AI and agentic thinking are not the future - they are the present. It's about adapting faster than ever before. 2024 has put a definitive end to one thing: If you still think that linear strategic thinking and linear plans can solve tomorrow's challenges, now is the time to wake up.

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We're not facing a new technological era - we're in the middle of it. Artificial intelligence (AI) and agentic thinking are moving from buzzwords to the foundation of future strategic decisions. The biggest danger is not the change itself, but that we continue to act as we always have.

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So what does that mean? It means that strategy should be dynamic, engaging and action-oriented. Think of it like playing chess on a constantly changing board. While AI gives you real-time insights and predictions, agentic systems create solutions that don't just react, but act autonomously within a given framework on behalf of the business.

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2024: A year of warning signs and opportunities

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This year has shown us that the speed of change is only accelerating. ChatGPT has made AI commonplace, while global crises, climate change, technological developments and supply chain challenges have made the need for agility a survival factor. Companies that hesitated to implement new technologies are already feeling the consequences.

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Just think of the economic turbulence: while some companies were stuck in old structures, others used AI to optimize their processes and improve the customer experience. Those who manage to balance technology with human insight are the ones who set the standard.

ALSO READ: Are you creating your future - or is the future creating you?

2025: From reaction to proactive action

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The key in 2025 will be agentic thinking - systems that can act autonomously within a given framework and goals. This is where decisions happen at the speed of light instead of on the back foot. Imagine a production where software automatically adjusts resources in real time, a customer service that knows everything about the customer's history and every detail of the company's products, service level agreements and customer contracts or a strategic plan that is continuously optimized based on AI's insights and predictions.

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However, let's be honest: The biggest challenge is our mindset.

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The technology is ready, but is the management, organization and distribution of decision-making power ready too? Fear of the new, lack of understanding or knowledge - and the creature of habit - can still be a stumbling block in many senior management meetings - both at the executive and board level. AI and agentic systems require courage and new knowledge to rethink the way we work with strategy: less focus on the linear strategy process and more focus on the interactive strategy process that can be quickly adjusted.

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ALSO READ: Top leader, beware of the creature of habit

So dear CEO, here is your to-do list for 2025:

1. Create an AI strategic mindset - Teach your employees and management to think in terms of opportunities, not limitations. Every company today is a high-tech company, even if its main product is concrete.
2. Build a data-driven infrastructure - Without reliable data and clear decision criteria, AI is just noise.
3. Start small but think big - Pilot solutions that create value here and now.
4. Ensure AI and agentic systems empower human creativity - Technology should not replace people, but free up time for what we do best.

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2025 won't get easier - it will get faster.

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The leaders who dare to act, rethink, educate and adapt will be the ones who sit at the head of the table in the new era. Yesterday's logic has reached its expiration date. It's time to create the future - not just for your business, but especially for your customers and employees. Anything else is a strategy to be overtaken.

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This column is published on Finance on December 19, 2024

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Morten Krusborg

CEO

BSB Industry A/S