Forget what you thought you knew about competition. Companies are no longer content to define themselves by a single market or expertise, and that means rivals are everywhere. As the rate of disruption across the globe reaches a blistering pace, rivalry is not simply a matter of assessing winners and losers. It is a prism for identifying compelling flash points in the innovation economy— from China to the EU, drones to social media, virtual reality to live news—and offers essential clues to navigating the shifting business landscape.
Apple vs. Xiaomi
FIGHTING OVER ONE OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SMARTPHONE MARKETS— AND BEYOND
When the new iOS 9 comes out this fall, Apple’s iPhone Maps app will finally offer public transit directions. At first, the feature will hit 10 cities worldwide. Except in China, where it’s launching in 300-plus localities at once.
This is just the latest indication of how much Apple treasures China and its booming class of affluent consumers, which Tim Cook expects to become Apple’s largest market. If he’s right, it will be because the company has fended off one of the most unstoppable forces the tech industry has ever seen: Xiaomi.
Founded by serial entrepreneur Lei Jun in 2010 and based in Beijing, Xiaomi announced its first smartphone in 2011. Three years later, research frm IDC declared Xiaomi to be the industry’s third-biggest player by global unit sales, trailing only Samsung and Apple. Nearly all of the 61 million handsets it produced in 2014 were for the Chinese market.
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THE NEW RULES OF BUSINESS TRAVEL
In the era of hybrid teams, everyone is a road warrior-not just sales teams and C-suite execs. It's part of why business travel spending is expected to finally reach, and perhaps surpass, pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year, according to Deloitte. But, as with everything, work trips are not what they were in 2019. From airlines to banks, companies are finding new ways to make business travel easier-and even a little fun.
INTELLIGENT IMPACT
BUSINESS LUMINARIES SHARE HOW AI CAN INTERSECT WITH SOCIAL MISSION.
REDDIT'S REVENGE
IN AN ERA OF AI UPHEAVAL. THE CACOPHONOUS SOCIAL HUB EMERGES AS THE HUMAN-DRIVEN INTERNET'S LAST GREAT HOPE.
SO MANY WAYS TO LOSE
In the Ozempic era, Weight-Watchers is remaking itself to be something for everyone meal-plan program and a tele-health prescription service. But have consumers already lost their appetite?
10/10 - THE 10 MOST INNOVATIVE PEOPLE OF THE LAST 10 YEARS
In honor of Fast Company's 10th Innovation Festival in September, we identified 10 industrious leaders whose groundbreaking efforts defined the past decade in business. We spoke to them about their extraordinary achievements in tech, medicine, entertainment, and more. And we explored how the impact of their work has withstood passing fads, various presidential administrations, a pandemic, and many, many quarterly reports.
The Mysterious Reappearance of the Reggie Bar
How a beloved 1970s candy got called back up to the major leagues.
Gabriella Khalil
Gabriella Khalil, creative director, answers our career questionnaire.
The Fast and the Furious
High prices at McDonald's, Taco Bell, and other chains are sparking consumer revolt.
Lost in Truncation
Lost in Truncation Generative AI was supposed to unleash our creativity. Instead, it became our cultural trash compactor. Welcome to the age of summarization.
Campus Radicals
Welcome to UATX, Austin's new well-funded and controversial anti-woke university.
