Generative AI adoption echoes the early days of cloud computing: full of opportunity but riddled with uncertainty. Progress depends on patience, iteration, and a culture that rewards curiosity—even when it leads to failure. Now is the time to move deliberately and build capability before the competitive gap widens.

Generative AI may not yet meet the hype surrounding its performance, but its trajectory follows a familiar pattern of disruptive innovation. By serving overlooked segments and lowering the barrier to entry, AI is already transforming how work gets done—and can be particularly impactful small businesses and startups. Yet its broader impact depends on more than the tools themselves. True transformation requires rethinking workflows, redistributing knowledge, and developing new ways to capture value across the organization.

Many senior leaders and individuals hesitate to use generative AI due to skepticism, ethical concerns, and uncertainty. However, everyone needs to actively engage with these tools now. Personal experience is crucial to understanding AI's capabilities and limitations, address legitimate concerns about its impact, and shape its future development. Only by using generative AI can we navigate this technological shift effectively, mitigate potential harms, and ensure its benefits outweigh the costs.