{
  "id": 15590221,
  "title": "Keystone chief urges CEOs to direct AI transformation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/keystone-chief-urges-ceos-to-direct-ai-transformation",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-19T09:05:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Arabian Post",
    "slug": "arabian-post",
    "url": "https://thearabianpost.com/keystone-chief-urges-ceos-to-direct-ai-transformation/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Keystone CEO Jeff Marowits contends that chief executives ought to shoulder the burden of driving artificial intelligence (AI) transformation within their organizations, rather than entrusting it solely to specialized technology departments. This perspective arises as companies struggle to bridge the gap between preliminary experimentation with AI tools and actual integration into their business operations.\n\nMarowits highlights this emphasis on leadership as Keystone, an advisory firm, broadens its international operations and investment in executive AI capabilities. The firm recently opened a permanent office in Sydney, complementing its Bengaluru operation established in September. These investments amplify Keystone's presence in the Asia-Pacific region at a time when businesses seek counsel on the commercial and regulatory ramifications of AI adoption.\n\nMarowits argues that AI decisions are morphing into strategic decisions about business models, competitive advantage, and regulatory exposure. He cautions that simply deploying software across departments does not distinguish successful companies from their competitors. Transformative change necessitates decisions on investment priorities, acceptable risks, and reallocation of responsibilities — responsibilities that extend beyond the purview of individual technology teams.\n\nKeystone's AI Navigator practice collaborates with senior executives to spearhead organizational transformation, leveraging insights from Harvard Business School professors Karim Lakhani and Marco Iansiti. In September, the firm fortified this endeavor by acquiring Zero Gravitas, a business specializing in executive AI education and capability development. This acquisition aims to equip corporate leaders with the practical understanding required to oversee organizational changes.\n\nThe leadership challenge surrounding AI adoption mirrors broader corporate research. A KPMG survey of 400 chief executives at major US companies revealed that only 9% viewed AI as transformative for their businesses, despite reported efficiency gains from AI agents. The survey suggests that while individual AI applications have yielded benefits, they have not yet culminated in company-wide restructuring. Furthermore, many executives anticipate increasing their workforce over the next three years while simultaneously seeking to augment technical skills and upskill existing employees. These intentions underscore the uncertainty surrounding AI's impact on staffing, even as organizations escalate their investment in the technology.\n\nIndia constitutes a significant segment of Keystone's growth strategy. The firm inaugurated its Bengaluru hub on October 15, intending to bolster its workforce in the region over the next two to three years. Specific hiring plans have not been disclosed publicly. Marowits characterized the launch as a long-term commitment to the market, pledging substantial investments in talent over the next 18 months. The office will cater to enterprises operating in India, while simultaneously supporting Keystone's international clientele and contributing to its global AI Centre of Excellence.\n\nKeystone's priorities encompass technology, financial services, legal services, healthcare, and investors. Its services encompass competition matters, litigation, technical investigations, and evaluations of AI systems, integrating technical examination with analysis of the commercial or legal consequences. The firm operates across multiple layers of the market, including foundation models, computing infrastructure, and business applications. Keystone's expansion aligns with the growing demand for advisory services on disputes involving digital platforms and technology markets. Its experts analyze source code, extensive datasets, and system architecture to assess legal, regulatory, and competitive implications that may reach courts, regulatory bodies, or corporate boards. Additionally, Keystone grapples with demonstrating the tangible improvements generated by advisory programs, as opposed to merely enhancing familiarity with new technologies. Companies must evaluate implementation costs, information security, accuracy, and employee adoption before asserting enduring productivity benefits from their significant AI investments. The Sydney office commenced with around a dozen employees, comprising local recruits and staff seconded from existing operations. Keystone anticipates nearly tripling this team within two years, driven by a surge in inquiries from financial services businesses in Australia.",
  "summary": "Chief executives must take direct responsibility for artificial intelligence transformation rather than leave it to technology departments, Keystone chief executive Jeff Marowits has argued, as the advisory firm expands its international operations and investment in executive AI capabilities. His emphasis on leadership comes as businesses confront a widening gap between experimenting with AI…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}