How Seismic Shifts Will Redefine Industries & Human Experiences

What is your vision of the “waves of new capabilities, products, ecosystems, and behaviors” that you predicted will be coming in the next five years?

The waves of shifts that span across tech, capabilities, markets, and behaviors are where companies do need to spend time and attention as an everyday practice.

Now’s the time.

The next five years will continue to bring seismic shifts in technology, creating opportunities that stretch beyond our imagination. Ongoing AI evolution, spatial and ambient computing, quantum technology, and blockchain will converge to redefine industries and human experiences.

For CEOs and technology and business leaders, the challenge is to embrace an open mindset of curiosity and possibility. Instead of fearing disruption or responding to disruption with the business-as-usual playbook, they must see themselves as architects of a future that is not yet written. If not them, then who?

Imagine a CEO in retail leveraging AI to craft hyper-personalized online and physical customer journeys that anticipate needs before customers even articulate them. Picture spatial and ambient computing transforming hospitality into immersive experiences where travelers interact with AI-guided digital concierges in augmented environments or have their spaces personalized to them as they arrive.

In healthcare, AI-driven diagnostics could enable entirely new business models, like subscription-based proactive wellness platforms that continuously monitor and adapt to patient needs.

To shift the narrative of AI from fear to wonder is a competitive advantage. Leaders need to ask: “How might this technology extend human potential?” For example, AI isn’t here to replace; it’s here to augment—taking care of repetitive tasks so humans can focus on creativity, strategy, and connection. Imagine what can be done with saved time and resources?

Rather than simply benefit from the scale and efficiencies of automation, explore how to augment human capital in ways that unlock untapped value creation.

This reframe can ignite a culture of awe within organizations, turning skeptics, pessimists, and those with fixed mindsets into advocates and opportunists. Leaders who’ve made this shift tell me it’s like opening a window to a world of endless possibility. They no longer see AI or the unknown as disruptors but as partners for crafting an extraordinary future. And that’s really what this is about: Investing in tracking, understanding, and exploiting trends before they force you to react in the present.

Pairing Automation with Augmentation to Elevate Human Ingenuity

What are some of the catalysts in AI transformation that will supercharge revenue growth and innovation on a continual basis?

AI is rewriting the rules of business growth by combining automation with augmentation. But organizations are largely experimenting with automation. And that’s normal.

Generative AI, for example, represents a catalyst not only for efficiency but for augmentation and innovation. This is where a mindshift comes in. It asks different questions with the intent to discover new answers and the commitment to explore the unknown.

Consider the logistics industry: AI-powered supply chain tools predict disruptions and reroute shipments before bottlenecks occur, enabling just-in-time manufacturing on a global scale. Or think about marketing—where generative AI analyzes customer behavior in real-time to create campaigns that resonate on a deeply personal level.

Consider the burnout facing caregiving in the healthcare system. AI could be present in patient discovery and diagnosis. Or, it could be part of every engagement along the patient journey to synthesize interactions and collaborate with caregivers toward potentially more accurate next steps. It could then connect those summaries and next steps into systems to free up time from the manual processes required at each step today.

Tesla’s AI strategy exemplifies this. The company doesn’t just use AI to power its autonomous vehicles—it employs it to optimize manufacturing processes, from robotics to predictive maintenance. This creates a virtuous cycle of efficiency and innovation.

For CEOs, the lesson is to focus on areas where AI can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. By automating routine tasks, organizations free up bandwidth to solve complex, high-value problems.

Pairing automation with augmentation also empowers employees. Tools like AI-assisted design platforms allow engineers and creatives to focus on ideation rather than execution.

Leaders should ask themselves: “Where can we use AI to elevate human ingenuity or even my own vision leadership?” The answer often lies in combining the analytical power of AI with the empathetic, creative, and strategic strengths of humans.

Leaders Must Paint an Aspirational Vision for the Future

Your book talks about the importance of storytelling. Why is this so key in this time of transformation?

Storytelling is the most powerful tool leaders have to humanize change management and transformation. In an age of rapid disruption, a compelling narrative helps people understand why change is necessary and how they can play a role in shaping it.

Effective stories have three elements:

Disney would say that a good story is believable, that people can see themselves in it.

Leaders must master the art of painting vivid pictures of the future—a future motivating state, backed by concrete actions that bring those visions to life. More importantly, leaders must paint an aspirational vision that people want to be part of, to inspire new behaviors, and establish new norms.

A great story turns transformation into a shared journey, inspiring employees and stakeholders to join in.