The question I get most from founders and Fortune 100 chiefs alike: “How do we stand up AI quickly without building a research lab?” The playbook changes dramatically depending on the company’s stage, but each can steal a few moves from the other.
When you are a startup
Bias toward vertical slices. Pick one workflow, wire it into an API-accessible model, and ship an opt-in beta. Instrument everything—latency, cost per call, and user satisfaction—so you can prove ROI when fundraising.
When you are an enterprise
Resist the urge to spin up twenty pilots. Instead, sponsor two flagship programs with executive-level KPIs, then feed the learnings into a shared governance backlog. Build an internal champion network to evangelize reusable components.
Steal like a strategist
Startups should adopt enterprise-style control mapping early to avoid rework at Series B. Enterprises should copy startup-style discovery rituals: short-form memos, tight design partnerships with end users, and public success metrics.
Whichever path you are on, the teams that treat AI as an operational discipline—not innovation theater—win. Define the business problem, ship a measurable slice, and only then scale platform investments.