The modern marketplace is louder than ever. Brands publish constantly, algorithms churn endlessly, and audiences are exposed to more messaging in a single day than previous generations encountered in a month. Yet despite this unprecedented volume, something essential is missing: emotional connection. The real challenge facing brands in 2026 is not visibility. It’s meaning. Consumers…
Caroline Hawleydiplomatic correspondent and Aleks Phillips Watch: Hugs on tarmac as family reunite after Afghan ordeal A British couple freed by the Taliban after being detained for nearly eight months have emotionally reunited with their daughter, sharing hugs after landing in Qatar. Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, who lived in Afghanistan for…
Qaalfa Dibeehi, managing partner, Human2outcome. Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance, with developments now extending beyond emotion recognition to emotional engagement with humans. This field, called artificial emotional intelligence (AEI), is becoming increasingly relevant for customer experience (CX) professionals seeking to improve customer interactions. This is according to Qaalfa Dibeehi, managing partner at Human2outcome, who…
A commentary piece published in the South African Journal of Science has sparked urgent national conversation around the emotional toll of South Africa’s public healthcare crisis and the leadership response it demands. Written by Professor Jacqueline Hoare, the head of the Division of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry at Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape…
