AI is not just a technology story. It is a leadership story. The next wave of competitive advantage will be defined by the choices executives make about how their organizations grow, where they invest, and how they guide their people through change.

In my recent Forbes article, I explore how AI is reshaping competitive advantage. This briefing note distills the message for CEOs who need to set the vision, reimagine how value is created, and lead their organizations with clarity through an AI-first economy.

Here is the TL:DR (too long: didn't read) for CEOs and business leaders (you can read the full article here):

1. Growth no longer requires matching cost increases

For most of business history, growth and cost rose together. AI-first workflows break that link. A process redesigned with AI can serve one customer or one million with almost no extra cost. CEOs must set the ambition for growth that does not simply mean adding more people, equipment, or overhead.

2. Proprietary data is now a strategic asset

What sets companies apart will not be access to general information, but the data they alone can capture and refine. CEOs should treat proprietary data as an asset equal in importance to facilities, brands, or capital. Companies that modernize systems and harness this data will be positioned to lead.

3. Leadership is the gap, not technology

The barrier to progress is not the lack of tools. It is the lack of leadership in deciding how the company will compete in the AI era. Strategy, governance, and culture belong in the boardroom. CEOs cannot delegate this responsibility to IT or to any one department.

4. Culture and talent must evolve

As tasks shift from execution to orchestration, people will need new skills. CEOs must back investments in upskilling and insist that culture serves as both glue and compass. Trust, clarity, and purpose will be as critical to AI adoption as algorithms or systems.

5. Action is urgent

The risk for leaders is waiting too long. Some executives will hold back, hoping for clarity before committing. By then, competitors who moved early will already have reshaped the market. CEOs must set a clear direction now and act on it, even without every answer in hand.

Bottom line for CEOs

The next competitive advantage will not be determined by tools alone. It will be shaped by leaders who can define where AI belongs, align their organizations behind that vision, and act decisively. The companies that succeed will be those whose CEOs lead from the front.