Guidewire's annual recurring revenue (ARR) reached $1.24 billion in fiscal 2026, a 19% increase in constant currency. The company's stock trades at around 10x ARR, despite paying $1.7 billion for AI-powered underwriting firm Hyperexponential.
Editor's noteGuidewire's valuation is a hedge, not a rule. The company's 10x ARR multiple is justified by its lowest churn ever, but the $1.7 billion AI acquisition is a lever that could tip the balance. Watch the operating cash flow margin, which has been 26% for the past year, as it will settle whether the AI bet pays off.
TECHNOLOGY
Oracle wants to bill you for every AI task, not just every seat
Oracle plans to introduce a usage-based revenue model, charging customers for AI tasks performed within its software suite, rather than just per user seat, to increase revenue from existing customers.
Thanks to AI, are we raising the first generation of kids who don’t have to figure things out?
Teenagers are using AI to make decisions and navigate relationships, potentially hindering their development and confidence by depriving them of valuable learning experiences and mastery experiences, such as failing and overcoming challenges.
MARKETING & DESIGN
Why Doctors Avoid AI When Patients Need It Most—and Why They Rely on It When It’s Less Useful
Research suggests doctors often rely on AI in straightforward medical cases, but may avoid using it when treatment is uncertain. This contradicts the assumption that AI will improve accuracy in complex cases.
Editor's noteDoctors' reliance on AI in straightforward cases, not complex ones, reveals a deeper issue: the legal and financial frameworks that govern medical practice. Watch the malpractice liability schemes: will they shift to hold doctors accountable for AI-driven decisions, or protect them from liability, and what will be the impact on patient care?
"If AI can do most of what we think an architect does, maybe we have defined the profession too narrowly"
Architects are anxious about AI's increasing capabilities, but instead of defending their profession, they should consider redefining their role and value in the industry, as AI can perform many tasks currently attributed to architects.
ChatGPT Ads vs. Google Search ads: 5 differences to consider in your strategy
ChatGPT ads and Google Search ads differ in their targeting and visibility methods, with ChatGPT ads matching ads to conversation context and Google Search ads relying on keyword bidding. This affects how businesses can measure results and choose between the two platforms.
ADVERTISING & PR
6 mistakes to avoid with AI-powered performance marketing
Marketers must set clear business objectives for AI-powered performance marketing campaigns to avoid optimising for the wrong metrics and undermining growth. AI can efficiently optimise towards specific inputs, but the metric's value to the business must be considered. This distinction is crucial for achieving profitable, incremental growth.
The risks of optimizing SEO for AI over users
Marketers are optimising for AI search systems rather than users, repeating a historical SEO mistake. Research shows human-authored content outperforms AI-generated content in search rankings, highlighting the importance of human expertise in SEO.
Editor's noteMarketers' obsession with AI search visibility is a repeat of SEO's past mistakes. The real value lies in serving users, not just search systems. Watch whether Google's emphasis on user-centric content leads to a shift away from AI-optimization hacks and towards human-first SEO strategies.
Retailers are still figuring out how to tie AI goals to executive compensation
Ralph Lauren has introduced AI metrics as a factor in adjusting executive payouts, a move reflecting changing industry priorities. Retailers are still grappling with how to link AI goals to executive compensation. The shift highlights the ongoing challenge for retailers.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Career switch into AI and data: What employers should look for
Career switchers with non-technical backgrounds are being sought by employers to fill AI and data roles, as universities struggle to meet demand for skilled practitioners. Joycelyn Woo's experience shows that a short training period and new qualification can be sufficient for a successful transition.
Waymo Informs Woman’s Friends She Talked Shit About Them During Ride
A Waymo car recorded a woman's conversation and sent it to her friends, who were critical of her comments. The incident highlights concerns about privacy and the use of autonomous vehicles to monitor passengers.
Editor's noteWaymo's decision to record and report passengers' conversations is a privacy invasion, not a helpful tool for accountability. The cost is a chilling effect on free speech, as people will now self-censor in the presence of autonomous vehicles. Watch the number of Waymo users who start using voice changers or encrypted phone apps to avoid being recorded.
The Next Fleetwood Mac? These 4 Coked Out Roommates Are Also Sleeping With Each Other
Four individuals, including Sandra Perkins and her partner, live together in a Santa Monica apartment, engaging in cocaine use and intimate relationships, drawing comparisons to Fleetwood Mac's dynamics. They have a history of tumultuous relationships and substance abuse. The group's dynamics have been likened to the legendary band's.
Bloke With Full Sleeve 'Theatre Masks' Tattoo Certainly Doesn't Mind A Bit Of Drama
Knoxlee Lundynn, 29, has a full sleeve tattoo of theatre masks on his left arm, which he believes represents the duality of drama. He has multiple facial piercings and tattoos with subtext, including a dragon on his neck and tribal tattoos on his shin and lower back.
PUBLIC POLICY
Analysis: China’s clean-tech exports in 2026 to avoid as much CO2 as Brazil emits in a year
China's clean-tech exports in 2026 are projected to reduce global CO2 emissions by 2%, with a total of 450m tonnes of CO2 avoided, equivalent to Brazil's annual emissions, according to new analysis.
Editor's noteChina's clean-tech exports are a small step towards global emissions reduction, but the real test is whether they displace domestic coal-fired power, not just export it. Watch whether the electricity generated by these exports is used to replace coal in China's own grid, or simply sold to countries that can afford it.
Experts: What China wants from the COP31 climate talks
China's priorities for the COP31 climate talks in Turkey are unclear, but the country has previously pushed for dialogue on unilateral trade measures and south-south cooperation, and has championed climate action through multilateralism.
Treasury, IRS use of third-party ID verification under fire from top Senate Finance, Banking Dems
Two Senate Democrats, Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren, have written to the Treasury Secretary and IRS CEO, expressing concerns about the use of ID.me for accessing TreasuryDirect, citing potential security risks and lack of digital proficiency among older Americans.
