AI is eating the world - why the AI revolution is good for business

The AI revolution isn’t just another chapter in the history of technology — it’s the beginning of a new story entirely. One where businesses can reimagine what's possible, rethink value creation for an evolving market, and reshape their future together with customers and employees.

In a world where disruption seems to have become the default setting, AI is a great equalizer. Picture this: a small retailer leveraging AI to deliver personalized recommendations on par with e-commerce giants or a healthcare provider using AI to improve patient outcomes with precision diagnostics. AI is leveling the playing field, democratizing innovation, unlocking possibilities not possible before, and opening doors to growth and agility.

Unlocking new value

What makes this revolution so extraordinary is AI’s ability to help creative and open-minded leaders discover value we never even knew existed. It shifts us from the mundane to the meaningful — from reactive to predictive, static to dynamic, from one-size-fits-all commodities to deeply personal and scalable experiences.

Let’s think about customer experience for a moment. In today’s hyperconnected world, personalization isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a competitive edge. AI can process enormous amounts of customer data in real-time, enabling businesses to deliver hyper-relevant experiences at scale. Netflix’s recommendation engine, for instance, doesn’t just keep us binge-watching; it’s the cornerstone of content production and fostering customer loyalty.

At the same time, AI can free us from routine tasks. By automating the mundane — data entry, inventory management, logistics — it allows people to focus on what truly matters: creativity, strategy, and problem-solving. This isn’t about replacing jobs; it’s about elevating them. Teams are empowered to tackle more prominent challenges, leading to more engaged, satisfied employees and customers.

Driving innovation

Bill McDermott, ServiceNow’s Chairman and CEO, recently said that “AI is the biggest opportunity of our lifetime.” Slower and risk-averse companies that take a wait-and-see approach to AI give competitors not only a head start but an exponential leap ahead. McDermott warned: 

AI second movers and deniers are set to lose immensely.

AI supercharges innovation, which is foundational to thriving against market and competitive disruption. All innovation begins with exploration and experimentation. With tools like generative AI, businesses can conceptualize, prototype, test, and iterate at speeds we could only dream of a decade ago. Imagine developing products that you didn’t think were possible or those you couldn’t conceive.

But here’s the challenge — and the opportunity: many businesses confuse iteration with innovation. What’s the difference? Iteration improves on something that exists. Innovation creates net new value. In a world of AI, automation is the equivalent of iteration. So what’s the correlation to innovation? With AI, it’s augmentation, the ability for humans and machines to collaborate toward greater and more exponential outcomes than possible by just one entity.

In 1983, Steve Jobs predicted that personal computers would become ubiquitous and serve as the primary medium of communication. He also predicted that we would get computers “wrong at first.” He compared computers to the first wave of television sets that delivered visual media that was essentially radio programming, at the time, filmed on a camera. He explained: 

What happens when a new medium enters the scene, we tend to fall back into old media habits. 

He then went on to discuss all of the capabilities a personal computer would unlock, turning everyday computer users into artists and transforming communications along the way. 

The same is true for AI.

We are using this new medium in our work today in the same way that we approached our work with yesterday’s medium. We are still automating yesterday’s work that we digitized in yesterday’s ‘digital transformation’ efforts rather than reimagining work for each medium. Businesses are largely stuck in what I call the "cost-center mentality," using AI to cut expenses instead of also investing in areas that can create exponential value.

True innovation requires a mindset shift. It’s about opening your mind, giving yourself permission to be more curious and creative, challenging assumptions, and asking not just how we can do things better or less expensively but also how we can do things differently.

The rise of agentic AI

Here’s where it gets truly exciting – the emergence of agentic AI. Agentic AI learns, adapts, and acts autonomously. These agents don’t just execute tasks; they orchestrate complex systems, work together, optimize processes in real-time, and even make strategic decisions…and they learn from those decisions to improve decision-making.

Why is this good for business? Because it fundamentally changes the rules of engagement. Agentic AI allows organizations to scale creativity, adapt dynamically to changing markets, and free up human potential in unprecedented ways.

Imagine AI agents managing supply chains, optimizing customer journeys, or even driving innovation by exploring ideas all with a human in the loop, but moving faster and at scale.

Let’s revisit the relationship between iteration and innovation and automation, and Steve Jobs’ comparison of a new medium to the previous medium. The rise of agentic AI can, and most likely will, place agents within automated workflows that were digitized from analog predecessors. At the same time, innovators will reassess work itself to then imagine new workflows toward iterative and innovative outcomes that AI and agentic AI catalyze. 

This is no longer just about efficiency. It’s about reinvention.

Embrace the inevitability and champion the possibilities of AI

AI isn’t optional. It’s as inevitable as the internet once was and mobile and social media after it. The only question is whether you’ll embrace it from the mindset of iteration or the mindshift of iteration + innovation. Businesses that lean into AI with curiosity, courage, and a commitment to exploring the unknown will thrive over those who, as Steve Jobs described, use the new medium like the old medium.

As I often share in my talks, this isn’t a time to react; it’s a time to mindshift and lead, to innovate, and to create new paths forward. AI is not simply eating the world — it’s serving us the opportunity of a lifetime — and it’s a buffet!

AI is the future, and that future is unfolding now. The AI revolution isn’t just knocking on your door; it’s inviting you to rewrite the rules. This is your moment. Don’t wait for someone else to lead the way, because chances are they may lead straight toward iteration. Be the leader your customers, employees, and your business needs. AI is here to stay, and for those ready to harness the power of automation + augmentation, the future is exponential.