Everyone's rushing to add AI. I think the smarter move is to slow down.
It sounds counterintuitive, doesn't it? We are told every single day that if we aren't moving at the speed of a Silicon Valley startup on its third espresso, we're essentially fossilising. But after watching the flood of news this week, I'm convinced that the real winners aren't the ones with the most "AI inside" stickers on their laptops.
The winners are the ones focusing on business execution speed. It’s not about how fast the model thinks, it’s about how fast your business can actually turn that thought into a result.
This week has been a bit of a rollercoaster. We’ve seen everything from Microsoft beefing up their enterprise tools to worrying headlines about AI-related layoffs. Here is my take on what actually mattered and why most of the noise is just that.
The Reality of AI Implementation and the Human Cost
There was a report circulating this week about companies pointing to AI as the reason for laying off 55,000 workers. It’s a sobering statistic. It’s easy to get caught up in the "efficiency" of a chatbot, but we have to remember that "efficiency" usually means doing more with fewer people.
For agencies and consultants, this creates a massive responsibility. If you are selling AI implementation support, you aren't just selling a clever script. You are selling a shift in how a business functions.
I’ve noticed a pattern with the agencies that seem happiest right now. They aren't the ones promising to replace every human with a prompt. They are the ones focusing on Trust Building. They help clients bridge the gap between "I've heard AI is scary" and "This tool helps my team stop doing the boring stuff so they can focus on actual strategy."
Enterprise AI Gets a Makeover with Microsoft Dynamics 365
Microsoft dropped updates for Dynamics 365 Copilot, aiming to make sales and customer service a bit less of a manual slog. It’s another step toward what I call "invisible AI" — where you don’t even realise you’re using it because it’s baked into the tools you already use to manage your day.
The takeaway here isn't that you should drop everything and switch to Microsoft. It’s that the "big boys" are focusing on ROI Demonstration. They know that businesses don't buy "AI," they buy "I want my sales team to spend less time typing and more time talking."
If you’re looking to improve your own setup, I’ve shared some thoughts on more articles on AI that look at how to pick the right tools without getting distracted by the shiny bits.
A Week in Review: What We Learnt on the Blog
We covered a lot of ground this week, from the technical to the tactical. If you missed any of it, here is the "too long; didn't read" version of our deep dives:
- Monday: We looked at why your AI sales pitch is currently boring everyone to tears. Hint: Stop talking about LLMs and start talking about the mess your client wants cleared up. You can use something like SalesM8 to help tidy that process.
- Tuesday: We explored the weird world of AI hallucinations. They aren't just bugs; they are a reminder that even the smartest tech needs a human adult in the room.
- Wednesday: For the agency owners, we looked at GoHighLevel updates. Most updates are noise; we focused on what saves time.
- Thursday: A stern (but polite) reminder on why selling features is a one-way ticket to a "no". If you want to dive deeper into how to structure these conversations, go and get the free book.
- Friday: We finished by noting that a quiet week for model releases is actually a blessing. It gives us time to actually build something rather than just reading documentation.
Why "Wait and See" is a Valid Business Strategy
One of the common pain points I’ve heard in consulting sessions lately is around beta testing strategy. People feel they have to be the first to test every new alpha-release-semi-broken feature just to stay relevant.
I disagree.
Unless you are an AI developer, your value isn't in being first. Your value is in being the most reliable. Sometimes, waiting two weeks for the bugs to be ironed out is the best way to maintain business execution speed.
I’ve also had several conversations about time zone alignment and the logistics of remote AI teams. It’s funny how we have these god-like tools, yet we still struggle with the fact that Dave in Sydney is asleep when the prompt needs fixing. AI hasn't solved the human element yet, and I'm quite glad about that.
Moving Past the Hype: Three Practical Observations
If you want to stay sane in this "AI landscape" (sorry, I promised I wouldn't use that word, let's call it this "current mess"), focus on these three things:
- Website Feedback: Don't just ask AI to build a site. Use it to give you brutal feedback on your current one. Ask it: "Why would a client leave this page without clicking anything?"
- Simplify the Stack: Every time I simplify something, the results get better. If an AI tool adds a layer of complexity instead of removing one, bin it.
- The Result Over the Tech: Stop pitching the engine. Pitch the destination. Nobody cares that your car has a 16-valve fuel-injected whatever. They just want to know if they'll get to the airport on time.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices, you can always book a consultation and we can try to find the signal in the noise for your specific business.
Final Thoughts: The Trajectory
We are moving away from the "Magic Trick" phase of AI and into the "Utility" phase. The novelty of a bot that can write a poem about a toaster in the style of Shakespeare has worn off.
We are now entering the era of execution. The winners won't be the ones with the most sophisticated prompts, but the ones who can integrate these tools with the least amount of friction.
Keep it simple. Focus on the outcome. And if you’re ever in doubt, remember that a human with a clear plan beats a confused AI every single time.
Speak next week.
I publish a weekly roundup every Saturday at steventann.com. If you found this useful, there's plenty more where this came from.
About the Author
Steven Tann is an AI consultant, author of "You're Selling AI Wrong", and founder of SalesM8. He writes about AI, sales, and running a business from a narrowboat on the English canals. Connect with him at steventann.com.
