Everywhere you turn, AI is in the headlines. The pace feels breathless , new models, new breakthroughs, new valuations, new use cases. Many executives are asking: Why is this happening so quickly? What’s really powering this exponential growth?

This is an important question that every business leader is considering today.  Underneath it sits critical decisions.  Where on the adoption curve should we be? How will competitors respond? How do we avoid investing too early in technology that isn’t ready yet, or too late, when the competitive advantage has already been lost?

AI is everywhere and no longer confined to research labs or Silicon Valley Hype Cycles, in the news, on podcasts, on YouTube channels, and in everyday conversations on the bus or down the pub. The tone shifts between fear and hope, depending on who you ask.