We’re deep into planning season again. As communicators and marketers look toward 2026, one truth is clear: AI is no longer a side topic - it’s the medium through which audiences learn, decide and believe. 

When most organizations picture a data breach, they imagine shadowy hackers breaking through digital defences from afar. But as the recent allegations against a Royal Bank of Canada employee show, sometimes the real danger is sitting behind a desk and wearing a company badge.

This week, the White House suggested a link between Tylenol and autism, a claim unsupported by scientific consensus. In an era of politicized science and weaponized narratives, the episode is a vivid case study in how perception can outpace fact and put trusted brands on the defensive.

Every company is talking about artificial intelligence (AI). Fewer are talking about the hard truth: most corporate AI adoption efforts are failing. A recent MIT Sloan Management Review study found that 95% of enterprise AI initiatives fail to deliver on expected results.