Today was packed with two exciting site visits. We started the day taking the LUAS train out to the Microsoft campus. There we were greeted by an amazing building which has won multiple awards for its stunning architecture. We had the opportunity to ask the employees a variety of questions, one of which was about the recent developments in AI and how it is impacting their work. It seems that most of the staff at Microsoft is very excited by recent developments in AI and how they will be able to utilize it in their day to day work. Another noticable point was the emphasis by employees on the culture at Microsoft. The building hosts amenities such as a massage therapist, tranquility room, yoga classes, and provides activities for employees to participate in recreationally. However, where Google provides these kinds of services so that “you never want to leave”, Microsoft seems to be more focused on boosting productivity during work hours, not beyond.

After visiting with Microsoft we were off to see the company I was most excited about, Thinkhouse. As soon as we walk into the building the brand and aspects of company culture are apparent. Thinkhouse is a bold, youth driven marketing company that has a huge focus on sustainability. Thinkhouse supports young creatives and helps companies to realign their marketing to focus on what young consumers want. Unsurprisingly, they seem a bit more hesistant to embrace AI due to its grey area when it comes to creative work. However, they have established an AI team to begin brainstorming ways to utilize AI in their day to day functioning. Out of every company we have visited, the culture and work of Thinkhouse appeals most to me. This is partially because it is so apparent in every aspect of their work and operations, and shows that the company is truly passionate about what they stand for.