AI can generate content at incredible speed. But who ensures the information behind it is accurate, current, and trustworthy? An AI mistake may seem harmless. However, as people increasingly rely on AI for healthcare, financial, and legal decisions, bad information can carry real-world consequences. Min Shepherd explores why truth still needs human stewards in an automated world and why content professionals remain the foundation of trustworthy AI: bit.ly/3VkzbMb

Consumers say they trust their banks. Yet satisfaction is declining, customers are opening accounts at multiple institutions, and AI is becoming a new starting point for financial research. As the financial buying journey evolves, trust can no longer be assumed. It must be earned through better experiences, reduced friction, and more meaningful human interactions. Kevin Burson explores how AI is reshaping customer discovery and what financial institutions can do to stay visible, trusted, and competitive: bit.ly/4fSVGQo

As AI moves from assistant to agent, UX practitioners are being asked to do more than design interfaces. We're increasingly orchestrating the experiences users have and the systems powering them behind the scenes. In reflecting on a year of experimentation, our UX Strategy team uncovered lessons about collaboration, ownership, alignment, and what happens when design, AI, and human needs intersect. The takeaway? The future isn't about choosing between people and technology. It's about designing for both, together. bit.ly/4fRji89

Personalization should make customers feel understood, not watched. As AI gives brands more ways to tailor digital experiences, the line between helpful and intrusive is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate. Customers want relevant experiences, but they also want transparency around how their data is being used and what value they're receiving in return. The most effective personalization strategies put customers in control and make the value exchange clear. bit.ly/4cEF50s?

AI innovation often starts in the wrong place. Before building the AI assistant, chatbot or automated workflow, ask: What is the user trying to accomplish, and what is standing in their way? When you start with that question, AI stops being a technology initiative and instead becomes a tool for helping people make progress. See how teams can identify meaningful opportunities for AI. bit.ly/46r4abG

Bruce Lee’s famous “be like water” philosophy teaches that true strength comes from adaptability. That same principle applies to digital systems. Organizations that balance structure with flexibility are better equipped to reduce friction, respond to change, and keep teams moving forward. In his 2026 Assembly session, Nick Villapiano explored how fluid, composable systems help organizations build for flow rather than fight complexity. Read more or watch Nick’s full session, “Be Like Water: Fluidity Over Friction”: bit.ly/4gqnkTV

Instagram launched its first major brand refresh in a decade, and the internet has opinions. As digital experiences evolve, brands need identity systems that evolve with them. Instagram's new visual system reflects how both the platform and its users have changed over time. The strongest brands aren't static. They adapt to new formats, interfaces, and experiences while remaining instantly recognizable. What do you think of the refresh? bit.ly/4gy59Nb

What happens when your customers start their journey somewhere you don't control? Consumers are increasingly using AI to research, compare, and evaluate financial products before ever visiting a bank website, talking to an advisor, or walking into a branch. The implications are bigger than marketing. In Someone Else's Interface, we explore why the future of banking won't be won by AI alone, but by organizations that best combine technology, trust, and human expertise. Download the whitepaper: bit.ly/4fSVGQo

Human creativity matters more than ever in the age of AI. While AI can drive efficiency, scale, and pattern recognition, creativity is what helps us generate meaning, make connections, and imagine what comes next. In his Assembly session, Kevin Leahy reframes creativity as a practice, not a talent. He shares how teams can create the habits, mindsets, and conditions that help ideas take shape. Watch Kevin's full Assembly session, “Stoking the Creative Fire” at bit.ly/4i2uoIG

We spent a year using AI in UX strategy. The biggest lesson wasn't about AI. It was about where human judgment, team alignment, and strategic thinking still make the difference. In this new article, Joe Torres reflects on the friction points, surprises, and practical lessons that emerged from integrating AI into real UX strategy work. He explores why the most important work often happens before anyone writes a prompt, and what it takes to build effective human-AI partnerships.

The real challenge with AI pricing may not be the price. As more AI vendors move toward consumption-based models, organizations are gaining visibility into something many haven't had to manage before: the true cost of how AI is used. The result? Governance, measurement, and workforce enablement are becoming just as important as the technology itself. Learn about the shift from seat-based licensing to AI consumption pricing and what it means for organizations looking to maximize value while controlling costs. bit.ly/4boqsOw

Last week, we celebrated 25 years of @Sitecore alongside those who have helped shape its story. As a partner for nearly two decades, we're grateful for the relationships we've built, the challenges we've tackled together, and the opportunity to grow alongside the Sitecore community. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to connect with our team, and congratulations to Sitecore on 25 years of innovation and partnership. We're excited to see what's next.

Trust has long been one of banking's strongest advantages. But trust quickly erodes when people can't get the help they need, especially when the stakes are high. As banks continue investing in automation, the challenge is knowing where it improves the experience and where human judgment still matters most. Read how automation can weaken trust and what banks can do to strengthen customer relationships instead. bit.ly/4yDAaWW

Attendees may not notice every design decision, but they feel the impact of each one. Every color, material, texture, and interaction shapes how people experience a space. When those details work together with intention, they create an experience people remember long after the event ends. For The Assembly 2026, our design team drew inspiration from alchemy and the landscape of Santa Fe to create an experience where every element supported the story. From custom iconography and a palette inspired by Bishop's Lodge, to handcrafted attendee touchpoints and interactive digital moments, every decision had a purpose. Cassidy Day takes you behind the design and the thinking that transformed an event into an experience: bit.ly/4fwquF2

The most important addition to the creative process might not be another AI tool. It might be the user. As AI lowers the barriers to creating, building, and experimenting, more people can contribute beyond the boundaries of their traditional roles. The next opportunity is bringing users into the process. The people using your products every day understand the problem in ways no design system or AI model can. When they can visualize ideas and react to something tangible, they help shape better experiences. Explore why the future of experience design is participatory: bit.ly/4hpknVC

More than half of consumers would rather do “anything else” than contact customer service. That says a lot about the state of CX today. The brands that stand out will be the ones that design connected customer journeys, moving people seamlessly from question to resolution. via @cxdive bit.ly/3RaIxsq

Every presentation is an act of persuasion. That's why, before a single slide gets built, Design Director Paul Evangelista identifies the one word, or outcome, the presentation is driving toward. Over the past three years, Paul has helped shape Config presentations for One North speakers, crafting the visuals, motion, and narrative arcs that helped them stand confidently in front of thousands of designers. In his latest article, he shares how each talk was built around one defining word, a powerful visual metaphor, and a lot of deliberate subtraction: bit.ly/4wEAdjI

AI can accelerate content creation, but strong communication isn’t driven by speed or scale. It's driven by judgment, taste, and a clear understanding of the “why". In her Assembly session, Analisa Goldblatt shares how teams can avoid over-reliance on AI, strengthen their point of view, and create work that truly resonates. Watch now: bit.ly/4wAYt67

For many teams, the instinct is to use AI to ship more, faster. But great experiences rarely come from the first draft. They come from the pause, the critique, the user conversation, the small adjustments that make someone think, “This was made for me.” At #Config2026, Breanne Hamilton noticed an unexpected connection between motion design and AI: the magic in motion often comes from the curve, not the movement itself. AI gives teams more room to focus on what matters most: understanding users, exploring possibilities, and refining the details that shape meaningful experiences. Read more: bit.ly/4f3ol4W

Every game day broadcast relies on countless visual elements, from scoreboards and player stats to matchup overlays. Multiply that across every sport, league, team, and live data feed, and you're looking at millions of design variations. At #Config2026, Matt Rogers joined @ESPN to share how they transformed that complexity into a scalable design system in @Figma: bit.ly/4aMEKrL