Transformative AI: Beyond "Better, Faster, Cheaper"
The Hidden Challenge of Revolutionary AI Products
I am generally seeing two types of AI products: products that improve an existing software or process and products that are completely different.
As operators and business leaders, understanding this distinction is crucial for building, marketing, and implementing AI solutions with truly revolutionary potential.
The Easy Sell: AI-Powered Improvement
Selling a product that delivers an AI-powered improvement is relatively straightforward. You have a clear benchmark. You're doing something familiar, just better. The pitch is easy:
It's intuitive, simple to understand, and easy for buyers to adopt. The decision to switch is easy because the buyer doesn't have to rethink their workflow; they just slot in something that clearly works better.
These products satisfy immediate needs and show quick ROI, making them attractive to both customers and stakeholders. They fit neatly into existing categories and purchasing processes.
The Greater Opportunity: Reimagining What's Possible
But I am more excited about products that are doing something totally new. The ones building entirely new capabilities that were previously impossible. The kind of solutions that don't fit neatly into existing frameworks or replace an existing tool.
Selling these transformative products is far more challenging. Buyers have to wrap their heads around adding something new. Which means buying something that doesn't have a neat little box, an owner, or existing budget. These AI tools require market education and a shift in behavior.
The Adoption Challenge for Transformative AI
For buyers, wrapping their heads around adopting entirely new paradigms means:
These hurdles are substantial, but so are the rewards. Companies that successfully shift mindsets don't just lead markets; they create entirely new ones.
Learning from History's Transformers
But history tells us that the real winners—companies like Netflix, Amazon, or even Salesforce—didn't just improve something slightly. They reshaped industries by redefining what was possible.
Consider these examples:
Each faced skepticism and slower initial adoption before changing their industries forever.
The Bigger Picture
The most valuable AI products will fundamentally transform how we work, create, and solve problems. While incremental improvements will deliver near-term wins, the greatest value creation will come from technologies that expand the boundaries of what's possible.
The challenge for operators is going to be developing a vision, education, and the courage to embrace new paradigms. It requires patience through longer adoption cycles and confidence in the transformative potential of your solution.
For those willing to navigate these challenges and look beyond the "faster, better, cheaper" mindset, the rewards will be extraordinary.
Building Winning Teams | Head of Recruitment at StaffingPartner | 4,700+ Successful Hires Across Europe 🚀
3moEli, insightful perspective! 🚀 What inspired this distinction?
Product Strategy & Innovation | Personalization, Monetization, Apps | Pioneering next-gen customer experiences across apps, streaming, email, and web to inspire delight and drive retention
4moAppreciate this framing. The transformative work is always the harder sell. It requires a shift in mindset, not just tooling. That means more education, more cross-functional alignment, and often a lot more patience. But it’s also where some of the most meaningful product work happens! Helping teams and users rethink what’s possible is tough, but 100% worth it.
VP of Customer Success | GTM & Revenue Leader | Help Customers Win
4moCouldn't agree more!