The global economy is currently navigating a complex landscape shaped by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and persistent inflation, influencing investment strategies and business operations for 2026. Large US tech companies are significantly increasing their AI spending, and a notable 58% of small businesses now utilize generative AI. Meanwhile, inflation, which has driven up costs and uncertainty since 2022, prompts investors to explore options beyond traditional fixed income, such as commodities and real assets, as suggested by Christopher Nolan from J.P. Morgan Private Bank for North Carolina businesses. AI's integration into the workforce is becoming fundamental, with employers increasingly expecting AI proficiency even when not explicitly stated in job descriptions. Agur Jõgi, CTO at Pipedrive, highlights the importance of understanding AI's impact on one's industry and role. This shift is evident in the rapid adoption of AI skills in non-technical fields like finance and sales. Furthermore, the success of AI PC investments hinges on employee readiness, as a significant knowledge gap exists, with only 35% of employees understanding these devices compared to IT leaders. Innovative AI applications are emerging across various sectors. UK startup CellVoyant launched its FateView AI platform to drastically reduce the cost of cell-based therapies by predicting healthy cells from microscope images. In healthcare, FTI Consulting partnered with Penguin Ai in December 2025 to embed AI into its revenue cycle management services. Consumers are also embracing AI assistants for daily tasks, planning, and shopping, with a PYMNTS Intelligence survey showing three in ten US adults interested in autonomous AI for organization. Victoria Bracco, CEO of Encore Media Agency, notes AI's role in helping companies refine their brand stories and attract talent by analyzing sentiment and employee feedback. The AI industry also sees shifting leadership and legal challenges. Gartner's December 18, 2025 analysis names Palo Alto Networks as the leader in AI Security Platforms, while Microsoft dominates Enterprise AI Platforms, Google leads Enterprise Agentic AI Platforms, and OpenAI remains the top LLM provider. Concurrently, Adobe faces a proposed class-action lawsuit filed by author Elizabeth Lyon on December 17, 2025, alleging that Adobe used pirated books, including hers, to train its SlimLM AI model. Amidst these developments, opportunities for personal skill enhancement persist, with Rosetta Stone offering a significant discount on its lifetime language program, providing access to 25 languages and features like TruAccent pronunciation feedback.
Key Takeaways
- The global economy for 2026 is significantly influenced by the rise of AI and ongoing inflation, prompting new investment strategies.
- Large US tech companies are increasing AI spending, and 58% of small businesses now use generative AI.
- Employers increasingly expect AI skills from all workers, viewing it as a basic competency, as emphasized by Agur Jõgi at Pipedrive.
- Adobe faces a class-action lawsuit filed by author Elizabeth Lyon on December 17, 2025, alleging the use of pirated books to train its SlimLM AI model.
- Gartner's December 18, 2025 analysis names Palo Alto Networks as the leader in AI Security Platforms, while Microsoft leads Enterprise AI Platforms, Google leads Enterprise Agentic AI Platforms, and OpenAI is the top LLM provider.
- UK startup CellVoyant launched its FateView AI platform to reduce cell therapy costs by using AI to predict healthy cells from microscope images.
- FTI Consulting partnered with Penguin Ai in December 2025 to enhance its healthcare advisory services by embedding AI into revenue cycle management.
- Consumers are adopting AI assistants for daily tasks, planning, and shopping, with a PYMNTS Intelligence survey indicating interest from three in ten US adults.
- Victoria Bracco, CEO of Encore Media Agency, highlights AI's utility for companies in analyzing brand sentiment and employee feedback to attract talent.
- Successful AI PC adoption requires preparing employees and processes, as only 35% of employees currently understand these devices compared to IT leaders.
AI and Inflation Shape 2026 Investment Plans
The global economy is shaped by the rise of artificial intelligence and ongoing inflation, creating new investment opportunities for 2026. Businesses and investors should understand AI to use it safely and effectively in their plans. Large US tech companies are greatly increasing AI spending, and 58% of small businesses now use generative AI. Since 2022, inflation has driven up costs and uncertainty. Investors need to look beyond traditional fixed income and consider options like commodities, real assets, and hedge funds to protect against persistent price pressures.
North Carolina Businesses Navigate AI and Inflation for 2026
North Carolina businesses and investors should prepare for 2026 by embracing AI opportunities and managing inflation risks. Christopher Nolan from J.P. Morgan Private Bank suggests a flexible investment plan. AI is changing industries, with large tech companies boosting spending and 58% of small businesses using generative AI. Since 2022, inflation has increased costs and uncertainty. Investors should consider options beyond traditional bonds, like commodities and real assets, to build strong portfolios.
CellVoyant AI Platform Cuts Cell Therapy Costs
UK startup CellVoyant launched an AI platform called FateView to drastically lower the cost of cell-based therapies. These treatments, like CAR-T for cancer, are very expensive due to wasteful production methods. FateView uses AI to analyze regular microscope images of cells. It can predict which cells will be healthy and effective in the future without destroying them. This technology works for 10 cell types, including stem cells and T-cells, and is available online or through an API.
Consumers Use AI Assistants for Daily Tasks and Shopping
Consumers are starting to let AI assistants handle daily tasks, especially for planning and shopping. A PYMNTS Intelligence survey of 2,113 US adults found that three in ten people are interested in autonomous AI for everyday organization. While many are still cautious, over 20% of those who do not use conversational AI are open to it for practical uses. Everyday planning and shopping are the most popular uses, with about one-third of consumers willing to use AI for these. However, fewer people trust AI with financial tasks.
Author Sues Adobe Over AI Training Data
Adobe faces a proposed class-action lawsuit filed by author Elizabeth Lyon on December 17, 2025. The lawsuit claims Adobe used pirated books, including Lyon's, to train its AI model called SlimLM. SlimLM is a small language model designed for document tasks on mobile devices. This legal action is similar to other lawsuits against tech companies accused of using copyrighted materials without permission for AI training. The suit mentions the "Books3" dataset as a source of the alleged pirated content.
FTI Consulting Boosts Healthcare AI Services
FTI Consulting is enhancing its healthcare advisory services through a new partnership with Penguin Ai, announced in December 2025. FTI will embed Penguin Ai's healthcare AI platform into its revenue cycle management work. The company also hired Mitch Harris, a veteran healthcare advisor, and named Rike Rabl as Chief Human Resources Officer. These steps aim to deepen FTI's healthcare expertise, expand its AI-powered services, and strengthen its global talent strategy. FTI Consulting seeks to offer advanced, technology-driven solutions to clients and streamline revenue cycle management.
Employers Expect AI Skills From All Workers
Employers increasingly expect workers to know how to use AI, even if it is not explicitly mentioned in job descriptions. Data from career platform Ladders shows that while AI-related jobs have grown, AI is listed less often as a required skill. This suggests AI is becoming a basic skill, similar to Microsoft Office. Agur Jõgi, CTO at Pipedrive, emphasizes understanding how AI affects one's industry and role. Non-technical fields like finance and sales are seeing fast increases in AI skill adoption, and early adopters of AI will likely advance their careers faster.
Companies Use AI to Attract Talent and Share Brand Story
Companies can use AI to improve their brand stories and attract new talent. AI tools analyze brand sentiment, employee feedback, and social media to help businesses understand how they are perceived. Victoria Bracco, CEO of Encore Media Agency, notes that AI makes it easier for companies to identify areas for improvement. AI also tracks employee sentiment and retention rates, allowing companies to showcase their strengths. While AI provides insights and speeds up processes, human judgment and authenticity remain crucial for creating compelling and honest brand messages.
Gartner Names Palo Alto Networks Top AI Security Firm
Gartner's latest analysis, published December 18, 2025, names Palo Alto Networks as the leader in AI Security Platforms. Gartner Group Vice President Anthony Bradley stated their findings are based on six criteria, including technical abilities and customer success. Palo Alto Networks earned its top spot due to its wide security portfolio, large customer base, and strong distribution. The company also combines its own expertise with open-source collaboration. While Palo Alto Networks leads in AI security, Microsoft dominates Enterprise AI Platforms, Google leads Enterprise Agentic AI Platforms, and OpenAI remains the top LLM provider.
Rosetta Stone Offers Lifetime Language Program Discount
Rosetta Stone is offering a significant discount on its lifetime language program, making it a great time to learn a new language. The program provides access to 25 languages, including Spanish, French, and Japanese, making it suitable for travelers, students, and professionals. Lessons are immersive and designed to help learners think in a new language, with some as short as five minutes. The TruAccent pronunciation feature gives real-time feedback, helping users sound more natural. Rosetta Stone has been trusted by over 50 million learners worldwide for decades.
AI PC Success Depends on Employee Readiness
To get the most out of AI PC investments, companies must prepare their employees and processes, not just upgrade hardware. Australian businesses are quickly adopting AI-capable PCs, with forecasts showing they will make up over half of all shipments soon. While IT leaders understand AI PCs, only 35% of employees share this knowledge, creating a gap that needs to be closed for better returns. Educating staff on how AI PCs work locally and keep data safe can increase confidence and productivity. These devices offer faster work, better security, and lower IT costs, especially when integrated with employee training and strategic workflows.
Sources
- AI and Inflation: Investment Opportunities for 2026
- Managing the impact of inflation
- This U.K. startup's AI platform could slash the cost of CAR-T therapy and other cell-based medicines
- Everyday Planning and Shopping Lead Consumer Shift to AI Assistants
- Adobe hit with proposed class-action, accused of misusing authors' work in AI training
- Can FTI Consulting (FCN) Turn Healthcare AI Partnerships Into a Durable Advisory Edge?
- Bosses expect you to know AI — even if it's not in your job description
- How companies can use AI to tell their brand stories and attract talent
- Gartner: Palo Alto Networks Tops AI Security Front-Runners
- Why Use AI When Rosetta Stone’s Lifetime Language Program Is Practically Free Right Now
- Maximising your AI PC investment starts with the employee
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