The rush towards adopting an 'AI-first' approach needs a nuanced understanding, especially for companies rooted in the physical world.
Digital natives like Duolingo and Shopify easily embrace 'AI-first' strategies due to their cloud-based origins, making it a natural evolution for them.
Brick-and-mortar-first companies face unique challenges in transitioning to an 'AI-first' model and should prioritize a strategic AI-readiness evaluation over immediate adoption.
The focus for companies should be on a business-first approach, ensuring that AI implementation aligns with overarching business goals and doesn't overshadow core objectives.