Unlocking GenAI’s Potential—Crawl, Spacewalk, Teleport

Buckle up—we’re moving at warp speed.

Engineering is in my DNA. I’ve been through the sprints, stage gates, and structured rollouts that bring innovation to life while mitigating risk. There’s a familiar rhythm to it—test, refine, scale. That’s how transformational technology usually gets implemented.

But Generative AI (GenAI)? That’s in a category all its own. Instead of a steady rollout, it’s being deployed like a zero-gravity slingshot—launched fast with no ability to hit the brakes.

I get the urgency. GenAI is amazing at powering workflows, decision-making, content creation, and customer engagement. But companies are also scrambling—wondering how fast should we move? How far behind are we? What risks are we taking? With AI embedded in everyday business tools, adoption is happening faster than many companies can track.

And the momentum isn’t slowing down. GenAI is projected to add between $2.6 and $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy.¹ GenAI adoption has surged, with 65 percent of organizations now using it—nearly double the rate from just 10 months ago..2 But speed without strategy doesn’t create value—it creates risk. The challenge isn’t whether to adopt GenAI, but how to do it securely, strategically, and with control.

This isn’t just another technology shift—it’s an entirely new trajectory. The companies that win won’t be the ones who hesitate or the ones who rush in blindly. They’ll be the ones who move with intention, balancing exploration with execution, and accelerating wisely into what’s next.

GenAI Is Taking Off—Where Are You In the Journey?

Before organizations can even take stock, GenAI is generating content, analyzing data, automating workflows, and reshaping customer interactions—all at speeds few saw coming. Its real power lies in amplifying productivity across every department, from streamlining customer service and marketing to accelerating software development and innovation. But as GenAI redefines how work gets done, it also introduces new challenges that can’t be ignored.

Without the right guardrails, even small-scale experimentation with GenAI can quickly spiral into compliance risks, data exposure, and a loss of control. Blocking GenAI tools or enforcing manual reviews won’t stop the momentum—it only slows progress in industries that need AI most. Proprietary and sensitive data can be fed into public GenAI models, increasing the risk of unintended exposure. Compliance standards can slip through the cracks as AI-generated content and decisions become harder to audit. And shadow AI—unmonitored AI use outside IT oversight—creates security blind spots, making it difficult to track where and how models are being used.

The knee-jerk reaction? Pull the plug. But shutting AI down doesn’t eliminate risk—it just limits opportunity. The organizations that succeed won’t fear AI; they’ll take the driver’s seat, embedding security, governance, and visibility from the start. The proof is in the numbers: Companies that implement AI governance platforms see a 30 percent boost in customer trust.³ Secure AI isn’t just a necessity—it’s a competitive advantage.

The Right Speed for the Right Use Case

GenAI is proving too valuable to ignore, and every team wants in. Content creators see how it speeds up production, customer service teams rely on it for faster responses, and developers use it to streamline coding. Some companies are cautiously experimenting, while others are charging ahead without a clear way to track risks.

The organizations getting it right know there’s no one-size-fits-all approach—success comes from applying GenAI where it delivers the most impact while keeping security, compliance, and control in check.

Here’s how to roll GenAI out with confidence:

Crawl: Start with a solid foundation. Even in early GenAI tests—such as content creation, chatbots, or data analysis—companies are seeing major efficiency gains. It speeds up workflows, enhances creativity, and unlocks new insights. But to get the most out of it long-term, it’s important to have a plan. Setting up governance, security, and compliance early ensures smooth scaling and keeps GenAI a valuable asset.