Why Executive Branding Is Getting Personal: Lessons from the Digital Workplace’s New Playbook

As 2025’s work landscape continues to shift to meet ever-changing skillsets and the evolution of workplace tools and technology, senior and executive-level (C-suite, VP, etc) working professionals have not only changed their ways of working, but the way they market themselves and their most desirable abilities via their resumes. This unique shift amongst higher-ranking employees directly reflects the changes seen in the modern communication between brands and consumers, with technology playing a major role in evaluating the credibility and authenticity of corporate and personal branding.

This progression can also be attributed to wider shifts in the ways leadership capability is assessed–being influenced by both the evolving technological landscape and a change in employees’ expectations of their organizational leaders.

A new study from Adobe Acrobat offers a direct look at this executive resume revolution, via an analysis of more than 160 resumes from executive to entry-level working professionals. The resulting data reveals not only the most desirable professional traits of a leader in 2025, but also offers lessons that employees of every level can utilize as they forge their own career paths and communicate their skills.

The Executive Resume Shift: From Trophies to Tailored Impact

In the same way that consumers look for personalized communication from companies, executive-level working professionals are tailoring their resumes to their personal success stories–using a hyper-curated approach to their resumes that often breaks typical resume rules of thumb. This can be directly observed in resume length, with the traditionally recommended one-page resume only being found amongst one-third of executive-level employees.

Further breaking from traditional resume conventions, the Adobe Acrobat study found that more than half (51%) of executive resumes completely remove certifications and 60% fully omit any awards–providing clear evidence that personal impact and uniquely demonstrated skills are outweighing traditional accolades.

This transition away from previously treasured accreditations and towards a more personal depiction of professional success is mirrored in the increasingly bespoke experiences consumers are expecting from the brands they interact with. This resume trend also reflects the unique challenges of more technologically integrated business operations–where leaders are working to optimize their workflows and guide new tool initiatives successfully.

Hard and Soft Skills as the New Leadership Currency

Alongside the changing trends in formatting and accolade inclusion, the study also finds that executive-level employees are heavily increasing the hard skills included on their resumes. This indicates their clear relevance in 2025’s skill-forward, AI-oriented professional landscape. Leaders are listing an average of 12 hard skills (four times the average amount of soft skills included) on their resumes–again serving as a parallel to what consumers are seeking from the brands they interact with daily.

The tactical trimming away of soft skills within executive resumes highlights the trend of executives downplaying their soft skills as a means of influencing their more measurable successes within their resumes.

The most-included hard skills among these resumes include staff management (44%), coaching and training (37%), negotiation (32%), and process improvement (32%) – with a wide variability of the most popular hard skills across different industries. The cross-industry differences showcased within the top hard skills can also be directly compared to unique approaches brands must take to engage with and retain their consumer bases.

Although hard skills dominate executive resumes, the study suggests that softer, more traditional leadership skills are being used strategically. Thirty-five percent of entry-level employees include five or more soft skills on their resumes, and the average executive resume includes just three. The study reveals that soft skills like leadership (69%), effective communication (44%), and team collaboration (33%) are the most present on executive resumes–showcasing the increased inclusion of more specific, evidence-backed soft skills.

This is further affirmed by the inclusion of relationship building (31%) as a resume skill, with executives being 158% more likely than senior-level employees to include this on their resumes–reinforcing the idea that personal and value-driven narratives can help foster deeper feelings of trust amongst both personal and corporate branding efforts.

Gender Nuances and The Importance of Versatility

In the same way that brands are working to personalize their offerings across diverse audiences, the survey data reveals some differences in the ways men and women present themselves via a resume. Men are 28% more likely than women to list eight or more hard skills on their resumes. Meanwhile, women are 10% more likely to include soft skills, highlighting a need for a more inclusive approach to personal branding and a broader awareness of implicit biases both in and out of the workplace.

Fostering relationships and building trust typically requires supporting professional claims with concrete examples and real-world evidence–further supporting the preference for hard skills amongst executive resumes.

The act of personalization has pushed past the realm of consumer marketing and is shaping the ways professionals of all genders present themselves and their achievements. Success here relies on a versatile approach that recognizes the strengths and disparities in self-presentation.

Actionable Learnings for Professionals at Every Level

This breakdown of executive resume presentation allows employees to take a peek into the ways they could improve their own professional storytelling, much in the ways marketers shift their approaches to meet audience expectations. With employers seeking clear and authentic examples of success from their candidates, there are a few clear takeaways for employees looking to elevate their resume like an executive:

Prioritizing more measurable skills and personal impacts through hard skills and skillfully chosen soft skills will not only provide a clear narrative of professional capability and development, but also prompt employees to grow their personal skillsets and be proactive in adopting new technologies–something invaluable in today’s competitive job market.

Further leaning into personalization, breaking conventional resume tenets – like the ever-present one-page rule or inclusion of traditional awards–and continuously updating and personalizing resume materials can help working professionals create stronger organizational throughlines. Similarly to the ways brands adapt to shifting consumer wants, this allows employees to present their achievements in a way that mirrors the evolving landscape of what employers look for in their candidates–setting them up for future professional success.

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by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Google Updates Gemini With Personalization and Temporary Chat Tools

Google has begun rolling out new features for the Gemini app, its AI chatbot, that aim to improve relevance and privacy in conversations. The update adds personal context and a Temporary Chat mode, along with changes to activity settings.

Personal context lets Gemini draw on earlier chats to remember details and preferences. This can make replies reflect past exchanges instead of starting fresh each time. The option appears in a new Personal Context settings page, which replaces the current Saved Info section in the account menu. The control for “Your past chats with Gemini” is switched on by default and can be turned off at any time. The feature is available now on Gemini 2.5 Pro in select countries, with Gemini 2.5 Flash and more regions, including the EEA, UK, and Switzerland, to follow in the coming weeks.

Temporary Chat allows users to start a conversation that will not be stored in history, influence future replies, or be used to train Google’s AI models. These sessions are kept for up to 72 hours to support responses and process any feedback. Access is through the side drawer, using an outlined chat icon next to the New Chat button. This option is starting to roll out now and will reach all users in the coming weeks.

Google is also renaming the Gemini Apps Activity setting to Keep Activity. When turned on, it allows a sample of future uploads, such as files, images, or shared media, to be used for improving Google services. If the setting is off, it will stay off unless manually enabled. A separate control will manage whether audio, video, and screen shares sent through Gemini’s microphone button or Gemini Live are used for service improvements. That setting is off by default.

The new features and privacy controls are part of Google’s broader plan to develop Gemini into a more personal and adaptable assistant. Rollout is underway and will expand gradually over the next several weeks.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. 

Read next: Searches for AI-Related Dreams Surge as Study Maps Public Experience
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Searches for AI-Related Dreams Surge as Study Maps Public Experience

Searches for “AI dreams” rose sharply in August 2025, climbing 784 percent above the usual monthly average. Google Trends data shows it was the highest level since tracking began in 2008.

The increase comes alongside a survey of 1,000 people in the United States by Amerisleep. Around one in five respondents said they had dreamed about artificial intelligence at some point. For 16 percent, these dreams came several times a month, while 9 percent reported them at least weekly. Gen Z stood out, with nearly a quarter having AI-related dreams, and one in six in that group recalling dreams about losing a job to automation.

Nightmares were common in the findings. Among those who experienced them, 93 percent named ChatGPT as the AI they used most. People who regularly read negative news or scrolled social media before bed were found to be 31 percent more likely to have AI nightmares compared with those who avoided such habits.

The content of these dreams varied. Some involved routine exchanges with AI, while others played out as workplace scenarios or imagined AI taking control. In that last category, 31 percent of Gen X respondents and 24 percent of millennials reported such experiences. Emotional responses were evenly divided between curiosity and anxiety, each at 38 percent.

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Certain professions appeared more linked to AI dreaming than others. Those in technology, healthcare, retail, arts and entertainment, and scientific research were more likely to report them.

Views on allowing AI to influence dreams were largely negative. Across all ages, 74 percent said they would not want AI to generate dream content, 71 percent rejected reprogramming nightmares, and 70 percent declined using it to change dreams for better rest, creativity, or mental health. Gen Z showed more openness. About 35 percent of that group said they would try AI to improve sleep or creativity, the same proportion would permit reprogramming of bad dreams, and 34 percent would use it to learn new skills or languages while sleeping. Forty percent would allow AI to record and analyze their dreams.

To accompany the research, Amerisleep collected dream accounts and turned them into digital images, producing scenes that ranged from the ordinary to the surreal.

Researchers noted that the patterns seen in these dreams align with AI’s wider presence in everyday life. Generational differences, they said, point to younger people being more willing to test the idea of AI shaping subconscious experiences, even as most remain cautious.

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by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Threads Hits 400 Million Monthly Users, Closing Gap with X

Meta’s text-based social platform Threads has reached 400 million monthly active users, marking a steady rise from 350 million in April. The company also reports an increase in time spent on the app, suggesting improvements to its recommendation systems are keeping users more engaged.

Launched two years ago as a direct alternative to Twitter (aka X), Threads has evolved into a big player in the social media landscape. The latest growth puts it within striking distance of X, which Elon Musk claims has 600 million monthly active users. However, independent metrics tell a different story.

Data from X’s own European Union transparency reports show a 15% decline in its user base in that region since Musk’s acquisition. Third-party analytics also indicate a drop in mobile usage, even though web traffic remains relatively stable. Given that web activity represents only about one-fifth of X’s total engagement, these figures suggest its overall audience may be shrinking rather than expanding.

This trend could accelerate Threads’ rise as a preferred platform for real-time online interaction. Influencers, public figures, and everyday users are increasingly active on Threads, contributing to higher levels of conversation and community engagement. For Meta, this momentum adds another strong product to its portfolio, which already dominates much of the social media market.

Other competitors have struggled to match this pace. Bluesky, which saw a brief surge in sign-ups following last year’s U.S. elections, now has 38 million registered accounts. Although its community is active and dedicated, growth has slowed sharply, limiting its ability to challenge the two largest players.

Market dynamics could still shift. Both Meta and X have faced criticism over political influence on their platforms, and significant policy changes could push users toward smaller networks. Bluesky remains positioned to benefit from any future migration away from the major services, though recent controversies at X have not produced the same level of user movement as in previous years.

For now, the momentum appears to be with Threads. Its focus on timely, relevant content seems to be resonating with users, bringing it closer to becoming the leading real-time social platform. If current patterns continue, the gap between Threads and X could narrow even further in the months ahead.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.

Read next: Study Finds Security Gaps as AI “OS Agents” Gain Power Over Digital Devices
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Study Finds Security Gaps as AI “OS Agents” Gain Power Over Digital Devices

A new academic survey has examined the emergence of AI systems that can directly operate computers, smartphones, and web browsers, warning that the same capabilities driving productivity could also expose users and businesses to new security risks.

The 36-page review, produced by Zhejiang University in collaboration with the OPPO AI Center and other institutions, outlines the design, training, and evaluation of so-called “OS agents”, large-language-model-driven assistants capable of controlling devices by interacting with their graphical interfaces. Unlike traditional voice assistants, these agents can observe the screen, interpret interface elements, plan a sequence of actions, and execute them without human input.

Researchers describe a surge of activity since 2023, with more than 60 foundation models and over 50 agent frameworks now targeting computer control. Major technology firms have begun moving these concepts into commercial products, such as OpenAI’s Operator, Anthropic’s Computer Use, Apple’s enhancements to Apple Intelligence, and Google’s Project Mariner.

How OS Agents Work

An OS agent typically captures the current state of a device through screenshots or structured interface descriptions, uses multimodal AI models to interpret what it sees, and translates its plans into clicks, swipes, keystrokes, or navigation commands. The most capable systems can handle multi-step processes across several applications, for example, making a booking, logging it in a calendar, and creating a reminder.

The survey details how these agents are built, often combining pre-trained vision-language models with custom components that handle high-resolution interface images and HTML structures. Training pipelines use public datasets, synthetic interaction records, and simulated environments to improve grounding, the mapping between instructions and on-screen actions, as well as planning skills.

Developers adopt a range of strategies to boost performance, including supervised fine-tuning with curated task sequences and reinforcement learning to improve reliability and error recovery. Frameworks usually include modules for perception, planning, memory, and action execution, with some designs incorporating personalization so the agent can adapt to a user’s habits over time.

Performance and Limitations

Benchmark tests show that current systems perform well on simple, clearly defined actions but remain inconsistent when faced with complex, context-dependent tasks. Success rates vary widely depending on the platform and the type of task, with agents often struggling to adapt to unexpected changes in the interface. As a result, early deployments tend to focus on repetitive, high-volume activities where rules are predictable.

Security and Privacy Risks

While the potential for automation is considerable, the report stresses that these systems introduce an attack surface most organizations have yet to secure. Documented threats include prompt-injection techniques hidden in web pages, as well as environmental manipulation that can trick an agent into disclosing sensitive data or executing unauthorized actions.

Because OS agents operate with the access level of their host user, a compromised agent could move through corporate email, databases, and financial records without triggering the same warning signs that might alert a human. Existing AI security guidelines offer only partial coverage, and defenses tailored specifically to OS agents are still limited.

Personalization Challenges

The authors note that future OS agents will likely evolve from stateless tools into persistent digital assistants that learn from each interaction. This shift could improve efficiency but raises questions about how to store and process personal preferences without creating an exhaustive surveillance record of a user’s digital life.

Looking Ahead

The research concludes that OS agents remain in an early stage, yet progress is accelerating. Advancements in multimodal models, memory systems, and interface understanding are likely to close current performance gaps, but without equal attention to safety, privacy, and evaluation standards, deployment risks will grow alongside capabilities.

The team maintains an open-source repository to track new models, frameworks, and benchmarks, reflecting a field that is expanding at a pace unusual even for the technology sector. For now, the technology is moving toward the point where it can interact with digital environments much as a human user would, and that, the authors suggest, means the window for building adequate safeguards is already narrowing.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

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by Asim BN via Digital Information World

Meta Expands Scam Ad Reporting Across Facebook and Instagram

Meta is giving businesses more tools to tackle fraudulent adverts, adding large-scale scam ad reporting to its Brand Rights Protection system.

The update means companies and brands can now flag suspicious campaigns even when the ads do not directly lift their logos or imagery. That covers cases where a brand’s name is used without permission or where false claims are tied to the brand in an attempt to mislead. The move follows a string of incidents in which prominent journalists, broadcasters, and entrepreneurs were impersonated in online investment schemes.

First launched in October 2021 and once known as the Commerce & Ads IP Tool, Brand Rights Protection lets registered trademark owners monitor and report misuse of their brands on Facebook and Instagram. It scans ads, posts, pages, and accounts for potential infringements, using image-matching technology to spot content that resembles uploaded reference files. Businesses can store up to 10 such images (logos, product shots, or other brand markers) to help the system flag suspicious material.

Meta has also reworked the tool’s navigation. The Drafts tab, previously called Requests, now splits reports into categories for copyright, counterfeit, impersonation, and trademark violations. In the Reports tab, users can filter results by keywords, trademark names, report owner details, or unique email report IDs. Those targeting scam ads specifically are advised to choose the “Other” violation type in the Ads section.

The system’s reach currently covers Facebook and Instagram, though scam activity has also been spotted on WhatsApp, where the same enforcement measures are not in place. Publishers and brand owners say that removing harmful ads can feel like an endless cycle, with new ones appearing soon after the old ones are removed.

Meta says its automated review and detection systems remove millions of fraudulent posts and accounts. In 2024 alone, the company took down more than 157 million pieces of advertising content worldwide for breaking its rules on fraud, scams, and deceptive business practices. The company believes that the expanded Brand Rights Protection features will give businesses more control over their identities online and help reduce the spread of misleading material.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

Read next: Anthropic Expands Claude With On Demand Memory Retrieval for Subscribers
by Asim BN via Digital Information World

Anthropic Expands Claude With On Demand Memory Retrieval for Subscribers

Anthropic has introduced a memory tool for its Claude chatbot that can pull details from earlier conversations when a user asks. The update is being made available to subscribers on the Max, Team, and Enterprise plans, with wider access planned later.

The new option is intended for situations where someone needs to return to a task or review past research without going over old ground. When prompted, Claude searches earlier chats linked to the same workspace and project. It then returns a summary and offers to continue the work. The feature does not run automatically and can be switched off in the settings menu.

Anthropic’s design keeps the function limited in scope compared with memory systems from other AI providers. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, for example, stores all conversation history to shape later responses. Google’s Gemini can also draw on earlier discussions and, in some cases, search history. Claude’s feature instead focuses on retrieval at the user’s request, avoiding a constant record.

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In a demonstration, Anthropic showed Claude reviewing a series of exchanges from before a user’s holiday, summarizing the progress, and offering to pick up the same project. The approach aims to keep context available while maintaining tighter control over stored information.

The rollout has started for eligible plans, with additional tiers expected to gain access in the coming months.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

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