What Your Resolution With AI Should Be
Navigating a new future
What happens when you wake up one day and get a mail that you’re being laid off?
What’s the reason?
Because AI is taking over your job.
This was the experience of about 6,000 employees at Microsoft this past week. And Microsoft isn’t alone—this wave is cutting across industries like finance, media, healthcare, and tech.
The MBA That Might Not Matter
A friend of mine recently told me he’s no longer pursuing his MBA.
"Why spend all that money," he said, "when what I’m going to learn will be outdated in two years—and AI is already replacing half the knowledge?"
That hit.
We’re entering a new era where traditional paths are no longer guarantees. AI is changing the rules, redefining value, and reordering the job market.
What you need now is not to fear AI or try to compete with it.
It’s to partner with it. Because the new game is not you vs AI—it’s you + AI vs the market.
Just like companies that didn’t embrace internet in its inception and they were wiped off, that will be the future of businesses who never embrace AI.
Poonkulali Thangavelu, Investopedia
A History Lesson: When Giants Ignored the Shift
This isn’t the first time we've seen a massive technological disruption. The internet did the same thing. And the companies that didn’t adapt?
Gone.
🪦 5 Popular Companies That Ignored the Internet & Paid for It:
Kodak – Invented the digital camera in 1975, but didn’t market it to protect film sales. Filed for bankruptcy in 2012.
Blockbuster – Declined Netflix’s offer to sell for $50M. Refused to shift to streaming. Dead by 2010.
Nokia – Dominated mobile phones but dismissed the rise of smartphones and software ecosystems. Lost its lead to Apple and Android.
Yahoo – Passed on buying Google. Struggled to prioritize product development and lost the search and advertising wars.
Toys “R” Us – Outsourced its online operations to Amazon, missing the chance to build its own e-commerce presence. Filed for bankruptcy in 2017.
These weren’t small businesses. They were giants. But they lost their edge because they refused to rethink, retool, and respond.
Now, It’s AI’s Turn
We’re at that same tipping point again. And the divide is already showing.
🚀 5 Popular Companies Winning with AI:
Microsoft – $13B invested in OpenAI. Integrating Copilot across Office, Azure, and GitHub. Dominating productivity tools.
Amazon – Using AI to optimize supply chains, recommend products, automate customer service, and power Alexa.
Netflix – AI-driven personalization engine keeps engagement high and churn low. Also testing AI-generated storyboards and scripts.
Adobe – Firefly AI is reshaping how designers create content. They’re turning generative AI into a feature, not a threat.
Shopify – Rolled out AI-powered features like Sidekick to help merchants with marketing, product descriptions, and support.
These companies aren’t just playing with AI—they’re building it into the core of their operations. And they’re seeing returns in speed, efficiency, and innovation.
💤 5 Popular Companies Lagging Behind on AI:
IBM – Once a leader with Watson, but poor execution and unclear product focus made it fizzle. They’re playing catch-up.
Disney – Facing backlash from creatives for slow and awkward use of AI in storytelling and production. Innovation has stalled.
Zoom – Struggling to integrate AI meaningfully while competitors like Microsoft Teams and Google Meet are embedding it natively.
Spotify – Hasn’t fully leveraged AI beyond playlists, while competitors like YouTube Music and TikTok are rapidly iterating.
Airbnb – Late to the AI game in personalization and automation, losing ground in user experience compared to newer platforms.
What separates the winners from the laggards?
Integration and mindset.
Not just playing with AI tools—but thinking about how AI can amplify core business value.
Your New Mindset: You + AI vs The Market
Let go of the old narrative.
You’re not trying to outrun AI.
You’re building with it. That’s how you stay relevant, increase your capacity, and stay ahead in your field.
Whether you’re a freelancer, founder, or team lead, AI isn’t optional anymore. It’s a business essential.
So, What Should Your Resolution with AI Be?
Get curious. Don’t be scared to explore.
Get practical. Use AI to reduce waste and increase speed.
Get integrated. Build it into your workflow, not just your toolkit.
The future belongs to the AI-aware. The builders. The early movers.
Because just like the internet, AI won’t ask for permission—it’ll just replace what’s slow, outdated, and resistant.
So ask yourself:
Are you adapting early?
Or will you be studying your own downfall 10 years from now?
Kudos to Netflix for defying the predictions that they’ll fold because they lost monopoly of movie streaming. Just goes to show that innovation can’t stop and won’t stop