01
THINK
Use AI as a thinking partner. Challenge an idea, compare scenarios, prepare for a meeting, pressure-test a decision, rewrite a message, and ask better questions faster.
FT20FORWARD TWENTY
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THE AI
POWER FIVE.
WHAT BUSINESSES SHOULD ACTUALLY BE USING IN OCTOBER 2026
AI is everywhere. The better question is where it can actually make a business better. FT20's Power Five focuses on five capabilities that matter now—and the judgment required to use them well.
FT20 BUSINESS SERIES
AI5
THINK.
FIND.
AUTOMATE.
CREATE.
CONTROL.
FIND.
AUTOMATE.
CREATE.
CONTROL.
02
FIND
Use AI to help locate and understand the information already buried across documents, emails, reports, policies, spreadsheets, meeting notes and research.
03
AUTOMATE
Move beyond one-off answers. Use AI to help execute repeatable workflows: review, identify exceptions, draft follow-up, notify the right person, and move work forward.
04
CREATE
Accelerate first drafts across writing, presentations, training, images, audio, video, research briefs and data visualization—without giving up human review or brand standards.
05
CONTROL
Define what data can be used, what requires human approval, who reviews outputs, which systems an AI agent can access, and what happens when something goes wrong. Innovation without controls becomes risk.
THE FT20 VIEW
USE IT. UNDERSTAND IT.
LEAD WITH IT.
The technology will keep changing. These five business needs will not. The goal is not to use the most AI. The goal is to use it where it improves thinking, execution, speed, clarity and control.
IMPORTANT
FT20 Business content is for informational and educational purposes. AI capabilities, product features, pricing, security controls and legal requirements can change quickly. Organizations should evaluate tools against their own data, security, compliance, contractual and operational requirements.