At 90%+ of companies I talk with, AI strategy and what AI actually looks like is completely different.

And when I say “strategy,” what I really mean is what the CEO wants.

But the reality is they have given their teams access to ChatGPT or Claude and called it an "AI Strategy."

Using AI to write ad-hoc emails or LinkedIn posts isn't a strategy.

Sure, it’s helpful, but it really is only a slightly faster way to do manual work.

A real AI strategy is a comprehensive, cross-functional roadmap outlining how your org will use AI to achieve specific business goals.

And we’re all on different levels of maturity.

Here’s how I’ve been thinking about it lately.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 5 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐈 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲

𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 1️⃣: 𝐀𝐝-𝐇𝐨𝐜 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧):

Random acts of generative capability. No brand context.

𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 2️⃣: 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭)

Using custom GPTs trained on your brand guidelines. It knows who you are.

This is where I see most teams these days.

𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 3️⃣: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫)

AI connected via API to your CRM/MAP. It doesn’t just write; it moves data.

𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 4️⃣: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨-𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐭)

AI analyzes data and suggests the plan before you ask for it.

𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 5️⃣: 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞)

Humans set the KPIs in the Director's chair; AI agent and subagent teams execute the tactics.

The hard truth is that moving from Level 2 to Level 5 requires a fundamental shift in governance, processes, and mindset.