You can’t predict the future, but you can build the fitness to respond to it. The advantage isn’t prediction. It’s how fast your leadership team can notice change, make sense of it and act. Hence mind candy — an information stream to help you and your team think about what’s next.
The topics to think about (and discuss in your leadership team) are: trendslop, AI strategic bias, answer engine optimisation, glass-based AI chips, compostable robots, stem cell reprogramming, body heat wearables, and six breakthrough business models from Asia.
Researchers Asked LLMs for Strategic Advice. They Got “Trendslop” in Return.
Researchers Asked LLMs for Strategic Advice. They Got “Trendslop” in Return. Researchers at Esade tested seven leading LLMs across seven core business tensions — and found that every model consistently recommended the same trendy, buzzword-aligned strategies regardless of context. They call this “trendslop”: AI’s tendency to opt for differentiation over cost leadership, augmentation over automation, and long-term thinking over short-term urgency — every time, no matter what the business actually needs.
The implication is stark. If your leadership team is feeding strategy questions into ChatGPT without a human filter, you’re not getting strategy. You’re getting a mirror of managerial fashion.
Read the full HBR article: https://hbr.org/2026/03/researchers-asked-llms-for-strategic-advice-they-got-trendslop-in-return
Prompt for your leadership team:
Based on the ‘trendslop’ research, where in our recent decisions might we have mistaken AI-generated fashion for genuine strategic logic? Which of our current strategic bets feel like they were optimised for sounding smart rather than being right for our specific context?”
The other prompts
Data, acceleration, and the future of intelligence
Lessons from 25 core books about AI, technology abstraction, and consciousness. Also available as a board briefing.
https://www.ronimmink.com/product/a-book-about-books-about-ai/
Why Answer Engine Optimisation is the next frontier for modern marketers
Why AI Share of Voice and citation authority are replacing traffic as growth teams’ north-star metrics
https://e27.co/the-new-growth-metric-ai-share-of-voice-20260316/
Future AI chips could be built on glass
A specialized glass layer could make tomorrow’s computers faster and more energy efficient.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/03/13/1134230/future-ai-chips-could-be-built-on-glass/
Compostable robot endures over 1 million uses before becoming plant food
Researchers developed a fully biodegradable and compostable soft robotic electronic system that maintains high performance and durability during operation yet completely returns to nature after use.
https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-compostable-robot-million-food.html
What are induced pluripotent stem cells?
Induced pluripotent stem cells are engineered in labs by resetting adult cells to a stem cell-like state. This gives regenerative medicine researchers an easily accessible and replenishable source of stem cells they can use to study human development.
https://iscrm.uw.edu/what-are-induced-pluripotent-stem-cells/
New thermal routing design lets next-gen wearable devices finally run on body heat
Using a dual thermal conductivity substrate, the device creates surface-level temperature variation, allowing efficient energy generation.
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/flat-thermoelectric-generator-body-heat
Six breakthrough business models reshaping global growth
Emotion first, network driven, micro segments, knowledge economy, conglomerates 3.0, and AI native consumers.
https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/six-breakthrough-business-models-reshaping-global-growth
