AI @ Work — Jan 22, 2026
The Bi-Weekly Newsletter about practical AI for executives and business leaders.
As organizations move deeper into 2026, the conversation around AI is shifting from experimentation to execution. What’s becoming increasingly clear is that real value doesn’t come from layering AI onto existing processes, but from redesigning how work actually gets done. This week’s collection explores that shift across hybrid work, internal mobility, marketing, retail, and communications. We hope these perspectives support thoughtful conversations about where AI can create practical, lasting impact.
Table of Contents
🔄 A New Year’s Resolution For Leaders: Redesign Work For People And AI
🏢 DWG’s 2026 predictions count down to the launch of the sentient workplace
⚡ AI Is Pushing Organizations to Finally Redesign Work for Hybrid Teams
📊 7 AI Competencies Marketers Must Master for 2026
🎭 Is Your AI Deployment Transformative or an Add-On?
📢 Why Internal Communications Is the Key to Generative AI Adoption
📈 The best AI visibility tools that actually improve lead quality
🛍️ Smarter Shifts Start Here: Reimagining Retail Frontline Experiences
🔄 How AI Is Reinventing Internal Mobility
Article Summaries
🔗 A New Year’s Resolution For Leaders: Redesign Work For People And AI
McKinsey research shows that AI’s biggest impact comes not from automating tasks but from redesigning entire workflows around partnerships between people, AI agents, and robots.
Organizations must invest in AI fluency and rethink work processes to capture $2.9 trillion in potential economic value
The greatest productivity gains come from human-AI collaboration rather than simple task automation
Leaders should prioritize workflow redesign over technology deployment for maximum AI impact
🔗 DWG’s 2026 predictions count down to the launch of the sentient workplace 01/07/26
Digital Workplace Group unveils 10 predictions for 2026, including the emergence of ‘sentient workplaces’ that understand context, intent and emotion.
Sentient workplaces will use AI to understand employee context, intent, and emotions for better experiences
Micro strategies will emerge as key change enablers for gradual workplace transformation
AI agents will transition from tools to strategic coworkers with liquid, adaptive experiences
🔗 AI Is Pushing Organizations to Finally Redesign Work for Hybrid Teams 01/14/26
AI is exposing structural inequities in hybrid work models by amplifying proximity bias, forcing organizations to redesign workflows rather than just relocating them.
AI automation reveals the inadequacy of simply moving in-office processes to hybrid environments
Organizations must fundamentally rethink work design rather than just changing work location
Proximity bias becomes more apparent when AI highlights workflow inefficiencies in hybrid models
🔗 7 AI Competencies Marketers Must Master for 2026 01/16/26
Machine learning capabilities have embedded into vendor platforms, requiring marketers to master new competencies including context engineering, AI evaluation, and governance frameworks.
Context engineering becomes critical for optimizing AI system performance in marketing workflows
AI evaluation skills are essential for measuring and improving AI-powered marketing initiatives
Governance frameworks ensure responsible AI use while maintaining marketing effectiveness and compliance
🔗 Is Your AI Deployment Transformative or an Add-On? 01/16/26
Most enterprise AI deployments remain superficial add-ons rather than transformative infrastructure, failing to deliver meaningful productivity improvements.
AI initiatives often become “productivity theater” without addressing fundamental workflow problems
True AI transformation requires rethinking processes rather than layering AI on existing workflows
Organizations need to distinguish between cosmetic AI features and structural productivity improvements
🔗 Why Internal Communications Is the Key to Generative AI Adoption 01/09/26
Organizations need authentic, value-focused messaging to overcome AI adoption challenges, focusing on employee daily work experiences and practical pain points.
Effective AI adoption requires clear communication about how AI solves real employee problems
Internal communications must move beyond AI hype to demonstrate tangible workplace benefits
Success depends on connecting AI capabilities to employees’ specific daily work challenges
🔗 The best AI visibility tools that actually improve lead quality 01/05/26
AI visibility tools track brand mentions and citations across AI search engines, helping marketers measure how AI exposure correlates with qualified leads and pipeline outcomes.
Brand monitoring extends to AI platforms where prospects research solutions and vendors
Visibility tracking reveals how AI-generated content affects lead qualification and sales pipeline
Attribution models connect AI search exposure to actual revenue and customer acquisition
🔗 Smarter Shifts Start Here: Reimagining Retail Frontline Experiences 01/09/26
Microsoft introduces AI-powered frontline innovations including Frontline Agent and Store Operations Agent Template to transform retail workforce productivity and customer experiences.
AI agents streamline retail operations through automated scheduling, inventory management, and customer service
Frontline workers gain AI-powered tools for enhanced productivity and better customer interactions
Templates enable rapid deployment of AI solutions across retail locations and team
🔗 How AI Is Reinventing Internal Mobility
AI is transforming internal mobility from reactive job posting to proactive workforce redeployment, helping organizations optimize talent utilization during hiring constraints.
AI enables proactive identification of internal talent for emerging roles and opportunities
Organizations can reduce external hiring costs by better matching existing employees to new positions
Predictive analytics help anticipate workforce needs and prepare employees for future roles
Across these articles, one thing is clear: AI works best when organizations focus on people, not just tools. Real progress comes from redesigning how work gets done, not simply adding new technology.
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