The New Electricity – A Vision for the Future
Caveat: AI will transform the way we live – there is no doubt. Any scepticism you detect in this blog post merely reflects our duty to make AI work for us to the best.
In recent years, there’s been a growing consensus that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to be as transformative as electricity once was. Dan Priestley highlighted this analogy, suggesting that AI is not just a trend but a force that will reshape industries, economies, and our everyday lives.
In this blog, I explore the levels of maturity with AI and how this will affect the way we shape business transformation in the coming years.
Just as electricity revolutionized the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, AI is expected to become an integral part of every sector, powering everything from healthcare and finance to entertainment and manufacturing.
AI, like electricity, will become so embedded in our systems and processes that it will be invisible to most users. People will rely on it to:
- automate repetitive tasks and optimise efficiency,
- provide deeper insights through data analysis
- solve complex problems,
- enhance customer experiences
- create endless new possibilities,
- without needing to understand the intricacies behind the technology.
Embracing AI early on will be crucial for staying competitive in an increasingly tech-driven world.
However, there will be challenges. Just as society had to adapt to electricity—understanding its potential, addressing safety concerns, and leveraging it to full effect—AI will require responsible use and careful integration. There are already widespread ethical considerations, job displacement concerns, and the need for constant learning to keep pace with AI’s evolution.
In short, AI’s potential is immense, and those who embrace and understand AI will be the ones to shape the future.
Where is your organisation today?
AI is becoming a driving force behind business transformation. But it’s not yet fully embedded – far from it, and remember, there were more than 200 years from the discovery of electricity to the first iPhone.
However, the level of AI maturity within an organization determines how effectively AI can be leveraged for meaningful change.
So, consider where your organisation currently sits and where you need to be to stay competitive.
Level 1 Awareness Stage – Companies have minimal knowledge about AI and are not using it but are curious about its potential impact.
Level 2 – Active Stage – Organisations experiment with AI through isolated pilot projects without a clear strategy. AI is often used in pockets of the business but lacks integration.
Level 3 – Operational Stage – AI is deployed in specific business processes, with some automation and data-driven decision-making. However, AI is still not fully optimised across the enterprise.
Level 4 – Systematic Stage – AI is embedded into key workflows and processes, with data governance and model validation practices in place. The organisation begins to see measurable value from AI investments.
Level 5 – Transformational Stage – AI is deeply integrated into business strategy, influencing innovation, decision-making, and competitive positioning. The company continuously refines AI capabilities and fosters a culture of AI-driven innovation.
Final Thoughts
1. AI is a tool. It’s an enabler. And it’s not the finished product. It’s a blank canvas for you to use to transform your business.
- Ask yourself what stage your organisation (and perhaps more importantly your competitors) are at?
- Embracing AI early on will be crucial for staying competitive in an increasingly tech-driven world. You ought to aim to be at least at the Operational stage.
- You need to learn and understand what AI can do for your organisation (and its limitations) and then apply it to your world, be it business, medical, or sport. Explore what you want to simplify, automate, and those things you never imagined possible.
- Remember the transformation mindset – see the problem, see the solution, and care enough to fix it.
- Consider who is best placed to drive the transformation agenda – the business, the technologists or the data scientists?
- AI’s potential is immense, and those who embrace and understand AI will be the ones to shape the future.
Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions and want to have a conversation.
