Is AI just about creating new things from existing data? No. AI is as transformative as the internal combustion engine, reshaping industries and redefining work.
At the Dell Technologies Forum last year, I had the privilege of hearing their CTO, John Roese, draw this powerful analogy.
The internal combustion engine wasn’t just a product – it was a technology that converted energy into mechanical work.
Its invention revolutionised industries: farmers traded manual labour for tractors, transportation systems were reimagined, and manufacturing ecosystems were rebuilt.
It wasn’t just about tools; it was about cascading change across entire ecosystems.
AI operates in a similar way – it’s a machine that converts data into intellectual work.
Like the engine shifted who performed physical labour, AI is redefining cognitive work.
Wherever there’s data to analyse or decisions to make, AI has the potential to transform processes and ecosystems.
Consider the ripple effects of foundational technologies: from steam trains requiring tracks and coal infrastructure to automobiles necessitating petrol stations.
Each innovation didn’t just disrupt one area – it restructured everything around it. AI is poised to do the same.
This year, we’ll see more about Agentic AI, AI agents that automate workflows.
Automation doesn’t stop at efficiency; it forces adaptation in everything connected to those workflows.
The result? Profound changes in how we work, innovate and collaborate.
AI isn’t just another tool—it’s the next tectonic shift. Are you ready for the cascading changes ahead?
Why not show the video above to someone who is an AI sceptic and see if this changes their thinking?