Are you familiar with the old saying, “Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way?”
In a previous post, I wrote the following:
“AI can and will do amazing things if properly trained and given the correct foundational understanding of the tasks it is meant to automate and improve. My doubt has never been about the technology’s ability; my concerns are with human misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and an inability to understand our critical role in enabling AI or any technology to achieve its optimal capabilities consistently.”
The above excerpt raises the question of whether I am Leading, Following, or should be Getting Out of the Way regarding Agentic AI. The following excerpt from a Psychology Today article is a possible exclamation point to that same question.
The Aha Moment – Delayed
If you have been following me or this blog for any amount of time, you will know that my Aha moment occurred in 1998. If you have yet to grow weary of watching my Max Headroom talking video, here is the link to what I think is still very much a well-spent 13-minute video: Problem-Solving, Agent-Based Modelling, and What A ProcureTech Demo Should Do.
Unlike 1998, when acceptance of my theory of strand commonality and the utilization of human-led agents to develop a procurement platform for the Department of National Defence MRO needs was somewhat limited, it seems that the work that was done back then has aged quite nicely per the diagram below:
Based on the frenetic activity regarding Agentic AI’s possibilities, the theory that became operationally successful in 2000 has started to gain considerably wider or more significant traction in 2025. Of course, not all attention is positive, which leads to the focus of today’s post and the Lead, Follow, Get out of the Way question. My answer to that question may surprise you.
To achieve Agentic AI success, you must do all three simultaneously rather than sequentially. In other words, you must lead with what is proven and works because the right answer in this area of AI does not have a shelf life.
You must also follow developments and be properly and openly prepared to adjust your original position when warranted.
Finally, and this is the big one if you can’t lead or follow, get out of the way by taking a step back and assessing what is “out there” beyond the technology hype. More importantly, you must determine who is behind the technology to evaluate their experience and expertise.
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Procurement Insights
Agentic AI: The Bridge Between A Moment Of Humility And Opportunity
Posted on February 11, 2025
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Are you familiar with the old saying, “Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way?”
In a previous post, I wrote the following:
“AI can and will do amazing things if properly trained and given the correct foundational understanding of the tasks it is meant to automate and improve. My doubt has never been about the technology’s ability; my concerns are with human misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and an inability to understand our critical role in enabling AI or any technology to achieve its optimal capabilities consistently.”
The above excerpt raises the question of whether I am Leading, Following, or should be Getting Out of the Way regarding Agentic AI. The following excerpt from a Psychology Today article is a possible exclamation point to that same question.
The Aha Moment – Delayed
If you have been following me or this blog for any amount of time, you will know that my Aha moment occurred in 1998. If you have yet to grow weary of watching my Max Headroom talking video, here is the link to what I think is still very much a well-spent 13-minute video: Problem-Solving, Agent-Based Modelling, and What A ProcureTech Demo Should Do.
Unlike 1998, when acceptance of my theory of strand commonality and the utilization of human-led agents to develop a procurement platform for the Department of National Defence MRO needs was somewhat limited, it seems that the work that was done back then has aged quite nicely per the diagram below:
Based on the frenetic activity regarding Agentic AI’s possibilities, the theory that became operationally successful in 2000 has started to gain considerably wider or more significant traction in 2025. Of course, not all attention is positive, which leads to the focus of today’s post and the Lead, Follow, Get out of the Way question. My answer to that question may surprise you.
To achieve Agentic AI success, you must do all three simultaneously rather than sequentially. In other words, you must lead with what is proven and works because the right answer in this area of AI does not have a shelf life.
You must also follow developments and be properly and openly prepared to adjust your original position when warranted.
Finally, and this is the big one if you can’t lead or follow, get out of the way by taking a step back and assessing what is “out there” beyond the technology hype. More importantly, you must determine who is behind the technology to evaluate their experience and expertise.
30
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