Thoughtful guidance for AI in 2026. Doug reflects on trusted partnership, workforce transformation, and helping leaders make confident, human-centered AI decisions.
To our community of data and AI leaders,
As we step into a new year, I have been reflecting on the conversations we had in 2025 and the recurring themes. Beneath the headlines and the hype, leaders were not simply trying to “implement AI.” They were trying to do it in a way that actually strengthened their organizations, supported their people, and led to real workforce transformation rather than rushed decisions.
What stood out most was not how fast technology evolved, but how much leaders needed space to slow down, breathe, and gain clarity. Many came to the table curious, hopeful, and sometimes overwhelmed. They were under pressure to pick a tool, launch quickly, and keep pace. But more often than not, what they truly needed first was a trusted partner. Someone who could sit beside them, help them make sense of all the noise, ask the right questions, and guide them to what mattered most.
That is where the real work happens.
We have said it before, and it remains true. There is no AI without data. And I would add this. There is no AI success without people who are ready, confident, and supported. Leaders today are not just deploying technology. They are trying to transform their workforce in the age of AI. They want their teams to feel capable instead of fearful. They want clarity instead of confusion, confidence instead of urgency for urgency’s sake.
Some of the most meaningful moments in 2025 came when organizations trusted us enough to let us into that uncertainty. When they allowed us to help them figure out what problem they were really trying to solve, or what opportunity they were truly trying to unlock. Sometimes that led to training. Sometimes to readiness work. Sometimes to strategy conversations that reshaped their plans entirely. And sometimes it meant helping them find the right partner outside of us. Because the goal is not to push a product. The goal is to help leaders make informed, sustainable, confident decisions for workforce transformation.
Looking ahead, I believe the organizations that will thrive this year are the ones that prioritize clarity. They will not rush toward tools without understanding why. They will ground their decisions in data. They will recognize that this moment is as much about workforce transformation as it is about technology transformation. And they will value trust, thoughtful partnership, and honest guidance over noise and speed.
At Data Society Group, that is the role we are committed to playing. A steady presence. A thoughtful advisor. A partner who understands both the technology shifts happening across the market and the human skills, literacy, and readiness required to meet them. Someone who helps organizations breathe a little easier, see a little clearer, and take the right next step for where they truly are in their journey.
There is a lot ahead in 2026. But you do not have to navigate it alone.
Here is to clarity, confidence, and meaningful progress in the year ahead.
P.S. If you missed the last Friday Feature, you can read it here: What We Learned, What We Built, and What Comes Next
