Adoption Is The Start. Embodiment Is Everything.
AI won’t transform your business until it transforms how you think. Here’s why mindset, not tech, is the real unlock.
We’re Not in the AI Era.
We’re in the “What Now?” Era.
Right now, most companies are testing AI tools.
Some have launched pilots. A few have published use cases.
And let’s be honest — a lot of people are saying, “Co-Pilot isn’t that great.”
But here’s the bigger issue:
We’re confusing adoption with transformation.
Adoption is trying.
Embodiment is becoming.
And if we want AI to actually unlock value in 2025?
We have to stop thinking about how we use it — and start thinking about how we design around it.
The Real Difference
You can’t just sprinkle AI on top of work and call it innovation.
Adoption = using AI tools to assist with tasks
Embodiment = letting AI reshape how you think, decide, and structure work
“Adoption gets AI into your toolkit.
Embodiment gets AI into your team.”
It’s not semantics. It’s strategy.
We’ve Seen This Movie Before
Every wave of workplace tech has followed the same pattern:
Try → Test → Transform (but only if you're willing to redesign)
Here’s what I’ve lived through:
Email
We adopted it to replace memos and fax machines.
We embodied it when we changed how teams collaborate across time zones and expectations.
✅ Win: Instant communication
❌ Fail: Always-on culture, inbox overload
ESS/MSS (aka “Direct Access”)
We launched portals and self-service.
But most orgs never changed roles or accountability behind the scenes.
✅ Win: HR became more strategic
❌ Fail: Shadow admin work still piled up
E-Commerce
Everyone launched a website.
But only a few reimagined logistics, fulfillment, and customer experience.
✅ Win: Amazon, Target
❌ Fail: Sears, Blockbuster
Mobile
Most went “mobile-friendly.”
A few asked, what does mobile-first really mean?
✅ Win: Uber, mobile banking
❌ Fail: Just resizing websites
Cloud
We moved to it.
But very few rethought speed, sharing, or fluid work.
✅ Win: Flexibility, speed
❌ Fail: “Lift and shift” with no real behavioral change
The pattern’s clear:
Tech doesn’t transform us. Our mindset does.
So Where Are We With AI?
We’ve bought the licenses.
Held the “AI Day” events.
Maybe even shared a few use cases in town hall slides.
But here’s the truth:
AI is still a sidecar in most orgs.
It’s not how decisions are made. It’s not how teams are built. It’s not how work flows.
“Adoption is a checkbox. Embodiment is a shift in DNA.”
Until AI becomes part of your rhythm, your rituals, your real work —
it’s just another shiny tool sitting in the drawer.
This Isn’t Classic Change Management
Let’s stop calling this a rollout.
This is a reinvention.
Classic change management is built around:
A finish line
Linear communication
Training plans
Resistance
But AI embodiment?
It’s ongoing
It’s iterative
It’s creative
And it’s messy — on purpose
“Don’t manage AI like a rollout. Live it like a principle.”
Why We Need New Language
Words shape how we act.
And if we keep calling this “change,” we’ll keep reaching for old playbooks.
This isn’t change.
This is becoming something entirely new.
Let’s start calling it what it is:
Digital embodiment
Intelligence integration
Becoming AI-native
“The future isn’t about using AI. It’s about becoming different because of it.”
From Playing With AI to Building With It
Adoption got us in the room.
It got us talking. It got us curious.
But if we stop there?
We’ll miss the real opportunity — to rethink how we create value, how we lead, how we work.
This next step demands:
New questions
New roles
New operating models
And above all — new courage
“The transformation doesn’t happen when we adopt AI.
It happens when we embody it.”
One Final Thing
This shift?
It’s not optional.
It’s existential.
So let’s stop talking about the future like it’s somewhere out there.
Let’s start building it — right here, right now, on purpose.
– Jason
Adoption is trying.
Embodiment is becoming.
And in 2025, if we want AI to unlock real value, we have to stop using it and start designing around it.
Jason Averbook is a globally acclaimed expert in Digital Strategy, Generative AI, and the rapidly evolving future of work. Recognized among the Top 25 Human Capital and Work Thought Leaders worldwide, Jason has spent over three decades at the forefront of technology and business transformation. His core mission is inspiring organizations to transition from merely focusing on new technologies to authentically embracing a digital and human first mindset.
Jason is the author of two influential books and the founder of Leapgen and Knowledge Infusion, groundbreaking consultancies dedicated to shaping digital workplaces. Known for his engaging speaking style, practical insights, and visionary advice, Jason regularly energizes global audiences as a keynote speaker, strategic advisor, and educator.