Joe McKendrick

Joe McKendrick

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Tech journalist/analyst (Forbes, HBR, ZDNet); digital transformation and enterprise IT

83% Predict AI Demand Will Outpace Data Infrastructure Soon
SocialApr 30, 2026

83% Predict AI Demand Will Outpace Data Infrastructure Soon

At least 83% of the 1,125 tech managers surveyed by Cockroach Labs agree that AI demand will exceed the capacity of most data infrastructure in the next 12–18 months. (My write-up in DBTA) https://t.co/H9Zchu6dgC

By Joe McKendrick
Invest in Employees, Grow Your Customer Base
SocialApr 28, 2026

Invest in Employees, Grow Your Customer Base

Henry Ford recognized this effect more than a century ago. Boost your workers, boost your customer base.

By Joe McKendrick
Leaders Must Master Real AI Skills, Not Buzzwords
SocialApr 27, 2026

Leaders Must Master Real AI Skills, Not Buzzwords

How should leaders embrace AI? Such confusion out there. It’s more than simply saying "AI agents" in response to every question. Leaders need to understand the skills we need for today and tomorrow. @forbes https://t.co/aaN8g7TCgb

By Joe McKendrick
AI Exposure Isn't Reliable Job‑Loss Metric, New Framework Proposed
SocialApr 27, 2026

AI Exposure Isn't Reliable Job‑Loss Metric, New Framework Proposed

OpenAI chief economist says AI exposure is a not a viable metric for potential job loss, and proposes a new framework. But there are other factors that are not considered. (My latest in @forbes) https://t.co/V6WOdYG23x

By Joe McKendrick
Data Center Consolidation Is Becoming a Thing of the Past
SocialApr 27, 2026

Data Center Consolidation Is Becoming a Thing of the Past

I can remember a time not too long ago when both companies and governments were proudly consolidating and reducing their numbers of data centers.... https://t.co/1puJ5UwoJz

By Joe McKendrick
AI Demand Outpaces Data Readiness, Work Remains
SocialApr 25, 2026

AI Demand Outpaces Data Readiness, Work Remains

Everyone wants AI now. But are their data environments ready to support it? Data industry leaders and experts we spoke with say there has been progress fulfilling AI needs, but there’s still a lot of work that needs to be...

By Joe McKendrick
Workers Distrust AI Rollout, Deem Leaders Clueless
SocialApr 25, 2026

Workers Distrust AI Rollout, Deem Leaders Clueless

The verdict is in: employees are not happy with the way AI is being percolated through their organizations and into their jobs. They even see those leading AI as either clueless or incompetent. New survey by Roloff Consulting. (My latest in @forbes) https://t.co/ZH5u0Qu8QU

By Joe McKendrick
Human Insight, Not AI Alone, Drives Real Value
SocialApr 24, 2026

Human Insight, Not AI Alone, Drives Real Value

My recent chat with Stanford's Erik Brynjolfsson, who said that AI cannot create value on its own. Humans are needed to initiate and enable actions, and then evaluate the value of those actions. "The real value is defining the right questions."...

By Joe McKendrick
AI Isn't Stealing Jobs, It's Redefining Them
SocialApr 24, 2026

AI Isn't Stealing Jobs, It's Redefining Them

No, AI isn't stealing your tech job - it's just transforming it https://t.co/Jql6zPaDoy via @ZDNET

By Joe McKendrick
AI Builders Face Highest Job Disruption, Report Shows
SocialApr 24, 2026

AI Builders Face Highest Job Disruption, Report Shows

Ironically, the creators and implementers of AI are those most likely to see the impact of the AI they create. IT occupations, especially software development, are more highly exposed, a report out if Indeed shows. via @forbes https://t.co/bS3STFMzjp

By Joe McKendrick
AI Agents Demand Heavy Onboarding, Not Universal Fix
SocialApr 23, 2026

AI Agents Demand Heavy Onboarding, Not Universal Fix

McKinsey implemented and observed 50+ agentic AI builds for one year, but found "digital employees" require a lot of work to get up to speed. Maybe AI agents aren't the best answer to all business needs. https://t.co/MTl5oXt3aS via @ZDNET

By Joe McKendrick
Algorithms Soon Dictate Full‑Time Job Management and Pay
SocialApr 23, 2026

Algorithms Soon Dictate Full‑Time Job Management and Pay

Algorithmically managed jobs include ride-sharing and gigs. But regular FT jobs may soon be guided by algorithms, with implications for salary negotiations and performance reviews. Hard-line management practices could be baked into algorithms. @forbes https://t.co/Uq3mI42LpF

By Joe McKendrick
16% of Consumers Already Using Autonomous AI, Trust Needed
SocialApr 23, 2026

16% of Consumers Already Using Autonomous AI, Trust Needed

At least 16% of 18,000 consumers in a global survey by EY have used AI that acts on their behalf in the past six months. The pressure is on organizations to ensure trust and confidence. via @forbes https://t.co/So9bSDA4z7

By Joe McKendrick
AI Regulation Boom to Spawn $5B Compliance Industry by 2027
SocialApr 22, 2026

AI Regulation Boom to Spawn $5B Compliance Industry by 2027

"By 2027, fragmented AI regulation will grow to cover 50% of the world's economies, driving $5 billion in compliance investment." Thus begins a whole new industry.

By Joe McKendrick
MIT Study Reveals Vast Ecosystem of Niche AI Agents
SocialApr 21, 2026

MIT Study Reveals Vast Ecosystem of Niche AI Agents

A handful of agent platforms hog the headlines, but many function-specific agents are available to developers and users. MIT's latest study explores the broader agentic ecosystem. https://t.co/7bRibPFsRA via @ZDNET

By Joe McKendrick
95% of Financial Firms Struggle to Build Effective AI
SocialApr 21, 2026

95% of Financial Firms Struggle to Build Effective AI

From FICO, not MIT: Nearly 95% of organizations are having a difficult time developing AI systems that serve the needs they were designed to address. The study is based on 254 C-suite leaders in financial enterprises around the world. via...

By Joe McKendrick
Employees Left to Self‑teach AI Despite Employer Demands
SocialApr 21, 2026

Employees Left to Self‑teach AI Despite Employer Demands

Employers: You gotta know AI. Employees: Yes, help us learn more about AI. Employers: You're on your own. The majority of employees are learning through trial and error, without structure, benchmarks, or feedback loops, a new survey shows. via @forbes https://t.co/T4E7i6hsTB

By Joe McKendrick
Agentic Process Re‑Engineering Boosts Human‑AI Collaboration
SocialApr 20, 2026

Agentic Process Re‑Engineering Boosts Human‑AI Collaboration

"Agentic process re-engineering" brings out the best in both humans and AI to achieve greater outcomes. I channel the observations of Bret Greenstein, chief AI officer at West Monroe, in my latest @Forbes piece. https://t.co/RgtpwCwzZF

By Joe McKendrick
3 Billion Gamers Driving Mainstream Commerce Transformation
SocialApr 18, 2026

3 Billion Gamers Driving Mainstream Commerce Transformation

There are a lot of gamers now in the world, exceeding 3b by some counts. And this is spilling into mainstream commerce. Gaming is more than simple fun and games – it has transformative power. @forbes https://t.co/O0ThqFt9cQ

By Joe McKendrick
AI Should Augment, Not Replace, Today's Workforce
SocialApr 18, 2026

AI Should Augment, Not Replace, Today's Workforce

Going all-in on AI at the cost of jobs is self-defeating. "It's a bad idea to say, 'We won't need half of the people that we have today.' That does not encourage people to use AI to be more productive." -Tom...

By Joe McKendrick
AI Layoffs Hypocrites Still Demand Printed PDFs
SocialApr 17, 2026

AI Layoffs Hypocrites Still Demand Printed PDFs

“The same people firing people because of AI are also the same people that still want their decks sent to them as a PDF / printed on desk “

By Joe McKendrick
Companies Must Onboard AI Like Human Coworkers
SocialApr 16, 2026

Companies Must Onboard AI Like Human Coworkers

AI is supposed to represent our new “co-workers,” right? Well, it would be nice if organizations took the time to help us get to know our new co-workers, which doesn’t seem to be the case. (My latest in Forbes) @forbes...

By Joe McKendrick
AI Agents Require Complex, Multi‑Layered Development Effort
SocialApr 16, 2026

AI Agents Require Complex, Multi‑Layered Development Effort

Creating and deploying AI agents aren’t exactly overnight tasks. AI agents still rely on a genAI foundation, as well as machine learning, statistical analysis, robotic process automation, intelligent document processing, and more. @forbes https://t.co/fKgjdw7W9W

By Joe McKendrick
Students Favor AI Over Basics, Resistance Rises
SocialApr 16, 2026

Students Favor AI Over Basics, Resistance Rises

Students are using AI tools instead of building foundational skills - but resistance is growing https://t.co/TWqXiap2Ky via @ZDNET

By Joe McKendrick
Stanford AI Index 2026: Mixed Impact on Jobs, Data, Productivity
SocialApr 14, 2026

Stanford AI Index 2026: Mixed Impact on Jobs, Data, Productivity

Stanford's 2026 AI Index shows a mixed picture on AI data, jobs, and productivity. (My latest in Forbes) via @forbes https://t.co/qSL436Xrfd

By Joe McKendrick
AI Becomes Office Co‑pilot, Not Workplace Killer
SocialApr 11, 2026

AI Becomes Office Co‑pilot, Not Workplace Killer

Rumors of the physical office’s death from AI may be exaggerated. I talked to Dr. Tiffany Perkins-Munn at J.P. Morgan Chase: "While an algorithm can efficiently manage goal-oriented tasks, its role for office work evolving into more of a co-pilot.”...

By Joe McKendrick
AI Revolutionizes IT Recruitment: Key Takeaways
SocialApr 11, 2026

AI Revolutionizes IT Recruitment: Key Takeaways

AI is changing the IT recruitment game. Here's what you need to know now https://t.co/yDNoJ4vUca via @ZDNET

By Joe McKendrick
AI Powers 24/7 Gig and Flexible Hiring
SocialApr 10, 2026

AI Powers 24/7 Gig and Flexible Hiring

AI elevates gig work, flexible work, and enables job-seekers to connect with companies at all times of day and night. My chat with Cliff Jurkiewicz, head of strategy at Phenom, at the company’s recent annual conference in Philadelphia. via...

By Joe McKendrick
AI's True Value Depends on Human Action
SocialApr 4, 2026

AI's True Value Depends on Human Action

Ignore The Doom Talk; AI’s Real Value Only Arises When Humans Step Up via @forbes https://t.co/mIjMIKN47B

By Joe McKendrick
MIT Study Extends Timeline for AI Job Disruption
SocialApr 3, 2026

MIT Study Extends Timeline for AI Job Disruption

Nevermind the hysteria. New MIT research defines a longer timeline for AI's job impacts. AI capabilities will still threaten text-based work, but most workers may have more time to adapt than previously thought. https://t.co/YEvH4XoYHV via @ZDNET

By Joe McKendrick
AI Isn’t a Paperweight; It Demands Strategic Integration
SocialApr 3, 2026

AI Isn’t a Paperweight; It Demands Strategic Integration

"AI is used to transcribe meetings, or produce a stream of workslop in memos or PowerPoints. Treating this tech as another software deployment is like receiving a mysterious alien artefact and using it as a paperweight." -Ethan Mollick in The...

By Joe McKendrick
AI Coding Models Fail Over 75% — Oversold, Not Faulty
SocialMar 31, 2026

AI Coding Models Fail Over 75% — Oversold, Not Faulty

New survey from BlueOptima shows the best AI coding models succeed less than 23% of the time. I channel the views of @DavidLinthicum that AI doesn't have an implementation problem; the problem is it's being oversold. (My latest in ZDNET) https://t.co/6NXRqKmOJG...

By Joe McKendrick
AI's True Value Lies in Defining Meaningful Problems
SocialMar 30, 2026

AI's True Value Lies in Defining Meaningful Problems

My chat with Stanford's Erik Brynjolfsson: Going forward, the real value for people working with AI is "understanding the problems that need to be solved, defining them in a way that really are useful to people." https://t.co/JvL8bids6V @ZDNET

By Joe McKendrick
Become a Niche Fanatic: Use AI to Amplify Skills
SocialMar 29, 2026

Become a Niche Fanatic: Use AI to Amplify Skills

Looking to treat AI as a tool that amplifies, not usurps, your skills? Vivienne Ming says build a purpose; become a ‘fanatic’ in your niche. Move from a passive consumer to an active problem-owner; become the one to talk to about...

By Joe McKendrick
Use AI to Unlock Hidden Team Talents
SocialMar 28, 2026

Use AI to Unlock Hidden Team Talents

Embrace AI to draw out the latent talents of yourself and your teams. I channel the insights of Vivienne Ming, who proposes a different path for standing out in a world becoming overwhelmed by AI -- and AI fear and...

By Joe McKendrick
Find and Empower AI Power Users to Showcase Potential
SocialMar 23, 2026

Find and Empower AI Power Users to Showcase Potential

It's key to identify and bring along the power users who will demonstrate the capabilities of AI. But where are they? And who are they? (My latest in Forbes) via @forbes https://t.co/YvJMUpRKwg

By Joe McKendrick
AI to Boost Tech Job Growth, Says Ex‑Tesla President
SocialMar 20, 2026

AI to Boost Tech Job Growth, Says Ex‑Tesla President

AI will accelerate tech job growth - former Tesla president explains where and why https://t.co/rjxuMzmJ8y via @ZDNET

By Joe McKendrick
Who Will Build & Secure Data Centers for 200M
SocialMar 20, 2026

Who Will Build & Secure Data Centers for 200M

And who will specify, build, run, & secure all the data centers needed to do the jobs of 200 million people?

By Joe McKendrick
OpenAI Shifts Focus From Consumer Tools to Enterprise AI
SocialMar 19, 2026

OpenAI Shifts Focus From Consumer Tools to Enterprise AI

A Willie Sutton moment... OpenAI "plans to significantly cut investment in several consumer-facing products, including the Sora video generator, and refocus its core resources on programming tools and the enterprise-level artificial intelligence market." https://t.co/8qzkSsHZ92

By Joe McKendrick
Automation May Replicate Offshoring’s Regional Divide
SocialMar 18, 2026

Automation May Replicate Offshoring’s Regional Divide

We definitely saw this hollowing out with the offshoring and outsourcing that began in the 1970s and 1980s. Mainly in the Midwest, while the coasts prospered. Will the current drive to automation lead to regional disparities as well?

By Joe McKendrick
AI Slashes Startup Costs, Eliminates Physical Overheads
SocialMar 18, 2026

AI Slashes Startup Costs, Eliminates Physical Overheads

“AI is lowering the cost of entrepreneurship. Not long ago, launching a company meant securing retail space and paying thousands upfront for rent, utilities, inventory, and staff.” -Varshika Prasanna

By Joe McKendrick
Model Collapse Stems From Runaway Random Probability Distributions
SocialMar 18, 2026

Model Collapse Stems From Runaway Random Probability Distributions

“More than a mere problem of degradation in which repetition engenders nonsense (as in the etiolated photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy), model collapse is the result of random probability distribution run amok in a kind of machinic death...

By Joe McKendrick
AI Adoption Demands Stronger, More Responsive Data Foundations
SocialMar 16, 2026

AI Adoption Demands Stronger, More Responsive Data Foundations

As AI moves to core operations, pressure on the data layer also intensifies. I canvassed leaders on the work required to build a well-functioning data environment responsive to today’s AI initiatives. (My latest in Database Trends) https://t.co/X8ar2pKnTZ @BigDataQtrly

By Joe McKendrick
Understanding AI's Real Value: Insights From Manulife
SocialMar 16, 2026

Understanding AI's Real Value: Insights From Manulife

We’re seeing gains from AI, we’re not seeing gains from AI. Which is it? One can be forgiven for feeling confusion over its value. I channel the experiences and advice of Olya Taran, AVP of AI at Manulife. (My latest in...

By Joe McKendrick
IT Execs See Nuanced Impact of AI on Jobs
SocialMar 13, 2026

IT Execs See Nuanced Impact of AI on Jobs

Is AI stealing our jobs? A survey of 2,000 IT executives reveals a complicated answer https://t.co/acmpxPdDsq via @ZDNET

By Joe McKendrick
AI Becomes the New Utility in Cloud Services
SocialMar 13, 2026

AI Becomes the New Utility in Cloud Services

Metered utility-like delivery was the vision articulated for compute power in the late 1990s. And it came true -- it just got the sexier names of cloud, or PaaS, or SaaS. And AI is already being embedded within those on-demand...

By Joe McKendrick
Tulane Graduates Secure Jobs; AI Not Dominating Yet
SocialMar 13, 2026

Tulane Graduates Secure Jobs; AI Not Dominating Yet

Job-placement data for 2024-2025 graduates out of Tulane U sees no AI 'jobpolcalypse.' "They are getting jobs in corporations, investment banks, consulting firms, and retail.” For many roles, AI still isn’t a big part of the picture yet. @forbes https://t.co/xLZJ3yQAt1

By Joe McKendrick
Seven‑Phase Blueprint for Effective Human‑AI Collaboration
SocialMar 13, 2026

Seven‑Phase Blueprint for Effective Human‑AI Collaboration

Successful human-AI collaboration requires thinking through the processes to be reshaped or redirected. Here's a seven-phase process to do that. (My latest in Forbes) via @forbes https://t.co/WZaEj1X3ag

By Joe McKendrick
Execs Praise AI, Employees Unprepared for Implementation Gap
SocialMar 9, 2026

Execs Praise AI, Employees Unprepared for Implementation Gap

Executives: AI is great, and will serve nicely as co-workers to humans. Workers: Okay, but please tell us how this will work. Accenture research finds a yawning gap between executives’ plans for AI, and employee readiness. via @forbes https://t.co/ryb4hnwrws

By Joe McKendrick