Budget Season is upon us. If you’re sitting down with 2026 numbers, you already know the pressure:

• Cut costs where you can.

• Find growth where you must.

• Show the board a clear return on every line item.

Here’s the mistake too many teams will make in next year’s budgets: They’ll throw money at AI pilots or vendor contracts without investing in governance.It feels faster in the short term. But it costs more in the long run.Here’s why governance is not just risk management — it’s the thing that actually makes AI adoption faster, safer, and budget-friendly.