AUSTIN — By Nancy Drew-Conclusions, AI Bee Reel Staff

February 15, 2026

AUSTIN, Texas — The quarterly strategy meeting at TechGlobal Inc. reached new heights of engagement today. HR Director Brenda Miller presented slide 43 of her deck while managers at the conference table openly wore noise-canceling headphones and VR headsets, nodding rhythmically to a beat that wasn’t the presentation.

“I have never seen this level of alignment,” shouted Miller, trying to be heard over the absolute silence of the room. “The gap between pain and support is where HR credibility is lost, but these guys look totally pain-free.” She gestured to the CFO, who was wearing an Oculus headset and making slicing motions in the air, likely fighting a digital ninja. “Look at that enthusiasm for the new compliance protocols.”

“This new format really streamlines the feedback loop,” yelled VP of Sales Marcus Thorne, who was currently watching Dune: Part Two inside his Apple Vision Pro. “Usually, I have to pretend to take notes. Now I just turn on ‘White Noise’ mode and smile every three minutes.” He explained that the noise cancellation allows him to focus on what really matters: ignoring the meeting entirely.

At press time, Miller extended the meeting by another hour, unaware the entire executive team had virtually relocated to a digital poker table.

Inspired by the real story: Managers are ignoring HR because the department fails to offer real support for their pain points. Read the full story.