1. OpenAI says the brand-new GPT-5.1 is ‘warmer’ and has more ‘personality’ options
OpenAI’s latest update refines GPT-5 into two bespoke variants—Instant for speed and Thinking for depth—while layering in eight new conversational presets, from “Quirky” to “Cynical,” to make AI feel more human-centric and responsive to nuance.
“GPT-5.1 Instant is described as warmer, more intelligent, and better at following instructions, while GPT-5.1 Thinking is faster for simple tasks and more persistent with complex requests.” (theverge.com)
2. An environment designed to suit every body is better for all
Anna Leahy’s expansive essay on universal design argues that by solving for edge-case users—those with disabilities—we uncover solutions that benefit everyone, weaving empathy and inclusion into the very fabric of our built world.
“Universal design focuses on what works for everyone, where ‘everyone’ is a basic criterion, and the emphasis is on commonality rather than on difference.” (aeon.co)
3. How algorithms are transforming artistic creativity
This thoughtful Aeon exploration traces how computation has become the silent collaborator in art—from Auto-Tune’s reshaping of music to AI-enhanced smartphone photography—revealing that our aesthetic judgments are increasingly co-authored by code.
“We are all centaurs now, our aesthetics continuously enhanced by computation… Even the immediacy of live performance gets bracketed by code through social media and the screens we watch while recording events.” (aeon.co)
4. Apple and Issey Miyake unite for the iPhone Pocket—‘It’s a moment of connecting the dots’
In a rare foray into fashion, Apple teams with Issey Miyake to produce a pleated, 3D-knitted “iPhone Pocket” accessory that marries minimalist couture with industrial sensibility, honoring Steve Jobs’s turtleneck legacy while expanding our ideas of wearable tech.
“This collaboration honors their legacy by merging technology and design in a meaningful and stylish way.” (vogue.com)
5. Stagnant and dull, can digital books ever replace print?
A crisp Aeon essay on the ergonomics and emotional tug of physical books versus e-readers, arguing that Kindle’s clinical interface obscures serendipitous rediscovery, and urging designers to use reading data to surface past favourites and kindle deeper engagement.
“The pile of unread books we have on our bedside tables is often referred to as a graveyard of good intentions. The list of unread books on our Kindles is more of a black hole of fleeting intentions.” (aeon.co)