The 4 stages of a CEO accepting AI

Over and over I watch CEOs and other company leadership go through the exact same stages of accepting AI.

1/ Denial

"Your AI is nonsense, we run a serious business here."

The CEO hasn't grasped the scale of the AI wave yet. There are fewer and fewer of these.

Then one day a neighbor shows him ChatGPT, and he moves on to the next stage.

2/ Unhealthy excitement

"AI can do anything! Replace everything with agents!"

The CEO starts running around the company trying to urgently replace everything with AI. This is where it gets hard for the team. Try explaining that not every task is solvable. Especially when the CEO pulls out his phone and shows you how ChatGPT already "solved" it.

Over time it turns out that not everything gets solved, not everywhere. And not by everyone.

3/ Disappointment, either in AI or in the team

"We tried everything and it's kind of hard."

The CEO realizes the current approaches don't work. Either the skis don't glide or the skier is the problem. Now begins the search for consultants, outside teams, outside solutions.

The good CEOs pick up real expertise here and manage to get to the next stage.

4/ Deliberate use

"I know how AI should change my business."

Only a minority make it this far.

And it's about time.