The Briefing
Sourced, dated writing on evidence, trust and decisions: how to tell verified research from the other kind, what synthetic respondents can and cannot do, how to buy expert knowledge, and what to ask before you trust a report. Every article cites its sources and carries a publication date.
Can You Trust AI-Generated Consulting Reports? What the Evidence Says
70% of clients would not trust a report prepared with AI. What went wrong at Deloitte and PwC, why, and five questions to ask any adviser.
Synthetic Respondents vs Real Respondents: What the Vendors' Own Research Shows
A 2026 ESOMAR paper by a synthetic data vendor and Google concludes qualitative research stays with real humans. Where synthetic works and where it fails.
The Survey Data Quality Crisis: Why a Third of Online Responses Cannot Be Trusted
Kantar estimates 30 to 40% of online survey responses are compromised and bots pass quality checks 99.8% of the time. What it means for your decisions.
What Is Verified Primary Research? A Definition and a Standard
Verified primary research is evidence from identified human sources whose identity and role have been confirmed, with a record the client can inspect.
Expert Network vs Research Partner: Who Turns the Calls Into an Answer?
Expert networks sell access by the hour. A research partner verifies the people, runs the interviews and signs the answer. When to use each, with market data.
Independent AI Vendor Evaluation: Why Almost No Adviser Is Independent Anymore
McKinsey, Bain, PwC and Capgemini now have formal partnerships with OpenAI or Anthropic. Who can still give an honest answer to 'should we buy this'.
Ten Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Consultant or Research Firm in 2026
A buyer's checklist for the era of AI-assisted advice. Ten questions, the answers that should worry you, and the answers a trustworthy firm gives.
What Is Research Provenance, and Why Should a Client Demand It?
Research provenance is the documented chain from every claim in a report back to its source. What a provenance appendix contains and why it is the new minimum.
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