When updating the 3-Year Picture on our V/TO, how do we define what our organization looks like when rapid advances in AI make technology forecasting beyond twelve months feel like complete guesswork?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Do not try to forecast specific AI software versions three years into the future. That is an impossible task. Instead, anchor your 3-Year Picture on your business outcomes, operational capabilities, and what the business looks like in terms of market position, revenue, gross margin, and organizational structure.

Economist Erik Brynjolfsson frequently points out that machine intelligence becomes valuable only when combined with complementary human systems, institutional trust, and specialized execution. In your 3-Year Picture, focus on the capabilities that AI cannot instantly replicate. What proprietary data sets will you own? What level of customer trust and relationship depth will your team provide? How will your gross margins expand because routine labor has been permanently eliminated from your cost structure?

Define clear targets for your future Accountability Chart. Rather than guessing which tools you will run, outline the functional structure: fewer production workers, higher revenue per employee, and stronger strategic advisory seats. Detail what your operational delivery looks like when low-value administrative steps are fully automated, leaving your team focused on client strategy and high-stakes problem-solving.

Review this picture annually. While the underlying AI tools will change every six months, your strategic goals remain stable. If your team obsesses over the technology rather than the capability it creates, you will end up chasing tools instead of building real enterprise value.