Let’s merge our taste algorithms
The layout is similar, but the kitchen looks different from what she remembered when she last visited before moving away for the contract. She glances around, unsure of the new setup.
- Kitchen, blue bowls?
Immediately, a drawer pulses with gentle light, unlocking smoothly with a reassuring click as her hand draws near. As she’s picking up the bowls, someone shouts from the living room, where all the prep work has moved.
- And don’t forget two more glasses! We’re getting thirsty here!
She laughs, calling back energetically.
- Already on it!
Another front softly lights up and opens, this time on a hanging cabinet. Reaching up for the glasses, she’s curious to discover tonight if the new countertops can warm plates, chill drinks, measure ingredients, or suggest adjustments based on aromas.
Back in the room, she takes her place and resumes cutting the greens for the party.
- How is your love life, my dear?
- Thanks for asking, but it's actually great.
She smiles, noticing curious looks from her cousins around the room.
- Oh. Oh. Tell us more!
- It’s nothing special. Recently, we’ve been on one of these long weekend walks.
- And? And?
- I’m not good at storytelling. I got it recorded as I was streaming the nice weather. Let me show you.
She lightly taps her glasses and flicks her palm towards the TV as if tossing a link across the room. The background music dims, replaced by the lively hum of a sunny park streaming onto the screen.
- Shhh.
City park is packed with a weekend crowd enjoying a sunny afternoon. The sound of something moving to the left makes the camera turn and focus on a black-haired guy rolling on the other side to face her on a picnic mat. He gobbles up another fresh strawberry. Despite a smile and sunglasses, he seems a tad nervous.
- You know what?
- Mhm?
- Let’s merge our taste algorithms.
The camera tilts slightly as her breath catches, surprised yet pleased by his words.
- Don’t you think it’s too early? I don’t want to rush any…
The stream pauses abruptly as she double-taps her frames. A brief hush fills the room before her cousins erupt into playful cheers, and her grandma claps gently, her eyes sparkling with warmth.
- Congratulations.
- How sweet!
- I love that for you.
- It’s always great to hear a relationship progresses in some way.
She raises her hand, trying to calm down their enthusiasm.
- Don’t worry. I’m not good at making big decisions.
A wave of nods circles around the room.
- I’m also not sure if I’m ready for any bigger commitment, but it is a step I feel comfortable taking today.
- One step at a time. Look, my love. The only things that lead to the big things are the small things. The more technology makes our lives easier, the more decisions our lives require.
- We all know it, Grandma. Back in your days, things were simple. There were no virtualised relationship sims, taste compatibility, personal data clouds, or…
- Stop it. This is not what I meant. More choices mean more doubts. The more options you have, the harder it is to trust your decisions. Happiness was simpler when we had fewer choices to question.
- Well, when you put it that way.
- Algorithms don't know the taste of food, the joy of togetherness, or the surprise of connection. They only know what we tell them, and we don't know ourselves very well. That's why I’m so very happy that you’re joining forces. One way or another. The future always brings surprises too beautiful and too strange to face alone.
- Unpromptedly speaking, that’s so sweet, I won’t need to eat that cake today.
The room fills with laughter and delighted “awwws” as everyone scrambles, searching for misplaced glasses to toast the news properly.
Hello Practical Futurists,
Welcome back from the future, where the algorithmic understanding merges before hearts fully do, and grandmothers understand what technology still cannot compute.
Hit the "Like" button at the top or bottom of this page to help others build a future-ready mindset.Great leaders don't just think about the future. They experience it.
Like elite athletes who vividly visualise their performance, exceptional leaders build detailed mental pictures of possible futures to inform better decisions today.
Each week, our imagination workouts combine futures thinking and practical sci-fi, helping you build a personal library of future memories. These vivid mental scenarios transform abstract possibilities into clear reference points, sharpening your strategic instincts and enhancing your readiness for the age of AI.
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We'll connect the ideas from the story directly to your life, turning abstract possibilities into practical memories you can use to navigate tomorrow's challenges confidently.
Personal life reflection prompts
1. How do you sequence important decisions in your life? Are there specific milestones or do you prefer more organic progression? 2. In what 2 ways has technology changed how you share and celebrate personal milestones?3. How has having more options in your personal life affected your confidence in decision-making?4. Try to recall that day when you merged taste algorithms with someone special: - What unexpected compatibility surprises emerged from the merge? - How did shared music recommendations suddenly feel more meaningful? - What previously undiscovered interest did you both develop a passion for? - Which recommendation disagreement led to your most memorable date night?
5. Which aspects of your taste profile would you be most protective of when considering merging digital identities with someone else? What does this reveal about your values?6. Think about the first week your living space learned to anticipate your moods: - What subtle environmental change first made you realise the system understood your emotional states? - How did your sleep patterns transform once your bedroom adapted to your circadian rhythms? - What embarrassing misinterpretation of your mood led to an awkward but hilarious situation? - Which personal ritual did you maintain manually, despite automation options?
7. How often do you find advice from older generations surprisingly applicable to modern technological problems? In what 2 ways has timeless wisdom helped you navigate digital complexities?Fantastic work!
You're building an impressive collection of future-focused insights. Now, let's supercharge your thinking by adding powerful professional leadership moments.
How will you guide your team or organisation through the future you've just envisioned? Let's create memorable leadership experiences together.
Professional life reflection prompts
1. How might intelligent environments that recognise users and anticipate needs transform customer experiences in your industry? 2. In what 2 ways could your organisation reduce customer decision fatigue while still offering personalisation? What decision hierarchies would make the most sense?3. How does your team or organisation bridge the gap between digital natives and those less comfortable with emerging technologies? What strategies have proven most effective?4. Try to recall implementing that responsive workplace environment system for your team: - How did meeting productivity change when rooms adapted to meeting types and participant preferences? - Which team member initially resisted but later became the system's biggest advocate? - What unexpected organisational insight emerged from the environmental usage data? - How did you balance personalisation with creating cohesive team experiences?
5. In what 2 ways could your organisation acknowledge or celebrate digital relationship milestones with customers without feeling intrusive?6. How can your products or services balance invisible, ambient intelligence and explicit user controls? When is each approach most appropriate?7. Think back to that first product launch where ambient intelligence features outperformed traditional interfaces: - Which customer segment surprised you most enthusiastically by adopting AI-powered invisible interfaces? - What key usability metric improved beyond your expectations when your ambient AI started anticipating user needs? - What AI ethics design principle did you establish based on this success that later became an industry standard? - How did the balance between AI automation and human oversight in customer support transform in the months following the launch?
You did amazing! Excellent work!
Today's insights are valuable additions to your growing library of future experiences.
Thank you for expanding your imagination with us. Leaders with bold ideas move our world forward.
Think bright, and see you soon.
Pawel Halicki
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