Whilst technology was always meant to help us become more productive, it has penetrated our lives in a way that it is causing equal harm if not more. Smartphones and social media in particular have made us slaves to technology than tools that we can use for a better life. We have often featured articles in 3L&3S about this issue. In this light, here is a heartwarming piece from the good folks at Collab Fund, highlighting some new innovations meant to address this.
“We are witnessing a counter-movement to the subtle theft of our attention.
This “slow computing” movement is building deep consumer loyalty by decoupling products from the algorithmic attention drain that has defined the last decade of consumer products. The paradox of the AI platform shift is that while it accelerates everything, its promise may be in helping us slow down and be more human.
The urgency from consumers is clear: “Brain rot” was the Oxford Word of the Year in 2024, a popular diagnosis for a generation overwhelmed by extreme content acceleration, algorithmic addiction, and ROAS optimization.
…What products can counter this acceleration and become mainstays for the conscientious household? Brilliant entrepreneurs are defining the frontier by reinventing the endpoint and experimenting with incentives.”
The article lists a bunch of such products among which are:
“…A minimalist phone that removes the temptation of apps, focusing on essentials like call, text, and limited email. It offers a conscious opt-out from attention-zapping services.
This cellular provider incentivizes users not to use the marginal gigabyte of data, essentially “getting paid to use your phone less.”
A screen-free, voice-based toy that lets kids create infinite audio stories with AI. It sparks imagination and self-guided learning.”
The blog ends on this hopeful note that the time is here:
“In the next 12–18 months, “slow computing” technology optimized for reflection, intentionality, and human-pace interactions will catalyze new consumer habits and workflows. Driven by the counter-pressure of burnout and enhanced regulatory attention, the maturation of AI is finally allowing computing to decouple from ad-driven algorithmic imperatives.
That said, technology is a history of companies building beautiful products ahead of their time. General Magic failed not because they lacked vision but because the consumer foundation had not been established for broad deployment (until Apple deployed the first iPhone five years later). Timing can be the silent arbiter of success.
Yet today, as the pace of technological acceleration intensifies and our attention feels increasingly colonized by screens and feeds, the pendulum may finally be swinging back.”
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Note: The above material is neither investment research, nor financial advice. Marcellus does not seek payment for or business from this publication in any shape or form. The information provided is intended for educational purposes only. Marcellus Investment Managers is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and is also an FME (Non-Retail) with the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) as a provider of Portfolio Management Services. Additionally, Marcellus is also registered with US Securities and Exchange Commission (“US SEC”) as an Investment Advisor.
