The Decline of AI "Wrappers"
A Google executive recently delivered a stark verdict: startups acting as wrappers around linguistic models, alongside AI aggregators, might face serious challenges in surviving. The reason is simple yet devastating: shrinking margins and a lack of differentiation. In short, the race to remain relevant and profitable is becoming increasingly uphill.
What does this mean practically for an SME exploring or already investing in AI solutions? The warning is clear: relying on a borrowed model or riding the trending wave without a clear and sustainable approach could lead to a dead end. Here, the crucial factor is not just adopting AI, but understanding how it authentically connects with your value proposition.
Get Out of the Building: Validation Over Speculation
SMEs must avoid falling into the "lab trap"—that is, investing in AI developments based solely on spreadsheets or ideas confided in assumptions without real contact with customers. The urgency to validate in the market couldn't be clearer. How and when an SME integrates AI is critical; it’s not just about adopting advanced technology, but doing so in a way that resonates with their customers' specific needs.
Start with a minimal prototype: a small experiment designed exclusively to generate tangible conversations with users. The real validation comes from seeing if they are willing to pay for it, because the game changes significantly when there’s economic commitment involved.
Is AI Draining or Empowering?
Implementing AI should bring an SME back to basics: focusing on the 20% of activities that generate 80% of real impact. If the time spent exploring platforms and solutions continues to add burden rather than alleviate it, it’s time to reevaluate. AI can become a liberating tool if approached strategically.
Ask yourself, _“How can this technology help the business systematize processes, freeing the owner from routine tasks and enabling strategic thinking?”_
Preparing for Continuous Disruption
The ability of an SME to thrive does not simply reside in integrating any technology, but in its ability to iterate on its use—pivoting when necessary and being ready to absorb the ongoing changes that will result from the evolution of AI.
A crucial lesson is to learn from the failures of other sectors: ego and the false confidence of a detailed plan can be crippling if the line is crossed. Companies must become antifragile entities that not only survive shocks but grow from them.
The power of AI as a strategic tool for SMEs depends on a focus on co-creation with the customer, rapid iteration, and continuous adaptation based on real data, not assumptions. This is the pathway to sustainability—a business that not only survives disruptions but thrives within them.
