Making technology work for humans
Your organisation is adopting AI. But do you know what it's doing to the way your people think, decide, and collaborate? beò measures the cognitive impact of technology so you can make evidence-based decisions, not assumptions.
Our CTO has delivered technology transformation across
The perception gap
In 2020, our research used a Stroop task and actual iPhone Screen Time data to test whether intense social media use affects selective attention. The standard prediction, that high users would show attentional bias for social media stimuli, was not supported. Neither self-reported nor actual usage levels produced a detectable cognitive effect using the field's established tools.
We also found that a widely-used smartphone usage scale failed to predict actual device behaviour (r = .198, ns), adding to growing evidence that the instruments researchers rely on are not measuring what they claim to measure.
Organisations deploying AI face the same problem: the tools available to assess impact (satisfaction surveys, adoption metrics, usage dashboards) don't tell you whether AI is changing how your people think, decide, or collaborate. Measuring that requires different instruments entirely. That's what beò builds.
Between a widely-used smartphone usage scale (MTUAS) and actual iPhone Screen Time. Not significant. One of the most cited instruments in the field failed to predict how people actually use their phones.
AI Workforce Cognitive Impact Assessment
Six dimensions of cognitive impact. Three measurement points. Pre-registered methodology. We measure what actually changes when your people start using AI.
What you get
- Baseline cognitive profile before AI rollout
- Longitudinal impact data at 4 and 12 weeks
- Comparative benchmarking across dimensions
- Evidence-based recommendations for your team
- Published case study (with your permission)
Founding research cohort
We're selecting 3 to 5 organisations for our first workplace study. Founding cohort partners get bespoke pricing, a published case study, and your name on the paper if you want it. Plus early access to cross-industry benchmarking data as our dataset grows.
If you're planning an AI rollout in 2026, this is the time to measure what it actually does to your people.
beòLAB
Our research arm runs pre-registered studies across consumer and workplace settings. All hypotheses registered on OSF before data collection. All findings published, including null results.
AI Workforce Cognitive Impact Study
Longitudinal observational study measuring cognitive changes following AI tool adoption in organisational settings. Founding cohort: 3 to 5 organisations, 75 to 200 participants.
Pre-registration: Q1 2026. Data collection: Q2 2026.
Selecting founding cohortbeòLAB Flourish
A four-week study testing whether simple reconnection habits improve perceived control over technology. Pre-registered on OSF. The same validated instruments underpin both our consumer and workplace research.
Launching on iOSTeam
60 years watching technology evolve. The vision behind beò's mission to ensure technology serves people, not the other way around.
30 years delivering technology transformation across GDS, HMRC, BBC, JP Morgan, and American Express. MSc Psychology (Distinction), University of Strathclyde. Julie's masters research tested whether intense social media use affects selective attention using objective smartphone data. The findings on measurement validity underpin beò's approach.