AI? Opportunity or Risk?

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Summary: AI presents opportunities and risks for businesses, amplifying strengths and mitigating challenges when used effectively. My diagnostic tool helps leaders understand how AI can enhance their business in 3-5 minutes.

?? "100%. AI will DESTROY humankind as we know it...

?? and everything about it!" It is a dramatic statement.

It paraphrases a conversation I just had this summer.

The funny thing is, after that conversation, I was part of a conversation that "AI is the call or opportunity for humans to truly define their own consciousness".

What do you believe? (please feel free to share your thoughts and comments below)

Here is my two cents:

-AI, Artificial Intelligence, is a summary of the shared experiences of humans to date (that have or can be collected by machines).

-AI cannot us tell what a new future could look like based on new paradigms, it can only tell us what the future could look like based on old (the previously measured paradigms).

-AI has a bias, based on the collective experieinces of the past, that will always limit its ability to share what is next.

Let's talk about predictions for a second

I want to make a clear distinction about AI here. People use the word prediction so loosely. Prediction means certainty of outcome. While a guess or perception is about possibility. People desire predictive analytics (who doesn't) but that is a misnomer. You cannot predict the future; people have been trying for ages to do so.

You can only anticipate or make an educated guess. Why? becuase multi-variate paradigms and assumptions may just change at their choice, therefore affecting the future you could not consider. AI cannot predict the future...it can only suggest what the future is based on past results. It is why no credible Financial Advisor will sell you equities based on the past 24 months of performance without the disclaimer: "Past performances are no guarantee of future results".

So, one of my favorite quotes of all time from George Bernard Shaw:

The reasonable man?adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore,?all progress?depends on the unreasonable?man.

AI can't be unreasonable. The world depends on us to do that. (that is actually a compliment, not a denigration)

So following that, AI is part of our future, but then I see staggering stats like this from McKinsey Global Survey on AI (2023):

"90% of executives believe that AI will positively impact their businesses, but only 37% of companies have an AI strategy in place."

So people want to use or engage with AI but don't know how to do it. So, let's a moment exploring what exactly AI can do for you in direct applicability to you and your business.

So then what?

Therefore, to build a better future, we must use AI to "outsource" our processes and procedures to machines that are much faster at the things we have always learned. (Isn't that what all machines do? Google and web browsers look up things that we used to do manually at a library or in a book)

So can you outsource to AI?

So if we move to use AI to "look up" our past best efforts as part of our execution plan, then we can spend more of our time thinking about the new things we need to create (that's what humans do - the dream of future realities that don't exist today).

So where can it help?

Opportunity and Risk.

What do I mean by this?

Opportunity is the chance to take our strengths and leverage them for our gain.

Risk represents our frictions and identifies what is holding us back. In fact, in the Deloitte AI in Risk Management Report (2022)

AI-driven risk management has the potential to reduce operational risk by 50%, according to a Deloitte study.

We have all of them. But this is where AI plays a HUGE role. It can help us access the processes and procedures of others (past experiences and learnings) and put in a process of execution with those "lessons learned".

For Opportunities, we can amplify what we do, based on the structures and constructs that someone else has already created to maximize the utility of our value.

For Risks, we can mitigate the friction we experience by implementing a floor based on the learnings of others.

Here is another statistic that weaves this together:

AI can automate up to 45% of the activities people are paid to perform, according to McKinsey.

Source: McKinsey Global Institute, 2020

AI is not here to change the world. Humans are.

The rub comes in when we get a feeling that AI is going to eliminate people's jobs, roles, and livelihoods out of the blue.

I'd like to clarify a bit here: Change will always exist. You don't have the same habits and behaviors you did 5, 10, or even 20 years ago. You evolved from those changes through a combination of experiential learning ("on-the-job training," as many call it) or historic learning (which you get through schools, universities, and programs of study).

Automation is a natural step in any sector of any industry. When chopping wood one day, someone asked, "how can I chop wood faster or at the same time?". The result is machines that chop wood. In that regard, AI is just a special machine that provides automation based on human experiences. Source: Accenture AI Survey, 2022

Organizations using AI to augment workforces report a 40% increase in productivity.

So AI will do the work we have done before remarkably well while we think about the innately human question of "What's next?".

So What is Next?

I wanted to create a framework for others to see "What is Next?" for themselves in business. So I create a diagnostic that will tell you what is next for you. It will assess your strenghts and frictions in moments but it will provide you a deeper insight into how AI can help you.

Another study below suggests the truth of this possibility with AI integrated into your business: (Source: PwC Global Artificial Intelligence Study, 2023)

Companies that fully use AI could increase their cash flow by 120% by 2030.

So AI is going to increase the scope, value, and significance of your business. But "Wait, there's more!" (I may have just dated myself in referring to those blue-screen commercials of the 80's). AI is not just about more money and more profit. It is about confidence in the business as well. Leaders who use AI will have a clearer perspective of processes and procedures. They will feel (as will their employees) that AI is their friend. There is a need for communication so that all people see AI not as a threat but as a gift to their lives. Think of all the assembly line workers who have had the fear of losing a finger while doing the job. My grandfather lost two fingers in a sugar factory. Those fears are less warranted these days because machines do those jobs that could cause human harm. Machines and AI are a potential gift. AI will make business easier and more sustainable.

89% of business leaders who use AI-driven insights feel more confident in their decision-making.

Source: Gartner AI and Data Analytics Survey, 2022

Getting in the AI game?

I'd love for you to try my diagnostic. It takes only 3 to 5 minutes.

The outcome:

You'll see your inherent perceptions in your role: Opportunities and Risks.

Further, how you can take action to strengthen your business and raise the risk floor. What does mean for you?

• Increased employee engagement
• Increased productivity
• Increase revenue and profitability
• Reduced risk

Want to try it out? Start here:

?? "100%. AI will DESTROY humankind as we know it… ?? and everything about it!"

That’s a pretty dramatic statement, isn’t it? It paraphrases a conversation I had this past summer.

Ironically, shortly after, I found myself in a completely different discussion: “AI is the call or opportunity for humans to truly define their own consciousness.” Quite the contrast, right?

What do you believe?

Note: Feel free to share your thoughts and comments below.

My Two Cents

Here’s where I stand:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) reflects the shared human experience, aggregated through data machines can collect and process. But AI cannot tell us what a new future looks like based on new paradigms, only past paradigms. It can only project a future based on existing, measured paradigms from the past. This inherent bias limits AI’s ability to innovate beyond what’s already been experienced.

Let's Talk About Predictions

I’d like to clarify something about AI here. People tend to use the word “prediction” loosely. A prediction implies certainty of outcome. However, AI doesn’t predict the future—it makes educated guesses based on past data.

People often expect AI to deliver "predictive analytics," but let’s be honest: no one (humans and machines included) can truly predict the future (it is not because of a lack of attempts). Multivariate paradigms and assumptions change constantly. AI can only analyze patterns from the past to suggest potential outcomes. That’s why no financial advisor will sell investments without the classic disclaimer: “Past performance is no guarantee of future results.”

One of my favorite quotes from George Bernard Shaw drives this point home:

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man."

AI can’t be unreasonable. It’s up to us, humans, to be the catalysts for change.

AI in Business – The Gap Between Expectation and Action

AI is undeniably a part of our future. Just look at the stats. According to the McKinsey Global Survey on AI (2023):

• "90% of executives believe that AI will positively impact their businesses, but only 37% of companies have an AI strategy in place."

So, people want to use AI but don’t necessarily know how to implement it. Let's take a moment to explore where AI can be applied directly to your business.

Can You Outsource to AI?

To build a better future, we must consider AI a tool to "outsource" repetitive processes and procedures. Machines—like AI—are designed to complete tasks that humans have always done manually, just faster and more efficiently. This gives us time to focus on something machines cannot do—dreaming and creating new realities that don't exist today. Consider the shift that can occur here: Machines are about efficiency (doing the thing right), and human beings are about being effective (doing the right thing). When you begin to see this, this is where AI is not your enemy, it actually becomes your best friend.

So, Where Can AI Help?

AI can assist us in two critical areas: Opportunity and Risk.

• Opportunity is about leveraging our strengths to maximize our value.
• Risk is identifying what holds us back, reducing friction, and protecting against potential failures.

According to the Deloitte AI in Risk Management Report (2022):

• AI-driven risk management has the potential to reduce operational risk by 50%.

This shows that AI isn’t just helpful—it’s transformative in opportunity identification and risk mitigation.

Amplifying Opportunity and Reducing Risk

For Opportunities, AI helps us maximize what we do by leveraging strategies others have implemented successfully. Think of AI as a "best-practices" coach for your process. For Risks, AI allows us to put guardrails in place by learning from others' mistakes and experiences.

As McKinsey points out:

• AI can automate up to 45% of the activities people are paid to perform.
• (McKinsey Global Institute, 2020)

AI isn’t here to replace human ingenuity but to help us amplify it.

The Fear of AI Replacing Jobs

Now, I get it. There’s always that underlying fear that AI will take jobs and disrupt livelihoods. But change is constant. Think about how your habits and behaviors have evolved over the past 5, 10, or 20 years. Most of that change came from learning new skills and adapting to new technologies.

Automation is inevitable in any industry. When someone asked how to chop wood faster, machines or tools were created to do the work. AI is simply another tool that automates processes based on past human experiences.

According to the Accenture AI Survey (2022):

• Organizations using AI to augment workforces report a 40% increase in productivity.

This proves AI will do the work we’ve done before—efficiently—allowing us to focus on the more significant human question of "What’s next?"

So, What’s Next?

I’ve developed a simple, easy framework to open the door to what businesses can see and “What’s Next” for them. It’s a diagnostic that assesses your strengths and frictions in just 3-5 minutes. More importantly, it shows how AI can help you amplify your opportunities and mitigate your risks.

The PwC Global Artificial Intelligence Study (2023) suggests that:

• Companies that fully use AI could increase their cash flow by 120% by 2030.

So, AI increases productivity and profitability and gives business leaders the confidence to move forward. Leaders who adopt AI-driven insights will have a clearer perspective on their processes and feel more in control.

Machines, and especially AI, are gifts that make our work safer, easier, and more sustainable. According to Gartner AI and Data Analytics Survey (2022):

• 89% of business leaders who use AI-driven insights feel more confident in their decision-making.

Getting in the AI Game?

I’d love for you to try my diagnostic. It takes just 3 to 5 minutes, and here’s what you’ll gain:

• A clear view of your Opportunities and Risks.
• Actionable insights on how to strengthen your business.
• Increased employee engagement, productivity, and profitability.
• Reduced risk in operations and decision-making.

Want to try it out?

Click to Get your FREE AI Opportunity and Risk Analysis.

Let’s work together to harness AI and shape a future that works for you, not against you.