What exactly is an "AI Control Plane," and why might it become an integral part of your business strategy in 2026?
In this episode, Courtney Baker, David DeWolf, and Mohan Rao look around the corner to predict the major shifts coming to the enterprise in 2026. They discuss the move from isolated AI experiments to verticalized systems, the rise of the "AI Control Plane," and whether a Fortune 500 company will finally kill the 40-hour work week.
Then, Domo's Chief Design Officer Chris Willis joins Pete Buer to challenge the "magical thinking" that often derails AI adoption. He explains why dashboards aren't dead (they just need to get smarter), what it takes to build real-time intelligence you can trust, and why organizational design is the biggest barrier to success.
Plus, in the news: KPMG is training new hires to be "managers of agents" rather than analysts. Pete and Courtney unpack this radical shift in talent strategy and ask: if juniors stop doing the grunt work, how will they learn the judgment needed to lead?
Topics covered:
- 2026 Predictions: Vertical AI, the "Control Plane," and will one brave Fortune 500 company introduce a 35-hour work week?
- The Trust Gap: Why "magical thinking" is hurting enterprise AI adoption.
- Organizational Design: Why handoffs and silos are the real enemy of AI success.
- The New Junior Role: The pros and cons of hiring "managers of agents."
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JLaTV7xK1CY
Grab the AI Strategy Playbook at Knownwell: https://www.knownwell.com/playbook
Show Notes
