From stage to office: AI for theatre translation, flexible work for dog owners, and business optimisation

AI-powered live translation expands access to off-broadway theatre 

New York’s off-Broadway play Perfect Crime now offers live AI-powered translations, making performances accessible to non-English speakers. Audience members scan a QR code to select from 60 languages, listening via headphones while following text translations on their phones. With most attendees being tourists, around 25–30 people use the free service weekly.

The initiative, led by theatre general manager and lead actress Catherine Russell, aims to attract new audiences. As Broadway recovers, off-Broadway struggles with attendance, making innovation crucial. Russell believes AI translation could eventually reach Broadway, but off-Broadway’s flexibility allows for quicker adoption.

Dog owners seek flexible work to care for pets 

A study by Sainsbury’s Bank found that dog ownership influences work-life balance, with 16% of dog owners adjusting work hours and 13% working from home more often to care for their pets. Nearly a third (31%) reported increased awareness of work-life balance, while 15% sought pet care services.

Despite these efforts, 13% struggled to balance work and pet care. Vicky Yuill, head of insurance at Sainsbury’s Bank, highlighted the growing demand for flexible work and pet-friendly policies, emphasising that employers may need to adapt to attract and retain talent in an evolving workplace.

Overcoming inefficiencies with AI and data integration  

Conga’s “The Revenue Imperative” report, in partnership with Ascend2, highlights the growing pressure on businesses to maximize revenue efficiency. While 97% of executives expect revenue demands to rise, 46% lack confidence in capturing all opportunities due to manual processes, data silos, and integration challenges.

Organisations with deeply integrated sales and finance data are 4X more confident in revenue management. AI adoption remains low but rising, with 66% planning implementation. UK businesses lead in AI adoption over the U.S. To stay competitive, companies must streamline processes, embrace AI, and enhance revenue operations for sustainable growth.