This week at ServiceNow, we hosted an internal AI Innovation event that left me incredibly energized about what’s next.
We kicked off with a powerful keynote from Jeremy Utley, author of Ideaflowand director of executive education at Stanford d.school. He shared how AI can amplify human creativity and unlock new ways of thinking.
We then spotlighted Amit Zavery, our President, CPO, and COO, who’s been leading our journey to becoming truly AI-native!
We also featured insights from Paul Hong, ServiceNow VP of Design and Swati Raju, VP of Engineering.
During a our conversation, Paul asked me:
“Brian, from your perspective, how does adopting an AI-native mindset expand what’s possible — for individuals, teams, or even entire product areas? Can you share an example where integrating AI sparked a new idea, accelerated a project, or revealed a possibility that didn’t exist before?”
Here’s how I’m thinking about it 👇
The mindset shift for me is stepping back and exploring what I didn’t know to know.
An AI-native mindset implies AI isn’t an add-on. It’s the core. If AI weren’t part of the equation, the solution wouldn’t (or couldn’t) exist.
That requires the acceptance of an uncomfortable truth: I am in the way.
My thinking, my approach, my assumptions and biases are inherently not AI-native.
The output on the other side of AI is just a reflection of the thinking and design that went into it. So to truly embrace an AI-native mindset, I have to stop starting with, “What would I do?” and instead ask:
WWAID…“What would AI do?”
When I start there, I’m forced to rethink my prompts, my constraints, and my expectations.
I shift from drawing on “known knowns” to intentionally designing for possibility.
That’s where innovation lives…in the creation of new value.
QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey research shows that reimagining end-to-end workflows with AI is the #1 driver of EBIT impact. Not bolting-on AI, but rethinking the whole system.
Please watch the video for the rest of the story…
That’s the power of an AI-native mindset: treating AI not as a tool to speed up what we already do, but as a partner to help us discover what we couldn’t see before.
Please watch (and share) – Youtube! 👀
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It’s fascinating to see how embracing an AI-native mindset can revolutionize creativity and problem-solving. The idea that AI isn’t just an enhancement but the foundation itself is a powerful shift in perspective. Brian’s realization about stepping back to explore the unknown resonates deeply. Admitting that our own biases and limitations might hinder progress is a crucial first step towards embracing AI’s full potential. It’s inspiring to hear about real-world examples where integrating AI led to groundbreaking ideas and accelerated Snow Rider 3D projects. This discussion truly highlights the transformative power of adopting an AI-first approach in innovation and design.