Written by Sophie Babic

Artemis II makes history 

After a successful mission to the Moon, Artemis II is now heading back to Earth, having made history by taking four astronauts around the Moon’s far side.  

The mission surpassed the milestone set by Apollo 11 in 1969. While that saw Neil Armstrong take the first steps on the Moon, Artemis II pushed human exploration further into deep space. 

During one of the tensest moments, the spacecraft passed behind the Moon, cutting off all radio and laser communication with Earth for around 40 minutes.  

Just before the signal dropped, pilot Victor Glover sent a message home: 

 “As we prepare to go out of radio communication, we’re still going to feel your love from Earth. And to all of you down there on Earth and around Earth, we love you, from the Moon. We will see you on the other side.” 

 The crew are spending the next few days conducting system checks and experiments before the final challenge, re‑entering Earth’s atmosphere at nearly 25,000mph. 

A viral nutty moment  

 In industry news, Nutella has capitalised on the moon mission in space.   

 A jar of the hazelnut spread unexpectedly became a viral hit during Artemis II’s livestream after it floated into view. In zero gravity, the tub appeared perfectly positioned, creating a moment that looked like a polished advertisement despite being entirely unplanned. 

 The clip quickly spread across social media, with many calling it one of the most effective free ads ever. Nutella’s parent company, Ferrero, jumped on the trend, sharing the footage and celebrating the unexpected exposure. 

AI enters the hardware aisle 

Bunnings has joined the AI chat with the launch of Buddy, an AI‑powered shopping assistant designed to help customers plan and complete DIY projects. 

Buddy can photograph handwritten shopping lists, recommend products for more complex jobs, and connect customers with local tradies when a task is beyond a weekend project. 

Developed in partnership with Google Cloud, the launch marks the first time an Australian retailer has deployed Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience at scale. 

What we liked about this wasn’t just the technology, but the framing. Buddy isn’t positioned as a replacement for in‑store expertise. Instead, it extends what Bunnings already does well, helping people feel confident tackling a task. 

What we’re reading 

One piece that’s been doing the rounds internally is a LinkedIn newsletter we follow: The Hyder Ground, by Shama Hyder. 

One of her most recent pieces is titled “Why the AI Moat Conversation Is Missing Its Most Important Layer”. The article puts clear language around a shift we’ve been seeing in our work, and that is that clarity of thinking, judgment, and earned trust now matter more than polished execution or sheer output.  

In an AI-rich world, tools can amplify competence, but they can’t replace reputation, consistency, or real-world proof. The framework shared by Shama reinforces the belief that long-term impact comes from trust built patiently in public, not tactics scaled quickly. 

AI can amplify good work, but it can’t stand in for it.