Employees Use AI, but Many Say They Don’t Know Why

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A Culture Amp study found that while 85% of employees are encouraged to use AI at work and 71% feel more productive with it, only 58% understand why their companies are implementing AI, and just 60% have received examples from managers on how AI supports their work. The report also noted similar workload levels between AI users and nonusers, suggesting a gap between perceived productivity gains and actual output, and emphasized the need for leadership to provide clearer communication and strategic frameworks around AI adoption to realize true organizational ROI.

https://www.hrdive.com/news/employees-use-ai-but-many-say-they-dont-know-why/831073/

The Accidental CIO Is Disappearing, and That Might Be a Problem

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The traditional “accidental CIO,” who gained broad leadership experience through varied, unstructured roles, is becoming rare as technology careers grow more specialized and structured. This shift creates a challenge because modern CIOs need not only deep technical expertise but also extensive business, financial, and leadership experience to effectively influence enterprise strategy and navigate complex transformations. To prepare future CIOs for these expanded responsibilities, organizations should deliberately engineer diverse experiential development—such as managing P&Ls, leading major transformations, and engaging with executive stakeholders—rather than relying solely on certifications or narrowly focused career paths.

https://www.cio.com/article/4225055/the-accidental-cio-is-disappearing-and-that-might-be-a-problem.html

‘Not My Cup of Tea’ Is the Most Expensive Sentence in Your Engineering Org

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As AI commoditizes much of traditional coding work, engineers must develop stronger communication and customer-facing skills to remain relevant and add value. The article argues that organizations should break down silos, promote cross-functional collaboration, and encourage engineers to engage directly with customers to improve judgment and product outcomes, while emphasizing coaching willing engineers in these capabilities rather than expecting all to do so. This shift reflects a market repricing of roles toward engineers who can understand the broader context, navigate trade-offs, and explain technical decisions beyond their specialization.

https://www.cio.com/article/4225109/not-my-cup-of-tea-is-the-most-expensive-sentence-in-your-engineering-org.html

Risk Management Isn’t an Insurance Decision, It’s a Leadership Decision

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Powell Brown, CEO of Brown & Brown, emphasizes that risk management is a leadership responsibility that requires continuous engagement rather than treating insurance as a transactional annual renewal. Effective risk management involves understanding exposures, preparing for diverse scenarios, and integrating risk considerations into business operations to protect organizational assets amid evolving threats like cyberattacks, AI governance challenges, and geopolitical uncertainty. Brown advocates for specialized, advisory-driven risk strategies tailored to each industry to help leaders make informed decisions and strengthen their organizations proactively.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-content-studio/publishing-partner/ccb-risk-management-insurance-leadership-brown/

7 Ways to Restructure IT for Maximum Productivity

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CIOs can boost IT productivity by restructuring around business value, consolidating key teams like security and engineering, and creating cross-functional groups with end-to-end ownership of business capabilities. Emphasizing workflow optimization, domain expertise with mentoring, disciplined tool management, and collaborative problem-solving reduces friction, breaks down silos, and aligns IT efforts with strategic outcomes. Integrating AI thoughtfully into platforms and operations further enhances agility and impact across technology functions.

https://www.cio.com/article/4224624/7-ways-to-restructure-it-for-maximum-productivity.html

The EU AI Act Is a CX Problem Now

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The EU AI Act, effective August 2026, extends beyond legal compliance to impact customer experience (CX) operations, as AI is deeply integrated into contact center tools, workflows, and analytics. CX leaders must actively govern AI use by understanding its deployment, risk levels, and ensuring appropriate human oversight to maintain customer trust and meet regulatory requirements. Technology vendors also play a critical role by providing transparency and controls to support AI governance, making compliance a fundamental part of CX strategy and technology decisions.

https://www.cxtoday.com/security-privacy-compliance/the-eu-ai-act-is-a-cx-problem-now-ttecdigital-cs-0062/

Microsoft Entra ID to Block SMS First-Factor Sign-Ins Worldwide in February 2027

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Microsoft will retire SMS-based first-factor sign-in for all Microsoft Entra ID workforce tenants worldwide on February 1, 2027, requiring organizations to migrate users to more secure, phishing-resistant authentication methods such as passkeys, Windows Hello for Business, or FIDO2 security keys. This change aims to eliminate vulnerabilities associated with SMS authentication, including interception and SIM swapping, and avoid disruptions in Microsoft 365 and other Entra-protected services by prompting administrators to update authentication policies and user enrollment processes ahead of the deadline.

https://cybersecuritynews.com/entra-id-sms-sign-in-retirement/

Enterprise AI Desperately Needs a Lifecycle for Context

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Enterprise AI applications require disciplined management of business context—such as definitions, policies, and rules—that goes beyond data accuracy and security. Adopting a Context Development Lifecycle, akin to software development practices like version control and testing, can help enterprises define, encode, review, test, publish, and update context consistently, ensuring AI systems remain aligned with evolving business knowledge and reducing maintenance complexity.

https://www.cio.com/article/4223499/enterprise-ai-desperately-needs-a-lifecycle-for-context.html

I Don’t Like Passkeys

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Ethan Hawksley critiques passkeys, highlighting that while they offer strong protection against phishing and server breaches, they pose significant risks for personal users, particularly around account lockout and recovery challenges. He points out limitations in hardware keys, reliance on operating system account syncing, fragmented third-party manager support, and usability issues on non-personal devices. Hawksley concludes that passkeys are better suited for enterprise environments and that current alternatives like password managers combined with TOTP remain more practical for individual users.

https://hawksley.dev/blog/i-dont-like-passkeys

Digital Transformation Fails Without This Culture Shift

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Akio Ueda argues that successful digital transformation hinges not on technology but on fostering a culture of psychological safety where employees feel secure to take risks and learn from failure. He emphasizes that building a learning organization with supportive relationships, ongoing challenge, and innovation enables continuous adaptation and growth in a rapidly changing AI-driven era. Strategic top-down and bottom-up efforts to embed this positive culture can transform DX into a sustainable competitive advantage.

https://www.cio.com/article/4222873/digital-transformation-fails-without-this-culture-shift.html

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