Jude Temianka

We are standing at a crossroads in the evolution of commerce. On one side is the path of total automation—a world of "frictionless" transactions, invisible workers, and chatbots that mimic empathy without ever feeling it. It is a world where the engine is loud, but the soul is quiet. On the other side is the path of the Human Dividend.

You probably think I’m doubting my warnings about "wrappers" now that the headlines are full of billion-dollar exits. I’m not. In fact, I’m doubling down.  As we head toward 2026, the great AI sugar rush of the last twelve months is finally wearing off. The hype hasn’t disappeared; it has simply met the cold, hard floor of strategic reality. We are moving away from a year of Invention  (building things because we can) toward a year of Reinvention  (building things that actually last). In the...

Every year, retailers engage in a high-stakes arms race to see who can crack the collective emotional veneer of the public. In the UK, we usually look to John Lewis to lead the charge. But this year, the crown has arguably been stolen by a French supermarket chain.