Defend, Extend, Upend: What’s Your AI Strategy?
Am I the only business owner left who hasn't talked about AI yet?
That ends today.
On the one hand, I am somewhat AI-ed out. On the other hand, my exploration of the potential for AI—for our own business and for our clients—is really only just beginning.
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Every year, I head over to MIT's Endicott House for a reunion and refresher from the Entrepreneurial Master's Program I went through nearly a decade ago.
One of my favorite speakers this year was John Sanei, a futurist who talked about artificial intelligence. He introduced a framework that I think takes all of the noise and conversation around AI and makes it actionable, focusing on something you can do for your business.
Sanei basically says that AI strategy for companies should fall into three different buckets: defend, extend, and upend. Every company needs a plan for each of these three areas.
1- Defend your current position with quick wins that keep you afloat in the short term.
2- Extend your existing capabilities for long-term growth and competitive advantage.
3- Upend the industry by creating new solutions and approaches that open up unprecedented opportunities.
You want to make deliberate choices around what you can do, what you’re trying to do, and where your investments of time, budget, and talent fit in with your initiatives.
This is not a detail-free directive to “use AI” in every corner of the business. It’s a strategic, systematic play to leverage AI to secure the future of your company—while acknowledging that your future company may look quite different from the one you have today.
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As I’ve explored AI on my own, and as we’ve started to adopt it inside Crews & co., the biggest realization for me has been a simple one: using AI tools is an actual skill that has to be developed. 20-somethings (and everyone who comes after them) will instinctively know how to use AI. People like me and you, though? We need to build the skillset to make the technology work for us.
In order to achieve your strategic initiatives (and in order to understand what is even possible with AI), you need a functional working knowledge of the tools that can help you get there.
Behind the scenes, we've been building the foundations for an AI practice that will help leaders identify the right opportunities for AI inside their companies.
If you're feeling behind with AI (who isn't?), overwhelmed by AI, or if you're ready to embed AI strategically inside your organization, contact us to set up a call with Ryan.
A simple Help First Call may get you moving in the right direction. Or we have three straightforward offers to help you identify opportunities, select tools, and build AI-forward systems and processes right into the DNA of your business.
AI is changing things too quickly to sit on the sidelines much longer. Start thinking—today—about leveraging AI to defend, extend, and upend inside your company. I firmly believe that in 12-18 months, most businesses will look very different than they do today.
I want yours to be leading the transformation.
