THE WORLD'S 50 MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES 2023

ON A BRIGHT MONDAY MORNING AT THE END OF JANUARY, THE SIX-PERSON LEADERSHIP TEAM BEHIND CHATGPT THE MOST ADVANCED AI CHATBOT EVER TO BE DEPLOYED TO A MASS AUDIENCE-GATHERS FOR ITS WEEKLY MEETING.

Living in an FYP World

It's not just TikTok-recommendation algorithms are defining our digital experiences, putting us in individual universes built by unseen hands.

PLANET-FRIENDLY PROTEINS

AS THE PLANT-BASED MEAT INDUSTRY SHOWED ITS VULNERABILITY, MAKERS OF ANIMAL PROTEINS STEPPED UP.

How to find time for what's important

To make sure he tackles everything on his to-do lists, Adobe Chief Product Officer Scott Belsky has come up with a rigid system. Here’s how he gets it all done.

Most Productive People – Tricia Hersey – Nap Bishop and author, Rest Is Resistance

Productivity has become this idea of overworking and workaholism. When I was at seminary at Emory University, I found the grind of graduate school was a violent thing. I was killing myself.

Gaming the Games

DraftKings helped unleash daily fantasy and sports betting on the masses. In its quest to turn a profit, the company is doubling down-searching for even more ways to turn fandom into a game.

It's a Bizarre World After All

A collective of artists got together to build otherworldly, immersive spaces. In the process, they invented something even wilder: meow wolf, a multimillion-dollar pillar of the experience economy that's now spreading its gonzo creativity across the country.

Most Productive People – Marvin Ellison – CEO, Lowe's

Being the CEO of a company that brings in almost $100 billion in annual revenue, and has over 300,000 associates—there’s a lot of complexity.

Most Productive People – Trixie Mattel – Drag Queen and Hotelier

"It wasn't that long ago I was lip-synching for 40 people while somebody spilled a tray of burgers at my feet."

Most Productive People – Kwame Onwuachi – Chef and owner, Tatiana, and author, Notes From a Young Black Chef

"I've been head down. I've been working."

Most Productive People – Regina Hall – Actor and founder, Rh Negative

"I just make sure I'm showered"

Most Productive People – Li Jin – Cofounder and general partner, Variant

"I have a folder full of drafts and things that never see the light of day."

Brett Goldstein – He's Here! He's There! He's Every F*%#ing Where!

Ted Lasso's Brett Goldstein knows how to keep the ball in play.

Mstyslav Chernov – Photojournalist, The Associated Press; documentarian, 20 Days in Mariupol; and author, The Dreamtime

"Boundaries between work and life have blurred"

Most Productive People – Norma Kamali – Fashion designer and CEO

"I consider myself a wise old sage, and I'm telling you, when I put on something that makes me feel happy, I feel happy, despite whatever is going on in the world."

For All the Coffee in China By Clint Rainey

STARBUCKS opens a new café in China roughly every nine hours. But the coffee giant isn't just building stores. It's boosting the Communist Party. This is the untold story of how a values-driven American brand has cozied up to Beijing in pursuit of explosive growth a strategy that grows riskier every day.

NEXT BIG THINGS IN TECH

IT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE THESE DAYS TO FIND A SECTOR IN THE ECONOMY THAT ISN'T REINVENTING ITSELF. AS TECHNOLOGY EVOLVES AT AN EVER-ACCELERATING CLIP, COMPANIES BIG AND SMALL ARE TURNING TO PIONEERING APPROACHES IN AREAS LIKE GENERATIVE AI, WEB3, AND AUTOMATION TO CREATE SMARTER, BETTER, AND (INCREASINGLY) MORE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. YET, EVEN IN THE CROWDED WORLD OF INNOVATION, A NUMBER OF BRANDS STAND OUT: WITNESS THIS YEAR'S 83 NEXT BIG THINGS IN TECH HONOREES.

HOW TO USE TECH TO TAKE TIME OFF

IT'S HARD TO ESCAPE FROM work. After all, you can check out of the office any time you like, but you can never leave your phone. Here's how to set yourself up for a successful, and restful, vacation and minimize your notifications.

"I WAS SCARED THAT I WASN'T GOING TO BE GOOD ENOUGH"

JOEL EMBIID 2022 NBA scoring champion, Philadelphia 76ers

Building a culture that drives success

BY FOCUSING ON PEOPLE, PREMIUM HOSPITALITY, IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY, AND THE FUNDAMENTAL NEED FOR HUMAN CONNECTION, CONVENE IS REIMAGING THE MODERN WORKPLACE

Menswear's Waistland

The majority of American men need plus-size clothes. Why is the fashion industry still ignoring them?

On the Money

With clever marketing and high-wattage partners, payments platform Cash App has inserted itself into the cultural conversation.

The Not-So-Social Network

As Facebook and Instagram react to TikTok's rise, common assumptions about their grip on our attention are suddenly up for debate.

Lighting Out

The satirist behind the finance meme account Litquidity has gone from skewering banking bros to growing a media company.

Salehe Bembury – Shoe God

Salehe Bembury is the preeminent on his fingerprint, eminent designer to emerge from sneaker culture. He's putting his footwear and fashion-and getting his REI on.

STAR SPANGLED GAMBLERS

THE PROFESSIONAL TRADERS WHO BET ON ELECTIONS ARE OUTSMARTING POLLSTERS AND PUNDITS. HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN DEMOCRACY MEETS THE STOCK MARKET.

THE 800 LB. GORILLA OF CRYPTO

THE ROMPING, STOMPING, NEVER BEEN-TOLD STORY OF THE BORED APE YACHT CLUB  AND ITS DISNEY ESQUE DREAMS AMID NFT'S NUCLEAR WINTER

BRABD THAT MATTER

Fast Company's 2022 Brands That Matter recognizes the best in social sustainability, inclusivity, and fun.

Metal of Honor

Danica Roem unseated a conservative delegate in Virginia. Then the hard work began. Here's how she builds consensus to get things done.

Out of the Comfort Zone

Human behavior isn't always pretty. Director Darren Aronofsky makes sure we never look away.