The future isn’t coming – it’s here: Lessons from Danilo McGarry’s keynote

In the final blog of our “Every Business is an AI Business…?” series, highlighting our recent event where over 200 senior leaders came together to explore how AI is reshaping strategy, operations and value creation, Danilo McGarry — global AI authority, UN advisor and host of the world’s fastest-growing AI podcast — joined us to share what’s coming next, and why the time to act is now.

Danilo McGarry took to the stage with energy, honesty, and a warning: the time to act is now. Recently back from spending two days in Paris with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and the global AI elite, Danilo came armed with frontline insights from the most important AI conversations happening in the world today.

A wake-up call for leaders

Danilo opened with a challenge. Most leaders, he argued, are still trying to rationalise AI through traditional strategic planning cycles. That’s not going to cut it.

“AGI is going to be available within the next two to three years. It’s basically a system that can do anything a human can do, but better. So while you guys are getting your head around how to infuse AI into your companies, two or three years from now, you’re going to get whacked in the face with AGI — and it’s going to disrupt the system again.”

Let that sink in.

Perhaps the most thought-provoking moment of the keynote was Danilo’s insight that we are entering a new competitive paradigm. One where companies are no longer just competing with their traditional rivals.

“You’re not just competing with your competitors anymore,” he said. “You’re competing with exponential.”

That means talent models, operating structures, and tech stacks all need to adapt — not eventually, but now.

He referenced companies that are scaling business lines with only a handful of full-time staff, using AI agents to handle everything from marketing to onboarding to logistics. That’s not science fiction — it’s happening today.

In other words, while some organisations are still waiting for the dust to settle, their competitors are already deploying - and learning - at machine speed. AI doesn’t wait for committee sign-off.

You think you're behind? You might not even be on the pitch

Danilo pulled no punches about the current state of play. When it comes to AI readiness, many businesses, even at the highest levels, are asleep at the wheel.

“Just today I was in a board meeting with one of the tier-one banks. They have no plan. They have no digital transformation. They don’t even have an OCR engine — and the bank is over 160 years old.”

This wasn’t fear-mongering. It was practical urgency. And it landed.

Urgency with optimism

In the next decade, Danilo predicts seismic change to every element of work, value and strategy:

“Every single job is going to change within the next couple of years — and it's already changing today. Job design, career planning, even what we tell our children to study… it all needs rethinking.”

But he was equally insistent that the opportunity is massive - if leaders can show bravery and pace. In fact, he’s optimistic about how AI can empower people, especially when applied with care and governance. But he cautioned against falling into the trap of ‘human-in-the-loop’ as a safety net without substance.

“Critical thinking is what remains uniquely human. But most businesses haven’t designed for that. They’re still measuring people on output, not outcomes.”

To truly augment your workforce, you need to redesign workflows, incentives and systems so humans are adding value where AI can’t. That’s a harder job than buying a tool — but it’s where the real value lies.

What should business leaders do next?

Danilo didn’t just stoke anxiety but he was brilliant at giving actionable direction:

• Don’t chase AI. Re-engineer processes.

“Everybody goes straight after automation and low-hanging fruit. But you hit a ceiling fast. You’re not transforming unless you’re rethinking end-to-end.”

• Forget fancy tools. Start with problem design.

“Stop asking me about my favourite AI tools — they don’t exist. Think about the business model first.”

• Treat transformation as investment — not cost.

“Transformation is not expensive. Most of it is capex, and with IFRS standards, it doesn’t touch profitability. Your CFO just doesn’t know how to do it yet.”

Human-first

Danilo’s delivery was rich with insight, but it was also human. Honest. Humble. At one point, he shared his personal reasons for building an AI therapist - after his human therapist literally fell asleep during a session.

Why does this matter?

Because AI is about people. Whether that’s transforming business performance, augmenting talent or supporting mental health.

“There was a trial with the U.S. Army. Soldiers came back from Afghanistan. They were given a human therapist and an AI therapist. After six months, 87% of them picked the AI therapist — because it was there at 3am when they were having a mental breakdown.

Final thought

To close, Danilo left the audience with three deceptively simple questions that every executive team should be asking themselves right now:

1. Where in our business is friction slowing us down?
2. Where are we already making decisions repeatedly — and could AI assist?
3. If we had to 10x our productivity without hiring, where would we start?

He wasn’t saying AI has all the answers. But it’s now the most powerful tool in the toolbox. And those who learn to wield it wisely — early — will define the next generation of business performance.

Danilo ended with a final provocation:

“If you haven’t started with AI, there’s a really big chance your company will go bankrupt.”

The room was silent. Not out of fear, but because the weight of the moment had landed.

Danilo wasn’t selling AI. He was issuing a call to arms.

Read the other blogs in our series

Every Business is an AI Business...?
Demystifying AI: Real leaders, real impact