1. The Wake Up Call: AI everywhere, value somewhere!!!
Most companies today aren’t struggling to adopt AI.
They’re struggling to make it matter.
McKinsey’s data shows the reality:
📌 88% of organizations now use AI
📌 ~65% are still stuck in pilot mode
📌 Only ~6% are seeing meaningful financial impact
AI is everywhere , however the real value remains intangible somehow.
It is sad but true. Reality is reality.
2. THE PROBLEM (And It’s Not What You Think)
This isn’t a model problem. The technology works like you heard somewhere.
This isn’t an intelligence problem. The model is improving even faster than before.
This isn’t a people mindset. People are already adopting it.
This is a workflow & process problem. That’s it.
So simply put leadership in the driver’s seat, and use AI for growth.
Things may not go as easily as they seem.
You can put leadership in the driver’s seat.
You can mandate AI adoption for growth. Things won’t go as smoothly as the pitch decks promised.
The hidden truth is about risk and return management.
See AI risks: AI RISKS
Many AI risks remain hidden and under-covered, while returns go unquestioned and unvalidated.
This leads to my central question:
Does your AI strategy prioritize effectiveness or efficiency?
I’m guessing most would answer efficiency. Things like:
- Cuting costs
- Remove head count, more layoffs
- Efficiency above all else
As seen in the news, tech companies are laying off employees because of AI.
And here’s the irony: these are tech companies. They do tech work, not predominantly human-centered work, like we do.
So if even they struggle to make AI add value beyond cost-cutting, what does that say about their approach?
Would it be for the sake of humanity?
This connects to my next point:
Are we setting AI up for success, or just deployment?
Tommy Nguyen (H.Thinh)
Do we have the preparation, the system, the data, the back-end, or even a process for AI & employee to be successful in their roles yet?
Are we going to make them effective yet? or making them coexist?
3. POV
Effectiveness comes first, then efficiency comes later.
Tommy Nguyen (H.Thinh)
If you flip this order, you and your organization are set up to fail.
Does that sound clear enough?
After all questions, as food for thought, the organizations that actually move the needle do 3 things:
- Use AI for growth (not just cost-cutting)unlock new revenue, enter new markets, or serve customers in ways that weren’t possible before. Cost reduction might happen, but it’s a side effect, not the primary goal.
- Redesign workflows end-to-end for human + AI collaboration: Please don’t just drop AI into existing processes and pray to gods it works.
- Put leadership directly in charge of the AI agenda: not IT, not Marketing, not SALE. The board should be in-charge.
👉 By that, you achieve & become the ~6%, the top-notch, the star in the galaxy.
Effectiveness first. Efficiency later.
Tommy Nguyen (HThinh)
That’s the order that works.
P/s: Opinions are my own. Please take consideration for your actions.
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