Jeff Dirks is fascinated by new technologies like generative AI. But when it comes to implementation, the chief information and technology officer of workforce augmentation firm TrueBlue chooses a path that trails early adopters. "We're in the early majority," is the CIO/CTO's blunt self-assessment. Although many IT leaders would like to think of themselves -- and have others think of them -- as in the vanguard of new technology adoption, the vast majority find themselves in the middle of a bell curve, with innovators leading the way and laggards trailing behind, according to Everett Rogers' diffusion of innovations theory [see chart]. But there is no one "right" place to be along the curve.

The metaverse is a novel concept that seems to often be misunderstood by the investment community. Although most notably discussed in the context of virtual reality and its associated hardware, the metaverse is actually a much broader concept than what it may seem to be. The metaverse today refers to the totality of digital worlds in which people both participate and create. The first credible metaverse products were MMORPGs (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) such as World of Warcraft. These were'first-generation' metaverse products owing to the fact that users were strictly limited to participation. Nonetheless, real world economics – and real world value – were created as a direct result of this extremely successful game.

Artificial intelligence in cybersecurity has recently made several headlines: "The Future of Cybersecurity: Artificial Intelligence" (Cybersecurity.CIOReview), "How AI is the Future of Cybersecurity" (Infosecurity Magazine) and "AI in Cyber Security Market to Grow at an Exorbitant Pace" (P&S Market Research). These headlines make seasoned cybersecurity professionals wary. We've seen other emerging technologies receive similar attention, and we've seen many of them fail to live up to their expectations. In this article, we will build a real-world perspective on AI in cybersecurity. We will explore where scepticism regarding AI in cybersecurity is justified, how the technology can provide tangible value, and what to look for in an AI-driven cybersecurity provider.

Question: When I was a small boy, I got this tin robot toy for Christmas in the 1960s. Recently, when I was cleaning out old family stuff, I came across it. The name printed on the front is "Machine Man." It is battery-operated and, much to my amazement, still works. It stands abaout 15 inches tall.