The Quick 1, 2, 3
• Nearly every CEO surveyed is going all-in on AI integration for 2026, planning to double their investment despite uncertain ROI timelines
• The smartest companies are focusing on upskilling their workforce rather than just replacing it
• Meanwhile, consumer AI tools are getting cheaper and more personal, but also more invasive
When Everyone’s Drinking the Kool-Aid
Ninety-four percent. That’s the kind of number that makes you pause mid-coffee sip and wonder if you missed something important. According to a recent study, virtually every CEO surveyed is planning to integrate AI into their business by 2026. Not some AI, not a little AI – they’re going full throttle.
But here’s what caught my attention: these executives are planning to invest more than twice as much as they did last year, even while admitting they’re not sure when they’ll see returns. It reminds me of that friend who keeps buying lottery tickets because “this one feels different.” Except this time, the friend might actually be onto something.
The Smart Money Moves
The companies getting it right aren’t just throwing AI at problems like digital spaghetti. They’re using it to retrain and upskill their people. Smart. Because nothing kills workplace morale quite like the unspoken threat of robot replacements lurking in the server room.
Tools like Sudowrite are showing how AI can augment human creativity rather than steamroll over it. The key difference? Enhancement versus replacement.
The Consumer Circus
On the consumer side, things are getting interesting in that slightly uncomfortable way:
- ChatGPT Go launched at $8/month – basically ChatGPT’s little sibling who tries harder but still lives at home
- Google Gemini wants access to your entire digital life for “better personalization” (translation: more targeted everything)
- Apple and Google are playing nice, with Gemini powering Siri behind the scenes
The trade-offs are getting clearer. Want cheap AI? Here come the ads. Want personalized responses? Hand over your data. Want the premium experience? Pay up.
Reading Between the Lines
This CEO enthusiasm feels different from previous tech bubbles. Maybe it’s because AI is already proving useful in ways that feel tangible. Or maybe it’s because everyone’s terrified of being left behind.
Either way, the doubling of investments suggests we’re past the “let’s try this” phase and deep into “we can’t afford not to do this” territory. Whether that confidence is justified… well, ask me again in 2027.