Top futurist Amy Webb sees Fortune 500 firms suffering from ‘learned helplessness’ with AI, like taxi drivers who need Google Maps
"Let's be fair, Fortune 500 companies are pretty late to the party on this," said Webb, founder and CEO of the Future Today Strategy Group.
Top futurist Amy Webb says Fortune 500 companies are struggling with artificial intelligence due to a lack of strategic planning, similar to taxi drivers who have become overly reliant on Google Maps. At the Fortune AIQ Summit, Webb noted that many large firms are wasting resources on pilots without proper strategy. She claims that executives often hand off building proprietary technology to third parties, leaving employees frustrated and creating orphaned projects.
Webb argues that merely having AI does not equate to productivity gains, highlighting the importance of proper utilization, much like drivers who must learn how to use navigation tools. Her advice for companies is to focus on flexibility rather than striving to be "AI native." Runway, an AI video company, exemplifies a different approach, where employees are deeply involved in building AI tools, resulting in innovative products and significant productivity gains.
The company emphasizes responsible use of AI and celebrates employee successes, rather than treating AI as a mere checkbox.
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