Anthropic is watermarking text processed by Claude. Cue the AI-writing "gotchas". But a watermark can't tell us who did the thinking. In #FIRpodcast 526, @nevillehobson.xyz and I ask a better question than "Did you use AI?" bit.ly/4bUlAAR

AI workslop isn't simply bad AI output. It can waste colleagues' time, damage trust, and erode what an organization knows to be true. In FIR 525, @nevillehobson.xyz and I ask whether this is really an AI problem – or a leadership problem. bit.ly/4wX4E50

The CMP or SCMP after your name is a signal that you are aligned with a global communication standard, as Patrick Armstrong SCMP, notes. It's just one of many reasons for experienced communicators to pursue ISO-compliant certification.

I'm delighted to let you know that Mark Dollins is joining the "On The Same Page" podcast. Our first episode together looks at how to help leaders find their voice when communicating with internal stakeholders. bit.ly/4z9UvU8

Managers are unprepared to lead AI-fluent employees, while companies flood employees with AI information, some of which contradicts earlier messaging. This problem is at the heart of FIR episode 524. Managers say they're unprepared to lead AI-fluent employees. bit.ly/4cdIByD

Another testimonial from a communicator who values her certification.

Certification is the signal that you adhere to recognized global standards of communication excellence. The journey is as valuable as the designation.

@nevillehobson.xyz is ill, so this is a shorter-than-usual monthly episode that includes reports on rethinking thought leadership, maintaining brand sovereignty in the AI era, and whether hedging in your communication can serve a purpose. www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-523-no-b...

Podcasting 2.0's new podcast features are about open standards, platform independence, accessibility, and who controls the relationship with your audience. @nevillehobson.xyz and I explore the opportunities and obstacles in the latest FIR 522. 🎧💻 firpodcast.s.gy/1cKbhF

Your brand is no longer defined solely by what you say about yourself. Increasingly, it's defined by the answers AI gives when someone asks about you. @nevillehobson.xyz and I discuss the rise of the answer economy with Pete Blackshaw in a new FIR Interview. 🎧💻 bit.ly/3RdeqR4

Ford rehired 300+ veteran engineers after AI quality checks fell short – and topped JD Power's quality survey as a result. In #FIRpodcast 521, @nevillehobson.xyz and I discuss the gap between documentation and judgment, and what IBM and Klarna's AI reversals reveal. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4vOuU0S

Wowcher sent a marketing email referencing a toddler's crocodile attack 2 days after it happened. Plus shadow AI, anti-AI sentiment, news trust, personal branding & internal comms – all in #FIRpodcast 520 with @nevillehobson.xyz and me. bit.ly/4oRbOEJ

New research extends the hostile media effect to misinformation: people believe fake news targets their side more than the other. In #FIRpodcast 519, @nevillehobson.xyz and I look at what that means for communicators. 🎧💻https://bit.ly/4aOTG8J

PR misread the internet in 1995 and social media in 2007. Are we about to do it a third time with AI? In FIR 518, @nevillehobson.xyz and I dig into Stephen Waddington's sharp provocation for the CIPR. bit.ly/4e96fOo

Some companies spent more on AI than on the employees they replaced. Now they're walking it back, quietly. In #FIRpodcast 517, @nevillehobson.xyz and I look at what communicators should do when a loud promise meets a messy reality. bit.ly/4omRpHF

The Economist is building separate web content for AI agents, not just humans. In #FIRpodcast 516, @nevillehobson.xyz and I explore what that means for communicators, and why content like FAQ and press releases may need restructuring. www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-516-your...

In #FIRpodcast 515, @nevillehobson.xyz and I cover 6 topics that explore how content is found, how communicators prove their value, and how organizations govern the AI tools now operating within them. Plus @danyork's monthly Tech Report on WordPress 7.0. Worth a listen. 🎧💻https://bit.ly/3RsGLme

Was Twitter a unique moment in media history rather than a repeatable model? In #FIRpodcast 514, @nevillehobson.xyz and I discuss why text-based social networks may be fragmenting – and why relevance, trust, and smaller communities could matter more now. 🔗 bit.ly/43iN7qO

Today, using Claude Cowork and AI agents in comms workflows is a realistic proposition. In #FIRpodcast 513 @nevillehobson.xyz and I explore what happens when AI starts orchestrating workflows themselves. This has moved way beyond just experimenting. 🔗 bit.ly/4dflcN1

Is AI becoming the new “executive influencer”? In #FIRpodcast 512, @nevillehobson.xyz & I explore whether leaders are using AI to support decisions – or starting to defer to it. Big questions around judgment, trust, and accountability. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4n2UdJ2

I used to answer customer surveys. Now I mostly treat them like spam. holtz.com/blog/blog/we...

Policies. Training. Guardrails. And still a major law firm filed AI-generated errors in court. In #FIRpodcast 511, @nevillehobson.xyz & I unpack why this is about accountability, not tech. Plus 5 more stories and @danyork.bsky.social's tech report. 🎧💻 bit.ly/3QBStdK

Employees aren’t waiting for AI strategies – they’re already using the tools. In FIR 510, @nevillehobson.xyz & I explore “shadow AI” as a signal of unmet demand, not just a risk – and what that means for leadership, governance, and communicators. 🎧💻 bit.ly/3QSkb5Z

AI writing – helpful or harmful? In FIR 507, @nevillehobson.xyz and I look beyond the LinkedIn backlash. For many professionals, writing isn’t their skill – it’s a task. AI can help. But voice, judgement, and trust still matter. Where do we draw the line? 🎧💻 bit.ly/41wX578

AI is changing communication – and the assumptions behind it. In FIR 506, @nevillehobson.xyz & I cover: • Billable hours • Observed work • PR budget hype • Misinformation risk • Bots vs humans • Are humans still central? Plus, @danyork.bsky.social on tech. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4t270x8

Is social media still “social”? In #FIRpodcast 505, @nevillehobson.xyz and I explore Hootsuite’s 2026 Trends report, addressing social as search, AI vs authenticity, and more. Plus a darker question – what if AI starts to dominate the conversation? 🎧💻 bit.ly/4bhc7DJ

In #FIRpodcast 504, @nevillehobson.xyz and I talk about “AI washing” – when organizations attribute layoffs to AI even though the real reasons may be different. When the message differs from reality, trust erodes. It's an ethical bind for communicators. bit.ly/4s338vH

A leader can build goodwill for days... and lose it in seconds. In #FIRpodcast 503, nevillehobson.xyz & I examine the #IOC press conference moment that turned into a global story about blame, executive readiness & leadership capital. 🎧💻 bit.ly/3OKM3YX

In #FIRpodcast 502, @nevillehobson.xyz and I unpacked what happened when an AI coding agent's code was rejected by a human developer – and the AI then published a critique of him and his decision. Plus 5 more topics in this long-form episode for February. 🔗 bit.ly/46ou3cR