Move Fast or Get Left Behind: AI Isn’t Waiting for You
Most companies aren’t built to move this fast—but that’s no longer an option.
I watched this video earlier, and it really got me thinking. We keep hearing about AI’s impact, but it’s easy to underestimate just how fast this transformation is happening. The idea that AI will be writing all of the code in a year is not just a possibility—it’s a likelihood. And if that’s true, what else is on the verge of automation? This isn’t just about software development; it’s about how every industry, every job function, and every business model is about to shift. Companies need to start treating AI adoption as an urgent business imperative—not a future initiative.
What is Comparative Advantage?
Comparative advantage is the idea that individuals, companies, or countries should focus on what they do best while outsourcing or automating the rest. It’s why businesses don’t try to manufacture every part of a product themselves—they specialize in what they’re uniquely good at. AI is now shifting the equation. If AI can do 90% of coding faster and cheaper than humans, companies must rethink where their human talent adds the most value.
The question isn't can AI do this task?—it's where do we still have the edge?
AI is not creeping in slowly. It’s bulldozing entire industries at a pace that organizations simply aren’t structured to handle.
We are not far from a world where AI is writing 90% of the code. In 12 months, it might be writing all of it.
Let that sink in.
Companies are designed for stability, not speed. Decision-making structures, budgeting cycles, and workforce planning—all built for incremental change—are now colliding with a reality that demands exponential adaptability.
The old playbooks don’t work anymore.
And yet, here we are. The speed of AI’s impact isn’t slowing down. If companies don’t adjust, they’ll be left behind. That’s not fear-mongering; it’s reality.
So, what can leaders do today to keep up? Here’s where to start:
1. Stop Waiting for Perfect Information
Most companies spend months analyzing, debating, and strategizing before making a move. That worked when shifts happened over years. It doesn’t work when AI disrupts industries in months.
Make small, fast bets. Test, learn, and iterate instead of waiting for a perfect roadmap that will be outdated before it’s implemented.
🔹 Jeff Bezos put it best:
"Most decisions should probably be made with somewhere around 70% of the information you wish you had. If you wait for 90%, in most cases, you’re probably being slow."
The speed of execution is now a competitive advantage.
2. Reevaluate What Work Actually Means
If AI is writing most of the code, what does that mean for your engineers? If AI is generating content, what does that mean for your marketing team?
Companies that win will be the ones that redefine work, not just shift humans to "oversight" roles but rethink how human creativity and strategy interact with AI.
🔹 Satya Nadella nailed it:
"AI is not only for engineers. It brings changes in the dynamic of business, and we have to adapt or die."
Leaders need to be proactive, not reactive, in reshaping how people contribute in an AI-powered world.
3. Reskill Like It’s an Emergency—Because It Is
Companies love talking about upskilling and reskilling, but AI makes this an immediate necessity, not a long-term initiative.
Every single person in your organization should be experimenting with AI tools now. This isn’t a "wait and see" moment. It’s an "act now" moment.
🔹 Jack Welch understood the power of learning fast:
"An organization’s ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage."
If your workforce isn’t learning how to work with AI today, your company won’t be competitive or AROUND tomorrow.
4. Break Old Hierarchies
AI flattens decision-making.
The teams that move the fastest will be the ones that empower employees to experiment and implement AI solutions without layers of approval.
Your best ideas won’t come from the C-suite; they’ll come from the people closest to the work. Let them drive change.
🔹 Steve Jobs built Apple on this belief:
"It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do."
If decision-making is still trapped in bureaucracy, your company is already too slow.
The Bottom Line: Move from Incremental to Exponential Change
We are moving from incremental to exponential change. Most companies aren’t ready for it, but they can be—if they start acting like AI adoption with an AI First Mindset is their number one business priority.
🔹 Ginni Rometty summed it up best:
"The only way you survive is you continuously transform into something else. It’s this idea of continuous transformation that makes you an innovation company."
Waiting is not an option.
About Jason Averbook
Jason Averbook is a globally recognized thought leader in Digital HR Strategy, Generative AI, and the future of work—named one of the Top 25 Human Capital and Work Thought Leaders in the world. With over two decades guiding the HR tech evolution, Jason champions shifting from simply executing technology projects to truly embodying a digital mindset. He’s authored two influential books, founded Leapgen, and regularly inspires global audiences as a speaker, advisor, and educator.
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