Four important sources of information on artificial intelligence for executives that will remain trendy in 2026: this list is worth studying now, while 2025 is coming to an end. Company leaders who have been trying all year to keep up with the rapid development of AI can finally breathe a sigh of relief and calmly figure out what they really need to know about this technology.
Every day, new headlines emerge about the latest trends in AI implementation, and it’s hard to know what to believe. This year, we were treated to two contradictory viral statistics: an MIT study showed that 95% of companies see no return on AI, while months later, Wharton published an article claiming that 75% of companies are already seeing positive returns on their investments in artificial intelligence. Almost every day, a new agent, GPT, or other tool emerges that executives need to know about. The pace of AI development and implementation is so high that busy leaders struggle to keep up with the latest news and applications.
Here are four essential resources that every business leader should start exploring during the holidays to utilize in the new year.
1. Learn about the personal experiences of AI usage by company leaders
How I AI — a great podcast hosted by Claire Vo, founder of ChatPRD and former director of products and technology at LaunchDarkly. Each episode features representatives from different disciplines and industries — from top management to Emmy winners — sharing how they use AI in their daily work.
What distinguishes Vo's approach? Each episode includes a video where the guest showcases the AI tools and processes they actually use. Guests on this podcast must show, not just tell. This filters out those who want to impress with stories about how their organizations use artificial intelligence that may be exaggerated. This podcast is essential for executives who want to enhance their own use of AI and gain inspiration for themselves and their teams.
The episode 'ChatGPT agent mode' is a good starting point for beginners. For those who are already more deeply engaged in the topic, I recommend starting with 'How Amplitude built an internal AI tool that the whole company’s obsessed with', as it shows how an existing corporate company uses AI in everyday workflows.
2. Stratechery — a strategic AI resource for executives
There is no shortage of sensational media headlines and LinkedIn 'experts' proclaiming the impact of AI on business across various industries. Stratechery is one of the most measured newsletters and podcasts when it comes to analyzing the artificial intelligence industry.
Even if your business is not in the tech industry, it will be affected by how technology, especially AI, is transforming other industries. Ben Thompson interviews AI leaders — from Sam Altman, founder and CEO of OpenAI, to Bret Taylor, founder and CEO of Sierra, an AI agent platform.
He also has deeply researched and contextualized views on topics such as AI bubbles, short-term and long-term realities of chip manufacturing in the US, and how artificial intelligence will affect existing market players and disrupt their positions. Although Thompson wrote Stratechery long before AI became a hot topic, it has become a primary resource for well-informed strategic ideas about artificial intelligence and its impact.
If you are trying to catch up on the latest AI technology wars, I recommend reading one of his recent articles 'Google, Nvidia, and OpenAI', which explores the current positions of each of these companies.
3. Immersion in AI through the course AI for Everyone
For business leaders who want a more structured approach to learning AI from scratch, AI for Everyone by Andrew Ng, a pioneer and educator in AI, is an excellent starting point. The course teaches the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, its possibilities and risks, and how to implement it in organizations.
It has long been a highly rated course and is available for free on Coursera and DeepLearning.ai — educational platforms founded by Ng. The course discusses technical concepts in a way that non-technical people can understand and explains more about disciplines such as machine learning and data science, and what is required to implement AI in organizations.
4. Early AI signals from X/Twitter
One of the best ways to stay updated on the latest developments in AI and how it is applied in your industry is X. Early signals of emerging trends usually appear on X before they are written about in your favorite publication.
The best way to use X to find new AI trends in your industry is to create a list of people from your field who talk about artificial intelligence. You can use an LLM or an LLM-based search product like ChatGPT or Perplexity to find accounts on X that discuss AI in your industry.
You can create a list of X from these people based on recommendations. When you start browsing their tweets and interacting with them, the algorithm will send you other great tweets and accounts. Your colleagues will be surprised at how quickly you stay updated on AI and learn about new use cases and products.
One of my favorite people on social media X is Ethan Mollick, who talks about everything from AI implementation to the latest models and products of artificial intelligence. He is measured, and many of his views are backed by data rather than hot statements. Claire Vo is also a great person to follow on X because of her transparency in how she uses AI to build her company ChatPRD. Even if her podcast didn't exist, I learned more from her about the possibilities AI opens up in terms of new ways to work alone and in teams than from anyone else.
Using these AI resources for executives will kickstart your own journey into the world of AI and help you keep up with the rapid transformation our world is experiencing due to artificial intelligence. As you continue to learn, you will discover more resources that align with your goals and focus. These resources will provide you with a solid foundation for understanding what to look for in AI resources to avoid hype and speculative content. Use what you learn to transform the work of your company and team and adjust your focus so your business does not fall behind.
