Tag Archives: future

Out of the Back Room: Why AI Wow! Is the Future at Work

There’s a particular smell to being left behind. A kind of intellectual smoke in the air. Maybe you’ve felt it – the thick, stale vibe of indecision, of panels and PDFs, of strategy decks filed and forgotten. The feeling of sitting around a metaphorical (or literal) table, waiting for permission. It’s the smell of the back room. And it’s time to walk out.

I’m thrilled to share something real, alive, and future-forward: AI Wow! is a new offering from the Content Evolution coLab.

I’ve been collaborating with this team of wild thinkers and grounded doers for years. We’ve been prototyping with AI in practice — not just theory — across enterprise, government, higher ed, and NGOs. Now we’ve turned that deep work into a structured, experiential journey for other teams to jump into and run with.

And let me be blunt: it’s time.

What Is AI Wow!?

It’s not a webinar. Not a lecture. Not another keynote about the power of AI, the risks of AI, or the myths of AI. We’ve heard it all. What we need now is applied capability.

AI Wow! is a facilitated cohort experience designed to:

  • Build real strategic clarity around AI – what fits, what doesn’t.
  • Unlock responsible, human-centered AI use inside your organization.
  • Prototype possibilities with tools and methods that stick.
  • Turn futures thinking into operational action.

It’s strategy you can feel.

Why Now?

We are standing at a threshold. On one side: status quo, jargon, and delay. On the other hand, the next phase of organizational capability. And the difference between the two is not just technology. It’s mindset.

The teams that will thrive in the age of AI aren’t the ones who master the tools first. They’re the ones who know themselves. Who understand their humanness in the process. Who build responsibly, ethically, creatively.

That’s what we’re doing in AI Wow!

It’s part of my personal mission to move futures knowledge out of elite rooms and into real communities, teams, and leaders who need it. No gatekeeping. Just deeply human work, delivered with clarity and imagination.

Who’s It For?

If you’re a leader asking:

  • “Where do we even start with AI?”
  • “How do we align AI use with our culture and values?”
  • “How do I help my team not be afraid of this shift?”

Then you are exactly who this is for.

We’ve designed it for organizations that want more than a slide deck; they want a path forward. And they want to walk it with smart humans who’ve been to the future, and come back with maps.

Let’s Get You Out of the Smoke

You don’t have to sit in that back room any longer. We built this for you – because we built it for ourselves for and know it works!

Let’s co-create your AI future. It’s time.


Email our CE leader, Kevin Clark, to book a conversation: ce@contentevolution.net
Learn more about CE at: https://contentevolution.net


Cyndi Coon, Applied Experiential Futurist
CoLab Member, Content Evolution
Founder, Applied Futures Lab

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How the Future is Being Built: The Interplay of Human Potential and Technology

Today the relationship between technology and human potential is no longer a distant concept—it’s unfolding in real time. From AI-powered creativity to biotech breakthroughs, the landscape of what we can achieve is expanding at an unprecedented pace. But with all this change comes a critical question:

How do we ensure that technological progress enhances human potential rather than diminishes it?

For years, the conversation around innovation has been focused on what’s possible. Can we build AI that thinks like us? Can we engineer genetic modifications to extend life? Can we integrate technology into our bodies for enhanced cognition? These questions, once the domain of speculative fiction, are now becoming a reality. However, the more pressing question is no longer what we can build, but how we ensure these advancements serve humanity in meaningful ways.

The shift isn’t just about technological capability—it’s about human adaptability. The workforce is evolving, education is transforming, and the way we connect with one another is fundamentally changing. AI is not just an assistant; it’s becoming a creative collaborator. Brain-computer interfaces are no longer a wild idea; they’re actively being tested. In this environment, the greatest skill anyone can cultivate isn’t just technical proficiency—it’s futures thinking.

This is where the interplay of technology and human potential becomes more than a theoretical discussion. It’s about how we navigate this transformation, ensuring that innovation aligns with human values and needs.

In my latest article on Medium, “The Interplay Between Technology and Human Potential: Unleashing a Thriving Future,” I explore:

🔹 How AI is reshaping creativity and democratizing access to artistic expression
🔹 The evolving role of human intelligence in a world increasingly augmented by machines
🔹 The future of work, learning, and the redefinition of human value in an automated economy
🔹 The ethical and social implications of human enhancement technologies
🔹 How we can design a future that prioritizes humanity, inclusion, and well-being

As technology accelerates, we are at a crossroads. Do we passively adapt to the changes around us, or do we take an active role in shaping the future? The answer lies in how we integrate these advancements into our lives, communities, businesses, and societies.

Ready to explore what’s next? Read the full article here and let’s chart a path toward a future where human potential is not just preserved—but amplified.

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Cyndi Coon is a time traveler and rule-bender, nerding out for good using data, science and curious questions as an Applied Futurist, author, creative, ecosystem builder, facilitator, producer, researcher, storyteller and publisher for private partnerships, enterprise, governments, the military, higher education, and industry. She is an Affiliate at the Center for Emergency Management & Homeland Security. Co-Chair of the Human Wisdom Committee IEEE Planet Positive. Chief Media Officer for Content Evolution. She leads the i4j (global innovation for jobs workforce) and Coolabilities communities, promoting inclusive and forward-thinking solutions. She is a Web 3 and Generative AI Mindset advisor.Cyndi is the Founder and Principal Futurist at Applied Futures Lab, Founder of Laboratory5, and Founder and Publisher at Turkey Hill Press. Co-founder of Arizona State University’s Threatcasting Lab and Press, where she collaborates with diverse teams to anticipate future threats and opportunities. Cyndi is the co-author of Threatcasting (2021) and the author of Thrive! Creative’s Guidebook to Professional Tenacity (2019), numerous reports, articles and book chapters. Her use of imagination, combined with her playful approach to research, drives her passion for human-centered, self-powered innovation. Connect with Cyndi at Linktree or LinkedIn.

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Your Superpower in the Age of AI — A Futures Mindset That Will Set You Apart

We are in the midst of one of the most transformative technological revolutions in history. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not coming—it has arrived. It is reshaping industries, redefining creativity, and altering the way we work and connect. But here’s the truth: AI is not our competition—it is our amplifier.

The real question isn’t how to outrun AI; it’s how to harness uniquely human strengths to thrive in an AI-enhanced world. The answer lies in future-ready skills—our true superpower in this new landscape.

🔗 Read the full article on Medium: Future Mindset Ready Skills: Your Superpower in the Age of AI

The Superpower of Future-Ready Skills

Many fear that AI will replace jobs, eliminate creativity, and render human contributions obsolete. While automation will shift industries, AI is not replacing human ingenuity—it is augmenting it.

What sets us apart? Empathy, creativity, adaptability, and collaboration—capabilities that no AI can fully replicate. These are the essential future-ready skills that will define success in the AI era:

Empathy & Emotional Intelligence
AI can analyze data, but it cannot truly understand human emotions, cultural nuances, or the depth of human experiences. The ability to connect, empathize, and create meaningful relationships will always be in demand.

Creativity & Imagination
AI is powerful at remixing ideas, but it struggles with true innovation and intuitive leaps. Humans dream, invent, and disrupt in ways that AI cannot. The future belongs to those who use AI as a creative tool, not a replacement.

Adaptability & Problem-Solving
AI follows patterns; humans break them. When unexpected challenges arise, we improvise, pivot, and reimagine solutions—qualities that no algorithm can predict.

Futures Networks & Collaboration
AI does not build meaningful connections—people do. The ability to cultivate diverse networks, share insights, and co-create will be the foundation of thriving in an AI-powered world.

Why Future-Focused Networks Matter More Than Ever

The AI revolution is not about going it alone—it’s about community-driven innovation. Collaboration is the key to progress. The most AI-resilient individuals are those who actively build, engage, and learn from future-focused networks.

The Power of Collective Intelligence

Shared Knowledge: AI tools evolve rapidly. Surrounding yourself with curious and innovative thinkers keeps you ahead of the curve.

Support & Inspiration: The AI space is full of pioneers. Being part of an ecosystem of creators and learners fuels motivation and breakthrough ideas.

Co-Creation Over Competition: The AI revolution isn’t about one person winning—it’s about collective growth. The more we share, the more we all advance.

How to Co-Create and Thrive in the AI Era

The future belongs to those who build intentional systems for innovation, collaboration, and adaptability. Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, educator, or leader, designing structures that leverage AI effectively will be critical.

Practical Ways to Stay Future-Ready:

Join AI Learning Ecosystems: Engage in meetups, mastermind groups, and online communities where AI knowledge is shared openly.

Design for Co-Creation: AI is most powerful when used collaboratively. Develop workflows that encourage experimentation and cross-disciplinary innovation.

Prioritize Ethical AI Use: AI is only as good as its human intent. As AI adoption grows, ensuring ethical and human-centered design is critical.

Stay in a Playful Mindset: The best way to understand AI is to play with it. Experiment with tools like MidJourney, ChatGPT, Suno, and others. Stay curious and adaptive.

Mastering Attention in the AI Era

As AI amplifies both opportunities and distractions, mastering your attention is a future-ready skill in itself.

Enter Attentioncasting—a strategic approach to directing focus towards meaningful work, creative breakthroughs, and human connection. In an era of endless digital noise, the ability to filter, prioritize, and engage with clarity will be a game-changer.

The future isn’t just about keeping up—it’s about leading with intention and purpose.

Embracing the Future—Together

AI is not the enemy—it’s a tool. And the most powerful tools are wielded by those who understand how to integrate them into human-first innovation.

By cultivating future-ready skills, embracing collaborative ecosystems, and designing intentional systems for co-creation, we can shape a future that is not only AI-enhanced but profoundly human-driven.

The real superpower in the age of AI is not technical expertise—it’s the ability to remain deeply human, lead with curiosity, and design the future we all want to live in.

Read my full article on Medium: Future Mindset Ready Skills: Your Superpower in the Age of AI

What future-ready skills are you cultivating?

Cyndi Coon is a time traveler and rule-bender, nerding out for good using data, science and curious questions as an Applied Futurist, author, creative, ecosystem builder, facilitator, producer, researcher, storyteller and publisher for private partnerships, enterprise, governments, the military, higher education, and industry. She is an Affiliate at the Center for Emergency Management & Homeland Security. Co-Chair of the Human Wisdom Committee IEEE Planet Positive. Chief Media Officer for Content Evolution. She leads the i4j (global innovation for jobs workforce) and Coolabilities communities, promoting inclusive and forward-thinking solutions. She is a Web 3 and Generative AI Mindset advisor.Cyndi is the Founder and Principal Futurist at Applied Futures Lab, Founder of Laboratory5, and Founder and Publisher at Turkey Hill Press. Co-founder of Arizona State University’s Threatcasting Lab and Press, where she collaborates with diverse teams to anticipate future threats and opportunities. Cyndi is the co-author of Threatcasting (2021) and the author of Thrive! Creative’s Guidebook to Professional Tenacity (2019), numerous reports, articles and book chapters. Her use of imagination, combined with her playful approach to research, drives her passion for human-centered, self-powered innovation. Connect with Cyndi at Linktree or LinkedIn.

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