From Idea to Impact: Implementing AI & AGI in Business

Imagine this: we’re sitting at your favorite café on a Sunday morning, coffee in hand, maybe a plate of eggs or a croissant between us. You lean back and ask me:

“So, Michelle… this whole AI and AGI thing—what’s it really going to take for a company like mine to implement it without blowing up the whole system?”

Here’s exactly what I’d tell you over breakfast.

Step 1: See AI for What It Really Is

AI isn’t just about speeding up repetitive tasks anymore—it’s becoming a partner in decision-making. It’s the tool that can predict market shifts before your competitors see them, streamline operations, or even design new solutions.

👉 Over coffee, I’d say: “Think of AI like the smartest new hire you’ll ever bring in—except this one doesn’t sleep. The question is: where do you need that kind of horsepower the most right now?”

Quick Exercise: Jot down 2–3 areas in your business where you constantly say, “If only we had more insight or speed here.” That’s where AI belongs first.

Spot the “If Only” Moments

Step 1: Write down 2–3 areas in your business where you often say: 👉 “If only we had more __________ or faster __________ here.”

Step 2: Capture them below:

1. If only we had more ___________________________ in ___________________________.
2. If only we had faster ___________________________ when dealing with ___________________________.
3. If only we had clearer insight into ___________________________ so we could ___________________________.

Step 3: Those are your best starting points for AI!

Step 2: Put Leadership at the Wheel Early

Here’s where most businesses mess up: they dabble with AI tools without assigning real ownership. Without governance, AI becomes a playground—not a growth engine.

👉 I’d tell you: “If you don’t have someone steering this, it’ll be like having five pilots all trying to land the same plane.”

Action Step:

• If you can’t hire a Chief AI Officer yet, pull together a small steering group.
• Make it clear: who owns compliance, who tracks ROI, who keeps things aligned across departments.
• Keep oversight light—a simple monthly dashboard works.

Step 3: Don’t Fall into the ‘We’re Fine for Now’ Trap

Remember Redbox? They saw streaming coming but didn’t adapt fast enough. AI is today’s version of that moment.

👉 I’d lean in and say: “The real risk isn’t jumping in too soon—it’s waiting too long while your competitors run laps around you.”

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujCN1mx9SiY

Action Step:

• Host a quick “what if” session with your leadership team.
• Ask: If our competitors implement AI faster, where could we lose market share?
• Write down the top 3 risks. That’s your wake-up call.

Step 4: Start Small—Pilot, Don’t Overhaul

Here’s the mistake I see all the time: executives try to “AI-ify” the entire company overnight. That’s a recipe for chaos.

👉 My advice over that second cup of coffee: “Treat AI like a tasting menu, not a buffet. Sample one dish before filling your plate.”

Action Step:

• Pick one pilot project with a clear metric (ex: reduce response times by 20%).
• Run it for 60–90 days.
• Review, refine, and decide whether to scale.

✅ Key Takeaway

Implementing AI isn’t about chasing the newest shiny tool—it’s about laying a foundation: leadership oversight, clarity on where it fits, and starting small before scaling.

Think of this as your Sunday paper headline: “Executive Chooses Strategy Over Shiny Tools—and Wins Big with AI.”

👉 Coming up in Part 2:

We’ll talk about the effects of databases in your backyard!

Get your assessments today: https://smartstrategicbusinesstips.com/ai-tech

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