In an era marked by rapid technological shifts, companies are being pushed to explore new horizons in AI, especially as generative AI (GenAI) reshapes competitive landscapes. A recent study from BCG revealed that, of 1,400 executives surveyed, 89% cite GenAI as a top-three organizational priority. Yet, strikingly, 90% are still in the observational phase -- watching, analyzing, and waiting to see what unfolds. This caution isn't entirely surprising. We've witnessed similar adoption hesitancy in Open Talent strategies. The emergence of GenAI, like the dawn of the internet and the smartphone, represents a strategic innovation rather than a simple tactical one, which requires a significant rethink of organizational structures and operations.
Imagine this scenario: companies as frogs in gradually heating water, with each disruptive wave raising the temperature. The iPhone, the gig economy, and even COVID-19 brought changes, but not enough to spur wholesale organizational restructuring. Now, GenAI has pulled the proverbial fire alarm, demanding a response. But should companies radically reinvent themselves for AI, or should there be a more incremental approach?
After discussing with Paige Costello, Head of AI at Asana, an interesting alternative became clear. She suggested that companies don't need to overhaul their systems completely; instead, they could leverage the advanced capabilities of their vendors adopting AI into their platforms. Asana, for example, transforms into a "Super Asana" when powered by an LLM, allowing companies to gain AI-driven insights and automation without immediate organizational upheaval.
Salesforce echoed this sentiment in a recent announcement of Agentforce, a GenAI-powered support tool. Their message? "Don't DIY your AI." By leveraging such partners, companies can experience GenAI's benefits while gradually evolving their strategies. Leaders can report AI integration to their boards, meet productivity goals, and improve outcomes without risking a high-stakes reinvention.
Why "Don't DIY" Works for AI AdoptionCollaborating with external vendors instead of going all-in on a DIY AI strategy is not merely about risk avoidance. This approach leverages proven AI systems built by teams whose sole focus is on AI refinement and improvement, meaning companies can avoid some of the common pitfalls of DIY AI: incomplete understanding of model limitations, lack of in-house AI talent, and the significant costs of building an AI system from scratch.
This approach draws from a similar evolution seen in open talent platforms. As we observed, the integration of freelance talent has been primarily bottom-up, and companies have struggled to move beyond traditional jobs and roles toward outcome-focused work arrangements, often held back by organizational inertia. When it comes to AI, the stakes are similar. Human-AI collaboration is still a nascent field, and companies that push too quickly risk misaligning AI applications with strategic goals.
Five Steps to Begin an AI Strategy with Vendor PartnershipsIf leaders choose to leverage external partners for AI capabilities, there are concrete steps they can take to ensure effective integration while laying the groundwork for a future AI-driven organization.
AI offers a profound opportunity to reimagine operations, customer service, and decision-making processes. But radical, immediate transformation isn't the only path forward. By tapping into the expertise and infrastructure of external partners like Asana and Salesforce, companies can gain the advantages of GenAI while building the confidence and capability needed for an eventual full-scale AI strategy. Much like the shift toward open talent, the AI journey is one best approached with both ambition and caution -- an evolution rather than a revolution.