MRI Innovation Days – Don’t Fake 2026: Optimizing Tech Spend for AI and Beyond

By late 2025, budget conversations aren’t just starting — they’re shifting toward optimization and allocation. Whether your 2026 budget already includes AI or you’re still making the case, the real question is how to spend smartly and strategically. 

This session explores smart strategies to make tech dollars work harder: how to use allocation effectively, how to approach the classic “build vs. buy” question, and how to creatively rechannel excess funds to get projects off the ground. You’ll also hear how finance leaders are working with legal, sales, and other stakeholders to cut through constraints and ensure projects move forward. 

Don’t fake your way through 2026 planning — learn how to align priorities, overcome roadblocks, and optimize for impact.