Why Leaders Freeze on AI (and How to Break Through)

This week on ChattingGPT, we have Stephen Redmond - an influential leader in data analytics and digital transformation, with a background spanning AI leadership roles at BearingPoint and Accenture. He's the Founder and Chief AI Officer of Straitéis AI, a consultancy focused on helping SMEs cut through AI noise to find real value. He is also now working with the AI Institute to deliver AI strategy for clients - combining his expertise in strategy, prioritisation and governance with ours in AI literacy training and implementation.

In this show we talk about:

How some executives are stuck in conference-induced paralysis whilst their staff are already using ChatGPT on their phones.

Stephen Redmond talks about what actually works when implementing AI in business.

Key Topics:

The Freeze Response Why C-suite leaders attend conferences, hear everything they should be doing, then do nothing. The third option beyond fight or flight that's stopping AI adoption.

Shadow AI Reality Billions of weekly ChatGPT users aren't waiting for corporate approval. Staff are using AI anyway—often unsafely. The security risk hiding in plain sight.

AI Literacy vs AI Strategy Why training needs to start at the top and bubble up through middle managers. How literacy is climbing the Gartner hype cycle whilst generative AI slides into the trough of disillusionment.

The Practical Approach Show, tell, ideate. Map customer journeys, identify pain points, prioritise by value. Why some problems need process tweaks, not AI.

From Fear to Curiosity Maryrose on how the conversation shifted from "AI will take my job" (2023) to "data security" (2024) to "overwhelm" (early 2025) and now "curiosity" (now heading into 2026).

The SME Gap Why Irish small-to-medium enterprises—especially construction and professional services—represent the biggest untapped opportunity for practical AI implementation.

Stephen Redmond LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenredmond/

Straitéis AI website: https://www.straiteis.ie/

AI Institute website: https://weareaiinstitute.com/

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