Everywhere you turn, you hear it: AI is going to change everything. Work as we know it will be reimagined. Productivity will skyrocket. Mundane tasks? A thing of the past. But while tech headlines promise a revolution, those of us who’ve been through digital transformations before know something else: just because the technology is ready doesn’t mean the people—or the organizations—are.
Let’s be honest. A small percentage of agile, tech-forward businesses are already reaping the benefits of AI. These companies are often smaller, more adaptable, and staffed by digital enthusiasts. They’re playing with GPT-powered agents, automating workflows, delegating admin work to virtual tools, and discovering efficiencies that make their operations leaner and smarter. They are the early adopters—the ones who dive in headfirst.
But most organizations? They’re still figuring out how to keep the lights on.
In reality, the majority of companies are full of people already stretched thin. Their calendars are packed. Their to-do lists never end. These are the folks who know their jobs inside out—the unsung heroes who keep your business functioning. But they don’t have the time (or sometimes the interest) to explore new AI tools, let alone figure out how to integrate them into their daily work.
And that’s the problem.
We keep saying, “Start using AI!” But what does that really mean? Even your average team leader or middle manager likely doesn’t know what’s possible, let alone how to roll it out in a way that connects meaningfully to systems, processes, or strategy.
This isn’t a new story. Anyone who’s worked in change management or digital transformation has seen this before: technology surges ahead, and most of the team either doesn’t care, doesn’t get it, or doesn’t have the time to engage. The change is often driven by a handful of champions, while others lag behind—sometimes quietly resisting, sometimes just overwhelmed.
So will AI change everything? Probably.
Will it change your business tomorrow? That depends.
Here’s the real question: Who in your business is actually responsible for learning this stuff, experimenting with it, integrating it, and sharing the results? If it’s “everyone,” it might turn out to be no one.
For the AI revolution to truly take root in your organization, several key ingredients need to be in place:
Leadership that understands the tech—not just the hype
A willingness to let go of old roles and create new ones
Resources (time, money, training) dedicated to AI exploration
People who are curious enough to experiment, fail, and try again
The truth is, AI might not hit your organization like a thunderbolt. It might be a slow burn. And unless you make deliberate choices to prioritize it, build capacity, and shift mindsets, it may pass you by—at least for now.
So ask yourself:
Where is the resistance in your business?
Is it a person? A department? A lack of resources or understanding?
Is it your own hesitation or uncertainty about where to begin?
The AI revolution is coming—but it’s not a matter of “if.” It’s a matter of who is ready, how they’ll move forward, and when they’ll get serious about it.
Because saying “AI is the future” is easy.
Building a business that’s ready for it? That’s the real work.
https://nudgez.com/leadership-boards/#core-leadership-communication