Global Scans · Organizations · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEW?: Moves away from traditional, hierarchical, full-time structures towards a gig and shared economy continue apace. New models of virtual working and work anywhere, anytime for anybody are likely to grow dramatically in the coming years.

• [New] If last year was the year of AI-driven efficiency and cost-cutting, in 2026 will be one of AI-driven growth, with CEOs seeking to derive value and profit from implementation versus just workforce reduction. Fortune
• [New] IBM Consulting leadership argues AI will increasingly define businesses by being embedded across decisions and operations. MarketingProfs
• [New] Organizations that thrive in 2026 and beyond will blend advanced analytics, AI-driven automation and human expertise to solve problems holistically. Vizient, Inc.
• [New] The next few years will determine which organizations pull ahead and which fall permanently behind - and 2026 will shape that trajectory. Vizient, Inc.
• [New] Axios previews a 63-page IBM Institute for Business Value study suggesting many executives expect AI investment to evolve over the next four years, moving from resource optimization toward innovation. MarketingProfs
• [New] Businesses will need to reimagine whole processes that can be done with AI. CNBC
• [New] By 2026, one in four brands is expected to see a 10% ii rise in successful AI-led self-service interactions. Grazitti Interactive
• [New] A new Consumer AI Disruption Index from Boston Consulting Group and Moloco finds 67% of senior marketing leaders expect high levels of AI-driven disruption to consumer behaviour. MarketingProfs
• [New] AI risk jumped from number 10 to the second-leading business risk concern over the past year, based on a survey of more than 3,300 risk management professionals. Cybersecurity Dive
• [New] AI has moved quickly to become one of the top business cyber risks among global companies. Cybersecurity Dive
• [New] At the 2026 Commonwealth Economic Forum, President Lai Ching-te outlined a three-pronged economic strategy-AI investment, defense-led industrial upgrading, and stronger bilateral trade-arguing that fair competition is Taiwan's greatest opportunity. CommonWealth Magazine
• [New] See which emerging technologies will shape enterprise strategy and investment in 2026; from post-quantum cryptography to neuromorphic computing and next-generation infrastructure. Juniper Research Ltd
• [New] The task force has said its work will focus on modernizing rules for crypto service providers, tightening inspections of non-compliant exchanges, and aligning South Korea more closely with international standards, such as the Financial Action Task Force's travel rule. The Cool Down
• [New] U.S. final assembly vehicles are expected to make up 54.1% of sales in January, up 3.2 percentage points from a year ago. J.D. Power
• [New] Greater Focus on AI-Driven Business Model Transformation: While cost optimization and EBITDA focus will remain front and center in 2026, PE firms will increasingly leverage AI for revenue and business model transformation. FTI Consulting
• [New] By deployment model, the asset-as-a-service / robot rental segment is expanding at a strong CAGR 2026 to 2035. Precedence Research
• [New] TikTok insists that US users will maintain a global TikTok experience, meaning US creators can still be discovered internationally and businesses can operate on a global scale. Economic Times
• [New] The JV has not said how much it paid for the privilege of operating TikTok in the USA, but hinted at how it will pay for it by revealing that it will manage global product interoperability and certain commercial activities, including e-commerce, advertising, and marketing. The Register
• [New] US creators will still be discoverable and businesses will be able to maintain global reach. BBC News
• [New] While the need for users to download a new app seems unlikely, brand partners will want to know that their TikTok strategies will not be disrupted. BBC News
• [New] The U.S. economy is growing faster than expected, productivity is accelerating, and inflation pressures remain contained. AdvisorAnalyst.com
• The multi-year collaboration, which will provide students, faculty and researchers with Google Cloud's AI-optimized tech stack and high-performance computing power, is designed to advance AI-enabled education, accelerate AI innovation and expand AI workforce development. Campus Technology
• Organizations are more globally connected than ever, yet operating in an increasingly fragmented and unpredictable geopolitical environment that is fundamentally altering risk calculations. City AM

Last updated: 26 January 2026