Friction - GoKawiil

Former Uber Executive Argues for Reintroducing Friction Into Daily Life

A former Uber and Uber Eats employee who spent a decade eliminating friction from everyday consumer experiences describes now personally paying to reintroduce it into their own life. The reflection contrasts the seamless, one-tap conveniences built by companies like Uber with a deliberate choice to seek out slower, more effortful alternatives.

fastcompany.com · 2026-08-28

AI adoption succeeds when it removes repetitive tasks, not when it adds tools

A commentary piece argues that companies scaling successfully with AI focus on cutting out repetitive, friction-heavy work rather than layering on more software or hiring more staff. It uses the redesign of the London Underground map—which ditched geographic accuracy for clarity of purpose—as an analogy for how businesses should simplify processes instead of overcomplicating them with new tools.

fastcompany.com · 2026-08-26