evolving landscape, brands must ensure inclusivity and sustainability are at the forefront of their strategies. By doing so, they can harness technology's power to make a positive impact on society. Your brand can drive meaningful change through tech. Start here, with our framework https://lnkd.in/gAe4kt-B #AIBeyondEfficiency #CustomerCentricAI #Innovation

Orana, Orana, Orana to Christmas... break! We'd like to say a huge thank you to our team, clients, and connections, for your hard work and support in 2024. We'll be closed from today for a well deserved break, and back at our desks, ready to knock it out the park again on January 6th! All the best for the break, The Hotwire Australia Team 🎄 🎁 📱 #Innovation #Technology #Creativity

Can tech help us retire richer? Let's find out. In the latest episode of Flip the Focus Jen Dobbie speaks to Lucy Kough, who is on a mission to solve the gender wealth gap, starting with Super (aka Pensions). With the gender wealth gap at $103 Trillion, Lucy's mission is in the national interest. As women retire with 28% less super than men, and are 8 times more likely to be homeless over the age of 55, she believes financial life is currently a raw deal for the people who make up the majority of the unpaid economy. Is this tech at it's best - simple, automatic, and in a place where women are already engaged? A unique combination of retail cashback and micro education makes building wealth something that is completely achievable for women - at any age, life stage or wage. Tap the Gap proves tech can both help solve women’s wealth inequality - and provide a new career path for all those who think creatively. A big thanks to Lucy for choosing Flip the Focus to launch her Founder story to the world. Let's get into it! 🎧 FIND: Our full episode https://lnkd.in/gsnai7Ni 💰 FUND: Female Founders https://lnkd.in/gFWDbD5H ➡ FOLLOW: Flip the Focus on Apple Podcasts https://lnkd.in/gbBnvNkj #Innovation #Tech #WomenInSTEM

How can businesses help gen AI see our real customers? Recognition validates human contributions, and helps people feel like they belong. Yet the rise of generative AI presents a complex challenge: these systems often continue existing biases found in their training data, leading to skewed representations in the outputs they generate. Recent studies have highlighted alarming biases in AI image generation models, such as Stability AI’s Stable Diffusion and OpenAI’s DALL-E, which often depict high-status roles as predominantly held by white men. This recognition gap underscores the urgent need for change. Companies like Canva are stepping up to address these biases. They are developing a "debiased" version of their AI models and implementing initiatives like Canva Shield, which moderates content and compensates creators. As Danny Wu from Canva states, “Ongoing research and knowledge sharing will continue to be incredibly important.” In health tech, innovative solutions are also emerging. For instance, Alife is revolutionising fertility care by using deep learning to improve IVF outcomes, ensuring inclusivity in access to reproductive health services. How can your business generate recognition? Commit to creating AI systems that uplift underrepresented voices and ensure inclusivity is woven into the fabric of tech, through your business planning, with our strategic framework https://lnkd.in/gAe4kt-B #AIBeyondEfficiency #Innovation #GenerativeAI

Can AI help your business to give people control? The desire for autonomy, or Agency, is particularly vital for products and services that have a direct impact on things that consumers see as private and important. For example, the fashion and beauty industry - already using generative AI to give consumers a heightened sense of informed decision making. Take SEPHORA’s Virtual Artist tool, which allows users to experiment with an extensive library of makeup products while providing customised tutorials tailored to each user’s unique features. It not only enhances the shopping experience - but also empowers customers to make informed decisions about their beauty routines. Nike is pushing the boundaries even further with a proprietary generative AI tool that analyses exclusive athlete performance data, alongside public data, to revolutionise product design. This innovation will allow customers to personalise their shoes based on specific athletic needs, enhancing the existing Nike By You brand platform - and ensuring that every athlete can find their perfect fit. Create an AI strategy that allows you to give your customers their own agency. Download the framework https://lnkd.in/gAe4kt-B #CustomerCentricAI #Innovation #Technology