Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights

Global managed services contracts are experiencing reduced momentum as buyers display notable hesitation to commit to long-term agreements during a period defined by organizational pivots toward artificial intelligence. The Information Services Group reported only a 1.2% quarter-over-quarter increase in large managed services contracts in late 2025, totaling $10.9 billion, with full-year growth ba...

This Business of Tech episode delves into the critical alignment of technology with how people work, emphasizing the strategic advantage for businesses, particularly those leveraging Apple ecosystems and remote teams. Rob Calvert, President of Second Son Consulting, highlights common misconceptions in IT, where decisions are often made in a vacuum without considering company culture or workflows....

The episode centers on structural changes in the Managed Service Provider (MSP) mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape, with a focus on the increased influence of private equity (PE), platform strategies, and disciplined deal execution. Dave Sobel and Abraham Garver highlight that the primary driver for buyers has shifted from merely acquiring revenue to seeking operating models that support sca...

Anthropic’s disclosure of model drift within its Claude AI system highlights growing risks surrounding governance and ongoing alignment of artificial intelligence. The company has revised its guidelines using a “Constitutional AI” approach, aiming to instill reason-based behavior and ethical boundaries, and has openly acknowledged that an AI’s internal controls may shift unpredictably over time—a...

Escalating distrust in identity systems and misuse of AI are forcing a shift in security accountability for small and midsize businesses. Recent analysis highlights that the prevalence of deepfake-driven business email compromise and non-human digital identities is eroding confidence in traditional protective solutions. According to Techyle and supporting reports referenced by Dave Sobel, the rati...

PC spending has seen a significant rebound, with Gartner reporting a 9.3% rise in worldwide PC shipments in late 2025, primarily driven by corporate IT upgrades to meet Windows 11 requirements. This recovery, which saw 10.1% growth in Q4 2025 according to Omnia data, highlights a shift from consumer-led demand to necessity-driven upgrades. Despite supply chain challenges in memory and storage, lea...

OpenAI is introducing advertisements into ChatGPT for free and ChatGPT Go users, aiming to fund artificial general intelligence development. These ads will be clearly labeled and separate from AI responses, with OpenAI stating user conversations will remain private and data will not be sold. Ads will be excluded from sensitive topics. Users can avoid ads by upgrading to a paid subscription, such a...

The discussion highlights the limitations of traditional cybersecurity training methods, emphasizing that a psychology-informed approach with positive reinforcement is crucial for developing genuine cyber literacy within organizations. Traditional "gotcha" tactics, such as fake phishing tests, are shown to be ineffective and can even lead to increased clicks, according to research from the Univers...

The discussion centers on the rapidly evolving landscape of AI adoption within businesses, highlighting a significant gap between individual user experimentation and formal organizational strategies. While employees across various departments are actively using AI tools for productivity gains, many executive leaders remain hesitant to formally adopt or fund these technologies due to concerns about...

Apple has introduced Creator Studio, a subscription-based suite that embeds AI-assisted features directly into familiar productivity and creative tools while maintaining strict control over interfaces and user experience. Alongside this launch, Apple confirmed a multiyear partnership with Google to use Gemini and Google Cloud as foundational AI infrastructure, reportedly involving annual payments...

This episode examines why growing concern over AI-driven skills obsolescence is less about workforce displacement and more about authority, accountability, and liability for MSPs. As AI systems increasingly triage tickets, remediate issues, and shape outcomes, MSPs are absorbing responsibility for decisions made by tools they did not design and cannot fully audit. The mismatch between AI-driven op...

Rising workplace use of artificial intelligence is outpacing organizational governance, according to data from Microsoft and Gallup. Microsoft reports global AI adoption reached 16.3% in 2025, while Gallup finds nearly half of U.S. workers use AI tools at work at least annually. Despite that usage, only a minority of employees report clear employer guidance on AI ownership and purpose, creating ac...

Slowing U.S. job growth alongside rising labor productivity highlights how organizations are replacing hiring with automation and AI-driven systems. Government labor data shows job growth in 2025 fell to roughly 584,000 positions, while productivity rose nearly five percent in the third quarter, allowing output to increase without additional staff. According to CompTIA, demand for AI-related skill...

Procurement is experiencing a significant shift as organizations increasingly adopt automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance sourcing, purchasing, and spend management processes. Kevin Frechette, CEO and co-founder of Fairmarkit, discusses how their platform enables enterprises to transition from manual procurement methods to AI-driven autonomous sourcing. This shift allows procureme...

The recent acquisition of Small Biz Thoughts and IT Service Provider University by MSP Radio marks a significant shift in the landscape of resources available to Managed Service Providers (MSPs). This acquisition aims to ensure the continued stewardship of valuable intellectual property, including books and community resources, while allowing founder Karl Palachuk to refocus on his original goals...

Intel has launched its Core Ultra Series 3 central processing units, utilizing its new 18A process technology, which aims to enhance performance and efficiency across various applications, including gaming and professional workloads. This development is part of Intel's strategy to regain competitiveness in the CPU market, which has faced increasing pressure from rivals. The new processors promise...

Google has introduced an AI-powered inbox view for Gmail, designed to enhance user experience by transforming the traditional email interface into a personalized platform that includes to-do items and topic summaries. This feature, currently available to trusted testers in the U.S. for consumer Gmail accounts, aims to help users manage their emails more effectively. However, concerns have been rai...

Microsoft has announced significant changes to its Teams platform, set to take effect on January 12, 2026. The platform will automatically enhance messaging security by blocking risky files and scanning shared links for potential phishing threats. This proactive measure aims to protect organizations, particularly smaller ones without dedicated security teams, from increasingly sophisticated cyber...

Artificial intelligence adoption is accelerating without formal ownership as employees, customers, and patients integrate AI tools into daily decisions. Surveys from Gallup show 45% of U.S. employees use AI at work at least occasionally, while research cited by OpenAI indicates roughly 60% of American adults recently used AI for health-related questions. Zoho and Arion Research report that 41% of...

The U.S. economy demonstrated robust growth in the third quarter of 2025, with a gross domestic product (GDP) increase of 4.3%, according to the Commerce Department. This growth occurred despite consumer concerns and uncertainties related to tariffs, with military spending and corporate profits contributing significantly. However, the technology sector experienced substantial layoffs, with 1.1 mil...

Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are encouraged to shift their focus from traditional infrastructure management to becoming Managed Intelligence Providers (MIPs), emphasizing the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into their service offerings. Chance Weaver, VP of AI Adoption at PAX 8, highlights the necessity for MSPs to engage in deeper conversations with clients about their business pr...

The conversation centers on the evolving role of automation in Managed Service Providers (MSPs), particularly the implementation of human-in-the-loop AI systems. Mathieu Tougas, CEO of Mizo Technologies, emphasizes that while automation can significantly enhance efficiency—reporting a 26% increase in technician capacity and a 30% reduction in escalations—maintaining human oversight is crucial for...

Robbie Bach, former president of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division, discusses his transition from technology executive to author of political techno-thrillers, focusing on his latest book, The Blockchain Syndicate . The narrative explores themes of digital identity, misinformation, and the vulnerabilities of modern institutions, emphasizing that technology itself is neutral; it can be...

Laith Palhawan, CEO and founder of OrangeCrew, has successfully transitioned his managed IT services company into the public sector by becoming GSA certified, allowing him to provide IT services to government agencies. This shift has required a deep understanding of compliance and security requirements that differ significantly from those in the private sector. In the public sector, clients expect...

The episode reviews the outcomes of predictions made for 2025, highlighting the evolving role of automation and AI in Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Key findings indicate that while generative AI has improved data accessibility, it has not fully resolved existing reporting issues related to data quality and governance. Additionally, the anticipated widespread adoption of autonomous IT systems a...