Imagine a comet hurtling towards Earth.
Astronomers worldwide are issuing urgent warnings about the consequences, but political and economic decision-makers are still debating whether comets even exist. Or whether they want to respond or not. Absurd? This is exactly the situation we are currently experiencing with artificial intelligence.
The illusion of freedom of choice
In boardrooms, town halls, and government ministries, there is still an illusion that we can freely decide whether and when to engage with digitalization and AI. “Do we have time for this?” “Is it really that urgent?” “Can't we tackle this next year?” “Shouldn't we wait until there are ready-made solutions?” Questions like these reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation.
The truth is that this decision has already been made. Not by us, but by reality itself. AI is no longer a future phenomenon that we can take our time to address. It is already here and changing the rules of the game every day – whether we play along or not.
When the comet strikes
Companies that are still discussing whether AI is relevant for them are like dinosaurs philosophizing about the strange glow in the sky. While they debate, competitors are already automating processes, personalizing customer experiences in real time, and making data-driven decisions with a speed and precision that is humanly impossible.
The situation is no less dramatic in public administration. Citizens increasingly expect digital services that are available 24/7 and understand their concerns intelligently. Nine months to update a land registry entry after selling a house is simply no longer acceptable. Authorities that still rely exclusively on paper-based processes are not only becoming inefficient—they are becoming irrelevant. Or they simply collapse due to overload and a simultaneous shortage of skilled workers.
The strategic realignment
Modern strategy development must start from a simple realization: AI is not one topic among many, but the context in which all other topics and every strategy must be rethought.
In concrete terms, this means
- For companies: Every business process, every customer interaction, every decision-making structure must be reviewed to determine where AI can add value. Not as a nice extra, but as a survival strategy.
- For administrations: Citizen services, internal workflows, and decision-making processes must be radically digitized and equipped with AI support. Citizens' demands for efficiency and availability are growing exponentially.
The point of no return
We are at a critical turning point. Organizations that act now can still actively shape the AI transformation. They can train their employees, optimize their processes, and strengthen their competitive position.
Organizations that continue to hesitate will become passive recipients of a development that will sweep over them. They will no longer shape the future, but merely react to it – if there is still time to do so.
The new order of priorities
It is time for leaders in all areas to accept a fundamental truth: AI and digitalization are no longer optional topics for the future, but the present reality that shapes all other strategic decisions.
Any strategy that fails to take this reality into account is already obsolete when it is conceived. The comet has long been visible in the sky – the question is no longer whether it will strike, but whether we will be ready when it does.
The time for leisurely discussions is over. The time to act is now.
This concludes our series on “Rethinking Strategy.” We hope you enjoyed it, found it inspiring and encouraging. We welcome your feedback and suggestions for topics for future blogs.
