Useful AI things with Nat - Vol XII - Will Every Company Really Be an AI Company?—And Everyone Has a Role to Play

Greetings earthlings,

In the early 2000s, the internet revolution turned businesses upside down. Companies either adapted or risked extinction. Digital infrastructure shifted from a competitive advantage to a basic requirement for survival. Fast forward to today—AI is the new tech. Every company will soon be an AI company, whether they like it or not.

I remember hearing it firsthand from Lloyd Blankfein at a town hall when I was at Goldman Sachs: “We are a technology company.” At that point, it already clicked for me. We had more engineers than subject matter experts across all areas of expertise in the firm. That wasn’t just a trend; it was the future. The shift was undeniable, and it’s happening again—this time with AI.

I felt this same shift early in my career. At just 18, I was already experimenting and deploying internet and email systems—technologies in high demand by companies scrambling to get online in the early 2000s. Suddenly, I was the “IT guru” (oh, the glory days), with everyone realizing they needed to get on board or get left behind. And guess what? The same urgency is hitting companies today with AI.

Let’s be real. This AI transformation is happening faster than anyone expected. And it's not just the tech giants leading the charge. From healthcare to logistics to entertainment, AI is now part of the fabric of every industry. The funny thing? Most companies don’t even realize they’re knee-deep in it already.

Back in the internet days, the message was, “Get online, or get left behind.” Now it’s, “Leverage AI or become irrelevant.” AI isn’t just enhancing processes; it’s creating capabilities that seemed impossible just a few years ago. Decisions that once took weeks now happen in seconds. Customer insights? AI probably knows your client better than your sales team ever did.

So, What’s the Difference Between Using AI and Being an AI Company?

It’s one thing to use AI—whether it’s for optimizing supply chains or automating customer service. This gives companies an advantage, but it doesn’t magically turn them into an AI company. Using AI is like buying a fancy car—you’re still a passenger in someone else’s innovation realms. Being an AI company, on the other hand, means designing the engine and all the internal parts. You’re the one driving, deciding the future.

AI companies like OpenAI or Anthropic aren’t just reacting to the future—they’re building it. They create the tools and platforms that will power tomorrow’s industries. And this is exactly what Darshana is working toward—as we build AI for good. We're creating AI with a focus on trusted data and responsible use, because, surprise, AI can do amazing things when it's built with better data in mind.

Whether you’re an end user, a builder, or a decision-maker, let’s not forget one thing: you have a role to play. Critical thinking and responsibility don’t get outsourced with AI. We all need to ask the tough questions about AI’s ethical implications and make sure it's used responsibly, safely, and equitably.

In the end, the companies of tomorrow won’t just adopt AI; they’ll bake it into their very core. If we don’t rethink your AI strategy—and fast—we’ll be left in the dust, watching your competition and bitting the dust you. But don’t worry, it’ll be a great view from behind!

Ping me if you need help,

Nat