ISSUE #162 | November 14th
WIRED
SO THE CIA'S INTO PSYCHIC STUFF
It's not crystals, it's not taro, it's the Gateway Process: a 50-year-old set of guided meditations that's been blowing up among Reddit readers recently. The appeal of the meditations is a belief that you can tap into another realm of consciousness and leave your body to explore the world around you.
Supposedly, the U.S. has been getting around this psychic intel since the Cold War, which even led them to finding kidnapped generals! BONKERS!! Anyway the program's available for a small fee of $2,695 USD, or less via Zoom (yes, it's available via Zoom). Keen?!!?
Huff Post
HOW TO SCIENTIFICALLY BE MORE SEXY
Obviously we think you're sexy. SUPER sexy. But in case you want to boost your sexy stats, we've got the research. We may not all be blessed with a chiselled jaw, but much of sexiness comes from within. Cringe, yes (we vomited a little too), but it's true. It's things like kindness and charisma. And embodying more of those can be as simple as open posture, warm eye contact, curiousity, playfulness and comfort in your own skin. EASY!!
So if you've got a hot date this weekend, give these a go and let us know if you feel any extra sexy.
Science Daily
COFFEE, APPARENTLY IT'S GOOD FOR YOU
We've all lied to ourselves about our vices being 'good for us' at some point, but guys, this is different!!! New research found that coffee, aka our very will to live, has drum roll pls health benefits!! In your face, matcha.
Apparently, a daily coffee could REDUCE your risk of developing irregular heart rhythms that can lead to strokes. And we thought our heart palps were the problem! For those of us who just can't kick that morning habit, our likelihood of developing the condition is reduced by 39%. LONG LIVE THE LATTE!!
The Conversation
IT’S NOT YOU, IT’S THE MOON
Ever tried capturing the moon looking all big, bright and awe-inspiring, only for it to turn out more like a blurry tortilla? You're not alone. And good news, it's not your fault!
The moon is notoriously hard to photograph, and apparently it's because we've all been "photographing broad daylight". AKA, the sunlit side of the moon is reflecting so much sunlight, it's blinding our cameras - DUHH!! So yeah, it's not you. And there's nothing we can do except invest in a telescope. Sigh. Well, SHINE ON, you crazy tortilla. Or whatever Pink Floyd said.
WHY DO WE SAY “PLEASE” AND “THANK YOU” TO CHATGPT?
You’re typing a prompt into ChatGPT. You know it’s a machine with no feelings, no judgments and that there’s no real person on the other side. And yet you still soften your tone, add a “please,” and sign off with a polite “thanks.”
Part of this is due to habit. But part of it is something deeper and comes from our human instinct to treat anything that talks back like it’s a “someone”, not a “something”.
ANTHROPOMORPHISM & SOCIAL CONDITIONING
What’s going on here is something called anthropomorphism, which is our tendency to give human traits to non-human entities (Waytz et al, 2010). This is why we name our cars, talk to our pets like toddlers, and instinctively treat anything that feels a bit human as if it actually is. So when AI responds in full sentences and remembers what you’ve said, it doesn’t feel like just a tool; it feels like a conversation. And you respond the way you would in any social setting, with manners.
We learn to be polite from a young age. Saying “please” and “thanks” is just part of how we interact with others. It helps keep interactions feeling friendly and comfortable. So when a machine starts acting like a person, we naturally bring those same habits with us. Ribino (2023) found that when AI chatbots themselves behave politely, people experience the interaction as more familiar, comfortable, and natural and in turn, often mirror that politeness back, bringing their own social habits into the exchange.
We’re not really saying “please” for ChatGPT’s benefit. We’re doing it for ourselves because being polite helps us feel like we’re showing up the way we want to. It keeps our actions in line with our self-image as a kind, polite person.
So what does this mean for brands?
People don’t just drop their social instincts because they’re interacting with a screen. Whether it’s a chatbot, a brand website, an email or an online checkout, human behaviour and social norms still apply. We bring our social identity, expectations and habits to every touchpoint.
The brands that stand out are the ones that get this. They don’t just design for functionality, they design for how people want to feel when they interact with your products.
Waytz, A., Cacioppo, J., & Epley, N. (2010). Who sees human? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 5(3), 219–232.
Ribino, P. (2023). The role of politeness in human–machine interactions: A systematic literature review and future perspectives. Artificial Intelligence Review, 56(Suppl 1), 445–482.
WEIRDO REC
If you've been hoping some smooth, serenading symphonies would slide across your desk, girl, do we have something for you. Parcels' Tiny Desk Concert is a must-listen, combining velvety vocals with a groovy bassline that brings just a touch of retro to the (tiny) table. So sit back, get comfy and let Parcels unpack their music magic.
Head of Tech Partnerships, Google Australia
1wThankyou