2026 marks a critical inflection point where businesses will face irreversible separation between AI leaders and laggards. This episode examines why 2025 saw immense energy but limited progress, with many organizations stuck in “pilot purgatory” without clear ROI. The hosts predict that this year will expose which companies have developed true collective intelligence between human and artificial intelligence, and which remain “collectively unintelligent.” Key concepts discussed include the AI Laptop Test for evaluating job vulnerability, the necessity of CEO-level mandates for AI adoption, and the transformation of SaaS from tools to outcome-driven partners. The episode provides actionable frameworks for moving beyond experimentation to demonstrable business benefits through agentic systems and vertical solutions aligned with strategic priorities.

Highlights

• Leaders can no longer hide from AI adoption—2026 demands CEO-level mandates and strategic alignment
• Winners and losers in business will separate permanently based on AI adoption speed and effectiveness
• Agentic AI systems will evolve from isolated tools to dynamic decision-making networks within organizations
• SaaS pricing models will shift from tool-based to outcome-based partnerships with demonstrable ROI
• Voice interfaces will become primary interaction methods, replacing keyboards for many AI interactions
• The AI Laptop Test exposes which remote knowledge-worker jobs are most vulnerable to automation
• Companies must move from horizontal AI experiments to vertical solutions with clear EBITDA impact
• Physical AI and robotics will capture mainstream attention as AI moves beyond digital interfaces

Important Concepts and Frameworks

• AI Laptop Test — Shane Legg’s concept evaluating which remote knowledge-worker jobs are vulnerable to AI automation based on computer-based cognitive tasks
• Collective Intelligence — The synergistic combination of human and artificial intelligence that creates competitive advantage
• Pilot Purgatory — The state where companies run multiple AI experiments without achieving production-scale ROI or strategic alignment
• Vertical vs Horizontal AI Solutions — Vertical solutions target specific business problems with measurable outcomes, while horizontal solutions provide general capabilities across the organization
• Agentic Systems — AI systems that can autonomously perform tasks, make decisions, and coordinate with other agents
• Crossing the Chasm — The critical transition from early AI adopters to mainstream business adoption that will define 2026

Tools & Resources Mentioned

• n8n — Workflow automation platform that enables building agentic AI systems without extensive coding
  • Link: https://n8n.io/
• ChatGPT — OpenAI’s conversational AI used for ideation, coding assistance, and agent development
  • Link: https://openai.com/chatgpt
• Claude Code — Anthropic’s AI assistant specialized for coding and software development tasks
  • Link: https://www.anthropic.com/claude
• Google Pixel Watch with Gemini — Wearable device with integrated AI assistant for voice interactions
  • Link: https://support.google.com/googlepixelwatch/answer/16393978?hl=en-IN

Calls to Action

1. Conduct an honest assessment: What is your organization doing with AI today that it wasn’t doing this time last year?
2. Secure CEO-level mandate and board alignment for AI initiatives before pursuing any significant investments.
3. Identify 2-3 vertical solutions aligned with strategic priorities that offer demonstrable EBITDA impact within 9-12 months.
4. Establish a “skunk works” team to experiment with agentic AI systems using platforms like n8n, starting from zero knowledge if necessary.
5. Evaluate which roles in your organization fail the AI Laptop Test and develop reskilling or restructuring plans.
6. Audit existing AI spending to eliminate “shelfware” and reallocate resources to solutions with measurable outcomes.
7. Implement voice interface experiments to prepare for the shift from keyboard-based to voice-based AI interactions.

Key Quotes

• “This is the year leaders can no longer hide” — Mark Redgrave
• “Winners and losers separate and they will never come back together” — Mark Redgrave
• “This isn’t about artificial intelligence at all. This is about human intelligence” — Mike Richardson
• “AI adoption will not be democratic” — Mark Redgrave
• “Voice becomes a primary interface, not secondary” — Tom Adams

Chapters

00:00 — Welcome and 2025 AI Reflections: Energy Without Progress
04:03 — The 2025 Reality Check: Pilot Purgatory and Limited Outcomes
07:18 — Personal AI Breakthroughs: From n8n Agents to Coding Assistants
12:33 — 2026 Prediction #1: The Great Business Separation Begins
15:56 — Leadership Mandates Become Non-Negotiable in AI Adoption
20:22 — The AI Laptop Test: Evaluating Job Vulnerability and Skills Gaps
23:53 — SaaS Transformation: From Tools to Outcome-Based Partnerships
27:35 — Innovation Culture Exposed: Who Can Adapt Fast Enough?
30:39 — The Non-Democratic Nature of AI Adoption Success
32:01 — Escaping Pilot Purgatory: Vertical Solutions with EBITDA Impact
39:42 — Three Low-Hanging Fruit Areas for Immediate AI Implementation
45:53 — Building the AI Flywheel: Starting Small, Compounding Results
46:17 — Physical AI and Robotics: The Next Frontier Beyond Digital
49:53 — Voice Interface Revolution: The End of Keyboard Dominance
52:00 — Personal Commitments: From CEO Mandates to Keyboard-Free Weeks

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Meet the Crew

Mike Richardson – Agility, Peer Power & Collective Intelligence
Website: https://mikerichardson.live/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agilityexpertmikerichardson/

Ryan Niemann – Software CEO & Board Operator
Website: https://bob3.pro/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanniemann/

Mark Redgrave – Agility, People and Performance
Website: https://www.shift-transform.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mredgrave/

Tom Adams – Executive Coach, Advisor & Trail Blazer
Website: https://tomadams.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomadamscoach/