Technology
CFO Outlook 2026: AI Data Governance Remains a Key Focus
As CFOs formulate their plans for 2026, AI remains high on the priority list. Myles Corson, EY's global financial accounting advisory leader, says the pace of technological disruption and the actual capabilities of AI will become clearer, and finance executives need to maintain a sustained focus on AI data governance. Data quality, understanding of sources, and governance frameworks are crucial for navigating economic uncertainty and regulatory changes.
Cost Cuts and AI Adoption Drive October Layoff Surge: Challenger Report
The latest report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas shows that U.S. employers announced 153,074 layoffs in October, a 175% increase year-over-year and an 183% rise month-over-month. Cost cutting and AI adoption are the two main causes of private-sector layoffs, with the tech sector under continued pressure. Federal Reserve Chair Powell stated he is closely monitoring AI's impact on employment.
Tech giants' AI capital expenditure growth rate is 'staggering,' totaling $112.5 billion in a single quarter
According to CFO Dive's analysis of the financial reports of four tech giants, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta's combined capital expenditures last quarter reached $112.5 billion, a 77% increase year-over-year. Microsoft led with $34.9 billion, followed closely by Amazon at $34.2 billion. Gene Munster, a partner at investment firm Deepwater Asset Management, called this figure 'staggering' and expects it to continue rising. Meanwhile, a survey shows that 97% of CFOs say their boards require regular updates on AI investment progress, but the market is divided on whether the massive investments by some companies will yield corresponding returns.
The New CFO RFP Playbook: Leveraging AI to Win High-Margin Deals
Over decades in finance, the author has participated in more than 1,000 bids, emphasizing that proposals alone are insufficient to guarantee long-term profitability. The article argues that CFOs must deeply engage in the sales process, build close partnerships with CROs, and leverage modern AI tools to optimize bid decisions while remaining vigilant about the risks of large language models.
BILL CFO: AI Empowers Finance Executives to Achieve 'Deep Learning' and Efficient Communication
Against the backdrop of expanding responsibilities for finance executives, BILL Holdings CFO Rohini Jain leverages AI to overcome time and knowledge constraints, achieve deep learning and efficient communication, and drive skill diversification within the finance team.
Building a Planning Process That Balances and Measures AI and Human Success
Annual planning is shifting from looking backward to looking forward, and finance departments need to balance AI investments with workforce allocation while establishing new measurable metrics. This article explores how to build a planning process adapted to the AI era through modern tools and cross-departmental collaboration.
Atlassian CFO Joe Binz Announces Retirement Amid Ongoing Leadership Changes
Atlassian announced on Thursday that Chief Financial Officer Joe Binz will retire on June 30, 2026, and that the decision was not due to any disagreement with the company. The company has begun a search for a new CFO. On the same day, Atlassian appointed Tamar Yehoshua, a former Google and Slack executive, as Chief Product and AI Officer, effective November 17. Binz's departure comes amid multiple changes in the company's leadership and board, while the company continues to increase its investment in AI, including the completion of its approximately $610 million cash acquisition of The Browser Company.
Meta CFO: Employee compensation costs accelerating, driven by AI talent hiring
Meta Chief Financial Officer Susan Li said on Wednesday's earnings call that the company's employee compensation costs accelerated in the third quarter, driven mainly by hiring in technical roles, particularly artificial intelligence talent. As of the end of the third quarter, total headcount exceeded 78,400, up 8% year-over-year. Looking ahead, the company expects employee compensation to be the second-largest expense item next year.
Snowflake CIO: Partnership with Palantir will fulfill the 'AI promise'
At the Money20/20 conference, Snowflake CIO Mike Blandina stated that the strategic partnership with Palantir will help customers quickly realize AI value, as the two sides are highly aligned in customer networks, technology, and philosophy.
Wharton School Survey: 72% of Corporate Executives Have Established Mechanisms to Measure ROI on Generative AI
According to survey results released by the Wharton School on Tuesday, 72% of business leaders have established structured processes to track AI return on investment through metrics such as productivity, profitability, and throughput. Among respondents evaluating generative AI investments, three-quarters reported seeing positive returns so far. The survey also found that 88% of leaders expect to increase spending on generative AI in the coming year, and 62% anticipate double-digit growth in spending over the next two to five years.