Studio6 by Neville Hobson

Analysis and opinion at the intersection of communication, technology, and life's evolving priorities. [bridged from https://www.nevillehobson.io/ on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]

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Longform Stories

Plaud Note: first impressions from a week of actual use

I've never found a good way to capture thoughts on the move. The Plaud Note – and its Claude integration – might finally have solved that. This post started as a voice recording. That's the point.

3d ago·9 min read·1698 words

From prompts to conversations: the next stage of working with AI

The biggest change in AI over the past few years may not be the quality of the output. It may be the quality of the interaction. What happens when working with AI starts to feel less like prompting an…

6d ago·6 min read·1013 words

Staying human in the age of AI: what Pope Leo is asking of us

Pope Leo XIV's "Magnifica Humanitas" argues that AI is not morally neutral, that justice must shape these systems from the outset, and that human dignity is the non-negotiable standard. The Pope's fir…

Jun 1·6 min read·1077 words

Does Tony Blair's voice still matter?

Tony Blair's new essay on Labour's future is uncomfortable reading. Some question whether his voice still matters. But he has nothing left to protect, which is precisely why his argument – whatever yo…

May 28·6 min read·1050 words

When McKinsey can't justify the hours, what does that mean for the rest of us?

Billable hours are becoming less useful as a yardstick. McKinsey's clients are demanding outcome-based fees. The same pressure is coming for communicators – sooner than many expect.

May 26·4 min read·749 words

The human in the loop – or not

Deloitte. Sullivan & Cromwell. Now EY. Three organisations, three contexts, the same essential failure. At some point, the pattern becomes the story – and the story isn't about AI hallucinations.

May 18·6 min read·1155 words

AI-native doesn’t always mean AI-ready

AI fluency will matter in the workplace. But as AI-native graduates begin entering organisations in larger numbers, employers are starting to ask a deeper question: what skills become more valuable wh…

May 11·1 min read·41 words

Who owns the decision when AI is involved?

As AI becomes more embedded in executive decision-making, a deeper question emerges: if a leader changes direction because AI suggests something different, who owns the decision? A reflection on judge…

May 6·1 min read·43 words

The speech, the moment, and the making of it

King Charles's address to Congress was months in the making – a carefully crafted collaboration between Buckingham Palace, Downing Street and the Foreign Office. But the most interesting question isn'…

May 1·1 min read·48 words

When policy isn’t enough: the missing human in the loop

Everything was in place – policies, training, guardrails. And still, AI errors slipped through. This isn’t a technology failure but a human one. Perhaps the answer is simple: someone must own verifica…

Apr 29·1 min read·42 words

How to enter an award contest to win: a judge's perspective

You enter an award contest to win. So why do so many strong entries fall short? They fail not because the work was poor, but because the entry was. After 15 years as a judge, here's what I've learned,…

Apr 27·1 min read·61 words

Shifting gears: from ChatGPT to Claude

I've been deep in ChatGPT since 2022. Now I'm running a deliberate, staged experiment with Claude Pro – and one feature in particular, Cowork, has genuinely surprised me. It has my full attention as I…

Apr 21·1 min read·45 words

Reputation in the age of AI: it's about people, not technology

In an AI-enabled environment, the greatest reputational risk isn't AI making mistakes. It's organisations hiding behind AI to avoid responsibility. The answer lies in human-centred AI – and it's where…

Apr 20·1 min read·48 words

When young people change the rules of news

A Reuters Institute report maps a decade of shifts in how 18-24s relate to news. The findings go well beyond journalism – and carry clear implications for anyone communicating with younger audiences.

Apr 13·1 min read·40 words

A gesture of courtesy

A small gesture, easily overlooked. A raised hand, a brief nod, a moment of acknowledgement. Not required, rarely noticed, but quietly meaningful – a reflection on courtesy, presence, and how we choos…

Apr 5·1 min read·39 words

The risk isn’t AI – it’s not checking it

A New York Times review, an AI tool, and a missed check. The result wasn’t just overlap with another review – it was a lapse in process. A simple reminder: if AI touched it, you must verify it.

Apr 2·1 min read·47 words

When communication becomes a weapon

In today’s conflicts, information is no longer a supporting layer – it is part of the battlefield. As AI, platforms, and networks reshape how narratives move, communicators face a deeper question: wha…

Mar 30·1 min read·49 words

The CEO who outsourced himself

A CEO with a personal AI agent might sound like an amusing novelty. It isn’t. As AI begins to brief, prioritise, and answer on behalf of leaders, the question isn’t just about efficiency – it’s about …

Mar 25·1 min read·47 words

The long arc from Twitter to now

Twenty years after Twitter began, this is a personal reflection on how social networks have evolved – from open, human connection to more complex, AI-shaped environments – and why I’ve shifted toward …

Mar 23·1 min read·43 words

The other side of human-centred AI

AI agents can organise tasks, analyse information and navigate digital systems with impressive autonomy. But when they reach the limits of the digital world, they still need humans to observe reality.…

Mar 9·1 min read·53 words

When human-centred AI meets the realities of war

Human-centred AI puts people before technology. But what happens when artificial intelligence begins shaping decisions in war? A reflection on ethics, responsibility and human judgement in an age of m…

Mar 6·1 min read·39 words

AI is lifting consulting again – but where do independents fit?

US consulting growth is forecast to hit 7 per cent, driven by AI implementation. But this is “selective acceleration”, not a blanket boom. For independent advisers, the real opportunity lies less in t…

Feb 26·1 min read·54 words

A new definition of public relations is welcome – but can it ever be universal?

The PRCA has proposed a new definition of public relations – ambitious, strategic, and modern. But with multiple definitions already in circulation, can any one body redefine the profession alone? Per…

Feb 16·1 min read·59 words

Cleaning up politics: the reforms Britain keeps avoiding

The Peter Mandelson scandal is easy to treat as political theatre. Gordon Brown says it’s a system problem – abuse of power enabled by weak transparency. His fixes: public hearings, an anti-corruption…

Feb 9·1 min read·51 words