Welcome executives and professionals. “Creative destruction” is the power of innovation to destroy existing structures while simultaneously laying the groundwork for new ones to emerge.

Since the previous edition, we have reviewed hundreds of the latest insights in agentic and generative AI, spanning best practices, case studies, market dynamics, and innovations.

This briefing outlines what is driving material value — and why it’s important.

In today’s briefing:

• JPMorgan’s seven axes shaping AI geopolitics.

• The board’s role in AI governance.

• McKinsey unpacks agentic commerce.

• Capgemini’s AI ethics implementation guide.

• Transformation and technology in the news.

• Career opportunities & events.

Read time: 4 minutes.

GLOBAL OPERATING SYSTEM

JPMorgan’s seven axes shaping AI geopolitics

Brief: JPMorgan’s 32-page report explores seven “strategic axes” (1-7) defining the AI geopolitical moment, “motivating governments, businesses, and alliances to reposition in ways that will shape the century ahead.”

Breakdown:

• “Assertive China” aims to lead global AI through state-driven self-reliance, and by exporting low-cost open-source to expand influence (1).

• The U.S. is betting on private-sector innovation and major infrastructure buildouts “to preserve and extend its competitive edge” (2).

• The EU moves toward tech sovereignty, striving to reduce dependence on foreign technology and bolster its own AI capabilities (3).

• The Middle East's "sovereign wealth funds are leveraging energy abundance” to position the region as a global innovation hub (4).

• Semiconductors, critical minerals, and electricity form key chokepoints (5) as AI reshapes labor markets (6), and modern military power (7).

Why it’s important: For business leaders, the private sector has a decisive role to play in scaling innovation and securing critical supply chains. Companies that understand this moment, and act on it, will not only help safeguard their own business but help secure the foundations of long-term national strength.

STRATEGIC GOVERNANCE

The board’s role in AI governance

Brief: Infosys Knowledge Institute surveyed 300 board members from North American firms generating over $1 billion in revenue, examining how boards define and oversee enterprise AI strategy and implementation.

Breakdown:

• 72% of boards now receive AI updates regularly, while 14% review AI progress and risks at every meeting, signaling growing oversight.

• Many directors now feel better informed on AI and emerging tech than on geopolitical, economic, or regulatory developments.

• Despite threats (graph above), only 14% of boards express high concern about reputational damage from failures like AI errors.

• While 29% have approved enterprise-wide AI plans, most boards (55%) rely on department-level initiatives without unified KPIs.

• 46% of boards oversee explainable AI decisions directly, while half delegate this responsibility to management teams.

Why it’s important: AI complicates the role of corporate board members by introducing new layers of complexity to already high-stakes decisions. Unlike financial cycles, competitive threats, or regulatory shifts, each with long histories, AI is advancing at a frenetic, less predictable pace.

OPPORTUNITY INSIGHT

McKinsey unpacks agentic commerce

Brief: McKinsey examined the agentic commerce opportunity, showing how AI agents are redefining consumer–merchant relationships, potentially unlocking $1T in U.S. retail revenue by 2030 and up to $5T globally.

Breakdown:

• Chapter 1 envisions AI agents that anticipate needs, compare options, negotiate, and complete purchases, all aligned with user intent.

• Chapter 2 outlines the infrastructure for agentic commerce, spanning MCP, A2A, AP2, computer use, and other emerging technologies.

• Chapter 3 explores business model evolution as merchants compete across engagement, discovery, “clienteling,” and loyalty.

• Chapter 4 dissects trust and risk across five dimensions of agentic commerce, including “know your agent” and transparency.

• Chapter 5 identifies challenges and opportunities, from go-to-market strategy and brand to monetization pathways.

Why it’s important: Before long, nearly all retailers will have to grapple with the fact that a significant percentage of their customers will not be human users, but rather, AI agents. The companies that get out in front of it now, before their rivals do, will be the ones that shape the future.

BEST PRACTICE INSIGHT

Capgemini’s AI ethics implementation guide

Brief: Capgemini's practical guide provides perspective on the foundational steps for building effective AI ethics governance, helping organizations navigate challenges that can arise as they scale AI transformation.

Breakdown:

• Conduct a SWOT analysis to identify risks and challenges AI adoption may pose to your organization, and society more broadly.

• Examine four dimensions: technological, psychological, sociological, and geopolitical, to inform AI principal design.

• Leveraging SWOT outputs, the AI ethicist and key functions like Legal and HR can shape principles aligned with company values.

• Test AI ethics principles across the full AI lifecycle (image above) including against emerging tech like agentic AI and robotics.

• Reference Capgemini’s Code of Ethics for AI, but make sure principles are grounded in the organization’s unique context.

Why it’s important: Ethical conversations can be complicated. They depend on cultural, societal, personal, and organizational values. There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all. Capgemini’s framework helps leaders create a set of AI ethics principles unique to their business.

BCG outlined how AI agents will transform B2B sales, matching agentic and gen AI capabilities to buyer, seller, and sale characteristics.

KPMG published a 33-page report on agentic AI, spanning the value at stake, implementation, staying ahead of the regulatory curve, and more.

McKinsey shared how software incumbents can reinvent value propositions for agentic AI, along with guidance for safe and secure deployment.

Deloitte’s 2025 Tech Value Survey found AI taking outsized investment, potentially needing recalibration, and shared its Palantir upskilling blueprint.

Forrester examined the mental model for agentic AI, challenging the “agent-as-employee” view and exploring the dual identify of AI agents.

IDC’s 57-slide enterprise AI maturity study assessed how organizations are building infrastructure, governance, and operating models to scale adoption.

OpenAI published a 12-page Workforce Blueprint including policy recommendations for AI adoption and creating AI talent hubs across the U.S.

Harvard economist noted that 92% of U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 came from investment in data centers and information technologies.

Walmart partnered with OpenAI to let ChatGPT users explore and buy products directly through chat using the Instant Checkout feature.

Anthropic launched Skills for Claude to help handle specialized tasks and released Claude Haiku 4.5, faster and cheaper than its predecessor.

Salesforce and OpenAI integrated Agentforce 360 apps into ChatGPT, enabling CRM data access and direct product sales within the assistant.

Microsoft added AI updates to Windows 11 with a ‘Hey Copilot’ command, launched MAI-Image-1, and brought Sora 2 to Azure AI Foundry.

OpenAI announced a multi-year collaboration with Broadcom to design and deploy AI chips across its facilities and partner data centers.

Alibaba released more efficient versions of Qwen3-VL 4B and 8B models, outperforming Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite and GPT-5 Nano.

Google introduced a Gemini-powered "Help Me Schedule" feature that suggests meeting times from calendar data and contextual email details.

Stanford outlined how China’s energy supremacy threatens U.S. AI dominance, while Chinese export curbs on rare earths prompt U.S. price floors.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Anthropic - Head of Product Communications

U.S. Bank - Operations AI Strategy Leader

NTT DATA - Open AI Partnership Vice President

EVENTS

McKinsey - Agentic AI Enterprise Impact - October 23, 2025

GovAI Summit - U.S. AI Action Plan - October 27-29, 2025

CrewAI - Signal 2025 - November 20th, 2025

Originally conceived as a practical communication for executives the editor, Lewis Walker, has worked with, this briefing now serves as a trusted resource for thousands of senior decision-makers shaping the future of enterprise AI.

If your AI product or service adds value to this audience, contact us for information on a limited number of sponsorship opportunities.

We also welcome feedback as we continue to refine the briefing.