Richard Golian

1995-born. Charles University alum. Head of Performance at Mixit. 10+ years in marketing and data.

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Richard Golian

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Why AI adoption fails

It is not about the tools. It is the inertia of old thinking.
Richard Golian
Richard Golian · 995 reads
Hi, I am Richard. On this blog, I share thoughts, personal stories, findings and what I am working on. I hope this article brings you some value.

Employees have the best AI models available at work, the connectors are hooked up, they know how to use them, and they have colleagues who already use them. And they still do not. To the point that before a meeting they will not write a single prompt to find the fundamental things in their own advertising account, and would rather risk that someone else spots the problems.

This is happening.

Recently, in a meeting, I found a campaign in an advertising account that someone had written off as ineffective. Among its ads was a video with very high potential on CTR and CPC. I had not seen numbers that good in that account for a long time. But it had not been shown to enough people, so the potential was nowhere near used. Nor even discovered, because the ad specialist had switched it off.

It would not have happened if the colleague had asked the AI model connected to their advertising account.

Why people do not use the AI they already have

When I talk to colleagues from different departments about how they work today, it is like visiting an open-air museum. I think to myself, it is 2026, nobody does these things by hand any more. Then I realise that yes, they do. Real AI adoption is at the very beginning, even in modern, technology-driven companies. In more conservative firms and state institutions it has often not even started.

It is not about time or AI skills. It is the inertia of old thinking. People simply do not stop and ask themselves whether they could do it differently, whether AI could help them with the task.

Understand that it is 2026

Everyone, please stop. Take a step back so you can see the whole of the work you do, the processes you are part of, and ask yourself how a machine could do that work for you. Which tools you need to connect to that machine. For example a newsletter tool, a graphics program or an advertising system. Whatever you need.

If you do not, someone who does will probably replace you.

Summary

Employees have the best AI models and the connectors ready at work, and still do not use them. AI adoption fails not for a lack of tools, but because of the inertia of old thinking. Until people stop and ask whether AI could help, they keep doing by hand what a machine would do in minutes.

Common questions on this article's topic

Why does AI adoption fail when the tools are already there?
It is not about time or AI skills. It is the inertia of old thinking. People simply do not stop and ask whether AI could help, even though the models and connectors are ready.
Why do people not use AI at work?
They have access to the best models, the connectors are hooked up, and colleagues already use them, and they still do not. They lack the habit of stopping and asking AI before they solve something the old way.
How do you start using AI at work?
Take a step back and look at the whole of your agenda and the processes you are part of. For each one, ask how a machine could do the work and which tools it needs connected, for example an advertising system, a newsletter tool or a graphics program.
Can AI check an advertising account?
Yes. An AI model connected to the account can surface important things in a few minutes, for example a high-potential campaign that someone switched off by mistake. You just have to ask it.
Will AI replace me if I do not start using it?
More likely someone who does start using it will. It is not that the machine does everything, but that whoever speeds up their work with AI gains an edge.
How far along is AI adoption in companies?
At the very beginning, even in modern, technology-driven companies. In more conservative firms and state institutions it has often not even started.
Richard Golian

If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback, feel free to drop me a message at mail@richardgolian.com.

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