If AI Is the New Electricity, It's Time to Rewire Your Business
Next Big Idea Club
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We are living through a once-in-a-generation shift—one that’s transforming how businesses operate, how decisions get made, and how fast you need to move to stay relevant.
It’s the AI moment. And according to Adam Brotman and Andy Sack , the question isn’t if AI will reshape your business. Whether you're in leadership, marketing, communications, or just about any other aspect of an organization, the question is: are you ready?
Longtime tech executives, Adam and Andy have written AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand—a field guide for leaders who don’t just want to survive this new era, but lead it. Drawing on conversations with top AI minds like Sam Altman, Bill Gates, and Reid Hoffman, Adam and Andy share five game-changing insights from their book.
Listen on Spotify of Apple Podcasts:
🤖 1. 95% of marketing will be done by AGI. Sam Altman told the authors he believes that in five years (and that was 18 months ago), 95% of what marketers do will be handled by AI—instant, free, and nearly flawless. That’s not just marketing. Every business function is up for reinvention.
The companies that succeed won’t be the ones with the fanciest tools. They’ll be the ones that act now, learn fast, and scale what works. The real risk? Falling behind while others move ahead.
🚀 2. AI-first companies need AI-first leaders. Culture moves at the speed of the CEO’s own “holy sh*t” moment. Leaders who model curiosity and experimentation send a powerful message: it’s safe—and smart—to explore this tech.
At Moderna, a prompt contest pulled 5,000 employees into daily AI use. At Suzy, the CEO built his own tools to demonstrate what’s possible. AI fluency isn’t about knowing every tool. It’s about creating a space where innovation is contagious.
🔌 3. AI is the new electricity. You wouldn’t ask about the ROI on laptops or internet access—so why are we still treating AI like a nice-to-have? It’s quickly becoming the invisible layer that powers everything.
Companies that treat AI as a “project” will fall behind. The winners are baking it into systems, workflows, and expectations. It’s not a tech upgrade—it’s an operating upgrade.
🧠 4. Everyone gets a copilot. Reid Hoffman calls AI “the steam engine of the mind.” Imagine every function—legal, finance, ops, creative—with a turbocharged thinking partner. The result? Faster ramp-ups, leaner teams, bolder ideas.
Studies show productivity up 25%, quality up 40%. The future isn’t AI replacing humans—it’s humans with AI outperforming everyone else.
🏁 5. Pick your path—but don’t wait. There’s no single blueprint for going AI-first. Some go all-in (like IgniteTech’s company-wide rollout). Others start small (like Tishman Speyer’s marketing pilot). Some lead from the top (like Suzy’s CEO building internal tools).
But no matter your path, the clock is ticking. Literacy and experimentation are the first steps. Because doing nothing? That’s the only strategy guaranteed to fail.
We also heard a lot of other big ideas on the podcast this week, including:
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