AI Is the New Electricity: How Smart Teams Are Flipping the Switch

When Dr. Andrew Ng said, “AI is the new electricity,” he meant it literally. The comparison was practical, rooted in the reality of how industries change. Just as electricity rewired entire sectors over a century ago, artificial intelligence is now reshaping business models, workplace tools, and even customer expectations.

For many leaders searching for how to use AI in my business, the landscape feels overwhelming. There are endless tools, countless new terms, and mixed messages about what works. That’s why voices like Daniel Friker are so important. His mission is to simplify AI adoption and show founders, executives, and teams what practical AI implementation looks like today.

In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Daniel explains how companies can move beyond curiosity and into action. From Fortune 100 giants to a local Minneapolis plumber, he shares stories of businesses already using AI for growth and the key steps anyone can take to start.

Why “AI Is the New Electricity” Still Resonates

Andrew Ng first introduced the idea in 2016, comparing the rise of artificial intelligence to the spread of electricity in the late 1800s. Electricity improved machines, and it transformed industries. Factories, farms, hospitals, and homes were all rewired for a new age.

AI is taking the same path.

In a widely read Stanford article, Ng is quoted:

“Just as electricity transformed almost everything 100 years ago, today I actually have a hard time thinking of an industry that I don’t think AI will transform in the next several years."

Daniel has been putting this vision into practice. At a recent workshop at Target Field in Minneapolis, he gathered leaders from Fortune 100 companies, mid-sized enterprises, and small businesses.

Everyone came with the same questions: What does AI mean for us right now? And how do we prepare for what’s next?

How to Use AI in Business: Three Practical Categories

Daniel breaks down AI adoption into three categories that any business leader can understand. This framework shows why AI is not just a tool to slap onto your existing team and processes, but a transformation that touches every department and aspect of how business is done.

1. AI as the New Way to Work AI doesn’t necessarily replace employees. It can also change how they work. A software development team using AI coding tools may see productivity rise by 80%. That forces leadership to make a decision: use AI to cut costs or use AI to scale faster.

The same applies across departments. HR teams can use AI recruiting tools to screen candidates quickly and fairly. Sales teams can automate prospect research and personalized outreach. Operations teams can lean on AI scheduling software to optimize logistics and improve forecasting.

As Daniel explained: “AI gives businesses a choice. Do you want to cut costs or scale faster? It depends on how you use it.”

2. AI as a Customer Platform Customer service is often the front line where people first experience AI. Daniel highlighted the AI chatbot on Domino’s website as an example.

“It felt like chatting with a real person,” he said. “And the customer satisfaction scores reflect that.”

Modern AI chatbots use natural language processing to answer customer requests instantly and route complex issues to the right representative. This reduces wait times and improves service quality without requiring large new teams.

3. AI as Infrastructure This is the true “electricity” analogy. Just as every business eventually plugged into power, AI is becoming the invisible utility behind daily life.

Think refrigerators that reorder groceries, navigation apps like Waze that adjust routes in real time, or platforms that automate pricing. These aren’t futuristic ideas; they’re examples of how AI already reshapes daily decisions.

“We’re moving toward a world where AI isn’t something you log into—it’s something you live with,” Daniel said.

What Companies Are Getting Wrong About AI

Many leaders are asking how to use AI in my business, but they’re also hitting roadblocks. Daniel’s pre-event survey revealed that most companies are experimenting with AI tools, but very few have a strategy.

Three common mistakes keep coming up.

1. Data Privacy and Security Concerns Every industry—from healthcare to finance—worries about protecting proprietary data. Daniel compared this to the early days of cloud computing. Back then, businesses resisted moving data off-premises. Over time, regulations and best practices built trust, and adoption accelerated.

“You have to be conscious and compliant, but don’t let fear stall you,” Daniel said.

2. Lack of AI Fluency Across the Team Surprisingly, younger employees aren’t always leading adoption. In some companies, new hires experiment with AI tools, while experienced managers hesitate.

“The biggest upskilling gap isn’t technical—it’s mindset,” Daniel explained. “Change management needs to be part of the AI adoption strategy.”

3. Overcomplicating the First StepThe best way to start is simple: pick one use case.

Try platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity. Then prompt them with tasks your business genuinely needs:

• “Build me a marketing plan for a local plumbing company in Minneapolis.”

• “Summarize today’s top academic research in biomedical engineering.”

• “Create a content calendar for my LinkedIn account based on past performance.”

  
  

These quick wins build confidence, which creates momentum for larger initiatives.

Why Small Businesses Can Win with AI

One of the most memorable stories from Daniel’s workshop came from a Minneapolis plumber. His company had stellar customer reviews, but he struggled to rank on Google search.

“I can tell you everything about plumbing in this city,” he said, “but I don’t know how to make Google recognize that.”

With the help of an AI strategist, he learned how to use AI SEO tools to improve visibility, optimize listings, and generate content that attracted more customers.

“Small businesses have more to gain because they can move faster,” Daniel explained.

And it’s not just plumbing. Local restaurants can use AI for dynamic pricing and reservations. Retailers can predict inventory with AI forecasting tools. Nonprofits can draft more competitive grant proposals with AI-powered writing support.

For every founder asking how to use AI in my business, the answer is this: start small, experiment quickly, and focus on real outcomes.

From Dabbling to Doing: Building an AI Adoption Strategy

In addition to sharing theory, Daniel is building workshops and programs designed to help leaders move from curiosity to action. His surveys show that most executives want more than generic webinars. They want an AI adoption strategy that touches every department.

“You need a game plan. It’s not about becoming an AI company. It’s about becoming a smarter company,” Daniel said.

A few key elements he recommends:

• Create a lightweight AI usage policy

• Map key pain points by department

• Pilot small AI solutions with measurable outcomes

• Upskill teams with tools that teach as they go

• Keep frameworks flexible, since AI evolves monthly

These steps are practical, and they can be implemented by businesses of any size this quarter.

AI and Ethics: Why Responsible Adoption Matters

AI adoption is about productivity, and it also creates responsibility. Daniel pointed to European regulations requiring audits of hiring practices when AI screening tools are used. He also noted Andrew Ng’s research showing how biased data leads to biased AI outcomes.

To protect your business, Daniel suggests:

• Document where and how AI is used

• Train teams to recognize and report bias

• Choose AI tools with transparent datasets

• Update policies as new tools and laws emerge

Adopting AI responsibly builds long-term trust with employees, customers, and regulators.

The Real Question: Are You Keeping Up?

Daniel compared today’s moment to the early days of the iPhone. Remember when one of the hottest apps was the one that made your screen look like a beer glass? That’s how early we are with AI.

The adoption curve is staggering. ChatGPT reached 100 million users in two weeks. Reddit generates data equal to Wikipedia every single day. Prompt engineering now allows requests that contain the equivalent of 10 million characters.

Mind blown? Yep. Us, too.

How to Use AI in Your Business Today

Daniel’s advice for leaders is clear: don’t wait for perfect conditions. The best way to prepare for AI is to start using it.

Here are a few practical ways to begin:

• Ask AI to improve your prompts so you get better results

• Use AI for competitor research and market analysis

• Spend 15 minutes a day with an AI tool like Perplexity or Gemini

• Automate one repetitive workflow task this month

Leaders should also give teams permission to experiment. That might mean a grace period for learning, or inviting a facilitator to run a hands-on workshop. As Daniel shared: “McKinsey says 75% of jobs will be touched by AI. If that’s true, the real risk is doing nothing.”

Final Thoughts

AI empowers teams with sharper tools. The leaders who act now will be the ones building stronger, faster, more resilient companies in the years ahead.

Whether you’re running a Fortune 100 company or a small local business, the opportunity is the same. The future of work is already plugged in. You can stand still, or you can flip the switch.

Resources: Check out a full length video of Andrew Ng at a Stanford Event Insights by Stanford Business Article by Shana Lynch Follow Daniel Friker on LinkedIn

Listen to the full episode of the Growth Dept podcast here