Brian Solis’ Post

See you at Knowledge 2026! “Your Guide to AI Maturity: Charting a Path to ROI.” Description: AI maturity isn’t a destination. It’s a leadership imperative. This hands-on workshop invites business leaders to collaborate with experts and peers to uncover what it takes to lead in AI. Through guided discussions about the Enterprise AI Maturity Index, attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of where they stand on the AI maturity curve, what Pacesetters are doing differently to realize 160% ROI, and actionable next steps to move from AI experimentation to business reinvention. RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gw4SMdPF

Every CIO/CTO I speak with buys the vision Brian Solis but most actually execute to 'operational efficiency' vs 'business transformation'. What do you think why that is? and what will make them change?

This resonates deeply. SPEAC is built on exactly this premise — not digitizing existing social media models but reimagining what a social platform looks like when accuracy replaces engagement as the dominant value. Every post fact-checked before it's shared, before the damage is done. Google said it wasn't possible. We built it. Optimizing candles when the light bulb is waiting — that's the incumbent problem we're solving. speacsocial.com

One question that I like asking business leaders is ‘if you were to build your business again from scratch, would it be the same as what you have now?’ The answer for almost any business born before 2023 is ‘no’. Things get interesting when I ask ‘what would be different’ - the answers swing between discussions of support systems through to total reinvention. But where things get really interesting is when they are asked what they would build if they were to start two years from now. Creating structures that are adaptable has never been more important, but that importance is tied to being adaptive to changes that haven’t even happened yet.

The idea that many organizations focused on digitizing rather than truly transforming is a powerful reframing. Optimizing legacy processes instead of reimagining them from the ground up explains why many “digital transformation” efforts delivered incremental gains rather than breakthrough change. The shift toward AI-first business transformation feels like a natural next step—but as you point out, the real constraint is often mindset, not technology. Leaders who continue to think in terms of efficiency rather than reinvention may struggle to unlock the full potential of AI. The concept of AI maturity as a journey—moving from experimentation to real business impact and ROI—is also especially relevant for organizations trying to move beyond pilots and proofs of concept. In your view, what’s the biggest mindset shift leaders need to make to move from optimizing existing models to truly redesigning their business around AI?

@Brian Solis this is such a needed reframe. 🔥 Digital transformation got stuck being about tech upgrades — but business transformation is about people, value, and outcomes. The shift in language actually matters a lot.

Exactly this. Digital transformation became a checklist function for most organizations. AI asks a different set of questions, starting with 'what can we delete' rather than 'what can we digitize.' The reinvent vs optimize mindset is the dividing line between real change and more efficient status quo.

Thought-provoking framing, Brian! It does feel like a lot of “transformation” was really optimization in disguise. At some point, improving the system stops being enough; we have to rethink how it’s designed. Wishing you a great session in May. 👏

Yes please 🙏