49% of Leaders See Profit in AI—But They’re Missing the Real Risk

Hi Reader

What if I told you that 49% of CEOs expect GenAI to increase profitability within the next 12 months? That’s exactly what I read in PwC’s 28th Annual Global CEO Survey.

That’s fast. That’s now. But here’s the rub…

The Real Problem Isn’t the Tech – It’s the Talent Gap

Adopting AI is more about upgrading your thinking than it is about upgrading your tools.

What’s missing in most organizations?

People skills. Specifically:

AI literacy: Knowing what GenAI can—and can’t—do.
Judgment: Overriding the machine when it spits out nonsense.
Ethics: Spotting bias and hallucinations before they go viral.
Workflow design: Rethinking the how of work, not just the what.
Cross-functional smarts: Bridging tech and business like a pro.

So, What Skills Actually Matter in an AI World?

Let’s break it down:

Skill	Why You Need It
AI Literacy & Prompt Design	It’s the new digital literacy. If you can’t talk to machines, you’re falling behind.
Critical Thinking	Don’t take AI outputs at face value. Think. Analyze. Push back.
Ethics & Governance	If you don’t know how to check for bias, compliance issues, or hallucinations—you’re playing with fire.
Digital Transformation	AI won’t integrate itself. Someone’s got to own the roadmap.
Change Leadership	Tech change is easy. People change? Not so much.
Strategic Judgment	CEOs who nail this are already seeing higher margins. (Coincidence? Probably not.)

Fast-Forward to 2027: What Happens Next

A bold new forecast by researchers like Daniel Kokotajlo and Scott Alexander suggests that the coming decade will make the Industrial Revolution look like a warm-up act.

In fact, in their AI 2027 report, they lay out a scenario that includes:

A sharp decline in junior software roles as AI takes the wheel.
A surge in new roles like AI integrators, prompt engineers, and model auditors.
Consultants fluent in AI tools thriving like never before.
A booming stock market (up 30% in 2026!)—driven by firms getting AI right.
And by 2027? A public AI agent disrupts most white-collar jobs.

If you’re not prepping for this shift now, you’re not just behind—you’re invisible.

The AI Revolution Is Here (And I’m in It!)

I’m thrilled to share some exciting news:

📘 The AI Revolution—a book I co-authored with 33 other AI experts—is officially out on Amazon.

This isn’t just theory. It’s real-world strategy from leaders in:

Finance
Healthcare
Cybersecurity
Government
Education
Law

And if you liked my Forbes piece “5 Critical Skills Teams Need in the AI Era,” you’ll find an expanded chapter in the book that digs even deeper.

We’re talking about how AI is already transforming how we work, decide, and lead.

If you want to understand how to ride the AI wave instead of getting swamped by it

Grab your copy here

(or share it with your team)

Are You Ready for What’s Coming?

Let me leave you with this:

The most disruptive revolutions—agricultural, industrial, digital—weren’t marked by the rise of new tools, but by the rise of new mindsets.

If you’re willing to retool your thinking, learn a few new tricks, and lean into change, this can be your moment.

Let’s not just adapt. Let’s lead.

Take care,

Daria

PS – If you found this useful, consider forwarding it to a friend or colleague who’s serious about future-proofing their skills. And if you want more insights like this, you can follow me here on LinkedIn where I post daily ideas on AI, strategy, and leadership.