Jason Michaels
@50champ.bsky.social
Head of Partnerships at Gradial, working with agencies, GSIs, and ISVs to drive faster, smarter engagements with an agentic Content Supply Chain. Former NA agency practice and scaled content lead at Accenture Song.
The challenge is to design AI-enabled systems that preserve space for human choice. This requires deliberately retaining moments for reflection, decision-making, and exploration. The question is: Will we cede agency to machines, or will we design for human authorship? hbr.org/2025/12/ai-i... #AI
AI Is Changing How We Learn at Work
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the workplace, it is also reshaping how people learn, develop expertise, and form their professional identities. Although gen AI promises to accelerate…
hbr.org
January 2, 2026 at 4:45 PM
The challenge is to design AI-enabled systems that preserve space for human choice. This requires deliberately retaining moments for reflection, decision-making, and exploration. The question is: Will we cede agency to machines, or will we design for human authorship? hbr.org/2025/12/ai-i... #AI
In 2026, the opportunity is to connect what already exists into a system that compounds value instead of duplicating effort. That’s what “strategic content orchestration” really means and why it’s the evolution from simple “content operations." contentmarketinginstitute.com/strategy-pla... #content
Content Orchestration: The 2026 Marketing Shift
Content operations got you this far, but 2026 demands content orchestration. Here's how to shift from scattered campaigns to coordinated systems.
contentmarketinginstitute.com
January 1, 2026 at 10:36 PM
In 2026, the opportunity is to connect what already exists into a system that compounds value instead of duplicating effort. That’s what “strategic content orchestration” really means and why it’s the evolution from simple “content operations." contentmarketinginstitute.com/strategy-pla... #content
First-person, qual and quant: Right out of the gate, buyers want to know how your product will make their jobs easier, proving that you understand their industry and its challenges. If you can’t immediately articulate that, your buyers will move on. www.mediapost.com/publications... #industry
Teach Before You Sell: Why Education-Led Marketing Will Win B2B In 2026
When a brand steps up to teach and make someone feel more capable, a relationship starts to form -- which turns interest into buying decisions.
www.mediapost.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
First-person, qual and quant: Right out of the gate, buyers want to know how your product will make their jobs easier, proving that you understand their industry and its challenges. If you can’t immediately articulate that, your buyers will move on. www.mediapost.com/publications... #industry
ARR plus: Value follows impact. Companies that can demonstrate real productivity gains for customers and operational leverage for themselves will earn premium valuations. www.businessinsider.com/software-arr... via @businessinsider #value #ARR #AI
Startups love to boast about 'ARR.' AI could bring this to an abrupt end.
AI disrupts ARR: Startups and SaaS firms face new hybrid valuation models as investors prioritize usage, efficiency, and outcome-based metrics.
www.businessinsider.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM
ARR plus: Value follows impact. Companies that can demonstrate real productivity gains for customers and operational leverage for themselves will earn premium valuations. www.businessinsider.com/software-arr... via @businessinsider #value #ARR #AI
This technology is @Gradial, and solves the challenges noted in the article: “Why approved web pages still don’t go live and how AI bridges the gap.” martech.org/why-approved... #ai #contentops #workflow #publishing @GeneDeLibero
Why approved web pages still don’t go live and how AI bridges the gap | MarTech
AI removes the handoffs between design systems, CMS, data platforms and compliance that turn simple launches into months-long projects.
martech.org
December 22, 2025 at 4:45 PM
This technology is @Gradial, and solves the challenges noted in the article: “Why approved web pages still don’t go live and how AI bridges the gap.” martech.org/why-approved... #ai #contentops #workflow #publishing @GeneDeLibero
The United States of fraud: The case for branding, customer service, personalization, and knowing what is purely transactional and what requires human touch. www.businessinsider.com/shoplifting-... via @businessinsider #retail #brand #martech #AI
From shoplifting to return fraud, how America became a nation of small-time scammers, cheaters, and thieves
Everyday consumers are shoplifting, cheating on returns, and committing other "mini crimes" to get back at big businesses.
www.businessinsider.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The United States of fraud: The case for branding, customer service, personalization, and knowing what is purely transactional and what requires human touch. www.businessinsider.com/shoplifting-... via @businessinsider #retail #brand #martech #AI
Teneo Vision 2026: "Leaders today are using AI to redesign their operating model; not just to move faster, but to make sure the business is relevant and resilient five years from now." www.teneo.com/vision2026 #AI #opmodel #effectiveness #program #ROI
Teneo Vision 2026 | CEO and Investor Outlook Survey
Where is the World Going in 2026 and Beyond? CEO Paul Keary shares Teneo’s CEO & Investor Outlook Survey, shedding light on future market expectations.
www.teneo.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Teneo Vision 2026: "Leaders today are using AI to redesign their operating model; not just to move faster, but to make sure the business is relevant and resilient five years from now." www.teneo.com/vision2026 #AI #opmodel #effectiveness #program #ROI
Content Ops: The next chapter is about scale, experimentation and structural shifts that help marketing teams grow in ways that were not possible in the pre-AI era. Differentiation comes from using AI to expand the range of what marketing can attempt. www.cmswire.com/digital-mark... #contentops
6 Martech Trends to Watch in 2026
Martech's Godfather says efficiency-era AI is over — marketing leaders must adapt as dual operating models and agent-driven architectures take over.
www.cmswire.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Content Ops: The next chapter is about scale, experimentation and structural shifts that help marketing teams grow in ways that were not possible in the pre-AI era. Differentiation comes from using AI to expand the range of what marketing can attempt. www.cmswire.com/digital-mark... #contentops
Branding: How Levi’s sells Americana to the world. “Our brand is actually bigger than our business right now. Our job is to get our fair share.” www.fastcompany.com/91448585/lev... #brand #mshare #content #geo #exports
www.fastcompany.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
IP inflection point: Disney on Thursday announced an agreement to bring its characters to OpenAI’s short-form video platform. Videos made with Sora will be available to stream on Disney+. Disney also said it would buy a $1 billion stake in OpenAI. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/b... #IP #media #tech
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
IP inflection point: Disney on Thursday announced an agreement to bring its characters to OpenAI’s short-form video platform. Videos made with Sora will be available to stream on Disney+. Disney also said it would buy a $1 billion stake in OpenAI. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/b... #IP #media #tech
Future: SCAD just launched an AI major: “Our assumptions are that AI will create new domains in product development, design, story, and ethically focused systems. Our major is designed to develop the skills and practices that we see emerging in those fields.” www.fastcompany.com/91430743/sca...
www.fastcompany.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Future: SCAD just launched an AI major: “Our assumptions are that AI will create new domains in product development, design, story, and ethically focused systems. Our major is designed to develop the skills and practices that we see emerging in those fields.” www.fastcompany.com/91430743/sca...
Building Trust at the Digital Front Door: "When governments make digital access intuitive and reliable, residents respond. They choose digital not because they have to, but because it works best." www.linkedin.com/pulse/buildi... #tech #PS #UX #mobilefirst #content #personalization #privacy
LinkedIn Pulse
www.linkedin.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Building Trust at the Digital Front Door: "When governments make digital access intuitive and reliable, residents respond. They choose digital not because they have to, but because it works best." www.linkedin.com/pulse/buildi... #tech #PS #UX #mobilefirst #content #personalization #privacy
Forrester: "A new generation of content operations leaders will emerge to adapt workflows and content strategy, modernize localization and taxonomy, guide subject matter experts, and transform professional content creators into modular content architects." www.forrester.com/blogs/forres...
Forrester Analyst Takes For Digital Content In 2026
Forrester’s analysts speculate on trends in digital content for 2026 as businesses continue to invest in, and expect business value from, generative AI.
www.forrester.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Forrester: "A new generation of content operations leaders will emerge to adapt workflows and content strategy, modernize localization and taxonomy, guide subject matter experts, and transform professional content creators into modular content architects." www.forrester.com/blogs/forres...
The rise of AI slop in marketing: In an age of endless content, relevance is not earned by simply publishing more. Personalization only works if your content operations tools have QA, accessibility, and brand checks built in, enabling both speed and quality. www.fastcompany.com/91446432/the...
www.fastcompany.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The rise of AI slop in marketing: In an age of endless content, relevance is not earned by simply publishing more. Personalization only works if your content operations tools have QA, accessibility, and brand checks built in, enabling both speed and quality. www.fastcompany.com/91446432/the...
I joined Gradial from Accenture Song because I saw a technology capable of transforming how content operations teams and enterprise marketing as a whole could execute with speed, quality, and scale. Today, we announced our $35M Series B. www.gradial.com/blog/series-...
www.gradial.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I joined Gradial from Accenture Song because I saw a technology capable of transforming how content operations teams and enterprise marketing as a whole could execute with speed, quality, and scale. Today, we announced our $35M Series B. www.gradial.com/blog/series-...
The key to high-performing teams isn’t more talent or perfect leaders: Success is about creating conditions where people can thrive together and collaboration, trust, and shared purpose matter more than individual stardom. www.fastcompany.com/91442722/hig... #growth #work #trust #teams #leaders
www.fastcompany.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Forrester: A Big Bang reshapes agencies into Algorithms of Record, customizing instructions for how, when, and where to execute on behalf of a brand. The algorithm of record integrates the agency’s marketing OS, proprietary data, and client IP. www.forrester.com/blogs/a-big-... #ai #data
A Big Bang Reshapes Agencies Into Algorithms Of Record
A reluctant transformation explodes into an agency big bang as hold co. consolidation and technology change reveal the algorithm of record.
www.forrester.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Forrester: A Big Bang reshapes agencies into Algorithms of Record, customizing instructions for how, when, and where to execute on behalf of a brand. The algorithm of record integrates the agency’s marketing OS, proprietary data, and client IP. www.forrester.com/blogs/a-big-... #ai #data
EU clears Omnicom-IPG $26bn deal: The decision allows the two U.S.-based holding companies to proceed with the deal and create the world's largest advertising agency group, commanding an estimated $26bn in annual revenues. www.campaignlive.com/article/eu-c... via @CampaignUs #agency #media #creative
EU clears Omnicom-IPG $26 billion deal
Omnicom passes final regulatory hurdle in acquisition of Interpublic Group.
www.campaignlive.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:45 PM
EU clears Omnicom-IPG $26bn deal: The decision allows the two U.S.-based holding companies to proceed with the deal and create the world's largest advertising agency group, commanding an estimated $26bn in annual revenues. www.campaignlive.com/article/eu-c... via @CampaignUs #agency #media #creative
The ‘effectiveness crisis’ is really media becoming democratized: The framing is reminiscent of those who claim “digital has never built a brand”, which can immediately be disproved. www.marketingweek.com/effectivenes... #media #creative #effectiveness #direct #social
www.marketingweek.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The ‘effectiveness crisis’ is really media becoming democratized: The framing is reminiscent of those who claim “digital has never built a brand”, which can immediately be disproved. www.marketingweek.com/effectivenes... #media #creative #effectiveness #direct #social
CMO: AI can’t be treated as a plug-in. It demands a rearchitecture of marketing operations, talent and culture. martech.org/cmos-face-a-... #ai #opmodel #results #ocm
CMOs face a make-or-break moment as digital channels and personalization collapse | MarTech
Digital channels are crumbling, personalization is backfiring, and Gartner says CMOs must rethink everything—or risk becoming irrelevant.
martech.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:45 PM
CMO: AI can’t be treated as a plug-in. It demands a rearchitecture of marketing operations, talent and culture. martech.org/cmos-face-a-... #ai #opmodel #results #ocm
The collaboration begins: “We saw an opportunity to take the power of the in-house creative and content we have at Yeti and pair it with an incredible partner in Wieden+Kennedy and their global scale and global brand storytelling experience capabilities.” www.fastcompany.com/91441822/yet...
www.fastcompany.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The collaboration begins: “We saw an opportunity to take the power of the in-house creative and content we have at Yeti and pair it with an incredible partner in Wieden+Kennedy and their global scale and global brand storytelling experience capabilities.” www.fastcompany.com/91441822/yet...
"Imagine websites all becoming MCP endpoints, and the webpage and site map don't matter. What matters is the MCP endpoint that basically says, 'Come to me and ask me what you want to know or tell me what you want to do.'" www.techtarget.com/searchenterp... via @techtargetnews #search #AI #browse
Time to promote AI agents from "assistants to associates"? | TechTarget
Discover the newest developments in AI and learn about the growth of AI agents from experts at EmTech MIT 2025.
www.techtarget.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:45 PM
"Imagine websites all becoming MCP endpoints, and the webpage and site map don't matter. What matters is the MCP endpoint that basically says, 'Come to me and ask me what you want to know or tell me what you want to do.'" www.techtarget.com/searchenterp... via @techtargetnews #search #AI #browse
I've found that you have to communicate the why, set and track metrics, model the right behavior, and enable people to grow by unblocking obstacles (in the work and in themselves). Training happens in the margins and in execution. www.fastcompany.com/91431738/nob... #training #leadership #mentoring
www.fastcompany.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I've found that you have to communicate the why, set and track metrics, model the right behavior, and enable people to grow by unblocking obstacles (in the work and in themselves). Training happens in the margins and in execution. www.fastcompany.com/91431738/nob... #training #leadership #mentoring
Brand: "Brands that understand human truths (yes, humans) can generate those signals for a business. It is what makes people stop scrolling, pay attention, and feel something. Without it, content becomes wallpaper, optimized but forgettable wallpaper." www.fastcompany.com/91433896/bra... #brand
www.fastcompany.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Brand: "Brands that understand human truths (yes, humans) can generate those signals for a business. It is what makes people stop scrolling, pay attention, and feel something. Without it, content becomes wallpaper, optimized but forgettable wallpaper." www.fastcompany.com/91433896/bra... #brand
“With Sitecore’s XM Cloud platform and Gradial’s AI agents, we’re accelerating speed to market and reimagining content delivery to create more meaningful, tailored experiences that meet our audiences’ unique needs and expectations." www.perficient.com/news-room/ne... #perficient #gradial #ops
Perficient Becomes First Partner to Invest in Sitecore XM Cloud with Gradial, Showcases AI-Driven Marketing Innovation at Sitecore Symposium
SAINT LOUIS (November 4, 2025) – Perficient, the global consultancy transforming the world’s most innovative companies through AI-first solutions, is spotlighting its own marketing transformation at…
www.perficient.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:45 PM
“With Sitecore’s XM Cloud platform and Gradial’s AI agents, we’re accelerating speed to market and reimagining content delivery to create more meaningful, tailored experiences that meet our audiences’ unique needs and expectations." www.perficient.com/news-room/ne... #perficient #gradial #ops