If Everyone Has Ai, Does Anyone Have Ai?

Businesses seem to be in a race to incorporate the best of Ai to gain an advantage.

People are in a race to adapt to Ai to give them an edge in their careers, their solo ventures, and other areas of life.

There is no doubt that a business or individual that does not adapt to these new technologies will fall behind; from a competitive perspective.

But, it does not necessarily translate into gaining any competitive advantage either.

Let’s look at an excerpt from a Harvard Business Review (HBR) Article written in 1998:

What’s more, Internet commerce is such a new phenomenon — and so much about it is uncertain and confusing — that it is difficult for executives at most companies, new or old, to decide the best way to use the channel. And it is even more difficult for them to estimate accurately the returns on any Internet investment they may make. — by Shikhar Ghosh (HBR, March 1998)

We could simply copy the last quote from 1998 and rewrite it as:

“Companies that do not want to participate in Ai technology may be forced to do so by competitors or customers.”

You either play by the new rules, or you fall behind.

Looking back at the above 1998 article, the importance of the Internet and Internet commerce is clear.

Current CEOs will ask themselves a similar question: “Can we accurately estimate the returns on Ai investments?”

Looking back, that was not the right question to ask. The question was:

“Where will we end up if we do not adapt to the new technology?”

Ai is just the latest technology we have to deal with and adapt to.

This excerpt is from a 1991 New York Times article titled EX MACHINA; Plugging Into The Network. (The article is about schools using computer networks)

“Our grandparents had a hard time dealing with the telephone system,” Mr. Carl-Mitchell explained. “For those of us who grew up with telephones, it’s just second nature. It’s going to take a little bit of time to get to that point with networks, but there’s a new generation that has grown up with computers.” — By Peter H. Lewis (NYT, Nov3, 1991)

We can safely say we have adopted to the telephone, networks, and e-commerce.

It will take some time, but we will adapt to Ai as well. And the “new generation”; for them, it will be second nature.

But does your company have a competitive advantage today because it has telephone, e-mail, networks, and e-commerce portals? Or is it just part of the game now?

If you do not have it, you will fall behind and won’t be able to compete, but it does not give an advantage over competitors with access to the same technology.

In time, your first-mover advantage will disappear as others catch up.

So, where does the opportunity lie?

AI can automate tasks, analyse vast amounts of data, and predict trends.

Again, these capabilities, on their own, don’t automatically translate into a competitive edge.

The real value of AI comes from how companies choose to deploy it.

This is where human creativity, strategic thinking, and judgment become crucial:

• Strategic Implementation: AI can process information at unprecedented speeds, but determining which problems to solve and how to solve them still requires human insight.

• Creative Applications: Beyond just using AI for automation, companies should explore how AI can be leveraged to create new products, services, or business models.

• Human Judgment and Ethics: AI decisions are only as good as the data and algorithms they’re based on. Human judgment is still necessary to ensure that AI outputs are accurate, ethical, and aligned with the company’s values.

So, is everything lost in terms of gaining some advantage?

No, companies can still differentiate themselves depending on how they develop, customise, and integrate AI into their operations:

• Proprietary AI Technologies: Companies can develop their own AI technologies or customise existing solutions to better suit their specific needs. Proprietary algorithms, specialised data sets, or unique machine learning models can offer advantages that off-the-shelf AI solutions cannot.

• Seamless Integration: How AI is integrated into a company’s workflows and processes also matters. Businesses that successfully incorporate AI into their operations, making it a standard part of how work is done, could see more benefits.

• Continuous Improvement: Companies that view AI as a constantly evolving tool rather than a one-time implementation will be able to stay relevant and capitalise on the latest innovations.

The key is not just having AI, but using it in ways that amplify human capabilities, and align, and enhance a company’s unique strengths and abilities.

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