View the full Most Admired List on Fortune's website. ZEELAND, Mich., Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MillerKnoll (NASDAQ: MLKN), a global design company, announced today that it has been named to the Fortune World's Most Admired Companiesâ"¢ 2026 list, a ranking of the world's leading brands. This achievement highlights MillerKnoll's dedication to driving the future of design through innovation and strong corporate values. Companies are evaluated by executives, directors, and analysts in their respective ind ...

Los Angeles, Jan. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OFA Group (NASDAQ: OFAL), a publicly listed company focused on advancing digital transformation in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector, today announced the official commercial deployment of QikBIM, its in-house developed, AI-powered platform for automated Building Information Modeling (BIM) production. Following extensive internal validation and successful use across live projects, QikBIM is now being formally introduced for commercial ...

Core Insights - OpenAI has released GPT-5.2, which is perceived to be less intelligent and of lower answer quality compared to Gemini 3 Pro, despite its enhanced interaction capabilities [1][2][3] Group 1: SaaS and Data Management - The era of software that solely focuses on "recording" data is coming to an end, as the SaaS business model based on "System of Record" is losing its relevance [4][5][6] - With the advent of AI, the importance of where data is stored diminishes; the future value lies in who can provide actionable insights from that data [5][6] Group 2: Product Development and AI Integration - Future products will be designed for AI agents rather than human users, indicating a shift in focus from user interface design to API integration [7][8] - Companies need to adapt to selling services to AI agents, as the era of measuring success by "screen time" is over [9][10] Group 3: Industrial Applications and Economic Shifts - Investment focus is shifting towards industrial applications of AI, particularly in manufacturing and energy sectors, as these areas present significant opportunities for efficiency improvements [11][12] - The potential for AI to enhance factory inspection efficiency and reduce energy costs indicates a multi-trillion dollar market [12][13] Group 4: Consumer AI and Emotional Value - Consumer AI is transitioning from a tool for assistance to a source of emotional connection, reflecting a growing demand for products that provide emotional value [14][15] - The release of GPT-5.2 signifies that "intelligence" as a commodity will become inexpensive, leading to a loss of skill premium in various industries [16][17] Group 5: Future Business Models - The future of business will revolve around two main models: infrastructure development and integration delivery, where companies can standardize and sell previously expensive professional services [18][19]

Core Insights - The 2025 Future Design and Artificial Intelligence Liangzhu Conference, hosted by the China Academy of Art, focused on "Deep Interaction & Paradigm Innovation," reflecting the evolution of design in the context of AI and technology [1][2]. Group 1: Conference Overview - The conference was co-organized by various institutions, including the CAA School of Industrial Design and the Design-AI Lab, highlighting a collaborative effort to enhance design education and innovation [1]. - The thematic progression of the conference from "Design Leadership" in 2023 to "Deep Interaction & Paradigm Innovation" in 2025 indicates a continuous exploration of the intersection between traditional industrial elements and modern technological advancements [1]. Group 2: Key Participants and Discussions - Leading experts from around the world participated, discussing topics such as human-centered thinking in the AI era and interdisciplinary innovation [2]. - Notable keynote speakers included Lou Yongqi and Han Xu, emphasizing the importance of design education and its role in shaping future technological pathways [2]. Group 3: Design Philosophy and Future Directions - Prof. Wang Yun articulated that design is transitioning from a professional methodology to a systematic language that redefines human-technology-society relationships, with a focus on human-centered thinking [4]. - The CAA School of Industrial Design aims to preserve cultural heritage while integrating contemporary scientific advancements, fostering an innovation ecosystem through industry-education collaboration [4][5].

Core Insights - The founder and CEO of Meitu, Wu Xinhong, discussed the impact of generative AI on designers, suggesting that technology accelerates the improvement of design work [1] - Wu emphasized that AI has shifted the role of designers from hands-on creation to defining visions and providing feedback, as basic design tasks are increasingly automated [1] - Meitu announced the launch of an AI design tool aimed at helping designers build AI-driven workflows, indicating a trend where major design platforms like Adobe and Figma are integrating AI technology [2] Group 1 - Generative AI is seen as a catalyst for change in the design industry, enhancing the role of designers rather than replacing them [1] - The shift in designers' roles involves a focus on deep thinking, precise prompt generation, aesthetic judgment, and project coordination among multiple AI agents [1] - The newly launched AI design tool by Meitu is positioned as a "super designer" AI agent, designed to support various design scenarios and integrated with the Zcool community [2]

Core Insights - The article highlights the significant impact of AI on the design industry from 2024 to 2025, with a focus on the application status and future trends of AI in spatial design [2] Group 1: AI Application Growth - The application rate of AI in the design industry is expected to reach 85.8% by 2025, a 23.7% increase from 2024 [3][19] - The proportion of designers using AI in actual projects has risen from 25.7% in 2024 to 43.8% in 2025, while the percentage of those not using any AI tools has dropped from 37.9% to 14.2% [19] Group 2: Factors Driving AI Adoption - The ease of use of AI tools is a major factor for the significant growth in application rates, with advancements in general-purpose AI tools like Tencent Yuanbao and Doubao providing low-cost access for designers [4] - Economic barriers have become the primary concern for designers not using AI, with the percentage citing "AI requires payment" rising from 21.8% in 2024 to 37.8% in 2025 [5][40] Group 3: AI Penetration by Company Size - AI application rates are positively correlated with company size, with 66.2% of companies with over 100 employees using AI in projects, compared to only 33.5% in smaller firms [6][42] Group 4: Investment Focus - Management is focusing on both talent and tools for AI investment, with software and platform costs (47.2%) and talent training (37.3%) being prioritized over hardware upgrades [7][47] Group 5: Designer Attitudes Towards AI - The attitude of designers towards AI has shifted to a more optimistic view, with 58.2% believing AI will not threaten their jobs in 2025, up from a 50-50 split in 2024 [8][50] - A significant 64.3% of designers feel that AI has extended their job functions, particularly in visualization and rendering tasks [9][54] Group 6: Challenges in AI Integration - Despite high application rates, only about 10% of designers use AI in most projects, with AI applications still concentrated in the initial design phase [10][18] - Challenges remain in deeply integrating AI into workflows and obtaining vertical datasets [10] Group 7: Global Trends - The trend of AI adoption in design is consistent globally, with 82.8% of overseas designers either using or exploring AI in their projects [23]

Market Overview - Market uncertainty has increased in October due to renewed concerns over the U.S.–China trade war [1] - Lynn Martin, president of the NYSE Group, emphasized the strength of the U.S. economy and the positive fundamentals, noting that big banks reported strong earnings [2] IPO Market - Public listings on the NYSE have significantly rebounded in 2025, with a strong IPO market across all sectors [3] - The digital finance sector, including crypto exchanges and stablecoin firms, has performed particularly well, with notable IPOs such as Circle, Figma, and Klarna [3] Regulatory Environment - The SEC issued updated guidance allowing some IPOs to proceed under a 20-day effectiveness rule due to the recent government shutdown [4] - Martin noted that while many companies are choosing to stay private longer due to the costs associated with being public, she does not see significant headwinds for those pursuing IPOs [4] Reporting Changes - Martin expressed optimism about the SEC's proposal for semiannual reporting, which could ease the transition for private companies into public markets [5][6] - The NYSE has long advocated for simplified reporting requirements to reduce costs associated with being a public company [6] Corporate Leadership Changes - Christopher DelOrefice was appointed CFO of Ulta Beauty, effective Dec. 5, succeeding Paula Oyibo [7] - Lydia Brown has been appointed CFO of Citrin Cooperman, effective Oct. 13, bringing over 30 years of experience [9] - Vitor Roque has been named interim CFO at Becton, Dickinson and Company, following Chris DelOrefice's departure [10]

Core Insights - Five stocks have been added to the Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) List, indicating strong potential for investment Group 1: Company Performance - Guess (GES) has seen a Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increase of 8.1% over the last 60 days [1] - Argan (AGX) has experienced a Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increase of 6.5% over the last 60 days [2] - Elbit Systems (ESLT) has had a Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increase of 4.2% over the last 60 days [3] - MillerKnoll (MLKN) has seen a Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increase of 3.3% over the last 60 days [3] - UBS (UBS) has experienced a Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increase of 2.2% over the last 60 days [4]

AI & Design - Motif 使用 AI 技术，在设计师指定会议室数量、天花板高度和窗户位置等细节后，生成 3D 布局 [1] - Motif 的 AI 模型基于数千个平面图和公共数据进行训练 [1] Company Focus - Motif 是一家价值十亿美元的初创公司 (Billion Dollar Startups) [1]

Core Insights - Figma's successful IPO has generated significant returns for early-stage venture capitalists, with some achieving returns exceeding their entire fund size [1][2]. VC Returns - Index Ventures achieved a return of 1850x, investing $3.9 million and earning $7.2 billion, which is 17.5 times the size of their $400 million fund [2]. - Greylock Partners realized a 480x return, investing $14 million for $6.7 billion, equating to 10.8 times their $600 million fund [2]. - Kleiner Perkins (KP) saw a 240x return, with a $25 million investment yielding $6 billion, or 8 times their $700 million fund [2]. - Sequoia Capital achieved a 95x return, investing $40 million for $3.8 billion, which is 1.4 times their $2.5 billion fund [2]. - Other VCs like a16z and Durable Capital also reported substantial returns from their investments in Figma [2]. Missed Opportunities - Initialized Capital, co-founded by YC CEO Garry Tan, passed on investing in Figma in 2016, as noted in an investment memo, although the reasons for this decision were not disclosed [3]. User Growth and Metrics - At the time of the missed investment, Figma had 80,000 registered users, with 10% being weekly active users, and a notable increase in weekly logins [5]. - Currently, Figma boasts 13 million monthly active users, with only one-third being designers, indicating a broader user base that includes developers, product managers, and marketers [5]. Customer Base - Figma has approximately 450,000 total customers, with 1,031 enterprise customers spending over $100,000 annually, contributing to 37% of total ARR [6]. - 95% of Fortune 500 companies use Figma, and 76% of customers utilize more than two of its products [6]. - 85% of Figma's users are from outside the United States, with international users accounting for about 47% of revenue [6]. Market Comparison - Based on Figma's current valuation, Canva's market cap at IPO is expected to exceed $100 billion, with Canva's ARR at $3.3 billion compared to Figma's $900 million [6]. - Canva's growth rate is 50%, while Figma's is 46%, with Canva being consistently profitable [6]. AI Investment Platform - There is a growing interest in an AI-driven platform designed to enhance financial professionals' and individual investors' ability to access and analyze company information, with an ARR exceeding $8 million and a 300% annual growth rate [7].