I had a great conversation with the visionary Mike Prince yesterday and we were discussing this.

We’re standing at a pivotal moment in business history. If you’ve ever seen the ocean receding before a tsunami, you know that eerie calm when the water pulls back, exposing treasures on the newly revealed seafloor. That’s exactly where we are with AI in the workplace today.

The Treasure Hunters (The Short-Sighted)
Right now, I’m watching companies wade out onto this exposed beach, collecting what they see as immediate treasures. These are quick cost cuts through AI-justified layoffs. They’re focused on satisfying shareholders by the short-term gains: “Look! We can eliminate these roles and boost our quarterly numbers!”
But like beachgoers distracted by pretty shells and starfish, they’re missing the fundamental truth: the wave is coming, and it’s bigger than they imagine.
These organizations are optimizing for the wrong metrics. When the full force of AI transformation really begins to hit, their skeletal teams won’t have the capacity to adapt, innovate, or capture the exponential opportunities ahead. The treasures, they’re collecting today, and likely their company, will be swept away.

The High Ground Seekers (The Strategic)
The wise organizations are different. They see the receding waters and immediately recognize what it means. It’s time to get to higher ground and prepare.
These leaders are investing in their people, not cutting them. They’re building AI roadmaps that enhance human capability rather than simply replacing it. From their elevated position, they can see the bigger picture forming: new market opportunities, revolutionary business models, and competitive advantages that will emerge when the transformation fully arrives.
Their goal isn’t to survive the tsunami, they want to thrive in the new landscape it creates.

The Wave Riders (The Builders)
Then there are the true visionaries. They’re the ones building boats while others debate whether the water is really receding. These organizations aren’t just preparing for AI; they’re actively constructing the infrastructure of the AI economy.
They’re developing AI-native applications, creating training platforms, establishing consulting frameworks, and building the tools that others will desperately need when the wave hits. Like skilled boat builders working against time, they know that when the tsunami arrives, they won’t just survive, they’ll ride it to tremendous success.

The water is still receding. You can still choose your response:
Will you be distracted by immediate cost savings while missing the larger transformation?
Will you seek higher ground and invest in strategic positioning?
Or will you build the vessels that will carry you and others to success in the new economy?
What position is your organization taking?
Ignitia-AI The Pinney Group