Most business leaders know AI is bringing massive change, fast. The question is: How will businesses adapt to this change to not only survive but thrive?
Paul Roetzer, founder and CEO of SmarterX, says every company is on a trajectory toward one of three outcomes: AI Native, AI Emergent, or Obsolete.
AI Native companies are being built from the ground up with AI embedded into every function, every product, every decision. They are leaner, faster, and operating with structural advantages that traditional businesses will struggle to replicate.
AI Emergent companies are existing businesses that are actively reinventing themselves, integrating AI across roles and departments, rethinking business models, and building the internal capabilities to stay competitive.
Obsolete is what happens when organizations wait too long, delegate AI to IT as a risk management issue, and fail to build the culture, roadmap, and skills needed to adapt.
Most companies are somewhere between AI Emergent and Obsolete and don’t even know it.
SmarterX's 2026 State of AI for Business Report, which surveyed more than 2,100 professionals across industries and company sizes, shows how significant the gap is between where organizations need to be and where they actually are:
At the same time, AI capabilities are advancing faster than most leaders understand or can keep up with. This means a significant impact on how businesses should be run in the future, from products to business models to workforces. Those who get ahead will win. And the leaders taking this seriously are asking different questions than their peers.
Small, focused teams are accomplishing what previously was only possible with large organizations. Entrepreneurs are launching AI-native businesses with structural cost advantages that didn't exist a few years ago. Established players in industries of every kind are exploring new operational models, new customer experiences, and new revenue streams powered by AI.
Roetzer argues that the organizations that will emerge strongest are not necessarily the ones with the most AI tools. They are the ones whose leaders have made a clear-eyed decision to treat AI as a business transformation opportunity rather than an IT project.
That requires a few things to be in place:
These are the things Roetzer will work through with attendees at the AI for Business Bootcamp next week, July 16, in Columbus.
Roetzer’s AI for Innovation workshop is designed for executives, innovation leaders, strategy teams, and decision-makers who are responsible for where the business is headed — not just how efficiently it runs today. No technical background is required.
The session is hands-on and focused on real-world application, and it builds directly on the morning's AI for Productivity workshop led by Chief Content Officer Mike Kaput.
What’s important to understand: The companies winning with AI are not always the largest or the best-resourced. They are the ones that build an AI foundation to move quickly and embrace change. Because the path toward AI Native or AI Emergent is not a single decision. It is a series of decisions made consistently over time. It requires a vision, a plan, and the practical skills that help leaders move from conversation to action.
Ready to see how AI can drive innovation?
Roetzer, co-host of The Artificial Intelligence Show, will lead the AI for Innovation workshop at the AI for Business Bootcamp on July 16 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. The day is designed for professionals at any level, and no technical background is required.
Register at smarterx.ai/events. AI Mastery members receive discounted pricing.