Chris McGowan chats with Samuel Redmond, Director of the Adapt Group, about the conundrum many businesses face — how to innovate effectively while navigating the hype of AI. Sam unpacks the innovation dilemma and how AI, specifically Gen AI, can help overcome business challenges, streamline strategy, and drive value. 

Discussion Points 

The Innovation Dilemma 

• Why do organisations struggle with a blank slate when tackling innovation? 
• How bringing external perspectives and identifying the right problems to solve is crucial. 

The AI Dilemma: Hype vs Reality 

• The pressure CEOs face from boards to implement AI across their businesses. 
• Why starting with a solution (AI) and hunting for a problem isn’t the answer. 

Using AI to Solve the Innovation Problem 

• How businesses can use AI to rapidly analyse strategy, performance, and gaps. 
• The role of Gen AI in helping organisations critique rather than build from scratch. 

Agile: The Path to Incremental Success 

• The importance of constant course corrections in agile methodologies. 
• Why organisations struggle with embracing agile fully. 
• The misconception of master plans and why small iterations matter 

The Human Factor: Cultural and Behavioural Changes for Transformation 

• Why innovation requires a shift in culture, not just technology. 
• Why transformation efforts require a 10% productivity hit in the short term for long-term gain. 
• The hard truth: innovation as a ‘parasite’ on current productivity. 
• The cultural and behavioural changes needed for successful digital-led transformations.