Part 3: AI Plays a Supporting Role, Not the Leading Role

Business, Data, and AI, Strategy Over Hype

So we’ve had a look at the need for a Business and Data strategy and why AI Everything is not the right way forward. Now lets look deeper into the role that AI needs to play. If you’ve made it this far you will know that i see it that as, AI is the supporting actor, not the star. Let’s talk about how AI fits in, as a powerful enabler that, when directed well can elevate our execution and insight to new heights. I speak in the first person here because I’ve been in the trenches implementing AI solutions, and time and again the lesson is clear, AI works best as an augmenting force guided by human intelligence and strategic intent.

First and foremost, we must remember that human judgement and vision drive strategy. No algorithm can tell you what your company’s mission should be or which market you should enter, those are deeply human decisions involving creativity, experience, and even trusting your gut feel. As Industries experts consistently note, human judgment remains essential to crafting the strategic vision, even as AI advances. I have found that AI can provide analysis and options, but ultimately it’s up to us to decide what to do with the information, weighing factors like company values or brand impact, and make the call. In practice, this means that in strategy meetings AI might supply forecasts or simulate scenarios, but the leadership team debates and decides the path forward. AI can inform your choices, but it cannot make the choice for you when it comes to defining your purpose and direction.

So what is AI’s proper role? AI is an amplifier and accelerator of your strategy’s execution. When you have clarity on goals, AI is like a turbocharger that helps you reach them faster or more effectively. It plays many supportive roles researcher, analyst, simulator, even a kind of “thought partner” in brainstorming sessions. For instance, AI can rapidly crunch vast amounts of market data and highlight patterns or opportunities that a human might miss. This capability is invaluable in the strategic planning process as it provides knowledge in the moment.

This means strategists armed with AI have a richer fact base to work from - however remember to always validate the output as you’re responsible for the decisions made off of it. I’ve personally used AI analytics to size up potential projects in an afternoon whereas it might have taken analysts a week or more previously – freeing the team to spend more time thinking creatively about the challenges in a project and how to mitigate them, rather than just gathering data.

AI also shines in forecasting and scenario analysis, which are critical in both business and data strategy execution. Through predictive analytics and simulations, AI can project outcomes of various strategic choices, giving us a form of forward looking radar. For example, when we consider launching a new product, an AI model might simulate different pricing strategies across various economic conditions, helping us see which approach could maximize revenue or market share. This kind of insight is incredibly empowering for decision makers, it injects a dose of probabilistic foresight into what used to be educated guesses.

Another supporting role of AI is automation of routine analysis and tasks, which frees up humans to focus on strategy and creativity. Think of AI as taking on the cognitive drain of data crunching. In operations, AI can automatically adjust schedules, manage inventory, or flag anomalies that need managerial attention. In doing so, it supports the business strategy of running efficiently. In essence, AI becomes an always-on assistant, ensuring we execute our strategy with agility and that we don’t overlook early warning signs.