Latest news with #Huge
Fast Company
21-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
How 'Intelligent Experiences' will change the way we engage online
As chief product officer at Huge, Chidi Achara sits at the intersection of technology, design, and human behavior—a confluence of areas that the design and tech company is facing with a framework they call 'Intelligent Experiences.' In an era where digital fatigue has consumers tuning out traditional approaches, Achara envisions a fundamental shift from capturing attention to understanding intention. Through the convergence of AI, behavioral data, and design thinking, Huge is crafting experiences that anticipate needs rather than simply responding to commands. Their approach seeks to transform static interactions into dynamic, personalized journeys that evolve with each engagement, potentially redefining how brands connect with consumers in an AI-driven landscape. Here, Achara explains how the company is setting out to achieve these objectives. There's been a lot of talk about digital experiences failing to engage users effectively. How is Huge's approach to intelligent experiences different from what we've seen before? Typically, digital experiences want your attention to drive engagement—conversion into a transaction, if it's a commercial—followed by building brand loyalty of some kind. If you go to Google and click for information about booking a holiday in Hawaii, for example, it's going to serve you information. It could be based on your budget, or the date, or the airline, or whatever—but it doesn't know what your intention is. By that, I mean it has a basic understanding of desire to book a Hawaii trip, but it doesn't know why. It could be that you're burnt out from work and just want to be alone for a week. Or it's your wedding anniversary and you want to celebrate with your partner. It doesn't know that. But as AI becomes more intent-aware, it will be able to craft an experience specific to what you're hoping to achieve through that transaction and help you arrive at a more meaningful and satisfying outcome. We'll see a transition from an attention economy based on interest to an intention one based on need. Why is that shift happening now? Because new AI-driven tools are available? Or because the attention-based approach is delivering diminishing returns? Digital experiences started off as business-centric. Websites typically look like org charts. For example, a retail site might have categories like men's, women's, shoes, clothing—which reflects how the business is structured internally more than anything else. And then companies like Huge began nudging their clients to adopt a more user -centric mindset starting from the needs of consumers. Now we're headed toward a human-directed phase where I don't have to navigate a fixed technical architecture. The experience itself is dictated by my conversational inputs, which means my experience of a particular product will be different from yours, with content generated on the fly. So yes, I do think a lot of digital experiences just failed to hit the mark, and people have zoned out as a consequence. Can you define what an 'intelligent experience' means at Huge and how it differs from traditional digital interaction models? The broadest definition is leveraging generative AI to create an experience that is more personalized, conversational, contextual, and anticipatory. Those are the hallmarks of a real relationship—which is not how we engaged with technology until recently. I'll give you a client of ours as an example. NBCU was the official U.S. broadcaster for the Paris Summer Olympics. They came to us with a specific pain point: there was so much live programming—more than 7,000 hours across seven platforms and multiple time zones—that viewers found it hard to find what they wanted to watch, as well as where and when to watch it. An online search for when Simone Biles is next scheduled to perform might take 20 or 30 minutes of searching. So, they asked us to create an AI assistant—a viewing guide we named OLI—to solve it. We designed the brand identity, the content solution, and a chat experience trained to deliver highly accurate results to queries related to programming. No hallucinations! It's exactly the kind of tool that can be rebuilt and repurposed for other sporting events of that size where you need to connect viewers with your content in a way that feels seamless and easy in a matter of seconds rather than minutes or even hours. There's often an 'uncanny valley' effect with AI—chatbot interactions don't quite feel authentic. How are you addressing this when creating AI experiences for clients? We've been working with a European luxury brand to develop a personalized AI to replicate the high-touch, white-glove experience you would get in one of their boutiques. It's not going to be through a traditional website. But to your point, the tone of voice and look and feel [of] UX and UI has to align with the brand's specific codes of behavior, and that's where Huge excels. While others may know how to fine-tune the models, and plenty of brand shops are experienced in defining brand guidelines, it's our unique ability to combine the two—refining the voice while building the technical architecture and designing the customer journey—that guarantees it speaks with a voice that's completely aligned with the brand's expression across its other channels, including retail. It's also about using AI to create experiences that feel unique, which brings to mind Huge Horizons, an immersive activation to turn innovation into reality that we're bringing to life at Fast Company 's MIC [Most Innovative Companies] Summit. Participants will share their perspective on specific subjects and watch their input shape a unique digital artifact—a personalized vision of the future that will both help them refine their thinking and connect with like-minded innovators. An AI-fueled experience that is very on brand for Huge. There's an obvious tension between personalization and privacy. How do you see the relationship between personal data and capturing intention evolving? I've always liked to see brand experiences as gateways to building relationships. There was a time maybe 20 years ago when people were hesitant to enter their credit card details into a website, and now we have no hesitation sharing our most personal information. I think the intention economy is just the next generation of that dynamic, in which trust is built over time as we engage with the experience and give it more of ourselves—provided that robust privacy and security frameworks are in place. Because in order to understand someone's intention, they have to share information about it. I know it sounds like a truism, but it's inescapable—the more time users spend immersed in the intelligent experiences we create, the better we understand them and get to know their individual tastes, rhythms, and the cadence of their purchasing patterns. It all ladders up to create more humanlike relationships in a digital space. How do you envision digital experiences evolving in the coming years? Will traditional websites eventually be replaced by more conversational interfaces? Yes? No? Absolutely. There are certain industries that are either heavily regulated or rely on aggregated infrastructure—like airline booking engines—that aren't going away. But there are many other sectors where, at some point, a website could be replaced by a conversation. I don't know what the future's going to look like, but as we begin to adopt more AI tools to build these experiences, it's going to have a significant impact on the roles and capabilities of internal teams. The question for a lot of companies is to what extent they build these resources internally versus relying on specialist partners. At Huge, we've always been able to look around the corner for what's coming next and make it relatable, understandable, and meaningful for our clients in order to help them build the next generation of experiences that drive growth for their business. There are certain things we will build for our clients, certain things we will build with them, and certain things we will help them enhance and continue into the future. But what exactly that's going to look like, it's a little early to say.
Business Upturn
29-04-2025
- Health
- Business Upturn
Best Creatine For Women, Chosen By Female Athletes
Dallas, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Creatine is a hot topic in the supplement world, and for good reason. This simple molecule has been shown to boost exercise performance, build muscle, and improve brain function. But what about for women? Does creatine supplementation offer the same benefits to women as it does to men? The answer is a resounding yes! Creatine is just as effective for women as it is for men, helping to reduce fatigue during intense exercise, improve recovery times, and speed up muscular development. To experience the full effect of these benefits, though, you need to take the right kind of creatine supplement—ideally a high-quality product that's independently verified. Of course, it's not always easy to find the best supplements on your own. For that reason, we're presenting the best creatine supplements for women, which we've carefully selected after evaluating dozens of alternatives. Best Creatine Supplements for Women, a Quick Glance: Best Overall Creatine For Women: Huge Creatine Monohydrate >> CLICK HERE TO SHOP HUGE CREATINE MONOHYDRATE < > CLICK HERE TO SHOP FLAVORED CREATINE < > CLICK HERE TO SHOP HUGE CREATINE CAPSULES << Don't like powder at all? Huge Creatine monohydrate capsules are the best creatine pills for women. They offer the same benefits as creatine monohydrate but in a convenient pill. In other words, you won't have to worry about scooping, shaking, or mixing. Each serving provides the same dose as the powders we've featured – 5 full grams of creatine monohydrate. However, the dose is divided over several capsules, so you'll have to take five capsules at a time to get the whole serving. Creatine pills are perfect for busy women who want to stay consistent with their creatine intake without carrying around powders or mixing. The capsules are made with high-quality creatine and no unnecessary fillers. You're getting nothing but pure creatine (which is how it should be). They're also ideal for women who don't like the taste or texture of powdered options. It's worth pointing out that capsules are typically more expensive than straight powder, so that's something to keep in mind when choosing your supplement. How We Chose the Best Creatine Supplements for Women As many products as there are out there, it wasn't easy to narrow our list to the top contenders. To do so, we had to do a lot of research and explore several various points. To help you in your own search and give a little more clarity about how we reached our conclusions, here are the points we used to judge each product. The Type of Creatine It may seem like a pedantic difference to the average layman, but for anyone in the know, the type of creatine you're taking can make a huge difference. Currently, there are three types of creatine on the market, each with their own unique characteristics: Creatine Monohydrate: This is the most popular and cheapest form of creatine available and has been shown to be just as effective as more expensive alternatives. If you're looking for a no-frills option that gets the job done, this is it. Creatine HCL: This newer form of creatine is said to be more easily absorbed by the body, making it a good choice if you have trouble digesting monohydrate versions. However, there's not enough research yet to definitively say whether or not HCL offers any real advantage over monohydrate in terms of absorption or effectiveness. Creatine Ethyl Ester (CEE): CEE was once thought to be superior to other forms of creatine but has since fallen out of favor due its lower bioavailability (the amount that actually makes it into your bloodstream). For that reason, we don't recommend it. We especially focused on products made with creatine monohydrate because it's the oldest and most researched form of the compound. We also focused almost entirely on pure products that we unflavored or altered with additives or sweeteners. Dosages Creatine works by building up within your muscle tissue, where it can then be used for energy during high-intensity activity. In order to reach optimal levels, you need to 'load' your muscles with creatine for the first 5-7 days of supplementation (this can be done by taking 20 grams per day), after which you can reduce your dosage to 3-5 grams per day. Few products actually tell you how much creatine is in each serving, and those that do don't always list it clearly on the packaging. For that reason, we had to do a bit of digging around on company websites and contact customer service in some cases, just to find out exactly how much creatine was in each product—an annoying task that helped us eliminate some products. User Reviews It's one thing to take a product because we say it's high-quality, but another to hear it from other customers who have actually used the product themselves. We read through hundreds of reviews on independent sites like Amazon and looking for both good and bad comments about each product. While a few isolated negative comments are to be expected with any supplement, we generally avoided products that had more than their fair share of complaints as this is usually an indication that there's something wrong with the formula or manufacturing process. Value for Your Money Creatine supplements can range in price from as little as $0.10 per serving to over $1.00 per serving, so it's important to find a product that offers good value for money. We looked at both the cost of the product and the amount of creatine contained in each serving when making our selections, allowing us to identify several good options regardless of budget. The Benefits of Taking Creatine for Women Although a lot of muscle-building supplements are advertised for men, they're just as beneficial and possibly even more important for female athletes and bodybuilders. This is because women have less natural testosterone than men, meaning they have a harder time building muscle and recovering from strenuous exercise. Creatine supplementation can help to offset this difference and offer a few other benefits. It Improves Lean Muscle Mass Creatine is one of the most effective supplements for building lean muscle mass. In fact, it's been shown to increase muscle mass by as much as 8% in just two weeks. This effect is thought to be due to creatine's ability to improve energy production in muscles, which allows you to lift heavier weights and perform more repetitions. It Increases Strength In addition to increasing muscle mass, creatine also leads to significant gains in strength. This is likely due to the same mechanisms that lead to increased muscle mass, as well as creatine's role in improving nerve function. As creatine levels build up within your muscles, they help to transmit signals from your brain more efficiently, leading to increased strength and power. This is also why you'll see it included in pre-workouts for muscle gain. It Can Support Weight Loss Clinical results have shown that having a higher percentage of muscle mass can lead to increased weight loss. This is because muscle tissue burns more calories than fat, even when at rest. And, since creatine can help you build more muscle, it may also help you lose weight in the long run. It Speeds Up Muscle Recovery Creatine also offers benefits for recovery, particularly after intense exercise. This is because creatine helps to replenish ATP stores within your muscles, which are responsible for providing energy during exercise. By doing so, creatine can help reduce the amount of time it takes your muscles to recover from strenuous activity. How to Use Creatine and How Much Should Women Take? Creatine isn't like other supplements where you can just take it whenever you want and expect to see results. To get the most out of creatine, you need to follow a strict process referred to as 'loading'. During the first few days of supplementation, you need to take 20 grams per day (4 x 5-gram servings) to saturate your muscles with creatine. Following that period, you should then reduce your dosage to 3-5 grams per day. It's also important to take creatine with a carbohydrate source, as this has been shown to improve absorption. A simple glass of fruit juice or even a sports drink will do the trick. Just make sure you're not taking too much sugar as that negates some of the benefits of creatine. You can also take it with milk if you prefer the flavor. As for how long you should take creatine, there isn't necessarily a definitive answer. Some people like to 'cycle' their supplementation by taking it for 5-6 weeks and then taking 2-3 weeks off before starting again. Others just take it continuously without any breaks. The choice is ultimately up to you, but we recommend at least 3-6 months of continuous supplementation for the best results. Also, it doesn't necessarily matter what time of the day you take creatine, as long as you remember to take it daily. Unlike other supplements, it won't immediately affect your performance within 30 minutes before your workout. However, many athletes like to take it alongside other supplements, such as whey protein, BCAAs, or even a pre-workout. Are There Any Side Effects of Using Creatine for Women? Many women worry that taking creatine may affect their hormones or cause other unwanted side effects. Yet, unlike steroids, SARMs, or other muscle-building compounds, creatine does not work by increasing or decreasing testosterone or progesterone levels. Instead, it increases the amount of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in your muscles, which is responsible for providing energy during exercise. For that reason, creatine is not only safe for women to take but also one of the most well-researched and effective supplements on the market. Of course, as with any supplement, there's always a small risk of side effects occurring. The most common side effects associated with creatine supplementation include: Weight gain : Since creatine pulls water into your muscles' cells, you may notice an increase in weight due to water retention. However, this extra weight will go away once you stop taking creatine and your body flushes out the excess water. : Since creatine pulls water into your muscles' cells, you may notice an increase in weight due to water retention. However, this extra weight will go away once you stop taking creatine and your body flushes out the excess water. Nausea or diarrhea : Some people report feeling nauseous after taking high doses of creatine or experiencing loose stools/diarrhea when they first start supplementation. If this happens to you, try reducing your dosage or taking it with food to see if that helps ease these symptoms. : Some people report feeling nauseous after taking high doses of creatine or experiencing loose stools/diarrhea when they first start supplementation. If this happens to you, try reducing your dosage or taking it with food to see if that helps ease these symptoms. Muscle cramps: Muscle cramps are a common side effect of intense exercise, but some people report experiencing them more frequently when taking creatine. If you do experience muscle cramps while taking creatine, make sure you're staying hydrated and electrolyte levels are balanced. You can also try reducing your dosage to see if that helps. On the whole, though, most of these symptoms are caused by improper hydration. As long as you drink the recommended amount of water every day, you should experience any negative side effects. Final Thoughts on the Best Creatine Supplements for Women Creatine is one of the most well-researched and effective supplements available, offering benefits for everything from exercise performance to brain function. And yet, many women still don't take advantage of its benefits due to misconceptions about how it affects hormones or causes side effects. The truth is that creatine is perfectly safe for women to take and can offer a host of benefits, including increased muscle mass, improved strength and recovery times, and even weight loss support. To get these benefits, though, you need to make sure you're taking a high-quality product. The creatine supplements we've listed above are all great choices, offering a variety of different formulas and dosages to suit your individual needs. So, whether you're looking for a basic monohydrate product or something with a few added flavors, there's sure to be an option on this list that's perfect for you. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Car flips onto its roof after two-car crash on main road
A car flipped onto its roof after it collided with another car. Emergency services were called to the junction of Townsend Avenue and Utting Avenue East in Norris Green at around 3.45pm on Thursday, March 13. Dramatic photos taken at the scene show the Vauxhall Corsa on its roof with its entire windscreen smashed. The left windows of the car also appear to be smashed, and objects from inside the car are scattered around it. The Kia suffered minor damage to its front. A road closure was in place while emergency services cleared the scene. There were no reports of injuries, Merseyside Police said. READ MORE: Police issue update after man shot in park READ MORE: 'Huge' song Paul McCartney wrote for The Beatles but gave to another band on one condition Arriva North West also warned its customers travelling along the route that there would be disruption. Their spokesperson said: "Due to a police incident at Broadway, Norris Green, service 14 towards Liverpool will divert via Utting Ave and Queens Drive, omitting a section of Townsend Ave. Please allow extra time for your journey." A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "We had a report at 3.43pm of a collision involving a green Vauxhall Corsa and white Ford Ka at the junction of Townsend Avenue and Utting Avenue East. "No reports of injuries at this stage. A section of Townsend Avenue has been closed while emergency services deal with the incident." For the latest news and breaking news visit Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here. Follow us on Twitter @LivECHONews - the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account - real news in real time. We're also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
