In this article, we document a brief history of entertainment used to improve the attitudes of other groups (along with some misfires, including when trying to portray White, working-class men). We then highlight those in the Arts and a few organizations including our own, More Like US, working to use entertainment to reduce perceived U.S. political divides. Despite promising initial work, many more groups and individuals are needed to contribute across many entertainment platforms.

Numerous successful U.S. entertainment efforts to improve attitudes toward groups with little historical power

Since the development of American mass media culture in the mid-20th century, allowing most Americans access to the same media, numerous examples of entertainment media have tried to improve attitudes towards those who have traditionally held little power. In this case, we mean any group other than straight, white men. This said, some entertainment media reinforced stereotypes, but at least there are many fairly successful examples that challenged stereotypes and likely changed attitudes among many in the American public.

This is perhaps most evident in the work of screenwriter Norman Lear, who was instrumental in improving misperceptions of these traditionally less-powerful groups, specifically women and Black Americans. Maude was centered around a woman, unique for sitcoms in the 1970s, and portrayed Maude as opinionated, strongly advocating for women’s liberation and civil rights, dispelling notions that women could not be politically involved or opinionated. Additionally, The Jeffersons, another Norman Lear sitcom from a similar era (1975-1985), was revolutionary in portraying a Black family as wealthy business owners, helping dispel common negative stereotypes of Black Americans.

Another example goes farther back in time to WWII. Beginning with a 1942 song, the Rosie the Riveter propaganda campaign, mainly remembered for its posters, worked to dispel notions that women could only be homemakers. Through its portrayal of Rosie, this campaign encouraged women to take part in the war effort in less traditionally feminine roles such as factory work.

In the late 1960s, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner portrayed an interracial couple in a positive light, at a time when only around 20% of Americans approved of interracial relationships and there was significant stigma around the presence of Black Americans in “White” society.

Will & Grace, a sitcom that began airing shortly before the turn of the 21st century, was deeply impactful on a different front. The show’s portrayal of Will as a gay man who seemed relatable and non-threatening helped to improve negative perceptions of gay men in contemporary America. Straight viewers without contact with gay people in real life saw straight characters positively interact with gay characters. As a result, 60% of viewers reported that “watching the show led to positive perceptions of gay people,” and 71% of viewers rejected the statement that “heterosexual relationships are the only ‘normal’ relationships,” compared with 45% of non-viewers, according to research cited by Bridge Entertainment Labs.

More recently, Marvel’s Black Panther franchise is notable for its unique portrayal of a Black society that was incredibly wealthy, powerful, and technologically advanced. The TV show Modern Family (2009-2020), meanwhile, positively portrayed non-traditional families and members of the LGBTQ+ community, winning over 20 Emmys for its work.

Despite all these generally positive portrayals of groups who have historically held less power, it would be a stretch to say that these groups have always been portrayed well or sufficiently. A reality show like Cops or scripted shows like The Wire often showed ethnically minority men as criminals, and movements like #OscarsSoWhite showed that non-White representation on film proceeded fairly slowly.

But thankfully, there are many portrayals in entertainment of historically less powerful communities that challenge dangerous misperceptions and help create more positive views of them.

Entertainment portrayals of white, working-class men have been pretty bad, though not uniformly terrible

In addition to looking at portrayals of groups historically without much power, we analyze portrayals of those historically with power, namely straight, white men. Because this is such a broad category, and we care about politics, we focus our attention on working-class white men. This group is defined as those without a college degree, often portrayed as working blue-collar jobs. According to 2024 NBC exit polls in 10 key states, white men without a college degree voted for Trump over Harris 69% to 29%, representing almost a fifth of the electorate in those states.

Many of these portrayals also inaccurately represent members of this traditionally more powerful group (though many in this group have experienced and/or felt loss of economic power and social status in recent decades). American media has consistently not been sufficient in portraying the struggles and humanity of working-class white men.

A clear example of this comes from a screenwriter praised earlier in this piece, Norman Lear. All in The Family (1971-1979) is one of the most well-known sitcoms of all time. Yet the main character, Archie Bunker, while humanized to some extent, is portrayed as uneducated and stereotypically bigoted, creating a mostly unflattering and one-sided picture of working-class white men.

Thinking of the cartoon sitcom The Simpsons, which is still running after more than 35 years, Homer never went to college, and he is largely portrayed as a stupid oaf, with infrequent bright spots in his character. On the same show, Cletus is portrayed even worse as a “slack-jawed yokel.”

A variety of reality shows do portray white, working-class men, but usually more as rural or brawny stereotypes than particularly well-rounded characters. This includes the Robertson family from Duck Dynasty (2012-2017) or those in reality shows including Ice Road Truckers (2007-2017) and the ongoing 20-year run of Deadliest Catch about Alaskan crab fishermen.

One of the few arguable bright spots in terms of portrayals of white, working-class men just went off the air. The character of blue-collar Dan Conner first appeared as the male lead in the TV show Roseanne (1988-1997) and then its spin-off The Conners, which aired its last episode in April after seven years on broadcast TV. Negative stereotypes are distinctly less pronounced in Dan Conner than in All in the Family’s Archie Bunker. Dan is portrayed as relatively traditional and hesitant about social change in both the original show and its spinoff, but he also shows vulnerability and commitment to family life in many cases, challenging some stereotypes of white, working-class men. Writer and Executive Producer of The Conners Dave Caplan has thought deeply about the importance of portrayals in entertainment and even has a graduate degree in media psychology.

In all, while sometimes functioning to humanize working-class white men, much entertainment misrepresents working-class white men as overwhelmingly bigoted and/or unintelligent in basically anything other than blue-collar skills, perpetuating harmful stereotypes. This largely has the opposite effect of many of the shows noted earlier in the article, many of which actively work to correct harmful stereotypes of those with traditionally less power.

International efforts show how attitudes toward two groups can be improved simultaneously

There does not need to be a negative portrayal of one group to create positive portrayals of another group. This is apparent in international efforts to improve negative portrayals of certain demographics.

One example is Radio La Benevolencija (RLB), which has worked in various countries, especially in Africa. We will focus on its work in Rwanda, which was created to reconcile differences, heal from the Rwandan Genocide, and prevent another genocide from happening. The programs within the project were created to be entertaining but informative and appeal to a wide variety of audiences.

In RLB’s main Rwandan program, New Dawn, two communities directly paralleling the Hutus and Tutsis lived side by side and were in conflict over a land shortage. The show directly parallels the lead-up to the genocide, as well as the aftermath, without directly referencing the genocide.

In a research paper on RLB, Elizabeth Levy Paluck argued that the program “did not change listeners’ personal beliefs but did substantially influence listeners’ perceptions of social norms.” These norms actually influenced behavior, as listeners changed their behaviors in terms of “active negotiation, open expression about sensitive topics, and cooperation.”

Radio La Benevolencija has made significant strides in healing misperceptions of different ethnic groups, proving the effectiveness of entertainment in concurrently reducing harmful stereotypes of more than one group. Another organization, Search for Common Ground, also has pursued similar efforts in countries including Yemen, Sierra Leone, and Nepal.

Current initial efforts to use entertainment to improve cross-partisan attitudes in the U.S.

To a certain extent, entertainment is already being used to reduce political misperceptions and subsequent divides in the U.S. An upcoming romantic comedy, The Elephant in The Room, tells the story of a progressive and a Trump supporter who try to bridge the gap between their worldviews as they date.

There is also an abundance of short-form content with this aim. In the YouTube video “Cats, Anyone? Finding What We Have in Common When Ideology Divides Us” from NationSwell, two Americans of opposing political viewpoints bond over a shared love for cats. And in the Heineken advertisement “Worlds Apart,” people with contradictory views on different topics find common ground before discussing their differences over a shared beer.

Several organizations are also using entertainment to bridge the gap between those of different viewpoints. Bridge Entertainment Labs, cited earlier for their research into the connection between entertainment media and misperceptions, is working to tell the stories of real Americans of a wide variety of backgrounds in order to contribute to national unity and create a sense of connections between Americans of different political affiliations. The work of Bridge Entertainment Labs, specifically in its whitepaper, aligns closely with the claims made in this article.

PopShift works with major Hollywood studios to connect producers and writers with experts in order to facilitate more accurate representations of those of diverse backgrounds and reduce misperceptions towards certain groups of Americans. Part of the work of Resetting the Table involves training those in Hollywood to have storylines with characters that have “investigated their differences openly and come out the other side,” using tools most influenced by Transformative Mediation, in order to ultimately create a more cohesive America. Braver Angels Music, meanwhile, trains songwriters and musicians to write songs that can bridge political divides, while also providing a space for songwriters to develop material and get to know each other.

The organizations listed above do essential work in bridging the gap between the perceptions Americans hold of those of different political affiliations and the true situations and beliefs of Americans of varying political affiliations. This work aligns with our organization’s, More Like US, initiative to re-CAST fellow Americans in a positive light as more complex, admirable, similar, and worthy of togetherness than expected.

Nevertheless, these efforts are currently small and scattered. Much more of this work is needed in such a large country as the U.S. In today’s decentralized and balkanized media environment, content that improves attitudes toward each other across politics needs to appear not only in TV and movies but in all sorts of entertainment, including social media videos, music, books, plays, and visual art.

Conclusion: Let’s learn from history to create entertainment that improves attitudes of each other across politics

There is a long history of entertainment being used to correct misperceptions of groups that have historically held less power. Entertainment media has proven time and time again its capacity to debunk harmful stereotypes and bridge gaps between people of different backgrounds. Entertainment has unfortunately also reinforced or exacerbated stereotypes in many cases, but these instances can be used as counter-examples of what to generally avoid going forward.

This history serves as an essential guide to fixing modern problems. Americans hold exaggerated negative views of those of different political affiliations. Entertainment media is essential in closing the gap between the truth and these exaggerated negative views. Initial efforts are going in the right direction, but many more people across many entertainment mediums need to create vastly more content. By correcting misperceptions and promoting connection and collaboration between those of different viewpoints, entertainment has the potential to reduce perceived partisan divides and create a more unified America.

James Coan is the co-founder and executive director of More Like US. Coan can be contacted at James@morelikeus.org

Sara Weinstein is a current intern at More Like US.

Organizations worldwide are racing to implement artificial intelligence. According to industry reports, 42% of organizations plan to invest in AI-related IT tools within six months, and 77% plan to implement AI initiatives within the next year. But there’s a critical problem most organizations haven’t considered: you can’t effectively deploy AI if you don’t know what IT assets you have.

As CEO of Teqtivity, an IT Asset Management (ITAM) solutions provider, I’ve seen firsthand how organizations struggle with this fundamental challenge. The rush to adopt AI technologies is creating a dangerous blind spot in enterprise technology management.

The Hidden Crisis in IT Asset Management

The current state of IT asset tracking across global organizations is alarming. Nearly 90% of IT administrators are concerned about devices or applications managed outside of IT, with 38% reporting they don’t have the ability or visibility to discover all applications in use. This lack of visibility becomes exponentially more dangerous when you add AI tools to the mix.

For international organizations, the complexity multiplies. Global IT teams must manage technology assets across different time zones, regulatory environments, and operational standards. When departments work in silos (for example: IT focusing on infrastructure, Finance tracking costs, HR managing employee equipment, and Security monitoring compliance), critical gaps emerge.

The financial impact is staggering. According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average cost of a data breach has surged to $4.88 million, with 40% of these breaches involving data distributed across multiple environments. Meanwhile, 39% of organizations now spend 26-50% of their IT budget on licensing fees, up from 28% in 2024.

Why AI Makes Asset Management More Critical

Artificial intelligence implementations require unprecedented visibility into your technology ecosystem. AI tools need to integrate with existing systems, access data across platforms, and operate within security frameworks. Without proper IT Asset Management, organizations face several risks:

• Shadow AI Proliferation: Just as 88% of IT admins report concerns about shadow IT, unauthorized AI tool adoption is becoming a significant governance challenge. Employees are implementing AI solutions independently, creating security vulnerabilities and compliance gaps.
• Resource Misallocation: 85% of IT administrators want a single tool for IT management, yet 26% still use 11 or more tools. Adding AI solutions to an already fragmented technology stack without proper asset management creates operational chaos.
• Security Vulnerabilities: With 46% of organizations having experienced a cyberattack, 33% of those being AI-generated attacks, tracking every technology asset becomes critical for security teams.

International IT Asset Management Best Practices

Global organizations require sophisticated ITAM strategies that address cross-border complexities. Effective international IT Asset Management involves several key components:

• Unified Asset Visibility: Organizations need real-time tracking of hardware, software, and cloud resources across all locations. We recently worked with a client who improved their inventory accuracy from 13% to 95% within one month by implementing proper ITAM processes.
• Cross-Departmental Integration: Modern ITAM solutions must bridge departmental silos. When IT Asset Management systems integrate with HR onboarding workflows, Finance budgeting systems, and Security monitoring tools, organizations achieve better outcomes across all functions.
• Automated Compliance Tracking: For international operations, automated compliance monitoring ensures adherence to different regional regulations while maintaining operational efficiency.
• Lifecycle Management: Proper asset lifecycle management helps organizations optimize their technology investments, reduce waste, and maintain security standards across global operations.

Building the Foundation for AI Success

Organizations that establish robust IT Asset Management practices before implementing AI initiatives gain significant competitive advantages. While many leaders believe AI is outpacing their organization’s ability to protect against threats, companies with mature ITAM practices are turning this challenge into an opportunity.

Proper asset management enables:

• Strategic AI Deployment: Understanding your current technology landscape helps identify the best integration points for AI tools. Rather than adding AI solutions randomly across departments, organizations with complete asset visibility can map AI capabilities to existing workflows and ensure new AI tools complement rather than conflict with current systems. This prevents the IT sprawl that already affects teams.
• Risk Mitigation: Complete asset visibility supports security teams in protecting against AI-driven threats. With AI-generated attacks becoming more common, security teams need real-time visibility into every endpoint, application, and data flow. ITAM provides the foundation for security models by ensuring every asset is accounted for, monitored, and properly configured. When security teams know exactly what technology they have and where it’s deployed, they can respond to threats quickly and effectively.
• Cost Optimization: Clear visibility into technology spending helps organizations make informed decisions about AI investments. With licensing fees consuming an increasing portion of IT budgets, organizations cannot afford to add AI tools without understanding their current technology spend. ITAM enables teams to identify underutilized resources, consolidate redundant tools, and allocate AI budgets strategically.
• Compliance Assurance: Proper asset management supports regulatory requirements across different markets. As AI regulations evolve globally, organizations need comprehensive documentation of how AI tools access, process, and store data. ITAM provides the framework that compliance teams require to demonstrate responsible AI deployment across international operations.
• Operational Excellence: Mature ITAM practices enable the cross-departmental collaboration required for AI success. When IT, Finance, HR, and Security teams share real-time asset data, they can coordinate AI deployments that serve business objectives rather than departmental silos. This collaborative approach transforms AI from a technology experiment into a strategic business enabler.

Organizations that invest in foundational ITAM practices before pursuing AI initiatives are positioning themselves for sustainable competitive advantage.

The Path Forward

As AI reshapes every industry, organizations with complete asset visibility, cross-departmental alignment, and proactive technology management will set the pace while others struggle to catch up.

Before your organization makes its next AI investment, ask yourself: Do you know exactly what technology assets you have, where they are, and how they’re being used? If the answer is no, you’re not ready for AI. But with the right IT Asset Management foundation, you can position your organization to succeed in the AI gold rush while maintaining security, compliance, and operational excellence.

For more information about IT Asset Management solutions for global organizations, visit www.teqtivity.com.

Chinese Big Tech player Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) has announced upgrades to its search engine, adding new artificial intelligence (AI) functionalities into the service, its biggest improvement in over a decade.

According to a CNBC report, Baidu is opting to innovate its search engine to remain viable, as studies highlight a trend of users turning to AI-powered chatbots for answers.

Baidu’s latest changes to its core search product will allow users to enter over a thousand characters in the search box. Previously, users were limited to only 28 characters, reducing search precision and requiring keyword prioritization.

Going forward, users can conversationally ask questions on the search engine, akin to how they interact with chatbots. Furthermore, Baidu is improving its voice search and image prompts.

Lastly, Baidu’s biggest upgrade is the integration of its AI chatbot into the search product. The integration will allow users to use AI to generate text, images, and video on Baidu Search.

Morning Star strategist Kai Wang disclosed that the changes to the Search product are designed to mirror how consumers interact with mainstream AI products. Baidu’s search users have fallen, with several users opting for AI chatbots for their search requirements.

Baidu Search faces stiff competition from China-based AI heavyweights like DeepSeek and Tencent (NASDAQ: TCTZF). Furthermore, short video platforms are turning their gaze to AI Search, slashing off a significant chunk of Baidu’s market share.

Despite the new pressure on Baidu from its rivals, the company took the lead with AI back in 2023 with the release of its Ernie Bot chatbot. In less than six months, Baidu racked up 100 million Chinese users to lead its peers, announcing several AI products to maintain its headstart in the local scene.

However, new entrants are catching up with Baidu with their range of AI products. The stiff competition has sent Baidu stock inching up by only 2.5% since the start of the year, while AI heavyweights Alibaba (NASDAQ: BABA) and Tencent have gained 30.5% and 20% respectively in the same window.

Google racing to innovate Search

Outside of China, Google Search (NASDAQ: GOOGL) is also facing challenges driven by the rapid adoption of AI chatbots. To stay ahead of the curve with emerging technologies, Google has rolled out new AI policies for its Search product, presenting AI summaries for queries ahead of website links.

Furthermore, Google says it integrates its AI mode directly into Search, allowing users to improve their queries and get conversational responses. The U.S.-based search giant has unfurled its independent AI chatbots, providing stiff competition to traditional AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.

Beijing schools to integrate AI into learning curriculum

For each academic year, pupils across primary and middle school will have at least eight class hours on AI. Upon full rollout, there are suggestions that the number of hours may increase, matching the hours in secondary schools.

The curriculum will attempt to achieve three key objectives. The Beijing Education Commission will focus on AI awareness and cognitive abilities, AI applications and innovation capabilities, ethics, and social responsibility.

The new curriculum attempts to step up from basic IT knowledge to promote critical thinking skills in pupils. Furthermore, the report notes that AI skills will form part of the comprehensive assessments of Beijing students.

Schools in the capital city of China will be free to teach AI courses independently or merge them with other subjects. The report name-checks information technology, science, and emerging technologies as potential courses for schools to integrate with AI.

“We expect that under the new guidance, an integrated AI educational innovation scenario from primary schools to middle schools could be built, which will better help the education sector seize the opportunities brought by the AI technological reforms,” Li Yuxin, principal of Beijing Bright Horizon Foreign Language Primary School, said.

Pundits have hailed the curriculum for aligning with the goals of general AI education, given its tailor-made design for elementary students. In May, the Chinese Ministry of Education launched new guidelines for AI use in classrooms, prohibiting students from submitting AI-generated text as their original work.

AI to become mainstay in global classrooms

Across several jurisdictions, regulators are bracing for the adoption of AI tools in classrooms. Technology firms are leading the charge via launching innovative products for students and teachers, with Khanmigo and Speechify emerging as frontrunners.

However, Japan’s regulators are limiting the use via key guardrails, including age restrictions and a blanket ban against their use in examinations. The United Nations also urges tighter AI restrictions in schools, citing a raft of ethical considerations, including age restrictions and the emotional well-being of younger students.

In order for artificial intelligence (AI) to work right within the law and thrive in the face of growing challenges, it needs to integrate an enterprise blockchain system that ensures data input quality and ownership—allowing it to keep data safe while also guaranteeing the immutability of data. Check out CoinGeek’s coverage on this emerging tech to learn more why Enterprise blockchain will be the backbone of AI.

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